Housekeeping?

[Amanda08]

I don't think I've seen anyone post their experiences with the housekeeping role before...
Has anyone done it before? How was it? What were the positives and the negatives?


I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I'm going to check off on my role check list when it's time to apply.

 

[glendalais]

Housekeeping is an....interesting role.

On the positive side, you don't have a lot of face-to-face Guest Interaction (this could also be a negative, depending on your preferences), and you generally operate on your own.

On the flip side, it is VERY physically demanding work. Think about cleaning your entire bedroom and bathroom at home from top to bottom until it was all spotless, slick and clean. Now multiply that by 16 rooms that have to be redone each and every day. There's a lot of heavy lifting, pushing, pulling and general manual labour.

In addition, it can be a little bit isolating with regards to interacting with your fellow Cast Members. Many Housekeeping Cast Members are foreign-born, and quite a few either do not speak English or speak it only minimally. Depending on your area, this potentially leaves other CPs as your only coworkers you can talk to.

I know people who love it, and others who want out as quickly as is humanly possible. It depends on your type of personality and how you approach the experience.

Just a tip though, when you are clocking out from work as a Housekeeping Host or Hostess, be mindful of the pecking order that tends to form. I have seen firsthand what happens when a CP gets in the way of Full Timers who are ready to swipe out and leave....it's not pretty .

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I did it a few years ago (2004-05), and it was all right. It really depended, for me, on what resort I was at. I got deployed around sometimes, and my favorite place to be at was actually my home resort, the Boardwalk. It wasn't perfect by any means (I actually preferred my role in custodial on my alumni program), but it was still all right. I lost a lot of weight because of the physicality of the role, as glendalais mentioned. Lots of bending, stretching, pushing, and pulling. Once you get into a routine, it's not hard to get your work done quickly and still do it right.

I will say, though, that because of the physicality, I knew quite a few people who got injured. They either messed up their backs or knees, or had some sort of fall on a slick floor. I actually sprained my foot walking out of a check-out (I have no idea what I tripped over, since there was nothing on the floor). It's something to be concerned about, so definitely make sure you use proper body mechanics, which they'll teach you there.

Oddly enough, I still make my bed and fold towels the way I was taught there. It kinda sticks with you.

 

[vickalamode]

Man the one thing I am not looking forward to for my CP is my job, housekeeping. Hopefully it isn't as bad as you're all making it seem. It really does seem like the worst possible job that I could have gotten. I should have researched it more before putting it on my application

 

[DisneyFirefly]

It's really not that bad. It's difficult, but it's not bad. The injuries I mentioned only happened (for the most part) when people weren't taking care of themselves. Mine happened because I'm a klutz who could hurt themselves with a freakin pillow.

The work is difficult at first, but it's good work. It's steady. You know what's expected of you every day and, as I said, you get into a routine when you've done it for a while. It is one heck of a work-out, but it's one you get paid to do. In my opinion, how enjoyable it can be really depends on what resort you're at, your management staff, and any other CP's in the department. There were only three of us in housekeeping when I did it, and we got very close very fast because of that. It really is a good position, it's just that on the surface, it looks like it isn't (sort of like custodial, imo).

 

[jshuff1]

I dont think the house keeping is that bad

 

[igetamnesia]

Anyone else have any housekeeping experiences to share? That's the role I was given but I am not sure if I want to do it. I'm up for hard work, but I've never been very physically active and I'm worried if I'd be able to handle this kind of job :/ Help!!

 

[vickalamode]

Anyone else have any housekeeping experiences to share? That's the role I was given but I am not sure if I want to do it. I'm up for hard work, but I've never been very physically active and I'm worried if I'd be able to handle this kind of job :/ Help!!

