Mousekeeping

[Lilsia]

I really don’t understand how Disney is still getting away with no housekeeping. Maybe they need to pay better. I stayed in 3 hotels in 3 different states last year and all had daily housekeeping and cost less than my room will cost at AKL. Im hoping things will change by our trip in August.

I think that a huge part of it is that they need so many housekeepers. Hotels like the Hyatt, have an average of about 175 rooms per hotel. And now compare that to the WDW resorts. This is not a case of them needed to hire 10 more housekeepers, they need hundreds. WDW has about 36,000 hotel rooms. Even at half occupancy and all of the housekeepers are super housekeepers and can do the 18 rooms per day(which is a lot), they would need 1000 housekeepers a day, every day. And this is a job that is hard to fill. Not only is it a physically hard job, many people think that it is beneath them and would never do it, no matter how much they pay. And let's not forget the hundreds of other hotels in the Orlando area that are hiring for housekeeping also. You can't compare a random hotel in some city to WDW resorts. I think this is more a case of there are not enough people in the work force because we are seeing shortages everywhere. We all know this.

 

[rdaky]

We always opted out of housekeeping because we don't like people in our personal space. But it is pretty well known that housekeeping is just about the worst position at Disney. Find a housekeeper who will be honest about their working conditions and you'll have a lot of compassion for them. It's a fail on Disney's part.

 

[Jen81NYC]

We always opted out of housekeeping because we don't like people in our personal space. But it is pretty well known that housekeeping is just about the worst position at Disney. Find a housekeeper who will be honest about their working conditions and you'll have a lot of compassion for them. It's a fail on Disney's part.

Absolutely. I don’t get the making of excuses for the lack of housekeeping at these very pricey hotels. If the pay was competitive (more than $17 per hour!) and they gave the workers extra fun and unique perks, it would go a long way towards alleviating the shortage. They’re purposefully not prioritizing it and it’s a bummer for the prices they’re charging. And for parents (especially moms, to stereotype) who’d love to come back to a clean room while on vacation with their messy kids.

 

[Lilsia]

Absolutely. I don’t get the making of excuses for the lack of housekeeping at these very pricey hotels. If the pay was competitive (more than $17 per hour!) and they gave the workers extra fun and unique perks, it would go a long way towards alleviating the shortage. They’re purposefully not prioritizing it and it’s a bummer for the prices they’re charging. And for parents (especially moms, to stereotype) who’d love to come back to a clean room while on vacation with their messy kids.

How much do you think that they would have to pay to get the amount of housekeepers that they need? To be clear, I feel that we are all ridiculously underpaid. But I also recognize that it is not as simple as just paying more for the job. Say they start paying housekeepers $20/hour, you will then be paying them more then food workers and managers, etc. So people think, hmm why am I working in this kitchen for $15/hour when I can go be a housekeeper. Now you have a shortage in food workers. Managers are going to need a raise because they should make more then the workers, etc. Everything is connected and affects other areas. And we still have the issue of a worker shortage. You can't just poof people into existence because you want someone to make your bed every day. And how do you know that they are not "prioritizing" hiring. They have upped the salary and are giving bonuses. They are also having job fairs. People don't want "fun and unique perks", they want money to support themselves.

 

[New Mouse]

How much do you think that they would have to pay to get the amount of housekeepers that they need? To be clear, I feel that we are all ridiculously underpaid. But I also recognize that it is not as simple as just paying more for the job. Say they start paying housekeepers $20/hour, you will then be paying them more then food workers and managers, etc. So people think, hmm why am I working in this kitchen for $15/hour when I can go be a housekeeper. Now you have a shortage in food workers. Managers are going to need a raise because they should make more then the workers, etc. Everything is connected and affects other areas. And we still have the issue of a worker shortage. You can't just poof people into existence because you want someone to make your bed every day. And how do you know that they are not "prioritizing" hiring. They have upped the salary and are giving bonuses. They are also having job fairs. People don't want "fun and unique perks", they want money to support themselves.

