Turn-Down Service

[Tink888]

I see nothing wrong with turndown service. It's a little something extra to make you feel pampered on your trip. If it's offered why not take advantage of it? To me, it's far worse when guests act like complete pigs on vacation with the excuse of "hey I'm on vacation, it's the maid's job to clean it up". If you wouldn't leave a room at home trashed I don't think you should do it on vacation either.

There is absolutely no shame in housekeeping as a profession either. I spent a summer in college doing just that. It helped with tuition expenses and let me tell you, it was hard work.

Why not give a little magic back to your mousekeeper? Say hello to them. Leave all your dirty towels in the tub and leave the air on for them in addition to that tip. Just a few little things like that and you'd be surprised how much it is appreciated.

 

[Lilolvr]

I'm surprised that turn down service is such a touchy subject

Welcome to the DIS! where everything is a touchy subject. Everything turns into a debate. I guess that's what sponsorship gets you.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

"Welcome to the DIS! where everything is a touchy subject. Everything turns into a debate. I guess that's what sponsorship gets you."

Thanks! I've kind of noticed that! Who cares?? Disney really is the funnest place on earth (according to my 3 princesses) so enjoy it. We plan to!

 

[madalex]

Disney Deluxe = Deluxe pricing for moderate service and rooms LOL!

. . . .and theming and locations (which is what all real estate is all about) that cannot be equaled.

 

[princessesrule4]

I know we are going to leave a tip envelope out each morning, but when we request turn-down, do we just leave one out in the afternoon, too? Should the envie be labeled "turn-down service" ???

thanks!

(I'm a little neurotic.)

This is what we do - two separate envelopes marked "Housekeeping" and "Turndown"!

And for the record - Turndown is fabulous! We usually go to the pool in the afternoon, so as others have mentioned, it is wonderful to have a fresh set of towels for the late evening and morning showers/baths. Not to mention the drapes are drawn, lights dimmed, t.v. softly on, besides the beds turned down with chocolates, and it all equals a very relaxed atmosphere! Just what vacation is for - relaxing!

 

[Laren]

I know we are going to leave a tip envelope out each morning, but when we request turn-down, do we just leave one out in the afternoon, too? Should the envie be labeled "turn-down service" ???

thanks!

(I'm a little neurotic.)

I would. The only time we've had turndown service before was when we were staying concierge at the GF (boy do you get used to it quickly! LOL it's such a treat as others have said, esp. for us moms!) the first day, we left early in the day and didn't plan to come back to the room until late- and I left two envelopes, one for daytime housekeeping and one for turndown on the bedside table. the second one said "TURNDOWN MOUSEKEEPER" in huge letters.

Well we ended up having to go back to the room before turndown had happened- and found the first housekeeper had taken both envelopes. I asked at the concierge desk if the same one would be doing the turndown and they said no, it was two different shifts.

Ever after that, I left the tip for turn down out later in the day if at all possible. But sometimes if you're going to park hop or whatever, that might not be possible. Just write what they're for and leave them and hope for the best!

And I'm glad to see that someone else takes their mousekeeping tipping as seriously as I do!!! It is more important to me than tipping just about anyone else- though we are very good tippers in general resort staff and servers always love us LOL

Laren

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We're going to be staying Club Level at AKL for the first time in August, but only for the first few nights. I'll have to remember to request turn down service when we move to our "regular" room. Maybe that will take some of the sting out of leaving Club Level!

 

[CarolA]

. . . .and theming and locations (which is what all real estate is all about) that cannot be equaled.

Theming maybe.

Location... they only place Disney has a lead is MK resorts. For less money you can stay at the Swan/Dolphin where you get better beds and the same great location as three of Disney's Deluxes.

IMHO paying that much for "theme" is a rip off! I stay moderates. Good theming, same service, better value.

 

[brergnat]

I LOVE turn-down service, and, we parents deserve it! If you haven't tried it before, make sure you request it. You are on vacation, and this service is your little treat for the hundreds of loads of laundry, thousands of hours of housework, meal preparation, chauffeuring, doctoring, (I could go on and on) that you do day-in and day-out every year.

When I am on vacation, I take the "vacating" part seriously. I don't do anything that I consider to be a chore, and that includes picking up wet towels and turning-down beds.

Okay, I am getting off of my soap-box now. But seriously, turn-down service is one of the rare "freebies" at WDW, so why not?

SO true! I completely agree with everything that is said here. A VACATION is just that. If you are fortunate enough to have the privilege of spending HUNDREDS of dollars per night for your hotel room, you'd be foolish to turn down (no pun intended) a service that is offered as part of the rate you are paying. It's a shame that more people don't know that it can be requested at ANY Deluxe hotel, and not just a perk for the club level rooms.

In addition to getting the bed ready, they usually empty the trash bins in the room (which are always WAY too tiny for a family's day worth of trash, IMO) which is a nice touch. In our experience, they also set the lights to a welcoming dim, and leave the radio on with some soft music playing, so when you enter your room, EXHAUSTED and ready for bed, you come into a very peaceful/serene room setting, almost like a spa waiting room. That is why people love (and request) that service. It's much more than leaving a chocolate on the pillow...and it's well deserved and appreciated by the majority of travelers.

