There are story circulating today that Disney might be testing a new way housekeeping (mousekeeping) is done at the resorts. It sounds like something that could be pretty popular among guests.
According to Inquisitr.com guests staying at some of the Value Resorts have been given the chance to decline housekeeping services and in exchange they get a Disney gift card. From the reports, it sounds like the gift cards equal $20 per night for the guest’s vacation. So if they are staying 4 nights they would get an $80 gift card for declining housekeeping services.
The only catch seems to be that you cannot break it up. So if you decline services it’s for the whole stay, not part of your stay. It also sounds like it needs to be done at check-in.
Declining housekeeping does not mean that you can’t get fresh towels or more shampoo/soap, you can call and request more of those items. By declining housekeeping services you wouldn’t get the sheets changed, the trash wouldn’t be taken out of your room, and there would be no vacuuming.
Right now only guests staying at some of the Value Resorts have reported this. The speculation is that Disney is testing the new option at a few resorts and if it does well they will expand it to the other resorts.
I’ll be honest, I usually don’t have housekeeping come in while I am staying at the hotel. Unless we are visiting for a long time, we usually leave the privacy sign on the doorknob.
During my last stay I left the sign off, because the room didn’t feel all that clean so I thought it would be a good idea to have housekeeping come in and clean. When I returned to the room it didn’t feel like she did much of anything anything.
Also, before the housekeeper came to clean, I had taken the card that had the previous housekeeper’s name on it and put it in the garbage, because it had stains on it and looked old. After she cleaned the room I noticed the same card was back on the night stand. The reason I know this is because it had the same name, the same stains on it, it no longer stood up by itself (it was a folded card, so it did stand up at one point) and it just felt old.
That experience left me very disappointed and I brought it to the attention of the hotel. I hear more and more stories like this, so I understand why Disney is removing the carpets from the rooms (easier to keep clean) and why they are looking at this new option for guests to choose.
I would definitely choose to receive the gift card if that is an option available the next time we go to Disney World. I’m hoping that at some point they make that an option when you are booking your reservation. It would be nice if the amount could be taken off of the price of the room/tickets. Fingers crossed this becomes an option!
Would you choose the gift card over housekeeping?
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
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Liz
I love all things Disney, but my main love is for Disney World and I'm always planning for the next trip. Before becoming a Disney blogger, I was a radio DJ, so I guess I'm just continuing in the communication industry, just in a different form. I love talking Disney and I could talk about Disney all day. That's why I started blogging and created the Facebook group. The Disney community is full of friendly, helpful, and happy people...and I love being a part of it! If there is any Disney subject you would like to see covered just let me know! Need help planning your Disney vacation. Feel free to contact myself or Melissa at Never Stop Dreaming Travel Co. We love helping people plan their trips! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Don't forget to check out our Countdown to Disney app! Feel free to email me with suggestions of things you would like to see in the app :-)
This is certainly an interesting idea. But what if I choose not to have my room clean but the first day I check in the room is not acceptable then what? I am a DVC member and I wonder if that would apply to my DBC reservation?
That’s a good question, Elaine! I would hope they wouldn’t leave DVC members out of this if it does get expanded to other resorts. If they end up keeping this program and offering it at Deluxe Resorts I would definitely ask the next time you book with your points.
This is good idea especially for small families that don’t have diapers. My question is are the cards disbursed daily or what ensures WDW that guests will follow through? Also, last year our youngest got sick in the night and clean sheets were an absolute necessity. How would that effect the process? Thx
Hi D’Ana!
It sounds like you get the full amount per night at checkin, if you opt to decline housekeeping. They probably make a note on your reservation so housekeeping will skip your room regardless of whether or not you have a privacy sign on the door. You can still request towels and toiletries, so I’m assuming you would be able to request clean sheets too if someone got sick. Not sure if you would have to change the bed yourself though. This is all still in the testing phase and hopefully Disney will be announcing something soon with more official details. 🙂
This would be fantastic! We do the same (put the do not disturb sign out) for our entire trip! I actually take cleaning supplies (Clorox wipes mostly) and clean my room before we ‘move in’ and I don’t want them ‘unsanitizing’ the room with dirty rags etc. haha. So yeah! It would be GREAT to be compensated for that service we don’t use. (And we leave the room cleaner than we found it so there isn’t a huge mess when they do get to it when we leave). Yay for this if it’s true. We are staying at AOA in August so I’ll be able to confirm soon!
I’m really hoping it’s something that will stick around. I think they’ll find a lot of people will skip housekeeping and that will probably save them some money, even with the gift card being given out. Keep us posted on whether they offer this option to you! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they do! I hope you and your family have a magical time! 🙂
I would never choose to go without mousekeeping! I am on an expensive vacation and deserve to come back to my room and enjoy clean sheets/made beds, towel animals, and empty wastebaskets!