News Walt Disney World to resume complimentary parking at its resort hotels

[Lilofan]

They have. I've seen some trip reports that Grand Floridian was getting daily housekeeping for all guests.

At one time back in the day I think Grand Floridian was the only resort with housekeeping changes the bed sheets and making the bed daily. The other resorts beds sheets were changed every other day.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

This!!! All day long, this!!! This was being tested to see if people would go for it and they did. I had thought this was going to be a cost saving move way before the pandemic. Marie

No it was not "being tested." It wasn't a conspiracy to eliminate housekeeping. It was an incentive for people who wanted it, and Disney saved money on those people. It wasn't a scheme to switch off housekeeping for everyone.

 

[Chi84]

No it was not "being tested." It wasn't a conspiracy to eliminate housekeeping. It was an incentive for people who wanted it, and Disney saved money on those people. It wasn't a scheme to switch off housekeeping for everyone.

I can’t help thinking back to those hilarious room security check threads where all those people were convinced Disney housekeepers were all thieves, spies or perverts.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I can’t help thinking back to those hilarious room security check threads where all those people were convinced Disney housekeepers were all thieves, spies or perverts.

Joke's on them, it's actually the guests who are thieves, spies, and perverts.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

They should attempt to bring this back, at least incrementally, starting with club level at the deluxes and working their way down from there.

That would show a real effort to improve things here even if not all at once.

... as long as it doesn't end up going like the tram announcements, that is.

The problem here is it is a big sunk labor cost that provided zero revenue…no way to “massage” that…

And they’re gonna have to start heavily discounting rooms Again…double whammy

 

[flynnibus]

Some people don't like strangers in their rooms. Offering a gift card for someone choosing to opt out while continuing to provide daily service to people who like daily service is a win for everyone. Disney saves some money, the people who don't want housekeeping get a free incentive, and the people who like housekeeping get housekeeping.

Yeah, but it's an offer they didn't have to make. You don't want to use the pool? Disney doesn't give you a gift card for opt'ing out of the pool. Same with housekeeping... they were testing and trying to lure people in, not simply offering alt-compensation (that wasn't needed). Same reason you can't get a GC now for opt'ing out... and same reason Disney isn't giving you any discounts for failing to give daily housekeeping now...

The GC wasn't because Disney felt they were obligated - it was a carrot.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yeah, but it's an offer they didn't have to make. You don't want to use the pool? Disney doesn't give you a gift card for opt'ing out of the pool. Same with housekeeping... they were testing and trying to lure people in, not simply offering alt-compensation (that wasn't needed). Same reason you can't get a GC now for opt'ing out... and same reason Disney isn't giving you any discounts for failing to give daily housekeeping now...

The GC wasn't because Disney felt they were obligated - it was a carrot.

Of course it was a carrot and of course they WANTED you to take it, and of course it's because it saved them money. I'm not disputing any of that.

The point is, it was optional.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No it was not "being tested." It wasn't a conspiracy to eliminate housekeeping. It was an incentive for people who wanted it, and Disney saved money on those people. It wasn't a scheme to switch off housekeeping for everyone.

It’s possible to be right and wrong at the same time around here…I specialize in it….

…and I think you hit it here. Conspiracy? No…but they have desperately looked to dump labor for decades
Can’t be dismissed completely

 

[wannabeBelle]

No it was not "being tested." It wasn't a conspiracy to eliminate housekeeping. It was an incentive for people who wanted it, and Disney saved money on those people. It wasn't a scheme to switch off housekeeping for everyone.

I thought it would be a cost saving measure by not offering every day housekeeping. This would enable them to cut down on Cast Members for housekeeping. The only thing was, I didnt see the incentive lasting long term. Or maybe reverse it, A sporadic housekeeping is free ( Once every few days) but if you want everyday service it would be $X dollars more per night. I hope I am dead wrong on this one, but many non - Disney resorts do offer housekeeping every day, so I think it is a question of willingness to do it, not inability to hire the people. Marie

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I thought it would be a cost saving measure by not offering every day housekeeping. This would enable them to cut down on Cast Members for housekeeping. The only thing was, I didnt see the incentive lasting long term. Or maybe reverse it, A sporadic housekeeping is free ( Once every few days) but if you want everyday service it would be $X dollars more per night. I hope I am dead wrong on this one, but many non - Disney resorts do offer housekeeping every day, so I think it is a question of willingness to do it, not inability to hire the people. Marie

Disney has never been a good hotelier…it was always a burden/necessary evil to them.

