BWV - decided to try - disappointed

[PrincessDadx2]

First....why on earth do you wait until 4 pm to checkin? I have never waited that long for a Marriott property - even during Christmas!

You are mistaken. The check in time for every Marriott timeshare is 4pm also (I own several). Sometimes you are able to get in earlier, but no guarantee. You are more likely to get in earlier as an owner and I am sure it is the same for DVC. The biggest variable is not staffing, but what time people check out and how full the resort was the previous night.

Parts of Marriott Grande Vista were really nasty before their rehab, but that is the same anywhere. The biggest problem is that people don't take the time to call engineering to fix little things so they become bigger things. I always have to call 3 or 4 times a trip to get things fixed whenever I stay at a timeshare. Nothing major, but it all adds up if no one cares.

The rest is location. For the price, I get annoyed at DVC having smaller rooms, smaller tvs, no tv channels, charging for internet (think that changed), no screened porch, etc. etc. but you offset that with having the entire WDW resort available.

 

[5forDiz]

........And even in this economy, my dvc points are worth almost what I paid for them (I paid $87/pt) on the resale market. I don't think you can say that for most other timeshares. A lot of people on the boards have said, DVC is not for everyone, it has to work for you. Don't make the decision to buy based on what others say. For my money, BWV is good value..........

Very good points you make here Chester's Mum especially that DVC is not for everyone....it works for us & many many others but it would seem not for OP.

We've stayed on Inn side & had a broken lamp, sagging in middle daybed & bathroom looked like it could have been cleaned better - we called on what we weren't happy with ( lamp took 3 calls if I recall ) and it took a bit but concerns were addressed. This has been our experience as well if we have any issues upon check-in at our DVC villa. I'd like to think our satisfaction getting things done is all in ~how~you make the call...

Gotta wonder though OP: if you were so unhappy with your villa, did you ask to be moved to another ? given the chance I'd be surprised if they didn't try their best to work things out for you .....
( but look on the bright side you'd have missed out on here! )

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Very good points you make here Chester's Mum especially that DVC is not for everyone....it works for us & many many others but it would seem not for OP.

We've stayed on Inn side & had a broken lamp, sagging in middle daybed & bathroom looked like it could have been cleaned better - we called on what we weren't happy with ( lamp took 3 calls if I recall ) and it took a bit but concerns were addressed. This has been our experience as well if we have any issues upon check-in at our DVC villa. I'd like to think our satisfaction getting things done is all in ~how~you make the call...

Gotta wonder though OP: if you were so unhappy with your villa, did you ask to be moved to another ? given the chance I'd be surprised if they didn't try their best to work things out for you .....
( but look on the bright side you'd have missed out on here! )

Why didn't we ask to be moved........because we didn't arrive in our room until nearly 5 pm on a night we checked in.........with 5 pm dinner reservations for Fantasmic. Besides......the problems we had with the room would have been the same with others.....tired and in need of renovation. Move the next day? Heck no.....we probably wouldn't have another room until 5 pm again.....upsetting our Christmas Party plans.

We are fortunate enough to pay castmember rates so in the long run a DVC contract would be MORE expensive for us and we don not like the restrictions. We have seen sooooooooo much DVC available for castmember rates in 2008 that we decided...what the heck.....lets see if it's as great as DVC folks say.

Marriott is far more flexible than trying to use DVC outside Disney properties - at least as it was explained to us.

We enjoy our discounts and excellent service and flexibility so I guess DVC just will not work for us.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

You are mistaken. The check in time for every Marriott timeshare is 4pm also (I own several). Sometimes you are able to get in earlier, but no guarantee. You are more likely to get in earlier as an owner and I am sure it is the same for DVC. The biggest variable is not staffing, but what time people check out and how full the resort was the previous night.

Parts of Marriott Grande Vista were really nasty before their rehab, but that is the same anywhere. The biggest problem is that people don't take the time to call engineering to fix little things so they become bigger things. I always have to call 3 or 4 times a trip to get things fixed whenever I stay at a timeshare. Nothing major, but it all adds up if no one cares.

The rest is location. For the price, I get annoyed at DVC having smaller rooms, smaller tvs, no tv channels, charging for internet (think that changed), no screened porch, etc. etc. but you offset that with having the entire WDW resort available.

By the way, when we arrived at the Boardwalk Villas to checkin it was actually 11 am - we had just come from some retail therapy at DTD. We were told our room would be ready any time and given a telephone number to call.

After our 4th call and the same operator twice, she asked us....."what were you told when you checked in?' When we expalined "any time"....she then told us....."Vacation Club rooms are rarely available until 4. They should have told you to not even CHECK until after 3 in the afternoon".

