Just a head's up that there are reports that DVC has removed all of the mugs and glasses in DVC studio accommodations and replaced them with styrofoam--allegedly because there are no dishwashers in studios and therefore the "real" mugs and glassware could not be sterilized. This is apparently a reaction to news "exposes" about dirty cups and mugs in hotel rooms in Orlando.

A lot of people have been voicing their disappointment with this decision to Member Services. If you have stayed or plan to stay in a studio and would prefer "real" mugs and glassware you might also want to shoot an e-mail to the Member Satisfaction team. You can e-mail Member Satisfaction at

DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com

Just a head's up that there are reports that DVC has removed all of the mugs and glasses in DVC studio accommodations and replaced them with styrofoam--allegedly because there are no dishwashers in studios and therefore the "real" mugs and glassware could not be sterilized. This is apparently a reaction to news "exposes" about dirty cups and mugs in hotel rooms in Orlando. Having watched some of those news stories, I'm not entirely unhappy to see this change. I'd prefer to have Disney assure us that the glasses / mugs were changed out between visits, and not just washed in the sink / squirted with non-potable cleaning solution, but I can see why they have made this decision.

Has a similar change taken place at the on property hotels? I would assume they would have the same issue, since none of them have dishwashers.

AVP

After watching the same expose thing, I didn't use any of the glasses at the Grand Californian when we stayed there at Christmas time. I would prefer they use either the styrofoam cups or the clear plastic ones. I ordered some things from Albertsons for our stay during that time, and I got some styrofoam cups to avoid the glass ones.

But I won't use another glass one in a hotel room.

Has a similar change taken place at the on property hotels? I would assume they would have the same issue, since none of them have dishwashers.

I don't think they had 'real' glasses - I seem to recall it all being disposable.

I'll admit that disposable cups are not as "elegant" as glass. The upside to the change is now you will have fresh cups without having to wash after each use. Who knows, maybe the new cups will be themed and have a Disney Character drawn on the side. I actually think the new cups will act in my favor. Now I can pour a fresh cold beer in my cup as I'm headed out to the bus or monorail and carry it with me. :p

Has a similar change taken place at the on property hotels? I would assume they would have the same issue, since none of them have dishwashers.

AVP

There hasn't been feedback on whether the same change has taken place in the hotels (to the extent they had "real" ones before)--but I agree with you that logically the Grand Floridian and other resorts should also have disposables in their rooms if they continue this.

I actually think the new cups will act in my favor. Now I can pour a fresh cold beer in my cup as I'm headed out to the bus or monorail and carry it with me. :p

LOL--may I suggest you also carry your attorney's and bail bondsman's phone numbers with you?????

I haven't used hotel glassware for years, the idea just kind of "grosses me out". I don't trust the cleanliness of the dishes since I've stayed in hotels with beds that were full of trash and just remade from the previous person, so why would they take the time to clean the glasses well? I always buy bottled water or beverages so I know I'm the first person to drink out of it. I also won't use the ice bucket unless I've lined it with a clean plastic bag. I'm just kind of paranoid about cleanliness, I guess.

LOL--may I suggest you also carry your attorney's and bail bondsman's phone numbers with you?????
Silly Floridians and their silly laws!

Silly Floridians and their silly laws!


actually . . . . I don't know if Florida would consider this a violation or not . .. . was attributing it to California laws.

Don't know if it's still this way or not, but I remember a friend I used to work with telling me about her (and your?) home state of Louisiana with the drive-through daquiri bars . . . still the case Cathy? I have to admit I was floored by the concept!

That seem so wasteful for me. We're working to move away from styrofoam.

Wouldn't it just be easier to have a "welcome basket" for check-ins that include the mugs? And then guests can either leave them in their rooms or take them home with them, in which case they are charged for the mugs?

Hell, just give them the refillable mugs, sealed. Unseal them? and you pay for the use (you may as well take it home).

No styrofoam!

That seem so wasteful for me. We're working to move away from styrofoam.

Wouldn't it just be easier to have a "welcome basket" for check-ins that include the mugs? And then guests can either leave them in their rooms or take them home with them, in which case they are charged for the mugs?