1. Build loyalty amongst your staff
2. Treat your staff right and pay fairly
3. Reduce profit and corporate wealth and spread it amongst the work force
4. If people want to become a housekeeper because it pays more, then what you did worked. People will then compete for those jobs.

None of this is hard, Disney just doesn't want to accept that they need to give up a % of profits to make it happen.

 

[Lilsia]

1. Build loyalty amongst your staff
2. Treat your staff right and pay fairly
3. Reduce profit and corporate wealth and spread it amongst the work force
4. If people want to become a housekeeper because it pays more, then what you did worked. People will then compete for those jobs.

None of this is hard, Disney just doesn't want to accept that they need to give up a % of profits to make it happen.

That would be a perfect world, unfortunately very, very few companies are willing to give up profit to pay their employees that well. Maybe if it gets bad enough things will change. But when you are getting up close to $20 hour with whatever tips they get, then the problem is probably not the pay. This is most likely a case of there are just not enough people in the labor pool. There are only so many people in the Orlando area that are looking for those types of jobs. And that fact that it is not a very desirable job, regardless of pay. The majority of people that do these jobs are immigrant woman. It is a physically demanding job and there is a stigma to it for many people. Not everyone feels comfortable cleaning up after others. Would you do that job? Most people would honestly answer no. You keep wanting Disney to take 100% of the blame on this and that is just not the case.

 

[TropicalDIS]

Here now on site. After 4 nights with no mousekeeping whatsoever, we complained at the front desk this morning, as I was having to put trash and recycling outside our door, and the towels were piling up. Front desk apologized profusely. Assured us it will be corrected and that it is supposed to be every other day. Gave us a credit on our account. See how things go over the weekend.

 

[ElyseInWonderland]

Guest patience for Disney's COVID-era cutbacks is wearing thin. Just look at any Disney Facebook group or message board.

Disney has nearly unlimited resources at their disposal; if they really wanted to, they could solve the Mousekeeping problem tomorrow. They're testing how much they can cut from the experience while still keeping guests coming back. I think they're approaching the end of the line.

 

[Jen81NYC]

That would be a perfect world, unfortunately very, very few companies are willing to give up profit to pay their employees that well. Maybe if it gets bad enough things will change. But when you are getting up close to $20 hour with whatever tips they get, then the problem is probably not the pay. This is most likely a case of there are just not enough people in the labor pool. There are only so many people in the Orlando area that are looking for those types of jobs. And that fact that it is not a very desirable job, regardless of pay. The majority of people that do these jobs are immigrant woman. It is a physically demanding job and there is a stigma to it for many people. Not everyone feels comfortable cleaning up after others. Would you do that job? Most people would honestly answer no. You keep wanting Disney to take 100% of the blame on this and that is just not the case.

You seem very invested in defending Disney’s housekeeping cost cutting! What an odd cause to take. There are lots of hotels and resort areas providing much better housekeeping than Disney. The rack rates of disney hotels are incredibly high—Disney was able to figure out housekeeping in the past and they’ve been in the hospitality industry a very long time. I can assure you that if they wanted to, they’d find a way to provide much better housekeeping than they do now, where apparently you have to ask several times to even get your trash taken out.

 

[Jen81NYC]

Here now on site. After 4 nights with no mousekeeping whatsoever, we complained at the front desk this morning, as I was having to put trash and recycling outside our door, and the towels were piling up. Front desk apologized profusely. Assured us it will be corrected and that it is supposed to be every other day. Gave us a credit on our account. See how things go over the weekend.

What hotel, out of curiosity? We’re staying at Poly in April and for the price, I’m frustrated that we may need to nag them about basic housekeeping while there. 4 people in a standard room can get messy quickly, unfortunately!

 

[Anna131517]

I can handle not having someone make the beds or change out my towels every day. I have no problem taking out our own trash every day - we still have one kid in pull ups and I will happily throw that out rather than let it stink up the room. However, with 3 kids and a 9 day stay I am for sure going to need to bring some Clorox wipes for the bathroom. I also hate dirty floors - has anyone had any luck getting them to vacuum your room? We’re staying at Boardwalk.

