DVC Lost Luster, Badly Broken

[Grandbuddy]

Just wanted it noted that I am Deb & Bill and not Debbie & Bill.

The similarity was confusing to me, until I looked back at their # of posts. I had originally thought it was you - and would have given the comments a lot more credibility than I do, under the circumstances.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Or keep members from considering BWV at the 7 month switch.

Notice OP's screen name very similar to Deb&Bill, who I consider a very straight shooter.

Nice observation there Starr! Now, I am not giving any cred to that post! Like I already posted, I personally just came back from an immaculate room, and they were doing alot of touch up work around the resort as well. Not say it doesn't happen occasionally, but all the resorts will have their rooms from time to time. I get really tired of reading these BWV bashing threads!!

 

[k-wa]

Does anyone know what percentage of dues -- if any -- go toward marketing DVC? It seems like the marketing budget is huge.

 

[lovinthemouse]

We stayed in a 1bdrm at BWV over spring break and it was beautiful. The curtain rod had come loose from the wall but no big deal. I am sorry you had such a horrible experience, but I think it was the exception not the rule. I hope your next trip is a better one.

 

[wildernessDad]

Just wanted it noted that I am Deb & Bill and not Debbie & Bill.

I was wondering! Glad you straightened that out!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Does anyone know what percentage of dues -- if any -- go toward marketing DVC? It seems like the marketing budget is huge.

Disney Vacation Development, Inc., which builds and markets the DVC resorts, is a separate business entity from Disney Vacation Club Management Corp., which operates each DVC property with dues from that property. Both are ultimately owned by The Walt Disney Company through wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Thus, the answer should be zero percent.

The quarterly news magazine blurs the distinction between marketing and member information. I don't know how it's funded, but I hope that Disney Vacation Development, Inc. funds part of the news magazine.

 

[james'mommy]

I personally have never had any real issues with the quality of any of the DVC resorts (and as of 8/08 I will have stayed at all of them). Sometimes I've noticed a little wear and tear but that's to be expected.

 

[Debbie & Bill]

Interesting to hear all your thoughts thank you, no we're big into posting, but big into adding on points for our retirement, and yes we did rent points. Since 1998 our first 200 BWV point contract we've added on many more times....SRR BVC & VB really love the accommodations. But this experience really caused us to bring it out in the open for all concerned to see. As for the possible reasons why the unkept condition of the room my hunch "it's always' about the money" and DVC members are a captive audience, with little recourse. After talking with the Boardwalk supervisors, it was quit clear that DVC was not providing funding to meet the Disney standards we came to love, and they we're upset too.

So with that said and the power of the Disboards we brought it to the street so to speak and if DVC Management is listening, check the our rooms. What's missing is a exit questioner from the members and that would be so easy to do if DVC was interested in feed back.

After our complaint the resort did wok on some of the problems with the room, we worked on the rest. We straightened the sagging curtain supports, we wiped down the kitchen stains and we wiped down the arms of the chair. With three days to check out we decided it was just best to get on with our trip rather then engage more useless time with supervision who stated quit clear....its a money issue with DVC.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

After talking with the Boardwalk supervisors, it was quit clear that DVC was not providing funding to meet the Disney standards we came to love, and they we're upset too.

If enough DVC members demand to have their dues increased, there will be more money to maintain higher standards.

 

[crisi]

Thought I had better jump in here. BWV owner since 99 and I have to agree totaly!!! Seems the last 3 to 4 years it has been impossible to be given a clean ( or anything close ) room. We go down twice a year and it's just getting heart breaking. We don't care about perks, we just want a clean room for a change. They did just fine until 2003 then it went down hill FAST. IMHO

My last trip (October 07) we were given the best maintained room at BWVs that we've had in six years of ownership.

I've often said that I do not believe DVC keeps the Villas side nearly as well maintained as the Deluxe resorts, and anyone expecting Deluxe quality MAY be disappointed. But I've also never found upkeep to be unacceptable given the amount we spend each year on dues.

