Who Wants/needs Turn Down Service?

[ducklite]

I love having turndown service.

Almost always they come while we're at dinner or out enjoying an evening activity.

I like having the trash emptied, used towels replaced, a soft light left on, and my DH loves the chocolates on the pillow.

At other than WDW hotels they also usually fill the ice bucket, and often leave some bottled water. One place I stayed even left milk and fresh baked cookies in the evening.

I love the extra pampering, and don't mind the small additional tip. When your paying hundreds of dollars a night for a room, what's an additional $2-3?

As the others have said, if you do'nt want the service, a call to the housekeeping supervisor at the beginning of your stay 9not front desk--that's a common mistake) will stop them.

Anne

 

[denisenh]

I haven't read through all of the replies but I have only automatically received turndown service during one stay, which was at Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys . We had very full days while staying there and would leave in the morning and return late in the eve. Our first evening, upon returning from day trips, we found our beds turned down and a softly glowing lamp on. I felt loved, complete comfort... Like someone actually cared at a time in my life when I really needed it. It reminded me of what my grandmother would do if she knew that we were out all day and she wasn't able to be there to greet us. That's just how I felt about it. It was unexpected and very appreciated.
If I had to deal with interruptions during a quiet eve it wouldn't have been as nice. I am sure it is a matter of personal preference.

 

[vhoffman]

I think the key as to whether or not one appreciates turn down service is where they're at while the service is being done. If you're out of the room and come back to a freshened up room that would be a nice welcome home. However, if you're in the room at the time and its an interruption of whatever you're doing, then it becomes a nuisance. Much of what I've written is "tongue-in-cheek", just my sense of humor, however I did get an excellent suggestion from several on this thread--notify Housekeeping, not the front desk, that we don't want turn down service. Its been quite frustrating to me to keep telling them I don't want that service, only to have it anyways. Probably the front desk never even bothered to notify Housekeeping. It was so intrusive one trip I felt like leaving them a tip NOT to have the service. BTW, my problems with turn down service were not just at WDW. They ocurred at other hotels as well, and it was expecially bad at a hotel in Toronto. Well, thanks for the advice!

 

[stinkerbelle]

I'm quite indifferent on the whole subject.

On one hand - we are gone from rope drop until after dinner most days. (DH likes to go 'commando' in the parks...I have to pull a 5 year old move and whine that I need a nap.) So our room is basically unoccupied most of the day. Doesn't bother me to pull my own bed down. And we rarely shower before dinner...unless we are especially stinky. (hehe - we really haven't gone to WDW during a 'high heat' time in a while though.)

On the other hand - well, this hand is loaded down with chocolate and loving it. When on our HM, I think my DH told our mousekeeper that i liked chocolates...we came back to our HM suite and found chocolates laid out in a heart on the bed with a STACK of them on the nightstand. heheh. At the AKL, we loved the 'proverbs' left for us..and the chocolates of course. One night we were left a chocolate heart (this thing was HUGE - about the size of a big cookie) with the AKL logo on it. very cute - and yummy.)

But really - it's nice...but i could live w/o it really. But I guess once we have little ones in diapers we might like it more.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Bambi - sounds like you might be in danger of needing a new monitor! Glad you got a kick out of this thread - we need more laughter, IMO!!

 

[Susiesnowflake]

vhoffman,
Enjoyed your post! I think it would make a great little article in the travel section of some paper or magazine! I really enjoyed your sense of humor!

Have never had turn down service and probably would never request it, although I can certainly understand why so many people love it. Hearing about those chocolates on the pillows may make me a convert!

 

[threeboysmom]

I LOVE having turndown service!!!!! There's nothing like coming back to your room and the lights are turned low and the room is tidied up (towels gone/trash emptied/beds made). Even if they didn't leave a trinket or chocolate on the pillow, I would still request this service! Now, if we were always in the room in the evening like the OP is, then I can see where it would get very bothersome. I wouldn't want a maid interrupting our family every night either! But we are always out - we find out what time they are coming & plan around that. So I guess your perspective on this service (whether you like it or not) comes from whether you enjoy your room in the evening or whether you go out in the evening.

