DVC negative issues?

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by rondakay
It seems like no mater what we ask for or when we go our room is never ready. Not that it is a big deal but we hate to wait untill 3:00 to get a room. My complant is check in at BWV.

How can you be unhappy to wait until 3:00 when the check in time is SUPPOSED to be 4:00? A 4:00 check in time is pretty common throughout the timeshare industry. I NEVER expect to get in before that, and am pleasantly surprised when I do.

 

[wilderness01]

Can anyone tell me where the dumpster views are for VWL? I know I have seen this before but did not make a mental note and we will be staying at VWL for our next trip. Thank you.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Originally posted by wilderness01
Can anyone tell me where the dumpster views are for VWL? I know I have seen this before but did not make a mental note and we will be staying at VWL for our next trip. Thank you.

I forget the room numbers. The dumpster can come into view if you are above the ground floor in the last few units on the right hand side as you head down the long main VWL hallway.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

It seems like no mater what we ask for or when we go our room is never ready

not picking on you, especially since someone else already responded, but this could happen with a regular resort room, too, this isn't specific to DVC.

 

[DVC-LEROY]

Our biggest complaint has been about the upkeep of the rooms - not the general cleaning - that seems to get done for the most part - but the lack of "spring cleaning" for the things that don't ever seem to get the once over - curtains, mouldings, windows, walls, etc. I understand that housekeeping has limited cleaning supplies and limited equipment to clean - when all they have is an upright vacuum and some spray cleaner - what can we expect. They do what they can and what they are told to do. This is a problem that management needs to address. For every person that complains, there are many more that just don't complain to management - mostly because there are not opportunities for feedback other than the occasional survey that arrives way after the trip. I have only been surveyed once in 5 stays. It would be great to have a survey card filled out during check-out so members could list problems with the room and concerns as they recall them instead of weeks later. We had a great room during our recent stay at the BCV (324). The room faced EPCOT, was far enough away from traffic, had a fabulous view of the fireworks, and was reasonably clean (2 bdrm, 2 queen beds). BUT - I can give you a list of things that could be fixed in the room that probably will remain unchecked. Our bathroom sink drain needed to be held open with a knife. The sheers in the livingroom were stained. The kitchen floor was clean - but the grout between the tiles was in need of a decent scrubbing. I managed to clean the inside of the cabinet (where the trash was stored - it was bad) The couch had a stain on the armrest (which I managed to get mostly out myself) and those darned cushions on the seats for the kitchen table - besides needing a deep cleaning they still fall off all the time. I could see lawsuits from parents of kids who get stuck in the hole under those cushions. Comparing this room to the others we have stayed in - it was about the same. And the problem isn't a weekly or daily housekeeping issue. It's a system that they need to establish to keep the units up to par.

 

[docsnort]

It seems a lot of posts on this thread are check-in related. We have no problem with the room being ready at 4 PM. Our only problem is the room assignment "process". Our only request is to be near the HH. That's it! But each year we've gone our room assignment has moved further and further from the HH. I've tried making res. 11 months out, checking in early in the AM, faxing three days before with our request, being extra courteous with the CM at check-in, etc etc. Maybe next I'll try getting down on my knees and begging! Has anyone tried bribery?

 

[MiaSRN62]

Our only problem is the room assignment "process". Our only request is to be near the HH. That's it! But each year we've gone our room assignment has moved further and further from the HH. I've tried making res. 11 months out, checking in early in the AM, faxing three days before with our request, being extra courteous with the CM at check-in, etc etc. Maybe next I'll try getting down on my knees and begging! Has anyone tried bribery?

I can't honestly say I've gotten every request over the years, but I haven't been disappointed with the consolation locations I've gotten. I'd say I've gotten what I requested or very close to it, about 80% of the time. Guess I'm lucky.
Docsnort, do you let MS know your request at time of booking (11 mos out ?). If you do, and get there early to check-in, I feel you should be getting what you want or very close to it. Especially since you don't sound like you're being overly specific or demanding. I consider "close to HH" pretty reasonable of a request. Maybe you'll have to try and be a little more forceful (in a nice way ! ) at check-in ? Hope things turn around for you !

 

[dianeschlicht]

DVC-LeRoy, I wonder if which resort you are at might have something to do with these issues of maintanance. In 7 years of staying at OKW multiple times a year, I have only once had a unit I thought needed maintanance help. When I brought it to the attention of the staff, I was told that it was scheduled for rehab the next week, right after our stay. Nothing in the unit was awful, it was just little things like the sofa needing a cleaning, and the blinds needing repair and the bathroom tiles needing to be regrouted. All of these things come under the heading of maintanance, and can't be perfect all the time. Just imagine your own home, and then imagine hundreds of different people staying in each room in teh course of a year. I do know that OKW they refurb. quite frequently.

