Nervous - regarding Neg. Clean Room Comments

[ClarabelleCow]

Having just closed, and exstatic regarding trying to plan my first DVC trip as an owner, I Can't get the reports out of my head regarding dirty rooms, dirty dishes, dirty drawers, etc. Is this a new problem, isolated during the busy season or what. We stayed at OKW in November on rented points, the room was immaculate. The only problem area was the bathroom, though not a big issue, just could use a good scrubbing, we had the same issue at Vero in June, again just the bathroom, clean but needed a scrubbing. they took care of it each time without a problem. So, those that have gone to annual meetings, have budgets on housekeeping been cut so bad that we should expect to pack our cleaning stuff to do our units before we settle in?? When they clean the units, is it just a wipe down, or do they really clean!!!

 

[vbfamily]

I hope it is just a phase but more and more people are running into this problem.

When we were at Vero in October-on cash-there were bleach stains on the carpet in our room-the room smelled like nail polish remover the whole time-we couldn't figure out why-and there was a pile of sand by the door the entire time we were there that never was cleaned up.

We did inform housekeeping but obviously they weren't going to replace the carpet while we were there.

These things really didn't get to us and we enjoyed our vacation tremendously but it makes you wonder what some of these places are going to look like in 10 or 15 yrs if they continue to be less than par with housekeeping.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I have to agree with the original poster. I'm seriously looking into DVC (even dh is almost for it, lol) and these posts about the dirty rooms are really making me stop and wonder now.

It's bad enough that there is no maid service while we are there (which I can handle, lol), but to open up the door to my 1 bedroom suite and see dirty dishes, dirty bathroom, etc., that's not what I want to pay $12,000 + for.

Let's hear some good stories about the rooms please!

 

[nuthut]

Room condition has not been a problem for me in thirty plus DVC stays.

 

[WDWguru]

I've been going to WDW for 30 years and staying on-site, DVC and deluxe mostly, and can count on one hand the problems - and they were very minor things. Most importantly, when alerted, Disney is FANTASTIC about taking care of it right away. I think that's the real key - every hotel property is going to have problems like these. It's how they handle it that matters.

I think the reason you see them posted here and reacted to so intensely is that they are relatively rare. Were we to see these things all the time, it'd become commonplace and nobody would bother to post or discuss those posts.

 

[mb168]

I just got back this weekend and the only thing wrong with my 1 BR at OKW was the coffee maker was gone. A quick call to housekeeping and I had one in about 10 minutes. We cooked breakfast Sat and Sun and left the dishes clean, thanks to the dishwasher, but they were clean when we got there. I looked everywhere for the coffee maker and everywhere was clean.Had a studio at BCV in Oct and they only thing wrong there was the "freezer" in the mini fridge wasn't cold enough to freeze water in the ice tray. Everything was clean in both.

 

[wdwnut]

hi to all: room conditions have never been a big problem for us either. once in a while there will be a couple of minor problems, just like in the regular resort rooms anywhere at any resort. it certainly wouldn't change our minds regarding a purchase. as far as daily maid service, once you take your first trip, you probably won't miss it either.

 

[JudithM]

I'm sitting here trying to count how many stays we have had at DVC - I lost count or I cannot remember all the stays - probably in the neighborhood of a dozen & a half.

In all the stays I only remember once having a unit that was not up to standard. That was last May & housekeeping, engineering & the front desk worked with us to get another unit. It took awhile, but the CMs couldn't have been more helpful.

On another trip we had a guest with us in an OKW studio & called for another suitcase rack & a toaster (before toasters were standard in studios); housekeeping responded very quickly. On a recent trip the blender was missing the lid - don't ask me, I have no idea why it would become missing . A call to housekeeping brought us a brand new blender within minutes.

 

[Lisa F]

the problem with going by what you read on the boards is that you are seeing a vocal minority. Even if there are 100 housekeeping problems reported over the course of a year, with what? 60,000 dvc members each averaging one trip a year, that's a very large number of rooms that are just fine when you check in.

A while back it was all the rage to complain about problems at BWV in particular. I'm not saying that people who had the problems didn't have them... but it worried me and we bought into BWV anyway and have never had a problem. I personally don't think it's anything to worry about... but if you do have a problem, please report it so that it can be fixed!

Lisa

 

[DisneyKidds]

If you ask me, all these negative reports are likely the result of errors made in room assignment, or generally isolated incidents.

