*venting* Are towel Animals a sign of a good stay?

[Walt'sFan]

Do people really equate towel animals to making or breaking their stay? I really don't think that should be a factor,nor should anyone else. I agree it should be based on the fact of whether or not you are getting good service.
Getting back to the original question though, I not so sure people expect the towel animals as much as they read about others getting them, and are disappointed when they don't. I could be wrong, but I try to give everyone that much. Hopefully I am right.

"See You Real Soon"......................WaltsFan

 

[jaysue]

DS#1 loves the towel animals and I think it is a sign of "extra care" - the stuffed animals on watch sounds like a great idea

As others said, it is a sign of that extra WDW magic

If we get them, I am pleased, if not it is ok

thanks
jaysue

 

[deb305]

For us the towel animal, or cute arranging of animals was a sign that Mousekeeping spent more than 2 minutes in our room. It seemed that when these things were done, the room was cleaner, towels were more plentiful, new soaps were left, etc. We always leave a tip before we leave the room. The only bad experience we had was at GF. We came back to the room 2 times in one day for a short 15 minute stays, and by 4:00pm the room had not been cleaned. We called the concierge desk for at least some clean towels. The person delivering the towels came to the room said she was our maid and literally had her hand out for her normal tip. I don't know for sure, but wondered if she was combining the normal room cleaning with the nightly turn down service, and was counting on guests being at the parks until early evening.

 

[musicmom3]

I love towel animals. I also love napkins fancily arranged at a place setting. To me, it's all about the details. I agree with other posters, however, that towel animals often accompany excellent housekeeping and friendliness. Some mousekeepers I've met give a curt nod when you say "hello" or barely grumble a "good morning." I'd be surprised if they even knew how to have fun with towel animals!

 

[PamNC]

We don't have any kids and we think towel animals are kind of cute and fun but they certainly don't make or break our stay. For instance, I've been posting recently about my 1st experience at WL this year, we were there back in May. We were very disappointed for various reasons HOWEVER we did get towel animals every single day. And, believe me, it didn't make up for the things we didn't like about WL. I will say that towel animals aside, mousekeeping did a very nice job keeping the room clean and they did so in a timely fashion.

I'd say if you get a surprise towel animal...it's a nice extra but certainly not a reason to return to a resort...kids or no kids.

PamNC

 

[Kaycee]

We've never gotten a towel animal, but our Mousekeeping service has always been excellent. Our rooms are always clean, well stocked, and as neat as anyone could ask. And whenever we've had to ask for anything (extra towels, pillows, or coffee packets) our request has been handled quickly and pleasantly.

If I ever did get a towel animal, I'd be thrilled. Not because it has anything at all to do with Mousekeeping service. It has more to do with the fact that I get a big kick out of every little detail at WDW - and that would just be one more fun detail that I would enjoy.

I agree that it's pretty silly that people base the level of service they receive from Mousekeeping on whether or not they got towel animals. But I also kind-of think it's sad that people are at WDW and yet don't take the time to enjoy the little things, like towel animals. Is it a big deal? No. But if you're there to have fun, and I assume we all are or we wouldn't be at WDW, then I think towel animals should at least bring a little smile to your face. Just my opinion, please don't flame me either!

 

[jarestel]

We've had towel animals. but we don't use the towels since they've obviously been handled much more than "ordinary" towels. Does it make a difference to see towel animals in the room? Not for us, but everyone is different.

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by Erica
*puts on flame retardant gear*
Personally I feel that I would rather have mousekeeping spend those extra few minutes changing my comforter, sweeping under my bed,

I agree. As long as my room is cleaned properly, I am happy with my housekeeper.

 

[Winka]

Originally posted by Erica
quote:
Personally I feel that I would rather have mousekeeping spend those extra few minutes changing my comforter, sweeping under my bed...

Of course!

I wonder what prompted this thread...I admit I only lurk here on occasion but I hadn't noticed any recent threads complaining about not having received towel animals...not that I don't realize there are those who won't insist on bemoaning their towel animal-less fates.

