DVC Vets, room towel question

[ClarabelleCow]

I know I brought this up in a different thread, but way back when DVC started, did they give you towels daily? I'm just curious, I have heard the "feel like home" debate, and people not wanting housekeeping in their unit, but honestly, this is supposed to be a "first class" operation. I don't understand the 45 minute interuption for houskeeping to come in and replace towels and take out the trash? Did they do this at one time, and stopped? Just curious because this is really my only pet peeve regarding DVC.

 

[PamOKW]

No they didn't bring towels daily but there were no restrictions on asking for additional towels. Supposedly, this privilege was abused and they went to the current policy.

Trash & Towel also used to be Trash & Tidy. Housekeeping would not only empty the trash and leave fresh towels and replenish supplies, but they would also do a light dust and run the vacuum around.

 

[Richyams]

No, there hasn't been any change, this is how its been since the begining.

But I don't understand, you get new towels every fourth day and have a washer and dryer in the unit, I am very happy with the current situation.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Most of the time, if we are only staying for 3-4 nights, we do a studio or "Inn room", one, there is no place to hang the towels, and its a cramp to go and wash them. My point is this is a "first class" operation, and should I really be worrying about washing or hanging up towels. This should be the least of my worries while on vacation. In the hotels, you have the option, exchange or not, I really don't understand why we can't have this in the DVC.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think you make the mistake of thinking of DVC as a hotel. It is, in fact, a timeshare, and I know of very few timeshares who even do an every fourth day towel exchange.

 

[Richyams]

When they set DVC up, they were not expecting studio stays to be the draw. There is a much larger percentage of studios available for all the newer resorts. DVC was set up as a 'home away from home' timeshare, not a hotel.

I firmly believe that you don't really get the value of DVC staying in a studio....I guess your experience proves that.

 

[mikesmom]

Because DVC is a timeshare or a vacation home, not a hotel. If you have a cabin on the lake, which of course is not shared, you would have to bring your own towels, pots and pans, etc. In a timeshare it is shared, so some amenities are provided, but it is still your "home" and does not operate exactly as a hotel.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I own an offsite timeshare (Vistana) and I can tell you that mid-week they supply fresh towels, take out any trash, run the dishwasher and vacuum the entire 2 bedroom villa.

With the DVC program, having a studio would be more inconvient in that you need to do your own towel washing. My offsite timeshare only offers 1 or 2 bedroom units. Since there are no studios, this problem never comes up. But I suppose DVC is operating just as most other timeshares do. I must agree with Rich, in that staying in a studio doesn't feel anything like a 1 or 2 bedroom---it's an entirely different experience/feel. But, like Clarabelle, we too have used our points for studios (on occassion) if our stays are 3 nights or less so I guess no clean towels is the price you pay for saving points

 

[tjkraz]

ClarabelleCow:

If you want clean towels on a more regular basis, you might want to consider just paying for them. I don't recall the cost, but there is a nominal fee for those who wish to have this perk.

In my mind, the bottom line is that if DVC did change out the towels daily, we would all be paying for it in the form of higher dues. This is one case where I think we are all better off if those that wish to have this convenience pay for it themselves rather than it being forced upon the DVC membership as a whole.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Guess I have just been lucky then, my other timeshare we get fresh towels and garbage removal daily, plus mid week full cleaning. Yes its a timeshare "home away from home", but its also a resort and a vacation! I have stayed out in Arizona at Sunterra Properties and towels were never an issue, even Vistana or Harborside in the Bahamas, maybe you didn't get them daily, but you had more than enough, and if you needed more, you could just call, and not have to pay for them. If DVC didn't consider studios to be a draw, then why have them? Why not only have 1,2 and 3 bedroom units. My point to this one gripe is we paid alot of money for belonging to DVC and should towels really be skimped on? Maybe if you needed more, you could just get more, not be charged?

 

[PamOKW]

As I said, in the beginning you could just request towels. You also got shampoo, soap, etc. as needed (never did get more than the 1 per cleaning detergent for the clothes). Then DVC said that the system was being abused and causing undue costs to the members. (Reports of a woman who requested over 50 Mickey soaps to use as stocking stuffers.) They "polled" members with questions that were loaded to provide the current results. I agree that if they supply towels at All-Star they should have an economical way to supply towels to the DVC studios -- but I guess they don't agree. Many people have resorted to taking pool towels which DVC has also said cost more to launder. Not sure whether we're seeing any savings overall or not with the current policy.

