Disappointing Changes at BWV/Boardwalk area

[TDC Nala]

For those that think I'm crazy, well I am. However, think about this: Do you believe they will cut back food service poolside at the deluxe resorts? No, they won't. I still feel Deluxe resort cash guest receive the best treatment on WDW property. DVC owners should expect better and demand more.

The cash-paying guests at BWI can't get food at the Leaping Horse either.

I'll be interested to see if Hurricane Hannah's over at the Beach Club quits serving food too...but they've got a full food service setup over there, I think, so they probably won't. Less waste there.

 

[TDC Nala]

You know I bet offsite restaurants are salivating at the opportunity to regain some of the trade they lost to Disney. I have a feeling I'll be very disappointed the next time I go. After all the opportunity to eat food not available to you at home is one of the draws at Disney.

And now that I think about it, it wont just be the offsite restaurants that benefit...the Swolphin will probably get a bit of a bump up too.

The Swolphin's it. I may be using my points at BCV or BWV so I can have access to food at the Swolphin.

Nice of them to offer airport-to-resort transportation at no additional cost...and then make it advantageous to rent a car because you'd like excellent food somewhere. I like wine with my food, though, and can't drive back from eating after having the wine. Maybe water with the food, and wine later. Of course, with a car I could buy my own wine at a much lower price and bring it back to the villa. Hmm.

 

[TDC Nala]

I agree. The best part about planning a disney vacation is thinking about where we wanted to eat. We never ate poolside so therefore these changes don't effect me to much. But I am very disappointed at other changes to menus around WDW. For instance Ohana's not offering the Shrimp and changing the appetizers to less, Olivia's becoming more standard fare, and several other cut backs. We may be looking at dining off property more often, or getting more groceries and eating what we like in the room.

~Amanda

Just for readers. Ohana does offer shrimp. They don't offer grilled shrimp anymore. It's a bowl of shrimp in a sweet and sour sauce. I thought they were good but i had to wrestle them away from my mother if I wanted any.

 

[maminnie]

I think it is rediculous that Disney is getting rid of these little things. BWI/BWV, BC/BCV and other DVC properties are considered deluxe resorts or close to it for both regular customers and DVC customers and 'resort' amenities are to be expected. Between the food issues, pool heat issues, and housekeeping issues people have been discussing on the boards over the last months, I'm becoming concerned about my next visit to BCV and BWV winter '07. I hope I'm wrong and come back with another 'magical' feeling about the DVC decision I made years ago. It is always how I have felt after every visit in years past.

Once again, time will tell.

maminnie

 

[Lady V]

Sorry, I'll try to stay on topic.

Personally, I blame the DDP as well as a bunch of this other stuff on a management philosophy I don't think is good for my relationship with Disney (I was going to say "bad management" but really, on a business level, its only bad if it means less profit - and if they can replace me at a margin profit of say $100 with five people that all have a marginal profit of $22 - they do better in the end).

See-I don't agree with that. The customer Lifetime value is going away. As a manager I would much rather heat a room, offer DME, and etc... for one guest rather than make the same amount of money and have to do all that stuff for FIVE guests. The bottom line is not the same then. The staff required for five times the guests for the same amount of money is not good business sense. JMHO

 

[dumbo71]

Its not only a standard at just DVC resorts but just about any other resort I have ever been to.

Every small service that is provided is not going to bring in endless amounts of revenue, but each of these small services adds up to making a better overall experience.

You start looking at each service totally independent of each other and you are going to start to have big problems.

This totally sums it up. The small parts all add up to provide guests with an enjoyable stay. Start eliminating those parts and eventually the guests will take their money elsewhere.

Off site options are getting better all the time. WDW and DVC had better do some soul searching.

I shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get some lunch on my resort days at WDW. If that makes me spoiled or a nitpicker, then so be it. I can live with that.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't know, I've never had to jump through hoops to get some lunch at BCV, OKW or SSR. I haven't stayed at WVL for a long time but they have Roaring Forks. So maybe this is just a problem at BWV.

 

[Ksp]

As long as we're talking about getting food at poolside (a service which I value), wasn't there a poolside food/bar service area planned for the next part of SSR?

Sure hope that they don't cancel that!

Hanging out at the pool for a day is something that we really enjoy -- it's not as hectic as the parks can be, and we can be super casual, vs. going in to eat at one of the resort counter service restaurants.
With the super-duper AC that most WDW resorts have, along with the fact that I just don't feel at ease with hanging out in my bathing suit/coverup, the poolside bar/food has been one of our favorite parts of WDW resorts.

 

[fishermouse]

SSR is the same way, no food poolside. That is a real bummer at SSR but even worse at BWV where nothing is close.

Have not been there since May, did they close Artist Palet?

 

[tjkraz]

Have not been there since May, did they close Artist Palet?

No, but some would say having to walk into AP (which I'm guessing has a shoes + shirt policy) is a little different than walking up to a counter 15' from the pool in your swimsuit.

I have also heard people state that SSR had policies against people taking food from AP into the pool area. I'm not certain about that so someone feel free to correct me if they know otherwise.

