Most Respectful DVC Homeowners

[SuperRob]

For example, he said that the floral arrangements in the lobby and upgraded H20 spa products were paid by the GF, not DVC dues, and, specifically, were the decision of the resort's general manager.

I thought all the DVC resorts got H2O Spa products? To be fair, we've only stayed at Aulani and the Grand Californian so far, but we've had them at both. I thought that was just one of the perks of a Deluxe resort.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I thought all the DVC resorts got H2O Spa products? To be fair, we've only stayed at Aulani and the Grand Californian so far, but we've had them at both. I thought that was just one of the perks of a Deluxe resort.

The H2O Sea Marine line is offered exclusively at GF and VGF. The H2O Aquatics, Blushing Orange and Grapefruit Bergamot lines are offered at the other resorts.

A H2O Soft Mint Foot Rub is also offered exclusively at GF and VGF.

 

[disneynutz]

I thought all the DVC resorts got H2O Spa products? To be fair, we've only stayed at Aulani and the Grand Californian so far, but we've had them at both. I thought that was just one of the perks of a Deluxe resort.

At VGF linens and towels are upgraded and they have bath robes.

Bill

 

[heidibilotti]

We have stayed at all of the wdw dvc resorts. I found more laundry and garbage dumped outside of the vgf than anywhere else. With my family at least we make an extra effort with the cast members at our home resorts. We travel at Christmas and many of these cast members are so great we bring holiday presents for many. They have gone above and beyond and are a part of our holiday family. Not all dvc owners are messy and nasty.

 

[keishashadow]

when digging around for non-DVC accommodations , I often see SSR studios on 3rd party sites at discounted rates.

We have never stayed there, but curious as to whether those 'in the know' feel as though SSR has experienced a high level of wear & tear.

 

[Dean]

when digging around for non-DVC accommodations , I often see SSR studios on 3rd party sites at discounted rates.

We have never stayed there, but curious as to whether those 'in the know' feel as though SSR has experienced a high level of wear & tear.

I haven't seen a difference and a lot of those are actually exchanges, a group that would be prone to abuse if one thought this were an important variable in the equation, I don't personally.

 

[drusba]

I mentioned this observation to the cast member and he said that VGF would be held to the same standard as GF. For example, he said that the floral arrangements in the lobby and upgraded H20 spa products were paid by the GF, not DVC dues, and, specifically, were the decision of the resort's general manager.

Jim 8O

In all the posts, this one has been ignored and I am still trying to figure out if the CM was fibbing about the florals and H2O products or just did not know who really paid for it. If that stuff is there out the VGF and not the DVC budget, it is probably going to disappear quickly. Moreover, I don't buy this ultra high standards implication he tried to create for GF. I have stayed at GF including when it was near the end of its rehab cycle and about to have a rehab and the room I was in at that time looked shabbier than any DVC room I have ever been in.

 

[disneynutz]

In all the posts, this one has been ignored and I am still trying to figure out if the CM was fibbing about the florals and H2O products or just did not know who really paid for it. If that stuff is there out the VGF and not the DVC budget, it is probably going to disappear quickly. Moreover, I don't buy this ultra high standards implication he tried to create for GF. I have stayed at GF including when it was near the end of its rehab cycle and about to have a rehab and the room I was in at that time looked shabbier than any DVC room I have ever been in.

My guess is that the GF does get a larger budget do to it's flagship status. Just take a look at the place, live music playing, holiday decorations that puts other resorts to shame, CM's falling all over you, heck they even have a soap store.

DVC resorts typically don't get much budget money, why would a GM spend money on a resort that gets guaranteed guests when he needs to spend it on the GF cash guests trying to get them to rebook?

We will see what happens after the DVC sell out phase, other resorts switched toiletries and made other changes to cut costs.

Bill

 

[twinsouvenirs]

My guess is that the GF does get a larger budget do to it's flagship status. Just take a look at the place, live music playing, holiday decorations that puts other resorts to shame, CM's falling all over you, heck they even have a soap store.

