Which DVC properties provide luggage carts?

[dianeschlicht]

How so? If you're used to using Timeshares, DVC has quite a few polices that are as unusual as a restaurant charging for refills on soda or coffee. The lack of luggage carts free for the using is one of them.

So are you saying the offsite timeshares and places like Holiday Inn have bell services? I haven't had that experience. While some of those DO have luggage carts, if they don't have bell services, it's not the same animal.

 

[MichaelColey]

So are you saying the offsite timeshares and places like Holiday Inn have bell services? I haven't had that experience. While some of those DO have luggage carts, if they don't have bell services, it's not the same animal.

You're the only one in this thread who has mentioned Holiday Inn. I've mentioned Embassy Suites and two other timeshares that I stayed at on this trip as examples. Embassy Suites and one of the timeshares had both bell services and carts. The other timeshare had carts but no bell services.

We just wrapped up a 3+ week trip to Orlando, including two days at a timeshare in Destin (that provided carts), one week at Wyndham Bonnet Creek (which has bell services and provides carts), two weeks at DVC properties, and a night at an Embassy Suites (which has bell services and provides carts).

I've rarely been at a hotel or timeshare that doesn't provide carts, and I travel very extensively.

I can't think of a single timeshare I've stayed at (other than DVC) that didn't provide carts, and the only hotels I've stayed at that didn't provide carts are very high-end hotels.

I still contend that giving people no reasonable option other than using bell services is a very un-Disney thing to do.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I still contend that giving people no reasonable option other than using bell services is a very un-Disney thing to do.

That's not a new concept to Disney at all.

Actually, they want to make your trip as stress free as possible. "We'll bring your stuff to your room for you. No need to make that trip back and forth to your car. Enjoy your time in the parks. Rest, you're on vacation!"

 

[rigsby25]

I just wanted to add that I do understand why people don't want to use bell services. I hate waiting in the room for them, so we usually carry our things ourselves. I still would never think I could "borrow" a luggage cart to do so. It would be like "borrowing" someone else's rental car to get to the parking lot.

The only reason I asked for the cart was that I thought 8 hours to bring up luggage was unreasonable. If they were that backed up, I don't know. And we have use of the carts at Vero. Why would it be okay in some resorts and not others?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

The only reason I asked for the cart was that I thought 8 hours to bring up luggage was unreasonable. If they were that backed up, I don't know. And we have use of the carts at Vero. Why would it be okay in some resorts and not others?

Ok, I am going to ask a dumb question.... I assume if you have bell services bring up your lugguage they expect a tip? We have never used them. The only time someone brought up any luggage is from ME and we weren't in the room at the time.

So this would be a way to force payment for using the carts (by having bell services do it)......

 

[crisi]

Of course there's a financial component. IF you provide the service, you have to make sure it's financially sustainable and what better way to do so except to give guests limited choices. If you contract it, the contract will usually stipulate that you do not provide carts. It's fairly unusual for timeshares to provide both and when they do, it's usually large resorts with multiple buildings. Also those generally are not completely dedicated bell staff, they have other responsibilities to make it justified to have them. As I noted above, there is often an inverse relationship between the cost/rating/deluxe nature of the resort and this issue, just like there is with internet options. I'd rather have carts with no bell services and in general, I think that is the choice.

I suspect this is it.

Its an outsourced service and a tipped position. If Bell Services isn't delivering luggage, they aren't getting tips. If they aren't getting tips, its up to the company they work for to make up the difference between tips and minimum wage. If Disney is paying a flat fee to have Bell Services staffed, the contracting company is assuming they can pay staff $x and have the rest made up in tips. Allowing guests to use carts (and avoid tipping) means a decrease in the margins for the contracting company. Therefore, its likely in the terms of the contracts that guests cannot use carts.

 

[shalom]

I can't think of a single timeshare I've stayed at (other than DVC) that didn't provide carts, and the only hotels I've stayed at that didn't provide carts are very high-end hotels.

Same here. And the high-end hotels, the bags either go with you, or they're there when you arrive. And do I hear more horror stories about bags disappearing for hours at Disney because I've read up on it more, or is it more common? They're also dealing with completely different cargo. I know what to tip a guy who carries my luggage or computer bag, but what do I tip a guy who transports my TS box, which weighs so much neither hubby nor I can lift it, tends to tip over, and has no lid so tipping over means you gotta retrieve stuff?

I assume if you have bell services bring up your luggage they expect a tip?

Yep. Depending on who you ask, one or two dollars a bag. And some people tip the guy who pulls the stuff out of the car, then tip the guy who stores it while they're in line, and finally tip the guy who hauls it to their room, usually giving the guy who takes it to the room a bit more.

 

[smcabee]

They can expect all they want. That doesnt mean you are forced to tip.