 

[megal0331]

I would. The only time we've had turndown service before was when we were staying concierge at the GF (boy do you get used to it quickly! LOL it's such a treat as others have said, esp. for us moms!) the first day, we left early in the day and didn't plan to come back to the room until late- and I left two envelopes, one for daytime housekeeping and one for turndown on the bedside table. the second one said "TURNDOWN MOUSEKEEPER" in huge letters.

Well we ended up having to go back to the room before turndown had happened- and found the first housekeeper had taken both envelopes. I asked at the concierge desk if the same one would be doing the turndown and they said no, it was two different shifts.

Ever after that, I left the tip for turn down out later in the day if at all possible. But sometimes if you're going to park hop or whatever, that might not be possible. Just write what they're for and leave them and hope for the best!

And I'm glad to see that someone else takes their mousekeeping tipping as seriously as I do!!! It is more important to me than tipping just about anyone else- though we are very good tippers in general resort staff and servers always love us LOL

Laren

I think we will be going back to the room mid-day everyday, so I'll be able to just put that second envelope out after we've rested and showered. Thanks for the idea!

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

Welcome to the DIS! where everything is a touchy subject. Everything turns into a debate.

 

[Turtlegirl]

I LOVE turndown service. There's nothing like coming back from dinner to treats in the room like fresh towels or chocolates. You are on VACATION and certainly paying for it. Besides the luxe feeling, it's a great way to make sure you have fresh towels for the morning after everyone has showered to go out in the evening. I have had the pleasure of having turndown on vacations in Hawaii, but have never experienced it in Disney before, having stayed at AKL without knowing about the service, but I know now and sure am gonna request it for oour upcoming Poly stay

 

[funntheson]

1

 

[iheartdisney]

OK, we got sent to the YC in MArch when CSR was already full at check-in, so that was my first experience with "turn down".
It was kinda wierd that they keep tabs on you like that...we were back from the Studios for a break, and we weren't in the room for 5 minutes when she knocked on the door asking if we wanted turndown...I figured no thanks, we're about to leave again in an hour anyway! lol! But she left us some chocolate anyway...like 2 handfuls (and they were GOOD chocolates!) and an autographed pic of Mickey! So cool! It was very sweet!
If I ever win the lotto, I'd love to stay deluxe again! Otherwise, I'd never convince DH (or myself) that we should spend a full month's base pay on a 4 night hotel stay!

 

[loonytoony]

We take our showers in the late afternoon, after pool time and before we go to dinner. I request turndown service mostly so that the dirty towels are removed and are replaced with fresh ones for the morning. I don't care about the chocolates or the bed being turned down, but those come with the service.

I am waiting for the tuck in service feature......wonder what ya have to tip for that.

 

[jjeanms]

I will be going to WDW in June for my DD 21 birthday. We will be staying at the swan and was wondering if this service is available there? I know she would love this and it would be a nice touch.

 

[lovmy2girls]

After being on the Disney Cruise line where they turn down every night, replace towels etc....going back to the Polynesian and not having it, you miss it. We spend a lot of time at the resort, and I like not having to call and ask for more towels every day because we used them due to whatever (pool, clean up before dinner). If we don't use them all, we will need more for the next morning and its just a pain to keep calling and asking. When we take naps, and mess the beds up, its just nice to come back and have them turned down and neat again. Not necessary of course, but nice.

I love the Polynesian, and at 400 per night, I keep asking myself, "Are you sure you want to pay that much?" My answer is always yes, its our favorite place to stay, location, transportation can't be beat. But there is NOTHING extra special they do for being in a deluxe other than just staying in that room.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

My kids love turn down service! We tell them that Mickey comes in and gets your bed ready for you to sleep in and leaves the little chocolate. They think it is so cool!

 

[brergnat]

After being on the Disney Cruise line where they turn down every night, replace towels etc....going back to the Polynesian and not having it, you miss it. We spend a lot of time at the resort, and I like not having to call and ask for more towels every day because we used them due to whatever (pool, clean up before dinner). If we don't use them all, we will need more for the next morning and its just a pain to keep calling and asking. When we take naps, and mess the beds up, its just nice to come back and have them turned down and neat again. Not necessary of course, but nice.

I love the Polynesian, and at 400 per night, I keep asking myself, "Are you sure you want to pay that much?" My answer is always yes, its our favorite place to stay, location, transportation can't be beat. But there is NOTHING extra special they do for being in a deluxe other than just staying in that room.

When you check into the Polynesian, when you first get into your room, call housekeeping and request turndown service for the length of your stay. You will get it. There's no reason to feel like you're missing it...it's part of the deluxe hotel experience. However, some people DON'T want it, so they don't automatically do it, but if you look on Disney's site, it is mentioned as a perk of the deluxe resorts.

 

[lovmy2girls]

When you check into the Polynesian, when you first get into your room, call housekeeping and request turndown service for the length of your stay. You will get it. There's no reason to feel like you're missing it...it's part of the deluxe hotel experience. However, some people DON'T want it, so they don't automatically do it, but if you look on Disney's site, it is mentioned as a perk of the deluxe resorts.

Where exactly on the site did you seet that? Just curious, I looked and can not find it?