Turndown Service....Tip??

[Lmichele]

I am staying club level (first time) this December (AKL) and I am not sure if I should leave a tip for turndown service. I plan to leave a tip on the bathroom counter in the morning for mousekeeping.....but do I tip at night too? and where do I put it? Plus, what if I don't come back to my room all day, then what?

 

[rwdavis2]

Just curious, what exactly is turn down service? I keep seeing it posted, and I have an idea, but I wanted to make sure.
Thanks,
Bob

 

[Lmichele]

I believe it's pretty much is just folding back the blanket and sheet of the bed in the evening and then maybe putting a mint on the pillow. So do I really tip for this??....maybe I should just put an extra dollar in my morning mousekeeping envelope.

 

[rwdavis2]

That's what I thought. I couldn't imagine tipping for it. Or even to be bothered to answer the door to have it done if I'm in the room. I actually saw a post elsewhere where someone was upset that it didn't get done.
Thanks,
Bob

 

[TammiMcMan]

Turndown service at Disney is actually like a mini-housekeeping. They replenish any towels you may have used in the afternoon (nice for those of us who do come back to the resort for a shower before going back to the parks), they'll remove any room service trays, or any dirty dishes you may have brought back from the club lounge. They'll replenish the toiletries if you used up the last of the shampoo with your afternoon shower. They do pull back the covers to the bed and leave treats associated with the resort. If you have children, they usually have the time to place them in adorable vignettes. You can come back to find them all sitting on the bed, while one of them reads a book, or holding the remote and checking out Disney tv. Very, very cute. They may leave the tv on, or your radio playing softly and one of the bedside lamps on low.

I usually tip per bed, so around $2. My kids have always had fun decorating the tip envelopes, so we do that all in advance of our trip. I put the dollar bills in the envelopes and slip them into the room safe. Each day, I pull out one marked for housekeeping and one marked for turndown. Never had a problem with that system.

 

[rwdavis2]

Now that may be worth a tip.
Bob

 

[Lmichele]

Now that may be worth a tip.
Bob

I agree and I will be sure to do so!

Thanks

 

[disneyfan55]

Sounds like they are doing like what is done on a cruise. It's like having housekeeping 2 times per day.

 

[noahdove]

Wow, turn down service would be great..too bad they don't do it at all Star Sports

 

[TxTiggergal]

Each day, I pull out one marked for housekeeping and one marked for turndown. Never had a problem with that system.

We do the exact same thing! I don't think it is necessarily the same mousekeeper that did the morning service, so putting out a separate envelope in the evening will hopefully mean that both mousekeepers get tipped.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Turndown service at Disney is actually like a mini-housekeeping. They replenish any towels you may have used in the afternoon (nice for those of us who do come back to the resort for a shower before going back to the parks), they'll remove any room service trays, or any dirty dishes you may have brought back from the club lounge. They'll replenish the toiletries if you used up the last of the shampoo with your afternoon shower. They do pull back the covers to the bed and leave treats associated with the resort. If you have children, they usually have the time to place them in adorable vignettes. You can come back to find them all sitting on the bed, while one of them reads a book, or holding the remote and checking out Disney tv. Very, very cute. They may leave the tv on, or your radio playing softly and one of the bedside lamps on low.

I usually tip per bed, so around $2. My kids have always had fun decorating the tip envelopes, so we do that all in advance of our trip. I put the dollar bills in the envelopes and slip them into the room safe. Each day, I pull out one marked for housekeeping and one marked for turndown. Never had a problem with that system.

Great explanation, Tammi.

We do the same with the envelopes and safe....$5 for morning, $3 for evening

 

[TammiMcMan]

Now that may be worth a tip.

Yeah, they even find a way to add Disney magic to something as simple as turndown service.

Sounds like they are doing like what is done on a cruise.

It is similar, but the stateroom host/hostess on the cruise do even so much more. It's honestly like having your own private housekeeper throughout the cruise.

TxTiggergal & Minnie&Nana, having the envelopes pre-done and pre-stuffed makes my life so much easier. I hate searching through bags and pockets to find singles when we're all anxious to get out the door and into the parks.

 

[ahecht]

If you have children, they usually have the time to place them in adorable vignettes. You can come back to find them all sitting on the bed, while one of them reads a book, or holding the remote and checking out Disney tv. Very, very cute.

I'm assuming there's a word missing after "children", such as "toys" or "stuffed animals". I know that I wouldn't want housekeeping to plop my kids in front of the TV with the remote.

 

[Harambe]

I place a dollar bill on one pillow of each bed in the room. So for our deluxe BWI room, that was three dollars, since we left the pull out couch set up for our son.

Our favorite thing about turn down? They leave a little card on each bed. AKL had African proverbs on the cards, and BWI had old black and white photos with a line or two of lyrics from the 20's and 30's. These cards make wonderful bookmarks (we read constantly at home).

 

[TammiMcMan]

I'm assuming there's a word missing after "children", such as "toys" or "stuffed animals". I know that I would've want housekeeping to plop my kids in front of the TV with the remote.

Oh my gosh, talk about a senior moment . I've got to remember to re-read my post before hitting "submit reply".

 

[thesupersmartguy]

I believe it's pretty much is just folding back the blanket and sheet of the bed in the evening and then maybe putting a mint on the pillow. So do I really tip for this??....maybe I should just put an extra dollar in my morning mousekeeping envelope.

That would be best. They come in and turn lights on, pull the sheets back and put a mint on the bed. Not a awful lot to it.

 

[DebbieB]

When I stayed at GF a few years ago, they also put ice in the ice bucket.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Yes, you're supposed to tip housekeeping when they come in and do stuff for you - including turndown.

If you dont' want turndown, just put the "Do Not Disturb" or "Privacy Please" (or whatever it says ) on the doorknob or in the slot (or wherever it goes.)

Turndown is simple. They come in a turn the sheets down at the corner. They put a mint or something on the pillow. Disney often themes it to the resort (e.g. at the Boardwalk, you get taffy instead of the chocolate mint.) They also leave a little card.

They turn on a light so you don't come back to a dark room.

They switch any dirty towels out for clean ones and put ice in the bucket.

Most hotels will turn on a radio with music gently playing. Disney doesn't do that. Just as well. Sometimes housekeepers change the station to smooth jazz to make it peaceful when you've come back...but if you're from out of town and just found the country music station you like, it is annoying...you have to try finding it all over again.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I believe it's pretty much is just folding back the blanket and sheet of the bed in the evening and then maybe putting a mint on the pillow. So do I really tip for this??....maybe I should just put an extra dollar in my morning mousekeeping envelope.

Nope. The morning housekeeper and the person who does the turndown will most likely be different people. The morning tip will go to the morning person.

I usually left $3-$5 for turndown...but I only had them come in if someone had showered and we wanted fresh towels for the morning. If I didn't need towels, I just put the "do not disturb" thing out. I think most people leave $2 - $3. I tend to overtip housekeeping. I also tend to do most of their work for them. It is hard work and they don't make much.