DVC studios - fewer amenities

[DisneyBride'03]

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

THEN everyone would want to stay at SSR!

 

[TisBit]

I am frankly amazed that it ended up being mugs/glasses that became the straw that broke the camels back for so many people! There have been a lot of changes to DVC in the last year, the removal of a lot of options for Concierge Collection, changes in banking/borrowing, more stringent commercial renting rules (or at least defined ones), but now it is the coffee mug that did it and now we have 35 pages to prove it!

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 adn 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 find it funny how people are making the leaps that this will affect trades with II, sales, etc. Truth is the paper was already there, now there is just a little more. I doubt any propsective buyers looked at the cabinets in the units and said "I don't mind paper plates, but at least I have a real coffee mug" and decided to purchase or not.

 

[Kathi OD]

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.

DVC's version of which came first, the chicken or the egg?

 

[kt-scarlett]

"Disney Vacation Club spokesperson Diane Hancock confirmed for AllEars® that the studio villas no longer have glassware or ceramic mugs for use and have now switched to disposables. "Because dishwashing equipment is not available in the studios, we feel this is the best option for our members and guests," said Hancock. And without the glassware, dishwashing soap will no longer be provided for the Studios. This change does not affect the one-, two- and three-bedroom villas."

So let me get this straight, and I apologize for the meandering logic.

"Because dishwashing equipment is not available in studios"....they take away the mugs and soap. Therefore it is the presence of the dishwasher that was the deciding factor, right? because it looks like they are assuming that Members in facilities with a dishwasher will always clean their dishes in it and never ever as God as my witness hand wash anything in the kitchen sink.

Because if they did handwash their dishes then they would be no better than the Pesky Steerage Studios (tm patent pending) occupants.

I hope they have also thought how much more money they can save by not giving the one-two and three bedroom villas any dishwashing liquid since all they use is the dishwasher. Heck, it's gotta be up there.

 

[Kathi OD]

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

After all, according to Diane Hancock a sink is used for some other purpose than washing.
Well since they obviously believe noone uses anything that needs to be washed, maybe they should take the sink out too and just have a larger counter space.

 

[Dman67]

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?

 

[casper]

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.

I have considered buying more points when KTV becomes available. I was going to buy just enough to get a studio every couple of years. I'm thinking I'm not going to be investing the money into that now. My reasons are not because of "paper cups and plastic ware." It is because Disney made a decision to downgrade something (I mainly stay in studios to stretch my points to the max) and then try to give us some "bull" to the reason why they are doing it. I don't believe they are interested in my "health." And even if they are, do they think I am their 4 year old child incapable of cleaning my own glassware?

If they are going to "lie" about their reasons they should have said something like: "In order to help keep rising costs down for our members we are replacing glassware in studios with plastic ware." Still bull! But at least it would seem they were doing something for me. As it is, to convenience themselves, they are making things inconvenient for me. But hey! Why do they really care what they do to me? DVC is selling like hotcakes. And if I get so upset to sell my ownership, someone else is buying it. Why do they have to worry about "owner satisfaction" as long as they have good marketing tools to sell to their next victim?

I really wonder what the "real" reason for their decision is. And I wonder why they don't trust us to tell us that reason? I mean really, what is the benefit of it? And is there really any true benefit for the owners? If there is, tell us. If there isn't, then why are they making this decision. If I could, I would probably "fire" the lot and replace them with someone who really cares.

 

[DisneyPhD]

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?

Seriously, why do people feel we need to tip? If they can't clean a cup?

 

[DBorges]

Here are a couple thing that worrie me "the more stringent commercial renting rules (or at least defined ones),"

Have been defined for a while just never enforced. I have looked at my guide books from previos yeasr none stated that coffee cup(mug) and glassware were in a a studio.

I think It is not right for Disney to do this..

I also agree thqat is will not effect the selling point of DVC.

As the buying of a vacation interest is not worring about CUPs and glasses.

I am wondering what the replacement rules are going to be.

As if your there for a week you may need more the 4 each.

Is it going to be like mousekeeping a charge for daily or is it going to be like getting more coffee..

I fail to see that over 100000 members are going to pick up and sell because of this.

 

[DBorges]

Seriously, why do people feel we need to tip? If they can't clean a cup?

I have never tiped mousekeeping .. That is what some of my dues are for..

 

[hemispheredancer]

I just firedmy own letter off to the Customer Satisfaction folks. I doubt all the complaining we are doing will change what is done. It just bothers me that these changes were made without member knowledge. I am just curious as to what they will do with the old glassware/mugs. Not that I really care, but it is the members' money that purchased those.

 

[tiffany123]

I just spoke to our guide and he advised me to send an e-mail to the DVC Member Satisfaction Team (I have already done so). He has been on vacation and just learned of this change yesterday but said that as many DVC members as possible need to voice their displeasure over this change. He thinks it's a horrible decision by DVC or whoever made the decision and one that needs to be reversed immediately. Keep sending those e-mails. Together we can make a reversal of this crummy decision happen.

 

[casper]

I am just curious as to what they will do with the old glassware/mugs. Not that I really care, but it is the members' money that purchased those.

You hit it!!!! Now we know what the "gift" is going to be at the KTV when they run out of tote bags!

 

[disneygal55]

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!

