Advice needed ASAP- SIL at SSR now given NS room but...

[palmtreegirl]

The previous guests smoked in it and it smells horrible. They complained but were told their were no other rooms. The front desk sent someone to spray but after returning to the room tonight it still stinks, plus my neice has asthma. What do you think they should do, my SIL is very upset but my BIL isn't one to complain too much. WWYD? Thanks!!

 

[Luigi's Girl]

The previous guests smoked in it and it smells horrible. They complained but were told their were no other rooms. The front desk sent someone to spray but after returning to the room tonight it still stinks, plus my neice has asthma. What do you think they should do, my SIL is very upset but my BIL isn't one to complain too much. WWYD? Thanks!!

WOW! SSR sold out for the night? I'd definitely tell them go back down, ask for a manager, have them explain about their daughters asthma and have them LOOK again for another room! That's what I would do. Good Luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

They could also ask if there are no rooms at SSR to try to get one at another resort.
I also think they have ionizers that are supposed to neutralize or remove the smoke rather than just cover it up with a spray.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Thanks for the ideas, I'll pass them on to her!

 

[dianeschlicht]

When we had that situation at OKW, they came and changed the bedding (spreads) and used the ionizer. I too have asthma, and I wouldn't be able to breath in there. I discovered it as soon as we got to the room and went down to complaine right away, so it was done while we were out to the parks. Smelled fine when we returned.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I'm sorry to hear that their trip is being tainted by a foul room. WHY must people be so selfish and rude as to smoke in a designated n/smoking room? It makes me sick that they don't care that they're putting the health of others at risk. I really wish there was a way DVC could slap a hefty fine on those who do it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm sorry to hear that their trip is being tainted by a foul room. WHY must people be so selfish and rude as to smoke in a designated n/smoking room? It makes me sick that they don't care that they're putting the health of others at risk. I really wish there was a way DVC could slap a hefty fine on those who do it.

I agree! I know some hotels are charging up to $200 for suce offenses.

 

[fishermouse]

I'm sorry to hear that their trip is being tainted by a foul room. WHY must people be so selfish and rude as to smoke in a designated n/smoking room? It makes me sick that they don't care that they're putting the health of others at risk. I really wish there was a way DVC could slap a hefty fine on those who do it.

Would be great if they could levy a cleaning fee. What do they do if someone really leaves the room in bad shape, like major stains or burn marks, torn furnishings etc.? Hate to think all these costs just get rolled over into our dues. Normal wear and tear is expected but but like the sign says "Welcome Home" is this how people live. Must be some way to hold people accountable. Sorry to hear about your SIL's problem.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Would be great if they could levy a cleaning fee. What do they do if someone really leaves the room in bad shape, like major stains or burn marks, torn furnishings etc.? Hate to think all these costs just get rolled over into our dues. Normal wear and tear is expected but but like the sign says "Welcome Home" is this how people live. Must be some way to hold people accountable. Sorry to hear about your SIL's problem.

Unfortunately, I think they don't consider that to be "Disney like". I agree with you though. It shouldn't be our dues that pay for a few pigs!

 

[DrTomorrow]

While I totally agree that those who cause the need for non-routine cleaning and repair should be the ones to pay for it, there are a couple of issues. One, as diane pointed out, it would probably generate some negative impressions. On a practical note, it would take a LOT of extra effort to inventory the physical condition of each room sufficient that it would stand up under a challenge to the charges; if anyone who has left an apartment has been there when they assess the condition for deposit refund, it is a time-consuming activity.

That said, it would only take 10 seconds to do a smoker sniff test and another minute or two to get a verifying opinion....

 

[abner1776]

It's Disneys problem to fix and it never should have gotten to this point. The maid service should have notified the front desk of the issue with the previous tenants and the room should have been treated b/4 any new quests showed up.

If there were no rooms available, then an upgrade to a suite or villa should have been made available...even if only for 1 night, and I know that there is at least one 2-bedroom villa available, cause my friends had to leave SSR on Tuesday due to a family emergency and they were reserved thru this Sat.

Disney dropped the ball on this one and I also agree that Disney should impose a $250 cleaning fee on anyone smoking in a non-smoking room. Collecting the fee should not be too much of a problem, since most people leave a CC # with the front desk on check in anyway. Hit 'em where it hurts and maybe they won't do it again.

 

[crisi]

While I like smoking and the smell of stale smoke as much as the next non-smoker...

The contract with DVC is for a DVC room, not a room that doesn't smell like smoke. They've met their obligation. You may get the manager to do something (if there are no rooms for today, moving them tomorrow may be the best bet), but I wouldn't expect them to move them to a non-DVC resort - those inventories are seperate. Often, people in this situation don't leave happy.

It could be argued that the room needs to be habitable, but smoke smell seems to be considered a habitable situation - unlike a pipe leak (regardless of asthma or my agreement with that assumption).

 

[Chuck S]

That said, it would only take 10 seconds to do a smoker sniff test and another minute or two to get a verifying opinion....

