Comparing Issues between DVC and other timeshares

[mickeysgal]

After reading so many posts recently over housekeeping issues, non-smoking/smoking, and handicapped/non-handicapped room assignment, it has made me wonder...

We only own DVC. For those that own timeshares elsewhere, do you have problems with housekeeping there? Is housekeeping better, the same or worse? The high occupancy rates, the time allotted to clean these rooms and perhaps not enough staff seem to be the problem here at DVC. We've been considering another timeshare (for a better mix of vacation options) and I'd really like to know if this is the "norm" or is DVC really that out of whack with the other big-player timeshares out there? Is Disney the only one that lets the issues of non-smoking/smoking, and handicapped/non-handicapped come to a head at the check-in desk? How do you handle these issues with your other non-Disney timeshare?

 

[tjkraz]

Good questions. I haven't made it over to tug2.net much, so I'll be curious to see what others have to say.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Don't own another timeshare, but we were at Hilton Grand Vacation Club Sea World February 4th to 7th. Checkout was a 10AM so that's a difference right there. You did get bedmaking and clean towels every day, and it's the case all of the time, not just because we were there for a presentation. The accomodations were very nice, and if we were younger we would consider it. We didn't "trust" timeshares when we were younger, this is probably a mistake on our part.

We weren't at Disney, and we thought there was definitely less to do around the resort than at a typical DVC resort. We went to DTD for food, not much to eat at our resort.

DH liked the accomodations, 1 bedroom, better than Disneys, and I had to look hard, but I did find chewing gum or some sort of stain on the rug under the cocktail table.

Bobbi

 

[spiceycat]

my other US timeshare is very old - however the staff really tries very, very hard to kept the place up.

they do a completely cleaning in the middle of the week.

however they don't have Disney money - so no whirlpool in the master (it is only a shower) however the second bathroom has a comb (like Disney) - I got it because of location Panama City Beach - and it has some wonderful views - it is not a DVC resort at all.

my other timeshare I trade through RCI - have stayed in HGVC and Sheraton Vistana - both are were nice - but neither came up to DVC in service or room cleaness -

dvc tries to kept their rooms up - but if you have a problem call - they can't fix it if they don't know it - and it is not the maids job to call in problems - they clean only - most of the maids don't speak english - the maintence people do - big language problem there.

does anyone know why WDW is trying to stop the tipping of the maids - in their latest policy - they mention food servers, valet parking, bell services, conceirge service, wine, bar servers - nothing on the room cleaners/housekeepings/maids - why?

on when I called an outside timeshare with a problem - HGVC can almost as soon as DVC to fix it - Sheraton completely ignored me - I called several times...

I got some good service from a new timeshare - Celebration World resort - I think they would get better reviews if they were more honest - they say they are close to Celebration - no they are close to Wyham - old wilson road off US 192.

forgot - I also own at Westgate - their room cleaning leaves a lot to be wanted - but in my opinion this is done intentionally - they want you to attend the maintence meeting (sales pitch) if everything was perfect you wouldn't go...

 

[Beca]

We didn't "trust" timeshares when we were younger, this is probably a mistake on our part.


Bobbi

Maybe it's my age...but, I don't trust them now!!!

But, that's just me....I don't own a "timeshare"...I am a member of the "Disney Vacation Club".



Beca

 

[athenna]

Beca-I love that!
Any time anyone mentions my time share, I correct them and tell them ''I don't have a time share, I have a Disney Vacation Club!

 

[crisi]

We don't own anywhere else, but we have been known to stay in a timeshare property in Northern Minnesota (Breezy Point).

Rooms are decently clean - but not perfect (cobwebs, other peoples left behind food, mildewy showers - same sorts of DVC issues), but the rooms aren't air conditioned properly for the summer heat. Its a timeshare where you "own" your unit and week, so I'm sure that owners don't get "stuck" with handicapped rooms or smoking rooms - we've gotten smoking rooms. We've also gotten rooms very inappropriate for very young kids (lofts ten feet up accessible by ladders - not stairs). We go because its cheap room plus golf - not because we get luxury accomodations.