 

[OneMoreTry]

We haven't had any maintenance issues. If there is a problem with a room I think likely blame would lie with previous occupants for not reporting it -- some people just don't notice dirt and don't care about absolute perfection, hard to believe but true.

I don't think the minor gripes above should be concern for someone thinking of buying into DVC. From the standpoint of an investment I think the resorts are well-tended and should make it until the contract expires in 40 or 50 years. Remember, your investment is tied to Disney's success.

I have found member services much nicer to deal with than the other Disney guest and reservation services. They cheerily put up with all my questions. I used a wait list once and it came through. Based on other's posts that seems to occur more frequently than not.

One negative is that it really is a waste of points to use them at a non-DVC Disney resort. If you want to stay at GF, Poly, Contemporary then don't buy DVC. Just watch for discounts.

Don't expect wonderful perks as a DVC member. The real perk is the DVC resorts themselves. There are 10 to 15% discounts on certain other things. Sometimes discounts on good restaurants. But you're not gonna be treated like one of Walt's children -- cause then there'd be 70,000 of his kids running around demanding carte blanche.

Your investment is tied in to Disney's success.

You can't count on getting into any resort but your home resort. Especially if you will travel at popular times of year. Although I think most people are able to get other resorts at the 7 month window.

For us the benefits definitely outweight the negatives. So here we are. 300 pts at OKW.

 

[pat-rick]

The only thing I can think of was the bus route at OKW. It happened we were in the very first unit entering OKW, unit 6313. It normally took 10 to 15 minutes after entering the resort to our bus stop at the hospitality house. We passed our unit 3 times before we reached our stop.
Now I must say this is not a complaint but the only thing that comes to mind that I feel was a negative in my DVC experience. Yes I am still new with only 3 trips under my belt. I have stayed at BWV, BCV and OKW and this is all I can come up with.

can't wait for next week !!!!

 

[Stinson]

I am TOTALLY UNHAPPY that Disney does not give DVC members a discount on the Annual Pass.

Otherwise, I am TOTALLY HAPPY!

 

[MickeyMamma]

Still trying to decide. Anybody else?

 

[Cruelladeville]

Why can't I be treated like Walt's kid? Between the money I paid over the years for the hotels, and food, and tickets, and 700 pts in DVC, I'd be willing to bet I have put more into the company than Walt's kids did!! Heck, I should have been adopted into the family by now!

My second complaint is dumpsters--why do they have to have dumpsters? I don't want any doses of reality while I am on my trip, so I shouldn't need to know that dumpsters exist. I would rather think that Tinkerbell whisks it away magically.

Now, if they can just send Peter Pan to fly me down to Florida...

I'm actually a very happy DVC member.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

#1. I've got 220 points I don't have any plans for using! What a pain! Currently unemployed I can't plan on going to Disney. As soon as I get a job I'm going to Disney before it starts. Its breaking my heart right now to stay home instead of going down to F&W.

#2 Mousekeeping. No matter how I request an alternate clean up date it gets screwed up.

#3 In the studios I wish they had more microwaveable dishes that you can microwave cook in. A pyrex bowl with a top would be great. And more paperware thank you very much. A set of 4 is ridiculous...if you actually had 4 people in the room it would last one day.

 

[mbb]

is that we donèt have enough money to buy more points.

(Gotta change my keyboard....but donèt you think the Canadian multilingual setting gives me a certain...je ne sais quoi.. )

 

[paults]

Just wish DVC would put those moving walkways (like at US) in the halls at BWV so we don't have to hear about those looong walks to the rooms all the time

Be happy if you can check in early BUT remember CHECK-IN is not till 4 pm so don't complain if you have to wait.

We need AP discounts for all DVC'ers

 

[rondakay]

Man you guys are tough. So I made a mistake. 4:00. Plus I was posting my compant. If you want, start a new post to complain about my mistake or the complaint itself. If I arrive at 7:00am and dont have any requests I would think I could get something a little faster. I have seen many people come in after us and get their room keys. It figures that the one time I do complain about DVC I get hung out to dry!

 

[DVC-LEROY]

dianeschlicht - when we spoke to a manager at VWL she told us that it was unacceptable to have a room with stains or in any sort of disrepair. When we started staying at the BCV we were hoping things would be in better shape since the place is newer - We've found that its not always the case so far. Don't get me wrong, the rooms are great for the most part - but regular maintenance and thorough cleaning shouldn't be left till rehab time when we are paying to maintain the place.
Other than that - we are glad to be DVC'rs.

 

[Suzi Q]

Totally and completely happy with DVC. No complaints. An Annual Pass discount for DVC'ers would be great tho.

 

[Regina]

I don't like the shared transportation. I think that the Deluxe resorts should have their own buses.