Towel Animals, has this happened to you?

[lustergirl]

I have been to Disney A LOT. I am a DVC owner as well and have received a towel "present" once and a little mouse and butterfly another time. It is not part of Disney vacationing, per se, just really more of a bonus.

It makes no difference to me if I get them or not.

same here. I dont think not receiving a towel animal would break my kid's heart because there are so many other things at disney to look forward to.

 

[lustergirl]

I'm still not willing to let the housekeeper off the hook for not understanding the note. I said it before, if she couldn't read it then she should have found someone to read it to her. Many times I leave notes asking to change the sheets, for more soap, shampoo, coffee, towels, etc when I leave my tip. I expect those notes to be read and the items to be delivered to my room. I would expect the same without the tip as well. Even someone with a rudimentary understanding of English should know the English words for those items commonly used in their jobs: "sheets", "towels", "coffee", "soap", "rug", "TV", "sink", "tub", etc so she should have had a half a clue that "towel animal" had something to do with towels. If she was a Spanish speaker the word "animal" is the same in both languages. My guess is that she simply did not want to make the effort to try to understand the note or she didn't care if the OP received what the asked for.

FTR, I am usually on the side of the housekeepers. They do what I consider a hard job and I don't mind tipping them for their services. But I can't stand it when someone gets blown off like the OP. If you can't make the towel animal ... fine. But don't take the tip for a service you are unwilling or unable to preform.

I would think the tip would be left for her services in cleaning the room not towel animals. Towel animals are not a given and I would take a clean room over receiving a towel animal anyday.

 

[robinb]

same here. I dont think not receiving a towel animal would break my kid's heart because there are so many other things at disney to look forward to.

How old are your kids? Not getting a towel animal wouldn't break my middle school DD's heart either and I honestly don't care one way or another myself. But it's different for a younger child who sees the towel animals in every window but your own.

FWIW, I find the staging of the stuffed animals much cuter than some pre-made towel duck with sticker eyes.

 

[ols386]

THanks for the replies...totally understand what everyone has said. It would not have been an issue had there not been one in every window on out floor. Just was wondering if this had happened to anyone else.

I am sorry, but if a maid, working in the USA, does not understand a note left in English, in a room where she is working...IMO, she needs to call for help, her supervisor, her translator...SOMETHING...it is not OK for me to just give him/her a pass by saying she does not know English or does not know how to read.

I would agree that if a note is left for housekeeping, and they do not read English, they should talk to their supervisor.

But, if they cannot read English, then they might not know that the note is for them.

Sorry your dd didn't get a towel animal. Maybe next time.

 

[DisneyCrazyMomma]

Not to be a pain but this thread is starting to bug me. I know this whole site is a free speach site and we are all entitled to our own opinions so I shall share mine.....

The OP is annoyed because her child didn't get a towel animal she feels she paid for....hmmmm

Other posters are reporting that you should just call the "front desk" and demand one....hmmmmm


For me why I love Disney so much is the unexpected magic. Not the attitude that I am going to stamp my foot until I get treated how I want to be.....

I try and teach my kids to share in others joy and be grateful for what you have. I have stayed at WDW 3 times and I am not going to go on about if I did or didn't get towel animals or leave tips. Housekeepers come to my room to clean it, I expect nothing more or less. The more people demand and complain the less "perks" Disney will offer.Ready for the flames...again just my 2 cents.

No flames from me either! I agree. People have this sense of entitlement, which just bugs the crap out of me. I mean, you're LUCKY enough to be at DISNEY WORLD and you're going to complain about a towel animal? Really!? I'm sorry, I hate when my child is disappointed too, but what are we teaching them by stomping our feet? It's really upsetting. Just my opinion.

 

[hebbynan]

Honestly, my kids didn't get all that worked up about the towel animals. On our last trip, my boys were really into Club Penguin and INSISTED that they take all the stuffed puffles along for the trip. Well, almost every night we got back to the room, the Mousekeeper did something 'cool' with the stuffed toys. For example: one day we came in and Sensai (the 'leader' of the group) was at the head of the bed with a park map and he was 'reading' to all the other puffles who were arranged in a semi-circle below him. Another time, they were all sitting on a pillow at the edge of the bed with the remote - watching the tv (and the tv was actually ON for them!). To my boys...this made all the world of difference. We even put in a little 'extra' in our mousekeeping envelopes because the looks on their faces seeing those things were priceless!!

 

[WicketsMom]

"Try explaining to a youngster why he or she doesn't get one, while other rooms do."

We stayed at POP when my son was almost two and also saw the towel animals in the windows, but we never got one. We even spoke to our housekeeper about them to see if there was a special package we could buy to get them (there wasn't) and he asked her for one, still nothing even though there were some on her cart.

Yes, it's something small, but we have been on cruises and to other all-inclusive resorts and he is always excited to see what towel creatures have been left, and often his stuffed animals are set up in cute ways too. On the cruise (Carnival) they even left him cookies a couple of the nights. I think it would be nice if there were a consistent policy because it is disappointing to the young kids to see everyone else has one and they don't.

