Just returned, have had better stays....

[rbuzzotta]

We just returned from DxL, now Port Orleans Riverside where we used 240 points for a 7 night stay! The room was small and we longed for a little privacy from the girls.....We can't wait to go back in July and stay at a BWV 2 bedroom.

My 2 year olds (almost 3) collar bone was fine. She broke it 2 days before leaving and although the first few days were a little sore she quickly bounced back and enjoyed herself.

I thought that being a DVC member I would have gotten a "Welcome Home" or a little extra smile. I was wrong. I tried to get a DVC discount on the surrey bikes and boats at the hotel and was quickly told this was NOT a DVC property. I was a little taken aback! I felt as though I shouldn't have even been there!! Is there some animosity against DVC members??? We requested express check out (to come at 7:00 am) and it never came. We waited in line for 45 minutes just to check out at 7:00 am while alot of people were checking in! I lost a gold earring and although one was found, the lost and found is centrally located at the French Quarter and it was taken over there. No-one ever returned my phone call. I guess I can say good-by to that!!

I was told at the World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney that they did NOT honor DVC member discounts on merchandise. I thought they did. I guess I was wrong.

A good thing though, my DH went over to our home, OKW and asked to use the exercise room. He was welcomed and returned saying he couldn't wait to come back and stay at OKW.

This was the last trip we will go on staying at a non-DVC resort. Call us spoiled but I like my home away from home!!!

As always, Mickey was wonderful!!!

Rosemary
Off-site every year since 1985
PO '96, '97, '99
Coronado '00
WL '94, '00
CB '98
VB '97, '98, '00
DVC member '00 OKW
DxL '97, '01
BWV '01

 

[KNWVIKING]

What's the drought situation down there right now ? I know south of Orlando has seen some.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't believe that the DVC member discount applies at World of Disney.

Sorry to hear about the problems you had. We stayed at Dixie 2 years ago (w/MKC discount, not points) and liked it, but I would rather stay at OKW or BWV anyday.

Which section were you in? Did they upgrade you to a waterview?

 

[Dean]

I'm glad your daughter did well, I knw she would. Those 2 BR and GV units sure spoil you.

Dean

 

[tonyboy]

I took my Honeymoon there and was great. It was better than a hotel room at Holiday Inn. Maybe my standards aren't that great. We both loved it though. I talked to a couple who says they stayed at all the resorts and they keep coming back to Dixie. I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience but since it's a general use resort, I really don't expect them to roll out the red carpet for me.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Please don't get me wrong tonyboy. I didn't expect them to "roll out the red carpet". However, I did not expect to be spoken to with a tone that incinutated (spelled wrong) that DVC members did not belong at DxL or any other non-DVC resort!!!

We stayed at Magnolia Terrace with a nice view of the courtyard. We also stayed at Alligator Bayou on a previous stay and requested Magnolia Terrace this time.

I was under the impression that DVC members got discounts at World of Disney but was wrong. I guess it is not considered a "Disney Store".

The drought situation seemed o.k.. I did not smell any wildfires and they had had downpours on Monday and on and off showers on Tuesday. Extended forcast calls for possible showers this Thursday and Friday. The bugs were minimal and the humidity was low. The weather was pretty comfortalbe but I was hoping for some really warm days and nights after this awful (long...) winter here in New England!

Counting the days till we are back!!!

Rosemary
Off-site every year since 1985
PO '96, '97, '99
Coronado '00
WL '94, '00
CB '98
VB '97, '98, '00
DVC member '00 OKW
DxL '97, '01
BWV '01

 

[Paul in CT]

On a short visit in January, I stopped at WOD to buy a CD and learned at that time that they do not give a DVC discount and that, although they do honor the Disney Club card for a 10% discount, the purchase must be for $25 or more. Since the $25 limit was new, he gave me the DC discount on my $20 purchase, the smallest I have ever made at WOD.

Paul in CT

 

[PamOKW]

World of Disney never did honor DVC (although some members say they did get a discount). They and other DD stores should give us the AMEX discount when staying at WDW. Members have reported problems getting this but we are entitled to it.

I'm sorry to hear a CM was snide about DVC. In the "old days" they used to make DVC members feel special where ever we went on property. Was your room the top view room at the resort (water or whatever?)

 

[rbuzzotta]

Hi PamOKW,

Our room was in Magnolia Terrace (a beautiful mansion) and was facing the courtyard which had gorgeous landscaping and a gazebo decorated with beautiful flowers. I believe it was considered a "preferred view".

One very positive thing about our stay was a lifeguard named Jamie. She was the best. I plan to write a letter commending her (and NOT mentioning how I felt about the other incidences).She had to jump in and help a little boy whose Dad was too busy videotaping him come down the slide. Well, the little boy had a very difficult time resurfacing and the Dad was in street clothes. Jamie blew her whistle, the other lifeguards immediately took various positions around the pool and she jumped in, brought the boy to the surface, calmed him down with a wonderful smile and soothing voice and took him to his Dad at the other side of the pool. All this time, the Dad continued to videotape the incident. My DH and I commented to Jamie how astute she was and that Disney should be happy to have such qualified lifeguards. Although I don't leave my girls unattended at any time in the pool, I felt really safe with her!!!

Rosemary
Off-site every year since 1985
PO '96, '97, '99
Coronado '00
WL '94, '00
CB '98
VB '97, '98, '00
DVC member '00 OKW
DxL '97, '01
BWV '01

 

[PamOKW]

Thanks for the info. Just wanted to be sure we still get nice rooms when staying on points. Your lifeguard story is incredible. I swear "you never know what people will do". I can't imagine a father videotaping his son's rescue, he should have been doing what he could to save him! (I bet he won't write a letter except maybe to complain. It would be nice if you did.)