 

[TisBit]

I have considered buying more points when KTV becomes available. I was going to buy just enough to get a studio every couple of years. I'm thinking I'm not going to be investing the money into that now. My reasons are not because of "paper cups and plastic ware." It is because Disney made a decision to downgrade something (I mainly stay in studios to stretch my points to the max) and then try to give us some "bull" to the reason why they are doing it. I don't believe they are interested in my "health." And even if they are, do they think I am their 4 year old child incapable of cleaning my own glassware?

If they are going to "lie" about their reasons they should have said something like: "In order to help keep rising costs down for our members we are replacing glassware in studios with plastic ware." Still bull! But at least it would seem they were doing something for me. As it is, to convenience themselves, they are making things inconvenient for me. But hey! Why do they really care what they do to me? DVC is selling like hotcakes. And if I get so upset to sell my ownership, someone else is buying it. Why do they have to worry about "owner satisfaction" as long as they have good marketing tools to sell to their next victim?

I really wonder what the "real" reason for their decision is. And I wonder why they don't trust us to tell us that reason? I mean really, what is the benefit of it? And is there really any true benefit for the owners? If there is, tell us. If there isn't, then why are they making this decision. If I could, I would probably "fire" the lot and replace them with someone who really cares.

Here is the real reason:

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/p...e=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

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 Industy 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.

 

[DBorges]

I just firedmy own letter off to the Customer Satisfaction folks. I doubt all the complaining we are doing will change what is done. It just bothers me that these changes were made without member knowledge. I am just curious as to what they will do with the old glassware/mugs. Not that I really care, but it is the members' money that purchased those.[/quote

I am thinking they will just be placed in a !bdr and 2 bdr and grand villas.

I think that you think they took it totaly away they did not they are still in use just not in a studio.

As for the letters I do not think anything will change .

There was a major campainabout the ddp and the automatic 18% tip party size changing .

Nothing got changed..

I think the effect of this do affect many but I do not think most will care.

If there is 500000 members and only 15000 complane i would not expect disney to change a thing.

Post a poll see if you even break 1000 members??

Then get those 1000 members to have one voice (lol that would never happen)

Just a thought

 

[Chuck S]

Those exposes were discussed earlier in the thread. That is why I think this either is, or soon will be, a resort wide policy.

I wonder what would happen if the same shows had an "environmental expert" show the possible affects of polystyrene in the environment and how polystyrene in the human body can cause neurological problems.

 

[Chuck S]

I just firedmy own letter off to the Customer Satisfaction folks. I doubt all the complaining we are doing will change what is done. It just bothers me that these changes were made without member knowledge. I am just curious as to what they will do with the old glassware/mugs. Not that I really care, but it is the members' money that purchased those.[/quote

I am thinking they will just be placed in a !bdr and 2 bdr and grand villas.

I think that you think they took it totaly away they did not they are still in use just not in a studio.

As for the letters I do not think anything will change .

There was a major campainabout the ddp and the automatic 18% tip party size changing .

Nothing got changed..

I think the effect of this do affect many but I do not think most will care.

If there is 500000 members and only 15000 complane i would not expect disney to change a thing.

Post a poll see if you even break 1000 members??

Then get those 1000 members to have one voice (lol that would never happen)

Just a thought

Well, there aren't 500K members, only about 110K. I think if even 5% take the time to contact Disney, that is a significant amount. And most PR firms feel that for every person that takes the time to write, there are several that feel the same way but don't write. And those are the folks recommending DVC (or not) to their friends and families. Sooner or later the DVC market will mature, and the bulk of their sales will be from referrals, not first time visitors.

 

[TisBit]

Those exposes were discussed earlier in the thread. Tat is why I think this either is, or son will be, a resort wide policy.

I wonder what would happen if the same shows had an "enviromental expert" show the possible affects of polystyrene in the environment and how polystyrene in the human body can cause nuerological problems.

I agree Chuck, but I think that some of the people on this thread did not see or understand what they were. I don't think that this is a valid reason to remove the items myself, but rather is a process/procedure that needs to be stopped. It will take time to rebuild customer confidence and I believe that the DVC resorts should be treated differently than rooms that receive daily maid service....where it might be more beneficial to go to disposables. With the long stay's that are at DVC and limited services, I believe that even the Kitchenettes should have "real" dishes, including plates and utensils.

 

[bobbiwoz]

People will do whats best for them in this situation. I've sent e-mails and I've written a letter to DVC Member Satisfaction. I am considering sending one to Jim Lewis and someone higher up. Last night I considered sending one to our guide. I am pretty sure that I am finished adding on. DH doesn't care as much as I do about owning DVC, although he and I did always stay on site at WDW when we went with our family. I see it as being more convenient and as long as our DGC and family can come with us, we'll own DVC because it is cost effective. I love vacationing with our family, and WDW still is our preferred destination.

We visited a Hilton Grand Vacation club. We were not really interested in buying but we bought a cheap weekend in Orlando, and I noticed in their studios not only were there real dishes there was a dishwasher in the studios. We also stayed off site at a Marriott timeshare last year, we were in a studio, and they had real plates and dishes as well as glasses and mugs. There was not a dishwasher in that room. We were in a huge resort, somewhere near Sea World, it was an older room, but nice, we faced a golf course.

We probably can do with fewer points, if staying in a studio with DH really "gets" to me. I'm not about to upgrade to a larger unit at twice the point cost just to get mugs, glasses and dishwashing soap.

This does not effect my tipping mousekeeping. I consider it a Thank You for cleaning up after me. It's just something I do and others do and others don't, so what?

Bobbi