Do they change the comforter/bedspread between each guest?

[Maistre Gracey]

Do people actually bring cloth diapers on vacation with them? I guess it's possible.

I don't really know. I guess I'm lumping things into that category such as "trouser accidents".

MG

 

[Tiger926]

I don't know about the law; the question is whether people actually follow them. I do recall watching a couple of those 20/20 like shows a few years ago where hidden cameras in various hotel rooms across the country (including some high end ones like the Ritz). I just did a search and found a couple of stories similar to what I recall watching: this one a couple of years ago and this more recent one ("Hotel Drinking Glasses" includes the Contemporary and Hilton in Orlando). Ever since then, I can't help but do a wash of all non-disposable cups I come across in hotel rooms before I use them.

Absolutely true - here in our city though, we have lots of inspectors and foodservice ratings that are based on inspections and customer concerns. Basically, in my city, you can't get a restaurant opened unless it contains commercial dishwashers.

But, this is Canada, not the U.S., so you bring up a very interesting point about compliance.

Tiger

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Absolutely true - here in our city though, we have lots of inspectors and foodservice ratings that are based on inspections and customer concerns. Basically, in my city, you can't get a restaurant opened unless it contains commercial dishwashers.

But, this is Canada, not the U.S., so you bring up a very interesting point about compliance.

Tiger

I don't think it's really any different in the U.S. I know restaurants need commercial dishwashers, and the Health Department comes in unannounced to inspect everything... including the temperature of the dishwasher.

One note about restaurant dishwashers- One main reason they need to be a high temperature is because the entire cycle is about 2 minutes. Also, the water is only changed about every 10 cycles.

That said, glasses in a hotel room are different than in a restaurant.

MG

 

[Tiger926]

If you think they don't change the comforters, you obviously have not stayed at a Disney resort. I have stayed at pop, all stars, SSR, and AKL and all of them I have witnessed the complete strip down of bedding when a guest checks out around us. You can especially tell they wash comforters at the older resorts because they become faded over time. I noticed on the boards, that they just recently even purchased new comforters for POP. I have never witnessed any "dirty" laundry when I have stayed on property.

Ummm...as Maistre Gracey said, most, if not all of us have stayed in probably all or most Disney resorts. You've only stayed in 3 resorts, which hardly qualifies as all resorts - we have stayed at all non-DVC and DVC resorts, and I can assure you that they don't wash all comforters between every guest.

We have allergies/asthma, so we have dealt with housekeeping and maintenance many times for various issues (some serious, and some not so serious), and we have been told several times that they don't wash all comforters/bedspreads. Perhaps you are confusing blankets/sheets that are washed between guests. Decorative shams, pillows and bedding is not washed between every guest as far as we've been told, by staff at many different Disney resorts.

Tiger

 

[Tiger926]

I don't think it's really any different in the U.S. I know restaurants need commercial dishwashers, and the Health Department comes in unannounced to inspect everything... including the temperature of the dishwasher.

One note about restaurant dishwashers- One main reason they need to be a high temperature is because the entire cycle is about 2 minutes. Also, the water is only changed about every 10 cycles.

That said, glasses in a hotel room are different than in a restaurant.

MG

Thanks for that info - I'm going to ask my dad today if hotels are under the same safety guidelines here. I know at my school, and we aren't allowed to use any glasses/utensils in our cooking program as our commercial dishwasher isn't hooked up yet, so we must use paper/plastic. Again though, that is a school, and we are regulated the exact same way as restaurants.

I'm going to ask my dad, as he owned a hotel restaurant when I was born (that was of course, over 30 years ago, so guidelines might have changed).

Tiger

 

[zorro77]

Over the many stays at OKW we have pulled the bedding off for HK on the day they are to change our bedding. We have also pulled off the blanket and seen that they had to get a new one to put on the beds. Also we have washed the blanket while we were their. I think they do a good job and HK is only as good as the person that inspects after the work. It is much easier for the cleaner to do a good job first time then being called back to fix or re-clean a room. I think we all want clean rooms and expect it to be just like we have at home. I think worst is when a guest has broken or taken something and we you arrive something is not working and no one fixed it but then the last guest did not tell anyone. It could be simple like light bulb burnt out, toaster doesn't work and then we the new guest is upset with housekeeping for not catching it. We have had many situations like this over the years and you just get by. We don't let it ruin or trip we just call get issues addressed and go on. Life is to short.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Also we have washed the blanket while we were their.

So they are washable? Someone reported that they are probably dry clean only.

MG

 

[twinklebug]

So they are washable? Someone reported that they are probably dry clean only.

MG

I think there's a lot of confusion on this thread distinguishing between blankets and bed spreads (they're not really comforters).

