Let's discuss housekeeping

[Mousemommy1]

Ok, so this is not meant to be a controversial thread. I simply want to address a sentiment that I have seen expressed from many Dis'rs regarding poor standards in housekeeping at Disney.

Here's my issue. I'll be honest and say that most of the posts I've seen with complaints about truly poor housekeeping tend to be associated with some of the most expensive Disney resorts!!! This year we are staying at the Poly for the first time, having only stayed in values and CBR in the past.

I have never had a bad room at Disney in values and at CBR, and I would expect the same at the Deluxe resorts. What is going on??? It really makes me question why I am spending the money for often expressed mediocrity.

I know you should only take these reports with a grain of salt, yada, yada, yada, but it seems to be an issue reported more and more these days.

Thoughts? Your recent experiences?

 

[dworldlovers]

We stayed at the Beach Club this past January and it was our first time at a deluxe resort. We LOVED BC and will go back on our next trip!! Mousekeeping was fantastic the week we were there. As noted in the room, sheets are changed every few days for longer stays. Most of us don't change ours' at home every day, do we?? They do make the beds daily however!! The bath room was very well cleaned daily and shampoos, etc... stocked daily also. I was quite sick for 1 1/2 days while we were there (not Disney's fault) and couldn't physically leave the room. My wife spoke to mousekeeping and they were wonderful. Extra supplies were delivered promptly and they respected my privacy. The day I felt better was not a sheet-change day, but they did one for us as requested. All in all, we thought our room was very well cared for by mousekeeping!!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've never had a bad housekeeping experience at either the mods or the deluxes. I haven't stayed at any of the values.

I think you are perceiving that most of the complaints about poor housekeeping are coming from people staying at the deluxes. I've seen an equal number at least of complaints about housekeeping at the mods. Or perhaps you don't expect there to be any complaints about housekeeping at the most expensive resorts. Or perhaps the complaints from people staying at the deluxes are truly more numerous (I honestly haven't noticed that), but it's because they are more likely to complain since they are paying so much for the deluxe resorts.

I don't think that housekeeping is truly worse at the deluxes than at the other levels of resorts.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I've never had a bad housekeeping experience at either the mods or the deluxes. I haven't stayed at any of the values.

I think you are perceiving that most of the complaints about poor housekeeping are coming from people staying at the deluxes. I've seen an equal number at least of complaints about housekeeping at the mods. Or perhaps you don't expect there to be any complaints about housekeeping at the most expensive resorts. Or perhaps the complaints from people staying at the deluxes are truly more numerous (I honestly haven't noticed that), but it's because they are more likely to complain since they are paying so much for the deluxe resorts. I don't think that housekeeping is truly worse at the deluxes than at the other levels of resorts.

This could certainly be the case, and admittedly, since we are getting ready for our first deluxe stay, I have been paying more attention to the deluxe resort threads...

I do remember all of the bad reviews about housekeeping at CBR prior to our stay there last year, and our room was great - housekeeping was really wonderful! So again, I know to take the reviews with a grain of salt.

I feel like Disney is known for their customer service and wouldn't want their customers staying in under par rooms, at least I like to think so...and that if we did end up in a yucko room, they would move us...

I agree though, the more money I am spending, the more I become concerned about these things.

 

[WDWFan00]

I have learned this from experience, almost no hotel room at WDW or probably really anywhere, will be actually really clean. For example, it seems that the alarm clock in the resort rooms that we have stayed in have always been dusty or the sliding glass doors have finger prints on them. Once at the Wilderness Lodge there was a old sock in the corner of the room. But we have experienced issues at other levels as well. For example at All Star Sports our room had a pile of crumbled fritos on the floor that were not from us.

