VGC room not available because Hotel rooms get cleaned first

[Maistre Gracey]

If DVC is truely struggling with getting the rooms cleaned before 4PM then maybe they should have people check out by 10AM or check in at 5PM.

No... They should hire the proper level of housekeeping staff to do the job correctly.
As it stands now, even when the room is ready earlier, the level of cleanliness often leaves much to be desired.

MG

 

[tjkraz]

I just don't see the rationale for excuses here. I mean, it's not like we're asking for FREE housekeeping. We pay for housekeeping with our dues.

I refuse to cut DVC any slack on many issues that other Member's here make excuses for. We pay top dollar, and I don't have a problem with that. In fact, I want to pay top dollar because I want top level service, cleanliness, and overall quality.
I have a real problem with paying top dollar, than making excuses for mediocre work.

I don't see where the quality of the work was even addressed. The topic is when people are getting into rooms.

I have no objections to complaints stemming from the occupancy time. The "after 4pm" language is often brought up, but realistically we should all expect to be in rooms by 4pm and (IMO) have a right to complain if that doesn't happen.

But I do not think it is realistic to demand changes to cleaning schedules or processes. That isn't a winnable battle. 4pm is worth fighting for. We won't get 1pm or 11am or any other guarantee. And frankly it shouldn't matter if they start cleaning the villas at 9am or 3pm...as long as they are done by 4pm.

Critique the result. Let Disney do their jobs and figure out the process.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I don't see where the quality of the work was even addressed. The topic is when people are getting into rooms.

True, but I see it as closely related. If housekeeping is understaffed, and Members are complaining about check in times, pressure is likely placed on staff to move quickly. In my opinion, that leads to a poorly done job.

I have no objections to complaints stemming from the occupancy time. The "after 4pm" language is often brought up, but realistically we should all expect to be in rooms by 4pm and (IMO) have a right to complain if that doesn't happen.

But I do not think it is realistic to demand changes to cleaning schedules or processes. That isn't a winnable battle. 4pm is worth fighting for. We won't get 1pm or 11am or any other guarantee. And frankly it shouldn't matter if they start cleaning the villas at 9am or 3pm...as long as they are done by 4pm.

Critique the result. Let Disney do their jobs and figure out the process.

I agree with your other points. I see 4pm as reasonable, but "after" 4 leaves the door open too far IMO.
I certainly do NOT want a check out time earlier than 11.

MG

 

[BWV Dreamin]

No... They should hire the proper level of housekeeping staff to do the job correctly.
As it stands now, even when the room is ready earlier, the level of cleanliness often leaves much to be desired.

MG

This really bugs me when we can not get into a room by 4:00p. Sorry I have stayed at many hotels, and RARELY do I check in at the designated time. It is ALWAYS BEFORE. I would be happy if they just got me in by 4:00p.

They should use management decisions and get the guests out if they are abusing the checkout timeframe. What is an effective way to get the people to leave on time? CHARGE THEM MONEY!!!!

If we are not getting in by 4 pm, we need to have our DVC mgmt. alerted and demand something be done about it.

 

[crisi]

Realistically, DVC has a 5 hour window for cleaning the rooms and making "everyone happy" - i.e. if they start knocking on doors at 9am, people complain. If rooms aren't clean by 4pm, people complain.

Ideally, you'd have an army of housekeepers ready to hit the floor at 11am and that army would be done for the day at 3:45 - all the rooms checked in. Ideally, you'd staff sufficiently so that unpleasant surprises could be addressed in that five hour window.

But that creates a five hour workday in a low paying job - not an optimal public relations situation for Disney regarding their housekeepers. They want their housekeepers to work an eight hour day so they don't get headlines "Disney housekeeping staff must work two jobs to feed children."

So they are going to hire fewer housekeepers and keep them there over an eight hour day. That will mean that some people get a knock on their door at 9am, and that some people won't get into their room until 6pm.

 

[McCrae]

If DVC members are treated the same way as hotel guests this wouldn't to me be a big issue. I fully understand and accept that from time to time I would need to wait for a room.

Why is it that the hotel guests don't need to wait the same time for a room?

I don't what special treatment, I want and expect equality of service.

If it's not acceptable for a hotel guest to wait after 4pm for a room why should it be ok for DVC members.

 

[McCrae]

If DVC members are treated the same way as hotel guests this wouldn't to me be a big issue. I fully understand and accept that from time to time I would need to wait for a room.

Why is it that the hotel guests don't need to wait the same time for a room?

I don't what special treatment, I want and expect equality of service.

If it's not acceptable for a hotel guest to wait after 4pm for a room why should it be ok for DVC members.