 

[crisi]

If enough DVC members demand to have their dues increased, there will be more money to maintain higher standards.

And when we all vote for higher taxes, we will get more/better roads and more school funding.

 

[AnnaS]

Just wanted it noted that I am Deb & Bill and not Debbie & Bill.

I thought of you for a second - til I read the post that said Debbie and Bill only had a few posts.

It's good you are clarifying anyway -

 

[TLCDisney]

As much as I love DVC, I do have to agree that some maintenance issues need to be addressed. We just got back from BCV and although 90% of everything was fine the carpet really did need a good cleaning. Our couch in the one bedroom had milk/water spots on it that would have come out fairly easily with a steam cleaner.

As we looked around, most of the problems seemed to be easily fixed. A door lock was broken, black marks on the wall, dust/dirt in the corners. Nothing was filthy or disgusting but it looked pretty worn. I didn't see that any furniture needed to be replaced or any of the appliances. I did notice that after we were there a few days they touched up the paint in the elevator.

We did find one thing very odd. It seemed the one bedroom down the hall was getting a complete overhaul, while the guest was in the room. All the bedding had been pulled out, painters came and went, the smell of bleach was really apparent and housekeeping was camped out there as well. This went on for two days! We kept seeing a family come and go so maybe they complained mightily?

DH and I talked about it and we think that just deep cleaning each room every few months or so would really make a difference. Clean the carpets, curtains, furniture etc. I wouldn't think that would add on a great deal to the dues. I personally wouldn't mind paying a little more to keep things maintained better.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, I think we ALL know how best to handle this situation. The best thing to do is EVERY time anyone gets a substandard room WRITE!!! Don't just come and write about it here, but WRITE to Quality Control, your guide, Jim Lewis, the resort manager....EVERYONE! It will take awhile, but eventually they will understand that owners expect more care of the resorts than they are getting.

 

[CarolA]

I have stayed at two different SSR rooms in the past two weeks. In one the prior person seems to have BENT the safe key, but they came and replaced it for me right away. No other problems with either one.

As a matter of fact the only other time I have reported a problem was the ceiling fan being "off balance" so it made noise. That was at OKW!

IMHO, one room does not make "a decline in maintenance" LOL! And the "word of the front desk" probably is "what will it take to get rid of this person" Remember Disney "Deluxe" hotels are not staffed or trained as they should be. Disney doesn not run "deluxe" hotels, they run VERY costly moderate value hotels LOL!

 

[sean-1966]

I'm with TLCDisney. Add a dime to each points dues and keep the place pristine. Get top end staff that go the extra mile. I'd love to see the DVC resorts pay more in wages then the other resorts so it would have the best staff.

 

[DisFlan]

Deb & Bill, I figured it wasn't you.


DisFlan

 

[jekjones1558]

OP, I assume you took photos of this horrible room. Please post them. What was your room number? I have recently stayed on 2nd floor and our room was terrific (thank you mousekeeper Nazareen!) Troll on the loose?

 

[Starr W.]

OP, I assume you took photos of this horrible room. Please post them. What was your room number? I have recently stayed on 2nd floor and our room was terrific (thank you mousekeeper Nazareen!) Troll on the loose?

I would love to see pictures from the OP or anyone else who has posted threads how badly kept up BWV is.

If I found a room as bad as stated by the OP, the digital camera would have been used to take pictures of the problems that I would have included in my letter to Jim Lewis.


It seems BWV is the whipping boy du jour of DVC(see more threads about room conditions, can't book at 11 months, oops I mean 8 months for Xmas, F&W or whatever DVC busy time and get a std view room).

 

[AKV707]

I have never stayed at BWV, but hope to someday. I have read tons of reports on BWV here, some glowing some not. But I have never read anything as bad the op.

I have read of members being moved to better rooms for problems significantly less severity than the ops. I just wouldn't take the ops post as the norm with DVC, and i wouldn't let it discourage anyone from becoming a member.