No clock available from housekeeping

[com_op_2000]

People will adjust and IMO, it's a minor adjustment once you know. I wonder what the % of clocks in timeshares and hotel rooms are actually reasonably correct and what % have alarms set that go off unplanned. My guess is that the % that have reasonably correct time and no alarm set unplanned is under 50%. So for those that are insistent on them, I'd assume they go in, check the time and check to be sure there is no alarm set.

In over 140+ DVC reservations I have never had the clock alarm go off, from being previously set.

 

[kamik86]

That won't be an excuse. It is very rare that there is no adult in the room that does not have a cell phone. That cell phone has an alarm clock built in.

This reminds me, our math teachers used to tell us that we won't always have a calculator with house. Boy, were they wrong!

I loved when they asked what if we were at work and you needed to do this and didn't have a calculator... I was in a tech school in the IT shop, so studying computer science... if I didn't have a computer I wasn't working... and computers come with calculators.


As for the clocks I always hated them in all hotels. Most have that huge snooze bar light that was way to bright. The clocks were wrong alot too so I just unplugged them. I like my phone better. I have my phone "daydream mode" (I think this is a samsung thing but I'm sure iphones have app that would do the same thing, its like a screensaver that comes on when your phone is plugged in) set to be a clock so when its plugged in it shows me the time, the battery level, and any alarms that are set (as a triple check that I set that up right).

 

[bwang123]

We never use them and have even unplugged the clock to use the extra plug for another device. Our bedroom at home no longer has a clock as well. Wonder if it's the older generation that is clinging to the clocks. Will not miss them.

 

[RebelHawk]

I use my iPad with the Nightstand Central app. I set that up across the room and use it for time, alarm and daily weather. It has an adjustable screen brightness built into that works well for me/us when we travel. That being said I do find it extremely odd that Disney would be removing something as simple as a clock in the room.

 

[robinb]

Just a question: Does anyone wear a wristwatch any longer? Or have wristwatches gone the way of film cameras? If knowing the exact time is so important, I would think a wristwatch would be an essential item for someone, especially if they don't use (or even have) a smartphone to tell time.

I wear at watch but (get this!) only when on vacation. I tend to check the time more often while on vacation, especially at WDW when we have to be somewhere for FPs or an ADR or we have to be some where at a specific time. Simply turning my wrist to look at it is much easier than fishing out my phone from where ever it is and waking it up so I can see the time and then putting it back when I'm done. Do I get the time from both? Yes, but the wrist flick is so much easier. The same hold true for me when it comes to the clocks in DVC villas. It's much easier to just glance at a clock from across the room than to fish out my phone, etc, etc. Add to the fact that I might not have my phone on my person when in the room adds another level of a PITB. I have to figure out where my phone is, fish it out, etc, etc. Just to find out the same information that a passive glace told me before. Ugh.

I was only mildly annoyed before since it was reported that we could ask for a clock if it bugged me. Now I will not only be bugged by not having a clock in the room but I will also now be bugged by not being able to get one upon request. And NO, I don't think the answer is to have to provide MY OWN clock. That's BS.

 

[wdrl]

I wear at watch but (get this!) only when on vacation. I tend to check the time more often while on vacation, especially at WDW when we have to be somewhere for FPs or an ADR or we have to be some where at a specific time. Simply turning my wrist to look at it is much easier than fishing out my phone from where ever it is and waking it up so I can see the time and then putting it back when I'm done. Do I get the time from both? Yes, but the wrist flick is so much easier. The same hold true for me when it comes to the clocks in DVC villas. It's much easier to just glance at a clock from across the room than to fish out my phone, etc, etc. Add to the fact that I might not have my phone on my person when in the room adds another level of a PITB. I have to figure out where my phone is, fish it out, etc, etc. Just to find out the same information that a passive glace told me before. Ugh.

I was only mildly annoyed before since it was reported that we could ask for a clock if it bugged me. Now I will not only be bugged by not having a clock in the room but I will also now be bugged by not being able to get one upon request. And NO, I don't think the answer is to have to provide MY OWN clock. That's BS.

But if you wear a watch while on vacation, isn't it just as easy to do the wrist flick to look at the time on your watch rather than having to position yourself to look at a clock across the room?

 

[robinb]

But if you wear a watch while on vacation, isn't it just as easy to do the wrist flick to look at the time on your watch rather than having to position yourself to look at a clock across the room?

When I am wearing my watch, yes. But I don't wear my watch most of the time when I'm in the room.

 

[LisaS]

When I am wearing my watch, yes. But I don't wear my watch most of the time when I'm in the room.

Ditto. I don't wear a watch while sleeping or while in the shower. The times I need a clock are during the night (I often wake up in the middle of the night and I want to know what time it is) and after taking a shower and going into the bedroom to get dressed, knowing that we have an ADR or some other deadline and I'm wondering how fast I need to move to get there on time.

As for alarms going off or the time being incorrect, it's so simple to check the clock when you check in. It takes a couple of minutes to see if the time is correct, reset it if it isn't and to make sure that the alarm is off. In all my hotel stays I found the alarm was set exactly one time. I've often found the time is incorrect however. I think it's a particular problem at BWV where there are so few outlets, either guests or housekeeping unplug the clock so they can use the outlet. I spend a few minutes at the start of the trip checking the clock and then I can rely on it the entire week.

Is it a generational thing? It may well be. Are there are lot of DVC owners and guests who are part of the "older" generation? I believe there are and while not every one of them might want a clock, I do.

 

[Dean]

In over 140+ DVC reservations I have never had the clock alarm go off, from being previously set.