 

[SL6827]

I believe if housekeeping was to ever return to its former self, guest will be charged for it.

 

[johnnyr]

I can handle not having someone make the beds or change out my towels every day. I have no problem taking out our own trash every day - we still have one kid in pull ups and I will happily throw that out rather than let it stink up the room. However, with 3 kids and a 9 day stay I am for sure going to need to bring some Clorox wipes for the bathroom. I also hate dirty floors - has anyone had any luck getting them to vacuum your room? We’re staying at Boardwalk.

Don’t count on it. We stayed at GF for a week and had to call every day to get towels. Had to empty our own trash and put the dirty towels outside the room too. And this is their flagship resort? Beds were never made the entire trip! Unacceptable to say the least. There are plenty of other hotels off Disney property offering full housekeeping service daily and not having staffing issues. Disney chooses to keep making ridiculous excuses.

 

[glocon]

One of the biggest reasons I’m glad we don’t have a trip planned right now (except for genie) is such limited housekeeping. On vacation I don’t want to have to clean the bathroom or make the beds. I don’t want to worry about trash in my room or lining the halls. It’s just SO MUCH money for that. Maybe if the resort was free I’d be ok with it, but not if I’m paying for it. But, we have no trip planned any time soon and don’t know when we will be coming back (as much as I miss wdw) so it’s a moot point to our family.

 

[ElyseInWonderland]

Don’t count on it. We stayed at GF for a week and had to call every day to get towels. Had to empty our own trash and put the dirty towels outside the room too. And this is their flagship resort? Beds were never made the entire trip! Unacceptable to say the least. There are plenty of other hotels off Disney property offering full housekeeping service daily and not having staffing issues. Disney chooses to keep making ridiculous excuses.

Amen. We have a big family trip planned and three suites booked for 5 nights at Bay Lake tower; if housekeeping hasn't returned by then, we will switch to an offsite hotel.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I understand they are still understaffed, but I hope the lack of housekeeping is temporary and not "the new normal." They're asking $500+ for a room and we have to fight to get towels & have the bed made? Unacceptable.

Write your congressman and ask them to encourage the State Department to start issuing work and permanent residency visas again. The way out of a labor shortage is immigration, but there seems to be no receptive audience to that argument right now.

 

[GingerMermaid]

Write your congressman and ask them to encourage the State Department to start issuing work and permanent residency visas again. The way out of a labor shortage is immigration, but there seems to be no receptive audience to that argument right now.

This. Everyone thinks Disney is just sitting around with their hands in their lap. They're waiting for international work force.

 

[Vitamin D]

I can handle not having someone make the beds or change out my towels every day. I have no problem taking out our own trash every day - we still have one kid in pull ups and I will happily throw that out rather than let it stink up the room. However, with 3 kids and a 9 day stay I am for sure going to need to bring some Clorox wipes for the bathroom. I also hate dirty floors - has anyone had any luck getting them to vacuum your room? We’re staying at Boardwalk.

We haven't been to Disney since pre-covid but we have stayed at Boardwalk at least 10 times for 8 or more nights each time. We have stayed in the villas, the standard rooms, on club level, and in the garden cottages at over $1000 per night. I have never had a floor vacuumed unless I left a specific note for housekeeping requesting it next to a $10 bill.
I'm thinking your chances aren't good given the current situation, unfortunately.

 

[New Mouse]

This. Everyone thinks Disney is just sitting around with their hands in their lap. They're waiting for international work force.

That's the definition of sitting around on their hands.

At the end of the day Disney has proven to have gotten too big for what they are actually to support.

 

[KYMickey]

Write your congressman and ask them to encourage the State Department to start issuing work and permanent residency visas again. The way out of a labor shortage is immigration, but there seems to be no receptive audience to that argument right now.

That's not the solution, the solution is for them to pay respect but wage that encourages people to work for them!