Glass and Mug Poll: Responses from Disney

[DisneyBride'03]

This just came:

Hello *****, Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us regarding the glassware changes in our studios. We continually review the cleaning practices in our resorts. Upon reviewing the dishware and glassware washing process for the studio units, we realized that hand washing wasn't sufficient to meet our cleanliness standards. Glassware and ceramic mugs in the studios were replaced with disposablesbecause dishwashing machines are not available in those units. We wanted to take action quickly and using disposables was the most expedient solution. We have since determined that we will be able to provide glassware and ceramic mugs at resorts where glass washing equipment is available. This includes Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, TheVillas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas and the Inn rooms at Disney's Vero Beach Resort. For all DVC stand-alone campus properties (Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and the villas at Disney's Vero Beach Resort) that do not have glass washers available, we will continue to utilize the disposable cupsuntil we can source a more environmentally friendly product. We are investigating the possibility of installing glass washers at specified locations throughout the stand-alone campus properties. The disposable cups are replenished upon request. If a Guest/Member calls to request glassware, we will provide it and remove it upon checkout. Your comments are important to us. Please be assured that we have shared your concerns with the appropriate individuals. Thank you again for your message. Sincerely, Disney Vacation Club

Bobbi

Just got the same thing!

 

[rubbergypsy]

Hello Elizabeth,

Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us
regarding the glassware changes in our studios. We continually review
the cleaning practices in our resorts. Upon reviewing the dishware and

glassware washing process for the studio units, we realized that hand
washing wasn't sufficient to meet our cleanliness standards.

Glassware and ceramic mugs in the studios were replaced with
disposables
because dishwashing machines are not available in those units. We
wanted to take action quickly and using disposables was the most
expedient solution.

We have since determined that we will be able to provide glassware and
ceramic mugs at resorts where glass washing equipment is available.
This includes Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's BoardWalk Villas,
The
Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas and

the Inn rooms at Disney's Vero Beach Resort.

For all DVC stand-alone campus properties (Disney's Saratoga Springs
Resort & Spa, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Hilton Head Island

Resort and the villas at Disney's Vero Beach Resort) that do not have
glass washers available, we will continue to utilize the disposable
cups
until we can source a more environmentally friendly product. We are
investigating the possibility of installing glass washers at specified
locations throughout the stand-alone campus properties.

The disposable cups are replenished upon request. If a Guest/Member
calls to request glassware, we will provide it and remove it upon
checkout.

Your comments are important to us. Please be assured that we have
shared your concerns with the appropriate individuals.

Thank you again for your message.

Sincerely,
Magdalene
Disney Vacation Club

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Magdalene has been busy............

 

[granmaz]

This just came:

Hello *****, Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us regarding the glassware changes in our studios. We continually review the cleaning practices in our resorts. Upon reviewing the dishware and glassware washing process for the studio units, we realized that hand washing wasn't sufficient to meet our cleanliness standards. Glassware and ceramic mugs in the studios were replaced with disposablesbecause dishwashing machines are not available in those units. We wanted to take action quickly and using disposables was the most expedient solution. We have since determined that we will be able to provide glassware and ceramic mugs at resorts where glass washing equipment is available. This includes Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, TheVillas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas and the Inn rooms at Disney's Vero Beach Resort. For all DVC stand-alone campus properties (Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and the villas at Disney's Vero Beach Resort) that do not have glass washers available, we will continue to utilize the disposable cupsuntil we can source a more environmentally friendly product. We are investigating the possibility of installing glass washers at specified locations throughout the stand-alone campus properties. The disposable cups are replenished upon request. If a Guest/Member calls to request glassware, we will provide it and remove it upon checkout. Your comments are important to us. Please be assured that we have shared your concerns with the appropriate individuals. Thank you again for your message. Sincerely, Disney Vacation Club

Bobbi

Yes, I received this too!!

Allow me to translate:

We made a knee jerk reaction to ostensibly solve a problem.

We were then buried under the complaints regarding that "solution".

We've since realized what a BAD idea it was, on SOOOO many levels, and are now, in most cases, going back to the "old" way. And in the few cases we can't....we're scrambling to find a solution that won't tick quite so many of you off.

Sorry about that...MASSIVE brain fart.

-DVC

That's about it!

 

[granmaz]

No mention of dishwashing liquid and cloths though.

 

[funatdisney]

Well at least they will provide the glassware upon request. It seems like they are willing to make some people satisfied and take care of their concerns regarding cleanliness. It is still a pain to request it, though.

 

[jmtf2004]

Magdalene has been busy............

I'll say! I got a message from Magdalene myself, and I've seen mention of several other responses from her too.
There is progress regarding the disposables - they have acknowledged that using disposables isn't an environmentally conscious choice, and at least we will be able to request glassware and mugs if they are not provided - but now I am wondering how they will be cleaning this glassware, etc. they will provide me (temporarily) between uses? (Of course I'll be washing it thoroughly by hand before I use it, but I'm still puzzled about that.)
If they have now 'realized that hand washing wasn't sufficient to meet our cleanliness standards', and their knee jerk reaction was to pull the mugs and glasses and replace them with disposables, what are they doing about the level of cleanliness of the carafes in the coffeemakers in the studios?
I sure hope all guests in 1BR+ villas run the stuff in their full kitchens through a dishwasher cycle before they use anything that is provided there.
All of this, even with the response I've received now, really isn't giving me a much confidence in the quality of housekeeping overall at the DVC resorts.