Except that sniff tests are very subjective. For instance, say the person before me smoked a cigarette in the room. The first maid has a cold or allergy that prevents her from noticing the slight odor. I check-in. My sinuses are congested from from going from the dry airplane air to the humid, humid air in Florida, I don't notice a smell. I check out, the new maid has a sensitive sense of smell, and notices a slight lingering odor, calls her supervisor, who also notices the odor. I am billed $250 on my CC.

Should I be required to take my time and energy to fight an illegitimate charge? Would that not leave a bad taste in my mouth for Disney? What if the credit ard company decided to accept the "documentation" from the maids as "proof"...remember, maid-1 could testify via affidavit that she smelled no odor, maid-2 could certify that the odor was there after I used the unit, as could a "supervisor". Also remember that this all would take time and $$ for DVC to fight (which would come out of dues), as well as my time.

Or, would we all have to call the front desk prior to check out and have them send someone over to to certify the room and give us a signed receipt stating there is no odor? Again, paying wages to have someone on-call to do that.

 

[Stitch1404]

I had a similar experience at Saratoga Springs. I arrived and was put in a smoking room even though we requested non-smoking. I called down to the front desk and asked to be moved, they said there was nothing else, I even talked to a manager. They basically just kept telling me no. I even asked about availabilty at ANY DVC resort, they said nothing. Then when I mentioned that my daughter has a severe smoke allergy and could potentially become very ill staying in that room they changed their tone completely. All of a sudden there was a non-smoking room for us at the Boardwalk. And this was for New Year's Eve. So it just goes to show you that you just have to be persistent. When there is a medical concern involved with persistence I think they will do all they can to make it right. Tell her to go talk to the manager in person!

 

[DiznEeyore]

While I like smoking and the smell of stale smoke as much as the next non-smoker...

The contract with DVC is for a DVC room, not a room that doesn't smell like smoke. They've met their obligation. ............. It could be argued that the room needs to be habitable, but smoke smell seems to be considered a habitable situation - unlike a pipe leak (regardless of asthma or my agreement with that assumption).

I completely disagree; you're splitting hairs, and this attitude is letting the resort off the hook.

A smoked-in room is absolutely NOT habitable for myself or my son (and obviously a lot of other people), whether a particular resort considers it to be or not. I didn't spend thousands of dollars for a room I can't stay in because of someone else's bad habits -- DVC needs to accommodate the majority, not the minority in this case.

DisneyLand resorts are all smoke-free .... it's time for WDW to take the same stance.

 

[crisi]

We agree, its a problem and it shouldn't be acceptable. However, you have a right to what you are contracted for only. And in the past DVC has shown differing levels of flexibility in going beyond their contractual obligations when it comes to non-smoking/smoking rooms - yes, even for medical necessities.

Personally, and I've said this before, I do not believe DVC is not a good choice for anyone who NEEDS a non-smoking room until DVC fixes this significant problem. They have no OBLIGATION to give you a smoke free room.

Other timeshares have gone completely smoke free, something I would support DVC doing - PROVIDED they stick to it and don't hand out ashtrays to everyone who complains (which is what they seem to do now).

I think its important to realize this when dealing with the hotel managers. Because they don't need to do anything for you, you may have better luck asking and explaining than demanding and trying to get to a reasonable compromise.

 

[SueM in MN]

Except that sniff tests are very subjective. For instance, say the person before me smoked a cigarette in the room. The first maid has a cold or allergy that prevents her from noticing the slight odor. I check-in. My sinuses are congested from from going from the dry airplane air to the humid, humid air in Florida, I don't notice a smell. I check out, the new maid has a sensitive sense of smell, and notices a slight lingering odor, calls her supervisor, who also notices the odor. I am billed $250 on my CC.

Besides that, if the first maid is a smoker, he/she might not notice the odor at all.
And, if someone was smoking outside (which some smokers have reported they were told was OK to do if they got a non-smoking room), there is likely to be enough smoke smell in the room that someone who is really sensitive to the smell will notice it.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

Since I already responded to the OP's question I don't mind going kind of off topic for just a moment. Reading the rest of the responses to this thread reminded me what a pleasure it has been since April 15th to eat in "smoke free" restaurants here in NJ!!! Now if DVC followed suit that would be fantastic (at least for my family and many others)!!! Sorry, I don't mean to offend any smokers but this is a really big deal for us.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Unfortunately, I think they don't consider that to be "Disney like". I agree with you though. It shouldn't be our dues that pay for a few pigs!

They should take a lesson from the Grand Californian at DL. They're a Disney hotel, yet they make all the guests sign at check-in, agreeing not to smoke or they'll be charged (is it $200 there?)

 

[crisi]

They should take a lesson from the Grand Californian at DL. They're a Disney hotel, yet they make all the guests sign at check-in, agreeing not to smoke or they'll be charged (is it $200 there?)

Isn't that in response to a California law though? If Florida passes a law, and it applies to timeshares (to big ifs), than Disney HAS to figure out a way to do this. Until then, they have chosen not to.