Did we make a mistake?

[revrob]

With all this talk about Disney magic/lack of magic at DVC resorts, I have become very nervous about our decision to purchase. We have not been "home" yet, our first trip is scheduled for late September. I don't think we're demanding. We're not looking for 5 star - we've always stayed in values or moderate resorts. But I do always appreciate the fact that the CM's are so friendly, that they are helpful with any questions that we have and feel like they really want us to have a great time. We were enchanted by the idea that we would hear "welcome home" when we arrived at SSR. Is all of that "magic" gonna be gone now that we have purchased DVC?
I have serious allergies that include reactions to smoke. Does this mean that I can count on being sick for every visit becaue DVC won't bother to look at my requests? I'm very nervous here - we haven't closed yet, maybe we should back out now! Help!

 

[athenna]

I am in the same boat you are. I am a new member, will be taking my first trip home, also SSR, in April and reading some of this things are kind of scary. But I have always loved Disney and nothing is going to change that. I have always been nice to CM's and they have always been nice to me. And if I ever encounter one that's not so nice, then that is their loss, I will not let it get to me. I take what other people say with a grain of salt, also. People like to express their opinions, but that's all they are. If everyone agreed, the world would be boring. We will all base our own opinions, anyway. What one person loves, another might not and people always want to share their point of views. I am sure I will love SSR, and I will base my opinions on my own feelings.
Don't worry, neighbor, you did not make a mistake!

 

[SimbaNoodle]

I don't think you have made a mistake. I have never been given a smoking room, CM's always are friendly. I don't always get a Welcome Home, but if that is the worst thing, then I will be ok.

If you were pleased with value and moderates, you will love DVC. The magic of WDW comes from your heart, not from a CM.

I use my DVC 2 to 3 times per year and have never been disappointed.

Let me be the first to say, Welcome Home.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hi, revrob. Trust me, you did NOT make a mistake. You may hear complaints on this board now and again, but overwhelmingly we DVCers are very, very happy with our purchase.
I for one have always recieved the same great, Disney quality service as before I became a member.

Stick around, you will see lots of us saying good things...

MG

 

[jordansdad]

You have absolutely nothing to worry about! We have been staying at OKW since 1991 without any negative experiences. The cast always have treated us wonderfully. Don't let posts like the ones you have been seeing worry you one bit. Negative experiences are alwasy the exception to the norm.
As for worrying about your smoke allergies just make sure that member services is aware that your non-smoking request is for medical reasons and you will not have anything to worry about. If you have any other allergies that would be important for the resort to know about (allergies to cleaning supplies and such) make sure you tell MS as well. The resort will take special care to meet any medical need you may have.

 

[revrob]

Thanks for your reassurance! I was hoping that this was just a little friendly conversation, and not an overall experience.
Whoever said it (sorry I forgot to quote it) the magic of Disney DOES live in your heart! I'm so glad it has a permanent residence in mine!

 

[athenna]

As long as we keep that magic in our hearts, we are in good shape!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're pleased with our purchase and have had wonderful DVC experiences. We've even been in a room that someone didn't particularly like and we were so pleased with it, we actually were thrilled.

Even some of the current threads end by saying "all in all, we had a great time."

Pixie dust reigns!

Bobbi

 

[spiceycat]

don't worry - but make sure that MS knows about your allergies to smoke - so your request will carry medical reasons.

I am also allergies to smoke, dust and several other things.

believe me you will love DVC....

It is really better than a hotel room in all ways - when you get sick in the park - I have some BIG food allergies - then instead of going back to a hotel you will be going home. and it will began to feel like home pretty quick....

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

We bought DVC last March and WE LOVE SSR so much so that we went in Nov and we are going back in a couple of weeks. Please don't let these boards get you down. Misery loves company and unfortunately the neg posts get more hits/replies than the positive ones do.

 

[AnnaS]

You have not made a mistake. It's what you make of it. Whether it's, Disney, DVC or some other place - go in with a positive outlook, smile and people will smile back. I try not to expect too much no matter where I go and try to go with the flow. Wether you are planning a wedding or a vacation, you will never make everyone happy. Things might go wrong here and there and you will be disappointed. You might catch someone having a bad day - but we are all human and things happen good and bad - how you handle and tolerate it, will affect the outcome of your experience.

Enjoy reading the threads here. They are full of great information and you will enjoy talking to everyone here. Depending on your personality, time, patience and tolarence (sp?) you might reply to some threads and avoid others. Overall experience, excellent and we are all addicted here and to DVC so join us and don't be discouraged. Soon you will be asking yourself, why you did not join sooner.

 

[rocketriter]

It's true that, as at any resort, someone has a poor experience from time to time. But if you look at the postings and polls on this board, you'll find a tremendous amount of talk about how many points people have added on after their initial purchase. That wouldn't happen if DVC didn't deliver a wonderful experience time after time for a great majority of people. Welcome home!