The blankets are machine washable: at our last Kidani stay (feb '10) they were notably rougher than they were on our July '09 visit indicating many washings, soap & water style. I'm not sure if the Disney Laundry intermingles the basic linens between resorts (I tend to think they would not) but for 1/2 year of use they were to the point where I'd donate & replace them. Disney obviously washed the blankets a lot. I wouldn't have an issue with throwing a blanket in the front loading washing machine if I felt they needed a scrub.

The bed spreads are Dry Clean Only: although stitched together with real thread and not plastic, they have a netted nylon backing that would make them very difficult to wash in a machine without damaging the material.

On our Feb stay of this year, I noticed that the bed spreads at Kidani still looked new, a good indication that they've seen very few cleanings. As the saying goes - looks can be deceiving. They make the room look nice, but I wouldn't sleep with them (nor are they very comfortable )

 

[Tiger926]

I think there's a lot of confusion on this thread distinguishing between blankets and bed spreads (they're not really comforters).

The blankets are machine washable: at our last Kidani stay they were notably rougher than they were on our July visit of last summer indicating many washings, soap & water style. I'm not sure if the Disney Laundry intermingles the basic linens between resorts (I tend to think they would not) but for 1/2 year of use they were to the point where I'd donate & replace them. I wouldn't have an issue with throwing a blanket in the front loading washing machine.

The bed spreads are Dry Clean only: although stitched together with real thread and not plastic, they have a netted nylon backing that would make them very difficult to wash in a machine without damaging the material.

The bed spreads at Kidani still looked new, a good indication that they've seen very few cleanings. As the saying goes - looks can be deceiving.

Exactly - I attempted to do this before as I lumped sheets/blankets together as they are washable, but comforters/bedspreads are not.

Thanks, Tiger

 

[BoardwalkSuzy]

That was one of my questions I asked a Disney guide - how are the bedspreads cleaned, and how often? I'm waiting to pass ROFR by Disney in next few weeks for some resale points at BWV. The guide admitted bedspreads are not cleaned between every guest, and couldn't answer as to whether they were ever cleaned.

The other day, I watched on TV a show called Disney on a Dime. I was horrified to see 2 girls, staying in moderate room at Port Orleans with their parents, being filmed jumping on the beds like crazy with their shoes ON! They are wiping their filthy shoes off on the Disney bedspreads. The parents just looked on like it was normal while the film crew filmed that. Wow, my husband and I would never allow our kids to jump on beds with shoes. We don't even allow shoes in our house - shoes are removed and put on shelf in the front entrance "mud room". But stuff even worse happens on those bedspreads than dirty kids shoes being wiped on them.

The bedspreads are dirty and probably full of living micro-organisms of various types - my biggest gripe are dust mites I've often encountered in hotels in Europe. We have to accept that. First thing I do, as well as all my friends - after checking in, we take the bedspreads off, fold them up and put them away, not to be seen or touched again.

I wish that Disney would at least commit to some kind of cleaning of the bedding besides just the sheets, or even better use duvet covers, which is what I use for my furnished vacation rental that I own and rent out - washed between guests.

We have to accept that whenever we travel, we are basically camping, even at deluxe hotels and DVC villas at Disney. A DVC villa lock-off 2-bedroom unit comes with only 2 dedicated beds, but sleeps 8. That means, except for the couple that wants to share the king bed, that there will be 6 other people camping - by either having to share beds or sleeping on fold-outs. Most major chains and Disney do at least change the sheets, and provide crisp clean sheets. I already put in my suggestion to Disney to start planning on fluffy synthetic down comforters with washable duvets. I'm sure it won't happen anytime soon, but maybe some day. They've invested a lot in those heavy ornate bedspreads, many customized for each resort. The bedspreads would fray and fade if washed. Hopefully they will consider my idea of duvets, which they could also customize nicely.

Here's an article link from VIA magazine that I subscribe to about hotel room cleanliness:
http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/how_clean03.asp

Also, here's another interesting article:
Avoiding Germs in a Hotel Room
Bacteria, Viruses and Bed Bugs Can Linger After Guests Check Out

Sep 30, 2009 Heidi Lowry

Travelers can protect their health on vacation with germ-reducing practices, an inspection and by sanitizing areas to prevent illness while staying at their hotel.

From 5-star luxury resorts to 1-star budget digs, any hotel room has the potential to carry microscopic remnants left behind by past guests.

Viruses and living bacteria are often found on surfaces like light switches and phones, and some travelers have awoken to itchy bed bug bites in hotels with high ratings where the pests were not visible to the naked eye. Though travelers needn't be overly worried about contracting diseases, the ick factor is still there and several simple practices can greatly lower the risks of getting ill.

