Boardwalk pool down - no discounts?

[MrInfinity]

Suck it up and just enjoy? What if this happens to you? Mialias is totally right to be upset. Not having the feature pool is huge. It's easy to be armchair happy when someone else's trip is ruined. But if it was yours you'd be fighting for your rights.

As to there being no guarantee the pool will be open... that's bogus. Hours and schedules were printed on the Disney site months in advance. They advertise a pool, you secure a pool view room, you get a pool. If they can't deliver on what you reserved then they compensate. Access to an alternate pool is okay, but not enough. If this happened to us my DW would be down there at the desk getting whatever we felt was fair.

I'm genuinely disappointed for the OP, but also at the people saying to just accept this last minute change so happily. Yes you make the best of your trip and make it great... but you also pursue fair compensation like a bulldog. I have to wonder if you would just enjoy when you show up somewhere and the feature item you went for isn't there and you'd just be like "oh well, we knew it wasn't guaranteed so that's cool".

As a start, a fair compensation might be a $20 food voucher or 1 any-ride FP+ per day, plus BC pool access.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

There is ZERO chance that you'd be moved from a DVC room on points to the YC or BC due to the pool being down. They aren't even the same company. Its like the Frosty machine at Wendy's being down and demanding a shake from McDonald's - it isn't happening. And there is almost ZERO chance you'll be able to move the BCV - those rooms are already booked.

Good point. My bad--I glossed over DVC.

 

[SBMKE]

Around 4 years ago they closed the BW Luna pool while we were on vacation. They provided cart rides over to Storm Along Bay from the pool area.

 

[tjkraz]

Access to an alternate pool is okay, but not enough. If this happened to us my DW would be down there at the desk getting whatever we felt was fair.

So access to two other resort pools PLUS (objectively) the best resort pool on WDW property isn't sufficient?

Refurbishments are a fact of life, even at Disney resorts. Buildings have to be painted. Roofs have to be repaired and replaced. Pools have to be serviced. Parking lots must be repaved.

If you want gift cards or some other cash compensation, I assume you agree that member dues should be charged for these fees, yes? We "own" the resort. Disney is renovating on our behalf.

 

[loves to dive]

OP didn't say they were DVC, it just says BW pool and this is the resorts board so this might not be a DVC issue. I'll be there in early March and received an email that construction would be happening after I booked but I guess the pool is supposed to be fine by the time we get there. I would have no problems with it if it was closed, it's happened at other resorts on property and will happen again. There are two other pools there and SAB isn't all that far away. Personally, I'd probably be more upset if I were staying at BW at the time wanted to use the quiet pool and it was overrun with kids who would normally be at the clown pool. And yes, I've been to places where the expense was high, it had to be booked way in advance and a feature was not open. We stayed at a very expensive resort in Palau and the only restaurant on property was closed 2 days we were there. There was no such thing as QS or anything else on property. We had to take a cab to another resort (which we had to pay for ourselves) if we wanted to eat. They would call the cab for us so we considered ourselves lucky. It happens.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This is the DVC Resorts board.

 

[MrInfinity]

So access to two other resort pools PLUS (objectively) the best resort pool on WDW property isn't sufficient?
Refurbishments are a fact of life, even at Disney resorts. Buildings have to be painted. Roofs have to be repaired and replaced. Pools have to be serviced. Parking lots must be repaved.
If you want gift cards or some other cash compensation, I assume you agree that member dues should be charged for these fees, yes? We "own" the resort. Disney is renovating on our behalf.

It's not the same.

If I paid for pool view, I will get to look down from my balcony and see my family at the pool. The dist from most rooms in the BW to the BW pool is about 300'. The dist to Stormalong Bay is 2250' - that's almost 1/2 mile. It is not the same as walking out your door to the pool.

Sure refurbs are a fact of life. But when you show photos of a pool, post pool hours, and then have them not be available for extended periods at the last minute, yes that's again a fact of life but it's worthy of being compensated for because it was unplanned downtime. For comparison, the Volcano pool was down for several months. Great. They made it clear, we stayed elsewhere that year. No problem w that. But if you take a pool down at the last minute for several weeks you are majorly detracting from some guests' experience.

