DVC mousekeeping - first experience

[nd43]

I thought I would pass this on to new DVC members.

We were cash stayers for many years prior to purchasing a DVC interest.

During our decision process to purchase, I became a little fixated on the lack of mousekeeping when staying with points. I figured I could always buy the extra cleaning and just absorb that extra cost because I certainly did not want to worry about cleaning while on vacation!

We just completed our first 6 night stay at VGF. Frankly, I never thought of the extra cleaning once. We really did not miss it at all. Frankly, they provided more then enough towels, etc., for our family of 5. The villa never really gets "that bad" in 7 days. It was just a complete non-issue for us.

Looking back, it was silly to think we would be paying for "lots of extra cleaning" as DVC members. For most, I really think they will find the lack of daily cleaning really does not matter when staying for one week. In fact, not having people come into your room every day is kinda nice. You just live like you live at home and not worry about the "morning knock". For us, at least, what we thought might be a big issue turned out to be a complete non issue.

 

[Frank The Tank]

We just purchased as well and I am worried about the lack of mouse keeping. Glad to see this post as it makes me feel better. Did you ever run into issues with trash removal? I'm worried that we might fill up our garbage cans before the 4 days. Especially if we decide to make a lot of use of the kitchen.

 

[Sandisw]

I too like that I don't have to worry about things without the mousekeepers coming in.

In terms of towels, when we have stayed in the studio, we have paid the $6 for the towel pack so we had the extra without having to worry as that was the only thing I didn't want to worry about with 3 teenage girls! A few times, they didn't charge us--which I brought to their attention but they said not to worry--but even if they had, it would have been worth it!

Of course, when we are in 2 bedrooms, we don't need to worry since we can wash...so far, in 4 years of DVC stays, we have yet to miss the mousekeeping!

Glad you found out that its not as bad as one imagines it could be!

 

[DebbieB]

I've been a member over 14 years and never requested extra housekeeping. I usually do take trash to the trash room a couple of times.

We just purchased as well and I am worried about the lack of mouse keeping. Glad to see this post as it makes me feel better. Did you ever run into issues with trash removal? I'm worried that we might fill up our garbage cans before the 4 days. Especially if we decide to make a lot of use of the kitchen.

All DVC resorts have trash disposal areas. For hotel DVC's, there are usually 1 or 2 on each floor. For OKW, the room is at the bottom of the steps on the first floor.

 

[rlovew]

We just purchased as well and I am worried about the lack of mouse keeping. Glad to see this post as it makes me feel better. Did you ever run into issues with trash removal? I'm worried that we might fill up our garbage cans before the 4 days. Especially if we decide to make a lot of use of the kitchen.

There are garbage rooms throughout each DVC resort- you can take out your own trash. There are extra bags in the bottom of each trash can if you fill the ones in it.

 

[nd43]

We just purchased as well and I am worried about the lack of mouse keeping. Glad to see this post as it makes me feel better. Did you ever run into issues with trash removal? I'm worried that we might fill up our garbage cans before the 4 days. Especially if we decide to make a lot of use of the kitchen.

Funny you ask. My wife on day 4 walked out our door in the morning with a full garbage bag and asked the first CM we saw "where do we go to drop this off?". The CM took the bag and said they would take care of it (which was very nice) so we never did find the trash drop off at VGF. I still do not know where it is!

 

[Frank The Tank]

There are garbage rooms throughout each DVC resort- you can take out your own trash. There are extra bags in the bottom of each trash can if you fill the ones in it.

That works out perfect. And I don't have to remember to put out the do not disturb sign as we usually sleep in and have the housekeepers waking us up trying to clean our room.

 

[skylynx]

We were a little concerned about the lack of mousekeeping when we first purchased DVC because we always liked the "freshened up" look of a motel room that has been serviced and replenished. That was a short-lived concern. We LOVE not having to worry about someone coming in our room, knocking at the door at some ridiculously early hour because we'd either forgotten to put up the do not disturb sign or we didn't have one. We appreciate not having to "hide" any tempting items that might go missing or that might have been left in the way of the cleaning staff (on the bed, the counters, etc). What we do to compromise is just take a few short minutes in the morning to make the beds and wipe off the kitchen surfaces. We always opt for not having our towels washed every day at Disney and everywhere else we stay, so we'd have left the towels hanging anyway. I was really amazed at how much we didn't miss the daily visitation!

