Honeymoon from Hell at the Beach Club Villas last week

[JimFitz]

My friend went to BCV last Septemeber and said the place was a mess. Dirty umbrellas and chairs, a hole in the wall of his room the size of a grapefruit and other issues. He is not one to complain but he was so concerned about the condition he wrote DVC to notify them. He owns at SSR and told me that if SSR starts to look like that in 5 years he will sell his interest in DVC immediately. These issues should not be accepted by owners. There is no excuse.

 

[pouncingpluto]

Honestly, it's just amazing to me the things that people notice that I'm apparently oblivious to. I was staying at BCV the same time as you (well, only part of it!), and we absolutely loved the resort. It was my first time staying in the villas, and the last time I stayed at the inn was when it first opened, in the early '90s.

I just don't notice the roof of a building, honestly. And a light being out in an elevator button is something I would notice for about two seconds and then never think of again. It certainly isn't something I would complain to management about. I didn't see anything wrong with the lobby or the pool. I did notice the condition of the hallway carpet (second floor) and think it really needs attention ASAP. But it certainly didn't impact my trip negatively.

I did notice men repainting the hallways on my floor. The walls looked great, and I thought it was nice to see maintenance of the villas in action.

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

Ya know... some of these things aren't that big of a deal sure, but when you pile them all on top of one another when you're paying a lot for the perfect honeymoon vacation resort... we found ourselves wishing we were at a value resort and that shouldn't be

Well, I don't know that I'd classify the Beach Club as the "perfect honeymoon resort"...but I would wonder if some of the expectations you might have set for this trip are to blame in part for your disappointment. All the resorts will have maintenance issues, and will continuously have work being done. Not every little detail can be attended to, especially if we don't bring them up to the management - who will?

I agree with the other posters about removing your illness from your letter. Disney will mostly likely not respond in any way favorably since you have taken the letter in too many directions.

I am sorry you didn't have the perfect honeymoon. My DH and I had our first real BIG fight on our honeymoon...outside the Energy pavilion in Epcot. He walked off, left me, and I was there on a park bench crying my eyes out. It happens. That was my first ever trip to Disney...and 12 trips later, I still don't like going to the Energy pavilion! So maybe you shouldn't stay at the Beach Club anymore.

BTW, I stayed at the Saratoga 5/7-5/11 and did kill one bug in my room. And stayed at the Dolphin 5/15-5/17 and the elevators (2 of them) smelled like urine! So it's now just DVC with maintenance issues.

 

[dcibrando]

sigh... the roof of the building is very obviously if you look up towards the main building when walking there from any direction. There wasn't a light out on the elevator...the control panel was pushed back into the cracked wall. Our room was filthy (without the extra bugs) and the bathtub looked like it hadn't been cleaned in awhile.

I have to question the lack of housekeeping as well... would the condition of at least the room I was in be this bad if they had daily housekeeping services and frequent attention?

 

[crisi]

Chris.. honestly yes I did walk through the Beach Club section (not the Villa section) and it was a HUGE difference in neatness and upkeep when compared to the Villas where I was staying.
.

I notice this too (though we stay at the BW), and you know what - I don't mind it. You see, when you pay all those dues, you start to look at what is it worth to you for it to be "perfect." Dues are already high, I don't WANT the carpet replaced every eighteen months. At the end of the day, a BW Inn room is $350. A studio DVC room when we travel is 12 points (9 points if I book standard) - for us thats about $78 dues plus buy in ($60 for a standard view). For a $272 difference, I'll take faded carpet, walls that need a painting, and the lack of frou frou in the public areas, and elevator buttons that don't light up - plus the lack of daily mousekeeping. Its still nicer than the room at the Carribean Beach Resort for less money and its still a short walk to Epcot - which is what I want. And I want a room that is clean enough and well kept enough that I'm comfortable.

Keep in mind that there are a number of things going on here. You rented points, not all members like the idea that non-members rent points. Some members find the idea of renting points fine, but find the price point on those rentals far too low. So many of the people responding to you started with believing "you already got a great deal, one we aren't thrilled about you having." Then you attack what a lot of people see as their second home. Most of the people here are members - we've been around DVC enough to know that sometimes its a little shabby, and sometimes we need to bug housekeeping or maintenance, and occationally you get bugs or mold or geckos in Florida, but its our second home - and, warts and all, we are fond of it. Finally, a ton of us love BCV in particular, warts and all - its a high demand resort, so few are interesting in encouraging you to stay there in the future, cuts our chances down of being able to book it. A certain amount of "one fewer BCV guest" glee accompanies these posts.

