Aggressive DVC Housekeeping Checkout Day

[Wiltony]

We had a housekeeper knocking on our door at 11:00 on checkout day. We were almost done packing up, but were running behind by about 10 minutes. She was polite, and we apologized for going past check out time a little bit. I gave her a $10 bill as a tip, a thank you, and an apology. We both went about our day.

 

[tjkraz]

I guess this is where we will just have to agree to disagree. It's just silly to suggest that housekeeping can only be scheduled for 5-hours a day and that that is the only option available to keep housekeepers from knocking on doors prior to the check-out time.

Then what are they doing before 11am and after 4pm? Cleaning of public areas and skeleton crew coverage for special requests are already accounted for in current scheduling.

Why do you believe that punishing owners and changing the check-out time to 10:00 would likely result in the problem going away? Maybe they will start knocking even an hour earlier.

Increasing the guaranteed window to service rooms by 20% can only help with turnover.

 

[SL6827]

I guess this is where we will just have to agree to disagree. It's just silly to suggest that housekeeping can only be scheduled for 5-hours a day and that that is the only option available to keep housekeepers from knocking on doors prior to the check-out time.

Why do you believe that punishing owners and changing the check-out time to 10:00 would likely result in the problem going away? Maybe they will start knocking even an hour earlier.

Bottom line, for me anyways: Checkout time has been long established as 11:00, therefore there is simply no reason for DVC to expect the room to be unoccupied and available for cleaning earlier than that, so STOP calling and/or knocking before then.

Exactly. 10 am check out, 6-7 am knock? I was thinking just this.
Eventually get to a 4 am knock, lol.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Then what are they doing before 11am and after 4pm? Cleaning of public areas and skeleton crew coverage for special requests are already accounted for in current scheduling.


Increasing the guaranteed window to service rooms by 20% can only help with turnover.

Cleaning, I assume. That's not the point.

 

[Sandisw]

I guess this is where we will just have to agree to disagree. It's just silly to suggest that housekeeping can only be scheduled for 5-hours a day and that that is the only option available to keep housekeepers from knocking on doors prior to the check-out time.

Why do you believe that punishing owners and changing the check-out time to 10:00 would likely result in the problem going away? Maybe they will start knocking even an hour earlier.

Bottom line, for me anyways: Checkout time has been long established as 11:00, therefore there is simply no reason for DVC to expect the room to be unoccupied and available for cleaning earlier than that, so STOP calling and/or knocking before then.

Except, as an owner I don’t have any problem with it after 9 am and if it does mean it helps rooms to be ready earlier, then I am all for it as long as it’s done in a nice way.

Now, with the new check out app button in MDE, maybe those knocked become even less, but even so, if we aren’t leaving until 11 am just would not be bothered with it even if it was each and every trip.

If I am alone want to be sure no one entered when I went in the shower, then I use the latch just in case.

Again, rudeness, multiple knocks after one has shared the time they will vacate isn’t necessary but honestly, beyond that, not sure its any big deal.

 

[RoseGold]

However the premise here seems to be that Disney can/should massively staff-up between the hours of 11-4.

Or charge $30 to check out at 1PM on top of the housekeeping you already paid for. Then you know which rooms will be the late ones and poor, cash-strapped DVC can afford to actually pay people, like every other $800/night hotel.

 

[BeachClub2014]

Except, as an owner I don’t have any problem with it after 9 am and if it does mean it helps rooms to be ready earlier, then I am all for it as long as it’s done in a nice way.

Now, with the new check out app button in MDE, maybe those knocked become even less, but even so, if we aren’t leaving until 11 am just would not be bothered with know even if it was each and every trip.

If I am alone want to be sure no one entered when I went in the shower, then I use the latch just in case.

Again, rudeness, multiple knocks after one has shared the time they will vacate isn’t necessary but honestly, beyond that, not sure its any big deal.

I do. I guess that we all have our little quirks with DVC that we find irritating. This is one of mine as there is no need for it.

DVC knows, with absolute certainty (absent hurricanes) what days rooms are going to be flipped. We make reservations either 11 or 7 months in advance. Sure there are changes that happen with less notice, but most rooms are locked within those time frames. Given that, there is ample opportunity to appropriately schedule staff to meet the demands of flipping rooms. I'm not willing to give them a pass on something that is easily avoided.

 

[Sandisw]

I do. I guess that we all have our little quirks with DVC that we find irritating. This is one of mine as there is no need for it.

DVC knows, with absolute certainty (absent hurricanes) what days rooms are going to be flipped. We make reservations either 11 or 7 months in advance. Sure there are changes that happen with less notice, but most rooms are locked within those time frames. Given that, there is ample opportunity to appropriately schedule staff to meet the demands of flipping rooms. I'm not willing to give them a pass on something that is easily avoided.