Can Hotel Rooms Really Make a Person Sick?
Yes, they can, says research by the University of Virginia as well as a report from ABC News.

Though many people think bacteria and viruses cannot survive long on hard surfaces like desks and telephones, they are wrong. In a 2006 study, university scientists discovered that up to 33 percent of rhinovirus germs left by a sick person in a hotel room can survive over night and retain enough potency to infect someone the next day. That statistic doubles to 66 percent after just an hour of vacancy.

The ABC investigation went further and took a black light to rooms in bargain motels and luxury hotels in New York City, Miami and other locations to find out what's really living on their walls. In all the rooms tested, trace elements of urine (some of it from companion animals) and semen were found.

Precautions to Take When Checking Into a Hotel Room to Prevent Illness
According to Caroline Costello of IndependentTraveler.com, which provides a compendium of travel tips, destination information and travel discounts, there are things people can do when they arrive at their hotel room to help decrease the likelihood of contracting a disease:

Remove the bedspread. Hotels often don't clean these blankets from guest to guest, and they can harbor bacteria, viruses, bed bugs and other unsanitary items (some have reported finding used condoms rolled up in them). They are usually the most unsanitary thing in the room and not worth the risk. Some hotels (like the Hilton Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego) eschew the bedspread all together.
Wash hands frequently. In order for rhinovirus, which causes the human cold, and other illness-inducing germs to infect a traveler, it has to come into contact with his or her nose or eyes. Regular hand washing can prevent germs passed from objects to the hands from getting into the mucous membranes. Bringing hand sanitizers is another option.
Do not use the glassware. Only two states in the U.S. regulate the way drinking glasses in hotels are washed and sanitized: Missouri and Kansas. To avoid getting sick, people should bring their own cups or use plastic, prepackaged cups if a hotel provides them.
Disinfect germ hotspots. These include the remote, telephone, toilet handle, phone, door knobs, light switches, the ice bucket and faucet handles. Use an antibacterial spray sanitizer or sanitizing wipes.
Look for evidence of bed bugs. Check the bed upon arrival for reddish brown, rust-colored spots underneath the mattress or near walls, between couch cushions or between the carpet and the wall for signs of bed bugs. Don't put baggage on or near the bed until the check is complete.
Staying Healthy While on Vacation
Bed bugs and germs don't care whether a traveler pays $500 or $50 per night on vacation. Though both research reports said that it's unlikely an illness picked up at a hotel is going to be life-threatening, taking a few precautions can only help a person remain well while traveling.

After all, though hotel maintenance crews dust, vacuum and wash each day, the average hotel only schedules a deep cleaning four times each year. Practicing a few precautions should ease a person's mind and lead to a healthier vacation.

 

[crisi]

Thanks for that info - I'm going to ask my dad today if hotels are under the same safety guidelines here. I know at my school, and we aren't allowed to use any glasses/utensils in our cooking program as our commercial dishwasher isn't hooked up yet, so we must use paper/plastic. Again though, that is a school, and we are regulated the exact same way as restaurants.

I'm going to ask my dad, as he owned a hotel restaurant when I was born (that was of course, over 30 years ago, so guidelines might have changed).

Tiger

DVC is a timeshare and not a hotel. Different rules apply - including the "they can just use the in room dishwasher to wash dishes" rule. So no need for a commercial dishwasher for DVC (or any Florida timeshare) dishes.

So when you ask your Dad, make sure he gives you the timeshare rules, if he knows them - hotel laws won't apply.

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

If it is any comfort to anyone, I will tell you that I have personally witnessed mousekeeping removing the comforters and sending them to the laundry with the rest of the bed linen when cleaning between guests. I also asked about the comforters because I also heard rumors about them not being changed and was told they are changed with each new guest. Mousekeeping told me they are required to change them because of health codes or some such thing. The risk of not changing them between guests and causing the passage of numerous ailments from guest to guest is a huge liability that Disney does not want to get involved with. This was also verified when DH and I took the Back Stage Tour and toured the laundry facilities. The amount of laundry done at Disney in a 24 hour period is phenomenal. Changing the comforters between guests is just a drop in the bucket compared to all the resort bed and bath linen, costumes, uniforms, restaurant linen, etc. done daily. I hope this helps to calm any doubts. I know it made me feel better to get it verified.

Ann

Thank you for posting this, I am a little less afraid of that dreaded top comforter at WDW now

 

[anna08]

This is one of the many things I like about BLT. No bedspreads! They must have to wash the duvet cover between every guest because it gets so many wrinkles in it after one night and would look like a slept in bed if they didn't.