Laundry Etiquette

[csharpwv]

This thread needs a little humor, so here goes....

I was at WDW last month on a work/solo trip - and was in a studio. We had only stayed in a studio once before... and I don't think we will ever not stay in 1br again... really just because of the laundry and the bathroom situation.

Anyway... funny story.

So I was at WDW - for 8 nights - some for work, but 2 days before and three nights after for pleasure.

Stayed in a Studio at SSR for two nights, then to the Grand Floridian for three nights, then to Beach Club for a night, then to Saratoga for two nights.

The day I checked out of Beach Club my laundry situation needed addressed - so after spending the day doing a lot of different things at WDW and outside WDW (like going to Mass on Sat night so I could do a 4 park whirlwind all day Sunday)... anyway.... on to the funny story.

So when I finally got back to my room on Saturday night (around 11:00pm) I cleared everything out of my suitcase, put on my swim trunks, loaded ALL of my dirty laundry in my luggage and headed to the pool/laundry.

I put two loads in (leaving a 3rd washer open - even thought I knew no one would do laundry at 11:00pm... only I'm that crazy LOL) So I put all of my laundry in, and went to swim.

I watched the clock by the pool and returned to the laundry room to put my clothes in the dryer.

I then went back to the poolside, wrapped up in a towel, and occupied a lounger to listen to some music.

I set the clock on my phone and returned to fold my clothes.... they weren't dry, so I did another cycle.

Returned to the pool and sat down at a table.

Fast forward a few HOURS.....

I woke up at 3:30am...from a sound sleep...... poolside.

I felt a little silly walking back to my building with a suitcase full of clean laundry, wrapped in a beach towel, at 3:45am

A few positive notes, I didn't interrupt anyone, I didn't occupy laundry appliances that someone else had need of, but... I did end up with one heck of a stiff neck! HAHAHA If only I had stayed in a lounger!

I can't imagine what someone would have thought seeing my sound asleep at the pool at 3:00am

So, advice.... do your laundry late - you won't bother anyone!

 

[Chuck S]

It always seems odd to me that people just leave their clothes unattended and don;t remain in the general area of the laundry room. On the occasions where I stay in a studio, I set aside the time to do laundry, and will generally be seated at one of the nearby tables in the pool area using my laptop.

I mean, you wouldn't go to a regular laundromat in town and drive off and leave your clothes to do grocery shopping, would you? So why leave them unattended at Disney?

 

[kim532]

I mean, you wouldn't go to a regular laundromat in town and drive off and leave your clothes to do grocery shopping, would you? So why leave them unattended at Disney?

Actually I do that in my hometown! I don't leave laundry at Disney. At home I need to wash my comforters in the extra-large sized ones. It is about a 10 minute drive from my house. So most of the time I will start a wash. Go to the grocery store...move the wash to the dryer...take groceries home and return about 45 minutes later to retrieve my items.

Kim

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yet another reason why we never stay in studios.

 

[M5ward]

I take my Kindle and my iPad, and enjoy the down time sitting in the laundry room waiting for my clothes to be done. I've met some of the nicest people there.

 

[Brian Noble]

I solve this problem by never staying in anything less than a 1BR. That way, I have my very own machines.

 

[JustTinking]

I take my Kindle and my iPad, and enjoy the down time sitting in the laundry room waiting for my clothes to be done. I've met some of the nicest people there.

I'm with you Michele. Last time I took my Nintendo, played some games, and met some lovely people.

 

[dvcdisney]

....If someone else not touching your laundry is really important to you, you have three choices.

1. bring enough clothes that you don't need to do laundry
2. get a one bedroom or bigger so you have your own washer and dryer
3. stay with your laundry or at least make sure you are there before the dryer stops running.

I don't like other people touching my laundry as well. And I have done all 3 of those choices.

And because I don't like people touching my laundry, I don't touch anyone's either. If I have a studio and there is no dryer open when I come in to do the laundry, I come back later. I'm just not one to risk it.