Don't accept into housekeeping! I would be enjoying my CP a LOT more if I wasn't a housekeeper. I basically cry all day while I am cleaning my rooms because it is the worst thing have ever done. I come to work, deal with people screaming to me in languages I don't understand (everyone is basically Haitian or Hispanic), and deal with leaders with unrealistic expectations. I feel like I am in a Catch-22 every day at work, because they expect 18 rooms to be done every day (18 rooms that can either be occupied or checkouts...it doesn't matter if all 18 are checkouts, 18 rooms no matter what!) and they expect the rooms to be done PERFECTLY, and for the housekeeper to do them all between the hours of 9am-4:15pm (minus an hour of supposed break time...yeah the break part of the day never happens and when it does I can only afford like 15 mins). It feels like a Catch-22 because it's like...I can't see how I am supposed to do 18 rooms perfectly and finish on time.

It's way more stressful than I feel like any job paying this low should be. Every day I come into work and I know that I have 2 options...one of them is to do everything they expect me to do in my rooms and make them perfect and finish at like 6pm, and the 2nd option is to do an okay job on all my rooms and finish on time, and risk having the rooms being inspected and being sent back. Either way it is a reprimand because if I am "too slow", I get a reprimand, and if my rooms aren't clean enough, I get a reprimand. I'm not trying to be so negative here, but this job really is the most awful job I have ever experienced and I don't want anyone else to have to go through with it if they can avoid it. It really is horrible. My body is acheing and sore, and I'm in constant pain from the work even on my days off (and it doesn't go away after I've been off for 2 days). It hurts to just bend down and get something out of the bottom drawer in my room. Aaaah please don't accept into housekeeping it really is absolutely horrible. Call and see if they have any other roles...I've heard of people calling and asking if any other roles were available and they've been offered QSFB...I seriously guarantee you that while QSFB might not sound that great I'm sure it is definitely a million times better than housekeeping

 

[WDW_lover_in_SC]

Don't accept into housekeeping! I would be enjoying my CP a LOT more if I wasn't a housekeeper. I basically cry all day while I am cleaning my rooms because it is the worst thing have ever done. I come to work, deal with people screaming to me in languages I don't understand (everyone is basically Haitian or Hispanic), and deal with leaders with unrealistic expectations. I feel like I am in a Catch-22 every day at work, because they expect 18 rooms to be done every day (18 rooms that can either be occupied or checkouts...it doesn't matter if all 18 are checkouts, 18 rooms no matter what!) and they expect the rooms to be done PERFECTLY, and for the housekeeper to do them all between the hours of 9am-4:15pm (minus an hour of supposed break time...yeah the break part of the day never happens and when it does I can only afford like 15 mins). It feels like a Catch-22 because it's like...I can't see how I am supposed to do 18 rooms perfectly and finish on time.

It's way more stressful than I feel like any job paying this low should be. Every day I come into work and I know that I have 2 options...one of them is to do everything they expect me to do in my rooms and make them perfect and finish at like 6pm, and the 2nd option is to do an okay job on all my rooms and finish on time, and risk having the rooms being inspected and being sent back. Either way it is a reprimand because if I am "too slow", I get a reprimand, and if my rooms aren't clean enough, I get a reprimand. I'm not trying to be so negative here, but this job really is the most awful job I have ever experienced and I don't want anyone else to have to go through with it if they can avoid it. It really is horrible. My body is acheing and sore, and I'm in constant pain from the work even on my days off (and it doesn't go away after I've been off for 2 days). It hurts to just bend down and get something out of the bottom drawer in my room. Aaaah please don't accept into housekeeping it really is absolutely horrible. Call and see if they have any other roles...I've heard of people calling and asking if any other roles were available and they've been offered QSFB...I seriously guarantee you that while QSFB might not sound that great I'm sure it is definitely a million times better than housekeeping

Really not trying to sound mean or rude here but if you're complaining that people want it done perfectly you must have misunderstood where you were going to work. The thing that makes Disney great is the demanding of perfection. So all jobs should have that in mind. Everywhere will demand perfection. I'm sure house keeping is more challenging. But it's not like you would see a whole lot of difference in that phase in other jobs.

 

[mollay]

Just a little pep-talk for you wary Mousekeepers-to-be!

