Is this how "bashing" first begins?

[Anthony1971]

Unfortunately (for them) that is true with guests who come every couple years for only 5-7 days. The room becomes just a bed & bath while the real trip happens in the parks. At best, these guests will allot a "down day" to spend at the pool. And if they are placed near a pool, they may indulge in a midafternoon or evening swim.

However, I thought the average DVCer was spending longer amounts of time at Disney either in longer stays or multiple stays. For them, I imagine spending several hours getting comfortable at a resort is part of the trip.

I agree
I think there are still a lot of DVC memebrs that do not spend a lot of time at the resort --where are they if they did watching TV in thier room ..... I think the person who has been to disney a number of times will enjoy a resort more.
I use to stay at the POLY and drop my bags... Until I went I back around 5 one dya and found a hammock on the beach -which I still refer to as my hammock as my wife would take a shower and come back and yell at me because she wnated to go to dinner oh the memories I have not yet discovered a hammock to my liking at a DVC resort but I will....
Back too... I think APs and DDP help this along with people going to the parks everyday and not taking the time to saa that Disney itself and each resort is a destination and not a bunch of theme parks...
I only go once a year right now 1 week at Disney (I bring parents to enjoy grandchild) 1 week ?????? and 1 week at home I could do more but I have been going to disney for 17 years... when I retire in 29 years ...........well 28 1/2 now I plan on going more often

 

[3DisneyKids]

Sorry but I find this an offensive statement. It just might be one of the most condescending things I've read online in quite a while.

So lets get this straight , you are so much brighter than the rest of us that you can tell more about a resort in a quick walk through than we can during a stay there?

Come on! I believe an apology is in order. Believe it or not we can all see for ourselves what resorts we like and dislike. It doesn't have to be so scientific. You stay at the resort and see if you like the features, rooms, location, food, etc. You either like it or you don't. There is no magic formula.

You know, since you are so bright and so experienced maybe you can start a course that we can take. That way we don't even have to bother trying the resorts, we can just walk through them like you. Could save a lot of time and points.

Mike

Not to speak for Dean, as he is more than capable of speaking for himself, however--having been on this thread from the beginning, one of the things we have been discussing here is that many visitors to WDW really do nothing but sleep at their resort. These are park commandos. They leave the resort at 7--hit the parks hard all day until closing, come back to resort and crash--get up the next morning and do it all over again. There is nothing wrong with this--everyone should have the Disney vacation they wish.

However, then those same folks come here (or elsewhere) and spout off as though they are total experts about the resort, when they maybe had only 5 waking hours there total. Additionally, as DVCers, many of us here visit WDW multiple times per year and are truly familiar with the nuances of each resort. Thus, it is frustrating when someone comes here and bashes a resort--any resort--when they really know very little about it.

I see that you are new to the DIS--welcome! Once you have been around for a while, you will notice that this is a topic that comes up often. And some of the posts here--maybe even some of those made by Dean--reference the context of being on the DIS for years. There have been many, many, many discussions about these topics and thus our responses are based not only many Disney trips, but reading these boards for a long period of time. When you take the total context into account, the posts make much more sense are not seen as offensive by most.

Hope you hang around and keep posting!

P.S. And when it comes to resort knowledge and lifestyle, yes, Dean really IS that much more knowledgeable than most of us (and I will put myself in that category even though I am very well educated and well traveled.) I believe that he can learn more about a resort in an hour than some guests who have stayed there for a week. Once you read many of Dean's post, you quickly find out that he is truly a TimeShare resort expert--and I don't think anyone on these boards would disagree with that.

 

[3DisneyKids]

You know, since you are so bright and so experienced maybe you can start a course that we can take. That way we don't even have to bother trying the resorts, we can just walk through them like you. Could save a lot of time and points.

Mike

I know you meant this sarcastically, but just to reinforce what I stated above, there are actually many people who have posted just that to Dean--to provide a course on the ins and outs of TimeSharing. Like I said, he's THAT knowledgeable. I would love to have him pass on his vast knoweldge of the industry to me.