This is not renovating "on our behalf" like it's a favor they're doing. People will take their posted pool schedules and plan based on them. Pool is a major deal-breaker for many on a family vacation to Orlando / Disney World. Just because it isn't to you, doesn't mean that which is important to others isn't as valid.

BTW I think you mean subjectively, not objectively.

 

[erionm]

If I paid for pool view, I will get to look down from my balcony and see my family at the pool.

Actually, the category is "Garden or Pool View". So a pool view is not guaranteed.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Suck it up and just enjoy? What if this happens to you? Mialias is totally right to be upset. Not having the feature pool is huge. It's easy to be armchair happy when someone else's trip is ruined. But if it was yours you'd be fighting for your rights.

As to there being no guarantee the pool will be open... that's bogus. Hours and schedules were printed on the Disney site months in advance. They advertise a pool, you secure a pool view room, you get a pool. If they can't deliver on what you reserved then they compensate. Access to an alternate pool is okay, but not enough. If this happened to us my DW would be down there at the desk getting whatever we felt was fair.

I'm genuinely disappointed for the OP, but also at the people saying to just accept this last minute change so happily. Yes you make the best of your trip and make it great... but you also pursue fair compensation like a bulldog. I have to wonder if you would just enjoy when you show up somewhere and the feature item you went for isn't there and you'd just be like "oh well, we knew it wasn't guaranteed so that's cool".

As a start, a fair compensation might be a $20 food voucher or 1 any-ride FP+ per day, plus BC pool access.

You are incorrectly assuming that none of us have been affected by something like this before which I can tell you is an incorrect assumption about me. "Compensation" has been offered - use of a pool that is otherwise restricted to guests of YC/BC/BCV as well as transportation to and from it . And there are still 2 pools to use at BWV so they are not without a pool at their resort. We have sympathy but I'd say most don't agree that the resort is without an amenity that warrants any compensation because there are still open pools at BW/BWV.

 

[MrInfinity]

For kicks... I just went to the dvc site... pulled up the Boardwalk, and on the first page you hit, you know what the first feature under What Makes This Resort Unique is? Heh. Yep. The Luna Park Pool. Cool off at this Coney Ilsand themed... The first feature with the most prominent selling position on the page...

There is also an exclamation point in orange with warning on this page. Know what it talks about? Parking.

They obviously have the functionality to put in a simple note and have it show as a warning like the parking one. But there isn't. They're letting you spend your points -- possibly borrow points -- and then telling you later in an email when you can't put back your points.

It's definitely worthy of a comp. Keep in mind comps are not things that are provided for legal reasons. They are customer service oriented so you can't make the argument about how one really owns a place to sleep.

Actually, the category is "Garden or Pool View". So a pool view is not guaranteed.

I know what they are, and if you have a view of a garden, that's great.

You are incorrectly assuming that none of us have been affected by something like this before which I can tell you is an incorrect assumption about me.

I never made that assumption about you, and I'm sure you've been affected. (?) I would support you too in getting what you felt was appropriate value out of your vacation dollar. If you are happy w your past trips, that's great too.

Don't you see the breakdown? With the obvious ability to put warnings on the page, they didn't do it. If I was to book a trip tomorrow to BW and use up my leftover points, I'd have no idea their most prominently advertised feature was inop. TOTALLY different from how the Poly was handled, where it was in big bright letters on the page that the pool was down. They need to provide the information.

 

[tjkraz]

It's not the same.

I never said it was the same. But some disruption is a fact of life when property ownership is involved.

If I paid for pool view, I will get to look down from my balcony and see my family at the pool. The dist from most rooms in the BW to the BW pool is about 300'. The dist to Stormalong Bay is 2250' - that's almost 1/2 mile. It is not the same as walking out your door to the pool.

Sure refurbs are a fact of life. But when you show photos of a pool, post pool hours, and then have them not be available for extended periods at the last minute, yes that's again a fact of life but it's worthy of being compensated for because it was unplanned downtime. For comparison, the Volcano pool was down for several months. Great. They made it clear, we stayed elsewhere that year. No problem w that. But if you take a pool down at the last minute for several weeks you are majorly detracting from some guests' experience.

In a legal sense, DVC members OWN the resort. Disney is the management company charged with maintaining the property.

Disney should no more compensate for this than a condo association would offer repay owners when the community pool is closed for renovations or an apartment manager refund tenants while painting the building. It comes with the territory.