Sorry you got ill on your honeymoon and BCV wasn't what you expected. It sounds like you would be happier staying at the real Deluxe resorts rather than DVC, or just staying Value. It really sounds like your expectation was to be staying at the Beach Club, not the Beach Club Villas - and there IS a difference.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

DCI...

Congratulations on getting married. Hope you celebrate 50 anniversaries.

Two pieces of advice:

1. If you are ever are on vacation again and feel that your accomodations are sub-par, speak to the front desk right away and always ask for the name and contact information for each person you are speaking with. Management can respond to complaints if they are notified promptly and usually will respond if they know you are willing to elevate the complaint above their level if they can't offer you satisifaction. The issues regarding the cleanliness (including presence of bugs) should have been addressed ASAP.

2. Relax. Even with these problems, this shouldn't have been the "honeymoon from hell". These problems were cosmetic and shouldn't have detracted from the opportunity to spend an awesome vacation with your new spouse.

Best wishes...

 

[dcibrando]

I realise that now...

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

I have to question the lack of housekeeping as well... would the condition of at least the room I was in be this bad if they had daily housekeeping services and frequent attention?

You do realize that you had the option of paying for more frequent housekeeping?

 

[dcibrando]

yes... but one would think it would be clean before you get there...and they would arrive on the 4th day as expected

 

[zalansky]

You do realize that you had the option of paying for more frequent housekeeping?

How much extra is the additional housekeeping anyway? Want to know for our upcoming trip.

 

[fkj2]

I stayed at VWL last December, SSR and OKW in the beginning of May. I didn't notice any problems with any of those three DVC facilities. As Diane (I think) mentioned, it's been an incredibly busy season with all the resorts filled to capacity. The first weekend in May was Grad Weekend and NOTHING seemed to be available anywhere.

It's unfortunate that you became ill on your honeymoon and when you have such high expectations at the start of your new life together, it's undeniable that any thing that goes wrong or is imperfect would seem magnified.

 

[littlestar]

Sorry the honeymoon went badly.

We own at (3) DVC resorts, BCV, BWV, and VWL. In all honesty, we have noticed a difference in the upkeep at VWL in the common areas (it looks better) than either of our DVC resorts at BCV and BWV. And I have a theory why, I think it's got something to do with the manager - I don't know if it's the housekeeping manager or regular manager. But EVERY TIME (I kid you not) we have been at the VWL, we see a lady (she has a foreign accent) and she's walking through the Villas at Wilderness Lodge checking it over. I've seen her check bathrooms, pick up wet towels left on window ledges. The last time we were there a few weeks ago, she was walking through with another DVC person in authority and she was not happy with the way the fabric was wearing on the rocking chair cushions - she wanted it replaced. Me and my husband got tickled, actually. She found some cookie crumbs on the floor and was not happy with that either - "someone shouldn't have missed it" is what I heard her say (she must have just had a housekeeper come through and clean or something)!

But anyway, this lady (who I believe is some sort of manager at VWL) and the DVC gentleman stopped and talked to me and my husband. The gentleman asked us when our next stay was and we told him October of '06. He said, well, the villas at Wilderness Lodge should have new DVD players and mattresses by then. We chuckled and told him, we see our dues are being used wisely. And he smiled.

On the bug issue in your room, you really should have called maintenance. They need to know about things like that. Our nephew and his family were staying at Marriott's Grande Vista on our trip a few weeks ago and they had an issue in their unit with roaches. We told them, PLEASE let Marriott know what's going on. They did and Marriott sprayed (more than once, actually). And there was some weatherstripping on a door that they replaced (the little buggers will come in if they find a way).

I hope your next trip is better. And congratulations on your wedding.

 

[Disney-Kim]

trust me... if you were to have seen all of the different photos of the problems (which I should have taken) many of you would be surprised as well at many of the problems I encountered.

