DVC studios - fewer amenities

[bavaria]

Why would they keep the soap if there was nothing left to wash?

I agree that is why they removed the soap, but I actually wash and reuse plastic cutlery. (I normally bring my own, but if I used a plastic spoon to fish out a teabag, it gets washed and reused) The plastic cutlery is good for multiple usage so long as it is washed, and if I am the one reusing it, I will wash it

DVC is one of hundreds of hotel chains around the world. They are reacting in this fashion when others are not. The norm is to remove cups and glasses and have them sanitized in an industrial dishwasher, then return them to the guest rooms.

Instead of retraining their employees to do the job correctly, as others have stated DVC is just giving up and going this route instead.

For shame.

 

[hemispheredancer]

I just emailed my letter, too. In three weeks we are spending over $300 per night on a cash reservation in a studio (for a couples getaway) and will be getting paper cups...ridiculous. I think that I will email the Disney Files magazine also as their first article deals with how "its pretty darn easy being green" written by the editor. Paper cups flying off the balconies at AKV into the savannah...not very green! Adding more non-biodegradable junk into the environment...not very green!

This will be interesting. I will have to take mental notes as to how many paper cups and non-biodegradable Styrofoam cups I see laying on the ground or floating in the waterways. If it is mousekeeping/sanitization issue, then maybe the mousekeeping department should suffer the consequences and not those who stay in the rooms.

 

[JaxFLBear]

Most dishsoaps use a oil or a fragrance(spelling)> That can be left in the glass to the pot. and give you a bad taste .

Vinegar or salt and water clean it just as well and leave no taste affect..

I am a coffe nut I hated cleaning the pot so much I bought KEURIG coffee maker. no pot to clean and poof a cup of coffee in 25 seconds.

Now if we could only get DVC to put the new Keurig B130 Hotel Brewer in all the rooms. I've been bringing my Keurig with me and it would be much easier to just bring my K-Cups.

 

[AKV707]

Looks like i will have to add mugs glasses and dish soap to our Owner's Locker.

I will send an email as well, what is the address of member satisfaction?

 

[DBorges]

Now if we could only get DVC to put the new Keurig B130 Hotel Brewer in all the rooms. I've been bringing my Keurig with me and it would be much easier to just bring my K-Cups.

OH MY GOD I WOULD BE IN HEAVEN...

I would pack two box of my k-cups and drink them out of that foam cup...


All they need to do is put a b-70 in all the rooms ( I was going to say only in the 1 bdr and 2 bdr and gv but i did not want to stir it up )

Well any who>>>

 

[Straughn]

I suspect that this point may have been made in the 35 pages preceeding this, but I haven't read all 35 pages. What is the point of calling DVC your "home away from home" if the facilities remind me of McDonalds, not my home. I don't use styrofoam/plastic dishware and cutlery at home and I don't want it at DVC. They can't even put a sharp knife or wine glasses in the studios. Furthermore, the quantity of paper plates and bowls was/is insufficient. Are we suppose to reuse them? Even with paper products, we still need dishwashing liquid and sponges to keep items brought with us, such as wine glasses, and now mugs, clean. And if we do reuse the plastic cutlery, how do we clean it?

This may come as a surprise to the powers that be at DVC, but many of us do use the studio kitchenette to prepare breakfast. I don't travel with children, but I am willing to bet that those who stay in a studio with children, do some sort of food prep. For us, one of the major reasons we bought DVC was the ability to eat some meals, have some wine and cheese, in our villa/studio. In a one bedroom, that is not a problem. With the reduction and replacement of supplies in the studio, you can't do more than have a paper cup of juice and an apple (as long as you don't want to peel the apple). With the removal of glasses and mugs from the studios, you might as well stay in a hotel, where you get housekeeping every day. I was annoyed at the lack of wine glasses and a knife in the studios; the downgrade to paper and plastic really ticks me off. As soon as my blood pressure returns to normal, I will be joining many of you in contacting member services about this.

 

[bavaria]

Many hotel and resort companies are phasing in coffee makers which use a pod system. It is easier for housekeeping as there is no pot to clean (or break!) and more sanitary.

I know DBorges that you have stated that you don't have any concerns about the enivornment, but those coffee makers too are not very green. A disposable pod may have less paper than a filter, but will only brew two cups.

I live in hotels, and I deal with those brewers. I can use them to boil hot water for tea, but I cannot use my own coffee in those machines. As I result I now carry my travel french press with me on ALL my trips, not just those to locations without a coffee machine.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Does accross the resorts include Vero Beach and HHI?

 

[toocherie]

I've half a mind to write letters to the organizations who have, of late, lauded (or certified) Disney's "green-ness" about this. I have a feeling that might have as much, if not more, of an effect on the policy as the letter writing campaign to DVC that's going on from the members.

I think that's exactly what needs to happen--Disney will not change this for us--only if they are "embarassed" in the larger community.

Does anyone have a list of those organizations that have lauded or certfied Disney as "green"?

 

[Charlesaway]

I recently was sent a small video clip of what happens at some hotels by the cleaning personel and the "dirty dishes" that are left for them to clean. It was quite disturbing and personally it scared the cr-- out of me, so much so that i'll probably never use another glass or dish in a room without personally washing it thoroughly in very hot soapy water. Maybe someone at Disney saw this video clip too and decided that disposable was the way to go?