This is not renovating "on our behalf" like it's a favor they're doing. People will take their posted pool schedules and plan based on them. Pool is a major deal-breaker for many on a family vacation to Orlando / Disney World. Just because it isn't to you, doesn't mean that which is important to others isn't as valid.

I never said that it wasn't important...but it is reality. When my home pool has to be closed for 2 weeks for painting, it impacts my satisfaction. But nobody is going to pay me $20 for the inconvenience.

Only difference is that I have more control over the timing at home. At WDW, we've charged Disney with making those decisions.

BTW I think you mean subjectively, not objectively.

No, I mean objectively. Removing all sentimentality and personal bias from the discussion, Stormalong Bay IS the best pool at WDW. Period.

 

[wilkeliza]

Suck it up and just enjoy? What if this happens to you? Mialias is totally right to be upset. Not having the feature pool is huge. It's easy to be armchair happy when someone else's trip is ruined. But if it was yours you'd be fighting for your rights.

As to there being no guarantee the pool will be open... that's bogus. Hours and schedules were printed on the Disney site months in advance. They advertise a pool, you secure a pool view room, you get a pool. If they can't deliver on what you reserved then they compensate. Access to an alternate pool is okay, but not enough. If this happened to us my DW would be down there at the desk getting whatever we felt was fair.

I'm genuinely disappointed for the OP, but also at the people saying to just accept this last minute change so happily. Yes you make the best of your trip and make it great... but you also pursue fair compensation like a bulldog. I have to wonder if you would just enjoy when you show up somewhere and the feature item you went for isn't there and you'd just be like "oh well, we knew it wasn't guaranteed so that's cool".

As a start, a fair compensation might be a $20 food voucher or 1 any-ride FP+ per day, plus BC pool access.

Why would giving access to another feature pool not be enough. As a member would you be okay footing the bill for that 20 food voucher? How does a FP for the parks fix something at the resort? Booking a hotel room doesn't guarentee you have entree into the parks. Again when this happened at the Poly it was the same deal you get access to the GL pool by walking the path or you could take the free water park tickets with a special bus to go to the water parks in (it was Poly only instead of stopping at Poly and GF).

I've actually had the feature pool be down during my stay so this isn't just armchair vacation planning. If the OP is really that upset about not having a feature pool at BWV they can talk to member services about being moved or about getting points back if it is that big of a deal.

 

[MrInfinity]

No, I mean objectively. Removing all sentimentality and personal bias from the discussion, Stormalong Bay IS the best pool at WDW. Period.

Ok if you say so.

I never said that it wasn't important...but it is reality. When my home pool has to be closed for 2 weeks for painting, it impacts my satisfaction.

Heh but you're also not going to tell people to come use your pool during the times you know you'll be working on it.

I think you're missing the point. They are actively and prominently advertising a major feature that is closed when they have the facilities to post the warnings but just aren't.

 

[MrInfinity]

Why would giving access to another feature pool not be enough. As a member would you be okay footing the bill for that 20 food voucher? How does a FP for the parks fix something at the resort? Booking a hotel room doesn't guarentee you have entree into the parks. Again when this happened at the Poly it was the same deal you get access to the GL pool by walking the path or you could take the free water park tickets with a special bus to go to the water parks in (it was Poly only instead of stopping at Poly and GF).

The Poly told you about it in advance. By being up front, a consumer can choose to go or wait. Accept the current state of the Poly or stay elsewhere. Rooms were also dirt cheap during the pool downtime.

I've actually had the feature pool be down during my stay so this isn't just armchair vacation planning. If the OP is really that upset about not having a feature pool at BWV they can talk to member services about being moved or about getting points back if it is that big of a deal.

Then I think we agree. If this member is put off, they should talk to MS, and they'll get something if they're persistent. I'm fine w that.

 

[wilkeliza]

The Poly told you about it in advance! Huge difference. By being up front, a consumer can choose to go or wait. Accept the current state of the Poly or stay elsewhere. Rooms were also dirt cheap during the pool downtime.



Then I think we agree. If this member is put off, they should talk to MS, and they'll get something if they're persistent. I'm fine w that.

