Housekeeping coming back?

[meremac]

Housekeeping is a problem at many places right now due to staffing. But if you need more of something or if you've somehow been missed for trash-and-towel service, all you have to do is call. Just pick up the phone or make a quick stop by the front desk on your way out for the day. We were missed when we were at Riviera last summer. I called, they were friendly about it, and they came within 15 minutes to bring us fresh towels and take away our trash. No problem at all. It's possible there was an oversight in your case too, but they can't make it right unless you tell them about it.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Seems lowered expectations are flourishing here. I enjoy my room being clean everyday when I come home from the parks.

There is absolutely no reason to believe that full daily housekeeping won't return once COVID is "over," whatever that means. Anyone saying otherwise is completely making things up.

The staffing shortage that's happening around the country is hitting Disney especially hard in skilled and semi-skilled positions. Think line cooks, housekeeping, bus drivers, and mechanical. Disney isn't doing this in some grand conspiracy to "save money." They're actually losing money because they can't open all of their resorts, can't fill their dining rooms, and have to pay third party contractors to outsource services that they can't get the staff to do themselves.

Also, this isn't a political statement, but Disney is hurt by the fact that our borders are still basically closed. Disney normally hires a ton of immigrants, not to mention the cultural representatives around the World Showcase, Animal Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. The State Department is not issuing those work visas, so a huge labor pipeline for Disney is entirely shut off.

Disney is unlikely to ever go back to regular housekeeping unless guest and DVC members demand it like they did Ohana noodles.

DVC never got daily housekeeping, so I'm not sure what that has to do with anything. Also, I'm pretty confident that the Ohana noodles was a bit of "viral marketing." They trolled the fanbase to get a reaction, but were always going to bring the noodles back.

 

[ParklandDISDad]

...They're actually losing money because they can't open all of their resorts, can't fill their dining rooms, and have to pay third party contractors to outsource services that they can't get the staff to do themselves.

Also, this isn't a political statement, but Disney is hurt by the fact that our borders are still basically closed. Disney normally hires a ton of immigrants, not to mention the cultural representatives around the World Showcase, Animal Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. The State Department is not issuing those work visas, so a huge labor pipeline for Disney is entirely shut off...

Did you see that Parks, Experiences, and Products returned to profitability last quarter for the first time since the initial shut down? When you factor out Products and look solely at Domestic theme parks, resorts and experiences positive operating income drops from $564m to $2m. The international parks division was still operating at a loss of $210m in Q3. For sure they are losing money still, in the sense of missed opportunity due to limited capacity and staffing, but at least this is a move in the right direction.. the US will also start to relax travel restrictions for vaccinated foreign air travelers later this year, so hopefully work visas aren't far off.

 

[kdonnel]

DVC never got daily housekeeping, so I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.

I believe DVC once had daily housekeeping. But given the choice to pay higher maintenance fees or to reduce housekeeping to the current DVC plan, the members opted for reduced housekeeping.

I think given the choice between raising hotel rates and adding back housekeeping, or keeping the current model, people will pick the current model.

 

[Tess]

I do think they really ought to have some sort of length of stay housekeeping exception—in DVC rooms you get full housekeeping on day 4 if you stay 8 nights. For a longer stay, clean sheets and a swept floor are a must.

Not necessarily--we got neither for our 8 night/9 day stay in May at BWV.

We had to ask for clean towels on day 4 and were told that we had our "room occupied" sign on the door. Didn't happen--never use it, ever, and we were out of the room from before 8:00 a.m., returned to change for the pool at 12:30 p.m. and didn't return to the room until 5:00 p.m. or so. It was at the 5-6:00 p.m. hour we called since no one had been by and we were informed of our error with the door sign. Did I mention, we never, EVER use that door sign.

Got our towels but nothing else and our wood floors were in desperate need of a dust mop. I would have done it myself, but the room no longer had a vacuum, broom or any other device to clean the floor--guess I could have used the damp, old towels.

We received the daily room check with trash removal.

Day 8--once again no service whatsoever. Called, but service was never forthcoming.

We were a bit disappointed to say the least. Hoping for better from BCV in a couple weeks.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I believe DVC once had daily housekeeping. But given the choice to pay higher maintenance fees or to reduce housekeeping to the current DVC plan, the members opted for reduced housekeeping.

I think given the choice between raising hotel rates and adding back housekeeping, or keeping the current model, people will pick the current model.

I'm just shocked that DVC won't even let you pay extra to get daily housekeeping anymore. People like to complain about new upcharges, but this was an upcharge that they took away.

 

[kdonnel]

I'm just shocked that DVC won't even let you pay extra to get daily housekeeping anymore. People like to complain about new upcharges, but this was an upcharge that they took away.

They have also stopped charging $6 for the towel package, $3 for the coffee package, and $1 for the detergent.

It's raining money!

