window decorating?

[bookgirl]

Does anyone decorate thier windows?

I'm off site so assume I'll have an outward facing window but not sure where.

We do this all the time at WDW in the mods and values but don't know if it's done by visitors to DLR.

Never had any things stolen (pins, plushes, toys) from the windows at Disney, but a little leery of an outside chain hotel where my disney stuff might go walkabout.

I have had one thing stolen by housekeeping at a mid range hotel, and never leave anything out or accessible anymore.

 

[kaoden39]

I've never seen anyone do it. But, that being said it just may not happen at the places we stay at?

 

[bookgirl]

I figured as much. It's really a Disney Property thing and specifically to the mods and values which they don't have at DLR.

It just makes finding the room really easy.

 

[kaoden39]

I bet it does! It also sounds fun!

 

[ADLFAN]

That's such a cute idea! I've seen a few pictures from WDW where Mousekeeping has arranged kids princess dresses, plushes, and other stuff left in the room like it's a window display on Main Street! There is a total Disney State Of Mind at the closest hotels where we've stayed that felt almost the same as our stay at the Disneyland Hotel- the staff have been cheerful and helpful everywhere we've stayed, with tons of families running around excited about Disney. I wouldn't think anyone would disturb your display, and I bet passers by would love it!

 

[PinkBudgie]

The first I heard of this was a few years ago I stumbled upon a thread on the WDW boards about window decorating. Some brought things from home like lights and decals and window paint and other things. I was pretty amazed. I had never heard of such a thing or seen it at DLR ever. Actually, when we did finally go to WDW for the first time we stayed at POFQ and never saw this. Maybe it is more popular at values. No reason why you couldn't put a few stuffed animals in the windows, but I wouldn't use valuable luggage space (if flying) to bring stuff from home just for that reason. I'd rather save room for NEW things to bring home!
(But that's just me)

 

[VandVsmama]

I'd recommend against it from a safety perspective. Most of the motels along Harbor Blvd are motels in which the doors open to the parking lot, so it is accessible to the general public. Putting up window decorations would be kind of like saying "this room is occupied with expensive suitcases, clothing, and electronics!"

A thief's playground.

Different than at WDW, in which everybody is there for Disney.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree that it probably depends to some degree on where you are staying when you say "off-site". There are probably some places (like the Convention Center hotels) where if you have a high enough room it might not be as much of an issue (think like an upper floor at one of the WDW Deluxes). That being said, for the motels along Harbor Blvd, I would personally recommend against for all of the reasons listed by VandVsmama. I've stayed at the Ramada Main Gate, Fairfield Inn, and BWPPI and I haven't seen anyone decorate their windows like they do at the WDW Values or Mods. I've also not had the housekeepers re-arrange anything in the room (frankly, I think more folks would complain that housekeeping moved/rummaged through/looked through their stuff).

 

[kangamama]

Cute idea -- I've never heard of doing that! I think you'd be safe doing it at a place like candy cane inn, where the rooms all look in on the courtyard parking lot, and not the street.

 

[tarheelalum]

I'd advise against it. Someone would probably steal your stuff.

 

[MommyJKM]

We do this at Christmas time at The Grand and I only got the idea because I saw other people doing it. But it's indoor and room door decorations. For instance, we put a Christmas tree and lights and decals in the window, and decorate the door with a wreath and banner.
But that was only on-property. I don't recommend doing it at a motel.

 

[bookgirl]

See if I can answer some stuff here.

1. It doesn't take much room at all to transport my stuff. I've done really basic designs and themes so the largest thing I've transported is a small plush. (and I've since bought the teeny tiny TsumTsums so even smaller). The most room I ever took was over mardi gras because I had a ton of beads and about 5 half masks (paper) and 2 small plushes. It all fit in a small packit cube.

2. I see it much more at the Values but I've done and seen it done at the moderates as well, just not as much. Usually see 4 or 5 per trip in my building. Trips around Halloween have more (and I would assume Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter may see an upswing as well).

3. I'm staying at BWPPI so I don't know if the windows look out on the walk ways or out towards the edges of the property. I also don't know if the windows have a sill inside to set the toys on.

4. Housekeeping is my worry. I've never seen anything about Housekeeping stealing the window displays, but it's common practice at WDW. My current Window items are trading pins and the above mentioned TsumTsums so they could be a little more appealing to snag. Which I know is probably paranoid. I believe that 99% of the time housekeeping would not steal. I've stayed in enough hotel/motels to know that I've only lost one item in my life which was partly my fault so the chances of anything going awol is small. But some of those pins are not easily replaceable.

5. I think I may pick up some inexpensive stuff this weekend (clings or small dollar tree type stuff) and supplement with some publisher sheets and do just a small job of it. I'll leave the pins at home, since they represent the biggest $ investment.

I'll upload a picture of my window at AllStar Movies from Janurary. It's the beginning stages of my current Decorations.



I plan to add some more to this but all of that fit in two quart ziplocks. That window faces outward to the walk way. A few years ago I was at PORiverside and I faced the courtyard where the movies were shown and the walkway to the main path so I had tons of kids looking at my window and calling it the mickey window (I was using the small Mickey and Minney plushes plus some LGMH's from Home Depot to spell out a birthday message, so it was very much Mickey centered.