 

[RobDoc]

We own weeks at four other timeshares. We primarily use them to exchange. None offer housekeeping at all- but a couple do offer a "linen exchange" mid week (we have to strip beds and take all linens to the resort laundry where we can trade for fresh linens). Check out is 9:00 - 10:00am. Several are older resorts and, although well maintained, not up to DVC standards and none are likely to have much value after 50 years even though there is no expiration date. Annual fees range from $375- $500 per week for these resorts. We do enjoy the area for each resort (one in WI, one in Gatlinburg, TN, one in Indiana and one just north of Atlanta) and the layout and amenities available, but none are on par with our DVC options. All were a LOT cheaper- we paid between $500 and $2500 for each week - all resales. All originally sold thru the developer for $15-$30,000 but none have a ROFR and resale values have dropped greatly over time.

We've not had any cleanliness issues at any of our timeshares, but DVC has certainly been consistently fresher, better maintained and "cleaner upon arrival" than any of the others.

Our timeshare in Indiana trades thru DVC with II and the others are Gold Crown resorts in RCI.

We've had no unresolved complaints at any - especially DVC.

 

[sagwanamu]

I don't own other timshare; however, my SIL does. So we had opportunity to stay at Marriott Grand Vista last May for a week. Their service were excellent and the rooms were very clean.

But there still was a problem. When I asked them to clean the room (middle of the stay and of course they charge), they didn't clean the room. So I called them complained and they cleaned our room next day for free.

The bottom line is no matter which timeshare you have, including DVC, there may be some problem; however, the the issue is how the staff handles the complaints.

I believe DVCer's expectation of service is very high, which we all should be when we all paid (and paying) more for the "magical" service than any other timeshare.

 

[bwvBound]

In general, I'd say DVC is handling housekeeping "on par" with others -- but is perhaps behind in allowing owners to specify room types when booking a reservation.

Here is a quick rundown on how my others handle smoking/non-smoking, "special needs" units or other special "unit related requests":

• Worldmark: All units, across all 50+ resort properties, are now considered non-smoking. Special Needs (handicapped) units are clearly identified at time of booking the reservation. Some of our properties have room differences (configuration or view) and allow us to book accordingly. Beyond that, room assignments are made at check-in.
• Warner Springs Ranch: Unit assignment is chosen at time of reservation. Owners know exactly what they are getting (smoking/non-smoking, unit configuration, location, etc.) when making the reservation.
• Seapointer: I own a fixed week, fixed unit. If I choose to stay at my "home resort" -- I know exactly what I'm getting.
• Grand Pacific Palisades: Some ownerships are "fixed units" ... but most are decided at check-in. I've not had any particular problems with smoking or room configuration -- and am honestly surprised that I don't even know the policy. (Of course, I've only stayed twice ... as I tend to use this property for trading purposes.)
• Units booked via Exchange: I've stayed in at least 10 units via RCI or II exchange or bonus/getaway weeks. In most cases, I will phone a request for non-smoking prior to arrival. I've only been disappointed once -- and we were quickly moved to a different property in that situation.

One notable difference between DVC and my others ... check-in time. Most of the others are more vocal regarding 4PM check-in times. They may grant an early arrival access to their room (if it is ready) -- but typically you should not expect any special treatment if arriving early. The policy trends towards, "Arrive anytime after the published check-in time, please."

After reading so many posts recently over housekeeping issues, non-smoking/smoking, and handicapped/non-handicapped room assignment, it has made me wonder...

We only own DVC. For those that own timeshares elsewhere, do you have problems with housekeeping there? Is housekeeping better, the same or worse? The high occupancy rates, the time allotted to clean these rooms and perhaps not enough staff seem to be the problem here at DVC. We've been considering another timeshare (for a better mix of vacation options) and I'd really like to know if this is the "norm" or is DVC really that out of whack with the other big-player timeshares out there? Is Disney the only one that lets the issues of non-smoking/smoking, and handicapped/non-handicapped come to a head at the check-in desk? How do you handle these issues with your other non-Disney timeshare?

