Am I just being unrealistic?

[mousehockey37]

Hi all, I wonder if any of you can maybe point me in the right direction about who I should discuss the condition of my room with. This is our first stay onsite, and I have ALWAYS wanted to stay at the Yacht or Beach Club resort. We're at YC. My room, although pretty, has some really funky things going on, like cracking peeling "brass" coloring on the doorknobs to and from the bathroom. Mysterious hot pink paint on one side of it also. There are various deep dents, scratches and long (what looks to be) marker marks around the room too, especially on the doors and some furniture. It definitely looks like it needs love and new paint, well, in some cases wallpaper. The carpet looks super clean, though, which is a relief for me! This is our 3rd day, and thankfully whoever cleaned our room today got rid of the hair on the walls and bathroom floor that was here when we checked in. Other people's hair grosses me out.. I don't want to be a nitpicky pestering guest, but I wonder if I should talk to someone about the state of disrepair the room is in. I understand sometime in the future there will be a renovation, but in the meantime, these rooms still cost a pretty penny to stay in. I'm sure mine is not the only one.

I haven't read the responses, but if you noticed all this when you entered the room, you should've went to the desk right away and said that it was unacceptable. As for being nitpicky, you're not. My DGF will go in with a flashlight before we take anything in the room and rip the bed apart and check for bed bugs. It's not nitpicking, it's making sure we're safe and things are clean.

You're also right in that it does cost a lot to stay in these resorts, so you would hopefully expect the rooms to look the best they could. I would mention something to the desk upon checking out, or the night before. Do your best to resolve the issue in person. They can't put you on hold or walk away when you're standing in front of them.

 

[maxiesmom]

No, the time the manager set was specifically 8:30-9am. Which is shortly after my daughter wakes up.

No, the time the manager set was specifically 8:30-9am. Which is shortly after my daughter wakes up.

You didn't include the time before and that does matter. I agree your room should have been a priority but who knows if that message got to housekeeping. Unfortunately it sounds as if you are having one of those trips where everything starts out wrong. Hopefully it only gets better from here.

 

[ryansstitch]

I haven't read the responses, but if you noticed all this when you entered the room, you should've went to the desk right away and said that it was unacceptable. As for being nitpicky, you're not. My DGF will go in with a flashlight before we take anything in the room and rip the bed apart and check for bed bugs. It's not nitpicking, it's making sure we're safe and things are clean.

You're also right in that it does cost a lot to stay in these resorts, so you would hopefully expect the rooms to look the best they could. I would mention something to the desk upon checking out, or the night before. Do your best to resolve the issue in person. They can't put you on hold or walk away when you're standing in front of them.

I would love to have done it at check in, but I had a screaming toddler and 3 hours of crazy traffic just before check in.

 

[mousehockey37]

I would love to have done it at check in, but I had a screaming toddler and 3 hours of crazy traffic just before check in.

You are still there correct? If so... settle it before you leave. Don't rely on customer service via the phone or internet.

 

[mmmears]

This just sounds worse and worse... I'm so sorry you have to put up with this nonsense. We have returned to hotel rooms during cleaning, and the (non-Disney) housekeepers are very polite and let us get in to get whatever we need. And after noon is very late for a "priority" cleaning. I'm not sure why housekeeping has gotten to be such an issue at WDW, but it's definitely something that they need to work on.

 

[ryansstitch]

There were lots of unusuals to this trip, including a food allergy reaction, migraines, etc. that meant I didn't have time at the times I had expected to address this. Initially, I thought perhaps something was just off the first day. Then after 4 days it became obvious that the shoddy cleaning was not a one time incident or an accident. At this point I'm concerned that the rooms are actually rarely cleaned at all. How many days should go by before housekeeping cleans shower walls? Or toilets? How about counter and table tops? Any one of the issues I had with the room wouldn't have disturbed me at all had there not been so many issues left for days. But now after giving them the benefit of the doubt about the cleaning for a few days, then having the main issue still unresolved,I have doubts about the whole property. I don't think I mentioned it earlier, but maintenance came by and repaired the drawer, so the manager must have communicated something.