 

[crcormier]

Take a deep breath and relax. You did not make a mistake. The thread about the 'unhappy' CM was most likely not even a real CM. I've been a member for just over a year now, have made 4 trips 'home' and haven't had a problem with any of them. I've never had a room smell of smoke (even when put IN a smoking room.) I've never had a rude CM and most of them have been just as magical as I would expect them to be at Disney. Complaints are like movie reviews... one person's opinion. I'm sure you will not be disappointed!

 

[Chuck S]

I've been staying at OKW since 1992. I stayed in a smoking room once, but I was given the choice. The smoking room was ready when we arrived at 8am after driving all night, a non-smoking room wasn't. We took the smoking, but will try to avoid them in the future.

We have been given Handicap Rooms without the desk informing us it was a HC room, but it isn't a problem for us, as we don't travel with children.

I have NEVER had a problem with any staff members at OKW, and every minor maintenance problem was taken care of immediately. They were the types of problems that would occur at any extremely busy resort, no matter how much scheduled maintenance was done.

1) When the South Point section was new (in fact, it was refered to as "no name bus stop", since the area wasn't completely finished an "officially named"), there was a problem with the bathtub seal in the unit above us. A minor flood happened n our bathroom. Maintenance was right there to fix it.

2) Another plumbing problem, the bar sink in a studio would not "turn off", the faucet had obviously been abused by a former guest. Again, maintenance fixed the problem right away.

3) OKW had installed new electronic thermostats, our shorted out in the middle of the night on a warm evening. It was pumnping hot air into the unit. I got out of bed and turned the unit off - I was NOT going to have the repair guy there in the middle of the night, so I reported the problem the next morning...it was fixed while we were at the parks.

4) Dryer belt was very squeeky (shrill, nails on a chaulkboard kind of squeek). Again, it was "sort of " repaired while we were at a park. At least it was "better"...but, I know that the unit was sheduled to receive new appliances very soon, so I didn't push the issue - we lived with a muffled squeek.

That has been the extend of our problems in 25 to 30 visits at OKW, nothing major or "vacation ruining", just wear and tear, as much use and abuse as the units receive, they are really in great shape.

 

[DebbieB]

On your first trip home, you will know you did not make a mistake. When I bought at BWV in 9/99, there were alot of negatives on this board about BWV. I wondered if I made a mistake. 11 wonderful DVC trips later, no regrets! Never got a bad room, never got a smoking room, never got a handicapped room.

 

[bongo59]

a mistake.............NO WAY............not buying is the mistake..........regardless of any issues..........

 

[Sammie]

You have absolutely nothing to worry about! We have been staying at OKW since 1991 without any negative experiences. The cast always have treated us wonderfully. Don't let posts like the ones you have been seeing worry you one bit. Negative experiences are alwasy the exception to the norm.
As for worrying about your smoke allergies just make sure that member services is aware that your non-smoking request is for medical reasons and you will not have anything to worry about. If you have any other allergies that would be important for the resort to know about (allergies to cleaning supplies and such) make sure you tell MS as well. The resort will take special care to meet any medical need you may have.

The NS medical request info is not always accurate. We have requested NS for medical and not gotten it. Sometimes they just can't give this to everyone and now that thousands of people on Internet forums know that this is the way to try and secure NS, everyone that wants NS is a medical reason.

I just don't want the OP to think each time they request NS they are sure to get it. They won't. Especially during busy times of the year.

There is also the situation where you do actually get a NS villa only to find that the guest before you smoked in it, due to the very limited NS villas available.

Until Disney begins to book NS as a reservation you will always run the risk of getting a room smoked in. Until they install a fine for smoking in a NS room you will run the risk of following a smoking guest in a NS room.

 

[Gail & Joe]

We have been members for only two years now and the only mistake we made was not doing it earlier. We have been going to WDW for years and have never had any problems with our rooms or any CM. We have not been disapointed with our rooms or service. Don't worry, you will have a great time.

 

[mndisfam]

revrob - no - you didn't mae a mistake! There are 2 things in common that everyone has on these boards - they love WDW/DVC & they love to argue. (including me!)

When these unfortunate things happen (I posted one today about a less than stellar check in at SSR) they really stand out bcs usually everything is so great, and goes so well. DVC is great - welcome home neighbor.

And I really really mean it about arguing - just ask people if they think Artist Palette at SSR is enough of a restaurant, or if HIgh Rock Spring pool will be big enough!!

 

[bongo59]

The NS medical request info is not always accurate. We have requested NS for medical and not gotten it. Sometimes they just can't give this to everyone and now that thousands of people on Internet forums know that this is the way to try and secure NS, everyone that wants NS is a medical reason.

I just don't want the OP to think each time they request NS they are sure to get it. They won't. Especially during busy times of the year.

There is also the situation where you do actually get a NS villa only to find that the guest before you smoked in it, due to the very limited NS villas available.

Until Disney begins to book NS as a reservation you will always run the risk of getting a room smoked in. Until they install a fine for smoking in a NS room you will run the risk of following a smoking guest in a NS room.

........there is a way to guarrantee it..................and not many know how to do it.........thank god.