I think as one other person mentioned it is because of the price that people pay for the deluxe resorts. With the expensive price of a deluxe resort, one would expect their room to be clean but sometimes this is not the case. Last april when we stayed at the Grand Floridian our room was so dusty that there were clumps of dust being blown from the ceiling fan onto the pillows on the bed. Now paying $500.00 a night, it would be nice for the room to be clean. Some people don't have a problem with their room being a tad bit dusty or dirty and others are sensitive to it. I can see both points, but from personal experience and having stayed at a deluxe resort many times, I can see why some are upset that their rooms are not up to standard.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I'll be honest, we as a family are not hotel experts. The bulk of our hotel stays have been at Disney, with 1 Hampton Inn, and a couple of hotel stays for work thrown in there. I haven't noticed that Disney hotels are any better or worse than the very few other hotels we have stayed at. I guess I am wondering if people who are more experienced travelers have a better basis for comparison than we do????

Again, we have not had what we considered to be a bad room at Disney.

 

[rib837]

I had an issue when we stayed in Bay Lake Tower for the first time. As a DVC member and getting to stay in your home resort for the first time, you are excited. Not to mention this is one of the newest resorts. When we got there we were slightly disappointed. There was a huge stain on the arm of the couch, and also there was a sticky mess on the end table next to it. This was not something that was not hidden... it was in plain sight. We could not believe that this was overlooked. It showed that the Mousekeeper was doing a fast job, and over looked that. The carpet was also soaked in our closet in the bedroom. Naturally I go down to the Front desk and I am a nice as I can be even though I am fuming inside (I have learned you get more when you are nice, and not mean), and they had the issue resolved later on.

 

[ols386]

None of the rooms at Disney are cleaned THOROUGHLY on a daily basis. I suspect this would be the case for most hotels/resorts.

Maybe they do a thorough clean of rooms on a periodic basis..not really sure.

They mostly make the beds, clean the bathrooms, and leave shampoo/towels daily (or clean towels, whenever you need them).

And they vacuum after someone has checked out, before the next guest checks-in.

It does bug me when I see tons of finger prints and large smears on the mirrors or windows (especially the large patio windows, because it is so obvious.)

I can understand why they don't clean thoroughly all the time, it would just be too time-consuming.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

This could certainly be the case, and admittedly, since we are getting ready for our first deluxe stay, I have been paying more attention to the deluxe resort threads...

I do remember all of the bad reviews about housekeeping at CBR prior to our stay there last year, and our room was great - housekeeping was really wonderful! So again, I know to take the reviews with a grain of salt. I feel like Disney is known for their customer service and wouldn't want their customers staying in under par rooms, at least I like to think so...and that if we did end up in a yucko room, they would move us...

I agree though, the more money I am spending, the more I become concerned about these things.

It's probably the same issue now. You pay more attention to the posts that are more closely related to your upcoming trip. There could still be the same number of posts about CBR, but you aren't noticing them as much because you aren't looking for them.

If you get a room that isn't up to your standards, go to the front desk and explain the issue. They can try to move you, or at least call housekeeping and ask that they clean the room again.

 

[rock_doctor]

Ok, so this is not meant to be a controversial thread. I simply want to address a sentiment that I have seen expressed from many Dis'rs regarding poor standards in housekeeping at Disney.

I have the opposite view. Every bad room i have gotten has been at a value and all of our (DVC) deluxe rooms have been just fine. The last time (and this is why it was a last time) we went into our room and the carpets were wet and there were hand prints on the bathroom walls. I will not bother to tell you what the hand prints were printed in.... I would not worry about it. Get your room and run over check it out. Then you can go back and complain w/o having to deal with your luggage. I suspect you will find your room clean and nice.

 

[Mousemommy1]

It's probably the same issue now. You pay more attention to the posts that are more closely related to your upcoming trip. There could still be the same number of posts about CBR, but you aren't noticing them as much because you aren't looking for them.

If you get a room that isn't up to your standards, go to the front desk and explain the issue. They can try to move you, or at least call housekeeping and ask that they clean the room again.