 

[Spliter]

That's disgusting. Sorry you have to deal with it while on vacation. That kind of crap is anything but relaxing for you.

Ask for another room. If they say they don't have any available remind them they have Walt's bedroom. You deserve it. lol

 

[SonQueen]

Are the beds clean at Disney? That is one area that really creeps me out.

 

[ryansstitch]

This just sounds worse and worse... I'm so sorry you have to put up with this nonsense. We have returned to hotel rooms during cleaning, and the (non-Disney) housekeepers are very polite and let us get in to get whatever we need. And after noon is very late for a "priority" cleaning. I'm not sure why housekeeping has gotten to be such an issue at WDW, but it's definitely something that they need to work on.

Are the beds clean at Disney? That is one area that really creeps me out.

im really not sure after this. The sheets seem clean.

 

[mousehockey37]

C'mon, the travel flashlight is small enough to pack... I don't wanna have to pack a blacklight for the next trip... lol

 

[oceanmarina]

You are still there correct? If so... settle it before you leave. Don't rely on customer service via the phone or internet.

I agree, if you are still there I would go down to the front desk and speak to a manager. Let us know what happens, keep us posted

 

[MissionMouse]

We went to the YC Front Desk after the first night and told them we wanted another room, after waking up to some level of water leak in the hall the entered our entry way into the room. Issue was resolved with a different room and we personally felt we ended up with a better view too; along with some good anywhere FP+ they felt we needed. If something is not magical you should bring it to the attention of the front desk immediately as we believe it is the goal of Disney to make everyone's stay magical.

 

[daisyduck123]

this is why I bring chlorox wipes with me and clean the tub myself anytime we are in a hotel. Hotels are so germy, and you're at the mercy of whoever was the last housekeeper. I had a friend who used to manage hotels and she says never use the in room coffee maker- she would catch maids using the same rags they used to clean to toilet to clean to coffee maker.

I also bring Clorox wipes & the first thing I do upon entering room on the Day 1 is clean all doorknobs, light switches, tv remote, sinks, faucet handles, and toilet seats and toilet handle......takes less than 10 minutes and makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER!! Oh, and I would never use the coffee maker either!

 

[fla4fun]

Unfortunately, this happens at any hotel from time to time. I've been going to WDW for years (since it opened) and had a trip at BC back in 2004 where I checked in to a HUGE bag of garbage (big black trash bag) sitting in the middle of the room and it went down hill from there as far as housekeeping went. I had a stay at WL where I checked in and there were M&Ms on the floor in the walkway in front of the TV cabinet, and they were still there when I checked out (we left notes about it, drew a broom with an arrow pointing to it, visited the front desk about it, etc. - it was so obvious they never vacuumed). But since I stay on property 4-5 times per year, and can only think of 2-3 incidents that were really bad in all that time, I think Disney does pretty well. I am sorry the OP is having issues though. I would be interested to see what happens on the day they have a different housekeeper (sometimes that makes all the difference).

 

[Aurora0427]

I also bring Clorox wipes & the first thing I do upon entering room on the Day 1 is clean all doorknobs, light switches, tv remote, sinks, faucet handles, and toilet seats and toilet handle......takes less than 10 minutes and makes me feel SO MUCH BETTER!! Oh, and I would never use the coffee maker either!

Yep. Me too. I have a friend who is so paranoid she brings her own pillowcases!

 

[ryansstitch]

Unfortunately, this happens at any hotel from time to time. I've been going to WDW for years (since it opened) and had a trip at BC back in 2004 where I checked in to a HUGE bag of garbage (big black trash bag) sitting in the middle of the room and it went down hill from there as far as housekeeping went. I had a stay at WL where I checked in and there were M&Ms on the floor in the walkway in front of the TV cabinet, and they were still there when I checked out (we left notes about it, drew a broom with an arrow pointing to it, visited the front desk about it, etc. - it was so obvious they never vacuumed). But since I stay on property 4-5 times per year, and can only think of 2-3 incidents that were really bad in all that time, I think Disney does pretty well. I am sorry the OP is having issues though. I would be interested to see what happens on the day they have a different housekeeper (sometimes that makes all the difference).