Our DVC friends at AKV (one of 3 home resorts for them) checked in the following day and were not given their room number until 5:50 pm (we checked our watches when our cell phone rang). (and they were to join us at 6:35 for dinner reservations at LTT during the Christmas Party).

That just doesn't work for us.

 

[chalee94]

Besides......the problems we had with the room would have been the same with others.....tired and in need of renovation.

a sample size of one is hardly scientifically valid. but when you are determined to be unpleasant up front, then there is no need to bother with any actual evidence before delivering a verdict, huh?

We enjoy our discounts and excellent service and flexibility so I guess DVC just will not work for us.

i can't imagine encouraging someone with a castmember discount to buy DVC. it's not for everyone by any stretch.

but keep on grinding that axe if you feel the need...

 

[tjkraz]

By the way, when we arrived at the Boardwalk Villas to checkin it was actually 11 am - we had just come from some retail therapy at DTD. We were told our room would be ready any time and given a telephone number to call.

After our 4th call and the same operator twice, she asked us....."what were you told when you checked in?' When we expalined "any time"....she then told us....."Vacation Club rooms are rarely available until 4. They should have told you to not even CHECK until after 3 in the afternoon".

Our DVC friends at AKV (one of 3 home resorts for them) checked in the following day and were not given their room number until 5:50 pm (we checked our watches when our cell phone rang). (and they were to join us at 6:35 for dinner reservations at LTT during the Christmas Party).

That just doesn't work for us.

What you experienced has nothing to do with the quality of service. It's just part of the system to which we are all subject.

You yourself said there were 200 DVC rooms being vacated on your arrival day. Check out time is 11am. Every single one of those guests was well within their rights to remain in the room until 11am. It's mathematically impossible for Disney to accommodate every newly-arriving guest by that time regardless of how many Housekeeping CMs they have working.

The posted arrival time for DVC is 4pm. For cash guests it's an hour earlier at 3pm. There are absolutely no guarantees that you will get into a cash room before 3pm regardless of how much you stomp your feet at the front desk.

The fact that you did receive a BWI room at 10:30am is either an indication that the resort was operating at less than 100% occupancy (rooms were already clean from the night before) or it was just the luck of the draw (the previous occupant of your room had an early flight and housekeeping was able to get in early.)

These aren't service-related issues. Resort hotels do not purposely under-book the facility so that they can accommodate early arrivals the next day. Granting early arrivals is a function of how busy they were the night before, how early guests vacated the next morning and how many rooms must be serviced.

Your single experience is not going to paint an accurate picture of the service that either resort wing offers. We have had about a dozen DVC resort stays and never had to wait until near 4pm to get into our room. The latest was around 1:30pm while the earliest was 8:30am.

 

[CarolA]

By the way, when we arrived at the Boardwalk Villas to checkin it was actually 11 am - we had just come from some retail therapy at DTD. We were told our room would be ready any time and given a telephone number to call.

After our 4th call and the same operator twice, she asked us....."what were you told when you checked in?' When we expalined "any time"....she then told us....."Vacation Club rooms are rarely available until 4. They should have told you to not even CHECK until after 3 in the afternoon".

Our DVC friends at AKV (one of 3 home resorts for them) checked in the following day and were not given their room number until 5:50 pm (we checked our watches when our cell phone rang). (and they were to join us at 6:35 for dinner reservations at LTT during the Christmas Party).

That just doesn't work for us.

I am fine with this, BUT you seem to think that Marriott doesn't have any of these issues. I had all of the same issues at a Marriott resort. Well actually MORE .... They never volunteered to call me to tell me the villa was ready.... because they were CLOSING the front desk. (I still find that bizarre and I complained to Marriott about that too. As a single female traveler I don't stay at "bare bones" hotel with no staff on duty at night for SAFETY reasons. For what Marriott charges and thier reputation it never occured to me to check on this!!!)

 

[Deb & Bill]

...The fact that you did receive a BWI room at 10:30am is either an indication that the resort was operating at less than 100% occupancy (rooms were already clean from the night before) or it was just the luck of the draw (the previous occupant of your room had an early flight and housekeeping was able to get in early.) ...

Plus in the DVC villas, you have studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and grand villas. Some preferred pool/water view, some preferred BW view and some standard view.

At BWI, how many room categories are there - maybe two or three?

