What makes a DVC stay different from a regular resort stay?

[Lady_Gracey999]

Specifically I'm wondering about services like Mousekeeping. In a regular hotel room the towels, soap, etc. are replaced every day. The trash is also taken out and the beds are made every day. From what I'm reading around I seem to understand that this doesn't happen with DVC stays? It's like an apartment where you take care of everything yourself? My friends are new DVC members (going "home" in two days w/o me!) and are curious about this too. Are they expected to use the same 2 towels every day until T&T day?
I'm confused.

So bottom line here...if we stay in a studio, when we come back in the evening is our bed still going to be unmade if we left it that way that morning?

 

[Kmango]

Specifically I'm wondering about services like Mousekeeping. In a regular hotel room the towels, soap, etc. are replaced every day. The trash is also taken out and the beds are made every day. From what I'm reading around I seem to understand that this doesn't happen with DVC stays? It's like an apartment where you take care of everything yourself? My friends are new DVC members (going "home" in two days w/o me!) and are curious about this too. Are they expected to use the same 2 towels every day until T&T day?
I'm confused.

So bottom line here...if we stay in a studio, when we come back in the evening is our bed still going to be unmade if we left it that way that morning?

Yes and yes. They'll give you four towels at the outset in a studio, and replace them on day 4. If you leave your bed unmade, it will be that way when you come back. I think many DVCers were initially wary of this, but eventually come around to prefering less intrusions by Mousekeeping.

 

[jodifla]

Specifically I'm wondering about services like Mousekeeping. In a regular hotel room the towels, soap, etc. are replaced every day. The trash is also taken out and the beds are made every day. From what I'm reading around I seem to understand that this doesn't happen with DVC stays? It's like an apartment where you take care of everything yourself? My friends are new DVC members (going "home" in two days w/o me!) and are curious about this too. Are they expected to use the same 2 towels every day until T&T day?
I'm confused.

So bottom line here...if we stay in a studio, when we come back in the evening is our bed still going to be unmade if we left it that way that morning?

Right, no daily maid service.

I prefer it this way, since we spend a lot of time in our room. In a 1 bedroom or larger there's a washer and dryer if you must have fresh towels every day. In a studio, you can do the laundry in the laundry room, normally by the pool.

 

[cn123]

is it possible to get more towels though? at front desk or something?

 

[jbrowna]

Of course, if you want to have daily housekeeping you can. It can be purchased everyday, or you can have it only on select days. The cost varies by room type. I believe a studio is $30 per day for full houskeeping. Just trash and towel service is $15.

It's kind of like your own home: you can hire a maid to come in and clean up and make your bed, or you can do it yourself.

 

[Lady_Gracey999]

Glad to hear from you so quickly! I'll pass the info on to my friends. They'll be going "home" for the first time tomorrow. (Well technically they won't get there til Saturday, but they're leaving late tomorrow night.) They might want to adjust their packing a bit (maybe take some travel detergent or something). Thanks so much!

And hey...if there are any other tips for new DVC members let me know so I can pass them along to my friends!

 

[MikeyNS]

..and it's not as bad as it sounds either. I find you hardly notice not getting daily mousekeeping. We always have a room with a washer and dryer, so we throw the towels in whenever we want some fresh towels. There are very little things that make me happier on vacation than having your own washer and dryer! Talk about being able to pack light...

 

[photobob]

You can have more housekeeping service if you like but it costs extra. It is really not that big of a deal for us. When my wife and i get up we make the bed. We use they w&d to keep towels clean and like the lack of intrusion by daily housekeeping.

The main thing I like about staying in a villa is that it is much more relaxing when staying in the room. This is especially true in the 1 and 2 bdr villas. You have a full kitchen with a four chair dining table plus two chairs at the bar and a couch and chair for lounging. I think DVC members as a whole probably spend more time at the resort than those staying at a regular resort hotel and the villas just make that more comfortable. It is harder to do that in a room that basically just has two beds in it.

 

[Lynne M]

DVC has a pay-as-you-go housekeeping service. Since DVC is a timeshare, membership dues cover the costs of operating the resort, including housekeeping services.

Not all members want daily housekeeping (I dont'), and that would significantly increase our dues. So, instead of charging the entire membership for a service that only some members want, DVC has you pay separately for housekeeping services, as often as you want them. If you want a full cleaning three times a week, you can do that. If you want trash and towel every day, you can do that. If you just want fresh towels every day, that's offered, too.

Actually, you're paying for housekeeping when you stay at any hotel. It's just buried in the room rate. People aren't used to seeing it broken out as a separate service.

