Request No Housekeeping for the Entire Stay

[dvcdisney]

We have stayed many times on DVC resorts and have called to cancel housekeeping for our stay. When we stay in a 1 bedroom, I usually just wash our towels in the washer/dryer, I bring my own sheets and we rarely even fill the garbage containers (if we do, we just take it out ourselves).

Recently, we had stayed at a Hilton for a few days and when I called to cancel housekeeping they were initally fine with it. But then after 2 nights, they left a message that they would like to come in and clean. When we got up the next morning, there was a note under the door stating that the policy is that they had to come in and clean the room - almost threatening us that we cannot stay longer if they do not come in.

I was quite upset and my husband went down to speak to them. Now they apologized for the letter and said it was generic and that they have a policy that they need to come in to clean every so often. He told them that we had called to arrange this and was told that it was no problem. Again, a few more apologies and they reassured us that we will not be bothered again and they will wait until we check out. My husband had the feeling that it was a decision by the housekeeping to post the letter and not really a policy.

Anyways, back to the question. I've never thought of housekeeping being required to come in and service the room at DVC. Our stays are usually 2 weeks at a time and we would not have housekeeping service. Is this an issue. We're not messy nor dirty. We clean up after ourselves and we never cook in our room. The most is a bowl of cereal and juice. If we want more, we go to a restaurant. We like the one bedrooms for the size and laundry, not for the kitchen.

So, does anyone know if DVC resorts have this policy or am I fine asking for no housekeeping for 14 nights?

 

[Carrie in AZ]

You said you have stayed at DVC resorts many times and have canceled housekeeping. So, have you never stayed a full two weeks before and that is why you are wondering if it's possible to cancel it for that length of time? Sorry, I'm a little confused by your post and your question.

We're not big on housekeeping either. I just usually call the housekeeping line each day we choose not to have it so they can mark it off their list for that particular day. I LOVE being able to lighten the load of the hard working mousekeepers AND we are more at peace because we really don't like knowing people are in our room when we aren't there also.

I know everyone feels differently, but that's just how we feel.

Have a WONDERFUL two week vacation!!! Two weeks sounds like a dream!!!

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

We were there in nov/dec and requested no housekeeping. We placed a call about twice a week because they kept coming to our room. You are fine to request it, but getting them to comply is a whole different story.

 

[dvcdisney]

You said you have stayed at DVC resorts many times and have canceled housekeeping. So, have you never stayed a full two weeks before and that is why you are wondering if it's possible to cancel it for that length of time? Sorry, I'm a little confused by your post and your question.

We're not big on housekeeping either. I just usually call the housekeeping line each day we choose not to have it so they can mark it off their list for that particular day. I LOVE being able to lighten the load of the hard working mousekeepers AND we are more at peace because we really don't like knowing people are in our room when we aren't there also.

I know everyone feels differently, but that's just how we feel.

Have a WONDERFUL two week vacation!!! Two weeks sounds like a dream!!!

I'm sorry, I should have been clearer. Yes we have stayed 2 weeks without mousekeeping many times. I guess my question is - did we request something that was against their policy?

This past stay with Hilton was the first time I've heard of such a policy. I'm wondering if this has always been a policy for DVC resorts but we have never been told when we call to cancel that service for our 2 wk stays. I've never had an issue with it. There were quite a few times they had forgotten and still left messages that they couldn't service our room because of the DND sign, but no one has ever mentioned such a policy.

I suppose it may make sense for hotels like the Hilton where they may not be used to long stays. But I guess I'm asking because I would just like to know if anyone is aware of any such policy.

As an aside, we have stayed and cancelled housekeeping at Portofino Bay at US for a week long stay and there was no issue there that I know of. At least they didn't mention it.

So, I'm sorry for rambling on....basically I was wondering if anyone knows of such a policy for DVC resort. Is there a certain number of days that guests can stay before the hotel is required to come in and service the room?

Did I make it more confusing?

 

[dvcdisney]

We were there in nov/dec and requested no housekeeping. We placed a call about twice a week because they kept coming to our room. You are fine to request it, but getting them to comply is a whole different story.

