Inside Edition undercover report on WDW hotels. 5:58 pm eastern

[JWG]

I just bought some land and filed a permit to build my own private hotel room on Disney property. It was easy to do as I was willing to use the space behind Pooh's Playground on top of the old 20,000k Leagues site. It was abandoned space that Disney was trying desparately to find a real use for.

No worries about dirty glasses, bad bus transportation or anything else.

 

[dandaman]

I think the lesson here is that everyone has different ways of doing things.

I disagree, and I'm RIGHT! I'm ALWAYS right!



:lookaroun

For every opinion out there, there'll be an equal, opposite or lesser opinion as well. :shrug:

 

[CubsRock]

What broadcast station. I'm in Illinois so your 7pm indy time is 6 my time.

Chicagoland- ABC 7 Chicago- 3:00pm/ct
Indianapolis - WISH 8 (CBS) - 7:00pm/et
Times vary by station bc this show is syndicated. check local listings in your area.

 

[gus ghost]

The local news did a story like this late last year and discovered the same thing. But the hidden camera discovered the maid had scrubbed the toilet right before rinsing the drinking glasses using her rubber glove to wipe the lipstick off the glass rim. They discovered the glass contained more bacteria than the toilet seat! They had done the same at lower end hotels to the high end hotels and found the same findings. ewwwwwwww:hurl:

 

[nibblesandbits]

wow...

First, there are several debates going on here. If glasses are used and not properly handled, that is a violation of either local health code and/or Florida statute, I guarantee you (if you really want me to, I will dig and find them). Therefore, if we are dealing with unrinsed, uncleaned glasses, that is a problem. However, while it is a little gross, understand that health codes do not meant to (and are not designed to) accomplish the germ reduction it seems many of you are seeking. For those of you who are purell toting, hand washing people (you know who you are, so no one need guess or disclose anything on this board), be careful with your kids. You are likely doing them a great disservice by engaging in many of these activities in their younger years. Our bodies were designed to fight nature. If we put them in a sterile environment, these weapons do not develop properly, and that can spell BIG problems down the road. Kids do and should get dirty, so just use moderation, again, noting that there are big differences between glasses cleaned and rinsed by bare hands in a sink and glasses just flipped over after use.

Second, this is clearly not a Disney only problem. This could have appeared in any hotel-related discussion. Disney does not pay that well, and even places that do (which are few for housekeeping) deal with issues like this. Keep in mind that increases in wages mean extra dollars on your credit cards. That is not meant to say unsanitary approaches are acceptable; I simply feel that people have to include all aspects of a debate. If you find it unacceptable, be ready to put your money where your mouth is (as I would guess 99% of people here would).
Third, while it is not an excuse, understand that management does deal with these problems on a daily basis. The expectation is that they deal with each problem appropriately. But, the reality is that Disney's pay does not afford the best right now. Therefore, while blood on the sheets should ilicit a strong response, he likely lumps it together with the other problems he saw. A mediocre teacher would likely not react so passionately to a child punching another child ina playground spat as would the parent of the children who have never dealt with fighting and their child before. Human nature, albeit nature that should be suspended in the hospitality industry IMHO.

I guess I will come clean (ha ha... funny pun) and admit that I am more of a germophile than a germophobe. This trend toward uber sanitization we have in our country is extremely scary. The biologist in me is really worried about what we are doing to both our children's immune systems and new strains of bacteria and viruses. If you don't believe in this, ask any botanist about what many of the hybrids have done to disease resistance in plant species. You may just ask for that dirty cup...

Sorry for the rant. I just find it scary sometimes how overboard our society has gotten. This is definitely a problem, but not quite to the level some see it IMHO (again, that means opinion).

I will end with a question... did anyone confirm that the guests had left the room for their stay? Not that it makes it better, but guests who are not checking out have fewer concerns about germ transmission that do guests who are coming in fresh. Just a thought.

Wow...one of the few times I agree with you. :lol:

In regards to this statement, who's to say that paying the housekeepers more is going to entice them to do a better job cleaning? My theory is, they'll like that they're getting paid more, but still do the same job they were doing before. Nothing will really change except their pocketbooks.

I don't worry about germs as much as I probably should. I like to live in my own little bubble and assume that most things are clean. I don't usually go to the extent of putting toilet paper on a toilet seat (unless I really see the need to and it has to be a great need) and I don't see the need to open a bathroom door with a paper towel. I'm actually a wierder person who is more grossed out by stuff like Purell than anything. (It just stays on your hands! You don't wash it off. Give me soap and water anyday!)

I stay at hotel rooms and don't worry about what's been done on the comforter. However, if I see something visable that I think is questionable, like blood on the sheets, I will mention it to the front desk and ask that it be rectified immediately. That is not too much to ask.

Maybe all this not caring comes because my DH works for a hotel. When we were dating, I would actually go to his job and watch him fold all the laundry (it was his job...not the maid's job to do this.)

