I'm a little worried......

[sgtpet]

A Troll, Whiner, etc.

Some of you are unbelievable. I state my own opinion and get personally attacked for it. Let the buyer beware. That is it. DVC is great and I am happy to own it but I am not a sales person for DVC and it isn't for everybody and it isn't perfect.

When I stayed at HH this past June we had a wonderful time, but we had our share of maintenance issues that were not resolved during our stay even though they attempted to fix it twice. To state that you may get stuck with a sub par room is possible.

If you doubt then don't purchase. Make sure it makes sense for you.

 

[Lesley]

I've never had a bad room at WDW.....though I did have a room at CBR that needed a little fixing up (carpet and wall torn up in one corner...though not so badly it was unreasonable...and I think there was a stain on the carpet in one spot) and a studio at BWV that was not completely up to par (some wet carpet, dust building up on the air vent.....basically someone in housekeeping wasn't doing their job correctly....oh, and we did need to call to have the toilet plunged at one point and one of the doors fell off of the kitchenette! The door appeared to be something that a guest broke and didn't report, and it went back on without a problem) The BWV studio was a boardwalk view...so probably even more heavily used than most. If we hadn't all been sick at the time I would have called and insisted that everything be fixed....but as it was we needed to be in the room and didn't want anyone else there. Later that week we moved into a 1br standard view that was incredible...so it isn't a problem with DVC or BWV in general. The rest of the rooms we have had have been perfect.....really. And if you look at my list of stays...we've stayed in a lot of rooms at WDW!

 

[Zimbubba]

Some people get a little obsessed with their vision of perfection and the illusion of "magic." DVC properties are excellent resorts.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We haven't found any major problems with any of the units we've stayed in, besides a few missing kitchen items and a door latch that didn't work to well. I do think that HH units show a little more wear because guests are generally in them for more hours of the day and not at the parks. The environment there is also a little more natural, so there's more mud and sand than the pavement of the WDW properties. When we were at HH they were power washing the exterior of all the units, even though they didn't look "that" dirty to me. I haven't stayed at OKW yet, but we drove through on our last visit. If all the properties are maintained over time like OKW, I don't think you have anything to worry about. We look forward to staying there soon to check out the interiors.
*******************
There can be a lot of "happy talk" here that may make it seem like DVC and "Mother Disney" can do no wrong. When a negative post comes along about DVC or a program (like the "special" cruise), many feel they must squelch any opinions that may be--shall we say--less than glowing (re: below). I have participated on both positive and negative threads because I realize there are good and bad aspects about ownership. The more time you spend on the boards, the more you'll know some of the posters and what strikes a nerve with them. You will also be able to gauge how many grains of salt you'll need to accept their opinion as valid. Personally, I like to see a variety of opinions expressed including SgtPet (I happen to agree with his view of the "special" cruise). The most negative that some posters want you to get is that you didn't get a "welcome home" on your last visit. Without some healthy discussion and disagreement, this board would nothing more than an unfunded advertisement for DVC, and an long welcome thread.

During our buying process we found these boards to be very helpful for both positive and neagitve issues. You will generally get good advice here, although it will tend to be anti-negative as most of us here own.

Originally posted by jctwizzer
re: previous post: pls. realize that, in my opinion and based on disney cruise experience, the poster's recent diatribes about the proposed DVC cruise, calling for a boycott of the cruise because he/she didn't agree with the valuation, was way out of line. I also felt that their compulsion to strongly impose their beliefs on the rest of us demonstrated an obvious arrogance.. Which is why I feel that any remarks by that poster should be considered in light of his/her previous negative commentaries.

Good luck with your decision....Johnnie

 

[Dean]

I'm usually one of the more vocal and critical of certain aspects at DVC and I love it. Overall it's great for one that wants to use the points at a DVC resort. The other points options are not guaranteed and of, at best, questionable monetary value. The resorts are top notch, not doubt about it. Still, they are not 5 diamond resorts and there are certain trade off's one must make for timeshare accomodations like absence of maid service and the need for advanced planning.

Personally, I think your stated concerns are unfounded but understand your need to check them out. To us the luxury of space and a full kitchen is what we enjoy. We are not comfortable at places like Grand Floridian, too stuffy for us. So if you want to go to WDW (or HH or VB) most every year, I think you'd be a great fit. Good luck.

