DVC studios - fewer amenities

[tjkraz]

Let's not forget that their first response to some members (from Larry) was to deny that glassware and ceramic mugs were ever provided in the studios. That's not just a problem with logic...

Then "Larry" was misinformed. I doubt that he was personally conversant on the 16-year history of the Disney Vacation Club. He probably asked for information from his superiors and was given incorrect information.

For better or worse, The Walt Disney Company is a large organization. Anyone who has worked for a company with more than one location and 20 employees knows that communications breakdowns can and do occur.

It should not take much of an investigation to figure out that since the beginning (OKW was the first DVC after all), DVC has been providing equipment for guests in the studios to drink from (and eat off...they didn't always provide paper plates and bowls, right?) without using the appropriate equipment to clean it between guests to meet their 'strict' cleanliness standards.

Or maybe they *did* have proper glassware/dishware sanitizing procedures in place way back in 1991 when OKW opened (using handwashing and rinsing with bleach), but at some point DVC management decided that housekeeping didn't need to follow them any more?

I'm going with Door Number 3--until a week ago, it was considered acceptable practice for Disney housekeepers to hand wash glassware in the units. After considering the health of its guests and the potential for embarrassment inherent to a manual process, the policy has been amended to mandate the use of commercial cleaning equipment.

It's quite simple--the cleaning standards have been increased to a level beyond anything ever previously enforced.

How long does it take to purchase and install four glasswashers at four resorts

Saratoga Springs has over 400 Studio villas. With 4 glasses and 4 mugs to be cleaned with commercial equipment, that's about 3500 items in need of cleaning on peak check-out days.

You can't just go to Sears and pick up a dishwasher to handle that task.

Both SSR and OKW have housekeeping closets in each stand-alone building. Each of them will need to be equipped properly in order to handle the load. The installation may require plumbing and electrical work. There will probably be permit applications involved (we see permits posted to the Orange County Comptroller website for even terribly mundane changes at Walt Disney World.)

DVC didn't say it was a task that would take six months to complete--just that there is no solution they can implement on the fly. That sounds reasonable to me.

I'm glad that members had their voices heard and were able to make a difference here. But, in my humble opinion, it's now time to give Disney a little room to live up to its commitments. They aren't going to relent again and agree to ship 4000 glasses to the Turf Club to be run thru a dishwasher.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Yes, it is standard procedure to wash all of the dishes when the room is serviced.

I've almost always stayed in a one bedroom. We always load up the dishwasher when we get there. We put in what we expect to use while we're there. It would take more than one load to do them all. I highly doubt this is standard procedure. It may be standard procedure written in a book somewhere, but it's pretty obvious that some of the dishes and pots and pans we've come across weren't.

 

[LIFERBABE]

This is disney's answer to everything. Tell them (the members) it was "guest demand"...tell them it's to "simplify things". Every change is the same excuse. When was the last time WE, the guests, were asked our opinions on anything. Does anyone remember when the last member survey was?

We've been demanding Free Broadband for months and did they make that an immediate sweeping change? This just shows they can act when they want to, they made those mugs disappear quicker than a pig at a BBQ! But it is taking months to implement taking $10 off my bill.


Im not too happy that SSR and OKW have been singled out once again but if I was in the market to purchase or add on at either, I would tell them they'll get my money when those studios have glassware and I dont have to waste part of my vacation waiting for someone to bring them to me.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I wonder about that. You can't fit everything in the kitchen into the dishwasher so they would have to run at least three loads. I've seen them turn around a 1BR villa (at BWV) in about 20 minutes which isn't even time enough to do one load.

You responded when I was typing mine...there are just too many dishes.

Although it would explain why people didn't get their rooms till 6, but it wouldn't explain why people got them at noon.

 

[LisaS]

I got the same email . . . . bottom line for me is that so long as I can request (and get) my coffee mug and glasses for my stay I will be happy . . . . . even though it's one more thing to have to do . . . . .

I agree. If this really means that every studio will always have the glasses and mugs replaced in between guests, that's a good thing. It will be a bit of a hassle at the standalone resorts having to request them but that's better than last week's policy of "you can't have them" which was very un-Disneylike!

