Horrible Housekeeping at All-Star Sports

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced horrible housekeeping at All-Star Sports. Now, it might just be that standards are different in Florida than where I come from but I couldn't believe it.

When we checked in, the room was clean. We even had two towel animals waiting for us, which was very nice. But I think that that was the last time it was really cleaned for the whole eight nights that we stayed there. Most days, I swear, all they did was give us clean towels and make the bed. I don't think the bathroom was cleaned more than two days. One day, we came back to find clean towels left for us with our dirty towels still on the floor where we had left them. During our "sleep-in" day, the same housekeeper barged in on us twice before 10 am! Usually in a hotel, they will push your stuff out of the way so that they can vacuum but I'm pretty sure they didn't vacuum the whole time because our stuff remained untouched. In fact, when I went to leave, I noticed that my hair dryer was in the same spot on the floor behind a chair where I had left it the first day.

Does this happen in deluxe or moderate resorts? I know that we payed a cheaper rate but I don't think it's acceptable to cut costs on the housekeeping. Isn't that the point of staying in a hotel?

I would have gone to the main desk about it but didn't really want to spend my vacation that way. We put up with it but I intend to write a letter so that other guests won't have the same experience.

Also, there was a huge maintance issue. Because they had the main pool blocked off for rehab, there was only one narrow path left for visitors to get to their rooms. This was fine, until it rained. I'm not kidding you, we had to wade through water that was half way up my shin to get by. There was no other path. When we informed Disney of this, we were brushed off as they told us that they already knew. However, it took hours after we contacted them for the matter to be cleared up.

I think next time we will upgrade to a moderate and just not stay as long to make up for the added cost. While I didn't mind the atmosphere and the food at the value resort, I really did feel that we were being treated worse than guests who stay elsewhere. We visited several of the other resorts and immediately noticed how well we were treated by the staff. Those at the All-Star Sports didn't even seem to be working for Disney.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I can't answer this 100% for sure....but our friends who stayed with us at Pop and always have stayed at a moderate said there IS a difference in the level of service at the value hotel...at least in their eyes. The housekeeping was *ok* at Pop....but we did tip them every day and I agree that the bathroom was not always cleaned...my son had smeared some food on the side of the tub before his bath and it stayed there for 3 days before I finally wiped it down.

I'm going to go pick up a PT job tomorrow to defray the costs of our vacation next year because we're gonna upgrade to a deluxe...I think if you're going to invest a significant amount of money in a vacation whether it be a value or deluxe....that you ought to really enjoy yourself!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Thank you for your comments StrollPatrolMom. I'm glad to see that it wasn't just us who had a problem.

I don't think it's fair for there to be a different standard of service for guests who might not be able to afford more expensive resorts. We're lucky because we probably can afford to upgrade. I think that service should be consistent, especially when it comes to cleaning. Not having my bathroom cleaned when I'm staying at a hotel is completely unexectable!

 

[maxiesmom]

I have stayed at all levels of the Disney resorts, and not found a difference in the mousekeeping. Sounds like you might have had one who was trying to take too many shortcuts.

I don't understand why you didn't go down and complain. I know you don't want to waste your vacation time, but the best time to get a problem fixed at a Disney resort is when you are still there. I would bet they pay more attention to a person telling them there is a problem they want fixed than they do a letter after the fact.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

We've also stayed at every Resort level, but found housekeeping to depend on sort of luck of the draw for a housekeeper, not the level of the resort.

Although there were many nice things about GF, housekeeping was no better than any other resort - whereas at POP one visit our housekeeper was fantastic, as well as FQ another visit.

As to moving belongings, my understanding is that WDW housekeeping is not allowed to move any guest belongings. We always leave the room very neat so housekeeping will have no trouble vacuuming or cleaning.

Vacuuming is no longer done everyday; everyday is the sink wipe down, fresh towels, beds made. Not much considering what used to be done everyday and although in no way do I envy the job of housekeepers (we've walked by rooms that were in an unbelievable state due to the guests) I do think having a clean room, fresh sheets and towels is a perk of being on vacation.

