DVC studios - fewer amenities

[Longhairbear]

We stay almost exclusively in studios and this does impact the quality of our stay.

Would I sell because of this cheap, cheesy action? Of course not.

That said, it does raise the probability that I will not add on more points with DVC. It’s clear that the satisfaction of existing members is not a priority. The degradation of customer service has reached a pivot point with me. I’m finally beginning to feel like a second class citizen.

Money spent on an add-on might be better spent with Marriott.

I have to say, that as a California resident, we are seriously rethinking our desire to add on at GC. There are too many competing companies with better deluxe rooms and timeshares in Gardenwalk in Anaheim. Even the local Howard Johnson's has better rates,and room amenities. Should I mention that the HoJo, is a faster foot walk, than the GC is to the Disneyland front gate?

 

[goofy4tink]

29 pages on cups? Wat will happen if they change something important?

While it may seem to be unimportant, it does show a decreasing set of standards. Styro/paper cups today...what goes tomorrow?

Very well stated and I hope you forwarded to DVC!

This is what I sent them today, although not as nicely written!..

To whom it may concern:

It has recently been brought to my attention that DVC has taken out the glasses and mugs in the studio units and replaced them with paper or styrofoam. I'm writing to you to express my disappointment with this decision. While it may seem to some, a small and insignificant change, but to the members it is a very import detail!

The concerns I have over this change are these:

DVC is promoted as our "home away from home" and "deluxe" accomodations! I don't drink out of paper and styrofoam at home or when I stay at any other "deluxe" resort. We are a family of three and always stay in studios and by making this change it somehow devaluates our accomodations. Although it does not list these things on our paperwork, they were there when we first stayed and were sold DVC, so I think that it is something that is inferred. I do not feel that paper and styrofoam are of the same quality as glass and ceramic.

Disney has always been held to such a high standard. They have always been the leaders in their field, because of their attention to the details! I fear that this is not a step in the right direction and would hate to see Disney go down that road. One of the reasons we come to Disney is the "special" way in which guests are treated and that was a big deciding factor to buy DVC, because it is an extension of Disney.

Lastly, and a really big concern, is the affect this will have on the environment. I know that Disney prides itself on being "Green" and has received awards for doing so, but I must say, "This decision cannot be good for the environment!"

Our upcoming trip to WDW will be this summer and we will be spending 15 days at DVC. It will be very disappointing to find paper and styrofoam replacing our usual glass and ceramic. We do consider this our "home away from home" as do many other members. Please keep that in mind when making decisions that affect our membership.

Thank you,

Sounds very similar to my email that I sent yesterday.
I'm pretty sure that all glassware/ceramic is not washed if it's in the cabinets, in between guests. I have yet to see that happen. I have checked in and found food substance on my bowls in a one bedroom..it had not been washed in the dishwasher. I fail to see how my health is being looked after.
Now....I not only have to wash my paper bowls each day, I'll have no Palmolive to do it with...just get to rinse the darn thing out!! I don't feel that I have to call housekeeping every single day in order to get more papergoods.
I fail to see why it is so difficult for housekeeping to take out the 'used' glassware/pottery after the guest leaves, replace it with 'sanitized' ones, and sanitize the old ones...how is this difficult? You don't even need a dishwasher to do it...wash in hot water and swipe the item through a bleach water rinse!

 

[alldiz]

We stay almost exclusively in studios and this does impact the quality of our stay.

Would I sell because of this cheap, cheesy action? Of course not.

That said, it does raise the probability that I will not add on more points with DVC. It’s clear that the satisfaction of existing members is not a priority. The degradation of customer service has reached a pivot point with me. I’m finally beginning to feel like a second class citizen.

Money spent on an add-on might be better spent with Marriott.

1st time I'm thinking....no more add-ons....

Are they going to open the KTV studios with styrofoam and plastic? For their upscale building?
This is pathetic.

Hmmmmmm....let them sell that.

Hello Disney !!
It's been 88 hours since this thread started and there is now 500 posts. While this might not be a record for total posts or posts/hr, I think that you can see that this is a contentious issue. Your "guests" upon which you pride yourself for "great customer service" are not happy.

Styrofoam and paper in a deluxe resort, you can't be serious.
Hire a few more "Customer Service Specialists" instead of more "Bean Counters" or you won't have any beans to count!

Wake up and do something about this.

I can see I will have to mail more letters.....still haven't gotten a response from the 1st one yet.

