Should DVC have a checkout "clean up" policy?

[WDWguruDH]

I agree that it should NOT be a requirement nor should there be a penalty for those that don't - those that want to vacation and not have to worry about it should be allowed to. I did, however, post some points as to why we should consider it - mostly lower dues.
Damage and items outside of room policy are a different matter, and DVC should actively collect on these items - once again, keeping dues lower in the long run.

 

[vernon]

I also thought much of that was already a "request" from DVC. Particularly the putting the bedding into the washing machine(turning it on) and filling the dish washer. IMHO it takes the guest maybe 2 minutes and saves housekeeping an hour waiting for the cycle to run. If we want/expect to get into our own rooms promptly, then it's the least we can do to help the next guest into our/their room quickly.
I don't think it's practical or desirable to make a financial penalty for not completing these considerations. IMHO it will take up time that could be used getting the rooms ready for the next guests and will likely cost as much to police as is raised in "fines". Again I agree damage or things missing are a different matter, if there is sufficient damage to warrant DVC chasing payment then it should be done.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by vernon
I also thought much of that was already a "request" from DVC. Particularly the putting the bedding into the washing machine(turning it on) and filling the dish washer.

Please don't put your bedding in the washer.

Between guests, housekeeping brings in commerically laundered sheets and towels. The sheets and towels that you used are given a high-temperature, sanitizing wash in a central laundry. They are not washed in the in-room washer with a little box of Tide.

It's a lot easier for housekeeping to deal with dry bedding than with wet bedding.

It's best for you to leave the bedding on the bed. Housekeeping can then easily see that no bedding is missing. It takes them 30 seconds to pull the used bedding off.

 

[dcfromva]

vernon,

Particularly the putting the bedding into the washing machine(turning it on) and filling the dish washer. IMHO it takes the guest maybe 2 minutes and saves housekeeping an hour waiting for the cycle to run.

Yikes! Don't tell me that they don't put the towels and bedding into an industrialized type cleanig process (with lots of bleach and high temperature wash water)..... If that is all they do--I don't think I want to know about it.....

-DC

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
At the present time you are expected to call to tell them you are leaving. There is a number for that, the only problem is I did it a number of times and I get someone on the other end that appears to be shocked when I do.

I tried to call BWV Housekeeping yesterday morning about 9 AM to let them know we were leaving. Unfortunately, all I got was "dead air". Tried twice. Apparently, something was wrong with the phone system (but every other call I made went through with no problem). Could have tried the front desk, but decided to just tell the Housekeeper in the hallway instead.

 

[ILuvDVC]

I like DVC the way it is. I don't to worry about cleaning up a resort on our last day.

I've heard, that housekeeping has to run all the dishes through the dishwasher, whether they have been cleaned or not. I never load the dishwasher before I leave, for 2 reasons. One reason, nobody loads the dishwasher the way I like it loaded, I can just imagine a maid coming into to check the dishwasher and shaking their heads, because they have to rearrange everything (Ok, so maybe that's just me, but there are certain ways to put in plates, and certain ways to put glasses in, once you are used to one way, it's hard to bend to someone else's way!). 2nd, we were never told to do this. I try not to leave glasses all over the unit, but never make sure they are all placed in the dishwasher.


Anyhow, I like things the way they are! I've stayed in a time share where you had to go through a check list, and then, had to make sure the unit was clean before leaving, to get a security deposit back. I don't know about you all, but I don't want to waste time on my vacation cleaning! I want to go to the parks, or enjoy everything Disney has to offer up till it's time to leave!

 

[Jollymon]

This idea is plain crazy. I belong to another time share where not only did I pay less for it, but the yearly dues are lower and I get daily housekeeping.

The idea of cleaning up the room prior to leaving is ludricous. It is bad enough that my wife always mentions 'What kind of resort is this that I have to make the bed every day', imagine if I told her we have to pick up at the end as well.

The concept that this is our home away from home and therefore we should clean it up is bogus. At the current rate of $10 per point, I am paying about $2000 for the week or $8000 for the month. I can easily make the mortgage and hire a maid for that amount.

To those who want to clean; more power to you. But i did not shell out $20,000 and $1000 per year to clean my room.

Andrew

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by Jollymon
It is bad enough that my wife always mentions 'What kind of resort is this that I have to make the bed every day', Andrew

Nobody says you HAVE to make your bed every day while on vacation !

 

[TnRobin]

People, be reminded to keep any personal attacks out of your responses. A few of these responses are close to the line.