 

[SamSam]

We've been members for many years and love not having mousekeeping. We hang the do not disturb sign out when we first arrive and then just 'cozy in'. We leave our laptops out, we clean up after ourselves, we bring our own coffee and filters, we're usually in a 1-bedroom so we can wash towels as necessary.
We actually prefer not having mousekeeping

 

[mistergq]

I agree. You don't even notice that you don't have mousekeeping service. We keep our place pretty clean. And when they do stop by, they are pretty generous what they give us so no need to pay for extra.

 

[CarolynK]

We just returned on 1/3 from 8 nights in a 1BR. On day 3 or 4 (don't remember), housekeeping knocked on the door because we were supposed to have a full cleaning (not just T&T), but it was not a convenient time for us - she offered a later time, but we honestly had no need for a complete cleaning. I declined and instead just got a few items we needed replenishing, shampoo and laundry soap, etc.
Maybe I'm weird, but I enjoy keeping our villa neat and tidy...counters are kept cleaner than at home and laundry on vaca actually gets done I even swept the patio this trip, it was full of huge brown leaves from the trees right out front, and I was afraid (based on a previous trip when a snake got into our ground-floor villa) of something creepy-crawly hiding out there in the leaves!!

We also leave the do not disturb sign on the door when we're out of the room....

 

[DonnaL]

As a DVC member for over 14 years now, I agree with above posts about mousekeeping DURING your stay. We just tidy the room, make our beds, keep the kitchen and baths clean, take our own trash to the trash room daily, wash our towels...pretty much like we would at home.....and don't really need housekeeping during our stay. And, if I spill something or something gets dirty from my use....I clean it. However, that said, we have on more than one occasion checked in and sent to a dirty room.....a room that supposedly had been cleaned, but, was done poorly. I have reached the point where I no longer will go thru and clean a room that should have been clean when I checked in. The last time it happened we called Housekeeping, a manager came to our room and they recleaned it....the kitchen floor was sticky, the frig had something spilled on the door (looked like sticky iced tea) and was just swiped at, the bathroom had some spattered red sticky stuff on both the floor and walls (looked like fruit punch or koolaid) not to mention the shower was not cleaned well at all.

 

[permavac]

No "housekeeping" was actually a selling point for me Like others have mentioned, I hate people coming into the room and at all hotel stays and even cruises I opt out of the daily "cleaning". It isn't really cleaning most times anyway - at best it is tidying and at worst it's having your dirty towels that you left on the floor being used to wipe everything from your toilet to your drinking glasses - unfortunately in that order. No thanks

Terri

 

[disneynutz]

Funny you ask. My wife on day 4 walked out our door in the morning with a full garbage bag and asked the first CM we saw "where do we go to drop this off?". The CM took the bag and said they would take care of it (which was very nice) so we never did find the trash drop off at VGF. I still do not know where it is!

Trash, ice and vending on each floor. Getting off of the elevator, turn right, ice and vending down hall first room on your left.

Getting off of the elevator, turn right, past the hall, trash room is in corner.

Laundry for those interested is on the 4th floor, main hallway.

Bill

 

[DisMN]

I had the same concerns about housekeeping and actually made plans our first trip to schedule more cleaning days. To my great surprise we too loved not having to worry about needing to tidy up daily so housekeeping could do their thing.

However, on the Do Not Disturb signs, everyone does know though that maintenance can and will enter your room if need be even if your sign is on the door?
Depending on whether it's an emergency need to get in or an unexpected maintenance need will make an effort to give you a heads up. Emergency, not so much (water leaking to the floor below from your kitchen or bathroom) or semi planned you will get a note under your door and/or a phone call.
What I'm saying is that when we go out for the day we still put away our valuables because staff CAN still enter your room.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

and I was afraid (based on a previous trip when a snake got into our ground-floor villa) of something creepy-crawly hiding out there in the leaves!!

We also leave the do not disturb sign on the door when we're out of the room....

Apparently Disney snakes can't read. ALWAYS been afraid of that happening at OKW. I've seen more snakes on vacation at OKW than all other places combined.

 

[disneynutz]

Apparently Disney snakes can't read. ALWAYS been afraid of that happening at OKW. I've seen more snakes on vacation at OKW than all other places combined.

WDW is built on a swamp and has critters everywhere. Disney does a good job keeping up with them but they can be anywhere.

Bill

 

[CarolynK]

Apparently Disney snakes can't read. ALWAYS been afraid of that happening at OKW. I've seen more snakes on vacation at OKW than all other places combined.

Funny!

WDW is built on a swamp and has critters everywhere. Disney does a good job keeping up with them but they can be anywhere.

Bill

I totally agree! Considering the amount of wildlife that exists in Florida, I'm amazed and very happy at the job Disney does in keeping them under control!