 

[ParrotBill]

15 minutes late is about how long anyone should be, or I move the clothes to a clean surface.

Never happened to me, but if they were still there when my dryer was done, well, I might just stick 'em in a washer and hit start...

 

[rock_doctor]

We get stuck all of the time waiting for somebody to come back and move their stuff. I will not touch anybodies laundry. I see here that some may not mind but i won't do it. We didn't have any issues last trip because we washed extremely late at night or super early in the morning. We always stay with our clothes and...to the BLT owners...if you keep the hallway door while drying your clothes they will dry much faster. There is a vent issue with the laundry room.

I don't understand why the studios don't have machines. People who stay in the studios stay just as long as those who get larger rooms. It is an issue, at BLT we have 3 washers for 134 potential studios.... (at BLT most studios are lock offs to 1 br units so they may be used as a studio or as a second bedroom to a single bedroom unit)*. I don't buy they could not carve out 27x27x45 inches of space...

* http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082

 

[Dean]

We get stuck all of the time waiting for somebody to come back and move their stuff. I will not touch anybodies laundry. I see here that some may not mind but i won't do it. We didn't have any issues last trip because we washed extremely late at night or super early in the morning. We always stay with our clothes and...to the BLT owners...if you keep the hallway door while drying your clothes they will dry much faster. There is a vent issue with the laundry room.

I don't understand why the studios don't have machines. People who stay in the studios stay just as long as those who get larger rooms. It is an issue, at BLT we have 3 washers for 134 potential studios.... (at BLT most studios are lock offs to 1 br units so they may be used as a studio or as a second bedroom to a single bedroom unit)*. I don't buy they could not carve out 27x27x45 inches of space...

* http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082

The reasons are several. Space, cost and wanting you to buy points for a larger unit. Some timeshares have gone a different route on lockoff's doing a larger/better 1 BR combined with a smaller/more limited 1 BR. I like this setup better because it usually gets you a full kitchen though smaller, a W/D and where applicable, often a FP. Generally we're talking say 500 sq ft compared to maybe 750 for a larger 1 BR and a queen instead of King bed with a regular bath instead of a true master bath. But the costs would be higher, for DVC that means more points for the smaller 1 BR than a studio and more for a 2 BR lockoff than a regular 2 BR or a current 2 BR.

 

[Chuck S]

We get stuck all of the time waiting for somebody to come back and move their stuff. I will not touch anybodies laundry. I see here that some may not mind but i won't do it. We didn't have any issues last trip because we washed extremely late at night or super early in the morning. We always stay with our clothes and...to the BLT owners...if you keep the hallway door while drying your clothes they will dry much faster. There is a vent issue with the laundry room.

I don't understand why the studios don't have machines. People who stay in the studios stay just as long as those who get larger rooms. It is an issue, at BLT we have 3 washers for 134 potential studios.... (at BLT most studios are lock offs to 1 br units so they may be used as a studio or as a second bedroom to a single bedroom unit)*. I don't buy they could not carve out 27x27x45 inches of space...

* http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082

There is also maintenance and upkeep. You may also ask why there is no real stove in a studio, they could have carved out a 36"x36" space. It is simply the way the units (and the DVC system of resorts) is designed to work. Buying, replacing and maintaining all those additional washers/dryers would certainly up dues.

 

[k3chantal]

First I loved my first trip on DVC points. We stayed at BWV and we were right by the door to the quiet pool on the ground floor. It was so nice to not have to walk everywhere in the heat. We always used Values in the past and those interior hallways at DVC are the best!

I had one thing that irritated me while I was there. I went down to do some laundry and I put my stuff in the washers (2 loads) and noticed that one dryer had clothes in it and appeared to be finished. The third washer was empty. I checked the time and left until my stuff was done. I came back and that dryer still had the same clothes in. Put mine all in one dryer and put it on timer for 60 minutes. Came back and that dryer still had the same clothes in it. Some people said I should have just removed them but I hesitate. But having one dryer increased my time by about 45 minutes. And just as I was leaving with my dried stuff some woman comes in and heads to that dryer. I am not very confrontational so I just let it pass, but is it the norm to just leave your stuff there?

