Which DVC properties provide luggage carts?

[Dean]

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.

It's really no different than bell services in general where it is often one person initially and another at the room. Think of it like the valet where the industry standard is to tip on pick up. There is built in "sharing" in that they rotate who delivers so it should average out over time. IMO, it's their responsibility to see that it works fairly, not yours or mine. I'll follow the industry standard and adjust up or down depending on specifics, usually up. However, I like being in control of my things and avoid valet and bell whenever possible. Just a personal quirk.

 

[photobob]

Even most low-end hotels provide luggage carts. Not providing them, or making them exclusively available to bell services (especially at a TIMESHARE, where you typically bring a lot more stuff) is downright unfriendly and self-serving, IMHO. As consumers, we should have a choice of whether to use bell services or not. And lugging everything up without a cart isn't much of a choice.

The next time we drive (we'll be staying four weeks in different DVC units), we'll bring our dolly. When we fly, everything is in rolling suitcases, so it's relatively easy without a cart. When we get groceries, we'll just use our stroller to bring them up.

Disney is supposed to be the image of outstanding customer experiences, but this is one area where they fall flat.

We're still evaluating DVC (we've stayed at three and are booked in three others) vs. off-site timeshares (we've stayed at three in Orlando). This and the unit sizes are the two biggest negatives to DVC. (There are plenty of positives, though.) FWIW, the closest contender for us is Wyndham Bonnet Creek. We can get into it for about 35% less, it has larger units, provides luggage carts, has fairly frequent buses (if you want to use them) and is really close to WDW.

I worked at a hotel with bell services years ago. If you have bell services the luggage carts stay with the bellmen, this is not a DVC thing it is the way things are done at a hotels with a bell staff. The reason "low-end hotels" provide luggage carts is because they don't employ bellmen!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I worked at a hotel with bell services years ago. If you have bell services the luggage carts stay with the bellmen, this is not a DVC thing it is the way things are done at a hotels with a bell staff. The reason "low-end hotels" provide luggage carts is because they don't employ bellmen!

I have said this same thing at least twice before on this thread, but some don't want to believe that.

 

[shalom]

this is not a DVC thing it is the way things are done at a hotels with a bell staff.

Yes, but it's not the way things are done at most Timeshares, even Timeshares with a bell staff. I get the impression the OP is an experienced Timesharer, and a lot of long-time Timesharers find DVC frustrating. DVC trades through RCI, which makes Timesharers assume it works like a Timeshare, but in reality it's neither fish nor fowl (excepting OKW and maybe SSR). Just as there's "Disney value" versus real-world value and "Disney Deluxe" versus real-world Deluxe, there's "Disney Timeshare" versus the way timeshares work in the rest of the world.

DVCers are much more likely to compare DVC units to other hotels than Timesharers are. I think for a lot of DVCers, the DVC units are about more space and a place to have breakfast. There are Timesharers who're fine with that, but those who want more of what most Timeshares offer find the DVC system frustrating. I go back and forth myself on whether I want to stay there. On the one hand -- it's Disney! Of course I want to stay on property! And all the things that bug me about DVC are little things. But there's just so many little things that I love about Timeshares that DVC doesn't offer. For a fair percentage of Timesharers, staying DVC is just one long hassle. And they can be pretty loud about their disappointment.

Am I someone who'd feel that way? Hard to say. I wouldn't whine if I went and hated it, because I'd know it's a possibility. But a lot of the TSers who hate DVC are Disney lovers too, and they had a miserable time. For me, some days it's easier to see the hassles, some days it's easier to see the appeal -- but what day will it be when I'm there?

For the record, I do not think the OP is going to be one of the ones saying how awful DVC is. Not at all. But I do understand his frustration with the fact that DVC doesn't offer what most timeshares do.

 

[MichaelColey]

Exactly right, Shalom.

As for whether I like DVC or regular timeshares better, I'm still working on figuring that out. The on-site perks and actually being at Disney are huge and they go a long way towards offsetting any negatives. To me, the negatives are the unit sizes, kitchen sizes, small dining room tables, smaller fridges, lack of icemakers in the fridges, and lack of luggage carts. In the scheme of things, those are all fairly minor.

We have already stayed three weeks in DVC units this year and have five more weeks booked. By the end of the summer, we will have stayed in all of the Orlando DVC properties (including a Savannah view at AKV next month!) except Bay Lake.

 

[jekjones1558]

the negatives are the unit sizes, kitchen sizes, small dining room tables, smaller fridges, lack of icemakers in the fridges

OKW units do not have these negatives, IMHO. They are comparable in size and room features to other timeshares we have used. And it is common in our experience that townhome style timeshares do not have luggage carts either.

 

[Geezer]

Exactly right, Shalom.

As for whether I like DVC or regular timeshares better, I'm still working on figuring that out. The on-site perks and actually being at Disney are huge and they go a long way towards offsetting any negatives. To me, the negatives are the unit sizes, kitchen sizes, small dining room tables, smaller fridges, lack of icemakers in the fridges, and lack of luggage carts. In the scheme of things, those are all fairly minor.

We have already stayed three weeks in DVC units this year and have five more weeks booked. By the end of the summer, we will have stayed in all of the Orlando DVC properties (including a Savannah view at AKV next month!) except Bay Lake.