 

[SoCalKDG]

but is perhaps behind in allowing owners to specify room types when booking a reservation.

Do you think this might be because DVC allows you to stay 1 day or 10 days, as well as books out the rooms to the general public when not being used, plus still have smoking/non-smoking plus handicapped?

 

[bwvBound]

but is perhaps behind in allowing owners to specify room types when booking a reservation.

Do you think this might be because DVC allows you to stay 1 day or 10 days, as well as books out the rooms to the general public when not being used, plus still have smoking/non-smoking plus handicapped?

No, I wouldn't ... based on comparing DVC to Worldmark (WM). Worldmark is an "all points based" system with over 200,000 owner accounts and 50+ resort locations. Similar to DVC, WM owners book stays of any length, any season, any property, any unit size (etc.). WM's inventory includes variations of special needs, unit configuration differences, and location/view options which may be selected at time of reservation. Reservations may be booked using points (or "credits" in the appropriate WM vocabulary) or cash, for owner use or guest use ... and in some cases is rented to the public.

Not only does WM handle the variations ... they allow owners may book their stays online using a web-based reservation tool addressing the most common reservations types.

Sorry ... I feel DVC's reservation policies leave room for improvement.

 

[LIFERBABE]

No, I wouldn't ... based on comparing DVC to Worldmark (WM). Worldmark is an "all points based" system with over 200,000 owner accounts and 50+ resort locations. Similar to DVC, WM owners book stays of any length, any season, any property, any unit size (etc.). WM's inventory includes variations of special needs, unit configuration differences, and location/view options which may be selected at time of reservation. Reservations may be booked using points (or "credits" in the appropriate WM vocabulary) or cash, for owner use or guest use ... and in some cases is rented to the public.

Not only does WM handle the variations ... they allow owners may book their stays online using a web-based reservation tool addressing the most common reservations types.

Sorry ... I feel DVC's reservation policies leave room for improvement.

I agree with the WM comparison. I dont own but have close friends that own and they allowed me access to their member site as I was considering using their bonus time for Las Vegas. They do have booking categories of rooms available online and it refreshes continously as rooms are booked and cancelled. Im very happy being a DVC member, but the technology does exist and is being used by others.

 

[lllovell]

It seems as though BIG changes that happened this year at Disney in the ressie systems and ticket sales areas have probably slowed down the promised changes to the DVC ressie system online. I am certainly looking forward to being able to see what is open and have never minded making my own ressies. I bought into DVC to wanting to try different resorts and able to go at different times and it would be much nicer if I could sit in the comfort of my home, surf a bit and figure out my trips (without making decisions and finding out I can't do what I wanted to because the resort I want is not available for that week.)

 

[CarolA]

I can see all sorts of problems if you pick your unit. What happens if it is out of service? As much as people complain now I can only imagine the screams if the unit "I picked" can't be given to me.... Never mind that it is under water due to a flood!

 

[mickeysgal]

I can see all sorts of problems if you pick your unit. What happens if it is out of service? As much as people complain now I can only imagine the screams if the unit "I picked" can't be given to me.... Never mind that it is under water due to a flood!

I agree in a reservation system should not be allowed to go as far as to pick a particular unit. I'm not sure if that is what the prior poster was referring to. Letting a reservation get that finely detailed certainly could spell disaster. On the other hand, I don't see the problem in being able to generally reserve a unit that is S/NS or H/NH and after this, put in some sort of other criteria (view, location) that would be no more than a request. This way, a family can decide, at that point in time, to request another resort if their basics (S/NS and/or H/NH) aren't met.

Do other timeshares (Marriott, Hilton, etc.) allow you to reserve at the time of booking a room that is S/NS, H/NH?