None of us are going to see every situation as important as others see it. I am much more upset when it’s 4:30 pm and I don’t have a room.

That’s okay but it’s also okay that some of us think the current system, which may or may not include a knock, works fine.

Personally, I think it would be worse to have rooms sitting empty because guests are gone and not being cleaned because they are now forbidden to knock and check to see if guests have left.

 

[tjkraz]

Or charge $30 to check out at 1PM on top of the housekeeping you already paid for. Then you know which rooms will be the late ones and poor, cash-strapped DVC can afford to actually pay people, like every other $800/night hotel.

I'd have no problem with that idea. There would have to be daily limits and I suspect the fee would be higher than $30. But at first glance, I don't personally have any objections.

 

[lowlight]

I agree that we all have our list of annoyances and they likely aren't the same. With that said, I'm glad that people who do have their annoyances speak up about it. I love DVC, I'd sell it if I didn't, but that doesn't mean they are a good company that doesn't try to push every boundary they can (points fiasco anyone?). We need people who will push back, because it shows them that they have an engaged userbase that won't take it. I'm not bothered by check out day knocks, but I understand the people who are and I support them. I'm bothered by the 2PM middle of my kids nap that was being a nightmare in the parks and I really need a break knock after I've put out the occupied sign and asked previous days to please come at a different time. I'm ok getting my room at 4:01 PM, but not 5:01 PM, because I can't checkout at 12:01 PM. I'm glad people are writing and giving feedback, they need to know we won't take it. Someone here suggested maybe "make checkout at 10 AM". No. I give them money, I sign a contract that is two way- this lists my responsibilities and your responsibilities. Nobody should be shamed into expecting the bare minimum. The resale restrictions, points fiasco, cheap flip of VGF2 without even adding a fridge and people having to gripe about the microwave until they caved in, these are all testing boundaries and it's important that someone push back.

Overlapping shifts are utilized. However the premise here seems to be that Disney can/should massively staff-up between the hours of 11-4. Assuming all rooms are serviced by 4pm, there's little else to be done and housekeeping operates with a skeleton crew. A few workers can be overlapped to cover the early morning and late night requests, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to what they need mid-day.

The bulk of the staffing is scheduled in the 8am - 5pm timeframe with anticipation that some rooms will be vacated by early departures.

And there's the answer, money. It can be done, they're just not financially incentivized to do so. Hospitals and law enforcement have to staff in anticipation of busy times, it doesn't matter if it isn't a financially wise decision. Hospitality staffs in anticipation of a dinner or lunch rush because to fail to do so would mean they wouldn't make as much money. Because we pay for housekeeping with dues and can't change providers, Disney has zero incentive to fix this problem.

 

[BeachClub2014]

None of us are going to see every situation as important as others see it. I am much more upset when it’s 4:30 pm and I don’t have a room.

Me too. Because, again, barring some unforeseen situation, it shouldn't happen. DVC management has the ability and opportunity to not let it happen, they've apparently decided that they are OK with a certain level of discontent from members on the issue.

That’s okay but it’s also okay that some of us think the current system, which may or may not include a knock, works fine.

Great. I never suggested otherwise, but it was suggested that owners that are bothered by it are "privileged" which was both inappropriate and unnecessary.

Personally, I think it would be worse to have rooms sitting empty because guests are gone and not being cleaned because they are now forbidden to knock and check to see if guests have left.

It wouldn't be an issue if they were properly staffed for the turnover. Again, they know months in advance exactly how many rooms will need flipping on any given day.

This is not a new issue. It's been around ever since we first bought DVC in 2001 and likely pre-dated us. It certainly hasn't been a deal-breaker for us, but is annoying.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I can’t help but wonder if WDW/ dvc is getting away with using the College Program Interns for housekeeping .
Next trip, take the time to “visit” the huge new campus and wonder about that amount of housing with multiple interns staying in each room. That is a big supply of cheap labor for Disney … plus tax incentives, etc with program.
I hope they are not staffing housekeeping with this group because it is a backbreaking job . I just had a new mattress delivered and can’t believe how heavy it is .
Anyway,I am a rare breed. My hotel/ resort room is spotless when I depart. The beds have been stripped , etc. I hope housekeeping enters and gets to put their feet up few a few minutes ! Haha
In reality, I hope it helps to turnover the room for the consideration of the next guest waiting .
Yes,my family thinks I’m weird..but they tolerate me anyway.