The glass thing, ok...that freaks me out a little. I, like many, thought that they took the glasses and had them cleaned in a dishwasher. But am I going to let it bother me this weekend when I'm staying at a hotel? No...probably not.

All in all, I live my life the way I do. I'm rarely sick, except for the twice a year when I get a cold. And seriously, I bet you my house is more disgusting than a hotel room because even though I've cleaned it, the people I bought my house from smoked and I know there's crap on my kitchen floor that just won't come up. And I've tried...hard. So a hotel room, doesn't bother me.

And yes, everyone has their own definition of dirty, but for me...some of the extent some people go to (not just from here) is just amazing to me. And I'm not saying it's wrong to think that way, all I can say is I've got other things to worry about.

 

[frazierle]

I know I freak out when the maids don't put a point on the tip of my toilet paper.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I am really paranoid about dirty bedspreads. I've gotten to the point where when I walk into a hotel room, I remove the bedspread and place it in the closet. I assume it's never been cleaned and is disgusting.

Just curious, what do you cover up with? Don't you get cold??? I'd like to have an alternative to the hotel bedspread or comforter. I guess pack a separate suitcase with linens???

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I didn't see the story on Inside Edition but I wish I had. I read the entire thread. I still go back to my original thoughts when I read the OP: Maybe the Contemporary will get clean now. That was the biggest disappointment for us when we stayed there in December. Yes, you've all heard me say it before. But our room was just dirty. Not the unseen, germies. It was crud, crust, dirt, dust, and visible filth. These are not things that would take a lot of time to correct either. Perhaps this "expose" that was done will result in some changes at the Contemporary. I hope so. I love the hotel. It's a shame we always had cleaner, fresher rooms at Pop. I just can't tell you how disappointing it was.

Although nobody has said it, I think a good word to describe how a lot of us feel about the subject would be disappointing. That's exactly what it is to me. :veryconfu

 

[Disneykidder]

I only use disposable cups at hoptels. Just got back today from a stay at a hotel we always go to in PA. I know they use glasses so I actually brought my own disp. cups. Also at restaurants, remember to use straws and not drink directly from a glass. EWW!!:hurl:

 

[teebin]

Wow... I put up new threads on here that I think are really interesting and just a handful respond to them. I just started this thread as an FYI but basically found it a boring subject and it has turned into 8 pages. Go figure.

 

[maryszhi]

how can you defend this action? You are PAYING BIG BUCKS FOR A CLEAN ROOM. shouldn't you get WHAT YOU PAID FOR? next you will say, hey if Disney uses green Hamburger or mouldy turkey that's okay as well.

When is wrong WRONG with some of you? :shrug:

is Disney this perfect place? Should you not expect to get what you paid for and be happy about it?

and like another poster said, $300 bucks a night, Not COUNTING THE PARK TICKETS AND OTHER EXPENSES.

$300 per night, I can stay four blocks from the U.N building in NEW YORK for that price. Right across the street from the Chrysler building.

and you want to justify these actions.

That's insane.

and I'll tell you this, You know who should be fired, The hotel Manager should. why? because this starts at the top down. and if you don't set a precedent, then, this is what you get.

there is no justification for this action, NONE. and anyone who thinks that there is, just because its Disney, has been standing too close to the campfire for a long time.

i agree, but to be quite honest, in my original post i thought it has only happened once. know that i nkow the truth im kinda grossed out, i mean you shell out money for a clean room. ive always cleaned the cups and did an investigation, my parents think im crazy, but i wanted to be on the safe side. i9 thihk disney needs a cleaning worshop overhall. i have never been to a disney owned on property(were weve always and will continue to stay) and not had it clean. but i think disney needs to do an overhall

 

[fillerup]

I was in the hotel business for most of my adult life, and with two very high end companies.

You're welcome to pooh-pooh this whole topic, but this actually is a very very big deal for hotel managers, and should be.

At the least, this sort of thing is evidence of a poor employee, poor training, poor supervision, or all three.

This sort of stuff matters, and it matters a lot.

Hotel rooms are, by definition, dirty and you could even say contaminated. But a guest should have the reasonable expectation that drinking glasses have gone through a commercial dishwasher.

 

[Syntho_Magnetic]

Purell (Ethanol) Does not Make Superbugs!

To be concise, I think for paying that money it's deplorable, and given the refined nature of the Comtemporary and the similar studies, this is clearly indicative of most hotels.

As for germ-craziness, the single active ingredient in Purell and similar brands of hand sanitizer (as opposed to antibacterial soaps and such) is ethyl alcohol. Alcohol is cellular waste, so you're basically just drowning the germs in their own waste (I know, quite an analogy to think of when people purposely injest ethanol ), they don't become resistant or create superbugs. So yes, please use more Purell!