I believe you. I was there 3 weeks ago and although I didn't see the exact problems you did, I saw wear and tear and I DID see the missing shingles on the roof. but it did not ruin my vacation.
I am sorry you got sick and that did ruin your vacation. we have had that happen and its just not fun.

but...IMHO...I think your expectations were too high. You should have stayed in one of the deluxe HOTELS not DVC. just my opinion. The fact the towel thing bothered you....you should have known there was no housekeeping and you could have called at any time during your stay for fresh towels. and you could have called about the bugs..but you didn't. You have obviously been on these boards and had to have seen a lot of the complaints about BCV's need of a refurb too. maybe you didn't...I am just saying I don't think they were the best choice for a honeymoon. the service is different.
I know the BCV need a refurb and new beds...but I still think they looked beautiful and I looked beyond the knicks/scratches/stains. I have seen those in all my other WDW HOTEL stays too. it happens.

If you still want to write the letter....maybe re-phrase it a bit. Just talk about your overall disappointment as opposed to the knit picky small things...because if I was reading it...thats all I would see. Just let them know your Honeymoon was not what you expected.
Maybe your next trip will be so much better. and maybe pick one of the hotels that are freshly refurbed so you can see it all pretty...
Good Luck.

 

[TCARON]

Oh my, is your head spinning? The rath of us DVC'ers can be pretty severe. We love and protect our DVC. My points are with the Beach Club and I'm always disappointed to heard of reports that are not of the standard we all expect. I'll be there the last week in June and do not want to see big huge bugs in my room! I would have called the first second I got there. My wife would not have even entered the room! I ama stickler for detail but try to keep my perspective reasonable. Disney is still as close to perfect as you can get considering the challange.

Still......

We spend a lot of money there. The only way we can be assured that Disney keeps up with the maintenance is by keeping on them when we spot a problem. Unlike yourselves, fellow DVC'ers like to get things fixed not for Disney's sake but for each DVC'ers sake. I always want teh place to look good for teh next member's stay. The difference of ownership vs. renting.

Hope your next trip is a happier one!

 

[antree]

I am a DVC Member and I agree that DVC can look better. I too have notice problems. It doesn't matter how trivial it is it should be addressed, we do pay dues and a lot of money to get into DVC, so I think the properties should be kept a little better and maid service should come without me reminding them to come. I was there for 2 wks in Jan. at BWV and I never received maid service once, not until the night before I checked out. I called and complained to housekeeping and at the front desk, just about everyday. I spoke with the manger at the front desk, he told me they would be there the next day and they still were a no show. I went down to them again the day before I checked out to complain again about housekeeping, and my view that I paid for, at this point I am so pissed. So while I am talking to them my DH brings me my cell I have a phone call from my daughters doctor, because she is sick with strep. So I go speak with the doctor. While I am on the phone I start yelling with the Dr's office because they have refused to help me for the last 2 days, I told them I was on vacation and no one is helping me even after I talked to the Dr. before I left and asked them if the kids get sick while I was away, can I call them for help. So this is what is happening, the hotel thinks I am on the phone about them, they have no clue who I am talking too, all they hear is me saying , "No one is helping me, I have been calling for days". So front desk sends a manager over from housekeeping, she interrupts my call and says she needs to speak with me. I hang up with the Dr. and the manager apologizes over and over, swearing it was a mistake, she knows who the maid is that was suppose to do our room and she will take care of it, and that someone was on the way up to our room. I say fine, what can I do at this point I check out tomorrow, I wanted maid service a week ago. I ask them why did it have to get to this point to get them to listen to me, she says there was no record of me telling them about housekeeping, that if she only knew. No, I should have said you did know, and the only reason you are doing something now is because I was on the phone and you have no idea who I was talking too. So yes I am a member and I will continue to go to Disney, but I will also continue to complain and wonder what are my dues paying for, when I can't even get a clean towel without begging for it.

 

[CarolA]