 

[spiceycat]

do you actually like other people in your room on a daily basis?

I don't.

DVC is different because it feel more like home not a hotel room.

some people don't like it - others of us love it.

no offense to anyone but there is a water shortage - towels don't need to be washed everyday. you just place them on the racks in the bathroom to dry out.

there is a free laundry mat at each resort for studio use.

bring your own detergent and fabric softernor. disney only uses Tide.

 

[tgropp]

I am a bit of a neat freak, so while I am waiting on my wife to get ready, I usually take 15 minutes each morning to tidy up and vacuum. That is a lot cheaper than what Mousekeeping costs and even though I am on holidays, I do not find this a bother, but I am sure that it would other people. After all, you are on holidays.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've been known to vacuum once or twice too---but usually only after my kids have decided to eat their cheerios on the floor in front of the TV in the living room before we wake up.

Just like home.

 

[Scott]

I am a bit of a neat freak, so while I am waiting on my wife to get ready, I usually take 15 minutes each morning to tidy up and vacuum. That is a lot cheaper than what Mousekeeping costs and even though I am on holidays, I do not find this a bother, but I am sure that it would other people. After all, you are on holidays.

Goodness, I hope my wife doesn't see this post...She thinks its customary for the husband to sit on the couch and watch old Disney cartoons with the kids as she gets ready.

 

[Reginak]

Some things that I have grown to appreciate on our trips as DVC members:

1. No interruptions from mousekeepers on the mornings that we sleep in.
2. Peace of mind - that our room will not be disturbed while we are gone (unless there is a maintenance issue).
3. Patience and peace - if this stay doesn't turn out the way I want there will be plenty of more trips ahead to make up for it.

I love DVC and after you get used to the differences you may cherish them as I do and wonder what makes Disney so wonderful that you want to keep returning over and over. (I think that it is the little things like those above that slip by unnoticed.)

Regina

 

[Goofy442]

If you bring your laptop some or all now have free internet at DVC which I love before we had to pay alot to get on. My DH refuse to pay this last time so when I was out shopping he would use Starbucks or pickup someone's wireless signal.

 

[nuts]

I am a bit of a neat freak, so while I am waiting on my wife to get ready, I usually take 15 minutes each morning to tidy up and vacuum. That is a lot cheaper than what Mousekeeping costs and even though I am on holidays, I do not find this a bother, but I am sure that it would other people. After all, you are on holidays.

ME TOO! I make the bed and tidy up the place. I swear sometimes she takes more time in the morning getting ready just to make sure I get the place ready

 

[pnyltwk]

If you bring your laptop some or all now have free internet at DVC which I love before we had to pay alot to get on. My DH refuse to pay this last time so when I was out shopping he would use Starbucks or pickup someone's wireless signal.

You may want to let your Husband know that the Hi-Speed internet at the DVC resorts is free for DVC members staying on points. It has been that way for about a year or so now. And I agree when it was $$ a day that was more than I wanted to spend. We used dial up before it was free on point stays.

 

[SamSam]

I am a bit of a neat freak, so while I am waiting on my wife to get ready, I usually take 15 minutes each morning to tidy up and vacuum. That is a lot cheaper than what Mousekeeping costs and even though I am on holidays, I do not find this a bother, but I am sure that it would other people. After all, you are on holidays.

I just read this post to my DH. I don't think he got the hint.

 

[DisFlan]

I used to think DVC meant less housekeeping intrusions, but after our last BWV trip, I'm not so sure. On day 2, a couple of guys came in to change the top on the small dining table. On day 3, a housekeeper came in to switch out the Pak-n-Play (which required moving most of the stuff in the studio closet because it was at the very back). On day 5, a housekeeper came in and replaced the shower curtain (not sure why). On day 6, a guy replaced the bulb in the floor lamp, then went out on the balcony and signaled something to a guy on the ground. (REALLY not sure why.) I take it they have a schedule for these things.

After the guy-waving-from-the-balcony thing, my DH asked if we were being watched by the CIA.

We happened to be in the room during these visits, but they said they would have come in anyway. And I don't know what else might have gone on when we weren't there. I assume these things were done because they needed doing, but the villa wasn't "intrusion free" on the non-T&T/cleaning days. We may think no one comes in on these days, but it looks like that's not necessarily the case.


DisFlan

 

[alisonslp]

there's a vacuum in the villas? I hadn't come across that before on the posts. Good news for my very messy 5 yr old and his father! 8 yr old twins are much better....