Towel Animals, has this happened to you?

[Sammie]

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.

well said. My niece's school quit having field day because too many parents complained their child did not win a trophy. Such a shame it has come to this.

 

[larryz]

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.

Perhaps if everyone took the time and effort to fold their tips into origami animals, the mousekeepers would get the hint...

 

[no capes darling]

Perhaps if everyone took the time and effort to fold their tips into origami animals, the mousekeepers would get the hint...

I kid you not, I got a dollar bill origame book at Michaels craft store for doing tips in a fun way. In no way was I expecting the animals, I did it because I wanted to.

 

[GC&S]

We actually made a primative towel animal for dd a couple of years ago. We left it on the bed and the mousekeeper must have taken pity on us because when we returned, there were 3 towel animals beside our pitiful one. Our dd thought we were the best parents in the world for sneaking in 3 more when she wasn't looking .

 

[bytheblood]

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.

Originally Posted by DjdBrit
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.

Agreed! I feel blessed that I can go to Disney, even still in this economy. I am amazed at the number of people who are disappointed over a folded-up towel not being left in their room. And we wonder why Disney is cutting back on so many things.

But after all, this is the good ol' USA - land of the greed and home of the sue-happy!

 

[Trinity524]

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.

I didn't take it as ranting. I fill the envelopes before I leave so I just leave one per day. I thought the housekeeping changes daily so I leave the tip in case that was the was the day that we got good service. As far as how much they made? I didn't know how much they made. I DID think it was minimum wage. I was stating that tips didn't matter, the housekeeper mattered.

Life is full of disappointments, but Disney is not where I want to experience them

 

[si-am]

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.

If we are really to believe that EVERY single window had them and that wasn't just an exaggeration.

 

[robinb]

If we are really to believe that EVERY single window had them and that wasn't just an exaggeration.

All I can tell you is my own experience. When we were at All Star Movies every single window on our floor and little section from the elevator all the way to the end had a towel animal in it. Every one except ours. That's, what ... maybe 20 rooms? So, I believe that such a thing can happen. I'm sure the remainder of the resort may have had fewer towel animals, but I know that the same 20 or so rooms that we saw every day to/from the parks had towel animals in the window.

My DD was old enough not to pitch a fit that she didn't get a towel animal but she did notice that we were the only ones without one and commented that she hoped we would get one. We didn't and was disappointed but that was OK too.

 

[Sammie]

All I can tell you is my own experience. When we were at All Star Movies every single window on our floor and little section from the elevator all the way to the end had a towel animal in it. Every one except ours. That's, what ... maybe 20 rooms? So, I believe that such a thing can happen. I'm sure the remainder of the resort may have had fewer towel animals, but I know that the same 20 or so rooms that we saw every day to/from the parks had towel animals in the window.

My DD was old enough not to pitch a fit that she didn't get a towel animal but she did notice that we were the only ones without one and commented that she hoped we would get one. We didn't and was disappointed but that was OK too.

wonder if some people take theirs home, and bring them back the next visit and put them on display. Stranger things have happened with Disney guests.

 

[aubriee]

There is a half-truth here. Housekeepers use normal room towels for the towel animals. They are also given basic supplies to make them. A few housekeepers do purchase extra items (fake flowers, stickers, holiday-themed items) to make more elaborate animals, though.

