Is it me, or is MouseKeeping slipping?

[bavaria]

I do the daily, and if I have been there for a longer period with the same mousekeeper, or someone gave me extra special service, I try and do something extra.

Last time it was finding out the person's name by calling her manager and describing her in detail, and then leaving her a large tip in a handmade Christmas card. I've also left things like Target gift cards in past for something extra special. (Once at POR I received a birthday gift early from my friend, and left the gift bag in the room. The mousekeeper must have seen the 'happy birthday' on the bag, because when I came back there was a birthday card to me from all the characters!)

 

[Deesknee]

in mid 90's had poor hskeeping at Poly. Last July hated POR because it was "dirty", but thinking of it now I think we just had a room in need of renovating.
Other than these 2 instances we have always had great hskeeping. (Cont 2x, BW villa, OKW 3x)
I was so disappointed with POR it was the first time since we had kids we stayed at a moderate resort. I labeled myself a hotel snob. Reading this & many other threads have made me realize I think I just got a bad room.

 

[bavaria]

My newly reno'd room was GREAT. I spend a LOT of time in hotel rooms and I loved this one. It is a little frou frou in decor but fits the theming.

The new beds at Disney are better than Starwood and Marriott's in my opinion.

The room was also a 'smart' design with extra hooks, etc for families.

Trust me, a new room at POR is great.

Just sad how quickly hotel rooms in resort areas lose the 'newness' - I know that people are on vacation, but it's disappointing to see huge stains on the floor, chunks taken out of the walls, etc because people didn't take a little care.....

 

[glencoe]

I agree and always tip everyday. I feel better about my toothbrush that way !

OMG!!! I never thought of that!!!!!! I agree tipping everyday, unfortunatley I think we are in a time where people expect instant gratification and I am sure it motivates them too!! We are at the Poly soon and I hope all goes well!

 

[livcammom]

docsknotinn Why did you have to put that thought into my mind

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

18 rooms!!! that's unbelievable. I think is asking too much of its Mousekeeping staff because as previously noted that does not leave much time to clean a room (and I'm sure some rooms require more work than others). It might explain why the rooms aren't as clean as we would like them to be. I know we try to keep our room as neat as possible and every morning before we leave for the parks, we put all our towels in one place and the garbage cans together.

As for the tipping, we used to tip at the end of our stay but the last time we went I tipped everyday because I had read on the message board that the mousekeepers do change. I even managed to find a thread with a link to print "Mousekeeping" tip envelopes.

 

[Docsknotinn]

LOL, sorry it was a bad joke that someone once told me. I've tipped every day since !

 

[eeyore0062]

Originally Posted by Docsknotinn
I agree and always tip everyday. I feel better about my toothbrush that way !

Oh ewwwww! I seem to remember that on an episode of Big Brother when one of the houseguests made another mad.

Regardless, we always tip daily, anyway... but I will NEVER FORGET to tip!

 

[DMRick]

Depends, if we start out tipping daily and the service is mediocre, I have found that holding back fixes that. If we are staying at POR and get our fav gal (I think she said she's been there 17 years (at Disney in one resort or another), we tip all at once at the end, once we make sure she'll be there. She must be well liked, because for her birthday last June, her cart had several gifts on it, one was from us! I can't think of her name, but she does building 17.

 

[Momto8]

18 rooms!!! that's unbelievable. I think is asking too much of its Mousekeeping staff because as previously noted that does not leave much time to clean a room (and I'm sure some rooms require more work than others). It might explain why the rooms aren't as clean as we would like them to be. I know we try to keep our room as neat as possible and every morning before we leave for the parks, we put all our towels in one place and the garbage cans together.

I agree. It is asking too much. Cleaning room a hotel room is hard work, let alone cleaning 18 rooms. I keep thinking did I hear her correctly?? My DH told me again last night she said 18 rooms. I also believe that's a big part of the problem. Disney has stretched their staff so tight, they don't have the time to do as thorough of a job as they should be doing.

Also we tip every day because of the fact that the same mousekeeper might not be there at the end of our stay.

 

[Cinderella37]

We had the same type of "cleaning" at the GF on our last there in July 2003. That was a big part of the reason it was our last stay at the GF. We found the housekeeping slipping each year we were there. We didn't have chewed gum, though, we had an old mint. Even after management was notified three times and visited at the Front Desk once, we checked out 11 days later with the same dirt in the room, as well as holes in the sheets and tons of trash on the floor (beads, some other sort of unidentifiable objects). We've stayed at the BWI ever since and have been thrilled with housekeeping (and every other aspect).

Let Guest Services know that you did adress your concernes while you were there. Part of the problem in WDW is that some of the management isn't very willing to make things right. I actually told the housekeeping manager that I would vacuum the carpet if they gave me one to use (didn't get a vacuum, nor a vacuuming).

 

[luvthatduke]

Thought I'd pipe in on the number of rooms.
I'm sure you heard correctly!
I was a housekeeper for a large hotel years ago
as a teenager, and 15-18 rooms was typical each day.
Back then we got paid $3.00 per room - no hourly wage.
Add to that, each room had TWO KING BEDS,
and of course the sheets were not fitted.
So, I ruined my back changing 30+ huge beds per day,
lifting them up, etc. to get "hospital corners."

We were permitted to leave once the
head housekeeper had checked our rooms.
Sometimes we got our rooms done in 6 hours,
sometimes 8-9 hours, depending.
A lot depended on whether or not the guests
were still in their rooms, & late checkouts were frustrating!
Sometimes, too, the laundry room was backed up
& we had to wait for towels & washcloths.
But, it was a job...