back from BCV, review

[Lisa F]

We just came back from a long weekend at WDW during which we were able to try out the new BCV.

We arrived fairly late on thursday after our plane was delayed an hour and there was no line to check in. Check in was pretty much the low point of our whole beach club experience. Although I had not made any requests, I asked if it was possible to get an Epcot view. The CM said that none were available (without even checking) but that the Epcot views weren't very good anyway. She kept going on and on about how poor the views were, how you couldn't really see anything blah blah blah. Then she told us that we had a very wonderful pool view and went on and on about how great our view was. We were in room 476, all the way at the end of the building, and let me tell you... the view was less than spectacular.

I would not have been bothered one bit by the view if she hadn't went on about it and gotten our expectations way up. Honestly, I have had my share of great views and not-so-great views at many WDW resorts and I have never let the not-so-great views ruin even one minute of my vacation. However, after being an hour late, missing our dinner priority seating and feeling very hungry and grumpy, being told what a wonderful view we had and then opening up the curtains to discover that it was essentially a view of the parking lot with a glimpse of the pool to the extreme left if you stuck your head over the railing annoyed me a bit. I wasn't annoyed at the room so much as I was annoyed at the CM. This is the second or third time that this has happened to me at a WDW resort (second time at the beach club) and I am honestly wondering if it is a policy so that guests do not become irate at the check in counter.

Lucky things just kept getting better from here. We stayed in a studio and it was absolutely gorgeous. I will never understand why people feel that once you have stayed in a 1br you can't go back to a studio. We have stayed in a 1 and 2 br, but love the studios as well. I can see if you have kids it being quite tight but for a couple without kids, it's a perfect cozy room with some home away from home amenities that make it so much better than a hotel room.

I was reminded once again about why I LOVE LOVE LOVE the dvc resorts that are located at deluxe hotels. We were starving, but room service came to the rescue. We had missed the close of the cape may cafe but the one thing I was REALLY craving was the clam chowder and they had it on the room service menu! We both had sandwiches that were also quite good (the menu gets more limited after 10pm). I had a grilled chicken and my husband had the yacht club sandwich (he will go for anything that is a pun!) I love when they come in with the white tablecloth and set up the table for you. We did notice that there is no longer a spot to add additional tip for room service like there used to be, you just sign and they go. This is great because we never knew if you were supposed to add more to the 18% gratuity or what.

The location of the BCV is really great for Epcot (it's RIGHT there), but it felt really far away from MGM and we ended up taking the boat there and back. I much prefer the location of our home, BWV, because it feels more central to both parks, but since we spent so much time at epcot it was very nice to have an even shorter walk back to our resort.

We tried out SAB a couple of days and I have to say, it's a nice pool. My hubby loved the sand bottom. We had never pool hopped before, though, and I am not disappointed that we can't pool hop here because to me it didn't really seem worth making a trip for. If I am going to go through the trouble of packing up to go swim somewhere, I might as well just hit Typhoon Lagoon where they have a much longer and more interesting lazy river, better water slides and a wave pool for the main pool. We did, however, REALLY enjoy making use of it while we stayed at the resort. It's definately a fun pool but since I am a huge fan of Typhoon Lagoon, I think calling it a mini water park is a little bit of an exaggeration. This didn't stop us from hitting it twice in our 3 day stay though! I would probably not pay preferred points to stay here if I already had a reservation at BWV for standard points, but if we are going during a hot part of the year (we generally go in january and it is too cool to swim) AND we had a preferred view at the BWV, I would seriously consider trying to switch to BCV at the 7 month window for the pool. Otherwise I think we still prefer our home at BWV (I did kind of miss the nightlife and the atmosphere of the boardwalk but were too tired to walk all the way over there at night), but only by a slight margin. Overall I am very glad to have another choice in this great area!

Lisa

 

[Credit Man]

Nice report. Thanks for your insights.

 

[joepoe]

Thanks for your review- informative stuff- I also would have been a little ticked at that CM when I saw what the view actually was. Glad you ultimately has a good time.

 

[kamgen]

Lisa - Great, honest review! I have to agree with you about SAB. I didn't really care for the sand bottom, but dh loves it. I think the pool area is laid out weird, and the slide, while it is cool and all, is slow and a nuisance to go on more than a few times. I love BWV and the pool. The Keister Coaster is fun slide!

I think the studios are great too, but I do like that garden tub you get with the bigger rooms ( I am a big bath fan!).

Sounds like you had a good time. Sorry about the CM and missing CMC.