Maybe it's just me, but I loved the days when we had clean sheets each day and the room was always so fresh.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

It sounds to me like the standards of housekeeping in general have just gone down. Around here, when you stay in any time of lodging (5 star hotel to a roadside motor-in) you get your room fully cleaned everyday. I thought that was much of what you paid for when you stayed in a hotel. A sink wipe down is the best that Disney offers? If that's the case, what are all these people tipping for? Animals made out of face cloths?

Are their higher standards at other area hotels? I know if was paying big bucks to stay at the Grand Floridian and the maid wasn't required to actually clean my room, I'd be pretty upset. I guess I put up with it more because we got a really sweet deal.

We are very neat people. There wasn't many belongings that they had to move around since we didn't have much with us to begin with. I'm talking like a pen on the floor or the odd piece of paper. It just stayed there! They didn't even move the chairs at the desk that Disney owns.

I don't understand why you didn't go down and complain. I know you don't want to waste your vacation time, but the best time to get a problem fixed at a Disney resort is when you are still there. I would bet they pay more attention to a person telling them there is a problem they want fixed than they do a letter after the fact.

Well, there's not really much to understand. We just didn't. We left for the parks in the morning and came back at night and went to sleep. But even if i did complain, what would that do? They'd send someone in at midnight to reclean my room. I'm not looking for anything for myself. I just would like them to raise the standards for everyone. I really do think a letter would be more effective since I can send to several people. Somehow I don't think my front-desk complaint would make it much further.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I'm sorry - saying the sinks are wiped down is not exactly what I meant, so should have been more specific - they do wipe down the sinks and sink area etc, but do not seem to really clean the bathrooms...i.e. Bet many of us have noticed hairs in the tub and bathroom floor at check-in.

Some of the resorts have outsourced housekeeping , but not all (not sure which ones), so am sure that makes a difference...and when I thought about it, the GF may have been vacuumed each day, but the bathroom for sure was not any cleaner and that was disappointing.

Gosh, did not mean to imply that you are not neat - my apology if it sounded that way.

Anyway, our last stay at GF was in 2004, so things could have changed. Will be at the Polynesian in December, so am interested to see how things are done there now.

 

[DisneyFan06]

I stayed at All Star Sports for a week in May. I loved it. We had no problems with Mousekeeping, what so ever.

 

[global_mom]

We have also stayed at all levels of Disney resorts and had a few housekeeping issues over the years. However, I have always made a quick call to the front desk (if there was a problem) and had the problem resolved within minutes and with courteous service. Ironically the incidents were usually at Deluxe resorts.

One time we had a consistent problem at Beach Club and the manager arranged for us to be moved to the Poly and discounted the room rate for the rest of our stay. In that instance I do beleive that it was a matter of a less than perfect housekeeper who was in a rush to accomplish cleaning all the rooms that were assigned to her. The manager could not have been nicer and was very apologetic.

I completely agree that if you are paying for a service (cleanliness) that you should receive that service. But if the management does not know that you are not receiving the paid-for service then they can not fix it for you.

I hope that everything else about your stay was great!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

The rest of our stay was fantastic! We had an awesome honeymoon.

Whether or not I should have complained is not why I posted my OP. I was just curious if other people had had similiar experiences and wanted to give my opinion on this aspect of All-Star Sports. Like I said, there were things that we liked about the resort but the things we disliked were enough to make us not want to return.

I really don't think that we, as guests, who are on vacation should be expected to call management everyday in order to get our rooms properly cleaned. This should be automatic in my opinion. If I had a specific problem (like with the maintance issue outside), I would speak to them.

 

[maxiesmom]

Whether or not I should have complained is not why I posted my OP. I was just curious if other people had had similiar experiences and wanted to give my opinion on this aspect of All-Star Sports. Like I said, there were things that we liked about the resort but the things we disliked were enough to make us not want to return.

I really don't think that we, as guests, who are on vacation should be expected to call management everyday in order to get our rooms properly cleaned. This should be automatic in my opinion. If I had a specific problem (like with the maintance issue outside), I would speak to them.