While it may seem to be unimportant, it does show a decreasing set of standards. Styro/paper cups today...what goes tomorrow?


Sounds very similar to my email that I sent yesterday.
I'm pretty sure that all glassware/ceramic is not washed if it's in the cabinets, in between guests. I have yet to see that happen. I have checked in and found food substance on my bowls in a one bedroom..it had not been washed in the dishwasher. I fail to see how my health is being looked after.
Now....I not only have to wash my paper bowls each day, I'll have no Palmolive to do it with...just get to rinse the darn thing out!! I don't feel that I have to call housekeeping every single day in order to get more papergoods.
I fail to see why it is so difficult for housekeeping to take out the 'used' glassware/pottery after the guest leaves, replace it with 'sanitized' ones, and sanitize the old ones...how is this difficult? You don't even need a dishwasher to do it...wash in hot water and swipe the item through a bleach water rinse!

Ok....I didn't realize they took the soap away also.....geez.

Seriously....will this affect any trade capabilities in a future contract?
Kerri

 

[LindaBabe]

Add me to the list of unhappy customers. After a recent stay in a Marriot Studio ($149) with a full kitchen, full sized appliances and a full complement of REAL cooking and eating dishes and utensils, My DVC studio is looking rather tacky and inadequate.

 

[LindaBabe]

Duplicate post - but the message DID bear repeating.

 

[sgtdisney]

I think what adds insult to injury is the statement from the DVC rep to Deb Wills. They have decided its the best option for guests to remove the cups and glasses and state that there are no dishwashing facilities in the unit. THEN they go and say since there are no cups or glasses they will not supply the unit with dishwashing liquid. What? Now there really is no ability to wash dishes in the unit.

You've got a kitchenette in the unit, it should be assumed that people are going to eat in the unit, daily. Who doesn't need to wash things in the sink. Bottles, travel mugs, whatever. A lot of people book rooms with kitchenette to have a food prep and cleaning area not found in regular rooms. This stinks more and more as a 10 cent cost saving measure that is going to end up costing the member more in the long run when they have to hire another full time employee per resort just to make runs to bring more plates and styrofoam cups every day. Or what's next, they will start charging to resupply plates every day, like they changed years back for coffee and shampoo?

Imagine the food managers responses when people stand at their counters asking for plates and cups because that's where DVC told the members to go get them from.

 

[KLR-wlv]

And now I get to pack mugs and dishsoap for my trip - and with airlines charging for an extra bag - who do I give my money to - the airlines trying to nickel and dime me or Disney and buy mugs there? I just hope that there is one positive to come out of the tanking economy and that is - the return of customer service and people competing for your dollar.

I don't think Disney realizes WHY people pay a premium to stay at their resort and go on their boats (instead of cruises that cost half as much). It's the customer service and extra mile Disney used to go. If they cut that out- in the quest of the ever lowering bottom line - they are no different than the multitude of other vacation options costing much less.
Instead of adding more points to DVC - I think I'll give Marriott a try.

 

[n2mm]

In case I didn't say this in my other posts, this really stinks! So no soap, I guess we have to wash the grand babies sippy cups and bottles with shampoo? I've stayed in studios plenty of time and mine always had a dishwashing facility. In our house we call it hot water, dish soap and my husband. We seldom use our dishwasher for the 2 of us. I think this is a plan to make more money. I see the stores now selling mugs, glasses and dishsoap and if you want it, you will have to buy it now. I'm feeling like others here and am embarrassed to tell anyone I'm a DVC member. I've always been one to sing the praises of buying DVC--but I just don't feel the love right now. I guess they will need to reword their literature because home away from home resorts will only apply to 1 bedroom or larger. Home away from home no longer applies to studios.

 

[DVCSAMNH]

I think what adds insult to injury is the statement from the DVC rep to Deb Wills. They have decided its the best option for guests to remove the cups and glasses and state that there are no dishwashing facilities in the unit. THEN they go and say since there are no cups or glasses they will not supply the unit with dishwashing liquid. What? Now there really is no ability to wash dishes in the unit.

You've got a kitchenette in the unit, it should be assumed that people are going to eat in the unit, daily. Who doesn't need to wash things in the sink. Bottles, travel mugs, whatever. A lot of people book rooms with kitchenette to have a food prep and cleaning area not found in regular rooms. This stinks more and more as a 10 cent cost saving measure that is going to end up costing the member more in the long run when they have to hire another full time employee per resort just to make runs to bring more plates and styrofoam cups every day. Or what's next, they will start charging to resupply plates every day, like they changed years back for coffee and shampoo?