So the odds of the room type and location you needed being ready earlier was much greater at BWI than at BWV

 

[ORD2KOA]

I just got back from OKW and blasted an e-mail to DVC the minute we got home, telling them that if we had been prospective buyers instead of long-time owners, that there was no way in the world that I would buy into DVC. I couldn't believe the room. The first one had towels on the floor (this was 5 pm) and an unmade bed and mold along the shower that was sickening. The housekeepers couldn't understand what our problem with the room was. GRRRR. OKW was fully booked (we checked in Sunday), but I did get the manager to move us out of the horrible room, but the second room wasn't much better. Mold in the bathroom, mis-matched knobs in the kitchen. This was NOT what we bought into. I really can't believe what a mess the place was. They power-washed the building on Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning there were still puddles on the landings and mud on the sidewalks. I'll be interested to see what kind of response I get from them. I'm still shaking my head wondering what the heck is going on there. They need to stop building and start cleaning the units.

 

[fishermouse]

We always stay at a Moderate on arrival day and switch to a Deluxe the following day.

Checkin at 4pm is completely unacceptable for us. I'm not spending "deluxe $$$ --- even at castmember discounts" for a late checkin day.

When we finally (happily) checked into BWI --- we were given one of the best rooms we have EVER had at WDW.......before 10 am.....now THAT's service!

Oh well....that just means it's one more 1 bedroom villa for you folks!!!

Enjoy!

Thanks, we can use the extra room, it will be taken by a very happy DVC member. By the way if you take time to read the contract the check in time is not 10am. I've had it both ways sometimes I get a room as soon as I arive and sometimes I wait. This is WDW not like there is nothing to do while you wait. We generally go to a park or pool maybe go grocery shopping, MS will put your bags etc. in your room when it's ready so why hang out in a lobby. You can come back at midnight all your belongings will be in the room waiting for you, it's vacation so I figure lets get on with it, we can unpack later.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Yeah. I would have to say that our experience with VWL is on par with what the OP reports. My parents have stayed in "regular" rooms at the lodge while we stayed DVC ... their rooms were much cleaner and better maintained (not to mention the new TV's at the lodge).

We put up with it because of the price. I'm not a cast member and we travel in peak seasons that are usually blacked out for discounts. Owning my small DVC contract allowes me to stay on site and the nicer properties (even if our room isn't the nicest, the resort location and amenities are nice ... location, location, location).

We are staying at BWV for spring break. We transferred points into our account from another member for the purpose ... 6 nights is going to cost us $1400 in a garden/water view studio. A standard room at BWI for the same 6 nights would cost us $3206. A room at All Star Movies would be $1017 (and that doesn't even include a mini fridge!) and Coronado Springs would be $1513.

 

[jade1]

First....why on earth do you wait until 4 pm to checkin?

We were not allowed into our room until 4:35 ( checked the watch ) and friends didn't get into Animal Kingdom Villas until 6 pm

Finally.....wow is it outdated.

Oh yes, what's with the double points for weekends?

If you are looking for a GREAT room......just walk over to the Boardwalk Inn and sink into some REAL luxury!!! !!

Why wait until 4PM is right (or 6PM for AKV), we check in and walk 10 minutes to EPCOT-one of the main reasons we are there. The room will be there when we get back.

It will be refurbed and back to BWI quality. Some of us want that sooner-since we dont pay the dues. There were threads on here all summer how bad BWI was-before it was done.

Actually it's half the points during week nights, not double weekends.

 

[jade1]

Check this out from just 5 months ago.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1898854

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Plus in the DVC villas, you have studios, one bedroom, two bedroom and grand villas. Some preferred pool/water view, some preferred BW view and some standard view.

At BWI, how many room categories are there - maybe two or three?

So the odds of the room type and location you needed being ready earlier was much greater at BWI than at BWV

WHO CARES - we have one of the best rooms at WDW in our opinion and we didn't have to wait until after 4 pm for it.

By the way, our DVC friends who checked into AKL left WDW for the weekend (because of the double points I guess) and returned late on Monday. Why?......."we never get into rooms before 4 pm so why arrive early".

Beat a dead horse you say....yes, sometimes you guys do that.

Yes, DVC is not for everybody. We were willing to give it a try with a wide open mind. The idea of a 1 bedroom villa was very appealing and we had looked forward to the experiment for months.

Read into it what you want guys....but the room and poor service while at the Villas was not worth the CASTMEMBER rate much less the cash rate. That was the bottom line for us.

We had a wonderful time at WDW as we always do. But the room was a disappointment, hands down.