I guess we never got a different housekeeper. I had already washed the hair out of the bathtub itself. However even after the 2nd request for a serious cleaning there was still one really long wavy strand of hair hanging out on the wall. To put the icing on the cake, my 19 month old sat in the middle of the floor this morning and then reached up for me to hold her hand. Guess what was in it? MORE HAIR!!! Either the prior guest was shedding like a dog or the floor wasn't really vacuumed. The manager working last night was very pleasant and returned the charges for one night. I would have liked to feel comfortable in my room and enjoyed myself rather than have to get comped a night for a yucky room. Frankly, I'm more upset now than when I hadn't spoken to management yet. Not because they didn't respond well, but because housekeeping wouldn't keep house. Thankfully when we got back to the room last night we did have a call from the first manager I spoke to and she wasn't available at the hour I called, but the staff who was there said she would send her an email to call me at my cell. I also stopped at the desk before checkout to see if she was there. I just left another message for her as she won't be in until 2. We needed to get home, so I went ahead and checked out. I take it as a lesson learned. If I stay on disney property, apparently I need to bring cleaning products myself. I have traveled a ton, for work and personally, stateside and internationally. I've only had one hairy shower. And it was at a $40 motel I had to stay in for one night. I've also never had mystery gunk on doorknobs...

 

[ryansstitch]

Yep. Me too. I have a friend who is so paranoid she brings her own pillowcases!

Has she stayed at YC? I'm paranoid now too!

 

[Aurora0427]

Has she stayed at YC? I'm paranoid now too!

Hahahahaha no! The Today show did a big expose last summer on how truly germy hotel rooms are- they had hidden cameras showing the maids not changing pillowcases! I do a thorough wipe down but I haven't started bringing my own pillowcases. Yet! It's not just Disney.... Hotels everywhere. Last room we stayed in at the Grand Floridian smelled like cleaner- which made me feel a little better!

 

[Monykalyn]

I'm really glad the manager was sympathetic. With a refurb about to take place, I'm guessing there's nothing they can do about the room looking tired and worn. But the dirt is another story entirely and there is no excuse for housekeeping not cleaning the room properly.

Knowing a resort is due for a refurb, I would say expecting a room in tip top shape may be a bit unrealistic. Expecting a clean room, however, is not unrealistic.

Oh good gravy! refurb due is NOT excuse to let rooms go-Disney is just milking every. single. dime. it can. And apparently guests put up with it too (cleaning MYSELF a >$400/night room??!! And have seen lots of complaints about Poly housekeeping issues too.) We stayed at BC in June-unrefurbed room. Bathroom had peeling wallpaper and grimy grout (clean but obviously stained) and some obvious wear and tear but the room was sparkling clean. Stayed in unrefurbished room at Royal Pacific and we couldn't find a single thing wrong- in fact we asked why the rooms were being refurbished when our room had nothing wrong! It was just "time" for updates!

Maybe if more guests actually complained and wrote to guest services about these specific issues (like OP had very specific things going on and explain that is dampened her experience to the point no more onsite stays) Disney would once again start caring.

 

[happymommy]

To the OP: I am sorry to hear about this. We experienced a similar situation at the Beach Club years ago. Trash not taken out, actually spilled in the room and never picked up (the housekeeper spilled the can), mold in the shower, the list went on and on.
I'd definitely talk to the housekeeping manager on duty! And I agree to do so before you leave.
We wrote a letter when we got home, and were offered a free night upon return. Well, we did end up going back for one night a while later, and the room they gave us had scaffolding outside the window. We didn't care, since it was just to sleep for one night.