DVC resorts typically don't get much budget money, why would a GM spend money on a resort that gets guaranteed guests when he needs to spend it on the GF cash guests trying to get them to rebook?

We will see what happens after the DVC sell out phase, other resorts switched toiletries and made other changes to cut costs.

Bill

Not gonna lie, the only 'souvenirs' I bought for people on our Feb trip were the beautiful mickey head soaps at store Also got a bath bomb for that amazing tub.

We did love the VGF and GF service. Even the pool bar has an amazing beer selection and items with brie

 

[DizBub]

when digging around for non-DVC accommodations , I often see SSR studios on 3rd party sites at discounted rates.

We have never stayed there, but curious as to whether those 'in the know' feel as though SSR has experienced a high level of wear & tear.

I think that you see SSR studios because there are so many of them and often they are the only ones with availability. People trying to use their points are most likely booking them and offering them on the 3rd party sites.

We just got back from a stay at SSR and it was perfect (in our opinion). They just went through a soft goods refurbishment last year and everything was in very good repair.

It's not a "hotel" experience so you don't see room service trays in the hallways, as a rule. We have seen this a lot at BLT, AKV, BWV and BCV along with bags of trash. I really can't understand why these messes cannot be cleaned up more quickly. I also believe it's renters that are putting the trash in the halls. As DVC members we take our trash to the trash rooms.

SSR is not an inferior DVC. Some people don't like it simply because it's so big and spread out and you can't walk to a park. I say let's keep this fallacy up, more room for us. We like it there.

 

[disneynutz]

It's not a "hotel" experience so you don't see room service trays in the hallways, as a rule. We have seen this a lot at BLT, AKV, BWV and BCV along with bags of trash. I really can't understand why these messes cannot be cleaned up more quickly. I also believe it's renters that are putting the trash in the halls. As DVC members we take our trash to the trash rooms.

Guests are instructed by the resort to leave trash and room service trays in the hall so don't fault the guest, fault the resort for not picking up in a timely fashion.

Bill

 

[WilsonFlyer]

{Flame suit on.}

For one, I'd just as soon the swaps weren't allowed and that you had to use your points for DVC resorts whether it be in FL, CA, SC or HI. I would contend that the vast MAJORITY of destruction is coming not from DVC owners but from cash guests and renters.

As has already been mentioned, the hotel rooms are refurbished at a much faster clip. Why? Because they charge a ton of money for them and they have it to put back. It's all built into the system. It is NOT, however; built into ours.

There's an old adage (or at least there should be if there's not) that people don't really care unless they have skin in the game. Same is true of our resorts. Many cash guests and renters just party it up at WDW, and don't care what shape they leave the rooms in when they leave. This probably also explains the VWL perception as well. Most that buy there, buy there intending to stay there and not to trade out and such. Therefore, those rooms are mostly occupied by owners and not outside parties.

Of my few disappointments in DVC, the maintenance and upkeep of the rooms is probably my number one pet peeve and the one thing I noticed both first and now most about the DVC resorts. Admittedly, I've never had a really bad room but I've never had a really great one either since I stopped staying at the onsite hotels.

Personally, I'd take a two-buck a point raise on dues right now if they would maintain the DVC rooms day-in and day-out at the level they maintain the hotel rooms, especially if they would go to daily mousekeeping. Don't get me wrong. I don't WANT daily mousekeeeping, but I do believe that the rooms get maintained better when it is in place.

{EndRant}

 

[DizBub]

Guests are instructed by the resort to leave trash and room service trays in the hall so don't fault the guest, fault the resort for not picking up in a timely fashion.

Bill

Bill,

I was faulting the resort.

I realize guests are instructed to leave this stuff in the hall......I don't consider DVC members "guests". Maybe that's just me.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill,

I was faulting the resort.

I realize guests are instructed to leave this stuff in the hall......I don't consider DVC members "guests". Maybe that's just me.

DVC owners are not much different, many don't even know that there are trash rooms, they aren't listed in the room, or on the resort map, or pointed out at check in. Often CM's don't even know where the rooms are.

