Does requesting a "VIP cleaning" irritate the CMs?

[jlk806]

Last year at POP my husbands asthma flared so badly he couldnt go more than a couple hours without his fast acting inhalor and he was waking up constantly wheezing. When we got home a few days later he was hospitalized with bronchitis. He was perfectly fine before the trip (though always has asthma and allergies). I cant say 100% it was the hotel room but Ive read on this site that several people with similar conditions that have had a lot of relief because they requested the VIP cleaning. I want to request it for one of our two rooms (we have requested 2 connecting rooms) but dont want them to feel irritated with us or anything. Also, we are doing a split stay between POP and AKLV so I dont know what to do about requesting it for both resorts? Any advice? I should add I would have no problem paying extra for the service if it would help my husband enjoy the trip and be able to breathe better.

 

[grimley1968]

You should never have to pay anything additional to have a room that you can breath comfortably in.

I don't know if I'd use the term "VIP Cleaning" though. I'd just state when booking the resort that your DH has severe asthma and what happens to him if there are enough allergens to exacerbate his condition.

I imagine if someone said they wanted a "VIP cleaning" but didn't specify why, the CM's might think the guest is on a high horse. That's why I'd state (not request, but firmly state) that you need the room cleaned of allergens from top to bottom, and specifically why. If it means making sure that has been done upon check-in but before you get to your room, so be it. WDW should do this with all rooms, if they're not already doing this. I have similar problems myself, though not as severe as your DH.

 

[kaytieeldr]

WDW should do this with all rooms, if they're not already doing this.

There's a great deal more information about this on the disABILITIES FAQ. It's an extremely intensive cleaning. While it's great to say Walt Disney World or any hotelier "should" be doing X, in actual practice it's very time consuming and involves additional unplanned man-hours.

However, yes, Walt Disney World is excellent with medical needs. The OP should check out that FAQ for more information - and no, the CMs won't think you're a pain . A couple of things to consider, though - if they do an intensive cleaning on a particular room for you, and you don't like the location, or if it happens to not connect to another or available room, well, they may not be able to intensely clean another room for you. You may have to make do, i.e. not get the building or trail or view you want; or split up your party in a way you hadn't planned.

 

[Disneyadore]

Chatting with a nice CM who also reads on the DIS the VIP cleaning subject came up.
There is no way the CM get irritated when a guests NEEDS this special cleaning .
The thing that does irritate them is the fact that every time this subject pops up here the demand for this very expensive cleaning rises sky high .

Mostly by people who don’t need it but just think it is fun or some thing they are “entitled” to get for free. " The DIS told us it is a freebie ,lets get it".
Sooner or later this kind of behavior will lead to a service you must pay for .

 

[skipperkim]

Besides, it's not the CM on the phone doing the cleaning, why would they get mad? It's mousekeeping that must do the cleaning.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Best not to request VIP cleaning - just explain your husbands asthma and severe allergies and ask if they could please ask special needs to arrange to have the room cleaned. Sent a pm.

As a pp mentioned, be sure to add your usual room location requests, but know if you are not happy with the assigned room it will be more difficult to change. They will try to switch, but it means a very long wait for you and extra cost for the resort to have another room cleaned. I have MS and severe allergies so do ask for the room to be cleaned - special needs asks several questions and then arranges cleaning.

Have a great trip!

 

[Missytara]

A friend of mine said her son, daughter-in-law went a few years ago and they requested a VIP cleaning. Their son has ausperberger's syndrome, but he was very highly sensitive to touch. He couldn't even walk barefooted through grass, carpeting, etc.

They did a through cleaning and actually came back mid-week and did it again. It is considered a medical condition and they are very sensitive to the needs of their guests with medical issues.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I worked at a hotel as a supervisor and had to check the rooms. I would never let a room be less then stellar. I'm not sure what 'extra' cleaning they are doing but I'm not sure why they aren't doing it in the first place. While sometimes the cleaning may vary during a guests' stay versus when you change the room for a new guest, each room should be cleaned to an extremely high standard. Just because someone doesn't have asthma or allergies doesn't mean you don't clean the room as well or as 'deep'. This subject really ticks me off because there is no 'lesser' amount of cleaning that is acceptable just because you don't have asthma.

Sorry, not the OPs fault for my rant I really like Disney but I get irritated when I hear about this 'special cleaning'. I don't want to check into a room that hasn't been dusted, vacuumed, and the sheets freshly laundered.

