Couple of questions from a new member...

[JohnG]

Wow..............this thread is really starting to turn ugly!

Let's face it......the world is not perfect and some people have experienced less than perfect service from Disney and DVC. I for one think we should thank them for bringing them to our attention and we should look to learn from them. Getting these issues out in an open forum like this is good for us..........it's good for Disney (and don't think for a minute that DVC doesn't know what gets aired in this forum) and it's good for the people who had the bad times because maybe they'll get some good ideas from other DVC'ers and also maybe see the same issues in different ways, based on other peoples' responses. Let's not try to "shout them down".

I'd like me try to add a little additional overall perspective to the BWDVC situation, at least from my limited experience.

First, we've been members since '97 and have taken several vacations in our "Homes away from Home" - all at BW. Maybe we've just been lucky, but our reservations have always been in order, the CM who checked us in has always been courteous and competent and the accomodations have always ranged between 95-100% clean and in working order. The one thing we learned is that when DVC says your room will be ready after 4PM, then that is what you should expect. We've had about a 50/50 split between getting in as early as 2PM and getting in as late as 4:30.

I know the original poster on this thread was ill, tired and experiencing really miserable weather, and I feel terrible that DVC did not bend over backwards to help her out. On that point....and I could be wrong here and I know this has been a thread before....I believe the "Room Controller" assigns you your actual room number up to 3 days before your arrival. If that is indeed the case, realize that when you ask for early access it's not as simple as getting the first room cleaned in your category - you're waiting for YOUR room to be ready.

Maybe I'm just guilty of being a polyanna re DVC, but I don't think so. I travel EVERY week of the year now, and on average I stay in at least two hotels (primarily Hyatts, Marriotts and Hiltons - in that order of preference) each week. I'd estimate I'm averaging 100-125 nites per year at these properties. The problems and issues I have personally experienced at these top-quality chains (and with their reservation systems) makes most things I've read on these boards re the deficiencies of DVC pale in comparison.

And, every one of these hotel nites has been on a "Cash" basis. Personally, I don't think Disney sees us as "second class" citizens because they "already have our money". It seems to me that Disney wants to keep selling DVC-type deals for a very long time to come. If they screw this up by mistreating their best customers, they will lose that opportunity.

Just my $.02, hope I haven't missed anyone's point or offended another DVC'er here!

JohnG
Offsite 73,74,75,76,77,79,80, 82
Poly 82,83,85,86
Carribean Beach 87,88,89,90
Beach Club 91,92,93,95,96
Yacht Club 94
ASM 99
BWDVC 97,98,99,2000 (3 Times)2001 (New Year's for the REAL Millenium!)

DLand 74,78,84,88,92,94,95,96,98

[This message was edited by JohnG on 04-23-01 at 11:04 PM.]

 

[Alysa]

As the original poster I was not negative, ill or expecting bad weather. I am a very positive person and I was just looking for some assurance from others that I had made the right decision to keep my membership by hearing some of their good experiences. I so want things to go well. In my case we had police cars, ambulance and firetrucks and I could have died because of the BW. The operations manager at the BW said he had never in his entire career heard of anyone being treated as badly as I had been. I am sorry to have caused such bad feelings. Please accept my apologies.

 

[jfulcer]

Good air in, bad air out.. breath deeply....

Now, obviously what other people have obviously stated is that nobody, every time, can expect for things to go 100% their way every time. Things are going to happen, and generally I have heard DVC has been more than willing to try to rectify the situation. I'm even more intrigued to find out that so many emergency personnel were involved, but certainly happy that everything turned out ok.

When we called MS to book our reservations this past March, honestly I wasn't sure really what I wanted to book. The CM was very helpful and checked many dates at OKW, BWV, and finally WLV. It took me four calls to get my whole vacation straight (my fault) and every CM I talked with was more than happy to do anything for me that I wanted to. The last one even spent well over 40 mins on the phone trying to set me up with Priority Seatings, and was nothing but happy and cheerful the whole time.

Alysa, I sincerely hope that your next vacation will be a lot happier than your previous one, even considering you may be getting rude CM's at MS a couple of times. Odds are you've just had a string of bad luck - it should improve in your favor.

Jeff <img height="80" width="55" src="http://www.angelfire.com/art/jfulcer/goofhead07.gif"> <img height="80" width="125" src="http://www.angelfire.com/art/jfulcer/vacclub01.gif">
8/95 WL - Honeymoon!
3/97 Offsite
3/99, 3/00 Offsite - Premier Vacation Homes
11/99 Offsite (Tampa!)
8/00 Wilderness Lodge
9/00 Offsite - MOWC
3/01 VWL (DVC points)

 

[sgtdisney]

I would really like to understand more exactly what happened with the original poster to make the experience at BVW so horrible that they would refund her points. I know that she said she didn't want to go into it, but it would help in understanding exactly what went wrong and possible solutions to any future problems.

 

[SueOKW]

Please don't give up your DVC yet.... Like Diane - I think it was Diane - said, OKW has been marvelous... every time.... I haven't had one negative issue, or if I did, I've clean forgotten it.

To me, my DVC vacation is such a great thing to look forward to. Trust that manager to do the right thing for you this time.

Sue

<img width="200" src="http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/disstuff/cleveland.gif">

 

[PKK/MJK]

We have points at both OKW and BW. My DH and I have only stayed at BW once. We had polite CM's and a lovely studio overlooking the Boardwalk which we really enjoyed--except for those miserable birds which dive-bomb you every time you try to sit on the balcony. We then made reservations for a BW one-bedroom for our daughter's honeymoon. They had horrible CM's at check-in, waited well past 4:00pm for a room--and when they finally were taken to their room found not only wasn't it cleaned but also people were still staying in it!! The CM's refused to believe the beel-person when he said the room was still occupied. They insisted he was wrong because their computer said the room was ready. They actually made him go back and check. Eventually, the honeymooners got a lovely room at the end of a hallway with a great view of Luna Park etc. They were very happy until the next morning when they were awakened at the crack of dawn by a terrible racket. It seems, BW closed that entire wing for renovations and they were the only ones left in it. For the next 9 days they awoke to the pounding of hammers and workmen yelling to each other. They decide to "suck it up" since they like their room. When they returned home, they wrote a letter of complaint and received two free nights at BW for a future visit. While it definitely was not amusing at the time, they now have a funny honeymoon story to tell their future kids. Oh, and a few months ago they bought their own BW points!!!! They were there at the same time as the big pool-hopping situation but they had no problems whatsoever. They still love the place. Give it a second chance!!

Phil and Mary Jo

WDW--82,83,85,87,89,93,95,96, 97,98,99,00,01
DVC/OKW

 

[Peggy Sue]

Give it another try. We own at BWV and OKW, and we have enjoyed our vacations at both resorts. We too have been on the receiving end of rooms not being ready until after 5 PM, but we were patient and eventually got into our room and the frustration that comes from a long day of travel and having to wait was instantly washed away as we unpacked and began our Disney vacation. Each stay we have always had one or two things we've had to call housekeeping to fix, they were immediately attended to, with excellent service. No matter what resort you stay in, in or outside of WDW, chances are you will run into a bad experience somewhere along the line. Sorry you had such a bad initial DVC vacation and I hope your upcoming December trip will be picture perfect! We've been members since 1997 and have enjoyed each and every DVC vacation.

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