 

[OKWKirt]

One of my other timeshares requires piling the sheets and towels by the door, take out the trash, and start the dish washer. I tought this was/would be a pain the first time we stayed there but it really isn't that bad. I thought my DW would have a problem with this but not at all. Our last time there we took another family (10 of us in a three bdrm) and thay pitched right in a helped, I hope they didn't think this was a tacky. They also have a checklist of items in each room we are supposed to complete, which I do most of the time. I think DVC should have this list and then charge the previous gest for the items that walk away, but I'm sure this would be hard to prove. My other timeshare does not require any cleanup work that I'm aware of. There, like at DVC, we always pick up the place, put trash in the container, and dishes in the dishwasher. It's the stripping of the beds and piling sheets and towles by the door that is a little too much for a high class place. Like said before the maids can do this in a couple minutes.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by Dean

There are other variations one sees from timeshares. Many of them have an inventory sheet which you must complete and turn in by around 24 hours of your stay. They will then replace the missing or damaged items. If you don't turn it in or it's not there, many will charge you just like you were the one that took them.

I don't see how this could be considered completely fair. What's to stop someone from taking all sorts of things during the first 24 hours and then filling out the form saying that all these things were missing when they got into the room. Who does the timeshare trust then, who do they bill? Do they go back to the maid, or the previous renter to bill them for these things?

In response to the original post. I think it is nice if you can help out the housekeeping, if you choose to. We always throw all the trash away, start the dishwasher, things like that. I never strip the bed though. I just figure it takes them an extra 2 minutes to pull the sheets of the bed as opposed to picking them up off the floor.. I don't think it should be a requirement.. People have stated this is a home away from home.. What if the DVC member ( and this doesn't apply to me ) lives in a mansion and has a staff that maintains the house. What should they expect to do in their 'home away from home?'

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

First of all I strip my bed and pile my towels when I check out at EVERY hotel I go to. Why? Because I've had the experience where I've checked in and the maid simply made up the bed and didn't change the sheets! I've seen enough trip reports indicating that the CM didn't clean the room properly to encourage every member to do the same thing. Basically I'm not interested in getting someone else's "cooties". Bad enough the spreads and blankets aren't changed.

Stripping the bed may be a 30 second process but making it up sure isn't...having the bed stripped is my way of making sure the full job is done properly.

I also pile the towels...and I had a CM at AKL thank me for that. If I were in a full suite I'd also load the dishwasher but wouldn't start it. If everybody did something to make the cleaning process go faster then more of us would find we could get into our rooms earlier.

PS. Yes I know...most CM's do their job properly...but do you want to get a room or suite of one who hasn't?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by sgtdisney
I don't see how this could be considered completely fair. What's to stop someone from taking all sorts of things during the first 24 hours and then filling out the form saying that all these things were missing when they got into the room. Who does the timeshare trust then, who do they bill? Do they go back to the maid, or the previous renter to bill them for these things?

They would have the previous sheet from the last week to compare to as well as the maid's inventory at checkout. It is possible one could get charged for something taken previously but most timeshares are pretty flexible and only looking for true degenerate's. Obviously if one weren't too greedy and only took a towel, a plate and a cup; you would likely get away with it.

 

[slc224]

I think it should remain the same as it is now. We always try to leave the room picked up and orderly, load the dishwasher (but do not start it), collect the trash, etc. We have a condo on Anna Maria Island which my family owns, and it is the persons staying responsiblility to clean up everything before leaving, which includes washing all towels, bed linens, vacuuming, dusting, etc. This takes forever! I do not want any part of that at DVC!

 

[Halle]

Please, please. please don't require us to do any pre-checkout cleanup.......I already do it because I like helping housekeeping and fellow DVCers get in their units sooner. Required cleaning sounds like homework and yuck been there done that!

 

[colleen costello]

It's all I can do to get out of the room by 11am now... if they make me clean I'll NEVER make checkout time!

I always put the towels in the tub and we throw away all our trash. I do it automatically -- I am a Mom and I am used to "tidying up." We always leave a nice tip for housekeeping as well. But I would seriously resent being required to clean up to a specified degree. It's depressing enough to be ending your vacation and work enough to pack the family up for the trip home!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I hope this policy NEVER, EVER comes to be. This is Walt Disney World we are talking about, and striping beds just doesn't seem all that magical. If it did become policy, I would just pay my fee at check-in. I will NEVER strip beds or do inventory at DVC....It just doesn't seem 'Disney'.