No you should not have to call every day to get your room cleaned. However, if it is not being done to your standards, the only way to get it taken care of is to let them know at that time. And I'm sorry but I disagree that writing a letter will get more attention than complaining in person. Most likely the though of anyone reading your letter would be "Well, if it was that big a problem, they would have complained while they were there."

You may not want there to be any discussion on whether you should have complained in person or not, but the fact that you didn't complain while at Disney will strike many people as odd, and some like me will feel free to point that out. If my room was dirty enough to warrent a letter, then it would be dirty enough to warrent me getting it taken care of asap. If you could live with it for a few days, then it must not have been that bad.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I kind of wish that I could go back in history and A. complain to the front desk clerk that my room isn't clean enough, and B. not start this thread.

I think everyone gets the point that dealing with it at the time could have been more effective than writing a letter after the fact. However, right now, that point is moot. I didn't do the former and now we have arrived at the latter. Nevertheless, I still think that I am allowed to tell people about a negative experience at All-Star Sports even if I didn't lodge a formal complaint.

 

[ADP]

Out of all the complaints I've seen or heard of at WDW housekeeping is the most common. I guess with so many rooms to take care of it is bound to happen.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has had problems.

 

[global_mom]

Nevertheless, I still think that I am allowed to tell people about a negative experience at All-Star Sports even if I didn't lodge a formal complaint.

Absolutely you are allowed to tell of the negative experience and it seems that the above posts are saying that you are not alone in your experience. Many guests have had this housekeeping complaint and several posters, myself included, answered your question as to whether or not this happens in moderate and Deluxe resorts as well. Yes it does and it happens at all types of hotels, not just at Disney. We recently had an issue at a Ritz Carlton which is definately more Deluxe than Disney's deluxe. Housekeeping should be perfect at any hotel/motel but it does not always happen that way.

My children tease me b/c I always do a "room check" when we arrive at a hotel (we travel alot as my job is based on travel) and if there is any problem I let the desk know about it. This works for us but certainly is not something that everyone would do. I would still send the letter about All Star Sports, management should be informed even if it is after the fact.

 

[Marthasor]

I'm not sure it's more of a value, mod, deluxe issue as it is a resort by resort and probably a housekeeper by housekeeper issue. We stayed at Poly in Dec. of '05 and housekeeping couldn't have been better! Our room was always very clean and cleaned in a timely manner. We stayed at BWI last October and housekeeping was spotty at best - little tell-tale signs of a not so thorough cleaning in the bathtub, sink, etc. We also had a housekeeper barge in on us at about 8:30 a.m. on our day of check-out which we really didn't appreciate.

Whether or not you complained while there or wrote a letter after the fact, I certainly appreciate you posting your concerns. It's good to have the knowledge of other DIS'ers experiences to help plan our next trip!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Thank you all. I was beginning to feel bad for posting my OP. I know that I appreciate hearing these things when I'm choosing a resort. My DH and I are very optomistic, positive people and we don't even flinch at many of the things people complain about. So when something stands out to us as being bad, we figure it is. Thanks for letting me vent. I will write that letter.

 

[noahdove]

ooo, I hope that won't happen to us next August..I guess I will keep track of everything, and if I have a problem, I won't be afraid to contact the front desk for help. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

This whole "complaining" thing brings up a bit of a phobia of mine as well. Is anyone else scared to complain while you're there in case you piss off your housekeeper(s)? I know at a restaurant, you're never supposed to complain until you're finished your meal. I know the things that can go on in a kitchen to "complainers". What if you get into a "revenge of the maid" type situation? Anyway, that's more or less an aside but it just came to mind.

 

[d's do disney]

OMG, we just returned from POFQ yesterday and my husband and I were having the same conversation regarding housekeeping. We've been 5 times in 5 years and NEVER had a problem until this trip. And the problems kept coming. It seemed, the more I called, the worse it got. Now, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from POFQ, because it is our absolute favorite, but man oh man, they really tested our patience this trip. At one point, I had to almost beg for toilet paper (no joke). I guess it's just the luck of the draw with housekeeping. The running joke was, "well it's better to be in WDW with no toilet paper, than at home with toilet paper". I'm a glass 1/2 full, type of person.