 

[Winka]

Originally posted by Winka

...I admit I only lurk here on occasion but I hadn't noticed any recent threads complaining about not having received towel animals...not that I don't realize there are those who won't insist on bemoaning their towel animal-less fates.

How hilarious....no sooner do I post this than I click on another thread lauding the housekeeping in part bc of the appearance of those absorptive little animals!

There ya have it housekeeping...towel animals apparently mean bigger tips!

 

[kittymeowmax]

I must be in the minority because I love those towel animals, and I'm 46. We stayed at AKL over Christmas week and I loved everything about it, but if I had one complaint, it was that we didn't get 1 towel animal during our whole week's stay. The maids always seemed to go the extra mile for us when we stayed at moderates before, hanging my daughter's animals from the ceiling fan, lining up her animals so that they were waiting for us at the window, and creating all sorts of towel creations. One was a huge version of blizzard beach with a huge slide made out of plastic, which had all her animals sliding down it. Even my parents who get connecting rooms and have no young ones in their room got towel hearts on their beds. So yes, I was disappointed with no towel animals this trip, it certainly didn't ruin my stay, but I guess I thought with a deluxe hotel, we'd have "deluxe" towel creations.

 

[dznyntnh]

I am continually amazed by the folks who will decry the 'lack of magic' because they didn't get towel animals.

In over 20 years of wdw trips, I never even knew what a towel animal was. When I was at WL last year, the first day I came back and there was some sort of animal on the sink holding my toiletries, it was cute, but didn't really create any 'magic' for me.

The magic from housekeeping that trip was how clean the room was and how friendly the mousekeepers were when I passed them in the hall and how attentive they were when I would request and early clean up of my room or make any special request.

Those mousekeepers probably got the biggest tip I have ever left for housekeeping, because they knew how to treat a guest, not because they knew how to twist a towel into funny shapes.

 

[Nolcrest]

Oh, don't even know what the towel animals would look like. I've stayed at CR, WL, FWhome, POFQ,POR & CBR and can you believe never received a towel animal. Maybe we did and didn't notice. Anyway, a great trip for me is one when the husband agrees to go, the kids don't fight and we can pay for it when it's all over. Besides a clean room I expect nothing more.

 

[Erica]

Thank you all for your comments. It makes me feel ALOT better that we are all not so terry minded.

 

[catwho]

No flames from me either. In all our stays we have never had a towel animal. And guess what? It didn't put a damper on our vacation at all. We have had our Disney friends posed on the bed, our toothbrushes tucked into folded towels and once we had 2 Mickey balloons left in our room (Mousekeeper found them in a room that was checked out and remembered we had kids so left them for our kids) But never a single swan, bear, giraffe, or anything else from a towel.

How well we think our stay rates is based more on the fun we have in the parks, the attitudes of the CM's and knowing we are coming "home" to a clean room.

 

[Efastpitch]

Originally posted by Erica
*puts on flame retardant gear*

I have read a few good and bad reviews about the various WDW resorts. Most all "good" reviews have mention of the towel animals that were left by mousekeeping. Does that make a good resort stay?

Unless I had children 2-6 years old, a towel on my bed every night is not disney magic. I guess I am jaded coming from the hospitality industry, but a towel animal that is wearing my sunglasses does not mean service to me; a clean room and a smile and a "good morning" as I pass in the hall DOES. Personally I feel that I would rather have mousekeeping spend those extra few minutes changing my comforter, sweaping under my bed, or stopping me in the hall and asking after my stay and maybe suggesting something that we could do on property...that shows ownership and pride. THAT is Magic. That is what I feel Disney does well.

I am ready for the flames, but I had to vent. I know that the Disney CM's are going through a difficult time...but the posts I am reading it sounds like you have a horrible stay if you do not get your animals! Is that really true?


-Erica, has her goggles on

No, just means you have a friendly mousekeeper.