Hell, just give them the refillable mugs, sealed. Unseal them? and you pay for the use (you may as well take it home).

No styrofoam!

Lani: I agree with you on many levels. Not just the environmental issue (which is extremely important and contrary to Disney's "green" initiatives), but am concerned that I haven't even gone "home" once yet and DVC is already changing the rules. Since it will most likely be two of us only we will mostly be staying in studios so this will have an effect on the quality of the experience. Not what I would expect in a "deluxe" facility--I knew about the paper bowls etc. in the studios and thought even that was cheesy, but was unlikely to eat a meal there so wasn't as concerned. We will definitely be drinking coffee (and maybe a little wine)! The last time I had wine in a styrofoam cup was in college . . . and back then we didn't know any better!

And I have heard reports that similar changes have not been made in the deluxe resort hotels--i.e., there are still regular mugs and glasses at hotels like the GF and Contemporary. So seems that the DVC studio users are being singled out. At least for now . . . .

Guess this just isn't that important to a lot of you though . . . . maybe I wouldn't care either if I had been a member for a long time . . . . but it is definitely making me wonder if I made the right choice . . . .

and back to the environmental issue--what happens when one of those styrofoam cups blows off a balcony onto the savannah at AKV?

That seem so wasteful for me. We're working to move away from styrofoam.

Wouldn't it just be easier to have a "welcome basket" for check-ins that include the mugs? And then guests can either leave them in their rooms or take them home with them, in which case they are charged for the mugs?

Hell, just give them the refillable mugs, sealed. Unseal them? and you pay for the use (you may as well take it home).

No styrofoam!

Actually I like that idea. I would pay for that. It would make a great
souvenir that I wouldn't have to "find" AND I would know that it was sterile before I used it.

Don't know if it's still this way or not, but I remember a friend I used to work with telling me about her (and your?) home state of Louisiana with the drive-through daquiri bars . . . still the case Cathy? I have to admit I was floored by the concept!
Yes, you can buy daiquiris at drive through locations. But you can't put the straw in them until you get home, so that you don't have open containers (that law was just changed a couple years ago, passengers used to be able to drink while driving). You can drink on the sidewalks, as long as it's not in a glass bottle. It was really hard for me to get my brain around popping a beer open 5 yds from a police officer on a parade route! But there are also Parishes (Counties) that are totally dry.

I did have to finish the drink I got in France before I left the International Gateway, but that had to do with where the liquor license boundaries were. Not sure if I could have gotten something on the Boardwalk and walked around with it on the other side of the entrance or not.

And back on topic - I love the idea of having them in a basket you get when you check in. If you take them home, you're charged - but just leave them in the room if you don't need more mugs at home! It's just the studios, so it's not like they'd have to have mugs for 10 people in them.

But you'd still have to drink wine out of a mug.

The current Owner's Locker promotion (if you select MousePlanet in the drop-down box saying where you heard of them) gives you a free "starter kit" of basically a $25 shopping spree that John and Brian will do for you to start you off with detergent, shampoo, sunscreen or whatever you'd want to keep in your locker.

With the news of the change in DVC studios, we're looking at possibly adding an option for the promotion: the ability to get a "studio starter" that would include coffee mugs with the Owner's Locker and MousePlanet logos on them, plus maybe some inexpensive plastic plates and bowls (think Chinet). What do you think? Is that something that you would find helpful (and maybe get you to try out Owner's Locker in the process)?

Mark: I guess the real issue is what the cost would be per annum? Realistically, I will probably only get to Florida every year or every other year . . . . so don't think Owner's Locker would make sense in my circumstance. For people on the East Coast or who go more often it might depending on the cost. (I wouldn't want to use soap that was a year old however!) So I think I'd be better off buying a reusable mug every year for me and mine than having the Owner's Locker.

Oh and if you do include plates and bowls . . . I wouldn't think Chinet would be a step up from what is in the studios now. Costco (and I'm sure others) has some hard plastic plates that are very nice, inexpensive and reusable/washable . . . . We actually use them for family meals at Christmas, Easter, etc.

I would think that four of those would be a very nice addition to a "studio starter set" and probably not that expensive when you buy them in bulk from the warehouse stores. They are also microwavable.