When someone gets to a room and it has dirty dishes, really dirty bathrooms, etc. it may very well be because the room hadn't been cleaned yet. If there happens to be a dirty dish, it just could have been an honest mistake by housekeeping. I have travelled a lot on business. On occasion I have checked into various hotels to find a room occupied, or not yet cleaned. These things happen, either by human or computer error. You just ask for another room. An isolated dish overlooked here or there you just have to expect once in a while and get over.

We have stayed in DVC studios 4 times, without incident. The rooms have always been clean and there have been no maintenance issues of note.

With any hotel room - and lets face it, the DVC units are just hotel rooms, big ones if you have a 1 or 2 br, you will run across an occasional problem. Even Disney hotels have their warts. So a carpet gets a stain or someone gets nail polish on a table. This isn't an indication of neglect. These things happen everywhere. In time the carpet or table will be replaced. DVC maintains large reserves for such upkeep, but things may not be replaced immediately if there is some wear and tear.

Bottm line is that I have no concern over our substantial investment in DVC.

 

[PamOKW]

I don't blame you for being nervous after reading some of the reports posted here. However, my experience at DVC has been nothing like the trips recounted here. I have never had a major problem and any minor problem was quickly addressed and fixed.

If it's any consolation, a few years ago there were a lot of posts about "problems" at DVC ranging from new shower fixtures to surly CMs to declining quality. I was very worried about my trip and expected to have to deal with all kinds of problems. Guess what.....no problems at all. The trip was just as wonderful as every other DVC trip I've had. I had myself worried sick about what I read on this board and others. It was just a lot of wasted worry.

Here's hoping you have a magical trip!

 

[Lhargus]

We have been members now for a year and a half and already have 5 stays under our belt ( 4 at VWL and 1 at BCV ). We have never had a problem with cleanliness. The only call we have made to housekeeping was for extra towels and they were there within ten minutes.

 

[Regina]

We've been members since DVC began. We have never, ever had a housekeeping problem.

While we mostly have stayed at OKW, we have also stayed at VWL and, most recently BCV.

If anything, I often wonder how they're able to keep everything looking just about as good as the day that the resort opened.

Wish my own house could stay that clean.

 

[ncligs]

We have been to OKW numerous times,HH, and VB. We have never had a problem in the 4 years we have been going.My sister has ben a member since 1995 and she also has never had a problem either.

 

[Merilyn]

We have gone as members many times and never had any real problems. We needed a blender once and in minutes it was there. There are rooms that look in need of repair but they are not the norm. We stayed in one of the new GV at OKW this last May and someone had put a hugh scratch on the new floor. It is a shame people don't take better care of the units but we know that some people don't care. We have never had a unit that
wasn't clean and we have stayed at most of the resorts including HH and VB. I wouldn't let a few bad experiences keep you from being happy that you joined.

 

[Dean]

All of the DVC resorts are top notch. While problems will happen, most will not have major issues. I am one of the more vocal at being honest and critical when justified and I can tell you with no reservations that I would expect everything to be fine with your visit. Things can happen but the problems are usually minor and few.

 

[Disney Doll]

We've been members since 1997 and I can't really remember any major room problems. On occasion there were minor things...once we had a blind where the slat was broken...but a call to housekeeping took care of it.

My personal opinion...for the amount of people that go through there in the course of a year, I think the rooms are very well-maintained. Any problem we have encountered(and again, they have been few and far between)has been handled promptly and efficiently.

 

[PKS44]

On our last trip to BWV studio- the ceiling fan was wobbling...one phone call and off we went to dinner. It was fixed when we returned. Also there were no spoons for eating cereal which I did not notice til the next morning....again one call and within 10 minutes- Voila- spoons delivered to the door.

On our last trip to OKW studio the color on theTV did not work right-but we were only there a brief time and asked that they just leave us where we were --they could not fix it while we were there-- I hope they fixed it after we left.

I will never forget how our guide described the way maid service works when he was pitching DVC to us. He explained the Trash towel and the full maid service of course, but what really made an impression was that he said "When you arrive, you room will be Disney clean." That is a high standard and if you find that on arrival your room is not up to it-let somebody know- it is what we are entitled to and should expect.

Paul

 

[Granny]

want2buydvc....

I'll post a poll here on room cleanliness. My guess is that the results will ease your mind.


Granny

 

[JimC]

20 trips to WDW and never a problem with a dirty room or with housekeeping service during the stays. The housekeeping staff at Disney are better than most first and business class hotels. I hold Disney to a standard reserved for Ritz and similar superior organizations. No one could possibly meet that 100% of the time. But the true test of a great organization is not 100% perfection, but how they respond to a mistake when it does happen. And the one room problem I had at Disney, it was addressed to my satisfaction.