 

[Dean]

My intention certainly wasn't to whine or gripe, but to let others know so they wouldn't be surprised. Comparisons to other hotels are certainly valid, because that's what sets our expectations. If we're used to carts being provided elsewhere (and that's been my experience), it's going to be a surprise to many.

It's kind of like going to a restaurant that charges for refills on soda or tea or stopping to buy gas before you return a rental car and discovering that the gas station by the airport is $2/gallon higher than anywhere else. If you don't know in advance and plan around it, it can leave a bad impression.

IMO, comparisons to other timeshares is a far better benchmark though DVC is somewhere in between to a degree. I think the most common experience is carts and no ROUTINE bell services, they all find a way to help those in need including HC. Valet is unusual, free valet is ALMOST unheard of. The only exception I can think of doesn't have a valid parking arrangement for self parking. Many charge for self parking, esp for non owners there and esp in resort areas. OKW and SSR could easily support this model, some of the others less so. As I noted, I prefer carts and no Bell services (which I see as the choice) as long as there are sufficient carts to do the job.

Ok, I am going to ask a dumb question.... I assume if you have bell services bring up your lugguage they expect a tip? We have never used them. The only time someone brought up any luggage is from ME and we weren't in the room at the time.

So this would be a way to force payment for using the carts (by having bell services do it)......

A tip would be the standard.

 

[Deb & Bill]

....
So this would be a way to force payment for using the carts (by having bell services do it)......

They are giving you a special service. Waiting on you hand and foot. Don't you tip the person who brings you your meal at your table? Lots of you tip the housekeeper who isn't a tipped position, yet don't want to tip Bell Services which is a tipped position.

 

[MichaelColey]

If I use the bell services, I tip, as I think any reasonable person would. I would just like the option to either use their services or not. I shouldn't be forced to use their services because the resort doesn't provide luggage carts.

On our latest trip, we paid bell services to bring stuff up at Saratoga Springs, carried stuff down ourselves when we left there, paid bell services to bring stuff up at Wilderness Lodge, and carried it down ourselves when we left. Without a cart, it was very inefficient carrying our stuff down, but I did it anyway out of principle.

Like I've already said, next time we drive (we'll be staying at four DVC timeshares) we'll just bring a dolly. When we fly, it's no problem because we're packed in suitcases. When we drive, we bring quite a bit more (usually because we're staying considerably longer).

 

[WilsonFlyer]

If I use the bell services, I tip, as I think any reasonable person would. I would just like the option to either use their services or not. I shouldn't be forced to use their services because the resort doesn't provide luggage carts.

On our latest trip, we paid bell services to bring stuff up at Saratoga Springs, carried stuff down ourselves when we left there, paid bell services to bring stuff up at Wilderness Lodge, and carried it down ourselves when we left. Without a cart, it was very inefficient carrying our stuff down, but I did it anyway out of principle.

Like I've already said, next time we drive (we'll be staying at four DVC timeshares) we'll just bring a dolly. When we fly, it's no problem because we're packed in suitcases. When we drive, we bring quite a bit more (usually because we're staying considerably longer).

This is exactly how I feel. When I want to be waited on, it's fine. what I would like is the option to do it myself more conveniently. I don't see that as unreasonable.

Even if DVC provided carts, we'd pay for it with our dues and they'd call it a perk.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If I use the bell services, I tip, as I think any reasonable person would. I would just like the option to either use their services or not. I shouldn't be forced to use their services because the resort doesn't provide luggage carts.

On our latest trip, we paid bell services to bring stuff up at Saratoga Springs, carried stuff down ourselves when we left there, paid bell services to bring stuff up at Wilderness Lodge, and carried it down ourselves when we left. Without a cart, it was very inefficient carrying our stuff down, but I did it anyway out of principle.

Like I've already said, next time we drive (we'll be staying at four DVC timeshares) we'll just bring a dolly. When we fly, it's no problem because we're packed in suitcases. When we drive, we bring quite a bit more (usually because we're staying considerably longer).

You need to think of the carts in a different way when you are staying in a place with bell services. You have to think of the carts as belonging to Bell services NOT to the resort itself.

I have never used bell services OR had a need for a cart. We usually stay at OKW, so a cart is pretty much useless unless you are in an elevator building. Besides that, we try to travel light, and with the exception of our very heavy Owner's Locker, most of it is pretty easy to carry up the stairs at OKW. We are aging, so there will be a time when we will have Bell Services bring our Owner's Locker to us, but as long as we are able, I find no reason to wait for the bell man to bring my things.

 

[childsplay]

This is exactly how I feel. When I want to be waited on, it's fine. what I would like is the option to do it myself more conveniently. I don't see that as unreasonable./QUOTE]

In theory I agree with this, I'm just not sure i would like how it looked in reality. I'm OK with the present system, if for no other reason than I'm not convinced the alternative is better.