Kamy

 

[DemoBri1]

Lisa,

If I were you I would have called back down to the Front Desk and complained about the view. I know that technically in Disney terms it was a water view room because you could see the pool if you craned your neck off the balcony, but I ran into a similar situation back in '98 at the YC on my honeymoon.

Originally we had only planned on staying at YC for 5 nights and then transferring to an off-site hotel for the rest of our nights because we were going to be off-property. However, our 4 night stay at the off-property joint only lasted 1 night. I called back to YC and they had a water view room available. We went back to YC the next day, and when we looked out the room window, all we saw were trees, and maybe if we scrunched down far enough we could see Crescent Lake.

To make a long story short, I called down to the front desk and within 5 minutes a CM was up at our room, apologized profusely, and walked us to our new room, which looked straight out to Crescent Lake, and directly across to the Boardwalk.

Sometime it just pays to be the squeaky wheel.

Brian

 

[pentex]

Thanks for the report...we'll be staying there in three weeks...I can't wait! I love room service too, and you made me look forward to that again...we'll definitely do that!

 

[Doctor P]

Thanks for your lengthy report!

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks for the nice report! The view problem reminded me of something at BWV. We had a room over Luna Pool but if you sat down on the balcony all you saw was a plank of wood. We were only there for one night so it wasn't a big deal. It was disappointing compared to the courtyard/boardwalk view my brother had on a previous trip but we were only there one night so it was passable. The next morning at check-out the CM said with a big smile, "Did you enjoy the view from your room?" as if it had been something special. I said it was okay as long as you didn't sit down and have to look at a plank. Either the CM's are "selling" the views or what they see on the maps doesn't correspond to what you actually see.

 

[Dean]

I have a feeling we're going to hear a lot about the views, or lack of, once the new wears off. You made no requests and all rooms are the same technically so you got what you paid for however, I too would have been upset with the CM for misrepresenting the room to you. When you come in late, you get slim pickings as a rule because everyone that complained earlier got the room they had slated for you.

 

[Lisa F]

I've been a member of DVC and reading these boards for long enough to know that views are never guaranteed, even if I HAD made a request. Like I said, I've gotten poor views and I've gotten amazing ones (both at DVC and non DVC resorts). The great views have enhanced my vacation but a bad view doesn't really detract from it... there are plenty of other fun things to do besides sit on my balcony!

My complaint was not so much about the room I got but more about the checkin CM hyping it up so much and then the letdown. A "I'm sorry, but I cannot change your room assignment" would've sufficed. I even broached the subject of the epcot view with "I know this is a longshot, but I'll ask anyway" and I pleasantly said "ok, thank you for checking" (even though she didn't seem like she had and it really wasn't worth pursuing further) before she started in about how lousy the epcot views were and how wonderful OUR view was. Honestly, if SHE hadn't made such a big deal about how great our view was going to be, I probably wouldn't have even mentioned the view thing in my report, except to say that if you are making requests, the rooms all the way at the end of the building overlook the parking lot. It irritates me more to be lied to than the view itself ever could.

In fact, since this is the third time this has happened to me (one other time at the beach club and once at the animal kingdom lodge) I have been thinking of writing a letter to Disney about it. I am not quite sure how to phrase it however, because I don't want it to seem like I am looking for something for nothing. The room was certainly beautiful, the resort was as promised, and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip. It was worth every point we spent (even for a weekend visit, which is not a great use of points). It just drives me nuts to be lied to.

I guess the other thing I should say about the rooms on the 4th floor on that section of the building is that from the outside they are meant to look like attic rooms, so the balconies are enclosed like Pam described. I'm not sure if this is the norm or not but it also seemed to be quite small, even by non-OKW standards. There was only one chair out there and a small table. I'm not sure if that is the norm in BCV or what. The one NICE thing about the location is that if we had a car, it would've been very easy to park right outside your door if you didn't mind going up 3 flights of stairs. It was also very convenient to the bus stop, so we did use that option quite a bit.

Lisa


Lisa

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by DemoBri1
Lisa,

If I were you I would have called back down to the Front Desk and complained about the view. I know that technically in Disney terms it was a water view room because you could see the pool if you craned your neck off the balcony, but I ran into a similar situation back in '98 at the YC on my honeymoon.

With DVC if you are unhappy with your view and want to change, they will charge you the cleaning fee ($25 for a studio). BCV isn't like YC/BC where you have standard and water views, there is only one category, so you can't complain that it wasn't really a water view.

