Something I learned on one of our trips

[mad4minnie]

I have always just left whatever food ond/or laundry products that we left over in the room for the maids to take. Sometimes, we'll walk the laundry stuff to the laundry room and put a 'free' sign on it, but not always. One of our last trips, for some reason we had a bunch of stuff left over and I was planning on leaving it to the maid. Usually our maids speak broken English, but I ran into one that was from the States and we got talking. She told me that when you stay on property anything you leave in the room that does not have a note on it specifically saying the maid can keep it, it goes right in the trash.

I don't know if they have to show the note at the end of their shift to *prove* they aren't stealing, but I thought that was interesting and have made sure to leave a note since.

Just thought I would share this, I'm sure we're not the only ones who leave things behind at the end of a vacation.

 

[AMaloy314]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this.

I, too, have left any unused food and drinks in our rooms for the cleaning staff. I feel terrible that they weren't able to keep it because of no note. I'll make sure and do it in the future!

 

[pomlover]

Thanks for this information, it doesn't make sense to me that things left behind after guests leave would be considered stealing if the maids take it, but policy is policy I guess. When I went to China the waiters and waitresses in restaurants there aren't ever allowed to eat the leftovers (not the food left by guests on the table but food left in the kitchen after cooking in bulk). Just same stupid rules.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

Thanks for telling me that. We usually leave some of our food behind. Now I know what to do, I hate to see it go to waste.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I always bring clothes my son is about to out grow (summer clothes). We have winter here so by summer he surely will not fit them. I also bring clothing that by my standard are getting "old". I leave them all down there with a note saying that that Mouseservice may keep the following items: (an list them)

childrens clothing - boys
Womans clothing
Food Items
etc.

Upon arriving home the next day I always get a call asking me if I intended to give away A,B,C and I say "Yes, I left a note stating that". One time I did forget to leave a note, well I wrote it but then some how picked it up and brought it home with me. They called me and told me they would be happy to send me back my clothing. I told them what my intentions were. They said I could either fax a note to them OR they would give the clothing to good will. They do not throw clothing away. However, with out a note they will throw ALL food away.

 

[kimis]

Thanks for posting this! My dh and I always leave the food and drinks we don't use. I just assumed the mousekeepers would be allowed to keep them! From now on I will leave a note!

 

[jfoofj]

The last time we were in Disney I got a little overzealous with my gardengrocer order and we had a LOT of stuff left at the end of our stay (even beer ). We noticed a family had just checked into the room across from ours. I knocked on their door the morning we were leaving and offered them our items... at first they seemed a little hesitant (maybe they thought I had laced the gogurts?) but when they realized I just didn't want it all to go to waste they were VERY happy to get the stuff. We had bananas, yougurts, gogurts, breakfast bars, crackers,and a half a case of water left (oh yeah, and three beers ). I had heard that Disney made the mousekeepers throw stuff away, I never thought to leave a note saying that they could take it, I thought it was a policy that they couldn't take anything left in a room.

On another note... My stepson and son left their brand new Nintendo DS's behind in our room one year when we stayed at POR. I guess it was a very chaotic morning leaving, because I didn't notice and I always do a quick once over of the room before we leave. We realized it on the plane when I told them they could play their games, and they burst into tears. I really thought they were gone... they were in cases with a few games each.... I thought that the mousekeepers kids would be getting our kids new DS's. Boy, was I wrong, by the time we got home there was a message from Lost and Found that they had our kids DS's and were shipping them back to us. I felt like such a jerk that I thought that the mousekeepers would have taken them. Lesson learned!

 

[FayeW]

I always bring clothes my son is about to out grow (summer clothes). We have winter here so by summer he surely will not fit them. I also bring clothing that by my standard are getting "old". I leave them all down there with a note saying that that Mouseservice may keep the following items: (an list them)

childrens clothing - boys
Womans clothing
Food Items
etc.

Upon arriving home the next day I always get a call asking me if I intended to give away A,B,C and I say "Yes, I left a note stating that". One time I did forget to leave a note, well I wrote it but then some how picked it up and brought it home with me. They called me and told me they would be happy to send me back my clothing. I told them what my intentions were. They said I could either fax a note to them OR they would give the clothing to good will. They do not throw clothing away. However, with out a note they will throw ALL food away.

That's very nice of you, but really, why do you go to all the trouble of packing it and bringing it with you, when you could just donate to charity in your own city? Don't you folks also get tax receipts when you give items to charity?

 

[NemoFansMommy]

On another note... My stepson and son left their brand new Nintendo DS's behind in our room one year when we stayed at POR. I guess it was a very chaotic morning leaving, because I didn't notice and I always do a quick once over of the room before we leave. We realized it on the plane when I told them they could play their games, and they burst into tears. I really thought they were gone... they were in cases with a few games each.... I thought that the mousekeepers kids would be getting our kids new DS's. Boy, was I wrong, by the time we got home there was a message from Lost and Found that they had our kids DS's and were shipping them back to us. I felt like such a jerk that I thought that the mousekeepers would have taken them. Lesson learned!