The only time we stayed in a studio, the laundry room (VGC) was so busy that I couldn't even get in to start a load. So the upside of your situation is that your laundry is done.

It is also why I love staying in a larger villa. Having a washer and dryer in the unit is really priceless!

 

[Anna114]

I would have eventually taken them out if I needed the dryer. I set the timer on my iPhone to go off 5 minutes before my clothes should be done. I don't want anyone to have to wait on me and I don't want to have to wait for anyone. I really enjoy the family that wants to leave with clean clothes (which I can appreciate) but use all the washers to accomplish this. It's rude not to leave at least one washer open. I do know he used all the washers since I was still folding my dry clothes lol.

I am looking forward to our first 2bdrm stay next month. I told my sons to pack half the clothes, I'll wash then IN ROOM and we will leave with almost all of our clothes clean.

 

[mfd25wife]

I would wait a few minutes, but I don't mind touching someone's clean laundry and don't care if they touch mine so after a while, I would just move the laundry into/out of the dryer.

 

[schrammalot]

I lived in 3 dorms and 1 house with 9 other females... so, if your laundry isn't out, it's being neatly folded into piles. I'm a little bit obsessed with folding clothes properly. You can take the girl out of working retail, but you can't take the retail out of the girl...

 

[csharpwv]

Here's an idea - you could make a magnet with your phone number on it and a note:
If my clothes are in the washer/dryer and the cycle has completed, do not hesitate to call or text me at (444)555-6789

Or if you don't mind someone bothering your laundry:
If the dry cycle has completed and you need the machine, do not hesitate to remove our clothes and place them in (Basket/bag etc)

You would have to leave your laundry basket or bag behind for them to have a place to place your clothing.

I really wish they would at least give you a laundry basket in a studio - that would be very helpful!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Here's an idea - you could make a magnet with your phone number on it and a note:
If my clothes are in the washer/dryer and the cycle has completed, do not hesitate to call or text me at (444)555-6789

Or if you don't mind someone bothering your laundry:
If the dry cycle has completed and you need the machine, do not hesitate to remove our clothes and place them in (Basket/bag etc)

You would have to leave your laundry basket or bag behind for them to have a place to place your clothing.

I really wish they would at least give you a laundry basket in a studio - that would be very helpful!

I agree on the laundry basket. One time at Kidani I was using a paperbag.

I'm afraid the magnet and being asked to call etc. would make me feel like I was being asked to be the mom. I just expect the person to be responsible and respectful of sharing the laundry or to expect the clothes to be removed.

 

[izzy]

I had someone get really huffy with me one time at AKV. I waited 30 minutes for someone to come get their stuff out of the washing machine that I was waiting to use. I finally took the clothes out of the washer and put them on the folding table. I didn't want to put the clothes in the dryer as I didn't know if the person wanted everything in the dryer. Fast forward - my clothes are now washed, and I've had them in the dryer for awhile. About an hour has elapsed from the time I had taken her clothes out of the washing machine, this after I had sat there for 30 minutes waiting for her to come take them out if the washer. Woman comes in the laundry room with her kid and gets all bent out of shape that her clothes are not where she had left them in the washer more than 90 minutes ago. In a really snotty voice she says, "Johnny, we mustn't be rude and touch other people's clothes!"

It was all I could do not to say "Johnny, we mustn't be rude and instead should be considerate of other people's time."

I mean, really - she truly thought it was perfectly fine for her to leave her clothes in the washing machine for 90 minutes after the load was finished. Sheesh!

 

[dgaston]

What I wish is that people staying in studios also received the one box of All or Tide. Our clothes get dirty too!