They just built some expensive, unique stuff.

People are shocked to see this stated. But it is the truth. There is a constant “wrestle” internally that Marriott doesn’t have to deal with.

 

[zombiebbq]

I'm as skeptical as they come in terms of Disney. But this is a move in the right direction, undoubtedly caused by negative guest feedback, social media, and press. Just like many of us said would/should happen.

Where's all the "too many people are going to Disney, they don't care about negative feedback because people keep streaming through the gates at unprecedented levels to care about the small group of complainers. Shut up and pay" crowd right now??

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Disney has never been a good hotelier…it was always a burden/necessary evil to them.

Which is weird because the hotel operations on their cruise ships is exceptional.

 

[Chi84]

I'm as skeptical as they come in terms of Disney. But this is a move in the right direction, undoubtedly caused by negative guest feedback, social media, and press. Just like many of us said would/should happen.

Where's all the "too many people are going to Disney, they don't care about negative feedback because people keep streaming through the gates at unprecedented levels to care about the small group of complainers? Shut up and pay" crowd right now??

As far as I can tell they’re all still here complaining.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Where's all the "too many people are going to Disney, they don't care about negative feedback because people keep streaming through the gates at unprecedented levels to care about the small group of complainers? Shut up and pay" crowd right now??

Those people can’t untangle their own identity/place in the world with trips to Disney parks…so it’s an unending, revolving, incoherent steam of excuses for the corporation…because the park is “them” and the company that runs them can’t be wrong or mistaken in any way.

It’s day one of the “intro to Disney customer psychology” class I teach at collier county community college.

The pattern is distinct, irrefutable and can’t be ignored.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Which is weird because the hotel operations on their cruise ships is exceptional.

…ohhh…red alert here. Gonna decline this “invite”

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Any of the other resorts that I have been to that are just up I4 a bit ( about 20 minutes) have had daily housekeeping on all of my stays there, at a few different resorts. If they can do it, why not Disney?? Marie

See, I don’t see housekeeping as a problem…for the amount of time that you spend in the room, there’s bigger fish to fry…you make your bed (or don’t), if you need towels, you ask. That wouldn’t be a deal breaker for us.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

As far as I can tell they’re all still here complaining.

The excuse makers?

Oh yeah…they’re here

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

See, I don’t see housekeeping as a problem…for the amount of time that you spend in the room, there’s bigger fish to fry…you make your bed (or don’t), if you need towels, you ask. That wouldn’t be a deal breaker for us.

You know…I did manage in resorts for a time…

…it’s such an unwieldy mess. It really is. The labor is hard, it’s unattractive which drives the costs up…it unreliable…and their guest to worker ratio has always been off the charts…straining the goal of the on property hotels in the first place.

I can only tell you that they used to rock a staff of 800 in housekeeping alone in a 2000 room hotel - mostly because of complete stupidity in design - and that is bonkers.

I’m sure that has reduced - some - but you can’t put a bandaid on a severed limb

How many keepers you think a 5 story holiday inn express is rocking?

 

[James Alucobond]

I can only tell you that they used to rock a staff of 800 in housekeeping alone in a 2000 room hotel - mostly because of complete stupidity in design - and that is bonkers.

What kind of design issues could possibly result in a housekeeper only turning, like, 2.5 rooms per day? Or do you mean 800 total across shifts?

 

[Smiley/OCD]

You know…I did manage in resorts for a time…

…it’s such an unwieldy mess. It really is. The labor is hard, it’s unattractive which drives the costs up…it unreliable…and their guest to worker ratio has always been off the charts…straining the goal of the on property hotels in the first place.

I can only tell you that they used to rock a staff of 800 in housekeeping alone in a 2000 room hotel - mostly because of complete stupidity in design - and that is bonkers.

I’m sure that has reduced - some - but you can’t put a bandaid on a severed limb

How many keepers you think a 5 story holiday inn express is rocking?

The largest problem is that people are pigs, in the parks, in the resorts and maybe at home too?