Mousekeeping getting an 'overhaul'..

[bumbershoot]

At Disney I always follow the money. I'm betting some bean counter realized towel animals take X seconds to make, and if you multiply that by 30K rooms, they could save Y number of hours and Z number of dollars.

And, as I've seen many times here on the Dis, people think it's OK to take them! So now they're losing towels, too. Weird!!!

 

[NH-to-FL]

I am pleased to hear about this overhaul. It indicates that Disney is listening and willing to respond. And that there will be hiring in addition to the high tech dispatch system.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I am pleased to hear about this overhaul. It indicates that Disney is listening and willing to respond.

It's been a problem for a long time, but: the remedy happening is better late than never.

 

[goofy4tink]

And, as I've seen many times here on the Dis, people think it's OK to take them! So now they're losing towels, too. Weird!!!

Seriously? Yes, they are a gift from your housekeeper! I've asked at least 5 different housekeepers, at different resorts. Always got the same answer...'Oh, those are for you, to take home!'
Some housekeepers made them up at home. Others did it in the room. When my dd was much younger, she was told to choose one to bring home. The rest were left behind. The housekeepers probably took them and left them in other guest rooms.

 

[Nancyg56]

Seriously? Yes, they are a gift from your housekeeper! I've asked at least 5 different housekeepers, at different resorts. Always got the same answer...'Oh, those are for you, to take home!'
Some housekeepers made them up at home. Others did it in the room. When my dd was much younger, she was told to choose one to bring home. The rest were left behind. The housekeepers probably took them and left them in other guest rooms.

We were told the same thing by the manager of housekeeping at the Poly. They were east as gifts.

At CBR the Mousekeepers actually had a table set up in Old Port Royale making them and handing them out to guests. I get so irritated when people who do nto work in DIsney and are happy as clams to take any perk they are offered, but feel the need to scold others when they are grifter with a little animal a Mousekeeper has been empowered to give.

 

[GingerPilot]

That's fine, but at what you pay to stay on property at WDW, I shouldn't have to track down my housekeeper to make sure my room is cleaned well or cleaned at all. Excellent housekeeping at a resort like WDW should just be the norm. Like it is at the Four Seasons.

Two years ago we stayed at the Four Seasons and it was fantastic and flawless. We went back last year and housekeeping had gone downhill. Not horrific , but not four seasons standards. They said it was challenging to find staff, but obviously no excuse. They may be increasing competition, but they're not perfect either.


That being said, I have no desire to stay on property at CR or GF like we did before the Four Seasons.

 

[Aurora0427]

Two years ago we stayed at the Four Seasons and it was fantastic and flawless. We went back last year and housekeeping had gone downhill. Not horrific , but not four seasons standards. They said it was challenging to find staff, but obviously no excuse. They may be increasing competition, but they're not perfect either.


That being said, I have no desire to stay on property at CR or GF like we did before the Four Seasons.

Which FS? Orlando? We've never stayed at the Orlando location. I meant FS in general. They've always been perfect! Too bad about Orlando.

 

[ErinsMommy]

And, as I've seen many times here on the Dis, people think it's OK to take them! So now they're losing towels, too. Weird!!!

Really?? How odd.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Seriously? Yes, they are a gift from your housekeeper! I've asked at least 5 different housekeepers, at different resorts. Always got the same answer...'Oh, those are for you, to take home!'
Some housekeepers made them up at home. Others did it in the room. When my dd was much younger, she was told to choose one to bring home. The rest were left behind. The housekeepers probably took them and left them in other guest rooms.

We were told the same thing by the manager of housekeeping at the Poly. They were east as gifts.

At CBR the Mousekeepers actually had a table set up in Old Port Royale making them and handing them out to guests. I get so irritated when people who do nto work in DIsney and are happy as clams to take any perk they are offered, but feel the need to scold others when they are grifter with a little animal a Mousekeeper has been empowered to give.

I'm sorry but this is just odd to me -- when we stayed at Turks & Caicos late last year they made towel animals for us each day but never thought to take them home as when I went to move one, the thing fell apart so not sure why one would think to take it home. They're just towels??

 

[Disney_traveler]

To those that keep harping to NOT call housekeeping and you MUST go to the front desk. This is not always the case. One night during Spring Break we got back to our room late at Coronado Springs. We had left a note that the batteries were dead in the tv remote, please change them. We returned to a completely different remote, held together by used scotch tape (you know how it looks fuzzy from being peeled off something) and it also didn't work. We didn't want to trek up there at midnight so we called. Within 10 minutes we had someone there at our room with several remotes and batteries. I am guessing it was a manager of some sort. She took one look at the remote and told us that was a remote from the old tvs. She gave us the correct remote and it worked great from their on out.

I'm still glad about this change though. I don't know if it is lack of pride in their job or lack of happiness with their pay. Either way they need some retraining. It also might be beneficial to ensure they speak at least English. Many times when I have needed something and approached one working I am told "No English".