 

[maxiesmom]

"Try explaining to a youngster why he or she doesn't get one, while other rooms do."

We stayed at POP when my son was almost two and also saw the towel animals in the windows, but we never got one. We even spoke to our housekeeper about them to see if there was a special package we could buy to get them (there wasn't) and he asked her for one, still nothing even though there were some on her cart.

Yes, it's something small, but we have been on cruises and to other all-inclusive resorts and he is always excited to see what towel creatures have been left, and often his stuffed animals are set up in cute ways too. On the cruise (Carnival) they even left him cookies a couple of the nights. I think it would be nice if there were a consistent policy because it is disappointing to the young kids to see everyone else has one and they don't.

There is no policy because the towel animals are just something houskeeping came up with on their own. They are not part of the service you are paying for by staying at a Disney resort. They are meant to add an extra sparkle to your day, if you are lucky enough to get one.

Don't parents teach kids that life isn't fair anymore? Do so many people really throw a fit, and demand them? How are kids supposed to learn to deal with disappointement on any level?

I really hope that all of this carrying on doesn't end up with Disney telling housekeeping they are not allowed to make them any more. Which is where I can see this all heading, if so many people get worked up about not getting a towel animal.

 

[WicketsMom]

Do so many people really throw a fit, and demand them?

I hardly think that simply asking how to get one qualifies as throwing a fit or demanding. With so many different Disney package options, we truly thought it was an add-on you had to purchase and were tyring to find out how to do that. He was disappointed, but got over it quickly. I do find it odd that Disney is the only property I've been to where the animals are hit-or-miss. Everywhere else is either all or nothing, and in my opinion that is a better policy.

 

[spreadingpixiedust]

this has been an interesting thread!! I guess I never gave much thought to the towel animals before. Our first time at Disneyworld we had a towel animal waiting for us in the room but nothing else the entire stay. We just enjoyed the one we had.
the next time we had 2 or 3 new animals every day. Mickeys, birds... even bats with pipe cleaner legs hanging from the towel racks!!
My recent stay at Disneyland went back to just the one when I arrived.
These have been in discount rooms all the way to a deluxe suite at club level.

I love the towel animals but will always be happy with just being at Disney!
Just my 2 cents.

 

[maxiesmom]

I do find it odd that Disney is the only property I've been to where the animals are hit-or-miss. Everywhere else is either all or nothing, and in my opinion that is a better policy.

Again, that is because the towel animals are something that the housekeepers came up with on their own. And I would hate to think that it has reached the point where the Disney higher ups have to tell any cast member to stop trying to spread pixie dust ( which is what the towel animals are), as it makes people mad when they don't get it. What would be next? No extra sprinkles on Joey's ice cream cone, as the next kid may get mad? No extra long hug from Cindrella, as the next princess might feel slighted? Does everything need to be rationed out so it is perfectly equal?

Life is full of little disappoinments. It is not any kind of favor to our children to pretend that it is not, and to try and shield them from any and all of them.

 

[goofy4tink]

So, here's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Pop- 2008- no animals. Poor housekeeping, tipped 5 bucks a day.

Poly-2009- no animals. Poor housekeeping, tipped 5 bucks a day.

Pop 2010- Animals every day, great housekeeping, tipped 5 bucks a day.

My son would rush last year to the room to see his towel animal. It will be hard this year if we don't get them. I will tell you that the animals appeared to be premade, with stickers.

Alright, I'm going to bite. You had poor housekeeping, twice, and you still tipped daily??? Why? Housekeeping isn't considered, by Disney, to be a tippable position. No, they do NOT make minumum wage...closer to about $13-14 an hour. So, they are not depending on tips. Do I tip? Sometimes. If I get outstanding service, then I'll tip. But I refuse to tip someone for merely making my bed and swiping my vanity area, then emptying the trash. For crying out loud, that's what they are paid to do. I leave my room very neat...even make my own beds for the most part.
I can't imagine tipping each day and still be getting poor service.

I can't imagine anyone getting so upset about some silly things made out of towels. Does everyone get them? Heck no. And that's what makes them special I guess....sometimes you get 'em, sometimes you don't. And children need to know that they are special and that they don't automatically get them. If that is very important to you, then call housekeeping and let them know that your child really has to have one...hopefully they can get one to your particular housekeeper.
But really.....this mentality that everyone gets the same as everyone else has really gotten out of hand. Look at team sports....just because you're on a team doesn't mean you get a trophy. Sure, give out something small for participating but a trophy?? No.
Sheeshhh, some people get all sorts of free stuff on their birthdays. Free food, fast passes, drinks, cakes. balloons, etc. Not us, not once. We have been to WDW for 3 actual, on the date birthdays. Disney was alerted to the fact and nothing special happened, not one thing. Did I get in a tizzy? Nope. AI had already made my own plans for those birthdays..things to make them more special. That way, no one was disappointed.