Re toilet flush service - hey! I would go for that! My 12 yr. DS always clogs the toilet! I'd love for someone else to come and deal with that on a regular basis!!!!!!

 

[Atotty]

Originally posted by leighe
How is the turndown service at AKL? We aren't staying concierge this time, so we'll have to request it. Do you have to request it every morning or can you request once for the whole stay? Any candy?

We didn't stay concierge, either, but we got it every night. The first time I called they said I'd have to call each day to request it, but they couldn't say if we'd get it for sure or not since they had to do all the Deluxe rooms first. I made sure I tipped each night...don't know if that's the reason they made it to our room each night or not....it prob helped.

I called the first two days and the third day I asked if I could just request it for the rest of the trip. They said sure no problem.

We really enjoyed having the room straightened, all the trash gone, the proverb cards, and **of course** the chocolate.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

We love turn down!!
When we were in Savannah on our honeymoon we also got bottled water by our bed ( for each of us) as well as the usual chocolate etc.....
I also like having everything freshed up a bit. It seemed to me that they always come around dinner time so that may be why we were usually out.

 

[DebbieB]

When we stayed at GF 5 years ago, they also put ice in the ice bucket. I loved the little Disney poems they left with the chocolates, I still have the cards. A little extra "pampering".

If they are opening your door when you have the "privacy" sign out, I would call housekeeping or the front desk. I think if you have the deadbolt lock on, their pass key will not work.

 

[tjmw2727]

I like turndown as we often take a shower before going out in the evening and need the fresh towels and the trash emptied. I don't "need" the bed folded down or the mints but its a nice touch. Personlly, I haven't been bothered with turn down service when the DND sign is out but I have been called once to see if I wanted the clean towels when the DND sign is out.

Generally speaking I call houskeeping (not the front desk) at the beginning of a stay and make my requests. Usually early cleaning esp when we had nappers and later turndown so we can shower and change before heading out to dinner.

TJ

 

[princess-rn]

I LOVE turn down service. I agree with TUFFCOOKIE...I am a mother of a 2 1/2 yr old son and the wife of a 29 year old man (that thinks he's 2 1/2 ) I am the one who does all the house work and when it comes to vacation I don't want to lift a finger...I don't want to cook..clean..or yes even turn down my covers. I've NEVER been in the room when they come to do it though. It's like a little nice suprise when you come in from a long day at the parks.

Also at disney when they do the turn down service they would always leave our disney stuffed toys "posed" on the bed. It's too cute!

 

[Bill From PA]

Quote:You have to request turndown service even at the WDW deluxe resorts

No, we spent 8 days at Swan this March, requested nothing, yet got this 'service' administered several times in our absence. I think they knocked once while we were there and I politely declined but my memory is vague on that. Like the thread starter, I see no value to this other than the creation of an additional tipping opportunity. I'm grateful for Mouskeepers and take good care of them throughout our stay, but I can accomplish this job very well myself and often find myself attired in underoos or less when relaxing from the day's events.

Bill From PA

 

[TDC Nala]

Couldn't care less about the turn-down service.


But if they're going to leave chocolate, they can turn down whatever they want.

 

[totalia]