 

[eliza61]

Why wait until 4PM is right (or 6PM for AKV), we check in and walk 10 minutes to EPCOT-one of the main reasons we are there. The room will be there when we get back.It will be refurbed and back to BWI quality. Some of us want that sooner-since we dont pay the dues. There were threads on here all summer how bad BWI was-before it was done.
)

That's the only part of op's post I didn't understand. No one I know waits around. Op did you guys want to get into the room immediatley or did you wait around the resort for a room. Most people I know, no matter where they stay, check in- have their luggage stowed, get their tickets and then away they go.

 

[crisi]

WHO CARES - we have one of the best rooms at WDW in our opinion and we didn't have to wait until after 4 pm for it.

By the way, our DVC friends who checked into AKL left WDW for the weekend (because of the double points I guess) and returned late on Monday. Why?......."we never get into rooms before 4 pm so why arrive early".

Beat a dead horse you say....yes, sometimes you guys do that.

Yes, DVC is not for everybody. We were willing to give it a try with a wide open mind. The idea of a 1 bedroom villa was very appealing and we had looked forward to the experiment for months.

Read into it what you want guys....but the room and poor service while at the Villas was not worth the CASTMEMBER rate much less the cash rate. That was the bottom line for us.

We had a wonderful time at WDW as we always do. But the room was a disappointment, hands down.

I'm really glad you found that out before you purchased. Now you know.

You seem to get that DVC isn't for everyone - and almost everyone on this board will agree with you. What you are not getting is that DVC IS a good solution for some people. Its one of the very few ways to stay on site affordably in a multi room unit (the other is the cabins at Ft. Wilderness). Its the only way to get a room walking distance from Epcot for what works out to be less than $100 a night. When we have room condition discussions there are people who have always been delighted with the condition of their rooms - either they've had better luck than I have or are less picky (I've never had an unacceptable room, but delighted would be pushing it). When you consider that many of the BWV owners bought in for around $60 a point - its is a good value - if you are willing to go timeshare instead of hotel - which means later check in times, rooms refreshed less often, no daily housekeeping, and no late checkout.

 

[LSchrow]

just to note:
while CM rates are nice, they are not available for all dates at all resorts.

with CM discount (yes, there is one), buying DVC was a HUGE cost savings for accomodations (just look at how many CMs own ~ the vast majority "did the math" . & there is still a recognizable savings without the additional CM discount.

as many said, DVC is not for everyone. we're thrilled with ours (tho occassionally "step down" into concierge at a deluxe resort for a day or 2, just for a change of pace ~ the BWVs are still the top resort for the more than 20 ppl in our family off-site is not even a consideration. our time & money are too precious to waste).

different strokes.

 

[ORD2KOA]

... their rooms were much cleaner and better maintained (not to mention the new TV's at the lodge).

We put up with it because of the price. .

I find this to be a problem.

The unit we were in at OKW was not up to par, and it makes me wonder if DVC members aren't complaining because they think they're getting a deal. We've owned for 14 years. We think we get value from ownership, but there isn't any excuse for the rooms not to be clean, and in the instance of the two we saw at OKW this week, they really are unacceptable.

I think members need to speak up. You paid to build, you pay property tax and you pay upkeep costs. DVC needs to take care of the property.

No DVC member should accept less than a first-class experience when we're at our "home away from home." That's what we bought. We didn't buy "oh, it's good enough because we got a deal" accommodations, and neither do the people who book into those units directly from Disney.

 

[rsackett]

I am going to BWV for the first and most likley the last time (II trade) the end of June. We are so looking forward to it. This is the first I have heard about a referb going on in 2009. Do you owners thing it will be done by the end of June?

Ray

 

[dis-happy]

We've done more than a dozen dvc trips and have never NOT gotten our room early. We always check in during the morning, sometimes have been given the room right away, other times we leave, call, and get in by 2 pm. Most of the regular dvc-ers will tell you that they've gotten a room before 4 pm at least a few times. I think it's odd that your friends said they NEVER get in before 4 pm.

Finally, DVC is a boon to people who travel as a family with children, especially more than 2. I can see how a 1 b/r villa might seem ho-hum to a couple who is on the meal plan, but with children (including a new toddler) it is a must for us. It's the reason we bought, all the room of a time-share (kitchen, large bathroom area and washier/dryer) but within walking distance to the parks. In the future, if you travel with children, you may change your thoughts on how much nicer it is to close the door in a 1 b/r versus 5 people all trying to sleep together in a BWI room (plus, the new AKV and BLT rooms will have 2 baths in the 1 b/r).

One added note: what you said about on-site vs. off-site is true for all Disney properties, not just DVC. You can stay at the Ritz-Carlton and many other nice area hotels for less than a Deluxe room and get better accomodations and better service. It all comes down to location.