Ours actually wasn't at the Poly I was just giving an example of what they did when that pool was under refurb. I think it was AKL for us and they said just use Kidanni's pool. We got a Savannah upgrade and saw it as a plus as I don't really use the pools (unless it is SAB) anyways.

 

[tjkraz]

Heh but you're also not going to tell people to come use your pool during the times you know you'll be working on it.

Depends on how much advance notice I have that the maintenance needs to occur. I certainly wouldn't have known 11 months ahead of time.

I think you're missing the point. They are actively and prominently advertising a feature that is not currently available when they have the facilities to post the warnings but just aren't.

And they also provided owners with a POS which states the obvious--that resort amenities will be removed from service from time-to-time. No guarantee of advance notice or compensation.

There are four pool advisories currently on the DVC webpage. The fact that this one isn't listed speaks to its unexpected nature. Posting a message the same day that the letter went out wouldn't have helped OP who made a reservation "months ago."

Management notified guests of the issue, has two other resort pools available, arranged for use of a neighboring pool and arranged for transportation. And that's not enough, huh?

 

[MrInfinity]

Depends on how much advance notice I have that the maintenance needs to occur. I certainly wouldn't have known 11 months ahead of time.

If you know it's down -- now -- you would not deliberately suggest to people that it will be open -- now -- in the interest of getting them there.

And they also provided owners with a POS which states the obvious--that resort amenities will be removed from service from time-to-time. No guarantee of advance notice or compensation.

Right, we all get the legaleez. I suppose technically, Disney could close Disney World on a week you go, and really, you would just have to accept it. They can't guarantee the parks will be open, and if they feel there is a safety concern or other issue, they can close it. I guess if you show up and the parks aren't open you'll just find something else to do and that'll be perfectly fine. Heck you can walk to Gatorland - it's only a couple miles away.

Pool being closed isn't up there with the parks being closed but I'd say the pool is in the top 2 or 3 things some people do and use. Definitely an important part of many vacations.

There are four pool advisories currently on the DVC webpage. The fact that this one isn't listed speaks to its unexpected nature. Posting a message the same day that the letter went out wouldn't have helped OP who made a reservation "months ago."

But you agree, right? That even if it was unexpected at some point, it's definitely expected now, and this is unacceptable.

Management notified guests of the issue, has two other resort pools available, arranged for use of a neighboring pool and arranged for transportation. And that's not enough, huh?

I don't understand what you're debating. So it's enough for you? Great. It wasn't enough for the OP. So what. No argument here. You're different people, you have different priorities. That's totally acceptable to me. If it's acceptable to you to have a pool a 1/2 mile away, fine. Just because it's not important to you again doesn't mean it isn't to the OP. I don't see why you take such objection to the OP being dissatisfied or wanting to be comped something for a pool the site still says is open not being open. I think that's perfectly reasonable, and if she wants to take it up w MS, it makes sense to me.

 

[msjprincess]

Slighty OT- Where is the pool schedule posted? I've never seen one on the WDW site. TIA

 

[tjkraz]

If you know it's down -- now -- you would not deliberately suggest to people that it will be open -- now -- in the interest of getting them there.

And OP was notified of the pool closure. Now. Before the trip begins. The fact that it isn't on the website is a similar, yet different issue. Personalized letters mailed to all incoming guests accomplished much more than a web message would have at this point.

Right, we all get the legaleez. I suppose technically, Disney could close Disney World on a week you go, and really, you would just have to accept it. They can't guarantee the parks will be open, and if they feel there is a safety concern or other issue, they can close it. I guess if you show up and the parks aren't open you'll just find something else to do and that'll be perfectly fine. Heck you can walk to Gatorland - it's only a couple miles away.

Hyperbole aside, Disney HAS had to close the parks unexpectedly. It happens.

I don't understand what you're debating.

I was responding to the hypothetical:

Suck it up and just enjoy? What if this happens to you?

 

[tjkraz]

Slighty OT- Where is the pool schedule posted? I've never seen one on the WDW site. TIA

When you go into the online booking page, there is a list of renovation projects planned for each resort. Over the last couple of years, the list has been maintained quite well. But for whatever reason, the BWV pool closure is not listed. (The BoardWalk pool slide also closed rather abruptly for maintenance back in the fall of 2015. It happens.)

The notes are typically listed on the main page for each resort on the site as well.