 

[Disney Doll]

We've been DVC owners since 1997, anmd have stayed in all different sized units(except grand villas) in OKW and BW. Haven't been to the VWL or the BCV, although we'll be going to BCV in October.

The couple of minor maintenance issues I've had in all the times I've stayed have been resolved quickly, and they really were essentially minor issues.

Once, when I got a 2BR unit at OKW that I felt was in need of refurbishment...it was just looking a little dingy...I wrote that on the comment card, and within the week I received a call from OKW housekeeping thanking me for pointing out the deficiencies, as they looked at it and decided to do a full refurbishment.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I had the same fears from reading theser boards, but never had a serious problem.
The only "problem" I have had in 3 years was one non-smoking room which definately smelled of smoke. But that isn't DVCs fault.

 

[Dancind]

"I was told that DVC members were generally very fast to call attention to problems - so maintenance was not nearly as bad as the other WDW resorts."

I think this is true. When I'm at the DVC resorts, I do feel like I'm home, or at least staying at a place I've invested in. During our recent stay at BCV I witnessed a teenage girl cooling herself off late at night by using her body to prop open an outside door at BCV, while she flirted with a boy. As my DD and I passed through, I commented "so, air conditioning the outdoors huh?" She giggled and said "yeah". We continued toward the elevator. I couldn't stand it, so turned around and commanded "close the door". She was shocked, but she did it, at least until we were gone. Got an embarassed MOOOOM from my DD for that one. But at least I refrained from comments to the adults having a party in the Dunes Cove hot tub, complete with bottled beer and cigars. Do you ever see people and think "they must be paying cash"? Diana

 

[SlyHubby]

Originally posted by Johnnie Fedora
There can be a lot of "happy talk" here that may make it seem like DVC and "Mother Disney" can do no wrong. When a negative post comes along about DVC or a program (like the "special" cruise), many feel they must squelch any opinions that may be--shall we say--less than glowing (re: below).

Bingo. Couldn't have said it better myself. The "happy talk" (excellent term) gets nauseating at times. Sgtpet raised good points on this and other topics that were less than glowing and then folks jump all over him. I happen to agree with his views on just about everything he posts - they are objective.

Ooops, I guess the flames and name calling will come at me now!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Whenever there has been something not "up to par", we have called housekeeping and it has been fixed imediately. Our last stay in a 2 bedroom lock off, we were late getting in. We could tell the people there before us had trashed it, because the carpet was still damp in places where they needed to shampoo it before we moved in. I have stayed in units that were just going to be refurbished (our first GV stay was in a unit that was being refurbished right after our stay) and in units that were brand new. There was little difference between the two except for wear on the hardwood floor in the living room of the GV. I call that normal for a place that gets as much use as these units do. I have NEVER had a unit that I thought was sub-par, and I can be picky in hotels.

 

[skorpie]

This past July was our first trip, as a family, to the VWL. I know that the VWL are pretty new, but one thing struck me. We had a 1BR an the fifth floor. Every time we got off the elevator, I got the wonderful experience of smelling newly polished wood. The carpets in the hall were very clean, as well as was our villa. We have also stayed at the Polynesian, Fort Wilderness cabins, Shades of Green and POFQ. We've also just purchased points at BCV. I think that Disney tries to maintain the DVC resorts. We were really shocked when we saw the POFQ! The carpet had stains, the wallpaper in the bathroom was peeling. DH said, "Never again!" I guess he's now the spoiled one! I'm looking forward to the next 40 yrs of wonderful vacations at the top notch, DVC resorts! We've got 3 trips planned for the next year. We wouldn't be doing it if the resorts weren't wonderful!

 

[lexiluke]

It is refreshing to know that so many of you are happy with DVC! Although it has been said that the viewpoints on this board are not entirely objective, I cannot imagine anyone trying to mislead someone as to the condition in which they have found the rooms; unless you are a DVC sales rep! So I take your input very seriously in our decision making process. Thanks!

 

[lexiluke]

I got to thinking about my last statement, and I don't want anyone to think that I was implying that the DVC sales reps are dishonest. I was only joking!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Uncleromulus has been a DVC member since 1992. Gone to OKW now at least once a year since then, usually twice a year, and once, 3 times in one year.
In all that time, we encountered but two "problems"--once the bathroom toilet didn't "work"--they fixed that after a phone call. And once the outdoor patio fan had rusted completely thru and it didn't work. I imagine they wound up replacing that one.

Other than that, we have been completely satisfied with the condition of our one-bedroom units.