First trip home-probably my LAST!

[Mark099]

One thing, why didn't it say on her confirmation "non-smoking due to medical reasons", arn't those rooms pulled before arrival date? Even though she called, the clod that answered the phone probably yes'd her to death, assuming it said that on the confirmation, so there wouldn't be a problem.

For all the money we have spent on DVC, we shouldn't have to worry whether we will get a smoking or non-smoking room. All other requests should be just that, requests, but they should be able to guarantee the smoking issue when you call in to make the reservation.

The solution is simple now. As owners, we can propose that as new buildings come online in the coming years that less and less of the villas be designated for smoking. We can also propose that preferences be given based on reservation date. If this doesn't fix the problem, then we move forward with new proposals.

 

[eileenkeeney]

While no hotel chain has an absolute Guarantee for Non Smoking, almost all major chains have this as part of the room type (just like the number of beds, or the number of bed-rooms in a suite).
I often go to reserve a room, and find that only smoking rooms are available. In this case I try another hotel, or try another room type (i.e. different view or number of beds).
While this is not an absolute Guarantee, it is part of the room type, therefore significantly decreasing the risk that the need will not be met.

Disney could choose to make smoking/non smoking a part of the room type, just like view, and room size (studio versus 1 bedroom).
For some reason Disney has decided not too. Maybe they feel they make more profit without doing this. I have no idea who made this business decision or why they made it.
For some reason they feel it is more important to maximize occupancy than to do everything they can to insure all the guests are happy.
An un-happy guest, in a smoking or handicap room, must be more acceptable, to Disney, than an empty room that is not reserved because someone didn’t want that type of room.

Making 100% of the rooms non-smoking might not be fair to those who smoke, who have purchased memberships.
They could have done this with SSR, and sold memberships based on this, however they choose not to.

 

[Mark099]

Making 100% of the rooms non-smoking might not be fair to those who smoke, who have purchased memberships. They could have done this with SSR, and sold memberships based on this, however they choose not to.

Although, 100% NS would be nice. It is true that it's not really right to change the rules mid-stream. I do not recall a need for DVC to have a fixed percentage of smoking rooms, thus what I wrote above still holds. If non-smokers are being forced to stay in smoking villas, then there are too many smoking villas.

 

[robinb]

I'm getting into thsi conversation late. I learned a couple of years ago to never check into a DVC resort after 6:00 PM. You will always get the "left overs". I now arrange to stay somewhere else the night before (the Value Resorts are a good bargain and they will move your luggage for you) and check into the DVC resort in the morning.

 

[castleri]

Quote" I''m getting into thsi conversation late. I learned a couple of years ago to never check into a DVC resort after 6:00 PM. You will always get the "left overs".

The one time I was told the only option was a smoking allowed GV was when I checked in at 8AM on a Sunday morning at OKW after staying at AKL the night before so you can't count on that either. The reservation had been made at the 11 month window day by day. Actually they did such a good job of cleaning and desmoking and after we kept the windows and door to balcony open all day to get rid of the cleaning smell we didn't smell the smoke to any degree. The last trip we checked in at 10:45 PM and were given a choice of about 8 rooms. You just never know.

 

[Mark099]

Quote" I''m getting into thsi conversation late. I learned a couple of years ago to never check into a DVC resort after 6:00 PM. You will always get the "left overs".

The one time I was told the only option was a smoking allowed GV was when I checked in at 8AM on a Sunday morning at OKW after staying at AKL the night before so you can't count on that either. The reservation had been made at the 11 month window day by day. Actually they did such a good job of cleaning and desmoking and after we kept the windows and door to balcony open all day to get rid of the cleaning smell we didn't smell the smoke to any degree. The last trip we checked in at 10:45 PM and were given a choice of about 8 rooms. You just never know.

Again, if non-smokers are being forced to stay in smoking villas, then there are too many smoking villas.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

Again, if non-smokers are being forced to stay in smoking villas, then there are too many smoking villas.

What about the smokers that haven't been able to get a smoking villa? Think about it. Do you think the same percentage of smokers versus non smokers are checking in every day? I don't think so. Disney probably is basing their allocations on statistics they've gathered.

 

[Mark099]

What about the smokers that haven't been able to get a smoking villa? Think about it. Do you think the same percentage of smokers versus non smokers are checking in every day? I don't think so. Disney probably is basing their allocations on statistics they've gathered.

