ReneeQ
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2000
- Messages
- 1,164
I always appreciate everyone's honest opinions on this board, so I will give mine. We own at BWV and VWL. This was our first time trying BCV and we were in a studio, number 176. It was myself, my sister and her son (my nephew) age 8. I will admit my feelings are not 100% BCVs fault, but that we were in a studio rather than a 1BR, which can always affect the greatness of a trip, in my opinion. Smaller quarters, no washer/dryer, only one bathroom sink, not a tub AND a shower, etc.
When we checked in we were told our room was ready (around 2 PM) and was a first floor with a pool view. I prefer higher floors, but we took this room, since it was ready, and the pool view sounded good. In actuality our view was the canal, about 3-4 doors from the parking lot to our right. It was a day or so before I realized the pool was all the way down the walkway to the left. Not what I would call a pool VIEW, as you couldn't even SEE the pool from our patio.
Two things I REALLY didn't like in the design of the BCV was the bathroom sink was JUST a counter, no cabinet or drawers under it. At both BWV and VWL, where we usually stay, there is a drawer on the right and left of the sink where we store everything, keeping the counter nice and clear. There is also a cabinet underneath to store empty toiletry bags, etc. The lack of this storage space at BCV made the BR sink area a constant disaster.
And we HATED HATED HATED the motion detector thermostat. As others have stated, we awoke often during the night in a sweat. I think this would be miserable in the dead of summer.
Other room observations - there was no highchair in the closet, though we didn't need it, so didn't care. There are no drawers in the kitchenette (there are at VWL, but not at BWV either) which helps with the clutter on the kitchen counter. The room in general was clean and neat, but the carpet was worn out, with numerous spots of what looked like mold or mildew. The sofa, throw pillows and comforter all were stained and all the furniture showed signs of wear, water rings, etc. (I always use something as a coaster for drinks, but it seems some others do not. I've often wondered why Disney doesn't have waterproof laminate tops on their furniture and tables to prevent this).
The lobby was a mess with really worn out furniture, but I understand it's undergoing a rehab, so this is probably just temporary.
Our first night was miserable due to the temperature in the room and the realization that the mattress was completely shot. The mattress was so thin and springs were literally poking us in the back. On the first morning the coffee maker leaked EVERYWHERE
, causing us to use half of our towels to clean the mess. We were heading to MGM and I called housekeeping at 7 AM to request a new coffee maker, new mattress and more towels. On our return to the room at 5 PM we had a new coffee maker with NO basket in it, no new matress, no new towels, and all the wet coffee stained towels still on the floor.
I called again at 5, and we got ready for dinner. At 7 we were ready to leave the room for dinner, and no one had come, so I called AGAIN. That's three times. They said they were "on the way" and we headed to dinner. When we returned around 9 PM they had finally brought another coffee maker, the towels, and the mattress, and housekeeping was in the room putting new sheets on the new mattress. It took 14 hours to have my requests met.
Did we like anything? Of course! We spent two days at Stormalong Bay, which was beyond bliss.
We LOVED the "snack bar," refillable mug program, and the Sandcastle Club. All things that are GREATLY lacking (meaning non-existant) at BWV. Actually, those are my three main complaints about BWV. They closed the kid's club, they don't have a snack bar, and they dont' have refillable mugs. Three things I LOVE about VWL.
(Pay attention Disney
- add these things at BWV and you could make more money!)
Other random thoughts - This was my 25th Disney trip, and my first EVER that was not magical. Most trips I think "it can't get any better" and then it does. Well, it didn't this time. There were SO MANY rude cast members it was unbelievable! I have NEVER had a rude cast member. TOT at MGM was the WORST! The guy at the entrance flat out told my sister she was LYING and that she had not asked about kid swap! We were so shocked we couldn't speak!
I have a bad knee and usually get a GAC just to excuse me from any stairs. I forgot to get one this trip, and tried to go up the ramp at the Train Station by Splash Mtn in MK. NO ONE was exiting. The CM would NOT let me walk up the ramp without a GAC!