 

[n2mm]

I just got my response from my first email. Wonder if I'll get another response from my second email. since I'll be at the BWV next month (only 5 weeks away) I will be printing my message and taking it with me just in case I get denied (BWV).

 

[BWV Dreamin]

It's quite simple--the cleaning standards have been increased to a level beyond anything ever previously enforced.

With MRSA infections at all time highs, not to mention meningitis and other communicable infections, ie. mononucleuosis, the sterilization process that takes place when using a dishwasher just needs to happen. I am glad Disney is enforcing this.

 

[tjkraz]

I wonder about that. You can't fit everything in the kitchen into the dishwasher so they would have to run at least three loads. I've seen them turn around a 1BR villa (at BWV) in about 20 minutes which isn't even time enough to do one load.

I doubt they have previously mandated cleaning all of the cookware and other storage containers, but we arrived in our room one time to find the dishwasher full of all of the everyday stuff. They can fit all of the glasses, plates, bowls and silverware into the dishwasher at once.

Is this step missed on occasion? Yeah, I'm sure it is. I bet that it's one of the first cleaning steps to go by the wayside when they have too many rooms to service and not enough time / personnel. We all know that even in a company like Disney, established procedures aren't followed 100% of the time.

But I wouldn't be surprised if the 1B/2B/3B cleaning procedures have been tweaked as well, with management placing greater emphasis on enforcement.

The key is that larger villas are already equipped to handle the required cleanings--the only change there is a procedural one.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With MRSA infections at all time highs, not to mention meningitis and other communicable infections, ie. mononucleuosis, the sterilization process that takes place when using a dishwasher just needs to happen. I am glad Disney is enforcing this.

Are they sterilizing the rest of the room? I doubt it. Like changing the blanket and bedspread between guests? Or changing the upholstered furniture to a fabric that can be wiped clean? I don't think they wash the chairs at the pools every day either. Why just the glasses and mugs?

Plus so many people are carriers of MRSA and they don't even know it.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Are they sterilizing the rest of the room? I doubt it. Plus so many people are carriers of MRSA and they don't even know it.

Well hopefully, people aren't eating the furniture. That is why we should be using diligent handwashing techniques, hand sterilizers, etc.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I doubt they have previously mandated cleaning all of the cookware and other storage containers, but we arrived in our room one time to find the dishwasher full of all of the everyday stuff. They can fit all of the glasses, plates, bowls and silverware into the dishwasher at once.

Is this step missed on occasion? Yeah, I'm sure it is. I bet that it's one of the first cleaning steps to go by the wayside when they have too many rooms to service and not enough time / personnel. We all know that even in a company like Disney, established procedures aren't followed 100% of the time.

But I wouldn't be surprised if the 1B/2B/3B cleaning procedures have been tweaked as well, with management placing greater emphasis on enforcement.

The key is that larger villas are already equipped to handle the required cleanings--the only change there is a procedural one.

I'll have to disagree again. I've arrived into my room at the BWV to find the dishwasher running and full and stuff still on the shelves.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I wonder about that. You can't fit everything in the kitchen into the dishwasher so they would have to run at least three loads. I've seen them turn around a 1BR villa (at BWV) in about 20 minutes which isn't even time enough to do one load.

I watched the mousekeeper clean our 1 bedroom Concierge unit (while sitting in the lounge) in about 20 minutes on Dec 24 2007. I watched her work her way down the hallway, as we were anxiously waiting for our villa in the concierge lounge.

That villa (6202) is an accessible unit, and it has 2 small dishdrawers. No way she washed all that in the cupboards and dried it in less than 20 minutes. Im sorry, but this is not happening and anyone that trusts that this is being done, has cooties!

 

[Tiger926]

With MRSA infections at all time highs, not to mention meningitis and other communicable infections, ie. mononucleuosis, the sterilization process that takes place when using a dishwasher just needs to happen. I am glad Disney is enforcing this.

I come from a restaurant family and so our health unit pretty much demands commercial grade dishwashers. If items have to be hanwashed, they have to follow the 3 step process (which was mentioned earlier) with bleach and scalding hot water as part of that process. I'm sure there are some small restaurants/cafes around here that don't do it and haven't been caught yet, but once someone gets ill, they are then going to be dealt with.

