DVC studios - fewer amenities

[alldiz]

"Just Back From BWI - Upgraded to BWV

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greetings!

Just back from a week at the BWI. At check-in we were upgraded (free) to a 1 bedroom villa at the DVC at the BW!

It was awesome~

Any questions -- please ask. "

Just copied this from resorts board...

Nice upgrade....I'm thinking even BWI knows a studio is not "deluxe" so
they had to upgrade to the 1BR
Kerri

 

[LilGMom]

IF (and that's a big if) the decision was made for health reasons, why do glass cups and/or mugs remain in other Deluxe accomodations.... That's what I want DVC to answer.

That is what I'm wondering too. There isn't a dishwasher in POR, POFQ, CBR, CSR, WL, CR, etc. yet they all have actual glasses and mugs.

We'll be staying in a standard room at AKL in May (DH has a business trip and we don't want to use our points since he won't get reimbursed for that ) so it'll be interesting to see what we have in the room to drink from.

 

[toocherie]

the silence from Member Services is deafening . . . . . .

 

[KLR-wlv]

That's what's really starting to irk me (The lack of reply from DVC). I sent a letter 9 days ago and another one 5 days ago - nothing from either. We've been members for 7 years and this is the first complaint I've ever had. I am completely unimpressed with the way they are handling this. We are leaving for VB next week and I'm wondering if I have to bring a whole picnic basket with me in order to use the kitchenette...I think the next step is to tell my guide to take me off ALL their solicitation mailings since I won't be spending more money on points - to help make up for all the extra paper waste this change will create....

 

[nunzia]

I'm not advocating the change here, but the other deluxe resorts have the capablility to use the dishwasher, and thuse sterilize the cups, utensils, etc. This takes Disney out of the legal loop.

They could certainly use the diswashers at Olivia's to wash studio glassware if sanitation is really the issue..which I don't believe it is..I think it is purely an issue of not being able to make housekeeping do what they are supposed to do. If housekeeping is contracted out, why did they initially do that and surely they can enforce their standards with the company or find a better one.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

That is what I'm wondering too. There isn't a dishwasher in POR, POFQ, CBR, CSR, WL, CR, etc. yet they all have actual glasses and mugs.

We'll be staying in a standard room at AKL in May (DH has a business trip and we don't want to use our points since he won't get reimbursed for that ) so it'll be interesting to see what we have in the room to drink from.

Some of these are not deluxe resorts. Do we know for sure there are no styrofoam in these rooms? There was a mix of glass and styrofoam at BWI.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

They could certainly use the diswashers at Olivia's to wash studio glassware if sanitation is really the issue..which I don't believe it is..I think it is purely an issue of not being able to make housekeeping do what they are supposed to do. If housekeeping is contracted out, why did they initially do that and surely they can enforce their standards with the company or find a better one.

Again, that would require daily mousekeeping if sanitary standards are what is the root of the change.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

That is what I'm wondering too. There isn't a dishwasher in POR, POFQ, CBR, CSR, WL, CR, etc. yet they all have actual glasses and mugs.

We'll be staying in a standard room at AKL in May (DH has a business trip and we don't want to use our points since he won't get reimbursed for that ) so it'll be interesting to see what we have in the room to drink from.

Also again, these accomodations get daily mousekeeping.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Also again, these accomodations get daily mousekeeping.

It's a timeshare though. Even the rooms with the dishwasher require the member to actually load and clean their own dishes. I don't think people are complaining that mousekeeping isn't coming into their studio daily to clean their mugs. Just that they're no longer given the option to clean their mugs AND they should have clean mugs on day one.

 

[hematite153]

That is what I'm wondering too. There isn't a dishwasher in POR, POFQ, CBR, CSR, WL, CR, etc. yet they all have actual glasses and mugs.

These resorts all have access to a Table Service restaurant and so MUST have a dishwasher somewhere--as do all of the DVC resorts!

The daily mousekeeping idea feels like a strawman argument since the exposes have all been about the fact that daily mousekeeping doesn't actually switch out all of the glasses. When we stayed at POR mousekeeping had clearly rinsed the glasses and put them on the shelf rather than replacing them (there was still oatmeal stuck to the side from my breakfast).

I would MUCH rather was my dishes than count on someone else to keep them sanitary.

I was actually looking at the exposes feeling glad that I was a DVC member and can wash everything before I use it--but, I was thinking about what to do with the paper plates and bowls. This whole change has me really worried.

 

[disneykid4ever]

My proposal to DVC is this:

If the rationale behind this change is a health issue, post placards near the sink area in the studios reminding folks that "to reduce the spread of viruses, please remember to wash your mugs and glassware with dish soap before and after use. Another friendly health and safety reminder from Pumba and Timon!" (You already post placards about re-using towels to cut down on polluting the environment with detergent).
Put some of the responsibility on the member/guest; what is so god-awful wrong about letting us wash out our own silverware/glassware? We do it at home for pity's sake! And aren't the studios supposed to be "home away from home"?!?

If it's a "five-finger-discount" kind of situation, post a placard reminding guests/members that any missing items from the villas will be charged to you upon checkout.

As someone said previously, THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! If Disney has the forethought and imagination to come up with awesome rides, shows, and movies and then market it all to kingdom come, they should be able to handle a small problem involving mugs and glassware without totally ticking off the members.