 

[Disney Doll]

But I would think a special cleaning, for something such as allergies, might consist of vacuuming draperies (which I wouldn't think would necessarily need to be done between every guest), using different cleaning fluids (someone might react to something with the usual bleach based cleaner)...stuff like that.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I worked at a hotel as a supervisor and had to check the rooms. I would never let a room be less then stellar. I'm not sure what 'extra' cleaning they are doing but I'm not sure why they aren't doing it in the first place. While sometimes the cleaning may vary during a guests' stay versus when you change the room for a new guest, each room should be cleaned to an extremely high standard. Just because someone doesn't have asthma or allergies doesn't mean you don't clean the room as well or as 'deep'. This subject really ticks me off because there is no 'lesser' amount of cleaning that is acceptable just because you don't have asthma.

Sorry, not the OPs fault for my rant I really like Disney but I get irritated when I hear about this 'special cleaning'. I don't want to check into a room that hasn't been dusted, vacuumed, and the sheets freshly laundered.

A VIP cleaning is more about the cleaners used, and doing the little extra things that don't usually get done between every guest. Bedding is usually completely changed(from the mattress pad to the bedspread) so that linens in the room are washed with non allergenic detergents/softeners. As pp mentioned, drapes are cleaned, maybe even replaced. Carpets may be cleaned before the guest arrives and fans and air purifiers may be set up in the room. All of this goes beyond the normal cleaning done at check out, and is time consuming for the houskeeper. The cleaning agents are probably more expensive as well.

 

[Sammie]

I would recommend you ask for what you ask for when traveling and staying in other hotels?

on the previous visit did your husband fly, I know that really bothers many.

Also at Pop it could be the air conditioning system. I know anything other than central air really bothers me.

 

[Tinks "SS"]

OP, as someone who also has terrible allergies and asthma, have your DH call his doctor prior to going to WDW and make sure he has an emergency stash of steroids!!!! I HAVE to have my on hand stash for such occasions. Also, he should also take all of his meds down there along with antihistamines to be able to try to stop the severe problems before they get out of control. My husband thinks i take a whole medicine cabinet whenever we go out of town but we also visit relatives that have many of our known allergens so i have to be prepared. For me, being prepared with anything we may need is the way to prevent getting so sick.

The additional cleaning is very nice to have but also make sure he has the meds with him to try to prevent a hospitalization. With both of these together, hopefully he will have an awesome and healthy trip!

 

[LisaxMarie]

I also have very bad asthma, and even in the huge villa they don't have a problem when we ask for extra cleaning because of the circumstances.

 

[polineedyan]

A VIP cleaning is more about the cleaners used, and doing the little extra things that don't usually get done between every guest. Bedding is usually completely changed(from the mattress pad to the bedspread) so that linens in the room are washed with non allergenic detergents/softeners. As pp mentioned, drapes are cleaned, maybe even replaced. Carpets may be cleaned before the guest arrives and fans and air purifiers may be set up in the room. All of this goes beyond the normal cleaning done at check out, and is time consuming for the houskeeper. The cleaning agents are probably more expensive as well.

To add to this comment..I noticed that the cleaners used in the rooms were the Ecolab, specifically the blue. From my exposure to Ecolab, the blue is a glass and surface cleaner. It is not, however, a disinfectant. The Ecolab pink is the surface disinfectant. I didnt see that on the cart.
On the day of our checkout, in a refurbed room at POP, they were already replacing the AC filters throughout the building. They were the white paper filters, which are a higher quality, and are a shorter term filter. Being that they only recently started refurbing the POP rooms, id say that I was surprised to to see the filters being changed. Impressed actually.
Its my understanding the beds are stripped between guests, or every 4 or 5 days if you stay that long.
Cant comment on how often the drapes are done, or how often the carpets are cleaned.
I can tell you our CM did a less than stellar job on the vacuuming. Both when we checked in (cups under the floor in one room, and cereal on the floor in the other which was BTW a different CM's room, though connected.)
Id think that to just use a high degree of scrutiny when checking in would suffice in the op's case.

 

[stampin_fool]

Could someone please tell me how to ask for this. I just called and spoke with someone at the Fort about the problems my son has with the linens every time we go. He breaks out very badly and usually ends up sick with bronchitis and/or asthma attacks. The last two trips I asked that they use detergents free of perfumes etc and it worked to some degree and they were more than happy to help. This call was different and the woman I spoke to said that she would look into it. I am arriving on Sun and don't think this was a very acceptable answer to me. Guess I will need to call back and speak to a manager. Any tips/hints would be appreciated.

Ronda

 

[Lynne M]

I'd recommend asking this on the DISabilities board. The good folks there are very familiar with this procedure and will be happy to help you out.