 

[keishashadow]

I don't know, I've never had to jump through hoops to get some lunch at BCV, OKW or SSR. I haven't stayed at WVL for a long time but they have Roaring Forks. So maybe this is just a problem at BWV.

Haven't tried Roaring Forks since the rehab but, it was the only disappointment of our trip.

Sandwich on stale bread & pizza was horrible, food prep took almost a 1/2 hour w/very few patrons, yeech.

Have read reports of that it's turned around since the rehab...one can only hope.

We've taken to stopping @ Values to get a decent CS meal, packaged for take-out.

 

[Sammie]

No, but some would say having to walk into AP (which I'm guessing has a shoes + shirt policy) is a little different than walking up to a counter 15' from the pool in your swimsuit.

I have also heard people state that SSR had policies against people taking food from AP into the pool area. I'm not certain about that so someone feel free to correct me if they know otherwise.

We had no problem taking food from AP to the pool area. Other than putting on a pair of shoes and a cover up, the distance from the main pool to AP is no more than some areas of SAB to Hurricane Hannahs.

With the opening of the Grandstand area those that want poolside food will have it.

 

[tjkraz]

With the opening of the Grandstand area those that want poolside food will have it.

I'd like to think so, but I will believe it when I see it. I know that DVC has stated as much, but they don't have ultimate say on food and beverage issues.

Of course, OP did say that Leaping Horse is still selling chips. Perhaps that's a preview of the "food service" offered in the Grandstand.

 

[bpmorley]

Haven't tried Roaring Forks since the rehab but, it was the only disappointment of our trip.

Sandwich on stale bread & pizza was horrible, food prep took almost a 1/2 hour w/very few patrons, yeech.

Have read reports of that it's turned around since the rehab...one can only hope.

We've taken to stopping @ Values to get a decent CS meal, packaged for take-out.

We were there in late May. Never had any problem with Roaring Forks. Food was good and we never waited.

 

[keishashadow]

We were there in late May. Never had any problem with Roaring Forks. Food was good and we never waited.

Thanks, we'll give it another go in June

 

[dumbo71]

With the opening of the Grandstand area those that want poolside food will have it.

Even if that is true, what about BWV?????

Maybe the BWI/BWV are the black sheep of WDW and DVC? They are the only deluxe resorts without poolside food if the Grandstand at SSR pans out.

Maybe those 7 month bookings during F&W Fest won't be so tough if you are willing to stay at BWV.

Now BCV owners should be the ones most up in arms over this. Talk about an increase in bookings there. They have always had the pool but now without food at BWV.

 

[TDC Nala]

No, but some would say having to walk into AP (which I'm guessing has a shoes + shirt policy) is a little different than walking up to a counter 15' from the pool in your swimsuit.

I have also heard people state that SSR had policies against people taking food from AP into the pool area. I'm not certain about that so someone feel free to correct me if they know otherwise.

So the entire problem with SSR and I guess WLV and now Boardwalk (which, actually, you have to walk completely away from the pool area so it's not in the same league) is that you need to put on a shirt and some shoes and walk a few yards up to the restaurant? Doesn't seem like that much of a hardship to me, except at Boardwalk. Yes, even with children.

Maybe those 7 month bookings during F&W Fest won't be so tough if you are willing to stay at BWV.

I'd love it if that happened...but I think those booking for that time are more interested in the events at Epcot than a hot dog by the pool.

I'm a BCV owner and really am not interested in getting worked up about this.

 

[tjkraz]

So the entire problem with SSR and I guess WLV and now Boardwalk (which, actually, you have to walk completely away from the pool area so it's not in the same league) is that you need to put on a shirt and some shoes and walk a few yards up to the restaurant?

I never claimed that there was a problem anywhere other than the BW. I've heard some complain about the situation at SSR, but don't have strong feelings about that either way.

Doesn't seem like that much of a hardship to me, except at Boardwalk. Yes, even with children.

Yet it still begs the question of why Disney felt compelled to reduce its services in that area.

I'm not the type to go into a situation demanding ADDITIONAL services. You won't see me pounding the pulpit crying for free internet access or more TV channels. But I'm not very pleased to see services reduced.

 

[TDC Nala]

I never claimed that there was a problem anywhere other than the BW. I've heard some complain about the situation at SSR, but don't have strong feelings about that either way.




Yet it still begs the question of why Disney felt compelled to reduce its services in that area.

You didn't, but other posters have. And somebody came up with a good answer: waste. Unless the area was set up as a food service area (like Hurricane Hanna's is) they have to bring in the food from somewhere else, and if it doesn't get eaten, it gets tossed.

Doesn't help that BW's pool has noplace else nearby to grab a bite. All the other DVC pools do. Someone made the point that SSR's food service area, while it is nearby, still necessitates leaving the pool area. It's so close that it wouldn't bother me to do that, but it bothers some. I think these are folks whose modus operandi (which has never been mine) is to buy food, bring it to their pool chairs, and eat it there without leaving poolside at all.

 

[Mickmse2002]

They have reduced this service at other resorts as well. My wife and I used to love to go to the pool bar (can't remember it's name) at the Poly and have a burger for lunch after a morning at MK. We liked to take the boat and reminisce about our first WDW trip. When we tried that last June all we could get was a bag of chips.

Certainly not the same experience.