I don't know how much my opinion counts, as I've never done Housekeeping, let alone the CP (yet!) but, as someone who's been a guest at the WDW resorts... just remember who you're cleaning for! This isn't just some scuzzy hotel -- it's Disney World! People from all over the world are coming here, and while Housekeeping may not seem like the most glamourous job, your work is what the guests come "home" to.
I can't tell you how giddy I get when I see the cute ways the Housekeepers situate my brothers' stuffed animals, and the towel friends!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/characterhunters/410702418/
Take this picture for example. Even though you never physically see them, you still get to make a HUGE impression on every guest whose room you come in contact with! You have the ability to brighten a person's day without even seeing them.

Yes, it will be hard work. It's a job, and Disney is known to be big on perfectionism. But just remember you aren't cleaning up for just anyone -- these are people who are coming to WDW to make happy memories and you definitely get to be part of that. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I think if you have the right attitude, you can make it as good as any other role at WDW.

 

[SunshineJen]

I worked housekeeping on the last CP that I did. I worked at Coronado Springs Resort. I was kind of disappointed when I got this role because I wanted to work in a park, and I wanted a role that would have a lot of guest interaction. To be honest with you, the thing I liked most about it is that I lost so much weight. It was a very difficult job and I had never really done manual labor before. Like vickalamode said, I did find it difficult to balance doing 17 rooms perfectly with finishing by 5:00. Most of the CP's that I worked with (including me) often couldn't finish their rooms by 5 o' clock if we had a lot of checkouts, so then we would get lectured by our managers. I LOVE meeting people from other countries but at times it seemed like me and my fellow CP cast members were the only housekeepers that spoke English. That did make me feel kind of lonely at times, especially because some of the full time CM's seemed to resent our presence. Several of the CP housekeepers that I worked with ended up leaving early or transferring to another job because they just couldn't take it anymore.

Doing housekeeping, I did learn a lot about myself and about the hospitality industry (which is good because that is my major in school).Like someone mentioned earlier, you do tend to get close with the other CP housekeepers. It helps to have someone to talk to who is going through the same thing as you. So there were some positives that I took away from it. This role can be a good fit for some people, but I think you should know what you are getting into beforehand. In August I will be going on my second CP in Attractions and I think that will be a MUCH better fit for me.

 

[kmg148]

My roommate worked in Housekeeping. I remember her talking about making an effort to get to know everyone at her location, and they ended up helping each other out. That was the only way she got done rooms. Two people working on one room moves a lot quicker, and she would end up getting finished early. She took the time to get to know other cultures and it definitely benefited her.

I know it can be very hard, especially when you feel like an outsider, but it doesn't hurt to try and reach out.

 

[vickalamode]

Really not trying to sound mean or rude here but if you're complaining that people want it done perfectly you must have misunderstood where you were going to work. The thing that makes Disney great is the demanding of perfection. So all jobs should have that in mind. Everywhere will demand perfection. I'm sure house keeping is more challenging. But it's not like you would see a whole lot of difference in that phase in other jobs.

I'm well aware of where I am working, but Disney's expectations are unrealistic. I don't have a problem with doing my rooms PERFECTLY, it is the amount of TIME with the combination of the number of ROOMS that are required to be done. It is impossible to clean to their standards when they make us do as many rooms as they do. Maybe you should try doing housekeeping for a few months and then reply to this once you see for yourself how it is.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I'm well aware of where I am working, but Disney's expectations are unrealistic. I don't have a problem with doing my rooms PERFECTLY, it is the amount of TIME with the combination of the number of ROOMS that are required to be done. It is impossible to clean to their standards when they make us do as many rooms as they do. Maybe you should try doing housekeeping for a few months and then reply to this once you see for yourself how it is.

It's not impossible. I did it, and the people you're working with do it every day. If you want some time saving tips that I learned during my CP, I can send you a PM.

 

[nala_simba]

Im going into housekeeping. I start in may and will be working at akl. im excited even though it will be alot of physical work. The part that makes me happy is that i can make the guests happy by coming to a clean room after being at the parks and making them smile with the towel animals.

 

[SunshineJen]

Im going into housekeeping. I start in may and will be working at akl. im excited even though it will be alot of physical work. The part that makes me happy is that i can make the guests happy by coming to a clean room after being at the parks and making them smile with the towel animals.

It sounds like you have the right kind of attitude. Good luck to you! I have heard a lot of good things about AKL.