There is a $6 charge that will get you a set of towels for four. I also think, in some cases, a maid will give you a towel or two if you ask them personally (not phoning for it).

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Thanks Pam - for a moment I thought I was nuts. Maybe its my own personal feelings, but I feel the whole "home away from home" theme is kind of like brainwashing. Your on vacation, its still a timeshare no matter how they want to word it. It not a rental condo, you don't bring your own sheets, towels, kitchen pots and pans, etc. Towels should be a cost of doing business and built into the fees. Fine if they only want to put 4 towels in a studio or 1 br, but if you request more, then they should be given. Not charged. And your right, I bet if you did just ask housekeeping in person, you could get more if you need them.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I once took a tour of the WDW laundry. It was quite an operation. The amount of towels used by guests at WDW is beyond belief. If we had free towel service for the rooms the charge to annual dues would really go up. I am one that really does not want to pay for those guests that stay in the studios for the service. If you stay in a larger unit throwing the towels in the washer and dryer are no problem. I am really one of the members that would like to see them do away with the trash and towel service all together, I take my trash out at OKW and do the towels myself. At any rate the towels can be replaced if you wish just call housekeeping and you will get them, what the charge is I don't know. One day I was trying to relax at OKW, 3 different people came into the one bedroom, trash and towel, someone changing fire hydrants, and someone washing the porches down with this solution. Trash and towel, I can do without, we are going to be paying for the slide and life guards as it is soon. I pay 1000 in dues now, most of the services are worth it, trash and towel is not one of them.

 

[gchiker]

Do they provide towels at the pools or do we have to bring bath towels from our rooms? In the past, WDW hotels provided pool towels. But I have not yet stayed as a DVC member. Does anyone remember the cost for daily trash and towels? For daily turndown service? What does turndown include?

 

[bobbiwoz]

There are towels at the pools to use.

When we've stayed in a studio or inn room (2 times total) , the towels have always dried on the string drying line in the bathtub.

Bobbi

 

[DebbieB]

Towels are part of the "pay as you play" program. If you want the towels, you can pay a daily fee ($10 for trash & towel), if you don't want them, you don't pay extra in your dues. This program was established to reduce dues and have members who want extra services pay for them individually.

 

[jarestel]

I'm just wondering aloud, but if towels at one time were part of the DVC package and removed to save on member dues, what if members get another "loaded" survey about doing away with trash and towel sevice altogether in order to save on dues - or people who always have cars vote not to want to have transportation as part of their dues - or people who never use the pool vote not to have pool maintenance or lifeguards as part of the dues? As more items are removed from the "member dues" category and moved into a pay-as-you-use category, DVC loses a lot of its charm IMO. And I'm not saying any of these things are ever likely to happen, just making a point about the trade-offs between lower dues and first class service.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

just making a point about the trade-offs between lower dues and first class service.

Thank you!!! Obviously I'm not great with words and wasn't conveying this very well! But that's my point! When does it become a first class resort with moderate/value services. When services are taken away, do your dues go down?

 

[jaysue]

When services are taken away, do your dues go down?

Good point, I do not think there is sufficient transparency of information from DVC for me to trust that they are being watchful about costs, cost sharing with WDW etc....

thanks
jaysue

 

[crisi]

I think DVC does a fine job with a balancing act...

On one hand you have people who want a deluxe resort experience and are willing to pay for it. They like the idea of towels every day (or valet parking, or whatever).

On the other hand you have people demanding DVC keeps their dues down. Why should THEY pay for someone else's towels when they just throw theirs in the wash?

The feet are reserved for the few folks who take both points of view - they want both the deluxe service and low dues.

Could DVC both keep dues low and give better service? Perhaps. I tend to agree that its in their best interest to be honest about this - after all there are laws governing timeshares - but other timeshares do have cheaper dues (but they also don't need to provide bus service to theme parks, nor do they need Disney's level of security).

The compromise they have elected is to have some features "fee for service." Seems relatively fair - as compromises go.