Is there a way to change my vote in this poll to reflect the fact I've received a response now?

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

Magdalene has been busy............

I also got a the same response from Magdalene. Pretty much the places we stay will have glasses now. I am glad to see that if we stay at SSR or OKW that we can request and recieve glassware.

 

[chloe]

Give credit where credit is due.

They made a bad judgment call. Saw the error of their ways, and rectified it.

We'll never really know why they glassware was removed -- was it housekeeping issues, cost, or were they actually concerned about the health issues... Who knows?

I’m as cynical as the next guy. But, I'll give them benefit of the doubt on this one.

 

[DVC Mike]

The DVC member web site has a news item:

Resorts adjust studio glassware practices

As part of a continuous review of cleaning practices in Disney Resort hotels, leaders determined that hand washing dishware and glassware in Disney Vacation Club studio units wasn't sufficient to meet the company's cleanliness standards.

For studio accommodations at Disney Vacation Club Resorts in which glass-washing equipment is available (Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas and the Inn rooms at Disney's Vero Beach Resort), glassware and ceramic mugs now are cleaned in the glass washers, rather than by hand.

Studio accommodations at stand-alone Disney Vacation Club Resorts (Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, the villas at Disney's Vero Beach Resort and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa) now utilize disposable cups, since glass washers aren't available at those resorts. The company wanted to take action quickly, and using disposables was the most expedient solution. Housekeepers replenish the disposable cups upon request.

Disney Vacation Club leaders are investigating more environmentally friendly disposable products, as well as the possibility of installing glass washers at specified locations within the stand-alone properties.

 

[susieh]

Running all the crockery and glasswear through the dishwasher when you get there is not environmentally friendly either.

If you really feel the need to wash it before you use it then wash the individual pieces before their first use and then put them in the dishwasher after that.

I feel the same as those folks who insist on washing the towels everyday - it is wasteful and it is one of the (very few) things I do not like about some American attitudes. Flame me if you wish but the simple fact is that America uses far more than her share of the world's resources by a long way.

 

[Anal Annie]

Magdalene is a very busy girl this afternoon! I just got my email about an hour ago! They need to figure out this dishwashing thing tho. We can't all stay at the "short list" of properties. I WAS glad to see that they will bring the glassware on request tho. (I wonder if we'll have to hide them on T & T day?) But surely there's a dishwasher in a restaurant on the other properties that can wash glasses?! Don't you think there's a dishwasher at SSR SOMEWHERE?

Our next stay is at AKV so we're in the clear for this summer and hopefully they will have it all worked out before we go back again and stay somewhere else.

 

[Anal Annie]

No mention of dishwashing liquid and cloths though.

I'm sure that will have to also be a request along with the glassware!

I sure hope EVERYBODY makes the request so as to drive the point home to them that we want our real cups & glasses! They probably won't TELL people about this tho as they check in. So there will be a lot of people who won't even know they have the option unless they frequent the DVC member website a lot...

 

[Simba's Mom]

Busy, busy Magdalene! I hope she has time to read my response to her Email.
I told her a couple things I said here on the boards-that I resent that now, when I choose to handwash dishes in a one bedroom, I'm no longer "meeting their cleanliness standards." Also, that handwashing has been sufficient for 17 years of DVC studios, and many years at home. I also made a comment about trying to drink tea without a mug. I hope Magdalene got the message that she's not my best, best friend. Although I've got to keep reminding myself, "Don't shoot the messenger."

 

[sgtdisney]

Give credit where credit is due.

They made a bad judgment call. Saw the error of their ways, and rectified it.

It won't be fully rectified (for me) until they liberate the glassware and cups at OKW and SSR. Of course this begs the question about the cleanliness of the dishes in the 1/2/3 bedroom resorts, since the dishwashers in those units are not commercial grade and do not have a sanitize function on them. Hmm.. Guess if you have more space in your unit you can afford to be sick.

 

[La2kw]

Disney Vacation Club leaders are investigating more environmentally friendly disposable products, as well as the possibility of installing glass washers at specified locations within the stand-alone properties.

This causes me concern. When they find those more "environmentally friendly" disposables, are going to lose our real dishes again?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Disney Vacation Club leaders are investigating more environmentally friendly disposable products, as well as the possibility of installing glass washers at specified locations within the stand-alone properties.

This causes me concern. When they find those more "environmentally friendly" disposables, are going to lose our real dishes again?

Oh, oh-I hadn't thought of that! I know Starbucks doesn't use styrofoam-I think they use recycled paper of some type. Is that an option (probably a very expensive one)? And, of course, since hand-washing mugs and glasses isn't up to DVC's standards of cleanliness, I trust that each styrofoam cup we receive will be seperately sealed in plastic so that we can trust it's clean. Boy, the garbage that will produce!

 

[Sammie]

Why do some of the DVC resorts have the ability to was the glassware and OKW and SSR don't.

That makes no sense and is ridiculous to include some and not the others.

 

[bnlbebes]

It won't be fully rectified (for me) until they liberate the glassware and cups at OKW and SSR.

Has anyone sent a reply to the BULK e-mail response sharing their concerns about OKW & SSR being "left-out?" Just wondering if members are receiving more prompt, personal responses to these e-mails, etc.

 

[summergolf]

As I was reading all these responses I was at first thinking why did Disney change . I then remembered that one of our local news teams in Cleveland
did a hidden camera expose on how badly the glasses cups etc were cleaned
in some local hotels. I will not go into how gross it was but I am sure
we all would prefer styrofoam.