Tips for Mousekeeping??

[huggiebear23]

Thanks for all the tips. I hope we get some animals. I am going to have the girls decorate the envelopes and get them ready before we leave, so that way it is done.

 

[praline3001]

I am going to be HONEST here... not sure if I am opening a can of worms or not... but honestly they aren't the end all and be all of the trip... Sure they are kind of cute when you walk in the room and see them but really.... they aren't all that special...at least IMO?! Maybe I am wrong

I have been on cruises and let me tell you... THOSE towel animals are something to see
huge swans... big gorilla's hanging from the ceiling.... I am talking hours worth of effort

The ones at the resorts are not much better than a cute folded napkin at a nice restaurant.
I mean they are cute... but I wouldn't get upset if you didn't get one in your room.

What my kids got a kick out of was the way the mousekeepers would arrange their stuffed animals... I mentioned the mickey with the remote but we had pluto brushing his teeth with my DS's toothbrush at the sink
Minnie mouse was set up in the tub one time like she was relaxing at a spa....

Those little extra special perks are what my kids remember and thought were funny... not the folded towels

 

[Mr. Pig]

I am going to be HONEST here... not sure if I am opening a can of worms or not... but honestly they aren't the end all and be all of the trip... Sure they are kind of cute when you walk in the room and see them but really.... they aren't all that special...at least IMO?! Maybe I am wrong

I mean they are cute... but I wouldn't get upset if you didn't get one in your room.

Well I don't know about a can of worms but I totally agree with you. To those that never got a towel animal or for the kids that really like them I hope you get them.

It all started out many years ago when we would sometimes come back to the room and the stuffed animals would be arranged. That was kind of new, unique and magical - something unexpected. Then it evolved into the first simple towel animals. They were cute too. Then the towel animals got more complicated. Then the word spread and they started to become expected - or at least something to be disappointed about not getting.

I will apologize to anyone that has never had one but without the spontaneity towel animals are just not exciting to me anymore.

 

[gramto2boys]

I have never seen a animal towel do you get to keep them? sounds cute !!

 

[praline3001]

I have read that you are allowed to keep them if you want to.
we never kept any of them.... my DD actually got a kick out of using them to dry her face after brushing her teeth (she is 6)

 

[dioxide45]

They may be considered non-tipped employees, but they will still gladly take a tip if offered. We once stayed at the Marriott Eaton's Center in Toronto. The bellman refused our tip when it was offered and indicated that they did not accept tips. When we insisted he indicated that the money would be put in to a "fun" fund for all the staff.

 

[bicker]

I have read that you are allowed to keep them if you want to.

Actually, that is not the case:

Dear Brian,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

Although we appreciate your interest, please know the towel animals provided by housekeeping are for the guest's enjoyment during their visit with us.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to your visit.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Ronda

WDW Online Communications

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and should be confirmed just prior to your visit.



Original Message Follows:
-------------------------

During several recent visits we were delighted to find
"towel animals" created for us by housekeeping. I was
under the impression that these were just for us to
enjoy during our visit, and were not intended for us
to bring home -- much to dismay of my wife and the
children. I recently read some messages on the
Internet that seem to contradict this -- that indicate
that these were "gifts" from the housekeeping staff,
and were intended for us to take home. Could you
please confirm this? We'll be returning to the resort
within the next year, and I would love to be able to
tell my wife that if we encounter this again, she can
indeed take it home with her if she wishes.

Thank you.

 

[praline3001]

Brian saves us all from having to dole out bail money

I read everywhere on here you could keep those little buggers

Of course had I kept my towel animals, I wouldn't have been able to sneak that robe into my luggage

 

[bicker]

It is important to think logically when reading something online. Given that only some people get towel animals and other people don't, why would anyone think you can keep them?

I think sometimes people will use whatever they can to rationalize their own behavior, so you really want to be very careful about taking anything you see online as justification for something you're going to do. Read, think, then do. And if there is any doubt, then ask the manager.

Anyway, this is off-topic for this thread. If folks want to discuss towel animals, let's take it to another thread.

 

[kate&sarahsdad]

I normally tip a dollar per person per day.

That's is what I do as well. My DW makes up little envelopes to hold the tip.

 

[dburg30]

re: keeping the towel animals, I have also seen replies, where people said they had talked to managers, and they said there are certain amounts of towels 'set aside' to make the animals, and they are planned on those being taken?


But, yes, back to the tipping: I dont go on 'real' vacations often, so when I do, I'm in a great mood and really want everyone around me to know I'm happy . It's just my wife and myself. So, while it's not a huge deal, last december when we went, I made up envelopes for CSR staff, with different characters / parks listed on front (actually, they matched the park we were going to be going to that day ) and we left $5 a day. No, it's not a huge deal, but it was more then the norm. Also, when we took a cab, I think the charge was $9 or something, I just gave the driver $15 bucks. DME back to the airport, we had just 2 bags, still $5. Servers at the resturants, averaged probably 25% tip from us. So while it wasnt anything a LOT higher then 'normal' I do like to think that I spread at least a little Disney Magic myself

 

[beattyfamily]

OP, we tip $1 per person, per day but we are a family of 4 so I usually end up just rounding to $5. per day.

We also like to make the envelopes ahead of time.

Just weed through all the debating going on and you'll get the answer to your question.