 

[Beer Me]

I'm sorry but this is just odd to me -- when we stayed at Turks & Caicos late last year they made towel animals for us each day but never thought to take them home as when I went to move one, the thing fell apart so not sure why one would think to take it home. They're just towels??

I know this is getting off topic but I agree. How do you keep a towel animal? Even if you don't touch them they start to lose their shape. It would be silly to put it in a suitcase. By the time you're home it's just a wadded up towel.

One of the coolest special things housekeeping has done didn't involve towels. When my kids had some Disney stuffed animals they would arrange them different ways every day. One day we got back to the room and the whole gang was at the end of the bed watching cartoons on tv. Loved it.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I know this is getting off topic but I agree. How do you keep a towel animal? Even if you don't touch them they start to lose their shape. It would be silly to put it in a suitcase. By the time you're home it's just a wadded up towel.

No they aren't. At least not all of them.

We've had a mouse, not a Mickey, a mouse, since 2012. It was made from a washcloth, a rubber band and sticker eyes. It was adorable and it reminds us of a very special trip. It is still together, although I have replaced the band.

Edit to add: We also kept what I think was a boat, a steamboat. It was also adorable. We packed it, and kept it for a long while. I'm not sure what happened to it. So I can't say if it is still together.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm sorry but this is just odd to me -- when we stayed at Turks & Caicos late last year they made towel animals for us each day but never thought to take them home as when I went to move one, the thing fell apart so not sure why one would think to take it home. They're just towels??

Yes, they are 'just towels'. But, to a little kid, they're kind of magical. And that's the point! The housekeepers are trying to add something to your stay, they tell you to please take the TAs with you. When my dd was much younger, we would choose one small one and stick it in her bag.

I know this is getting off topic but I agree. How do you keep a towel animal? Even if you don't touch them they start to lose their shape. It would be silly to put it in a suitcase. By the time you're home it's just a wadded up towel.

One of the coolest special things housekeeping has done didn't involve towels. When my kids had some Disney stuffed animals they would arrange them different ways every day. One day we got back to the room and the whole gang was at the end of the bed watching cartoons on tv. Loved it.

Some of the smaller ones are actually pretty well put together. Those are the types we would take home. Dd has a row of about 8 of them sitting on her bookshelf.
I've also loved returning to our room to find dd's stuffed bear posed in some funny or cute way.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Some of the smaller ones are actually pretty well put together. Those are the types we would take home. Dd has a row of about 8 of them sitting on her bookshelf.

I've also loved returning to our room to find dd's stuffed bear posed in some funny or cute way.

I suppose that's the part where I've missed out - all the towel animals we've gotten or seen you can't lift them without them falling apart into a pile of cloth.

As for the 2nd part my daughter also loved coming back to see 'what the troublemaker (her stuffed animal) was up to" as well.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm sorry but this is just odd to me -- when we stayed at Turks & Caicos late last year they made towel animals for us each day but never thought to take them home as when I went to move one, the thing fell apart so not sure why one would think to take it home. They're just towels??

The little animals that were made for my DGD were adorable. My DD still has the ones that were given to Kady. Kady loved coming back to see if she had a new one somewhere, and they were left in different locations throughout our stay.

I suppose that's the part where I've missed out - all the towel animals we've gotten or seen you can't lift them without them falling apart into a pile of cloth.

As for the 2nd part my daughter also loved coming back to see 'what the troublemaker (her stuffed animal) was up to" as well.

Kady's were put together with glue and elastics.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I suppose that's the part where I've missed out - all the towel animals we've gotten or seen you can't lift them without them falling apart into a pile of cloth.

As for the 2nd part my daughter also loved coming back to see 'what the troublemaker (her stuffed animal) was up to" as well.

Back when they would make them, we generally got at least one that could be packed. Sometimes we got a "Packable" one every day.

Now, we get the Mickey head on the bed. That one would fall apart if you tried to pack it. And I don't know where I would put it, if I tried to take it home.

 

[disneynutz]

I suppose that's the part where I've missed out - all the towel animals we've gotten or seen you can't lift them without them falling apart into a pile of cloth.

As for the 2nd part my daughter also loved coming back to see 'what the troublemaker (her stuffed animal) was up to" as well.

Machine washing them messes them up also!

Bill

 

[ErinsMommy]

We never got one of those packable ones - although my daughters room cluttered with Disney everything probably is thankful.

 

[GingerPilot]

Which FS? Orlando? We've never stayed at the Orlando location. I meant FS in general. They've always been perfect! Too bad about Orlando.

Yes, FS Orlando. Though we've stayed at quite a few other FS properties too, and are booking FS London for June. Four Seasons Orlando has such an amazing property though and amenities. I'd stay there again just for the bar despite the subpar housekeeping. They did admit their services were not up the standard though, so at least they knew and were addressing the issue. Was just talking with my family tonight about potentially planning a trip to WDW just to stay at the Four Seasons again! (We are DL people at heart)