 

[Jen81NYC]

Just wondering if anyone has heard an update on return of full housekeeping! I’m planning our first trip to Disney for April 2022 (postponed from April 2020) and my husband, who is already not too excited about the trip, had a very strong reaction when I told him how light the housekeeping these days is. We’re booked at the Poly, so he definitely has a point that for the amount we’re paying, we shouldn’t have to worry about bed making or taking trash out, begging for extra towels, etc. I’d like to stay on property but maybe I should give in and look somewhere either cheaper or same but provides more service? Curious if anyone has heard about whether they’re going to improve it soon

 

[Lewisc]

I recently stayed at Portofinio Bay Hotel. You got daily light housekeeping. Bed made. Trash out. Towels refreshed. Shampoo, Conditioner, coffee etc replaced as needed. Dusting, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning etc was done after check out.

You could also text if you needed towels, toilet paper etc.

Not sure why we should pay full price for second class service at WDW resorts.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I was at the Pop last weekend, a quick stay from 9/23 to 9/26, and on the second day we came back to our room at night and one of the beds had been changed and made. The other bed wasn't, but that one I had made myself and had left my night shirt on it. Towels were changed out and trash had been taken.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

Am I crazy for preferring no housekeeping?

I just call down to the front desk when I need towels, etc. I prefer nobody besides my family entering my room.

I've stayed in a few hotels for business, and not one of them offered housekeeping. So, this is not just a Disney issue.

 

[Jen81NYC]

Am I crazy for preferring no housekeeping?

I just call down to the front desk when I need towels, etc. I prefer nobody besides my family entering my room.

I've stayed in a few hotels for business, and not one of them offered housekeeping. So, this is not just a Disney issue.

It’s not about it being a “crazy” preference but it’s not mine and for the price, I think there should be the option of full housekeeping, at least every other day. We stayed close to home this summer but stayed in two hotels last summer and both had full housekeeping, although you could decline. If I’m paying *a lot* of money to stay in one room with 3 other people, *for me* (and some others!) it would be nice to return to a calm and made up room. There’s so much cleaning and picking up in regular life!

 

[bsmcneil]

Am I crazy for preferring no housekeeping?

I just call down to the front desk when I need towels, etc. I prefer nobody besides my family entering my room.

I've stayed in a few hotels for business, and not one of them offered housekeeping. So, this is not just a Disney issue.

Definitely always been my preference - so I mostly don't mind. There were times that it would've been nice - but definitely not necessary. That said, I did totally miss that the dishes in the room were not real (DVC rental) and that was a bummer, especially on an environmental level (at AKL no less).

 

[Lsyves]

So I guess I am packing wipes to wipe down my toilet every now and then? I have kids. Boys. No matter what, they just aren't as tidy as I'd like them to be. Staying in a Deluxe resort so this is disappointing.

 

[DCJ]

Stayed at WL 2 months ago for 6 nights. Room wasn't touched. Had to call for towels, soap, etc. every few days. Shampoo / body wash pumps were not working.
I don't know if housekeeping ever comes back the way it was. Once Disney takes something away, they seem to wait for people to get used to it being gone. I think possibly an upcharge in the future. I believe they were heading that way before with the 'decline housekeeping credits' program.

I disagree with the O'hana noodle post above. That was another attempt to strip something away for cost, and were overwhelmed with the social media backlash.

Anyone wonder why Chapek and Josh went on stage in front of invited media on the 30th, but weren't on stage for a ceremony opening day October 1st? Would have been embarrassing if they were booed on stage. So much has been stripped and so much has been upcharged, and in an arrogant way. Hopefully the pendulum swings back sooner than later, when people get tired of this and Disney realizes they need to treat their customers (guests, lol) better. I don't charge my guests to park in my driveway when they visit. I also give them clean towels without asking.

 

[Miffy]

Am I crazy for preferring no housekeeping?

I just call down to the front desk when I need towels, etc. I prefer nobody besides my family entering my room.

I've stayed in a few hotels for business, and not one of them offered housekeeping. So, this is not just a Disney issue.

Just so you'll know, even without housekeeping, someone else does come into your room every day, since AFAIK WDW still has daily room checks. At least they still did when I was there in May.

 

[Disneytam]

when we stayed at Boulder Ridge last fall for a week our room was never touched. We had twin 2 year old's with our group so the rooms really did need a good vacuum! We would have been happy to clean up the mess but there wasn't a vacuum or even a broom in the rooms. We even carried our own garbage out a couple of mornings.

 

[DisneyGuy]

Stayed at WL 2 months ago for 6 nights. Room wasn't touched. Had to call for towels, soap, etc. every few days. Shampoo / body wash pumps were not working.

This is very concerning - We have reservations for early next year and at $500+ a night, this sounds awful. I'm really hoping to see some changes made.

 

[LAPULAPU4U]

Okay…so I’m sure some of you are already thinking this, but, how long before there starts to be some significant effects (and by that I mean bugs/rodents?lol) regarding the less frequent cleaning and excess garbage in the rooms and hallways. I have to wonder if they are also cutting back on extermination policies? I am terrified of bugs!!!

 

[Jen81NYC]

So I guess I am packing wipes to wipe down my toilet every now and then? I have kids. Boys. No matter what, they just aren't as tidy as I'd like them to be. Staying in a Deluxe resort so this is disappointing.

Yes, exactly, that’s my concern

This is very concerning - We have reservations for early next year and at $500+ a night, this sounds awful. I'm really hoping to see some changes made.

I don’t know if it does anything, but I emailed Disney a month or two ago to urge them to bring back full housekeeping for those who want it. Maybe worth doing that?