 

[McCrae]

No it shouldn't...but its not just your unit that needs to be clean on any given day. Also if I remember correctly, hotel guests check out earlier so the cleaning rounds through the hotel section SHOULD start before the DVC units since the DVC members haven't even vacated their units yet.

Check out time for hotel guests is the same as DVC....just checked the service book.

 

[disneynutz]

Realistically, DVC has a 5 hour window for cleaning the rooms and making "everyone happy" - i.e. if they start knocking on doors at 9am, people complain. If rooms aren't clean by 4pm, people complain.

Ideally, you'd have an army of housekeepers ready to hit the floor at 11am and that army would be done for the day at 3:45 - all the rooms checked in. Ideally, you'd staff sufficiently so that unpleasant surprises could be addressed in that five hour window.

But that creates a five hour workday in a low paying job - not an optimal public relations situation for Disney regarding their housekeepers. They want their housekeepers to work an eight hour day so they don't get headlines "Disney housekeeping staff must work two jobs to feed children."

So they are going to hire fewer housekeepers and keep them there over an eight hour day. That will mean that some people get a knock on their door at 9am, and that some people won't get into their room until 6pm.

Actually Mousekeeping is not a low paying job by Disney and union standards. That's why Disney considers it a non tipped position with the concurrence from the unions.

I don't know when the Mousekeepers start work but most go home between 3:30 and 4:30. We have seen the lines of workers heading to employee parking at several of the resorts over the years. You should see the stuff that they take home.

Bill

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Realistically, DVC has a 5 hour window for cleaning the rooms and making "everyone happy" - i.e. if they start knocking on doors at 9am, people complain. If rooms aren't clean by 4pm, people complain.

Ideally, you'd have an army of housekeepers ready to hit the floor at 11am and that army would be done for the day at 3:45 - all the rooms checked in. Ideally, you'd staff sufficiently so that unpleasant surprises could be addressed in that five hour window.

This assumes everyone waits until 11:00 to check out, and everyone checks in by 4:00.

MG

 

[tjkraz]

If DVC members are treated the same way as hotel guests this wouldn't to me be a big issue. I fully understand and accept that from time to time I would need to wait for a room.

Why is it that the hotel guests don't need to wait the same time for a room?

The #1 reason is lower occupancy levels. Disney's hotels average about 85-90% occupancy while the industry standard is closer to 65%.

When you check in early at a hotel, many times they have rooms which were vacant from the night before available to immediately assign. In other cases they can continue cleaning rooms after 4pm without inconveniencing incoming guests because the rooms are not needed for that night.

It's also worth noting that check-in time for hotel rooms is 3pm; 4pm for villas. That alone should tell you that the resorts will make the cash rooms a higher priority...they have to since cash guests are entitled to a room sooner.

I don't what special treatment, I want and expect equality of service.

"Equality" isn't a fair expectation.

The appropriate expectation is to have a room by 4pm. If they aren't meeting that commitment, by all means take it up with a manager or quality assurance. But you are tilting at windmills if you invent higher expectations.

I'm not sure I would even take the word of this front desk clerk as gospel--that cash rooms are always cleaned first. That may have just been a convenient way to defuse the situation.

Whatever the case, Disney hotels are not going to tailor their policies on the basis of "equality" alone.

 

[DebbieB]

My friend checked into our room this morning at 7:00am, got the text that it was ready at 9:46am! Awesome view of California Adventure! Will try to post pics later.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not sure I would even take the word of this front desk clerk as gospel--that cash rooms are always cleaned first. That may have just been a convenient way to defuse the situation.

That's what I thought the first time I saw this thread. It seems to be a mistake to listen to what ONE CM said, as any one CM could be incredibly wrong. (or even just making stuff up)

I think the argument that DVC rooms are bigger and take longer to clean is pretty lame excuse for simply bad service.

My aunt, who stayed at OKW with us, has done housekeeping off and on her whole working life. She once worked for a condo place that had rooms approx the size and scale of OKW 2 bedrooms, but with an up and down stairs. She said that she, working at her fastest and most efficient rate (and she's a fast housecleaner with all sorts of tips and tricks), could do FOUR in one day. 4! That's it.

And that was before the big tall beds with the deep sheets triple-sheeted etc etc...

Realistically, DVC has a 5 hour window for cleaning the rooms and making "everyone happy" - i.e. if they start knocking on doors at 9am, people complain. If rooms aren't clean by 4pm, people complain.

When we stayed on the hotel side of the Grand they did indeed start knocking at 9am!


And once when we got "family of the day" at Paradise Pier Hotel, and were upgraded to a suite, we didn't get into our room until 6pm. What was our reaction? Thanks for the nice room!