I would think that Disney would have been smart enough to properly have procedures in place to eliminate cross contamination by housekeeping. I've watched housekeepers do ridiculously stupid things to cross contaminate, and that is why we don't much use glassware in studios. We have now upgraded to 1 beds, and will be running a load immediately upon entering our villa. We are a green family who feels this is wasteful, but we have no choice when we ourselves have seen housekeepers not clean properly, not clean at all, etc.

By the same token, I don't want disposables because they are bad for the environment, but, if they are sealed, then they are better for us as guests. Not providing sealed disposable cups/utensils is totally nasty, as germs will cling to those hard surfaces like nobody's business. No one should be using unsealed plastic or sytrofoam at all - not sure what the heck Disney was thinking on this one?

It's a vicious cycle, but if guests' health is a number one priority, as it should be, then those commercial dishwashers should be installed (I can't believe they don't have them at SSR or OKW, that's ridiculous) pronto! Next, would be a huge training session to all housekeepers about how to properly clean for other people: don't touch glasses with nasty gloves that you've just used to wipe toilet, clean glasses first upon entering villa, use several pairs of gloves per villa, etc.

The hotel industry is in need of a huge overhaul as far as I'm concerned! Tiger

 

[LisaS]

I'm sorry but that response from DVC is just crap. Its been sufficient for many years now that studios don't have dishwashers in them and all of a sudden now it isn't "healthy" to just hand wash glassware/mugs!? Ludicrous! Why is DVC all of a sudden the health police for its members?

Fear of lawsuits after that expose I imagine or maybe they've been contacted by the Board of Health to fix the problem.

Hello, we are adults and many of us either don't have dishwashers or don't happen to see the need to use them if we do have them in our home (we have one, but we never use it). We can handle cleaning our own dishware/glassware!! Truly DVC, WE CAN!!

I think the comment was about housekeeping not washing things properly, not about the members. Although they cannot control what members do. Some people are better about these things than others. If Disney wants to take responsibility to make sure my stay starts out with properly cleaned glassware, that's fine by me.

Hand washing with Dawn, Palmolive, or whatever brand of soap has been done for decades! But now, people who stay in a studio at "stand alone" resorts have to suffer?! UNBELIEVABLE!

A phone call to mousekeeping asking for glasses and mugs should be all that is required. Let's hope that works in practice and if not, people need to speak up. I hope they are sincere in their statement about trying to come up with a better solution for the standalone resorts. They need a place to wash the mugs and glasses in between guests and a means of delivering them back and forth. They should be able to come up with a solution. They manage to deliver sheets and towels, though I realize that those aren't fragile items.

If this is so "not up to Disney's standards" then how come a couple of Disney planners/execs/whoever didn't put a couple of their vacuous heads together to come up with a plan to install the necessary cleaning machinery in/around the stand alone resorts before yanking out accommodations the members have had and expect to continue to have??????? DUH!! I can't believe this is happening in such a moronic fashion. It's disgusting.

Given the timing (soon after the expose) I guess they went for a quick fix but they have now gotten the message that they have to fix this properly. Too often a problem on their end becomes a loss of services for us because they opt for a workaround rather than fixing the real problem. In this case, we pushed back and let them know that we weren't happy and they are trying to address it. I see this as a step in the right direction and am happy they are doing something about it.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I just got the same email. At least they finally responded to my emails and seem to be responding to our needs. It's not perfect, but it's a start

I just received it too (and my thoughts on the topic also.)

It does appear that if requested you will get glasses and mugs at all the resorts (am I right in reading this.) No more "not allowed." So I guess when and if we stay at SSR or OKW we will have to make it standard procedure to call and ask for them when we get there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I would think that Disney would have been smart enough to properly have procedures in place to eliminate cross contamination by housekeeping. I've watched housekeepers do ridiculously stupid things to cross contaminate, and that is why we don't much use glassware in studios. ...

Disney, everyone has procedures in place to maintain sanitation. But unless you have employees by the hand and watch over them constantly, they won't follow the procedure every time. I work in a hospital, and you'd be surprised at some of the things you see staff members doing that would be a safety or sanitation violation.