I agree with this. And, the way I am, I seem to forget about the 3 previous reviews that said the rooms were fine, and then just focus on the negative one. It's how I'm built I guess. I just need to breathe.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I have the opposite view. Every bad room i have gotten has been at a value and all of our (DVC) deluxe rooms have been just fine. The last time (and this is why it was a last time) we went into our room and the carpets were wet and there were hand prints on the bathroom walls. I will not bother to tell you what the hand prints were printed in.... I would not worry about it. Get your room and run over check it out. Then you can go back and complain w/o having to deal with your luggage. I suspect you will find your room clean and nice.

Oh boy! ***shudders***

 

[*Fantasia*]

Whether if I pay deluxe money or value money, I will certainly complain if my room is dirty on arrival or during the stay. I wouldn't complain less just because I am staying at the value.. or complain much more because I am paying more at the deluxe. When you stay at Disney or at any resort for that matter, no one should stay at a dirty, unsanitized room. And whether it is a value resort or deluxe resort, Disney should have a clean sanitized room all around. Luckily I haven't had any problems with the housekeeping at any of my stays. And I hope it stays that way.

 

[ols386]

I have the opposite view. Every bad room i have gotten has been at a value and all of our (DVC) deluxe rooms have been just fine. The last time (and this is why it was a last time) we went into our room and the carpets were wet and there were hand prints on the bathroom walls. I will not bother to tell you what the hand prints were printed in.... I would not worry about it. Get your room and run over check it out. Then you can go back and complain w/o having to deal with your luggage. I suspect you will find your room clean and nice.

I think there are rooms at all levels that can have cleanliness issues.

Our room at BWV wasn't exactly the cleanest room I've ever stayed in. All kinds of old, dried food prints on the microwave, fridge, and counter tops. You didn't have to inspect it closely to see it. It was obvious. Just sloppy housekeeping when it comes to this kind of stuff, imo.

You can find issues at values and mods, as well. That's why I say, I think it is at all levels.

 

[MNDisneyChick]

My recent stays were at the Poly (Feb 11), Boardwalk (Dec 11) and AKL (Feb 12) and all my rooms were clean and very well maintained during my stay. I have been staying on Disney property for years (since I was a child in the 90s) and do not remember EVER having housekeeping issues.

 

[gert]

Once I checked into a room at a Ramada and there was an old pizza box in the room. Complete with old, moldy half-eaten pizza. The rest of the room was immacuately clean, though, which was weird.

I went to the front desk, and was moved to a different room. This one had a dirty sock in the floor that smelled worse than the pizza.

So my non-Disney experiences are probably coloring my opinion when I say that Disney Housekeeping is SPECTACULAR. I've stayed in values, mods, & deluxes, and I've never had a problem with the cleanliness. I've also throughly enjoyed returning to the rooms to see what new thing mousekeeping had cooked up for us - decorative towels, stuffed animals positioned throughout the room... and once, at BWI, my daughter's plushy Eeyore using the toilet, complete with toilet paper in his hand.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Once I checked into a room at a Ramada and there was an old pizza box in the room. Complete with old, moldy half-eaten pizza. The rest of the room was immacuately clean, though, which was weird.

I went to the front desk, and was moved to a different room. This one had a dirty sock in the floor that smelled worse than the pizza.

So my non-Disney experiences are probably coloring my opinion when I say that Disney Housekeeping is SPECTACULAR. I've stayed in values, mods, & deluxes, and I've never had a problem with the cleanliness. I've also throughly enjoyed returning to the rooms to see what new thing mousekeeping had cooked up for us - decorative towels, stuffed animals positioned throughout the room... and once, at BWI, my daughter's plushy Eeyore using the toilet, complete with toilet paper in his hand.

Oh how cute!! I would have loved to see a picture of Eeyore using the toilet..

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't specifically use courtesy as a means of getting extra service..but simply put, I find I get what I sow, especially at WDW. Instead of complaining about flaws, (and walking into the hotel room expecting them) try praising the staff for what they did right.

Really!

