[livvyb]

I was wondering how much and to whom you regularly tip? We don't travel much at all....so I got to wondering how much to put aside for tips. I was wondering like do you and how much ...tip the person cleaning the room, anyone associated to the Magical express transportation, anyone at the airport? Our dining plan says tips are included....but does anyone tip over that; do the waitstaff really get ample tips from the plan?

As you can tell I am not very travel savvy.
Thanks for any help!

[robinmouse]

1. I hear alot of people tipping housekeeping (mousekeeping), but I haven't done it. I have heard as much as $1 to $5 per night, done each morning. This is supposed to increase your odds of getting those little animals folded out of towels, etc., but we always got them too.
2. As far as Magical Express and the airport, I usually tip anyone who handles our luggage during the trip $1 per bag. I don't tip the driver just for driving, unless he's also the guy who loads and unloads bags.
3. Dining plan: it sounds as though the waitstaff gets 15% built into the plan. I don't intend to tip extra unless something unusual happens.
What does everybody else do?

[skwak]

I am probably "The Mad Tipper" when I'm on vacation at WDW. We tip just about everyone since I have always felt that tips are a thank you for excellent service. And in WDW you get just tons of excellent service.

Also when I'm on vacation, it might cost me $4000 for the whole trip. Does it really change my standard of living if I express myself by tipping lots and the trip winds up costing me $4100 instead?

Now that I think of it, I am probably not a good guide.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by robinmouse

2. As far as Magical Express and the airport, I usually tip anyone who handles our luggage during the trip $1 per bag. I don't tip the driver just for driving, unless he's also the guy who loads and unloads bags.

We tipped our DME driver both ways because the driver did handle our bags. On the trip to WL our driver loaded and unloaded our carry on bags and when we got to the airport our driver unloaded all 13 of our bags from the coach since we flew Southwest. Well worth a few bucks. I didn't pay attention but I didn't see anyone else tip the driver when we got to the airport.

[lovemysons]

Originally Posted by skwak

I am probably "The Mad Tipper" when I'm on vacation at WDW. We tip just about everyone since I have always felt that tips are a thank you for excellent service. And in WDW you get just tons of excellent service.

Also when I'm on vacation, it might cost me $4000 for the whole trip. Does it really change my standard of living if I express myself by tipping lots and the trip winds up costing me $4100 instead?

Now that I think of it, I am probably not a good guide.

The "mad tipper" !! I love it. I am a firm believer if the service deserves a tip, give it! We tip just about everyone. There was a thread about tipping mousekeeping a while back. Other wise, go with your gut. If you get good service, tip!

[BuzzLightyear]

It starts at the airport, where we do the curbside check in. Tip the person that checks you in.

If you need help with your bags at the arrival airport - tip the person that helps you there.

Towncar/Taxi/Bus driver that gets you to the hotel, and loads/unloads your bags-tip this person

At the hotel- the person that takes your bags from the towncar/taxi or bus, gets a tip also

At the hotel again, when they bring the bags to your room - Tip

We also tip at the hotel if we ask for some extras (bedrails, fridge) and they are delivered.

We tip the housekeeper that cleans our hotel room on a daily basis. Remember to do this daily because you may have a different person each day.

Then we tip at meal times when we eat at sit-down resturants.

As far as cost that depends on how many people in your party. We are a family of five (with lots of bags) so I tip on the high side.

[honeypot]

We're with Buzzlightyear...we tip everyone.
As far as housekeeping is concerned....$2-3/day and 12 leave it on a daily basis not for the animal towels but to show they are appreciated. You get more flies with honey. The better you are to them, the better service you will get besides chances are their salaries take tips into consideration.....kind of like waitressing.

[dznygrl]

I'm a tip-happy person, probably because I know what it feels like to be on the other side. I know what it feels like to get paid a mediocre wage, and what a difference those tips can make!

This is my philosophy behind tipping:
(1) servers at restaurants, and towncar drivers, I tip a healthy 15-20%, altering the amount based on their quality of service.
(2) Mousekeeping I tip based on the number of people in our room, and the size of the room/amount of work that has to be done. Basically, $1 per person per day for Value, $1.50 per person per day for Moderate, and $2 per person per day for Deluxe.
(3) all baggage help I tip $1/bag.

[queensmama]

Tip when you feel they deserve it.
Though I tend to tip as described above.

[Dana]

I tip housekeeeping $2- $5 a night depending on the service. You should tip $1 per person per night and tip every day because the people who do your room change.

For ME, I think it's the same way as mears used to be, $1 per bag

I also tip the people who bring the bags to my room, the person who brings the fridge if I have to get one, and anyone who has to bring something to my room like pizza or whatever.

At restaurants, I notoriously tip extra well for great service and just the average for ok service. Many of these people rely on tips for the their main pay, so I give as much as they do. If they go out of their way for me, I make sure to take care of them.
You tip as you feel they deserve, but a server never forgets a great tip.

[ddoll]

I'm always confused on the luggage tipping. I had read that the guys who take your bags out of the car and put it on the trolly are not supposed to be tipped because they make a full wage, while the ones who bring them to your room are bell services and they do need to be tipped.

Does anyone know the correct protocol for sure?

It seems a lot to tip to get the bags to your room when there are two people involved. Especially since DH does at least half of the work, if not more.

But we always tip housekeeping and waitstaff. I know their wages are next to nothing so they depend on tips.

[pumouse]

I have always heard that you should tip those guys $1 per bag.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by ddoll

I'm always confused on the luggage tipping. I had read that the guys who take your bags out of the car and put it on the trolly are not supposed to be tipped because they make a full wage, while the ones who bring them to your room are bell services and they do need to be tipped.

Does anyone know the correct protocol for sure?

It seems a lot to tip to get the bags to your room when there are two people involved. Especially since DH does at least half of the work, if not more.

But we always tip housekeeping and waitstaff. I know their wages are next to nothing so they depend on tips.

I deifnately tip the guys that take my luggage from the car and put it on the trolly. Full wage or not, they are doing me a service and I tip accordingly. The are also the ones who see that my luggage gets brought to my room later....he/she has my stuff and I want it taken care of..lol I see everyone tipping them, so I think it's the normal. I tip the guy who takes them $1 per bag and the guy who brings them $1 per bag.

[Batgirl]

A couple of additional thoughts on tipping (I travel way too much for my own good!):

1. I read a report the other day that the airport sky caps are not salaried workers; they make about $3 per hour. I think only one small airline (Frontier) has salaried sky caps. I agree with the many posters who say to tip $1-$2 per bag (depending on what they do -- if they put the bags through security screening, which is great, I tip the higher number).

2. Mousekeeping staff members, as well as housekeeping staff in general, do not make great wages. And they work hard. I read in the NYT some time ago that housekeeping workers generally make minimum wage or slightly above, so I usually tip at least $1 per person if there is more than 1 person in the room. On our last trip we tipped $10 for the two rooms we stayed in per day. Ultimately I don't think it changes service. I do it nonetheless in appreciation for a difficult job well done and in recognition of the fact that these folks, in my mind, should make more.

3. Restaurants are tricky. Again, low wages are standard, but I find it difficult to tip 20% for less than good service (I know in some cities 20% is standard). 15% is my minimum as I used to wait tables for a living and can't stand giving less, even for poor service.

4. For the porters at the hotel, I give $1-$2 dollars per bag, again depending on what they do at the end (open windows, show around room, etc., get higher $).

5. If I use the valets, I usually tip $2 for each car delivery.

I can't think of any other tipping things off hand. Good luck!

[pumouse]

How do you tip the housekeeping staff? Do you just leave it in the room?