It's too bad they don't just leave the cups as is, I'd rather deal with old saliva than being wiped with the toilet or floor rag (or impromptu handkerchief in the Contemporary case). But from now on I will resort to my water bottles or try to wash the cups really well, sigh, everytime I re-enter the room.

 

[kimmychad]

deleted

 

[kimmychad]

....and you point is? :veryconfu

the point is its disgusting, period.

You don't clean mugs/glasses/coffeemakers yourself before you use them?

no, and i also dont rinse off the dishes or silverware or glasses in a restaurant before i use them. i expect them to be clean. im a housekeeper at a hospital, if i clean a room, its clean. noone has to go behind me and clean it again

I agree with you said and I'd like to take this one step further, I'm sick and tired of hearing how manual labor jobs are so bad and how the people who do this type of work basically get a free pass for NOT DOING THEIR JOB properly. You want a better job, get an education and get a better job. Don't like doing manual labor, then don't do it, do some other job. WDW or whatever comany pays you a salary to do a job, if it's cleaning up rooms then that's what you do. This doesn't mean you skimp on doing your job it means you DO YOUR JOB. If the cleaning people are supposed to clean drinking glasses then it should get done end of story and my rant.

very well said

I personally think it's funny that so many of the posts in this thread assume if you think this is a big deal then somehow you're a germaphobe.

They don't get that a $300 room rate should entitle you to a certain level of cleanliness. But don't bother arguing it. They'll just say you're negative and you hate Disney, etc. etc. etc.

the thing is, paying more for a room doesnt mean it should be cleaner. it should be cleaned well period, no matter if its the contemporary or pop century. they're paid to do a job, if they dont want to do it, in todays economy, somebody most definitely will

This, of course, is spot on 100% correct. The people belittling the folks saying this is disgusting just aren’t thinking…obviously. It is the expectation that when you use a glass, be it in a restaurant or a hotel room, that glass should be clean. Period!!

Making weak excuses, like the one that said what should be expected from someone making minimum wage, is nothing more than a slap in the face to housekeepers everywhere that do clean rooms the way they are supposed to and take pride in what they do.

Some of you are truly unbelievable…

as i'm a housekeeper at a hospital, thank you. if someone spit on my sandwich at a restaurant it probably wouldnt kill me either, but its disgusting. im not a germaphobe, i dont wash my hands all the time and i hate the smell of antibacterial stuff, but wiping your mouth or nose with a towel and then cleaning a supposedly clean glass with it? come on

 

[wedway71]

I was in the hotel business for most of my adult life, and with two very high end companies.

You're welcome to pooh-pooh this whole topic, but this actually is a very very big deal for hotel managers, and should be.

At the least, this sort of thing is evidence of a poor employee, poor training, poor supervision, or all three.

This sort of stuff matters, and it matters a lot.

Hotel rooms are, by definition, dirty and you could even say contaminated. But a guest should have the reasonable expectation that drinking glasses have gone through a commercial dishwasher.

I could not have said it better. This is serious. I Know a bunch of people are saying its no big deal there are Germs everywhere.Yes that is true and we all consume lots of germs on a daily basis and we havent died yet.

The point is when we go to a Hotel or Restaraunt we expect to have certain standards upheld. If I go to a place to eat I expect my plates and silverware to be washed properly with the proper chemicals. Will I die if someone is in back washing them with their bare hands and no soap? Probably not but thats not the point and the same deal with the Hotels.

I have paid for a service and a level of Sanitation. This is Disney, and they are the Leader in Hospitality and this just is plain BAD.

 

[Gooch]

I did catch this the other day. It's not what I expect from Disney, but I'm not really bothered/affected by it. I'm kind of a germiphobe, so I usually take my own towel and a cooler full of drinks so that I don't have to use what they (or any hotel) provide.

 

[JennyTablina]

I think with all hotels your subject to the possibility of some sanitary issue. Thats why I personally prefer villas. Then you know generally that everythings gonna be clean, or should be.

I know when my dad was on a business trip to Washington. I dont recall which hotel it was, but in the welcome pack it had a note mentioning they should really consider tipping the maid. Dad had gone with a co-worker who had a seperate room as well and got the note. My dad left a nice tip the next day, his co-worker didnt. Dad got back to his room to find it clean as a whistle and the other guy came back to a half-hearted cleaned room plus the coffee mugs unwashed. Suppoedly the maid was within her rights to do substandard work if not tipped.

That said, having not been able to see this report, it still wouldnt change my mind on paying out for a Disney hotel one day. Just I'll know to tip well and also just double check things

 

[darkstarx13]

wow, this person should be fired. Disney is well-known for having a clean area and this situation is just digusting.

 

[ChrisQ]

The whole washing-the-hotel-glasses-in-the-bathroom-sink expose is apparently trendy right now. They've done it twice here in Atlanta in the last 3 or 4 months. It's a bit old to me.