I'm not sure that's relevant unless you're trying to say it doesn't happen or happens so rarely as to not count, neither is correct from my experience. I have as many DVC stays as you and likely 4-5 times (stays not nights) that many between DVC, other timeshares and hotels since we've been DVC members. It happens periodically but I'd agree that the clock being wrong happens far more often. I'd have to guess but I'm thinking maybe 30-40 stays over the years including our last DVC stay.

 

[com_op_2000]

I'm not sure that's relevant unless you're trying to say it doesn't happen or happens so rarely as to not count, neither is correct from my experience. I have as many DVC stays as you and likely 4-5 times (stays not nights) that many between DVC, other timeshares and hotels since we've been DVC members. It happens periodically but I'd agree that the clock being wrong happens far more often. I'd have to guess but I'm thinking maybe 30-40 stays over the years including our last DVC stay.

So sorry for your experiences. Just saying that not everyone has the same issues.

 

[disBOBney]

I'm not sure what might happen, but I have been at the World since the seventh, first at bcv now at pvb both rooms have alarm clocks. The ones at bcv had the 30 pin apple chrger, the one at poly has the lightning charger. my 2 cents, keep the clocks. I don't use the alarms, but like the convienence of the clock.

 

[Dean]

So sorry for your experiences. Just saying that not everyone has the same issues.

It's not about who has the issue and who doesn't but the fact that there are issues (time not correct, alarm left set, etc) where the clock isn't functional or isn't functional without some attention, IMO a significant portion of the time. As I see it, anyone who says it's very important would have to have the habit of specifically checking it day one. If they don't, it's not that important to them. Regardless, the change is a reasonable one when looked at from a 2015 and big picture standpoint. There's far more to it than the cost of a cheap alarm clock. Certainly there are other ways they could have handled it including attrition, shunting the clocks to the resorts without the USB plugs or simply doing away with them.

 

[Judique]

I had a love hate relationship with the big numbered overly bright clocks.

Alarm going off.
Too bright.
Wrong time.
Taking up too much space.
Using the outlet.

But, once set to the proper time, it was convenient for me to glance at as I am a light sleeper and a clock watcher. I'm nearsighted so big and bright although annoying was good.

I'm shopping for a wall clock at home here. I don't wear a watch and my cell is always in a different room.

I've already bought a little clock to carry to DVC rooms. Now if I can only find where I put it.....

And for those who are always referring to the ageing demographics, your turn is coming - faster than you can imagine.

 

[hardis5]

We have both gotten used to looking at our tablets or phones (I can actually stand-up my tablet in its case to show the time) if needing the correct time. As far as a clock in the unit, if a studio make sure the microwave clock is correct (that one can often seen from the bed) or if in a room with a stove, we make sure both it and the microwave are in sync, Funny at home we have 4 clocks in view from the kitchen and are never far away enough we cannot turn around to see the time. On vacation, other than waking-up or a meal reservation, knowing the time all the time just seems less a worry.

I will vouch for liking the plug free for my own chargers use without a bedside clock and have been awoken once by a unit I did not set.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Checked in SSR last night, clock in bedroom was 40 minutes fast, we fixed it.

I usually sleep on the side of the bed that does not have a clock, and I try not to look at the time in the night, but in daytime I do not carry around my iPhone around the house, or DVC villa, so I do like something that will give me the time. If we are in a studio, the microwave time is good, in a larger unit, or at home, I do like having a clock.

We have been woken by alarms set by previous folks about 6 times in maybe 50 different hotel, timeshare stays. We try to remember to check, but sometimes it slips our mind. That is an annoying experience.

Bobbi

 

[crisi]

Another person who likes a clock in the room. I always check hotel rooms to make sure the alarm is off, been there done that, so I check (I use the wake up call or my phone for that - usually both if I'm on a business trip - figuring out how to set the alarm is too much bother), but I do use the clock for time. I often wake up a few times during the night and need to clock to let me know if its 1am (go back to sleep) 3am (oh, god, go back to sleep) or 6am (in which case I start rolling out of bed). My cell phone is lacking as a middle of the night clock - since I actually have to reach for it and get the display on - too much effort for 3am. And I haven't worn a watch in years, and never to bed.

 

[AulaniNutz]

This is somewhat of an ironic thread to me as I was just waxing on at home about how useless the clock radios on our nightstands are and how we should get rid of them... we both have cell phones on the nightstands and you just lift them to see the time ... if you care. If it's dark out, I just go back to sleep...

 

[Sammie]

Supposedly according to research looking at clock when you wake up during the night increases insomnia. DVC is just trying to give everyone a good night's sleep.

 

[Judique]

Supposedly according to research looking at clock when you wake up during the night increases insomnia. DVC is just trying to give everyone a good night's sleep.

If I wake up and see 'middle of the night time' I usually can relax back to sleep.

If I wake up and see '20 minutes till alarm goes off' I know myself well enough to start my day as falling back to sleep and getting roused again n a few minutes is somewhat draining.

 

[Dean]

To a degree it really doesn't matter the preferences of an individual. I do not believe a bedside clock is an item that would be considered a resort requirement in 2015 and most aren't going to use them and/or won't care if their not there. To a degree it's like the valet parking change other than there wasn't an immediate event to push it at that time. It's unnecessary (big picture) and to take the aggravation and expense away is not only reasonable, IMO it's the right long term choice. That said, I personally tend to use them and I do feel the best choice would be to either have them to deliver if requested and/or to shunt them to the resorts without the USB plugs with no new purchases and disposing of the problem ones. I do not believe anyone can make the case that the club should continue to fund them long term.