Imagine the food managers responses when people stand at their counters asking for plates and cups because that's where DVC told the members to go get them from.

This is just a prime example that DVC does not understand at all how members use these studios. Mousekeeping never replenishes coffee, tea, sugar and paper products on trash and towel day so DVC just assumes we don't use them. Little do they know we all bring them from home because we know they're not going to be replenished. They have no clue how many members have a quick breakfast or sandwich in the studios. Maybe this campaign will wake them up to this fact.

 

[pilferk]

And now that polluting is one of the new Seven Deadly Sins, Jim Lewis is going to you know where (I don't mean Universal).

That's what gets me about all this. Regardless of the (not so minor) arguments about having glasses and ceramic mugs, their effect on your vacation, and the like.

DVC spent the last issue of Disneyfiles touting their (meaning both DVC's AND Disney's, as a whole) environmentally friendly policy, and how "green" they are. Then they start putting STYROFOAM cups in rooms? That sort of seems to go against what they were going for.

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.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Ok, JMHO here. But we all know its about the dollar. Just think how much they save by all the patrons that DO NOT ask for more coffee, tea, coffee mugs, etc. They are playing a numbers game. If one were to pay for daily housekeeping, would we then possibly get real mugs, glasses, coffee, etc.? If so, then WE would be offsetting this expense. In Sept 2006, we stayed at Boardwalk Inn. We too got styrofoam cups, and had to repeatedly ask for more coffee, sugars, etc. So I don't think this is a new concept, its now just gravitated over to DVC.

 

[nunzia]

Now this could be close to the truth, or what DVC is worried about. I say let them sanitize the mugs and glasses and leave the rest to us during our stay.

Bobbi

I think the truth is that this is a cost issue and an employee issue. They can't seem to keep up with the Mousekeeping problems, so this is ONE step to change that.
This, again, as we've all said, over and over, is not about glasses and mugs, it is about the cheapening of the brand and is just another step in what we all have seen. The company is swinging dangerously close to profit at any means and that point leads you to very short term profits and long term rebuilding of confidence with your guests. This issue is just one that is waking people up to the slipping service Disney was built on.
BTW I don't have a dishwasher at home as I don't like them..and yet..I manage to keep my dishes clean. Also..I have stayed at a number of hotels..most of which cost far less than Disney, and have had glasses and ceramic mugs and no dishwasher, and yet, the management was able to provide clean ones to guests, and if you chose to rinse them out yourself, fine.
This has nothing to do with legalities..you could get sick washing things in a 1 bedroom and find someone to testify that the water wasn't hot enough in the dishwashers to kill bacteria..it's just another stupid excuse they want us to swallow.

 

[doodle]

We have stayed in a studio twice at HH. I'm thinking that they have had paper products there for some time. I remember the plastic utensils and paper plates there. I'm not sure about the cups, mugs, etc. Does anyone else know?

I do think this is DVC's cost cutting - pure and simple - and I agree, it stinks!

 

[robinb]

Ok....I didn't realize they took the soap away also.....geez.

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

 

[bobbiwoz]

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

Are you really not supposed to use dishsoap for the coffee pot? I do the vinegar solution for the machine, but at home, I always use dishsoap for the coffee pot. This is wrong?

Bobbi

 

[robinb]

Are you really not supposed to use dishsoap for the coffee pot? I do the vinegar solution for the machine, but at home, I always use dishsoap for the coffee pot. This is wrong?

I also use dish soap in my coffee carafe, but we have really hard water and I run vinegar though the machine once a month.

Maybe DVC needs to provide vinegar since the coffee pots are the only thing left to clean .

 

[DBorges]

Are you really not supposed to use dishsoap for the coffee pot? I do the vinegar solution for the machine, but at home, I always use dishsoap for the coffee pot. This is wrong?

Bobbi

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.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I..

Maybe DVC needs to provide vinegar since the coffee pots are the only thing left to clean .

Oh, can you imagine how the halls would smell?
Bobbi

 

[DBorges]

Oh, can you imagine how the halls would smell?
Bobbi

LIKE A PICKLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MdmMim]

In addition to emails to member satisfaction and DVC, I just emailed the Disney Files magazine. I referred them to page 1, where it states, "being green isn't really that tough." It is when reusable mugs/glasses are available.

Also, on page 2, it reads, "You Asked, We Listened." I asked if they were listening now.

I am not one bit happy about this.