I am getting really grossed out by the lack of cleanliness in DVC units

[katedrew94]

We had a problem with our room at the BCV last year, so we called housekeeping. A manager came up to our room to check out the situation and then arranged to have the room cleaned again while we were out to dinner.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have never had an issue with room cleanliness. I have had maintenance issues, which I called about immediately and they were rectified in a timely manner.

I will say that once, several years ago now, I stayed in a 2BR at...OKW I think...that seemed shabby to me. Not dirty, but just things seemed worn... the grout in the bathroom was chipped in spots, the rug was threadbare in certain spots. A bunch of little things that added up to a worn-looking unit. I did let Housekeeping know about it, and they offered to move us, but at that point we were all moved in.

Well, about 2 weeks after I got back, I received a call from the director of Housekeeping at the resort thanking me for bringing the room condition to her attention and letting me know that the room had been taken out of service and was being refurbished, because when she looked at the room, she realized that, in fact, it was getting shabby looking. They do respond if they are told about problems.

 

[normr]

We're @ OKW right now, yesterday when we checked in after 5PM, when we got to the room (2 bedroom), one of the remotes was missing in the living room, the laundry basket was missing, there were dirty dishes in the dishwasher and we didn't get all our towels, plus the trash was full, we called housekeeping and they brought the missing stuff and offered us an extra T&T, which we don't need, we told the supervisor, just get it right the first time. Our relatives next door in a one bedroom also had problems.

Plus the bushes around our building are a little out of control, where is the lawn maintenance crews? We're paying our dues for this, it's their responsibility to keep things up (they were painting outside our room today).

 

[DonnaL]

DH and I had a few issues at SSR in May.....not cleanliness related at all, the room was spotless. However, a lightbulb was burned out and one was not even there. We also had an issue with our entrance door not closing automatically ......we had to manually make sure it closed behind us since the mechanism kept sticking. We were there for five days and DH called twice on both issues and nothing was done while we were there. We then reported to the front desk when we were checking out on the door issue since it could become a safety issue for the next guest....we realized it was happening and always checked the door as we were leaving.....the next guest might not. So, things are not always handled in a timely manner.....

 

[manning]

Well, about 2 weeks after I got back, I received a call from the director of Housekeeping at the resort thanking me for bringing the room condition to her attention and letting me know that the room had been taken out of service and was being refurbished, because when she looked at the room, she realized that, in fact, it was getting shabby looking. They do respond if they are told about problems.

They can't figure that out themselves??? Someone is getting paid too much!!!

 

[Q-man]

Inspect the whole room upon arrival before unpacking. If there is anything wrong call the desk immediately. If other rooms are availible you will get a different room right away. As a former Hilton rooms manager I can pretty well guarantee you if I'm cleaning a room and changing sheets at 9PM there is no equal or superior room availible to move you to and housekeeping is sure going to get an earful from me.

If you have an issue about anything call the front desk. One of my biggest pet peeves was people complaining on checkout. If you had let us know we could have corrected your issue 3 days ago. But, no they don't tell anyone and then go away angry for an issue we never knew exsisted but they lived with their whole stay getting madder and madder about it.

Most hotels refresh their rooms on a 5 year cycle.

 

[chrissyk]

Friend just came back from BCV and he thought the place was very dirty and worn down.

We spent a night there about a month ago and thought the same thing. We had major cleanliness issues with that unit as well, and overall the unit looked like it needed to be refurbished.

I thought that the units were refurbished on a cycle, though If a particular unit isn't due to be refurbished for a few years, are they really going to refurbish early it if someone points out how shabby it is looking? In an extreme case, I can see it, but for what seems to be the regular "worn" look of some DVC units, I doubt it.

 

[GrimGhost]

We've never experienced this, although I know other folks have.

If it happened to me, I'd handle it two ways. First of all, when I checked in and found what was wrong, I absolutely would not clean it up myself. I'd call housekeeping, let them know that I was not happy (without reaming them out, which just kills their motivation to help), and ask them to reclean the room ASAP. They'd very likely comply within a couple of hours. If not, I'd stay on top of them until they did.

Second, I'd certainly send an e-mail to the resort with a copy to Member Services. I'm quite confident that the email would get read, would be shared at the next staff meeting, and might even get me a return phone call. Each resort has customer service representatives and that's how they handle these things. If management saw that your email was part of a pattern, then they'd take action.

If we all followed a procedure like this, can you imagine how powerful an influence it would have on DVC management?

This is EXACTLY what should be done!!

 

[lenshanem]

Every DVC trip we've had we've had at least a few small things that needed attention to - dead batteries in remote, lightbulbs out, fridge not cooling, etc.

I make it a point to call the morning we are checking out and let them know what things need attention to, so the next family doesn't have to deal with it.

Our last visit was at SSR and the room looked great EXCEPT the carpet was filthy! That is the first time we've ever stayed in WDW where my kids feet got BLACK from walking on the carpet. To me, that is like staying at Motel 6. I told the front desk the night before we checked out as I was settling up our room bill that the carpets needed to be cleaned before another person stayed in there. It was almost like they had cleaned the carpets, but never changed out the water and it just made it dirtier.

 

[manning]

Those of you who thought these complaints have been blown out of proportion because it didn't happen to them, but now it has please raise their hand.

 

[DavidRoss]

This is kind of odd. Almost everytime we check into a DVC unit, there is a light burned out that I have to call someone about. About every 5th time I go, I don't have to have someone change a light.