I'm not too sure where to place this, but I thought the resort board would be as good a place as any. Least anyone think I'm some hick who's not been exposed to the finer things in life, well, I've traveled just about all over the world and stayed in everything from $20 a night hotels to hotels costing $500 a night and more. The one amenity I can't seem to comprehend anyones' desire for is nightly turndown service. Maid service and room service are all part of a decent hotel stay. However, I'm perfectly capable of removing the bedspread and turning back the blankets! As a matter of fact, I find the service annoying and usually refuse it. I mean, there I am, comfortable in my underwear, watching TV, then comes a knock at my door. There stands someone wanting to "put me to bed" like some little kid! Then I have to get into my robe (which is usually ratty since I spend my money on my vacation, not a designer silk robe to impress the hired help), stand there and feel like a fool while someone turns down my bed, perhaps puts a chocoate or a rose on my pillow (I'm allergic to both), then stands there expecting a tip! Or just perhaps my dh and I are engaged in, um, well... and there comes a knock at the door. Of course, We can put the "do not disturb" sign on the door, but that doesn't do much good. They just call you from another room wanting to know if you want the turndown service. Ever tried answering the phone while engaged in, um, well... Of course, you could chose to ignore the phone (but the mood's broken now, might as well answer it), however, if you don't answer the phone they just let themselves in with their pass key. Of course, you could use the inside door bolt, as we did once, but then they assume something's wrong in there. Obviously you must be inside to fasten the bolt, and if you don't answer the phone perhaps you're dead in there! So you still have to get up from, um, well... and talk to them through the door that you don't need them to turn down the blankets for you. Many hotels act like this is a great service but I could do without someone practically breaking down the door every night. Oh, and that's on top of the 3 times a day maid service! I mean, I'm not that big of a slob! There again, my privacy's interrupted anywhere from 2-5 times a day by someone performing usless tasks and expecting a tip. Once a day maid service is expected, however, some hotels over do it. I really can pull the blankets off the bed! What next, a toilet flush service? The next level in hotel amenities--a little string next to the toilet just like in a hospital. You just pull on the cord and someone comes in to flush it for you! Perhaps they could provide additional services in there while they're at it! I mean, some things a person would like to do for themselves, and taking the blanket off the bed is one I would rather do! Or I guess I'm just "not to the manor born". I'm one of those self-sufficient people. Oh, well, just wondered why some people think turn down service is so great? Or am I missing something?

I aree completely. I won't waste my money on a turn down service when I can do it myself. It's a sign of laziness that you can't spend the extra 30 seconds.

 

[Threehearts]

When we're in Europe, it happens so unobtrusively(they must know when you leave the room) that it doesn't bother me so much but at WDW the turn down is less than convenient. I can get fresh towels and leave off the dirty ones right outside my door as that is usually where the WDW housekeeping seems to leave their evening cart. I never eat the kid's party type chocolates that are left and I most certainly don't need help taking my bedcovers down. If I were in a nursing home this service would be welcome but I don't want to be bothered answering the door and moving to the side in the evening when I'm relaxing. I agree that it is a simple procedure to let housekeeping know that you are not interested in this service. I think what I like the least about this service at WDW is that it is invariably done when we are in the room. All this complaining from us, a die-hard concierge family. The beauty of turn-down is that it is a choice and to each, his own. Threehearts

 

[MinnieM21]

I LOVE turndown service. It was nice after a long day at the parks to come back to my room at the GF and have a little poem and chocolate on my bed. I've never had turndown service before so I enjoyed it.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I appreciate the humor of the op... hehe.. got a real chuckle out of it.

I would prefer no turn down service at all at WDW. One mousekeeping visit per day is enough. I agree with others who say it's no big deal when you are not in your room, but if you are, it's a pain. We pay hefty prices to stay at WDW, so we should do our stay OUR way on OUR vacation. Maybe they need to make new privacy cards that say, "Privacy please. Yes, really. Yes, we're ok. No, we are not dead. Please don't knock or call. Really. Thank you!"

That said, the only time I really love the turn down service is on the Disney cruise. Since you spend so little time in your stateroom, your host usually knows when you are at dinner or at the evening shows, so it's rare you walk in on them, or they on you. It was a special treat to return to the stateroom each evening and find a new towel animal, chocolates, and the passporter with tomorrow's activities. It just feels so special on the ship.

Tink

 

[AllisonG]

Hey, I'm a divorced mom of 2 (1 DS grown and with a son of his own... going to WDW with my youngest DS, age 12...I'll take any kind of pampering I can get! Once you give birth, you have no pride so I don't care what the hired help see me in!

TC

Ya know what?! I'm with you TC! I love turndown service. Coming in and finding my room tidied, my bed ready for me to jump into and some sort of 'goodie' waiting on my pillow.?? Yahoo! I enjoy being pampered and this is a quick and easy way to put a smile on my face!

 

[skiwee1]

You have to request turndown service even at the WDW deluxe resorts unless you stay concierge level.

And even that didn't work for me. I request turn down at the Poly in October and got it one day out of 10.