Disney in a Minute: What is Mousekeeping?

You may have heard the term “mousekeeping,” and thought it was cute. But when you don’t see it on Disney’s site, you might wonder if it means what you thought it did. So here’s the deal: Mousekeeping is Disney’s housekeeping. The word is a portmanteau of “mouse” (as in Mickey) and housekeeping.

Mousekeeping are the hardworking staff who make sure your hotel room is spic and span prior to and during your stay at a Walt Disney World hotel. You can expect your Mousekeeper to give everything a thorough cleaning before you arrive. That includes sanitizing all surfaces, fresh linens and towels, and so on.

During your stay, the frequency of housekeeping services will vary depending on which Disney hotel you’re at. If you’d like to opt out of housekeeping, speak to a Cast Member at the front desk. Or, you can simply leave the “Room Occupied” sign on your door. Note that opting out of housekeeping does not mean no one will ever enter your room.  The staff may do a room check during your stay.

If you need extra linens, pillows, or other amenities during your stay there are a few ways to request them. You can ask directly at the Front Desk, call housekeeping on your in-room phone, or use the Hey Disney Alexa.

Some guests tip the Mousekeeping staff, others do not. If you’re undecided, we have answers here to your tipping questions.

Surprisingly, Disney itself does not use the word “mousekeeping.” (It feels like a missed opportunity, no?) While it’s not proper Disney nomenclature, the top Google hit for “mousekeeping” is Disney’s housekeeping page. But you’ll often find the term used in Disney blogging and social media circles. So if you have questions about Disney housekeeping and want to broaden your search, try using mousekeeping instead.

Disney in a Minute is a series of short posts designed to help you better understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!

Do you have a Disney term that you think needs a bit more explanation? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks to Erin Foster for an earlier version of this post.