Small dining tables, small refridgerators, lack of icemakers and small unit and kitchen sizes? Obviously you have not stayed at OKW yet. Full sized appliances (yes even the washer and dryer in the laundry room)in all 1,2, and 3 bedroom villas at OKW WITH icemakers in the fridges, a huge round dining table plus another on the big porch. Oh, and no need for luggage carts there. We just park right outside our unit and walk up the steps.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think many people use DVC differently than they do other timeshares. One reason might be that people think of DVC more as a Disney vacation than a timeshare vacation. People who own timeshares at a beach or golf destination are more likely to think of it differently than people who are always on the go like they are at Disney.

 

[MichaelColey]

OKW units do not have these negatives, IMHO.

Obviously you have not stayed at OKW yet.

Right. So far, we've stayed at BCV, SSR and VWL. Upcoming are AKV, OKW and BWV. Looking forward to each of them.

 

[shalom]

To me, the negatives are the unit sizes, kitchen sizes, small dining room tables, smaller fridges, lack of icemakers in the fridges, and lack of luggage carts. In the scheme of things, those are all fairly minor.

I would add the lack of large, screened porches, the lack of TV channels (which doesn't matter to me but was the reason Disney daughter has lost interest in staying onsite I suspect ), and the distance from the parking lot at the Epcot resorts in particular. I also don't like that, in a lot of units, the people sleeping in the living room have to go through one of the bedrooms to get to the bathroom. OKW is the most "timesharish" of the DVC resorts, but even there the table is not going to sit seven comfortably. Most Timeshares that sleep eight have tables that sit six and we can fit around them pretty easily.

Petty things, all, but a lot of them.

One reason might be that people think of DVC more as a Disney vacation than a timeshare vacation.

I think you're right. We tend to go one day and hang out at the resort the next, or go morning and evening but hang out sharing impressions in the afternoon, and I expect we'd do the same thing at Disney. For us, one of the best things about vacationing is having the opportunity to just sit around the table together for hours, eating or just hanging out talking or playing games. That doesn't happen at home too often because people are always rushing off to this or that. So the small tables thing feels like a big deal.

I figure on touring the resorts when we're out next month -- maybe I'll fall madly in love with one and that'll resolve the whole issue.

 

[Dean]

Yes, but it's not the way things are done at most Timeshares, even Timeshares with a bell staff. I get the impression the OP is an experienced Timesharer, and a lot of long-time Timesharers find DVC frustrating. DVC trades through RCI, which makes Timesharers assume it works like a Timeshare, but in reality it's neither fish nor fowl (excepting OKW and maybe SSR). Just as there's "Disney value" versus real-world value and "Disney Deluxe" versus real-world Deluxe, there's "Disney Timeshare" versus the way timeshares work in the rest of the world.

DVCers are much more likely to compare DVC units to other hotels than Timesharers are. I think for a lot of DVCers, the DVC units are about more space and a place to have breakfast. There are Timesharers who're fine with that, but those who want more of what most Timeshares offer find the DVC system frustrating. I go back and forth myself on whether I want to stay there. On the one hand -- it's Disney! Of course I want to stay on property! And all the things that bug me about DVC are little things. But there's just so many little things that I love about Timeshares that DVC doesn't offer. For a fair percentage of Timesharers, staying DVC is just one long hassle. And they can be pretty loud about their disappointment.

Am I someone who'd feel that way? Hard to say. I wouldn't whine if I went and hated it, because I'd know it's a possibility. But a lot of the TSers who hate DVC are Disney lovers too, and they had a miserable time. For me, some days it's easier to see the hassles, some days it's easier to see the appeal -- but what day will it be when I'm there?

For the record, I do not think the OP is going to be one of the ones saying how awful DVC is. Not at all. But I do understand his frustration with the fact that DVC doesn't offer what most timeshares do.

I probably have over 200 timeshare stays at maybe 40 different none DVC resorts and have been on property at maybe another 100 and most all of them comparable or close to DVC. Full scale Bell Services AND carts both are very uncommon. What's not uncommon is to have very limited bell services mostly during busier check in times and carts.

OKW units do not have these negatives, IMHO. They are comparable in size and room features to other timeshares we have used. And it is common in our experience that townhome style timeshares do not have luggage carts either.

OKW is somewhat unique, however, I'd say that many of the top non DVC options in the Orlando area have nicer interiors than OKW (inc updated), have far better pool options, have far more activity options and are more user friendly at the resort level. And OKW is somewhat closer to the off property options in terms of location as well.

 

[photobob]

This sure is a long and longwinded thread for the subject of luggage carts!!

 

[shalom]

I probably have over 200 timeshare stays at maybe 40 different none DVC resorts and have been on property at maybe another 100 and most all of them comparable or close to DVC.

I think part of my problem is that my points system is a really good fit for me, and I don't usually go out of it unless the other resort fits just as well. DVCs the only one that doesn't have all this stuff I want that tempts me.

This sure is a long and longwinded thread for the subject of luggage carts!!

The subject is merely a symbol for far deeper issues.

 

[Dean]

I think part of my problem is that my points system is a really good fit for me, and I don't usually go out of it unless the other resort fits just as well. DVCs the only one that doesn't have all this stuff I want that tempts me.

I have stays with Wyndham, Marriott (the most non DVC), Hilton (the least), Bluegreen and DVC mostly with a few others here and there. There is some variability but overall most of those resorts have carts and little or no bell. There are exceptions, esp for more upscale resorts in resort areas and for mixed use options. I would say that carts are the standard and bell services far less so but not all that uncommon. Other than one Hilton with a lot of buildings, I can't think of any that were not mixed use that had both with a robust bell services and most did not have formal bell services at all though if you asked for help, most all would provide it as would bell services normally would do. To expect both is simply unreasonable, they will all help with special needs situations.