 

[Anthony1971]

Sorry but I find this an offensive statement. It just might be one of the most condescending things I've read online in quite a while.

So lets get this straight , you are so much brighter than the rest of us that you can tell more about a resort in a quick walk through than we can during a stay there?

Come on! I believe an apology is in order. Believe it or not we can all see for ourselves what resorts we like and dislike. It doesn't have to be so scientific. You stay at the resort and see if you like the features, rooms, location, food, etc. You either like it or you don't. There is no magic formula.

You know, since you are so bright and so experienced maybe you can start a course that we can take. That way we don't even have to bother trying the resorts, we can just walk through them like you. Could save a lot of time and points.

Mike

I think Dean has a lot of knowledge as he owns other timeshares as well as DVC and has for a while so he can compare easier sometimes things written are more obnoxious than spoken or intended.....
Your opinion will be valued as well as that is what the DIS is about...
The problem is yes anyone can make an observation but a lot of people make an observation without setting foot at a resort much less comparing what one resort has compared to another and this how bashing starts and long drawn out threads that can cause people resentment.

 

[Dean]

Sorry but I find this an offensive statement. It just might be one of the most condescending things I've read online in quite a while.

So lets get this straight , you are so much brighter than the rest of us that you can tell more about a resort in a quick walk through than we can during a stay there?

Come on! I believe an apology is in order. Believe it or not we can all see for ourselves what resorts we like and dislike. It doesn't have to be so scientific. You stay at the resort and see if you like the features, rooms, location, food, etc. You either like it or you don't. There is no magic formula.

You know, since you are so bright and so experienced maybe you can start a course that we can take. That way we don't even have to bother trying the resorts, we can just walk through them like you. Could save a lot of time and points.

Mike

I'm sorry you took it that way, that was not my intention. I don't think I'm smarter but I do think I have more knowledge and experience in these areas than many. If you find that offensive so be it; as others have said, you should take it in context. My posts were not directed at what you or I like or dislike but in honestly evaluating resorts in general in addition to the specific resorts being discussed. You are certainly free to skip over my posts if you like or add any info you think appropriate. Obviously it's not totally possible to take one's personal bias out of the mix but I do try as much as I can.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm not bashing any of them. I own BCV and SSR and they've been getting bashed a lot lately.

 

[BroganMc]

I'm sorry you took it that way, that was not my intention. I don't think I'm smarter but I do think I have more knowledge and experience in these areas than many. If you find that offensive so be it; as others have said, you should take it in context.

Just FYI Dean, I took your post exactly as moomba did at first. Perhaps you could have chosen some better words to clarify your expertise vs. the average park commando guest? My offense led me to ask you to clarify how you acquired this knowledge. I'm perfectly satisfied with your description of what you see and how. Your tours are pretty much what I expect the veteran DVCer or resort guest to experience during a stay. I only question you belief that most DVCers are more like park commandos than settling in guests.

After a few consecutive years of Disney travel one does start to expand their horizons away from the parks. There are only so many times you can ride IASW before you go bonkers. Chillin' at the resort is one the favorite stress relievers. But again that's just my hunch based on my experiences.

 

[BroganMc]

However, then those same folks come here (or elsewhere) and spout off as though they are total experts about the resort, when they maybe had only 5 waking hours there total.

Actually I see more issues with experts of one resort hastily judging another based on what they love at their expert resort. The ol' BCV review of SSR chafing, for instance.

That's where I think the bashing comes into play. The basher can't let go of their prior love long enough to fairly rate another contender. Sort of like a guy thinking his girl is the most beautiful ever and all other women are dogs. (Ok, so we gals wouldn't mind that altered perception. ) You get the idea.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I don't have any magical powers, but I feel extremely qualified to decide whether or not I like a resort... in about 5 minutes.

MG

 

[BroganMc]

I don't have any magical powers, but I feel extremely qualified to decide whether or not I like a resort... in about 5 minutes.

