Anyone know anything about this?

[floridafam]

Just curious if anyone's been to VWL recently and experienced the problem stated by the poster in the thread below.

Yes, I know Florida has bugs and I don't mind them but I was curious about what the extent of the problem was.

Has anyone tried to check-in recently and been sent to another DVC resort?

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=414655

 

[DoeWDW]

No, we've never had anything like this happen.....

 

[PamOKW]

Something doesn't sound entirely right about that post.

 

[floridafam]

PamOKW,

I suppose you're right. If they had a Villa room booked, wouldn't they have been moved to another DVC resort? Can the front desk just move them from a villa room to a hotel room?

I guess they probably could if they were paying cash.

Maybe they aren't even talking about bugs. I thought someone might have the "scoop".

 

[PamOKW]

I could see them being moved over to the regular WL. I just wonder why they have complaints about the condition of the suites and also claim the TA says there was a pest problem in the Villas. (They also make it sound like the majority of the Villas were shutdown).

It seems that we would have heard other reports if the conditions were as bad as this post makes them sound. From time to time, someone tells about an experience at a resort that is just very different from what you hear from the majority of folks. I've learned to take everything with a grain of salt.

 

[JohnNJ]

Originally posted by PamOKW
From time to time, someone tells about an experience at a resort that is just very different from what you hear from the majority of folks. I've learned to take everything with a grain of salt.

You are absoultely correct. I have made reservations at Wilderness Lodge twice in the past (general public-cash ressies) and both times I left the hotel without staying there. Let me make this clear.

I love Wilderness Lodge but I have never stayed there.

Why? The front desk staff at WL is the most incompetent of all the hotels in WDW. You wait on line forever and when you finally do see someone they don't have a clue. The last time I tried to stay there my wife and kids were in tears in the lobby and my head was about to explode. I left WL and went to the Grand Floridian front desk and told them what happened. The GF was full so they got me a room at the BWV and saved the vacation. I have never encountered such poor service any other place at WDW.

Now, of course, you have to take this with a grain of salt. This is only my experience and I have friends that have stayed at WL and haven't had a problem. Also, the staff in the stores and restaurants are great. It's only the front desk and they may have fixed the problem since my visits. Unfortunately, I'll never know because I wouldn't stay there again unless I could bypass the front desk. Do they have concierge level at WL?

 

[floridafam]

Yes, they do have concierge level at the WL but I believe you still have to check-in at the front desk.

We stayed at WL last year on concierge level. Nobody told us not to check-in at the front desk so that is what we did. Someone from the concierge floor did come down and meet us.

We also experienced a very long wait only to encounter a "not so helpful" CM but it was over quickly and we didn't give it another thought. I suppose they could have more personnel staffing the front desk at times.

Will you ever stay at VWL? I hope you give it another try.

 

[InstImpres]

I just returned from VWL 2 weeks ago and loved it. No problems at all. I also spoke with many other happy guests.

Not sure about the bug things, again I had no issues.

Sandy

 

[wilderness01]

We also tried to stay at the Wilderness Lodge last year. After a VERY longggggggggggggg wait at the frontdesk and an even longer wait until the room was ready ( they said it was ready at checkin) we left and went to OKW because they put us in a smoking room. We had requested non-smoking for medical reasons and they were very aware of this. It was very disappointing.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

I just returned from VWL and when I went to check in they only had a smoking room available which I would not take. The CM was very friendly and told me she would speak with the manager. She disappeared for about 20 minutes and when she came back she said they were trying to find us a room (hopefully with DVC). After 30 more minutes I received a non-smoking room. No complaints other than some unruly children but that's parents problems not VWL! Annmarie

 

[msdis]

My guess is it was oversold. Others remarked if it was a cash room and although the op never confirmed that was my 1st suspicion and they are not DVC members. I can see how a TA, CRO, and MS could all not be on the same page and the resort be oversold. DVC members do get preference and maybe CRO booked more than than they were allowed and had to cover. Saying there was a pest problem is not a good thing to say but I'm sure no one would want to stay in a room that had a "pest" problem.

Although, we did encounter a not so nice CM once at VWL, that was only once, twice from him in one trip(I hope he is gone as I did not see him in May) but all the other CM'S there have been great.

 

[CK1]

I am making a mental note to get names when I see someone doing a great job, because the guy that checked us in last trip to VWL was AWESOME... but the desk groups that followed him were pitiful! From the time I checked in to when my bil tried to check in, they changed out the front desk staff and put in the "b" team. They kept bil/sil waiting for 2 hrs, and were nasty about it too, claiming there was no one by our name registered, they had the wrong place. (We have a very unique last name, and I think even though BIL spelled it out to them -- he has same name too -- they typed it wrong. When they finally caught me via cell phone, I came down and voila, problem solved, but the attitude remained.) Then, when my sil and I bought our WDW tickets that night from the desk, I think the "c" team was on duty! Even worse than the "b" rate person she had at check-in. The woman was clearly befuddled, and as it turned out, she didn't do the tickets right at all, and we got to AK the next am and one ticket wasn't a "ticket" at all... just a room key. AUUGHH! AK made the problem go away, but when I approached the desk that night to get everything straightened up, it was the mean, crabby "c" team. Not nice. At end of trip, I noticed the "a" team was back on deck. That was the a.m. we were flag family -- very nice staff that am. At check-out the next am I asked them to please check our passes for remaining days -- they did it graciously and correctly, and labeled them all for me to save for the next trip. I should get the names of that "a" team and send them up to the majors... the "c" team needs to stay in the dugout.

Cindy

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

FLORIDA NATIVE: We that live here year round know all about pest.... YUK...But I have never, never,never ,seen any pest in any room that I have stayed in at WDW. Wish I could say the same about all Resorts in Florida I've stayed at......also wondering about changing the reservation from studio to Jr. suite...Why would they do that Jr. does'nt have microwave....or didn't last time I stayed in one.

 

[RobDoc]

I'll also assume it was an oversold situation. The "pest" excuse may have been told to the TA (or maybe the TA was just "creative"with the explanation they gave to their client), but it didn't sound as though the WL staff used that excuse at the time.

As already stated, DVC members will have priority in most situations like this and, since the guest was moved to another room in the WL, I think it was likely a cash reservation.

I'll agree that the desk staff at WL certainly has room for improvement and have experienced a dose of ineptitude with a VWL stay myself. I'd hoped they could have improved since then, but it sounds like they've still left room for some much needed retraining.

 

[kathleena]

We had a dead palmetto bug in the bathtub in May at OKW. Yuk.

The two people I rented points to last month both stayed at VWL. I think I might email them and ask how it went......

 

[RobDoc]

TA=Travel Agent

 

[AnnaS]

Speaking of WL - are the Wilderness Lodge and the Villas at Wilderness Lodge (DVC part) connected/together like Beach Club Resort and BCV? We just recently passed by and went in the lobby and poo area to browse (we saw Whispering Canoyn(?)) - after we left, we honestly did not know if we were in one or both of the resorts. We were all impressed and would love to try it some day.

 

[tinksmom]

WL and VWL are in two different buildings like BC and BCV. They share front desk, pools, restaurants, gift shop and other ammenities. VWL are behind the bus stop. It's a small resort, not spread out like BC/BCV.