I am a DVC Member and I agree that DVC can look better. I too have notice problems. It doesn't matter how trivial it is it should be addressed, we do pay dues and a lot of money to get into DVC, so I think the properties should be kept a little better and maid service should come without me reminding them to come. I was there for 2 wks in Jan. at BWV and I never received maid service once, not until the night before I checked out. I called and complained to housekeeping and at the front desk, just about everyday. I spoke with the manger at the front desk, he told me they would be there the next day and they still were a no show. I went down to them again the day before I checked out to complain again about housekeeping, and my view that I paid for, at this point I am so pissed. So while I am talking to them my DH brings me my cell I have a phone call from my daughters doctor, because she is sick with strep. So I go speak with the doctor. While I am on the phone I start yelling with the Dr's office because they have refused to help me for the last 2 days, I told them I was on vacation and no one is helping me even after I talked to the Dr. before I left and asked them if the kids get sick while I was away, can I call them for help. So this is what is happening, the hotel thinks I am on the phone about them, they have no clue who I am talking too, all they hear is me saying , "No one is helping me, I have been calling for days". So front desk sends a manager over from housekeeping, she interrupts my call and says she needs to speak with me. I hang up with the Dr. and the manager apologizes over and over, swearing it was a mistake, she knows who the maid is that was suppose to do our room and she will take care of it, and that someone was on the way up to our room. I say fine, what can I do at this point I check out tomorrow, I wanted maid service a week ago. I ask them why did it have to get to this point to get them to listen to me, she says there was no record of me telling them about housekeeping, that if she only knew. No, I should have said you did know, and the only reason you are doing something now is because I was on the phone and you have no idea who I was talking too. So yes I am a member and I will continue to go to Disney, but I will also continue to complain and wonder what are my dues paying for, when I can't even get a clean towel without begging for it.

Hmm... you seem to have lots of customer service issues in your life???

I have no problem with complaints, I am not one of those who thinks that complaining is wrong, but the OP is complaining NOT to make things better but to get something FREE!!! Sorry, but that letter is a line of "lets' walk around and find things to complain about" Disney made you get sick??? (And he would like your dues to pay for his "refund on his dining plan and any other stuff he gets")

 

[Dina]

Just wanted to say, I wasn't very sympathetic to the OP, and I'm not a DVC owner, and have never stayed in a DVC. I actually like being in a hotel (this way I'm not expected to do any cleaning or cooking). I don't think anyone should assume that all who responded are just trying to protect their investment. You just can't blame Disney for being sick. Again though, to the OP-- I am sorry that your honeymoon wasn't what you expected!!!!! That must be a big disappointment. Next time maybe you should stay in the regular "hotel" rather than the villas. Congratulations on your wedding!!

 

[Tink10]

I also want to say that I'm very sorry that you were sick......

But I too have to agree that you should have called about the bugs the first time you saw one. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach resort a couple of years ago & were completely disgusted at the bugs that inhabited our room......Roaches & spiders....EEK!

I think the condition of the room is purely luck of the draw. We've had both good & bad at regular WDW resorts (we've even had a not so great room at The Portofino Bay at Universal)....So far, we've only had good at DVC. The shingle thing just seems very petty. I did notice missing shingles at the BCV, but it didn't make me think any less of the resort.

I normally expect to see a bit of wear & tear at all WDW resorts......If I had a dime for every time I've seen a mom & dad taking a blind eye while their little "prince" or "princess" is wholloping the living daylights out of the elevator buttons, I could pay this years dues!! Not to mention the little monkeys running nonstop up & down the hallways......Yikes! But again, that's at ALL the WDW resorts.

Congrats on your marriage & hopefully, you'll look back on this years from now & have a great laugh.

 

[fishermouse]

sigh...Our room was filthy (without the extra bugs) and the bathtub looked like it hadn't been cleaned in awhile.

I have to question the lack of housekeeping as well... would the condition of at least the room I was in be this bad if they had daily housekeeping services and frequent attention?

Most people buy into time shares for the condo like experience. We like the privacy etc. this is proven by the low number who actually purchase the extra mousekeeping service. If I walked into a dirty room I would call the front desk and not even unpack until the room was satisfactory. As far as the bugs, it's spring in Florida if the door was left open they're comming in. Seems they like the airconditiong as much as we do. Since the Flu usually takes 72hours to show you probably brought it with you, imune systems get weak with stress, whats more stressfull than getting married? I still don't really see the appeal of the dining plan. we eat out most nights, usually the Epcot resturants and do not spend enough on a daily basis to make it worth while.
Anyway best of luck to you both, hope you give DVC another chance,

 

[Cruelladeville]

Actually, I can understand why the OP was unhappy--everything is worse when you're sick, and who wants to see worn carpeting? However, those who own at BC have to decide what's most important--and this year it's the couches and beds, which, thank God, are being replaced. The carpets probably get replaced next year. There is just so much that can be done in any year.

It is our home away from home, and, just like home, certain things have to wait until I have the money to get it fixed. I don't like it, but my wallet isn't bottomless, and neither is the pot of BC dues. That's reality.

By the way, I would write Disney to explain about the unused portion of your DDP. You won't get anything for it, but it will make you feel better.