Yes, I know this all too well. I have called to request this at the front desk and housekeeping, but I have yet to have one stay where I was not sent a voicemail asking to service our room.

I used to call back and just remind them that I would prefer no housekeeping and they usually tell me that they will note it again. I just assume that sometimes, since our stay is longer, their notes don't always move to the next week. I just remember to always have my DND sign out. I figured it may make them check their notes and then notice my request.

 

[psac]

I think at some hotels (especially NOT timeshares), they want someone to come into the room on a regular basis to make sure their assets (the rooms, furniture, etc.) aren't being destroyed, and just in general that everything is "okay." This is obviously an absurd thought, but if a crime was being committed on their property, and they didn't inspect the room for a week, maybe they could be held liable in some way?

I think timeshares are different -- they're used to not entering and inspecting the room every day. I think the primary issue with DVC is just seemingly poor coordination -- e.g., asking not to have it at the beginning of your stay, and still having people try. I've also read people ordering full cleanings (cash paid) and having to call to get it because it wasn't scheduled properly either.

For our last stay we cancelled the T&T at the end of the trip because it was the day before check-out and not needed. We called that morning and had no problems.

 

[rock_doctor]

No need to cancel. Just keep the do not disturb sign on the door for the whole stay. We normally stay a minimum of 2-weeks and never have housekeeping come into the room. I can take out my own trash and do a wash every 3 days... So it is not an issue. I would suspect with your Hilton experience they wanted to make sure nothing illegal was going on in the room or nothing was wrong...

 

[dvcdisney]

Glad to hear others had no problems with it also.

We've been cancelling housekeeping for our 2 wk stay for many years now, but it wasn't until the incident with Hilton that I became concerned.

We have never been told any such policy so I never thought of it.

Okay it's off my mind now! Thanks.

 

[dvcdisney]

No need to cancel. Just keep the do not disturb sign on the door for the whole stay. We normally stay a minimum of 2-weeks and never have housekeeping come into the room. I can take out my own trash and do a wash every 3 days... So it is not an issue. I would suspect with your Hilton experience they wanted to make sure nothing illegal was going on in the room or nothing was wrong...

The reason why I like to call is so that they don't bother wasting their time going over and checking. I read a few posts where if they see a DND sign they'll come back to check periodically. I just didn't want them to waste their time doing that.

However, most of the time we do still get voice messages saying that they tried to service the room but they saw the DND sign.

I tried informing front desk as I checked in. I tried calling front desk. I tried calling Housekeeping. None of these worked, most of the time there was no note saying we cancelled it.

I wish there was a section during booking that we can request no Housekeeping and then it only schedules the housekeeping at check out day....no notes required, the housekeeping will only come after we check out.

 

[mittelst]

I understand wanting the initial request to be honored for the length of the stay without having to be asked about it again.

But I could see how the hotel and/or housekeeping manager might feel a bit anxious, knowing that the room has not been serviced in 2 weeks. Upon checkout, they still have to turn that room around in the same amount of time as a room that has had the scheduled service. Discounting a "whole room trashed" scenario, I would think the rug/bathroom/kitchen would need extra attention.

 

[Tamar]

Usually we don't cancel in advance, just leave the do not disturb tag on the door. Most times we just get a call asking us to call housekeeping if we need anything.

 

[Chuck S]

For most non-timeshare hotels, I can understand wanting to check the rooms. People do occasionally have accidents (or worse) in hotel rooms and may need medical attention or may even have passed away. A lady I was traveling with died in her hotel room while we were driving to WDW. If she'd been traveling alone, and had booked the room for several days without housekeeping, who'd have known?

 

[dvcdisney]

For most non-timeshare hotels, I can understand wanting to check the rooms. People do occasionally have accidents (or worse) in hotel rooms and may need medical attention or may even have passed away. A lady I was traveling with died in her hotel room while we were driving to WDW. If she'd been traveling alone, and had booked the room for several days without housekeeping, who'd have known?

Oh goodness. I'm sorry - it must have been a very difficult experience.

I can understand and maybe this particular Hilton has had a few situations where they felt the need for the policy.