DVC Vets, room towel question

[PamOKW]

When I saw this thread had gone to 3 pages I figured someone must have brought up the peach towels. LOL!

I just took a look at the guidebook and was shocked that it does indeed say 4 bath towels and 2 wash cloths and 2 hand towels per bathroom. That is ridiculous. We need to be guaranteed a set of towels per guest permitted in the room. If they want to stock them short and then provide additional on demand if the unit is at full capacity, I can live with that. Ideally, they would do this according to the registration information but if it requires a guest request that's okay. (The Vero Inn room usually has 2 coffee mugs but if there 3 or more in the unit they will provide additional mugs.) This same information is in the previous Guidebook as well. I wonder how we could get that corrected?

There is no excuse for a CM arguing with a guest, especially over a minor matter. If a few towels had been provided the incident would be long forgotten. Now, it will exist probably forever as a memory. Just as I can't tell you what happend at most of my check-ins but I can tell you about the CM "greeter" who for no apparent reason started yelling at me about how members create big lines every Sunday because they are too cheap to spend the points for Friday and Saturday. Having just spent 3 nights on points at Vero, I was not amused. I'll remember that for a long time.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I didn't realize what a can of worms I would open with this topic. This is what happened, we were in a Vero Inn Room, had 4,2,2, towels. DD overflowed the tub, well didn't put the curtain in, so we had to use all our towels to mop up the mess. I called housekeeping and explained the situation. they said to hang them to dry. Well, that's fine if they were damp, but they were soaked, and used to clean up the floor! then she suggested since I was on the 4th floor to go dry them in the dryer! I just found this response insane! A supposed somewhat high end resort not willing to give me replacement towels. I hung up walked out my room, and saw housekeeping, explained the problem, and she gave me towels with a smile! That was the service I expected. At our timeshare in the Caribbean, we do an inventory for our room upon arrival, if things are missing, like towels, we get a bill. Even the beach towels, we get good size bath sheet towels, we sign them out, if we don't return them, we get a 50.00 charge until we do. I'm sure towel theft is a major issue, not as much as cleaning them. No I'm not saying I want clean towels daily, (though it would be nice), but if I do need more, I think it shouldn't be a hassle to get them and I shouldn't have to pay for them.

 

[MiaSRN62]

There is no excuse for a CM arguing with a guest, especially over a minor matter. If a few towels had been provided the incident would be long forgotten.

Couldn't agree more Pam. I am shocked to hear about all this argueing with Members over towels. Talk about increased labor costs ! These CM's are wasting valuable time on the clock debating with Members when they could just as easily send up the appropriate number of towels per guest. All that wasted time and energy the CM's are spending getting into debates/arguments adds up over time not to mention it's unreasonable when some Members are only asking for what they should be entitled to ?

but I can tell you about the CM "greeter" who for no apparent reason started yelling at me about how members create big lines every Sunday because they are too cheap to spend the points for Friday and Saturday.

Wow...I wouldn't take too kindly to that either Pam. Who are they to say how we should spend our points ? Are they making the loan and dues payments ?

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by ClarabelleCow
I hung up walked out my room, and saw housekeeping, explained the problem, and she gave me towels with a smile!

I think we have the best chance of satisfaction if you can find the individual housekeeper. As in some of the cases above, it doesn't always work out but I think the chances are better than trying to resolve things by calling the front desk.

DVC has established a policy to contain towel costs. However, I don't think they need to obsess about it to the point of arguing with guests. Heck, they have established room occupancy limits but they openly allow this rule to "bend". If they "bend" for an extra child they can also "bend" for a spare towel now and then. In an emergency situation where towels were used for cleaning up a flood or helping a sick person, there should be no question of immediate replacement without charge.

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by PamOKW
I think we have the best chance of satisfaction if you can find the individual housekeeper. As in some of the cases above, it doesn't always work out but I think the chances are better than trying to resolve things by calling the front desk.

The front desk people aren't apparantly the front desk people either. And it's easier to hide behind policy when you're on a phone. I know if I were paid a relatively speaking low wage and the person asking me for towels was also likely to be the person leaving me a gratuity and it didn't cost me anything, I'd hand them out too.

ClarabelleCow, this thread would be dead by now if you'd just posted the "full story" from the start...protecting our 'homes' from flood damage and wanting new towels we all can understand. Because this is (mostly) plain text, your early posts can certainly be read in a way that can give the reader certain negative perceptions about your issue.

One thing I am curious about...did any of the guys notice that the towels were peach?

