Ok, what the heck is turndown service?

[shelle94]

Can you tell I've never stayed in a fancy hotel? I keep seeing people ask about it. What the heck is it?

Thanks.
Michelle

 

[Seahunt]

When the maid or room attendant comes back later in the day and "turns down" the bedspread and gets the bed ready for you to sleep in. Sometimes puts wrapped chocolates on the pillows for a sweet treat, and sometimes leaves a cute towel animal (sculpture made of towels) for you. Used to be regular service in deluxe hotels, but with cutbacks you now have to ask for this service sometimes. Tips are expected for this service now too, up to you of course though.

 

[susy]

They also bring clean towels and just freshen up the room a bit. Can't wait for turndown at the WL!!!

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi - they also may bring fresh towels and straighten your room up - just a bit.

They also turn the lights on and quite often the radio or the TV and leave the remote "tucked" in for you. When you arrive back your room is so cozy.

If you have kids often they will arranged their toys in cute ways to surprise them.. turndown service is a treat.

>>^..^<<

 

[DebbieB]

When we stayed at GF in 1999, they also put ice in the ice bucket for you, which I thought was nice! I saved the little poems they left with the chocolates.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Originally posted by susy
They also bring clean towels and just freshen up the room a bit. Can't wait for turndown at the WL!!!

Thank you! I asked for turndown service last year in Santa Monica and they looked at me like I was crazy. I knew I wasn't crazy! They only reluctantly turned down the bed and put out those stale round peppermint hard candies.

I only request turndown in order to get fresh towels and the trash dumped. Who need stale candy or a turned down bed cover? So of course if that was all they did it would be crazy. I tried to explain, but they acted like they didn't speak English. Eventually one woman came in and did a *full* clean of the bathroom, which made me feel even more stupid for asking.

That's what I get for experiencing perfect turndown service at the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco and then assuming it would be the same the next place I stayed! (You know what they say about assuming.)

Btw, just spoke to DH, who stayed across the street from that hotel on business last week and said they automatically did turndown; he didn't even have to ask. So evidentally it's not like some weird Santa Monica thing that no one does.

As stated in a different post, however, I have never seen towel animals on any Disney stay, even the cruise, regardless of turndown. (And our cruise steward never gave us ice, either, despite a direst request, btw.)

 

[Gamer]

Would I need to request this at the Poly, or is it standard?

 

[Disneyluver4Life]

Is turndown service only for concierge guests?? If not, how much does it cost. Also would I have to ask at check in at the contemporary for this type of service. Thanks for all your help

 

[Sweethappiness]

is this only at certain resorts? or can i get it at any of them??

 

[Janet2k]

I've got a few photos of turndown service from a few of the WDW resorts:

Grand Floridian's turndown service

Contemporary Resort's turndown service

Yacht Club's turndown service

Animal Kingdom Lodge's turndown service (Master Bedroom)

Animal Kingdom Lodge's turndown service (Second Bedroom)

Animal Kingdom Lodge's turndown service (Parlor Room)

 

[Janet2k]

With a concierge room or suite, turndown service is supposed to be automatic (that is, you do not need to specifically request it). However, I have found my rooms/suites not turned-down during portions of my vacations (I know that Ducklite and others here on the Dis have found the same thing).

I have read that turndown service may be requested if you are staying in a standard room at one of the deluxe resorts. I would assume that the Housekeeping Staff would try their best to honor your request (but if they are under-staffed or very busy, they might not be able to do so).

 

[MrsPete]

Personally, this is a service that I just don't care a hoot about.

 

[disneychrista]

It was automatic at the Grand Floridian in December. My girls were tickled to find the chocolates.

We did not however get it at the AKL in a standard savannah room.

 

[RickinNYC]

Is there an additional charge to your room for turn down service or it simply something you have to request and they'd do?

 

[kda]

There's no charge, but consider leaving a tip (don't want to turn this into a big discussion on 'to tip' or 'not to tip', so I'll leave it at that). When you check into a deluxe resort and get the resort newsletter describing features and services there, I believe there's usually a small section mentioning it's available by calling housekeeping.

 

[dianna112198]

Gamer: I stayed at the Poly last year for seven days in a regular garden view room and they did do this once for me. I have to say I was completely shocked because it added such a nice touch to the room and it was completely unexpected. (I thought only the people staying in the concienrge rooms got the turndown service.) Unless you are staying in the concierge rooms, you will most likely have to request it.

 

[phyllis1966]

I think I have read in other threads that the GF is the only resort offering turndown service (without specifically requesting it) in all standard rooms. We had it every night of our October 2002 stay, and our DD (3 1/2 at the time) was thrilled to find her beanies (which she brought from home) arranged in different ways and places each night. Very sweet and cozy to come "home" to.

 

[SeaSpray]

We had turn down service while at the GF and didn't have to request it. We were in Boca Chica, in a Lagoon view room. Had a great view of the castle, too!

I have a picture on my website of how our beds looked each evening. Click on my "family vacations" link below, then click on the "Grand Floridian" link, then scroll down to the page and you'll see it.

I agree that coming back to your room at the end of the day and seeing it straightened up with the beds turned down, is a great thing

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Pixie_Dust
As stated in a different post, however, I have never seen towel animals on any Disney stay, even the cruise, regardless of turndown. (And our cruise steward never gave us ice, either, despite a direst request, btw.)

Wow! That's too bad We got towel animals every night, and they were pretty intricate! We got ice twice a day, and never even asked for it! It came in handy the night DS fell down the stairs coming from Common Grounds. I think it was the only time on the entire cruise that we used it!

Anne

 

[RickinNYC]

Originally posted by kda
There's no charge, but consider leaving a tip (don't want to turn this into a big discussion on 'to tip' or 'not to tip', so I'll leave it at that). When you check into a deluxe resort and get the resort newsletter describing features and services there, I believe there's usually a small section mentioning it's available by calling housekeeping.

No worries on tipping from me! In fact, unless we receive less than adequate service, we tend to overtip by quite a bit, whether for waiters, baggage handlers, drivers, maid service, etc... These folks have a pretty exhausting and at times, rather thankless, job and we try to do our best to make sure they know how much we appreciate them.

Yes, yes, sounds hokey.