 

[tjkraz]

I'll have to disagree again. I've arrived into my room at the BWV to find the dishwasher running and full and stuff still on the shelves.

What part do you disagree with?

I've witnessed the dishwasher set-up to wash all of the everyday stuff in one load: Bowls on the top rack in the middle, glasses on the sides, plates on the bottom, utensils in the holder.

Was another load previously run to handle other items?

Was the housekeeper ignoring established guidelines?

Has the policy been recently amended to increase standards?

Admittedly, our family doesn't go overboard in re-cleaning our hotel rooms. We don't run bleach through the jacuzzi tub or clean the bathroom ourselves or run dishes thru the dishwasher. We use the same common-sense approach that I suspect most people subscribe to--if it's dirty, clean it.

But the heart of all of this discussion is an increase in cleaning standards for DVC studio villas. We can certainly fault Disney for the manner in which the situation reached its current point, but it sure seems to me that they ultimately did the right thing.

 

[Tiger926]

Disney, everyone has procedures in place to maintain sanitation. But unless you have employees by the hand and watch over them constantly, they won't follow the procedure every time. I work in a hospital, and you'd be surprised at some of the things you see staff members doing that would be a safety or sanitation violation.

Absolutely, but, part of the procedures that Disney should have in place, for housekeeping supervisors to be constantly checking and observing staff. We have this issue at my school board - my janitor hardly does a thing and I have serious allergies, etc. that are problematic. My vp/principal have done everything possible, but, not only does his union protect him, but, his supervisors never, and I mean never come to check on him; therefore, he knows he can get away with doing nothing most of the time.

By the same token, if housekeepers at the resorts aren't observed, then they know there is no one watching and with no one watching, they don't have to worry about consequences or punishment. This is what I am talking about in regards to procedures - you can't expect everyone to follow all rules, just like you can't babysit all, but when there is a balanced system in place, then it works better than what we have had. No person who is altruistic in nature and understands even the most basic of science, would think that cleaning a former guests' glass with a dirty rag wiped in Windex is good. Honestly, it's not rocket science - it has become this way because no one has done anything about it. It has been allowed to happen - just like with my janitor. He washes our floors with the same dirty old mop, and then when I come in the school coughing because the mold and musty count is so high that I can't breathe, he looks at me like I'm from another planet and causing trouble. Umm, no, the point is to clean the floors, not swish old dirt around with new dirt and then make the rest of us sick in the process.

Like I said, it's not rocket science at all - housekeepers may be overworked, just like most of the rest of us are, but since they are cleaning up germs from previous guests to make rooms ready for next guests, they then need to do their jobs with the utmost accuracy.

Tiger

 

[zulaya]

Here's my beef...and I'll preface by saying I'm not an owner at a standalone resort...

Instead of all studios getting the shaft, now OKW, SSR, HHI and VB studio guests are the second-class citizens.

Sure, you can call and request glassware and mugs...But why should you have to? This issue is not fixed, although I think DVC realized they had a knee-jerk reaction.

I also agree with the comment of a PP that after all these years, now DVC says it's unhealthy. How many reports of people being sick from dirty dishes have they had? This is ALL about the expose at a NON-DVC resort.

Frankly, I think the housekeepers are going to be running themselves ragged restocking glassware and mugs when people check in and ask for them. Is that effective time management? Not if you ask me.

As guests, there is a level of personal responsibility here. If I want to make sure my dishes are clean, I'll wash them by hand, in the sink, with soap.

Will there be people who won't want to do that? Absolutely and I can guarantee you that I will most likely be one of them. I don't do the white glove inspection when I check in, especially not on dishes. If I pull something out and it looks dirty, I'll wash it.

But for DVC to say I'm incapable of washing my own stuff and they are making that decision for me is just irksome.

I hope this initial response is only the start of a change in policy that becomes much more realistic and member- and guest-friendly.

 

[MrsNick]

I posted on Bobbi's other thread, but figured I would update here, as well. I received the "e-mail."

To everyone here who wrote in and got DVC to re-consider. I know I will be paying attention to see if DVC does follow up on their commitment to find permanent solutions at the stand-alone DVC resorts.