Sorry to rant and rave here. But sometimes it just gets to me. Kids need to learn to deal with disappointment at some point. Seems that many parents don't feel that needs to happen. If my child put up a stink about not getting a cute animal made out of old towels, it would be her last trip to WDW, that's for sure. But, again, that's me. Others feel differently. I just needed to get it all off my chest.

 

[robinb]

I can't imagine anyone getting so upset about some silly things made out of towels. Does everyone get them? Heck no. And that's what makes them special I guess....sometimes you get 'em, sometimes you don't. And children need to know that they are special and that they don't automatically get them. If that is very important to you, then call housekeeping and let them know that your child really has to have one...hopefully they can get one to your particular housekeeper.
But really.....this mentality that everyone gets the same as everyone else has really gotten out of hand. Look at team sports....just because you're on a team doesn't mean you get a trophy. Sure, give out something small for participating but a trophy?? No.

I agree with you in general, but not in the specific case of the OP. Instead of being special or rare (which is totally OK and in fact makes them more fun) they were common and everyone had one in their window. Everyone except the OP's family. To take your trophy/participation ribbon analogy, it's as if all the other kids automatically received a ribbon but the OP's kids were told there were not enough ribbons to go around even after they paid their entrance fee.

 

[Arielle22]

I see no reason for housekeeping to change the way towel animals are done. When my daughters were younger they understood that it was a nice treat if they got one but not to expect one.

If towel animals are regulated then the pixie dust aspect goes away and we will be seeing threads about how the next room got better towel animals than I got and it isn't fair.

 

[ols386]

"Try explaining to a youngster why he or she doesn't get one, while other rooms do."
We stayed at POP when my son was almost two and also saw the towel animals in the windows, but we never got one. We even spoke to our housekeeper about them to see if there was a special package we could buy to get them (there wasn't) and he asked her for one, still nothing even though there were some on her cart.

Yes, it's something small, but we have been on cruises and to other all-inclusive resorts and he is always excited to see what towel creatures have been left, and often his stuffed animals are set up in cute ways too. On the cruise (Carnival) they even left him cookies a couple of the nights. I think it would be nice if there were a consistent policy because it is disappointing to the young kids to see everyone else has one and they don't.

It may not be "fair" that some rooms get them and other rooms don't, but life is full of disappointments. It's just something that kids have to learn.

I hardly think that simply asking how to get one qualifies as throwing a fit or demanding. With so many different Disney package options, we truly thought it was an add-on you had to purchase and were tyring to find out how to do that. He was disappointed, but got over it quickly. I do find it odd that Disney is the only property I've been to where the animals are hit-or-miss. Everywhere else is either all or nothing, and in my opinion that is a better policy.

You are entitled to your opinion, but IMO, it's not something that's even important enough to have a "policy".

 

[mickekmania]

Last Oct. we had a 10-day stay at deluxe resort. Our dd(9) brought a friend with us on the trip that was 9 as well. The girls would help the mousekeeper gather up the towels and dirty glasses each day and always kept their suitcases and areas neat. Additionally, we did tip $5-$10 each day. I don't know if this had anything to do with the outcome and certainly was not expected, but each day, upon returning from our adventures, there would be a towel animal for each girl displayed in the room. On the last morning, I spoke with the Mousekeeping manager and the Front Desk manager telling them what wonderful mousekeepers we had during our stay and about the wonderful towel animals. Both managers reminded us that they were the girls to keep and take home.

I know this is not the "norm" and certainly will not expect that again this October.

 

[WicketsMom]

A little off-topic, but has to do with housekeeping. Something I thought was odd we noticed on our last stay at Coronado Springs was that they would remove the used bath soap and replace it with a new bar every day. Is that normal? It seems wasteful as I don't have a problem using the same bar of soap until it is used up. Or maybe we just had a new housekeeper??

 

[no capes darling]

Check this out- you too can make your own! http://www.wikihow.com/Category:Towel-Origami-and-Decoration

 

[Tinbadge69]

It's nice to get one, but no big deal. I know if you have toys in the room they place those in the windows too and make little scenes with them. It is just a perk. Is it worth the extra tip? Thats up to you. Some do it out of kindness, but others do it for the end of trip payoff. After all it is a job for them.

 

[ols386]

A little off-topic, but has to do with housekeeping. Something I thought was odd we noticed on our last stay at Coronado Springs was that they would remove the used bath soap and replace it with a new bar every day. Is that normal? It seems wasteful as I don't have a problem using the same bar of soap until it is used up. Or maybe we just had a new housekeeper??

Last time we were at WDW, at BWV, they didn't remove the used bars of soap, but did leave new (wrapped) ones. Maybe it depends on the housekeeper.

I thought at CSR they give you H2O shower/bath GEL, rather than bars of soap. We are staying at CSR next week, and I was hoping for the H2O shower gel.