-Joe

 

[ClarabelleCow]

But my point is (which obviously is in the minority), it shouldn't matter what I wanted extra towels for, I should be able to get them. If this is supposed to be a first class operation, then I expect first class service. But as I found out with this thread, I didn't realize there was a vote, for pay to use. Next they will have you pay for valet parking, labor is involved, time is involved, but not all members utilize this, so why should my dues pay for something I don't use, that is one of the attitudes I'm getting from this thread and I just don't get it.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by jmminarik
...(snip).....One thing I am curious about...did any of the guys notice that the towels were peach?

-Joe

Isn't Pa@okw95 a guy?

 

[crisi]

I agree that flooding should get you extra towels!

We had a "notorious" handicapped room. (Keep in mind for the rest of this that I'm a big proponent of HC rooms are no big deal - it really wasn't). It took a shower or two to figure out how not to get the floor all wet. And we had plenty of towels (we had six people in a two bedroom, so a few extra towels and a dryer). We also aren't big handtowel people (you can have all of mine, we think they are for looks when you have a big towel handy). But I do think anyone in a handicapped room should get extra towels for the floor. And if they don't deliver them without cost, you are perfectly justified to borrow them from the pool. Those floors are slippery when wet! (as both my children discovered when they landed on their backends running for the potty). Probably extra bath mats in the handicapped rooms would save them in insurance payouts!

 

[jmminarik]

Originally posted by ClarabelleCow
...so why should my dues pay for something I don't use, that is one of the attitudes I'm getting from this thread and I just don't get it.

Well, sometimes we (humans) don't always comprehend the other point of view. Your conumdrum does make me wonder if DVCers tend toward the financially conservative or financially liberal side of the scale. I'm sure someone has surveyed this at one point, but I have my own guesses.

Carol, if Granny can be a guy, well, anyone can be anything on the Internet. Besides...Pa = Pennsylvania around my neck of the woods.

-Joe
Who has red towels and pink towels at home, and is sure they're not "red" nor "pink" to any of his female relatives.

 

[jarestel]

We had a "notorious" handicapped room. (Keep in mind for the rest of this that I'm a big proponent of HC rooms are no big deal - it really wasn't).

I don't doubt your sincerity, but if DVC had shown us an HA model when we took our tour and told us that this is what we could expect when staying at DVC, we would have politely thanked them for their time and gone on our way.

 

[Regina]

But as I found out with this thread, I didn't realize there was a vote, for pay to use.

Keep in mind that the reason it was presented to the members was due to it being a problem.

We all knew upfront that daily maid service, with the changing of towels/linens, was not provided. Obviously, while some of us were laundering these items, others were simply requesting replacements and it had become excessive. As I said previously, it surprised me as I assumed that everyone was abiding by the rules.

Yes, I voted for the towel fee. While I rarely stay in a studio, when I have done so I've purchased the extra towels and find the fee to be reasonable.

I've never considered it a "class" issue, but rather a solution to end the abuse that was going on.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Also remember the first DVC was the only one for quite awhile, OKW is spread out and you have to go up stairs to get to the various units, this is not like some other resort hotels where you push a cart down a hall way. This would take time and more personnel to supply everyone with fresh towels everyday at OKW. I don't know about the rest of the guests at OKW but I for one do not want people knocking on my door everyday and wanting to come in to change the towels, it is bad enough they do it once while I am there.

 

[garydeb]

We have used all the different room sizes when at OKW. We have never had a problem with reusing our towels just like we do at home. We feel that all you are doing is drying your clean body.
When we bring guest down and explain to them about the towels they accept the way it is and reuse them. I like that you don't have a maid in your room everyday. We like to come and go as we please and not having to worry if housekeeping has come to the room yet. When we go down by ourselves we normally call housekeeping the day of our towel & trash to cancel it. We also cancel maid service alot when we stay in hotels, but that's just us. I guess to each it's own.

-Debbie

 

[JLS]

I am not in favor of the towel fee. However, given that it is the rule, I would (and will) just pay the $6 and get my bundle of towels rather than making numerous phone calls and having "debates" with the front desk or housekeeping CMs. Having to argue for an exception to the policy just is not worth it to me when the amount involved is $6. (yes, I realize its a matter of principle for the original poster, and I agree with her, but its $6 people!)

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by ClarabelleCow
so why should my dues pay for something I don't use, that is one of the attitudes I'm getting from this thread and I just don't get it.