Bill

 

[MsTessP]

IMO, you cannot make a blanket assumption that the majority of wear and tear comes from renters or cash guests.

If a particular family or group is the type that typically "trash" a hotel room, then they will likely do so when staying at DVC. I believe this applies whether or not they own or rent. On the other hand, if that particular family or group (like mine, and probably yours) would never dream of mistreating a hotel room intentionally, then it is very unlikely that they would mistreat DVC accommodations. Again, this applies whether or not they own or rent.

 

[dwelty]

I know that you cannot make a blanket statement about different ways a guest treats a room based on if they are owners or not. However it stands to reason that someone who has a vested interest in a property might take more care than someone who does not, it is just human nature. This is why it is well know that purchasing a used car from a rental car company has a higher risk of problems than purchasing from an original owner as someone who drives a rental car is likely to treat it differently than their own car.

I know from reading these boards that Disney has a reputation of over booking the value resorts and then upgrading people to SSR or OKW because there is availability. I imagine someone paying $93.00 a night for a room may have a different value perspective than an owner.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

IMO, you cannot make a blanket assumption that the majority of wear and tear comes from renters or cash guests.

If a particular family or group is the type that typically "trash" a hotel room, then they will likely do so when staying at DVC. I believe this applies whether or not they own or rent. On the other hand, if that particular family or group (like mine, and probably yours) would never dream of mistreating a hotel room intentionally, then it is very unlikely that they would mistreat DVC accommodations. Again, this applies whether or not they own or rent.

Good point also. The answer, as is usually the case, probably lies somewhere in-between.

 

[DizBub]

DVC owners are not much different, many don't even know that there are trash rooms, they aren't listed in the room, or on the resort map, or pointed out at check in. Often CM's don't even know where the rooms are.

Bill

Respectfully.....This was at AKV Jambo House.

 

[disneynutz]

Respectfully.....This was at AKV Jambo House.

The rooms are marked and there are directional signs at the resort but the last I checked, not on the resort map that you get at check in. I small table top sign in each room pointing you to vending, trash, and ice would also be helpful. Apparently DVC/the resorts don't see it as a issue because I have made the suggestion to them several times.

Bill

 

[Dean]

{Flame suit on.}

For one, I'd just as soon the swaps weren't allowed and that you had to use your points for DVC resorts whether it be in FL, CA, SC or HI. I would contend that the vast MAJORITY of destruction is coming not from DVC owners but from cash guests and renters.

As has already been mentioned, the hotel rooms are refurbished at a much faster clip. Why? Because they charge a ton of money for them and they have it to put back. It's all built into the system. It is NOT, however; built into ours.

There's an old adage (or at least there should be if there's not) that people don't really care unless they have skin in the game. Same is true of our resorts. Many cash guests and renters just party it up at WDW, and don't care what shape they leave the rooms in when they leave. This probably also explains the VWL perception as well. Most that buy there, buy there intending to stay there and not to trade out and such. Therefore, those rooms are mostly occupied by owners and not outside parties.

Of my few disappointments in DVC, the maintenance and upkeep of the rooms is probably my number one pet peeve and the one thing I noticed both first and now most about the DVC resorts. Admittedly, I've never had a really bad room but I've never had a really great one either since I stopped staying at the onsite hotels.

Personally, I'd take a two-buck a point raise on dues right now if they would maintain the DVC rooms day-in and day-out at the level they maintain the hotel rooms, especially if they would go to daily mousekeeping. Don't get me wrong. I don't WANT daily mousekeeeping, but I do believe that the rooms get maintained better when it is in place.

{EndRant}

I haven't seen any data or info to back that up, only personal opinion without basis. I have discussed this item with at least 2 or 3 (thinking 3, know for sure 2) Marriott GM's over the years and their impression is that it made no difference and my purpose was exactly this issue. They only group they felt they could single out was the spring break crowd. I think you're kidding yourself if you think DVC owners treat it any better. The only group I've seen where they might are those who own fixed unit timeshares where they get the same unit each time and actually use it.