**************************************
Most of our Disney rooms have been quite clean - at least as compared to the average hotel room. We've been to WDW many times, and have stayed at every resort on property except the DVC rooms, ASp, and Ft. Wilderness.

Periodically, I have found there to be a stray hair here or there and a little dirt behind the bathroom door is not impossible, but overall my experience has been positive.

The small amount of stuff we've found has mostly been at the value resorts. The only deluxe room we ever had any issue with was at CR. Once we stayed at the top level of CR, just before the rooms were refurbished - and our room was in need of refurbishment. I don't question that some Disney rooms are in need of refurbishment.

I say that in any resort, if you REALLY look in the corners and crevices of the room you are going to find a bit of dirt. One should also be careful about walking ANY resort room barefoot or in white socks. That is one reason why I often pick a newer resort or a refurbished room. But then you run the almost certain chance of exposing yourself to the industrial chemicals used in paint, carpeting, etc.


One little mentioned option with regards to Didney is that they do offer a special allergy cleaning. If you have a medical concern like asthma or allergies, you can request a special allergy cleaning. Agian, they aren't going to scrub every corner, but they will make and extra effort to use an air purifier in the room. It also takes extra time, so don't expect to have your room ready at 9am.

Along similar lilnes....I'll add that one of the CLEANEST resort rooms I've seen recently was the Hyatt right in the Orlando airport! It is a great place to spend a night if you have an early flight.

I once did housekeeping at a hotel for one day. It is a miserable job. Disney is probably a tiny step up above the average hotel room...but the way some folks treat hotel rooms is really horrible. In just one day, I saw some truly disgusting things I never want to see again. Please consider that someone - a real person - is going to have to clean up your mess!


Along those lines...I'm not discussing tipping as we are not supposed to discuss it- but there are MANY ways to show appreciation. Simply thanking staff you see in the hallway, saying excuse me when you pass, please when you wish to have something, smiling, requires minimal effort. But even that is too much for many to muster. Many guests treat staff as though they are Untouchables. Ugh! Really, a little courtesy and respect goes a long way!

I don't specifically use courtesy as a means of getting extra service..but simply put, I find I get what I sow, especially at WDW. Instead of complaining about flaws, (and walking into the hotel room expecting them) try praising the staff for what they did right. If you do, you may find, as I often do - that staff is willing to go out of their way to make your visit special.

Really!

 

[mickeynut1]

We've stayed at one mod and all but 3 deluxes and every stay has been great and we've never had any complaints about our rooms or housekeeping. I agree with others that we tend to focus on reviews of a resort we're trying for the first time and often find more of the negative. When I booked us for our first Poly stay, I read alot of negative reviews and thought about changing resorts many times. I decided to stick with it and it turned out to be one of our best trips!!! We've never had a bad trip to Disney, but reading about all of the negative things about the Poly, I didn't know what we were in for. But I will say that I am very glad I kept my ressie because I would probably still be wondering today what it would have been like. With that said, I tend to take reviews with a grain of salt as everyone's opinion is different and people will usually post about a bad experience before they post about a good one.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We've stayed at one mod and all but 3 deluxes and every stay has been great and we've never had any complaints about our rooms or housekeeping. I agree with others that we tend to focus on reviews of a resort we're trying for the first time and often find more of the negative. When I booked us for our first Poly stay, I read alot of negative reviews and thought about changing resorts many times. I decided to stick with it and it turned out to be one of our best trips!!! We've never had a bad trip to Disney, but reading about all of the negative things about the Poly, I didn't know what we were in for. But I will say that I am very glad I kept my ressie because I would probably still be wondering today what it would have been like. With that said, I tend to take reviews with a grain of salt as everyone's opinion is different and people will usually post about a bad experience before they post about a good one.

I know that the Poly is your favorite! And, per your sig, it looks like you stayed there in 2007, so apparently the whole bad review thing has been going on for quite some time. But I do know there have been many more good reviews and that 97% of the reviewers on All Ears recommend staying there...so it can't be all bad.