We still had a good trip overall. Hey, we were at Disney, and not at school or work, so it can't be all bad. But it was just depressing to notice the overall decline of the parks. Everything used to be so pristine, and it seems they' ve let things go. Here's hoping the next trip is back to being more magical. Thanks for listening.
When we checked in we were told our room was ready (around 2 PM) and was a first floor with a pool view. I prefer higher floors, but we took this room, since it was ready, and the pool view sounded good. In actuality our view was the canal, about 3-4 doors from the parking lot to our right. It was a day or so before I realized the pool was all the way down the walkway to the left. Not what I would call a pool VIEW, as you couldn't even SEE the pool from our patio.
Two things I REALLY didn't like in the design of the BCV was the bathroom sink was JUST a counter, no cabinet or drawers under it. At both BWV and VWL, where we usually stay, there is a drawer on the right and left of the sink where we store everything, keeping the counter nice and clear. There is also a cabinet underneath to store empty toiletry bags, etc. The lack of this storage space at BCV made the BR sink area a constant disaster.
And we HATED HATED HATED the motion detector thermostat. As others have stated, we awoke often during the night in a sweat. I think this would be miserable in the dead of summer.
Other room observations - there was no highchair in the closet, though we didn't need it, so didn't care. There are no drawers in the kitchenette (there are at VWL, but not at BWV either) which helps with the clutter on the kitchen counter. The room in general was clean and neat, but the carpet was worn out, with numerous spots of what looked like mold or mildew. The sofa, throw pillows and comforter all were stained and all the furniture showed signs of wear, water rings, etc. (I always use something as a coaster for drinks, but it seems some others do not. I've often wondered why Disney doesn't have waterproof laminate tops on their furniture and tables to prevent this).
The lobby was a mess with really worn out furniture, but I understand it's undergoing a rehab, so this is probably just temporary.Our first night was miserable due to the temperature in the room and the realization that the mattress was completely shot. The mattress was so thin and springs were literally poking us in the back. On the first morning the coffee maker leaked EVERYWHERE
, causing us to use half of our towels to clean the mess. We were heading to MGM and I called housekeeping at 7 AM to request a new coffee maker, new mattress and more towels. On our return to the room at 5 PM we had a new coffee maker with NO basket in it, no new matress, no new towels, and all the wet coffee stained towels still on the floor.I called again at 5, and we got ready for dinner. At 7 we were ready to leave the room for dinner, and no one had come, so I called AGAIN. That's three times. They said they were "on the way" and we headed to dinner. When we returned around 9 PM they had finally brought another coffee maker, the towels, and the mattress, and housekeeping was in the room putting new sheets on the new mattress. It took 14 hours to have my requests met.
Did we like anything? Of course! We spent two days at Stormalong Bay, which was beyond bliss.
We LOVED the "snack bar," refillable mug program, and the Sandcastle Club. All things that are GREATLY lacking (meaning non-existant) at BWV. Actually, those are my three main complaints about BWV. They closed the kid's club, they don't have a snack bar, and they dont' have refillable mugs. Three things I LOVE about VWL.(Pay attention Disney
- add these things at BWV and you could make more money!)Other random thoughts - This was my 25th Disney trip, and my first EVER that was not magical. Most trips I think "it can't get any better" and then it does. Well, it didn't this time. There were SO MANY rude cast members it was unbelievable! I have NEVER had a rude cast member. TOT at MGM was the WORST! The guy at the entrance flat out told my sister she was LYING and that she had not asked about kid swap! We were so shocked we couldn't speak!
I have a bad knee and usually get a GAC just to excuse me from any stairs. I forgot to get one this trip, and tried to go up the ramp at the Train Station by Splash Mtn in MK. NO ONE was exiting. The CM would NOT let me walk up the ramp without a GAC!
We still had a good trip overall. Hey, we were at Disney, and not at school or work, so it can't be all bad. But it was just depressing to notice the overall decline of the parks. Everything used to be so pristine, and it seems they' ve let things go. Here's hoping the next trip is back to being more magical. Thanks for listening.
) and just got back online.