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is exactly how I feel. When I want to be waited on, it's fine. what I would like is the option to do it myself more conveniently. I don't see that as unreasonable./QUOTE]

In theory I agree with this, I'm just not sure i would like how it looked in reality. I'm OK with the present system, if for no other reason than I'm not convinced the alternative is better.

The alternative is simple....Have carts for personal use only and tote everything yourself because you HAVE to, or have Bell Services who can use THEIR carts to tote your stuff for you for a fee.

 

[Dean]

If I use the bell services, I tip, as I think any reasonable person would. I would just like the option to either use their services or not. I shouldn't be forced to use their services because the resort doesn't provide luggage carts.

On our latest trip, we paid bell services to bring stuff up at Saratoga Springs, carried stuff down ourselves when we left there, paid bell services to bring stuff up at Wilderness Lodge, and carried it down ourselves when we left. Without a cart, it was very inefficient carrying our stuff down, but I did it anyway out of principle.

Like I've already said, next time we drive (we'll be staying at four DVC timeshares) we'll just bring a dolly. When we fly, it's no problem because we're packed in suitcases. When we drive, we bring quite a bit more (usually because we're staying considerably longer).

Realize this is coming from one who is used to cart, prefers carts and HATES to use valet and bell services. However, while you may be inconvenienced, no one is forcing anyone to do anything. I've been to many timeshares that provide carts but there were either not enough carts or they had been sufficiently hoarded as to not be available. I see it as an either/or situation, to expect both is simply unreasonable.

 

[UConnJack]

I also prefer cart to bell services. The only time I would choose to Bell Services is when I switch resorts and/or or we fly and use ME.

Since we fly or drive about 50/50, and if we have a choice between having or not having bell services available, I would choose the former. A much as I would love to see both available, I understand why its not practical from a buisness and/or logistics standpoint at several locations. Since several of the DVCs are attached to hotels (namely BWV, BCV, VWL, and AKV-Jambo), they aren't not going to have bell services and won't have a slew of carts as a free for all crowding the hotel lobby. However, in the case of AKV-Kidani, OKW, and SSR (even BLT even though its a hotel based one), I think the buildings are seperate enough from the check-in that the two could easily co-exist. Particlaurly since these are "drive-in" resorts.

Bell services are a big PITA when we drive though, since we have so much unorganized stuff that I don't trust bell services to keep straight. Don;t know what we are going to do when we don't need a stroller anymore. I'll bet we still bring one when the kids are teens.

 

[jekjones1558]

I do not want to see luggage carts for villa guests roaming the halls and I feel fairly certain I don't have to worry. That said, I do hate the 3-party-luggage-handoff at BWV that becomes a real money grab for tips. Tip the valet who unloads your car. Tip Bell services for taking the luggage until the room is ready. Tip Bell Services when the luggage is delivered. I believe in generous tipping but the luggage process is a tip rip-off.

 

[Dean]

I do not want to see luggage carts for villa guests roaming the halls and I feel fairly certain I don't have to worry. That said, I do hate the 3-party-luggage-handoff at BWV that becomes a real money grab for tips. Tip the valet who unloads your car. Tip Bell services for taking the luggage until the room is ready. Tip Bell Services when the luggage is delivered. I believe in generous tipping but the luggage process is a tip rip-off.

IMO just because they complicate the process doesn't mean that the guest should change their tipping expectations. There are industry standards for bell services. In addition, in this case, it's the same work (or nearly so) just divided up over a larger number of people. The industry standard is you tip at the destination of the bags, the room on arrival and the car on departure. I don't see how their conscious decision to complicate the process changes that standard or it's implementation.

 

[jekjones1558]

IMO just because they complicate the process doesn't mean that the guest should change their tipping expectations. There are industry standards for bell services. In addition, in this case, it's the same work (or nearly so) just divided up over a larger number of people. The industry standard is you tip at the destination of the bags, the room on arrival and the car on departure. I don't see how their conscious decision to complicate the process changes that standard or it's implementation.

I agree with you in theory but worry about how it works out for the workers when Bell Service folks are Disney employees and valets are outsourced folks. I don't think there is anyway they share tips. Our solution has been to check to see whether our room is ready when we arrive. If it is we go and get groceries then tip valets for unloading luggage and groceries and tip Bell once when everything is delivered. If our room is not ready we wait until it is ready (or close to 4 PM), get groceries and go through the same routine. We essentially cut out the storage tip for luggage. It is not a big inconvenience because we never do parks on check-in day.
On check-out day we wheel down checked luggage (if any) ourselves for RAC then have Bell bring the rest down. Bell keeps the Owner's Locker and we take the carry-ons to the car, so only tips to Bell and Bags for RAC.
I don't know what my problem is. We are spending lots of $$ on all other parts of our trip, so why does the luggage tipping bother me? Don't know, just my stupid hangup.