That is awesome!!! We lost one of our sons brand new Pirate Crocs (and I mean brand new, they had been on his feet about 10m when we left the park) on the monorail. He was sooooo upset. We tried to find it and but the monorail was gone when we realized it and the shoe was no where to be found. I told him we would call when we got back, but I kept putting it off. Finally, about three weeks after we got home, I called Lost and Found. I was so excited to learn that they had the shoe and they were going to ship it back to us at no charge. Disney rocks when it comes to that kind of stuff!!!! BTW, that was our October, 2007 vacation and ds is still wearing those crocs!! I can't find another pair anywhere, but I am soon going to have to tell him that we have to let them go.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

That's very nice of you, but really, why do you go to all the trouble of packing it and bringing it with you, when you could just donate to charity in your own city? Don't you folks also get tax receipts when you give items to charity?

Yes, but one can only use so many receipts. I do this because I do not need the clothing any longer. My son wears it adt DW and AFTER he wears it I leave it. My child will out grow it by summer. I do not have to launder it when I come home and it opens up space in my suit case for new purchases! On united you know have to pay $25 for a 2nd bag checked and $15 for the first one. I do not pack it just to bring it down there. We wear the clothing when we are there. I also pack all of my old socks and underwear and throw those away. Charities here do not take old undergarments and socks.

 

[VAN]

We were there in September and had some bottled water that we didn't need, so we left it near the vending machines with a note "free to a good home" on it ...

My DH also had gotten some bottled water from a departing guest earlier in the week.

Anyway, just a note to some of you that take clothes that your children outgrow to leave for the maids ... I don't mean any disrespect, but why don't you just donate it at home? I'm from a large family and people were ALWAYS dropping off huge boxes of clothes for us ... there might have been one or two items, but the rest we had to haul to Goodwill. Don't always assume that someone will be eternally grateful to have your hand-me-downs. Again, no disrespect - I know you mean well ....

 

[Kevenswife2]

I also pack all of my old socks and underwear and throw those away.

Hey, I thought I was the only one to do this.

 

[noahdove]

Thanks for the great tip I will remember it for my next trip

 

[Dawn68PA]

We just returned from staying in a villa. I called mousekeeping to ask them what to do with leftover food. She replied that if it's unopened, the maid is allowed to keep it. If it's been opened, they have to throw it away.

 

[WeemanMom]

Our leftovers were not food...it was beverage. On the dining plan, for breakfast we had two bottles per person per morning AND we had the souvenir cups for all seven in our party.

At the end of our trip I gave a tracy full of juice and chocolate milk to one family and a tray full of water to another family. Same thing as someone else mentioned...at first they were hesitant but as I explained we were already checked out and could not take it on the plane.

I feel bad...I never considered that all it would take was a note for mousekeeping to be allowed to keep it.

We also bought dinner for someone at Casey's one night. She was standing there counting her singles and change...we had one left over table service meal and it was ten to midnight our last night there. My daughter and I shared a lot of our quick-service meals (she was four at the time) and therefore we had one wayward meal leftover. I offered to the woman who looked completely puzzled. I talked her into ordering...slid my card and charged my dining plan and then just walked away leaving her with the meal. She was so happy. Her daughter was looking for something to eat and her husband was on the other side of the park...apparently with her room key. It left DH and I with a great feeling! I hope she had one too.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Yes, but one can only use so many receipts. I do this because I do not need the clothing any longer. My son wears it adt DW and AFTER he wears it I leave it. My child will out grow it by summer. I do not have to launder it when I come home and it opens up space in my suit case for new purchases! On united you know have to pay $25 for a 2nd bag checked and $15 for the first one. I do not pack it just to bring it down there. We wear the clothing when we are there. I also pack all of my old socks and underwear and throw those away. Charities here do not take old undergarments and socks.

So are you saying you leave dirty, used clothing behind for Disney to dispose of?

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Thank you for the info!!!! I never even thought of putting a note on it.

Thanks again!

 

[ToddyLu]

Also a tip I learned last year. We usually go for 10 days and there is a different Mousekeeper during the week and on weekends. If you wait until Sunday then the mousekeeper who did a good job during the week does not get any of the tip. So we paid ours her money in person and then left a couple of dollars for the others on those specific days. I also gave my Christmas decorations to a precious little boy in the lobby as we were leaving. How cool is it to get a little magic before you even check in...

 

[Carlyzmom]

Hey, I thought I was the only one to do this.

Interesting!! I never thought about that one!

 

[Kevenswife2]

Interesting!! I never thought about that one!

I save DD10's not so nice panties and socks just for vacations. Wear once and toss. I make sure to tuck them in the bottom of the trash or wrap them up in some thing. Don't want mousekeeping thinking either she's having daily 'accidents' or that I accidentally threw them away.

It works great!