Long - but here is the letter I just sent to
DVC if anyone wants to read it. They don't even know their own policy yet. If people do not express they need to refine their tines & execution of this policy, then management will think it is fine.
Good afternoon,
I just returned from a 2 night stay at Bay Lake Tower, and I want to make note of an issue with the new “trash” policy. I have heard about and understand the policy, but we also come to Disney to relax. If housekeeping insists on entering the room - it is best to please do so when we are out.
We are 2 fairly young people (40’s) vacationing with no children and we take a nap every afternoon and relax before going back out in the evening. I went out to get my hair done at GF salon on the 30th of December, and my husband went to take a nap. We planned on being out very late in the park that night. He specifically asked for the “Occupied” card, and told the concierge he would be taking a nap and we did not want housekeeping coming for an hour or two. He locked the bolt, and this was around 3. I returned around 4. I texted him I was back and he got up to let me in. The housekeeper was down the hall saying he needed to come in, and I said well, he was asleep, give us a minute. I went in and my husband was just getting out of bed and dressing and the phone starts ringing, and it is housekeeping management saying they NEED to get in the room. So, they had all day, and since someone’s shift is ending they suddenly NEED to get in the room to “check off a box” on their paper. The housekeeping manager begins explaining on the phone to me that they need to inspect the room every day. I told them we had the room occupied sign on and hung up. I went down the hall and told the housekeeper to empty the trash (while my husband is still half-dressed) and he did. I am not sure what “inspection” means, but all he did was take out a few trash cans and left quickly. He never even looked up. Especially since it was obvious one person was half-dressed and half-asleep. If this has anything to do with “safety” it was a pretty pointless exercise. Is it “safety” inspection? Is it trash removal? No one can answer this as the front desk person began telling me about safety, but nothing about trash.
I told the front desk later and they said housekeeping should NOT be knocking and calling when the sign is up, and he would speak to them. I believe the management needs to figure out exactly what they are doing here. Is it an inspection or just a trash take out? Can we take a nap in the afternoon on OUR vacation or can we expect people pounding on the door and calling while the “Room Occupied” sign is out for a FEW HOURS ONLY. The reason we own 640 DVC points is so that we do not have to be “park commandos” from rope drop to the fireworks. We have no kids. We like to relax. We want to take a nap on many days and we do not want people pounding on our door or calling because they were not able to get to our room until the end of their shift and then were rushing about. Disney knows when we are in the park – we wear Magic Bands. They even know when we are on the 7 Dwarves Mine Train. I have seen the videos, and yet they insist on knocking on the door AND calling when he specifically said “I need a Room Occupied sign to hang because I am going to lay down for a few hours”. This is the most un-magical service I have ever had at Disney. We were there 12/7-12-15; 12/29-12/31 and we are coming back in 3 weeks. Three trips in less than two months, so we must think Disney is doing something right, but this was a major error in my eyes. Please figure out a way for people to be able to take a nap without being hounded. How do I go about setting this up when we return to BLT on the 21ST? I guess the next step is unplugging the phone if Disney staff cannot figure out a way to please do this unobtrusively. We really just want to sleep for an hour. I do not think that is too much to ask when I work hard to pay the Maintenance Fees and enjoy my trip. I have no other complaints about DVC, the rooms, the staff, etc. We have loved every trip more than the last, and we really are impressed by something new and wonderful each time. But the lack of communication, courtesy and understanding on this new policy, is, to put it bluntly – a major screw up on the part of Disney. We just want to take a nap in the afternoon – I don’t care when else they come in.
Thanks for your time,