Why do Mousekeeping make towel animals.

[vernon]

I'm interested with all the discussions on mousekeeping, what they do, don't do and why they do it. I'm interested to know why people think mousekeeping make the towel animals, do fun things with cuddly toys, stuffed animals etc.

 

[safetymom]

After the hurricanes at CBR they had a table set up where you could learn to make towel animals. The housekeepers were sitting there showing you how to do it.

It adds to the magic.

 

[vernon]

Given some of the strong opinions stated recently I'm suprised there aren't more votes saying it's just about the money.

 

[Miffy2003]

I have not voted as I suspect it may be a combination of some or all of the above!

If they thought they would get extra financial recompense by way of tips surely all mousekeepers would do this (which they don't). Equally if it was part of thier job spec I would expect towel animals to be around more.

I would like to think at least some mousekeepers are motivated to do this for the "magic" element but maybe I'm naive

 

[dmslush]

I think it is for the magic.

If it was for the extra tip, wouldn't they all do it?
If it was because management told them to do it, wouldn't they all do it?
If all guests expected it, wouldn't management make them do it?

 

[biz410]

I do think it is probably done for tips.

But it is no more a scam than any person/business trying to retain customers by providing good service.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I voted for the magic. Our mousekeeper at Pop Century was so nice. One day we came back to get a few things and she was just leaving our room. We had already given her the tip and she had already taken it. We chatted with her a bit and thanked her for taking such good care of us. She made over my kids, especially DD who had the same name we found out later, Maria. That night when we came back again there on the bed was a towel bunny with some of our Maria's stuffed animals. She was clearly busy, it was a busy Saturday but obviously after she had met us she went back. Then there was the time at Movies they had all of our stuffed animals watching t.v. One of them was holding the remote. I just have to believe in the Magic!

 

[zagafi]

They do them because people deeesseerrrvvveee them. After all, the trip would be RUINED if they didn't get a towel animal!

 

[DVCconvert]

Given some of the strong opinions stated recently I'm suprised there aren't more votes saying it's just about the money.

hummmm, I think by the wording of the questions, the results will give a better insight of the mindset of those who choose to vote.

Honestly there are some people who can/could/would/will support any one or a combination of the choices. The first may be the selection for truely pixie-dust deprived, and clearly no CM working that job would be bummed if they got a nice tip.

All the 'strong opinions' are just like the Florida hurricanes - big gusts of super heated air rising up untill they collaspe on themselves, raining down torrents on the vast majority of folks. And, like the hurricanes these things seem to have 'a season', meaning they come and they go.

All I can say is that with a vast personal amount of experience in seeing housekeeping around the globe, ranaging in pricing from a few dollars a night to several thousand, on the whole the CM's in housekeeping are every bit as magically oriented as anyone else is in Walt Disney World, and on the whole their motives are to help make everyone's day, a Magical Experience!

 

[Stitch Inside]

I believe it's a magic tip timing thing. If they have time, they will give some magic and hope for a tip. If they have a ton of rooms to finish before their shift is over, and their short mousekeepers 'cause so and so called in sick etc., towel animals are overlooked.

 

[gina2000]

Mousekeepers do it because they love seeing the joy in peoples' eyes when they see towel animals. We had a Mousekeeper who made animals and when I thanked her, that was her explanation in a nutshell.

And she left us more animals.

 

[MargaretF]

They must do it because they want to share the magic. In nine trips on-site, we've only had four Mousekeepers who made the effort, but what an effort! Our mousekeepers usually did things with the kids's stuffed animals.
It totally thrilled my kids to come back to room and find that their stuffties were "swimming" in a pool on the bed made from towels, hanging off the bunks, were dressed up in their hats and gloves or were hiding under the covers. At AKL it took us all week to find our Mousekeeper (she was the most creative) but once we did, the kids were so excited to meet her. I even went to the front desk, asked for the manager and made sure they knew just how wonderful she had made our trip. After leaving the parks , the kids would spend the whole bus trip trying to guess what "Mary" was going to leave them today.

 

[njchris]

I voted for Magic. It really serves no purpose for *me* to think it's a financial thing or that they are forced to do it. The only thing that can do is make me cynical. If it makes me smile, who cares why they do it.

 

[kirkharrod]

I cannot vote in this poll because I do not believe there is an answer listed that I agree.

As far as the "Financial scam" response, remember that Disney pay rates are notoriously cheap, with dwindling benefits and lame retirement benefits (ask any CM that is not a student or retiree, I had a discussion about this with my fishing guides and so I asked more CM's when I could) and the housekeepers are on the lowest end of the scale. So if giving extra service is a "financial scam", scam me!

I think the staff makes animals if a) the person knows how to make them and b) if he or she has the time.

 

[ReggieB]

We had towel animals when we stayed at AKL (and my did they get creative!) My in-laws were in the next room and did not get any (they had the same housekeeping person) I assumed it was because they knew there was a 4 year old in the room, who would appreciate it (his toys were a real give away)

 

[experiment626mom]

I maybe a little naive here, but I think they do it as an appreciation for a tip or maybe something else the guest has done. Or just a way of saying hi. I know the first couple of days of our first time of being onsite our mousekeeper didn't leave us anything special just the little card with his name on it. By the end of the week he was leaving the kids stuffed animals in different positions on the bed and towel animals. It was very sweet and it made us feel warm

 

[becobscot]

I don't expect it but I think it is so nice that they take the time to do that for guests. Do I tip extra for it? Yes, just as I would for any service that is more than what is expected. It doesn't bother me that the extra tip may be their motivation for doing it. I think it is the end result that counts. It brings a smile to a kid's face. Isn't that what Disney is supposed to be about?

 

[vernon]

Thanks to all those who took the time to place their votes.

It has suggested to me that the readers of these boards are not quite as cynical as one could first believe by reading the comments posted in previous threads.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Did Disney start the towel animal thing?? We were on an NCL cruise last month and we had towel animals in our cabin every night.

 

[BunsenH]

Do they make the animals only for rooms with kids? I've stayed on property several times, always without kids, and never had a towel animal waiting for me.