EVERY member pays for services they don't use. I think if there is something a significant portion of people use, it is reasonable to spreak the costs between all members. It's much like work benefits. Health care costs are reasonable to spreak around while specialty things like adoption costs are not.

 

[crisi]

I don't mind paying for things I don't use. I do mind paying for things other members abuse.

I wouldn't care if we paid for extra towels or not (though we are the reuse type of people). I don't want to pay for someone who steals towels, or 50 Mickey soaps for stocking stuffers!

Likewise, we don't use valet parking, but its a nice perk. But I would hate to think that someone was abusing parking - having the valet park the car for 10 minutes while they ran in. Or using the service twelve times a day.

Think being able to request a blender is a nice touch. But if a DVC owner decides they need to request six of them to sell Margaritas off their balcony - that's abuse.

I don't like the idea that I have yet to see a report of someone getting charged for a trashed room. Normal wear and tear I'll pay for. Non-smoking rooms that reek of smoke, tears in furniture, stains in the carpet, rooms that need to be repainted - not because they've been used for several stays - but because one occupant has treated the room poorly - those I think DVC should bill for - either we are paying to fix those things, or the insurance is and its showing up in higher insurance rates.

 

[PamOKW]

The examples crisi mentions are all not beyond the realm of what might happen. I also cannot believe that Disney doesn't have a way to deal with this type of abuse other than "charging". How do they handle it with a regular resort? I would think they could do the same at the DVC resorts.

 

[MiaSRN62]

How do they handle it with a regular resort? I would think they could do the same at the DVC resorts.

This was my question exactly. Vistana is a huge resort and I'm sure they have abuses just like any other normal hotel/resort. The set up of the villas is just like OKW---spread out all over, private entrance and only about 25% of the buildings have elevators. Yet they continue to offer the towel/linen service free of charge and no increase in dues. This is what I don't understand with DVC. But, just so you know, we've never had to request extra anything at the DVC resorts and we do reuse our towels like alot of other Members here. I just think in emergencies, or in a situation where not enough towels were supplied to meet the occupancy, the resort shouldn't be so quick to charge the $6. I think discretion should be used (by the resort) in some cases.

 

[jarestel]

I'm not advocating unlimited towels for DVC members, but I don't see how 2 sets of towels for each guest would somehow drive our dues into the stratosphere. Given the humidity and heat of Florida, we sometimes take more than one shower a day. With your personal allotment of one towel still damp from the morning shower, or still in the washing machine because you didn't wait around the room to throw it in the dryer, this can be very inconvenient. I know, I can pay the $6 and solve "my" problem, but is that the best answer DVC can come up with? It seems like the "towel policy" wasn't very well thought out at the time it was implemented.

 

[Disney Doll]

There should be an adequate amount of towels for the "legal" # of occupants for a room. It should not be based on the # of bathrooms in the unit, but the maximum # of people "legally" allowed to occupy a unit of that sie. If that's eight people, then it means 8 towels, 8 hand towels, and 8 washcloths. If there is an emergency situation with the towels, such as a flood, then I would expect them to be replaced without a hassle. If I pay at the begining of my trip to get an extra set of towels, then I expect the extra set to be replaced on T&T day, as well as the "normal" amount of towels. I do not expect to pay twice for an extra set of towels. If I encountered any CM who I felt was rude or unresponsive to a reasonable request, I would be speaking to their supervisor immediately. I wouldn't argue for 10 minutes with the man or woman who answers the phone in Housekeeping. Whenever I have called Housekeeping, I have laways encountered pleasant, respponsive CMs, in all the DVC resorts I have stayed in. I had one instance where I completed a survey about our room and commented on several items that I thought needed attention, and I received a call back within 2 weeks of our return home form the supervisor of Housekeeping at the resort thanking for my observations and letting me know that the room I had stayed in was being refurbished based on my comments. I do not expect Housekeeping or anyone else to be able to notice or keep track of everything. As an owner, I feel some of that is my responsibility.

I do not consider DVC to be equivalent to a "deluxe" resort. I consider it a home away from home type resort, therefore I expect to do a little more for myself when there. If I want a complete "deluxe" experience, with daily maid service etc, when on vacation, then DVC is probably not the right choice for me. I don't consider the 30 seconds it takes to throw the towels into the washer, and the 30 seconds it takes to throw the towels into the dryer to be impinging upon my valuable vacation time. I take my vacations at a more relaxed pace thanks to the DVC. I no longer feel the need to "commando" tour, because I know I will be back soon.

There are so many benefits to the DVC that the towel thing isn't even a blip on the radar IMHO.