Is this normal for DVC

[TXdeVille]

We had our first trip home to AKV in December. Of course it was at Jambo House. We were running a little bit late but DH wanted to hear "Welcome Home" so I waited for him to park the vehicle and come with me. Check in took forever as they were slammed. We NEVER heard "Welcome Home." It was pretty disappointing. Will this change when Kidani opens?? I just expected better check-in service with DVC.

Also, aren't members supposed to get a Portable Perks upon check-in? We didn't get that either......Any other items that are normal upon check-in??

Thx

 

[CandyMandy]

If it makes you feel any better, I still laugh about the first time I was "welcomed home," learning in the process just how robotic that ritual actually is.

It was back in 1993, before I was even a DVC member. I was attending a conference at WDW and because I was late in registering, all the reserved space at the Contemporary was gone. So Disney put me in a studio at OKW.

At the time, I was completely unaware of DVC and upon arrival just assumed I'd been sent to some sort of "overflow property." I.e., I had no clue OKW was a time share. When I arrived at the registration desk to check in, I was greeted by a very perky CM who blurted out a massive "WELCOME HOME, Ms. ________" as if she was my long-lost seperated-at-birth sister. I didn't have clue as to what had prompted this bizarre, almost discomforting "salutation" and thought "Either this staffer is high on goofballs or Disney is definitely getting a lttle cultish."

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

I honestly can't remember the last time we didn't hear Welcome Home at check in, but I am sure it happens. However, I have never stayed at AKV either!

Home

 

[daisyduck123]

We've stayed at AKV twice now. I honestly can't remember if we've heard "Welcome Home" or not.....I'm always so happy to arrive that I am oblivious to their greeting.

We have always received a Portable Perks booklet in the folder with our check-in materials. The folder contains a map of the resort, a sheet of recreational times/activites, and a few other items. Sometimes the Perks booklet seems to be "hidden" among the paperwork inside. One time, I didn't notice it until our trip was over & we were back home.

 

[stopher1]

Also, aren't members supposed to get a Portable Perks upon check-in? We didn't get that either......Any other items that are normal upon check-in??

Thx

When we went in October we did a split stay at BWV & AKV - and received the Portable Perks at AKV but not BWV because they were out of them... but they did leave us a message on the room phone the next morning telling us that they had received more. Perhaps they were just out of them that day when you checked in...

 

[disneynutz]

The last posts about Welcome Home was that all resorts, DVC or not were saying it. It made the DVC folks feel less special.

 

[dzee]

We stayed at SSR in Dec. and I'm pretty sure they did say Welcome Home. Maybe it was just because it was so busy that they may have overlooked saying it!

 

[Longhairbear]

We stayed at Paradise Pier at Disneyland a few weeks ago on points. After I gave my name at check in, she said "Welcome Home". I assume the computer tagged me as a DVC member staying on points, and told her to say "Welcome Home".

 

[bobbiwoz]

I stayed at Pop one night in December and was "Welcomed Home" at checkin.

To the OP, didn't the guard at AKV welcome you home? That's been pretty standard for us when we pull up and they go look for a parking pass for us.

Bobbi

 

[Inkmahm]

To the OP, didn't the guard at AKV welcome you home? That's been pretty standard for us when we pull up and they go look for a parking pass for us.

Bobbi

Exactly. The guards are the most consistent with the "welcome home" greeting, especially upon check in.

AKV can be pretty swamped for check in if you happen to get there at the same time as a ME bus or cruise line bus, but I don't remember them missing the "welcome home" greeting when I've stayed there. And I always get the portable perks book, too.

 

[Princess_Melanie]

Don't get me started on AKL!! We didn't get Welcome Home either there - the whole trip in January (SSR in Dec 08 was perfect however....Welcomed Home all the time!!)

Our Perk book was missing too - we wanted to check if there was anything new or updated and when we asked at the front desk - we got one but it was practically thrown at us....the whole vacation in AKL was very very unmagical (every other minute, outside AKL was wonderful) and a 5 page letter to Member Services with photographs certainly sorted out the situation!!

 

[rigsby25]

We visited last December at Jamba house. We thought then that AK handled everything badly. Maybe they are just not up to speed yet. We got our room a little late, but by 8 pm our luggage had not been sent up. We went down and got it ourselves, but were told we could not use a cart "for insurance purposes". So we had to lug everything up to the 5th floor by ourselves, or wait till who knows when. Bell services were "backed up". I was very disappointed and hope Kidani is better, or else we will probably sell our AKV points.

 

[kellyf2626]

I have also found the guards when we drive-in to be the most reliable about saying "Welcome Home". I have also noticed when checking-in at the Boardwalk that they say Welcome Home to EVERYONE....not just DVC members. While staying at OKW, I got it all the time. I think it depends on the resort...who's working, etc... I think it's a great touch, and have never had problems receiving my Perks packet or any of the other stuff in the Welcome Home folder.

 

[dianeschlicht]

While we DID get a "welcome Home" at AKV in January, we too felt the "unmagic" of the stay. It's like they consider the DVC portion of AKL to be the 'ugly stepsister', and treat us like dirt. We had housekeeping issues, airline check in issues, and on top of that a looooooooong hallway to the room that drove DH nuts. Of course, it was all off set by a wonderful savanna view and LOTS of animals to see all week. We also got to be extra close to those wonderful AKL restaurants too!