 

[tjkraz]

And there's the answer, money. It can be done, they're just not financially incentivized to do so. Hospitals and law enforcement have to staff in anticipation of busy times, it doesn't matter if it isn't a financially wise decision. Hospitality staffs in anticipation of a dinner or lunch rush because to fail to do so would mean they wouldn't make as much money. Because we pay for housekeeping with dues and can't change providers, Disney has zero incentive to fix this problem.

The fact that DVC members pay for housekeeping actually eliminates one barrier to "fixing" it. But yes, any addition of workers would come at a price. All along, I was coming at this from the angle that members would not want Disney to increase staffing in a manner which would raise both member dues and the frequency of workers standing around with nothing to do.

 

[Sandisw]

Me too. Because, again, barring some unforeseen situation, it shouldn't happen. DVC management has the ability and opportunity to not let it happen, they've apparently decided that they are OK with a certain level of discontent from members on the issue.


Great. I never suggested otherwise, but it was suggested that owners that are bothered by it are "privileged" which was both inappropriate and unnecessary.


It wouldn't be an issue if they were properly staffed for the turnover. Again, they know months in advance exactly how many rooms will need flipping on any given day.

This is not a new issue. It's been around ever since we first bought DVC in 2001 and likely pre-dated us. It certainly hasn't been a deal-breaker for us, but is annoying.

As a member, I certainly don’t want to pay for more housekeeping staff who work only between the hours of 11 to 4, simply to prevent cleaning from starting before that time because they can’t knock on anyones door if it’s check out day.

It is not a new issue, but many of us have not had it happen at all so it’s not something being done all the time, with every guest.

 

[BeachClub2014]

As a member, I certainly don’t want to pay for more housekeeping staff who work only between the hours of 11 to 4, simply to prevent cleaning from starting before that time because they can’t knock on anyones door if it’s check out day.

I hadn't actually suggested that. As has been mentioned several times before, proper resource allocation and scheduling make overlaps possible without having four or five-hour shifts. Those of us in emergency services have figured out how to do that long ago. I'm pretty confident that DVC management could do the same should they wish to do so. It really ain't all that difficult.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I hadn't actually suggested that. As has been mentioned several times before, proper resource allocation and scheduling make overlaps possible without having four or five-hour shifts. Those of us in emergency services have figured out how to do that long ago. I'm pretty confident that DVC management could do the same should they wish to do so. It really ain't all that difficult.

And like every other hotel operator in the world......

 

[KimMcGowan]

How about DVC management tell the housekeepers not to knock on the door until 11:00, which is the stated check-out time? This seems like a very simple issue to resolve. DVC clearly says that check-out is 11:00. Stick to it.

My fear with this plan is that Disney would say, “Ok, then let’s stick with the agreed upon check-in time”. I might be wrong but I believe the check-in time is actually after 4 pm. I would hate for that to be enforced as I enjoy getting into my room as soon as possible.

 

[lowlight]

The fact that DVC members pay for housekeeping actually eliminates one barrier to "fixing" it. But yes, any addition of workers would come at a price. All along, I was coming at this from the angle that members would not want Disney to increase staffing in a manner which would raise both member dues and the frequency of workers standing around with nothing to do.

I was alluding to the fact that Disney could be making money off our dues and obscuring it with the fact that housekeeping services is all under one umbrella. If they say, “well DVC is 10 percent of the rooms at this resort so we will take our housekeeping budget and assess them 10% in their dues”, but they really come in way under that due to short staffing, they are making money. Unless housekeeping is, in fact, two different divisions for resort vs DVC. We can’t get rid of Disney housekeepers and they don’t have a financial incentive to hire more.

 

[tjkraz]

I hadn't actually suggested that. As has been mentioned several times before, proper resource allocation and scheduling make overlaps possible without having four or five-hour shifts. Those of us in emergency services have figured out how to do that long ago. I'm pretty confident that DVC management could do the same should they wish to do so. It really ain't all that difficult.

Workers are knocking on doors at 9am when they don't have anything else to do. Adding even more people to the 11-4 block, with some overlap before or after, means even more idle workers during the non-peak hours.

 

[Sandisw]

I hadn't actually suggested that. As has been mentioned several times before, proper resource allocation and scheduling make overlaps possible without having four or five-hour shifts. Those of us in emergency services have figured out how to do that long ago. I'm pretty confident that DVC management could do the same should they wish to do so. It really ain't all that difficult.

I am not saying that you suggested it, but I just don't agree this is a problem that needs solving. Again, many of us have not had it happen, nor would be bothered with a knock asking us to share when we might be gone, especially when that results in some rooms getting started earlier, which means some owners getting in clean rooms earlier in the day.