I haven't seen any smokers speak up about not getting a smoking villa. Also, when was the last time a smoker was adversely affected by having to stay in a non-smoking room. Short of the inconvenience of having to go outside, there are no health risks.

Again, we can go back to my original post. Attach room preferences based on reservation date, not arrival time, and we wouldn't be having this discussion because the issue would be non-existent to all but those who book one or two months out.

Keep in mind, that as DVC owners, we are solely responsible for the added cleaning and service costs associated with having to bounce people from villa to villa during their stay.

Perhaps, the money is better allocated to a better villa assignment system where people know in advance where they are staying. When I book a suite at the Comfort Suites in Seattle for a long weekend I know, in advance, the room type I am getting. Whether I arrive at 1pm or 1am, that room type is available for me. Also, when I stayed at the Pop Century last year I was very specific with my room request -- more so than normal. Because we were staying 15 nights, I asked for a non-smoking room, in a specific building, top floor, and with a specific view. We arrived at 1:30 am and were accommodated on all our requests because the room assignments were done in advance.

I realize it's not a perfect world, but forcing an asthmatic to stay in a smoking room is unacceptable.

 

[crisi]

There have been plenty of post from smokers who have had non-smoking villas. Usually if they complain they are given an ashtray and told to smoke in the non-smoking unit.

I'm not a smoker and don't like smoke. I'd be very happy if DVC went completely non-smoking and fined smokers for smoking in the rooms - count me in for a party when it happens (and I think it will). But anyone who requires a non-smoking room for medical reasons and buys DVC is, in my opinion, making a bad choice. DVC does not and currently will not guarentee non-smoking for any reason. Nor will they take responsibility for you - by moving you to a different resort and paying the tab. If you end up in a smoking room, you will most likely get to prove that "staying there will send you to the hospital" or you will be out the points when you book over at the Hilton in DTD. The risk of getting a smoking room (or a non-smoking room that has been smoked in) is small - but if I were the mother of a child so asthmatic that a smoking room would be a significant risk, we wouldn't own DVC - any risk would be too much.

The system is what it is. Hopefully there will be a point in the future that the system will change. But this is the system every one of us signed up for. And if your guide told you differently, than caveat emptor.

 

[Ali and boyz]

I am panicing now. we fly in from the uk and land at 5pm so there is no way we can check in before 6pm. we need a fully accessable room (a must as we have a DS) and also non smoking.

we have both on our reservation - accessable room and non smoking for medical reason. will we be okay.

we have a medical travel company deliverying the special equipment so wonder where they will put it.

 

[SueOKW]

Medical necessity - you should be fine.

 

[Mark099]

I am panicing now. we fly in from the uk and land at 5pm so there is no way we can check in before 6pm. we need a fully accessable room (a must as we have a DS) and also non smoking.

we have both on our reservation - accessable room and non smoking for medical reason. will we be okay.

we have a medical travel company deliverying the special equipment so wonder where they will put it.

Phone SSR 3 days before you leave and ask to speak to the manager. Be very clear with your request and let him know that anything less than a non-smoking villa will be unacceptable.

 

[JodyTG]

Here's another reason that non-smoking requests aren't met. I was next to a couple a check-in at POFQ a few years ago who had requested a smoking room, but they didn't like where it was so they chose a room that was NON-SMOKING but in a better location. I also heard the wife tell the husband that he could just smoke outside.

Does anyone know if most of the "good views" at the DVC hotels are non-smoking? This could be a part of the problem: the "I want to smoke but I want a good room too" issue. Could also be where the smoke smell in non-smoking rooms comes from. The "I own here and they can't tell me what to do" issue.

 

[Mark099]

Here's another reason that non-smoking requests aren't met. I was next to a couple a check-in at POFQ a few years ago who had requested a smoking room, but they didn't like where it was so they chose a room that was NON-SMOKING but in a better location. I also heard the wife tell the husband that he could just smoke outside.

Does anyone know if most of the "good views" at the DVC hotels are non-smoking? This could be a part of the problem: the "I want to smoke but I want a good room too" issue. Could also be where the smoke smell in non-smoking rooms comes from. The "I own here and they can't tell me what to do" issue.

I can definitely see that happening. Perhaps, the front desk needs to be firm and not give a non-smoking villa to a member with a smoking request.

 

[justcruisin]

As harsh as it may sound ....

The way I see it is this will become less of a problem as the middle-age smokers die off (or don't want to visit wdw using an ECV while lugging a tank of O2) and less of the 20 and 30 yo take up the habit! JMHO