Since we're being frank here, based on what do you decide? ie. what strikes you the most: location, ambience, activity level, decor, etc?

For me it's having some place visually appealing that I can drive my powerchair at full speed with my mp3 ramped on high and not worry about being halted by an obstacle (permanent or temporary). (I think one of the reasons I dislike MGM is because I keep finding myself in dead ends.)

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Since we're being frank here, based on what do you decide? ie. what strikes you the most: location, ambience, activity level, decor, etc?

For me, it's mostly theme, and how well the theme is carried out.
Good restaurants is also important, but not huge since we eat at many other places anyway.
Location is probably third, but my idea of good location may not be the norm.
Stuff like parking I don't give a hoot about.

I'm certainly glad there is a variety, as I know what's important to me is vastly different than what's important to others.

Other than the time it takes to try a restaurant, or a couple days to experience any service problems, it just baffles me as to why a full week is needed to decide if you like the resort..

MG

 

[Pootle]

Other than the time it takes to try a restaurant, or a couple days to experience any service problems, it just baffles me as to why a full week is needed to decide if you like the resort..

MG

And it certainly baffles me! I didn't insist on staying in my 'real' home before I purchased it ..... I spent some time researching what was important to us.

But then again, I don't go around insulting my friends for not choosing/liking the same homes/locations/husband/vacations (I could go on ..... ) as I. And that's the core of this thread IMHO ....... not that I prefer my resorts to yours but that I don't think you're crazy for not thinking the same way.

 

[Dean]

Actually I see more issues with experts of one resort hastily judging another based on what they love at their expert resort. The ol' BCV review of SSR chafing, for instance.

That's where I think the bashing comes into play. The basher can't let go of their prior love long enough to fairly rate another contender. Sort of like a guy thinking his girl is the most beautiful ever and all other women are dogs. (Ok, so we gals wouldn't mind that altered perception. ) You get the idea.

I think that's true of many, if not most DVC members including SSR members. It seems especially true for members who haven't owned more than 2-3 years and only have a couple of stays under their belt compounded more if they have little or no other timeshare experience. For some reasons DVC members as a whole seem to have a more emotional approach than any other timeshare group I am personally aware of though it happens with all groups I've experienced. I think part of the difference is IT's DISNEY and another portion is that many DVC members don't see this as a timeshare at all.

 

[Starr W.]

I don't have any magical powers, but I feel extremely qualified to decide whether or not I like a resort... in about 5 minutes.

MG

No magical powers, but you did stay in a Holiday Inn Express the night before you checked into a DVC resort.

 

[ransom]

I have no trouble believing someone could tell whether they're going to like a resort within a few minutes of arrival....or even by simply reading its statistics and/or looking at pictures.

When we were looking for a house, we visited well over 100 homes, both new and existing! (Yeah, our realtor loves us. ) After a while, we could walk into a home and within minutes have mentally listed all its faults and its nicer features. We'd be in and out of most homes within a few minutes.

Now, when it comes to resorts, we aren't anywhere near that highly experienced (unlike many here). But, still, we can look at maps, lists of restaurants, room layouts, etc. and make a pretty good judgment as to whether one has any chance of pleasing us. But beyond that, we'll just have to try each one and see what we think.

 

[BroganMc]

For some reasons DVC members as a whole seem to have a more emotional approach than any other timeshare group I am personally aware of though it happens with all groups I've experienced.

That's an interesting point. I do notice I feel differently about our Marriott and Disney timeshares. With Marriott there's a certain underlying basis of expectation similar to brand loyalty for a hotel chain. That's why they all kinda feel the same to me with the exception of different geographic locations.

Disney is pretty much in the same geographic location so it becomes more about rating those little things like "theme". DVC also doesnt present itself as a timeshare as a very concentrated family vacation plan. Perhaps when they get to more than a dozen locations across the globe and less reliance of character-attended activities it'll feel like one of the other timeshares. Then the debates will be about the best place to go vacation and less about the best bedspreads & furniture.