I got one of those more elaborate ones twice. The first time I was solo at CSR and had gotten sick my very first day. I put the do no disturb sign on my door and just stayed in bed for several days. On maybe the third day I heard a knock on my door, but knowing the sign was out, just ignored it. I don't know who was more startled when that housekeeper opened the door, me or her. Anyway, I told her I was sick and just wanted to be left alone. She asked if there was anything she could get me and I told her thank you, but no, I was a nurse, had an upper respiratory infection, but had brought some antibiotics from my doctor (which I always do) just in case I came down sick. She apologized for bothering me, but told me that if the do no disturb sign was up for several days they had to check on the room to make sure the guest was OK. Anyway that evening the phone rang and it was head of housekeeping asking if I was going to be in for awhile. I told her yes and she said housekeeping had something for me. A few minutes later I answered my door and found two housekeepers--one with a very elaborate clown animal (with lots of really thick metallic 3D stickers, movable eyes, ribbon bows, and a cone hat. They also had a WDW tote bag full of treats (candy, chips, cheese, crackers, a small cake, and fresh fruit), with a get well card signed by housekeeping. The second time I got one of the more elaborate towel animals was about a year later (also at CSR). We came back to find a very elaborate bunny toilet paper roll cover. It had really thick 3D wooden butterflies on it's skirt. We saw her the next day and thanked her for it and told her it was the most elaborate one we had ever seen. She told us she had made it just for us and to be sure and take it home. He currently sits on the back of the commode covering a roll of toilet paper in my guest bathroom.. The clown sits on a chest in my Disney computer room. Normally I leave the towel animals at WDW, but those two were special so came home with me.

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've got to admit I'm guilty. Knowing that mousekeepers may change from day to day, I do tip every day even if I receive poor housekeeping. They may have chosen that profession, but still they're cleaning up after me, so I tip. I'm a very neat person and there is usually very little to do in my room. Upon first arriving in the room, I always strip the bedspreads off, fold them, and place them in a corner with a note to please leave them there during our stay. I make my own bed every morning with just the sheets and blanket. I roll up all the dirty towels, wash cloths, and bath mat into a ball and place on the vanity with the tip envelope on top. Other than replacing the towels and maybe emptying the trash there is not alot more to do in my room (although I frequently find they have remade the bed neater than I did.

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.

They do, but you still get a bar of soap in the vanity area. I've found that at CSR they frequently throw the used bar away and replace it with a new one.

 

[robinb]

wonder if some people take theirs home, and bring them back the next visit and put them on display. Stranger things have happened with Disney guests.

You might be right . I think in my case the previous people in our room took the towel animals with them since the others were Holiday themed (candy canes and reindeer) and the maid didn't have enough time to make more with a full pre-Christmas resort.

 

[walkdmc]

I hardly think that simply asking how to get one qualifies as throwing a fit or demanding.

True, but then it wouldn't be a good "dis" thread. Let's pretend you freaked out on housekeeping, threw a $10 bill at her/him and stormed off after your little precious did not get a special wash cloth. Next, we'll all imagine you got on the phone to management, then CS, demanding your tip money back. When they refused to provide that, you demanded a collection of fastpasses and upgraded accomodations. Then, Disney stopped towel animals entirely, all because you freaked out on housekeeping.





FTR, count me as one of WDW fans who can't stand the happy-clappy "you should just be happy to be at Disney world" claim. It's like nails on a chalk board to me and if everyone felt the same way, no improvements would ever be made b/c why would Disney bother?

 

[maxiesmom]

True, but then it wouldn't be a good "dis" thread. Let's pretend you freaked out on housekeeping, threw a $10 bill at her/him and stormed off after your little precious did not get a special wash cloth. Next, we'll all imagine you got on the phone to management, then CS, demanding your tip money back. When they refused to provide that, you demanded a collection of fastpasses and upgraded accomodations. Then, Disney stopped towel animals entirely, all because you freaked out on housekeeping.





FTR, count me as one of WDW fans who can't stand the happy-clappy "you should just be happy to be at Disney world" claim. It's like nails on a chalk board to me and if everyone felt the same way, no improvements would ever be made b/c why would Disney bother?

Fwiw, I never stated that any particular poster threw a fit and demanded towel animals. I was asking if people really thought doing so was a better solution than teaching their kids life isn't fair.

And for Disney to improve the towel animal policy, they would actually have to have one to begin with. But they don't as towel animals are not something made or sold or handed out by the Disney corporation. They are done by the housekeepers of their own accord. I think it would be very sad for them to tell the housekeeping staff to stop making them, as, instead of being happy when they got them, people were angry when they didn't.