It's a shame that the front desk cm got your hopes up by misrepresenting what the view was. On our first trip to BWV 2 years ago, I booked exactly at 11 months with a BW view request. I thought for sure I would get it, another BWV member on the AOL board always booked at 11 months and always got it. We got quiet pool view. I was upset that I paid the extra points for preferred. I knew it wasn't guaranteed, but I had my hopes up. After that, I just booked standard view and didn't worry about it. I thought our view last year at the end of the building near the pond was just as nice (except for that long walk down the hall ). We could see the high fireworks from Illuminations and hear the music. Plus I had the satisfaction that I saved some points.

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Thanks for your honest report. It is helpful to know this information when planning a trip home.

 

[adamak]

Lisa F,
I agreed with your checkin experience. I was there last week too, and pretty much had the same talk with CM. I asked for top floor pool view. I got bottom floor, pool view. (And I'm very very happy with it). While I TOTALLY understand views are not guranteed, I asked at the desk (while I'm still there) if there are top floor other views room. Without checking, she said no, with a nicely take-it-or-leave-it comment.

Remember that I was NOT complaining, nor unhappy about my room. It's the fact that they make it sounds like motel 6 service desk. Disney has high standard. I wouldn't mind if they look first, and then tell me they ran out of rooms. We stayed at AS-Music before BCV and AS went out of their way to check for a connected rooms for us. They didn't find what we want, but they tried, and it showed. It's not just the end results, but also the attitude, right?

I have a feeling that BCV front desk is completely overwhelmed by the DVCers. I think they're just not used to people asking for views...who demand the details. Not sure if it's understaffed, or under trained. They are still very polite CM, and I sure don't think they offended me. Maybe room for improvement?

But I'm sure they'll get better. My overall experience there are still very positive.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Just MHO...

Of all the CMs we encounter, those at 'check-in' are the most important. They set the tone for the magical beginnings of our Disney experience. Some guests are more easily able to overlook a less than perfect experience. I envy you!

For us, a HUGE reason for loving on-site and/or DVC accomodations is the pixiedust we expect to be sprinkled upon us from the first moments. It isn't about getting what we want, it's about how hard they try to please us. For us, it is ALL in the attitude!

If we want lousy, or even average, customer service...we could stay anywhere. We expect the Disney standard of service throughout. Of course, even the best CMs have bad days. But certain CMs seem never to understand the quality of service that made Disney special. They should look for work at the motel down the street and leave the job to those who care.

We just wrote to CBR mngr to tell him how magical our experience was there. We have also written to mngmnt when things have been less so. And yes-we name names! The great CMs should be recognized. They DO want to know what we expect. When we lower our expectations, they will lower theirs!

As I said, just MHO!

 

[pentex]

Well said, Mai Ku Tiki! Our experiences have ranged from the horrible (a outrightly rude man in Disneyland Hotel, CA) to the good (most of the time) to the wonderful (a CM who actually remembered my daughter's name from one trip to the next, a year later, at OKW.

If our experiences are from one extreme or the other, I make sure management knows. If it's bad, I'd like to think I helped get it corrected for future guests. If it's good, I'd like to think he or she gets a pat on their back from their supervisor.

I'm a bit nervous now at what to expect at BCV now. We stay at OKW most of the time and always get such warm welcomes there...

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks for the replies about the service. Pentex, I wouldn't worry particularly about staying at BCV. I've always been of the mind that no place (whether it is a restaurant or a resort) actually trains and encourages their CM to be less than stellar... but no matter where you go, sometimes you will run into a pill. I think your chances of running into a pill are just as high at any resort, DVC or not... though I do think that you are a little more likely to have "problems" (i wouldn't even go so far as to call my experience a problem... more an annoyance) at a new DVC resort. I'm not sure why, because they should be used to dealing with resort guests, but I remember many reports of problems with the front desk when VWL opened (and still some now) but I personally have never had anything but disney service there.

Lisa

 

[pentex]

Thanks, Lisa F... I'll post my thoughts when we get back!

 

[sumessefui]

I think that there will be front desk problems at almost any new resort. There are new CM's to train and it may take a while for the CM's to get to know the resort. I have had problems even at OKW when they were training new CM's. Give it time and it will get better.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We had great CMs checking us in at BCV. They both worked at OKW in the past and were now working at BCV. We got "Welcomed Home" by both of them. We had a pool view and thought it was great. We loved our stay at BCV.

 

[Lisa F]

I'm glad you had a great CM checking you in. I'm also glad you thought your pool view was great. I take it you were not all the way at the end of the building? We were in the 2nd to last room in the entire building, room 476. I'm sure we would've enjoyed our "pool view" had we been near the middle of the building and able to actually see the pool from our balcony without hanging over the side. I'm sure there are many many many more good views than poor ones at BCV, so your chances of getting a good one are higher than your chances of getting a poor one.

Lisa