If this was the case, they would have replaced all the glasses and mugs in all rooms, instead of just studio accommodations.

 

[TisBit]

If this was the case, they would have replaced all the glasses and mugs in all rooms, instead of just studio accommodations.

Actually in their statement they stated they did not because of the dishwasher present in the room. It is unclear as of yet if this has been WDW wide or just DVC, I would believe that this is effective at all resorts, but no one has come up that has stayed at Deluxe resorts after this policy took effect to see if they still had glassware or not.

 

[DBorges]

Many hotel and resort companies are phasing in coffee makers which use a pod system. It is easier for housekeeping as there is no pot to clean (or break!) and more sanitary.

I know DBorges that you have stated that you don't have any concerns about the enivornment, but those coffee makers too are not very green. A disposable pod may have less paper than a filter, but will only brew two cups.

I live in hotels, and I deal with those brewers. I can use them to boil hot water for tea, but I cannot use my own coffee in those machines. As I result I now carry my travel french press with me on ALL my trips, not just those to locations without a coffee machine.

They do in fact sell a filter that you can put your own coffee in it it is not paper and cleans easly was taste great too.

If you can not get one I can mail you one for a keurig maker if you would like..

Now if we could just get the 165000 give or take a few members to agree on Just one thing wouldn't that be Nice

Dave

 

[DBorges]

If this was the case, they would have replaced all the glasses and mugs in all rooms, instead of just studio accommodations.

I f I use a glass cup bolw mug pan ect in a 1 or 2 bdr I wash it first..

Nothing personal but I do not know what other have Funk....

 

[bavaria]

They do in fact sell a filter that you can put your own coffee in it it is not paper and cleans easly was taste great too.

I actually have those but they still don't make coffee to my preference.

I am perfectly happy with my French press, and it is environmentally friendly

 

[DBorges]

I actually have those but they still don't make coffee to my preference.

I am perfectly happy with my French press, and it is environmentally friendly

When we travel to Veinna next year I will meet up with you and give you one ..

Then we can have a beer and laugh over this thread.

My sister in laws famiely is from Veinna so we are thinking about a big trip there..

 

[LisaS]

As I said, I think the paper products and plastic utensils were pretty cheesy before, so I don't see this as a big change, just an expansion of the plates and silverware. I guess I would be more offended if they had removed full dinnerware, but we were already on this road with the other paper products, so I don't necessary like the change, I don't see it as a major blow to DVC.

I don't mind eating my English muffin off a disposable plate or my cereal from a disposable bowl. I actually bring my own disposable plastic plates and bowls for studio stays because they are washable so just a few of each will last me for the entire week. But there is something really unpleasant about sitting out on my balcony drinking my morning coffee from a Styrofoam cup, especially one that I had to rinse and re-use day after day because mousekeeping didn't leave me the 50 cups I would need to get through my 6-night stay. I also cannot make a decent cup of tea in a Styrofoam cup because I don't feel it's healthy to microwave water to the boiling point in a Styrofoam cup.

While I don't mind bringing my own plastic plates and bowls since they are lightweight and non-breakable, I don't want to lug heavy, breakable glasses and mugs in my suitcase.

Maybe there are a lot of people that haven't seen these videos out there.....after the first one broke (I believe this was it) there have been a number of others made and apparently CR was also involved. They are reacting to the negatively publicity about the way the Hotel Industry has consistently been doing business, not just one chain, but every chain, which probably included DVC units.

When this first came out there were threads where people stated that they would not longer use the glassware and would request disposables. So while there is a group that wants glassware, there are also a large number of people that have been refusing to use it.

Unless those disposables are wrapped in plastic, you will have a disposable cup that may have been handled by dirty, unsanitized hands. Unlike regular hotel rooms, studios have sinks, dish washing liquid and a sponge so I can wash my glasses and cups before I use them. How do I remove contamination from my disposable cups? I would much rather have something I can clean myself.

 

[spiceycat]

This was my reaction as well when I saw photos that someone posted of the Styrofoam cups sitting on the shelf in their kitchenette. Is that shelf where the lip of the bottom cup is resting clean? e.

they are putting them on the drink holder things.

2 cups on each holder. really, really sad!

they definitely were not covered - so no this is not an improvement.

 

[m1ckeym0use1]

There's the Vero Beach chair and umbrella swap system, the Christmas tree swap around the holidays. Has anyone started the "glassware and soap" swap thread up yet?

I wouldn't mind the disposable cups and dishes so much if they provided enough of them. We've often stayed a week in a studio, and there sure aren't 14 disposable bowls to cover breakfast everyday. Getting a couple disposable cups to last a week would be unpleasant.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Why dont we all do the neighborly thing and for those that are in a 1 bed or larger, share with thy neighbor and offer them some glassware

It's not stealing, they are just borrowing a mug of sugar

Maybe we can put a lime green Mickey from Home Depot on our door to show support for "each one mug one"

Great idea! We share Christmas trees, strollers, beach chairs, easy to share a couple mugs. But then on trash and towel day, should I hide my mug so that the "mug police" don't remove it from my studio? Come to think of it, they'd better not-how do they know that it's not a mug that my dear old relative left me and I packed it and brougnt it to WDW. Think of the lawsuit!

 

[starwood]

As far as cleaning the coffee pot I always scrub it with baking soda so maybe they should supply a box of baking soda in the studios instead of dish liquid.