The only place I have had a major problem was at Vero. We stayed in a 2 bedroom and it looked like someone has splashed chocolate milk all over one wall and the closet door. I mean it was streaming down the wall. There is no way anyone could have missed it. It was just plain negligence.

A few other times, I have noticed some of the mirrors have had spots on them. However, the one thing that really grosses me out - and (knock on wood) I haven't had a problem with is a dirty shower, tub or toilet.

 

[rocketriter]

Those of you who thought these complaints have been blown out of proportion because it didn't happen to them, but now it has please raise their hand.

Although this has not happened to me, I don't think these complaints are blown out of proportion and I don't see many of the posters in this thread thinking so, either. What I read is a lot of "Don't wait until after you've left to complain," which is excellent advice.

 

[disneykidatheart]

I wasn't going to post this but changed my mind after reading other experiences of negligent housekeeping. We checked in to OKW on Sunday morning, September 25. This was our first stay as a DVC member. The room looked great until I looked behind the shower curtain. The tub was dirty with a ring around it. We were on our way to a grocery store to get a few things and I bought cleaner to take care of the problem. Now I realize I should have alerted housekeeping and had them take care of it. Next time I will know better. On the plus side, I had that cleaner on hand when I got a bad grease spot on one of my shirts!

 

[disworldnum1]

First off I want to state this is not a complaint but an observation and a personal opinion.My family travels at least 6 weeks a year and we drive everywhere.We stay at different hotels,resorts and vacation homes.All in all I have to say the BWV has been at the top of the list for cleanliness.I have had issues with dirty bathrooms and I am always suspisious of bedspreads and linens.I think the shower areas need a little more attention, but that can be said with any place I have stayed with the exception of a very few vacation homes.I think our standards and that of the cleaning staff are definitely different.I can honestly say the shower and bathrooms are cleaner after we check out then when we check in.My wife cannot leave a dirty room for anyone else to walk into,I also have read others who do this and I think when the cleaning staff comes in they figure they can change the sheets, vacum and move on to the next room.Maybe the moral of this story is to leave your room a mess so they can see it and clean it.

 

[nhmomx2]

We were at BWV's for longweekend last weekend. I had DH call housekeeping because everytime I walked around the room my feet were sticking to the floor. I think whoever had the room before us had a soda can spray out everywhere. Housekeeping came in & cleaned the carpet then left us a message to let us know the rug still may be damp (which it was!). I was very impressed.

 

[CherCrazy]

DH and I had a few issues at SSR in May... We also had an issue with our entrance door not closing automatically ......we had to manually make sure it closed behind us since the mechanism kept sticking. We were there for five days and DH called twice on both issues and nothing was done while we were there. We then reported to the front desk when we were checking out on the door issue since it could become a safety issue for the next guest....we realized it was happening and always checked the door as we were leaving.....the next guest might not. So, things are not always handled in a timely manner.....

We had the same problem with our door last Nov at SSR. Was your room a studio on the first floor of Congress Park?

This year at HHI, we kept getting locked out of the room. Not fun when you're in bldg 25 on the second floor and you have to hike just to get to the front desk. They finally had to get an engineer to come in to replace the whole lock. aw: aw: aw:

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have only had a problem once, and it was maintenance. The toilet was leaking into the hall at BW when we flushed, with a smaller amount leaking around the toilet. Maintenance called us at 10:30 pm, someone had reported it(not us), and they asked if they could come to fix it. They fixed it at midnight, and the next morning we were sent to breakfast(free) while our villa was completely cleaned, and the carpets shampooed both in our unit and in the hall. We spent the day at the pool while they put big fans in our room and the hall, and PAID someone to stand and watch the fans so no one tried to impale themselves on the blades, I guess. We were impressed.

 

[jaysue]

I have only had a problem once, and it was maintenance. The toilet was leaking into the hall at BW when we flushed, with a smaller amount leaking around the toilet. Maintenance called us at 10:30 pm, someone had reported it(not us), and they asked if they could come to fix it. They fixed it at midnight, and the next morning we were sent to breakfast(free) while our villa was completely cleaned, and the carpets shampooed both in our unit and in the hall. We spent the day at the pool while they put big fans in our room and the hall, and PAID someone to stand and watch the fans so no one tried to impale themselves on the blades, I guess. We were impressed.

and PAID someone to stand and watch the fans so no one tried to impale themselves on the blades - WDW would not stand for that

Maybe Universal but not Disney....

Thanks for the morning smile

cheers
jaysue

 

[DizWacko]

For those of you who think its "our" responsibility to find and report bad housekeeping incidents, you couldnt be more wrong. We dont pay to be inspectors ... we are the customers. What is so hard to understand about this?

Disney needs to improve their quality control practices (just like any other business) .. the customer should NEVER have to uncover and fix any kind of defect in a product , its the job of the Disney to do this.

Personally, if I walk into a skeevy room (esp a bathroom), this definitely makes we wonder about the sheets, the kitchen, and the floors.

I cant believe so many of you "accept" these conditions, and then blame the poster for not reporting the problem more than you do Disney??

 

[JimFitz]

For those of you who think its "our" responsibility to find and report bad housekeeping incidents, you couldnt be more wrong. We dont pay to be inspectors ... we are the customers. What is so hard to understand about this?

Disney needs to improve their quality control practices (just like any other business) .. the customer should NEVER have to uncover and fix any kind of defect in a product , its the job of the Disney to do this.

Personally, if I walk into a skeevy room (esp a bathroom), this definitely makes we wonder about the sheets, the kitchen, and the floors.

I cant believe so many of you "accept" these conditions, and then blame the poster for not reporting the problem more than you do Disney??

I completlely agree.