Is It True that Disney World Will Pay You If You Opt Out of the Housekeeping Service During Your Stay?

August 2, 2017

Q: I heard that Disney World will pay guests for each day that they agree NOT to have a housekeeper clean their room. Is this true?

A. Rumors began circulating in late June that Walt Disney World had started offering incentives to resort guests who voluntarily opt out of the houskeeping (or in Disney speak “Mousekeeping”) services during the duration of their stay. The story has taken off like wildfire quickly making it one of the topics I’ve been asked about the most over the last month. So is it true or just a crazy rumor? The answer is that its actually true in some cases.

Disney seems to be trying out a new opt-in/opt-out housekeeping service at select Walt Disney World properties. At the moment the trial seems to be limited to Disney World’s Value Resort properties. I have had clients staying in the All Star Resorts and in Pop Century that have been offered incentives if they agreed not to have their room cleaned by Mousekeeping during their stay.

So how does this work? What do I get in return? If this is an offer that is extended to you, than Disney is issuing $20 gift cards for each night of your stay. So turning down the service for a 3-night stay would mean you would receive $60 in giftcards and you would receive $140 for a 7-night stay. The giftcards can be used to pay off the balance on your room, for tips, gratuities or even to purchase your favorite souvenirs.

Can I turn down the service for part of my stay but use it on others? No. You can’t request Mousekeeping for part of your stay. It is an all-in or all-out scenario. If you are concerned about not having any cleaning done to your room during your stay than you’d do best to turn down the gift cards and opt instead for the regular housekeeping service.

I’m fine with not having my room cleaned but I don’t think I could go that long without clean towels. You don’t have to. I’m being told by clients that have opted-out of housekeeping that Disney is providing fresh towels and toiletries for guests to pick up as needed.

I’m visiting Disney later this year? Will this be something that is still offered? We aren’t sure. Disney usually runs trials for set periods of time and this one could disappear as quickly as it arrived. So if you are planning out your Disney budgets, don’t consider it a given.

Any chance that this will become available at the Moderate and Deluxe Resorts? Again, we just aren’t sure. Right now opting out of Mousekeeping is only available to guests in the some of the Value Resorts. We’ll let you know if this changes.

Why has Disney World started giving guests the option to opt out of having their rooms cleaned? Disney World has yet to release any official details regarding their reasoning for trialing this service. However, speculation is that it is both a combination of staffing and budget cuts. It is a time of big expansions at Disney World with huge and expensive projects coming to Hollywood Studios and Epcot in the years ahead. We also know that Disney is looking at ways to cut existing costs by reducing staff hours. In reality both of these may play an part in the decision to offer the opt-out.

Doesn’t opting out of Mousekeeping seem unusual and go against Disney’s commitment to top-notch Customer Service? Though it may be an odd concept and takes a bit of getting used to, similar practices can be found at hotels throughout the world and actually even a bit closer to home. Guests staying at Disney’s DVC properties do not get daily Mousekeeping services but still experience Disney’s top-notch level of customer care. And remember Disney isn’t giving you an ultimatum. Guests do have the option of having a housekeeper stop by daily if that is what you prefer.

So how do you feel about Disney’s incentives for opting out of Mouskeeping? Would you take the gift cards or do your prefer to have your room cleaned daily?

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Is It True that Disney World Will Pay You If You Opt Out of the Housekeeping Service During Your Stay? 1

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