 

[Jenn]

I'm just curious - why didn't you stay at a DVC resort? Was it that nothing was available? The more times I stay at "our" resorts, the less inclined I am to stay at a regular property. And, that's alot of points for just a hotel room!

Jenn

 

[rbuzzotta]

The reason we stayed at DxL was that there were no availablities at a DVC resort during our timeframe. My daughter was in a cheerleading competition and we had to cancel our Easter OKW ressies to go earlier. Unfortunately we couldn't stay at a DVC resort. I bet we made someone at OKW happy.

On the upside, her team placed 1st in the Jr. AllStar Cheerleading division and also won the Grand National Cheerleading Championship which was held at Universal Studios! Boy was I one proud mom!!! (still am)

Please don't get me wrong and that I am complaining about my whole vacation, I just think with my family (me, DH, DD-9, DD-5, DD-almost 3) we just can't make it in a regular hotel room anymore! Also, I guess I just expected a little courtesy from a CM, especially being a DVC member (even if not a member). This was a first time I encountered a "not so friendly" CM. Maybe she had an issue with another DVC member at some time in her career and placed us all in some sort of category. Oh well, life goes on and I have another 41 years at WDW...I am sure I will encounter another "not so friendly" CM!!!

Rosemary
Off-site every year since 1985
PO '96, '97, '99
Coronado '00
WL '94, '00
CB '98
VB '97, '98, '00
DVC member '00 OKW
DxL '97, '01
BWV '01

 

[Lisa F]

We all have our favorite resorts. It doesn't mean that anyone's standards are higher than someone elses, but DVC members especially tend to be fiercely loyal to their home resort (see many "which is better, bwv or okw?" arguments!)

As DVC members (and disney customers in general, I think) we come to expect a level of service that is above and beyond what one can get in most places, therefore when a CM doesn't live up to those expectations I think it makes it that much more shocking to us.

Let's face it, it's really easy to get spoiled by home-away-from-home type rooms and I find myself being disappointed with MOST hotel rooms, even just comparing them to a DVC studio (I love having that fridge and microwave, and I won't even get into the 1BR with jacuzzi and more space than I ever thought I'd be able to afford at disney!).

Different things are important to different people, though, and if DxL is your favorite, that's great! One of the best things about DVC in particular (and Disney in general) is the wide range of choices and options they give you... there's something for everyone there.

Lisa

"You employ stone, wood, and concrete, and with these materials you build house and palaces. That is construction. Ingenuity is at work. But suddenly, you touch my heart, you do me good. I am happy and I say 'This is beautiful.' That is architecture. Art enters in."
-Le Corbusier

 

[Synonymous]

Why should they treat us any differently from anyone else just because we're in DVC? All it means is that we've paid ahead of time for our vacations.

Tom

 

[jennybobenny]

Good question Tom. Ideally I would hope that the CMs at Disney treat DVC members as 'special', after all, we 'own a piece of the magic'. However, I can see that it's unrealistic, especially with the sheer number of DVC members.

Just a short anecdote - we asked at the BWV Valet Desk for a cab to take us to the Grand Floridian. The CM was certainly nice enough and called for a van to take us. The van parked out front beside 2 DVC vans, both of which sat empty. No problem. The cab dropped us at the GF, we paid the driver and went on our merry way. A few hours later we needed to get back to BWV to meet our driver from Tiffany to take us to the airport. We were a little nervous about the time since we stayed too long at the GF. The CM at the GF Valet desk showed us where to wait and said he would take care of calling a cab. He then grabbed a set of keys, got a van and drove us to the Boardwalk. He had no idea we were leaving that day or that we were running late. When we told him how much we appreciated the ride (and explained why) he said he was happy to do it and was very pleased that we were leaving Disney on such a high note. The ride was complimentary, although we did give him a nice tip.

My point is, we never expected the personal service but being DVC members I would have guessed the extra service would come from BWV not GF. The CM at GF had no idea we were even DVC members. There are some CMs that will go out of their way to be wonderful and accommodating and then there are those who will be polite and only do what is necessary to get by.

<font face="Class Garmnd BT"><font color="ff69b4"><big>Jennybºoº benny</big></font>
<font color="9400d3">~~DVC Member~~
Onsite: Poly '76, Contemp '98, BWV '99, CBR '00, BWV '00, CBR '01
Offsite: '74 '80 '82 '88
Next trip: BWV~June '01, ASM/BWV~Nov '01</font>
<a href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/jsmith12/jillian&kylecharacterpage.html">Jillian & Kyle's Disney Character Website</a></font>

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

I'm so glad that everything went well with your daughter that has the broken Clavicle. I was wondering how she was doing. I filled in for my wife at a clinic and saw a young girl who had also fractured her Clavicle and I commented to her that as part of the break that she should go to WDW. Her parents thought it was a good idea and I think they went home and scheduled a trip. I told them about your daughter and they said that Disney cures everything. I agreed and now I want to go to WDW.
We stayed at PO twice using points and we thought it was nice but when you use the same number of points as a 1 BdRm it does make the room look small. We got a room with a great view and did enjoy the change and the beauty of PO. We stayed there because we decided to go to WDW with late notice and OKW was full.
I hope everything else went well and that you got a extra ride on "Small World" for me. I'm trying to get everyone to ride on Small World so when I take the children I can tell them it's broken because after the number of times that I have been on it some psychological damage can occur.