 

[kt-scarlett]

They would be between guests, but unless you get daily mousekeeping or pay for more T&T, they only get changed every 4th day. Maybe. So there is probably where the health issue is coming from.

I am confused. Are you saying that Mousekeeping changes out mugs and glassware every four days, or fewer if you have a shorter stay, and are clean for the next guest? I have to say that, one bedroom or studio, I always thought that Mousekeeping leaves the same dishes in the room as they are and just hand washes the dirty ones in steerage or washes and removes them from the dishwasher in the full kitchen.

I hope you are right because the next step I will take is, assuming we return to mugs and glassware, to call Mousekeeping and have a fresh set sent up immediately. Just to be sure.

 

[tiffany123]

The more I read and think about this issue the more ludicrous Disney or DVC reasoning becomes. Certainly there is no one on this board who believes that every single piece of kitchenware, dishes, glassware, etc is cleaned when the rooms are turned over. There is no requirement to do so and we all know that mousekeeping doesn't wash every single piece of kitchenware---if they did we'd never get into our rooms on or nearly on time. It isn't that hard to change out or wash a few mugs and glasses in a studio unit and I totally agree that this is a mousekeeping issue rather than a "for the good of our guests" issue.

 

[bnlbebes]

I was curious to see if DVC's website had yet acknowledged/posted this new "No Glass/Mug" policy online. Surprise, surprise - nothing's there!

BUT, Here is what DVC considers more important news to their members...

Disney Vacation Club News
Resort inspires name for baby zebra
Track sea turtles in Vero Beach
Animal Acclimation Affects Sunset Savanna View
Disney's Old Key West Resort debuts new room categories
Daily Internet charge to be discontinued this spring
Disney Dining Plan available to more Members than ever
S.S. Member Cruise 2008 Limited

Are they kidding me?! The Glass/Mug policy will effect my next DVC stay. The naming of the zebra will not! But, it is interesting that the zebra news is recent, which means they could have posted the studio glass/mug information if they felt it was newsworthy. I guess they didn't.

 

[kt-scarlett]

Allears.net reported:
"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."

Wow. DVC is making a Huge Assumption that Housekeeping runs the dinnerware, each piece of it, through the All Knowing All Powerful Dishwasher each time a 1- 2- or 3 bedroom villa turns over.

Huge. Huge assumption.

And we all know what happens when you assume.

 

[Chester's Mum]

Just wondering....did you call and ask for any glasses?
Thanks

No, I did not call to ask for glassware, this was my first DVC stay, so I thought that's just the way it was. It was not until I returned and found this thread that I knew it was a change.

The lack of glassware didn't ruin my vacation or anything like that. It's just that I prefer not to drink my glass of wine from styrofoam. I ended up buying a glass of wine at epcot, and I kept the little plastic wine glass. It was a step up from styrofoam.

By the way, we did have dish liquid, a sponge and a tea towel. Don't know what we were supposed to use them for.

I think on future trips I'll be more proactive.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Allears.net reported:
"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."

Wow. DVC is making a Huge Assumption that Housekeeping runs the dinnerware, each piece of it, through the All Knowing All Powerful Dishwasher each time a 1- 2- or 3 bedroom villa turns over.

Huge. Huge assumption.

And we all know what happens when you assume.

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't WDW still provide glasses in the resort rooms by the sink? How do they wash them without a dishwasher? This is soooo looooooow class of DVC to do this. I was just at a Marriott Courtyard for business and I noticed housekeeping pushing a cart with clean glasses and mugs on my floor where they were cleaning the rooms. It seems to work for Marriott and all other hotels I stay at. I just can't believe they are doing this and I hope the writing campaign helps. Styrofoam? Yuk!!!!

 

[casper]

Still no response from the letter I wrote a week ago. Are we the only people complaining? And for those of you in the "know," how long does it usually take DVC to respond when members get upset about decisions? I read about the pool temperature debate, did it take the DVC authorities just as long to respond?

This whole situation with the cups has me perplexed! I can't believe the reasoning used if indeed what was said on Allears.net is accurate. If they can't get something as simple as this right (in terms of what their membership wants) how are they going to make good decisions on bigger issues? I feel like we have no voice and that I fell victim to the largest bait and switch scam of all time. And the lack of their responding to ANY of us (well, maybe a few have heard something) is very concerning for me.

Well, lets keep those letters rolling. I'm OK if I lose the fight, but right now I feel I am shadow boxing more than actually engaged with an opponent.

 

[casper]

I just read this on the "Poll: Glass and Mug Poll: Responses from Disney" thread. It was posted by DisZip:

I got a call on Saturday from John at DVC to follow up on the email I sent.

Basically he said that they had been tasked with following up and gathering additional feedback from members and wanted to know if there was anything else I wanted to add to my list of concerns. As my email was pretty extensive and detailed, there really wasn't much to add.

When done gathering feedback, they are going to report back to senior management at DVC about the members concerns, and while he could not give a timeframe or any promises of any changes, he did say that they had received a number of complaints and were taking the opinions of the members seriously.


Lets hope the silence is a thoughtful examination of their decision before they choose to respond to us. My faith in DVC would be restored!!!

 

[KLR-wlv]

I called the front desk at VB to ask about requesting wine glasses - as we've done in the past - and if they would be provided. They said yes we could ask for and receive wine glasses, but no regular glasses would be provided...curious. I'm glad not to have to pack wine glasses...but not sure what the rationale is then in getting rid of the regular glasses...