Instead of Mine Mine Mine maybe the seaguls should say Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie. That seems to be more the attitude of many visitiors to WDW.

 

[Sammie]

We have had them and we took them apart and used them for towels, oh the horror.

 

[Dorisk3]

We have had them and we took them apart and used them for towels, oh the horror.

Us too! On our first trip I took the towel animals home as a "souvenir." About a year later when I was cleaning out a closet I found them. Needless to say, they got chucked.

I just want to share a quick towel animal story, when staying at the Poly a few years back I went up to the housekeeper in our hallway to get some extra shampoo. She gave me a bunch of bottles, and then reached into a big bag of towel animals and gave me two (already all done). From that day on, I assumed that they just made them at a central location and the mousekeepers just kept a bag of them on their carts.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

wonder if some people take theirs home, and bring them back the next visit and put them on display. Stranger things have happened with Disney guests.

Unless it's obvious like displaying Christmas theme ones in the month of July, I can't actually see guests bringing them back to be displayed. Now chances are they won't effect them but with the weight restrictions on checked bags and carryon bags, wouldn't the guests who fly to WDW want to save as much space in their luggage for other more important things?

 

[Disney999]

I've stayed at four WDW resorts and never received a towel animal. I didn't even know that mousekeeping did this until I read other peoples trip reports. I hope I get a towel animal this September!

 

[deneke]

Oh goodness, thanks for all the thoughts an opinions.

Seriously, I do believe that children should be disappointed, life is not fair, and the sooner they realize that, the happier they will be in the long run.

Honestly, I don't go to Disney often, in fact this was only our 2nd trip, and the first was over 6 years ago. Thus, I just had no idea what the protocol was in regard to towel animals. We did do a RC cruise a few years ago and got towel animals each day (and we tipped very well). As hard as this is to believe, every window on our floor DID have one except ours.

I just have to add, this trip was just my daughter and I. We kept the room super-de-duper clean, made our beds, I brought my own trash bags from home and I emptied the trash each day (I know, I am a neat freak, I just can not help it). So at least in our room, the maids time spent there should have been minimal.

Just have to add, this comment really made me chuckle :

Perhaps if everyone took the time and effort to fold their tips into origami animals, the mousekeepers would get the hint...

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Lisa

 

[declansdad]

Unless it's obvious like displaying Christmas theme ones in the month of July, I can't actually see guests bringing them back to be displayed. Now chances are they won't effect them but with the weight restrictions on checked bags and carryon bags, wouldn't the guests who fly to WDW want to save as much space in their luggage for other more important things?

Wouldn't surprise me at all. There are some people who seem to take everything with them when they go; and many of them seem to be right here on the Dis.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Resort Towel Animals:

1) They are prepared by the room maid.
2) All maids are trained in basic animals.
3) Some have been trained to do advanced animals.
4) Tipping or not tipping does not influence maids making animals.
5) Animals cannot be assured by request or order.
6) Whether you get animals is based upon
. . . if the maid has time
. . . if the maid has the energy
. . . if the maid has the initiative
. . . if the maid likes the way you keep the room
. . . if the maid is an employee or temporary staffer
. . . if the maid is working during the correct phase of the moon
7) Expect nothing, and be pleased if they appear.

This kind of bugs me....so, what's Disney's position on this? They train them to make at least the basic animals, but don't really care if they have the energy or initiative to give a crap? And if Disney doesn't care, then why bother? I also find it hard to believe that the Mousekeepers have to pay for the washclothes, rubber bands, and stickers themselves.

Like it or not, I'm more likely to tip each day if we get towel animals. IMO, that's what a tip in this instance is for- going above and beyond. It's not even a tippable job!

And yes OP, my kids did something very similar....the money was taken, the note was left on the table and there were no towel animals the whole week. Coincidentally, there was no tip left the rest of the week.