 

[chainkid]

During our recent trip in Dec we had alot of problems with maintenace issues. One of our 1 bedroom units had no hot water the entire week. Despite several calls to maintenance it was never fixed and because the resort was full we couldn't move. They offered to give us two free nights and a dinner on the house but we suffered 5 days with no hot water for the jacuzzi, the dishwasher or anything else. It was a terrible stay. The refrigerator also din't keep our food cold unless it was set at 9. we lost alot of our food until we notice the problem. I felt that they should have reimbursed the whole trip as the room was not what we paid for. Several times we waited for hours in the room waiting for someone to fix our problem and even spent time at the front desk trying to get a supervisor. I was very unhappy with the treatment we received. I've been a member since 1999, and I've never had a problem like this before. On this trip we had two grand villas and the one bedroom. I was trying to get my neighbors to buy in to DVC but since the one bedroom was there unit they were so disgusted with the treatment that they received they weren't interested in taking the tour. I've sent a letter to DVC but haven't even received the curtesy of a response. I love Disney and up til now I loved my DVC but this last trip really has me worried about the future. We pay alot of dues as I own 600+points and I expect to get a fully functioning room each time I vacation with no excuses. I can live with minor maintenance issues but not having the basics like hot water for a deluxe room is totally unacceptable to me. The fact I haven't heard a thing from member services is another bad omen for the future as in the past I have had nothing but raves for my membership. I now am totally turned off. joan

 

[Dean]

Maybe it's my age...but, I don't trust them now!!!

But, that's just me....I don't own a "timeshare"...I am a member of the "Disney Vacation Club".



Beca

DVC is a timeshare plain and simple, don't kid yourself otherwise.

A few random thoughts. On the Smoking/NS issue, WM all NS (as mentioned), Marriott's moving that way for their newer resorts, older resorts and those in other countries frequently don't even have NS rooms. As for unit assignments, it's all over the place. Some are fixed units/weeks so you get the same unit every time. Others are floating and each has their own unit assignment plan. In general, if there are multiple view types that are sold as such, you get the type you own. In most, owners get priority for unit assignments, DVC is definitely out of touch in this area. Many have no cleanings in between but in MX and the Caribbean, many have daily maid service. Many have laundry's but often not in the rooms. One great example is Marriott HH where if you have two weeks in a row, you can stay in the one unit UNTIL the other is ready no matter which resort it is. This is a very nice feature which we've taken advantage of several times. As a general rule, most timeshare do better than DVC in handling member requests. DVC excels mostly in flexibility.

In many ways DVC isn't better or different, it's just flexible and most of the resorts are on WDW property. And there are negatives like cost and lack of direct exchange company access.

 

[cymomtx]

We own three weeks at the Royal Sands in Cancun. It is much different then US timeshares. We have maid service everyday but Sunday. Clean sheets and towels daily. We do not have washer and dryer in villa but there is a laundrymat. If you tip the lady nice you will have your laundry washed, dryed and folded in 4 hours for about $3 per load.

We have experienced rooms after they have been occupied by smokers. Our resort will come in and change out all linens, including curtains, change air filters and provide air cleaners. Within 24 hours there is no smell of smoke anymore.

 

[Cruelladeville]

We own at Marriott Cypress Harbour, and my sister owns at Grand Vista, DD owned at Vistana. Vistana was inferior. While they had nice facilities, they didn't keep them up. Marriott tends to keep their timeshares in good condition, but none has maid service. They also charge for everything, including changes to your ressie. You can only check in on certain days, and you need to have a membership in II, which costs $$, in order to transfer to any other Marriott resort. It's difficult to get requests, but buildings are clearly designated as s/ns. Members get first choice on requests at their home resorts. Units are roomier, but quality can be iffy. As in any resort, you will have to get maintenance to visit you at least once. Maintenance fees are about $700 per week, which must be paid all at once. Resale is very poor in comparison to Disney. My week would resell at about $7500, compared to DVC, where I would make a profit upon sale. In spite of the $$, I like Marriott, especially when I want to lay in the sunshine, and feel it is a good value if you are buying it as a resale.