I think every DVC that comes into an existing Disney hotel suffers some of the same issues when the DVC is new there. I remember it at VWL and BCV too. I assume it will be MUCH better at Kidani with seperate check in.

Oh, and the security gate guy always welcomed us home each time we went through!

 

[Jynohn]

Sadly, AKL is the only resort where I've encountered unfriendly CM's who were bordering on rude. We've only stayed there once, but I was really turned off by the service we received. Looks like this might be a trend with the resort. We didn't feel it was bad enough to lodge a complaint about, but definitely an "unmagical" stay. Too bad, because we really love the atmosphere there.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We are arriving sunday for our first stay at AKV. All of this "unmagic" is making me very apprehensive. I wanted to return to OKW but DH had his heart set on AKV because we had such a wonderful stay at the Lodge a few years before joining DVC. We even opted for a standard view because we didn't want to end up in the savannah where the animals are gone. Plus we loved the pool there and heard that at Jambo House standard view is of the pool. Due to some health issues this may be our last trip for awile so I hope and pray it's a good one. I guess we'll have to make our own magic.

 

[SamSam]

We are arriving sunday for our first stay at AKV. All of this "unmagic" is making me very apprehensive. I wanted to return to OKW but DH had his heart set on AKV because we had such a wonderful stay at the Lodge a few years before joining DVC. We even opted for a standard view because we didn't want to end up in the savannah where the animals are gone. Plus we loved the pool there and heard that at Jambo House standard view is of the pool. Due to some health issues this may be our last trip for awile so I hope and pray it's a good one. I guess we'll have to make our own magic.

Please don't let a few negative posts scare you. We've been to AKV numerous times and it's been magical each and every time. One reason DH and like staying there is because we feel the CM's at AKV are so friendly and helpful. As far as the Welcome Home goes, we usually get the greeting but I think that at AKV it may sometimes get overlooked because the greater portion of the people staying there are regular resort guests and the cm's simply forget to greet the DVCr's with the Welcome Home.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Please don't let a few negative posts scare you. We've been to AKV numerous times and it's been magical each and every time. One reason DH and like staying there is because we feel the CM's at AKV are so friendly and helpful. As far as the Welcome Home goes, we usually get the greeting but I think that at AKV it may sometimes get overlooked because the greater portion of the people staying there are regular resort guests and the cm's simply forget to greet the DVCr's with the Welcome Home.
Enjoy your trip.

Yes, please!!! AKV is wonderful. When through some sort of mistake, my DP didn't show up at reservation time, the CM checked and found someone who could get me put on. The CMs have been very very friendly. There are a variety of activities for adults and children and we haven't had our DGC there yet, and it's fun seeing the children walking in a parade with instruments saying something about "Africa" and I've seen children in the common lounge area doing activities with CM's for beads. Our rooms have been what we've wanted, expected. I had a Mousekeeper think that there were plastic utensils in the studio when there weren't, but there was nothing rude, she was mistaken, no problem. We enjoyed sharing our Kitchen in the value 1 bedroom with DS and DGF, they came over for coffee and breakfasts. There were 3 adults in the one bedroom staying there, so at these times there were 5 adults, and no one thought or mentioned that it was "too crowded." The comments were about how lovely and themed the rooms/accomodations were. It's not OKW, VWL, BWV, or any of the others, but it is a wonderful DVC destination. I hope you enjoy it as much as I/we have. I've probably stayed in Jambo about 10 nights so far, on different visits and each visit was pleasurable.

Bobbi

PS. If AKV isn't your cup of tea, I do hope you have a good time there anyway.

 

[DeeCee735]

We very rarely don't get a welcome home. Usually they're all right on key. We've been DVC members since 2000, so now if we don't hear a welcome home, we shrug it off. We KNOW we are home and during just about every single trip we've experienced the "magic of DVC" in some form or another and it's wonderful.

We were there just 7 weeks ago and I feel like it's been years! I can't wait to go back, especially with all this frozen snow and ice laying around

 

[dd08]

We had our first trip home to AKV in December. Of course it was at Jambo House. We were running a little bit late but DH wanted to hear "Welcome Home" so I waited for him to park the vehicle and come with me. Check in took forever as they were slammed. We NEVER heard "Welcome Home." It was pretty disappointing. Will this change when Kidani opens?? I just expected better check-in service with DVC.

Also, aren't members supposed to get a Portable Perks upon check-in? We didn't get that either......Any other items that are normal upon check-in??

Thx

I understand being upset if somebody is rude to me, but is it worth holding a grudge because somebody didnt say "Welcome Home?" If the CM said something like "Oh, great another one" then I could understand frustration.

With everything going on in the world right now, is it that big of a deal?

Sorry, I know I'm coming across as a condescending jerk, but just trying to put a little perspective on how insignificant a greeting (or lack thereof) is.

As far as the wait for check-in, you admitted they were slammed. People can only do so much. (Maybe this is also the reason why they forgot to say "Welcome Home")