Bumped from OKW GV 11/8-11/14

[drise]

I had read here a few weeks ago about someone being notified 2 weeks before their vac. about their GV being refurbished and being offered 2 bed units instead. Well guess what, it happened to us. I had reserved GV 11 mos. in advance for 2 families and gp, 11 total. I went to check in on 11/8 for 5 nts. and they said the mgr. would like to see you in a back room, I knew imm. the GV wasn't ready. She explained it was being refurbished and the appliances and carpet were not in. She offered us 2 2bed units, which actually sleep more, and the GV should be ready in 2 days and we could move then. I didn't want to move in the middle of our stay, everyday was packed with activities and there was no time to pack up bags and food, etc. I was very upset, they offered to let us stay for free for the nights in the 2 bed and park passes for 1 day for our party of 10 (1 infant). We said we'd think about staying in the 2b or moving if the gv became avail. They called us that night, Sun. and said the gv would be avail on Mon. I said in the morning? She said no after 4:00 when the current people checked out. This was confusing since our gv was supposed to be not ready due to refurbishment and nothing else was available, did someone suddenly cancel a 4nt gv reservation??? Well our party talked it over and we did not want to give up time to pack as well as food we had bought for 2 kitchens and the 2nd family now had a master suite and a seperate room for their kids. So they gave us 2 nts. free in the 2 2b units and charged us the pts. we would have paid for a GV the other 3 nts. It all worked out for the best, and we were quite satisifed. But just a warning to all with Grand Villa reservations.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I suspect the GV you were being offered in both instances was not the refurbished one, but one that was being vacated that day. I can tell you from building our own house, that things don't always go as planned or scheduled. You just happened to get caught up in that.

I am reserving a GV for next October (I start calling tomorrow), and I am hoping things go well with it, but I wouldn't mind if they gave me that kind of deal! Since we always have APs, the one day passes would be great to give to our guests!

 

[Granny]

I imagine that this sort of thing could happen to almost any reservation. The thing I'm glad to see is that they gave you what I think was a fair solution as well as a little "sweetener" for your troubles.

Glad you had a good trip!

 

[PamOKW]

It must be awful disappointing to not get the GV after planning all year. However, sometimes things are just unavoidable and I agree that as long DVC comes up with a fair compensation that there isn't much more they can do. Glad to hear you rolled with the punches and had a great time instead of letting it get you upset.

 

[Disney Doll]

While I am sure it was somewhat disappointing not to get the GV, in some ways maybe it was better to have 2 2BR units. I often think on vacations with other folks that having a little "space" can be a nice thing. And they did give you something for your troubles, so it sounds like a win/win in general.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by PamOKW
It must be awful disappointing to not get the GV after planning all year. However, sometimes things are just unavoidable and I agree that as long DVC comes up with a fair compensation that there isn't much more they can do. Glad to hear you rolled with the punches and had a great time instead of letting it get you upset.

I am stunned that they were refurbishing the GV and could not provide it, even though it was reserved eleven bloody months in advance. I would be so ticked off. I am sure they can plan these refurbs in advance and make sure that they don't allocate them to members. This is a monumental screw-up IMHO. Brutal.

 

[lenshanem]

Maybe it wasn't really being refurbed? Maybe they agve thsoe nights to a celebrity or whatever. didn't this happen to soemoen recently during a golf tournament? They got bumped from the GV they had reserved 11 montsh out.

 

[jaysue]

Sounds like bad planning to me but you were able to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution and after all you were at OKW kicking your feet up and enjoying the place

thanks
jaysue

 

[KellyDVC]

let this sort of thing ruin your vacation!! Upsetting nonetheless, but still had a nice vacation.

I am not convinced that mgt had not given your unit to someone else, and were using the refurb as an excuse. If this ever happens to me, I will demand to actually see the refurbished unit (in mid-refurbishment). Like you I would not let such a thing ruin my vacation, as long as the truth is being told.

Thanks.

 

[Niagara2]

Only because we all have been in a GV together before and know the great experience that a GV is, I would move to two - 2 bedrooms with park passes if it was offered to me for free. Heck - next year we can all go again on the saved points......but if this was a once in a lifetime trip I would of felt like crying in that managers office. Many of the DVC members are there for repeat visits so one disappointment isn't too bad. Disney is usually very good at trying to come to fair compensation for mistakes that they make.
Now with all that being said, we leave this week for a week stay in a OKW GV for Thanksgiving......I will keep you posted.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by joepoe
I am sure they can plan these refurbs in advance and make sure that they don't allocate them to members. This is a monumental screw-up IMHO. Brutal.

I disagree. The Grand Villas are almost always reserved at the 11 month window. Therefore the resort would have to make a decision to take a room out of service a full 11 months prior to the actual rehab.

While it's possible that WDW resorts use some sort of maintenance schedule to make sure this happens on a regular basis, we have no idea what might have prompted the decision regarding this particular room. Recent posts have occasionally questioned the quality of rooms left in service. Perhaps this particular GV was 2 months away from a scheduled rehab, but its condition had deteriorated such that someone made the tough decision to correct the problems early.

Giving DVC and WDW the benefit of the doubt, it sounds like they did a very good job of equitably settling the issue with the guests who were inconvenienced.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by tjkraz
I disagree. The Grand Villas are almost always reserved at the 11 month window. Therefore the resort would have to make a decision to take a room out of service a full 11 months prior to the actual rehab.

While it's possible that WDW resorts use some sort of maintenance schedule to make sure this happens on a regular basis, we have no idea what might have prompted the decision regarding this particular room. Recent posts have occasionally questioned the quality of rooms left in service. Perhaps this particular GV was 2 months away from a scheduled rehab, but its condition had deteriorated such that someone made the tough decision to correct the problems early.

Giving DVC and WDW the benefit of the doubt, it sounds like they did a very good job of equitably settling the issue with the guests who were inconvenienced.

I totally agree! Also, as I said in my earlier post, things can get held up with work crews, delivery of appliances etc, and things don't always happen in the time frame they should. Believe me, I know that with building a new house!

 

[InstImpres]

You are a better sport than I am but I do think you hit the nail on the head with a regular trip vs. once in a lifetim.

Does anyone know if a room refurbishment schedule exits the same as it does for the rides (or the notes about the Poly buildings on mousesavers.) I ask because if we are still all speaking 15 months from now we plan on having a GV for my parents retirement. We are having an Illuminations Dessert reception followed by people coming back to my GV. This is definetly an instance were 2 2Bdrms, would not work. Does anyone think if something like this were to happen to me, they would make an accomodation (use of the attic? etc)

Thanks
Sandy

 

[MIKESTOOTS]

We had gone on a wait list for a GV and were so happy when our ressie came through for the GV. About a month before our trip, Disney called to say our GV was being refurbished and would not be ready for us. I think someone at Disney made a very large mistake and gave out ressies they should not have. Anyway, we were offered a 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom instead. We took them and it was very nice having the extra master bedroom. We were not together all the time, which may have been a good thing, gave everyone some privacy and some downtime from each other. We also got some of our points back for another trip so we all were satisfied. Wonder if they had tried to get in touch with you before your trip. We were there 11/8 to 11/16. Stayed in building 62, first floor. Awesome location. Glad you enjoyed the rest of your trip.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I am kind of hoping they bump me from the GV I have in April! LOL. I have only read this post, and one other about being bumped, and what Disney gives to compensate..I'll TAKE IT! I can always get a GV some other year.

Sorry you were disappointed, but I am glad you made it positive!