rlduvall
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 7, 2002
- Messages
- 4,628
Recently returned from 10 nights at WDW. First 7 at BCV and the final 3 at AKV, standard view studio. Please remember, the following comments are just my opinion, nothing more. Some things bother me that might not you. 
First off, let me say that I think AKV - Kidani will be a beautiful resort when completed. BUT, I now realize that I should wait until a property is finished because I don't like seeing construction workers, work trailers, unfinished grassland, dirt roads, etc. But I knew that going in - so my bad.
I also will never save points again by staying in a standard view at Kidani; so not worth it. 
Besides my comments on another thread about the traffic noise, I really don't like seeing the outside world around 192. Of course, this isn't Disney's fault, I just know now that I don't care for it. 
Good: Resort is gorgeous.
I loved the parking garage - if it is raining, you never have to get out into the elements and we were always able to park right by the elevator close to our room. Don't laugh, but the windows looking out onto the savanna were always so clean and shiny. Rooms are wonderfully laid out and the balcony is huge. Lobby and the surrounding public spaces are stunning. Great arcade so I hear from my son. 
So/So: Pool area is very nice, but way too small. Whats up with the bathroom fan coming on every single time you walk into it? I resisted peeing in the middle of the night because I didnt want to hear it. Oops, TMI.
Im not crazy about looking at Jambo House on the other side of the savanna; didnt realize the resorts were quite that close. It appears all studios are lock-offs; I actually prefer a dedicated studio. Why does it take so long for Disneys flat screen tvs to change channels and why do some of the channels have problems keeping up with the digital signal resulting in abstract looking scenes. 
Bad: Not very good standard views - traffic noise issues. I was a little grossed out finding a child's used band-aid in the shower curtain and remnants of frosted flakes in the inside of the pull out couch.
I didn't say anything out loud because my son is going through a phase where stuff will really gag him and I didn't even want him to know about those things because he would not have forgotten it. Also, why oh why did they go to that type of a pull out couch? I had just came from BCV and loved the ease of that one. At AKV, you have to take off all the big cushions and find a place for them out of the way - then when you pull it out, the 'mattress' is 3 separate fold outs, resulting in 2 crosswise grooves. My DS9 begged to sleep with me because it was uncomfortable to him. I also struggled to put the bed back in the first morning and slammed it on my bare foot; 
I learned that lesson well and it never happened again.
Now, here is my question about WWYD, i.e. leave it alone or contact MS and complain:
Day 1 - Our room was on the 5th floor of the last wing of the opened part only 2 wings were open on our side; the remaining wings were still under construction. I knew when I first entered our hall from the parking garage elevator there might be a problem - it was so warm in the hall. Then, when I entered our room the air felt stale - which I attributed to no-one being in there for awhile. The thermostat read 68 degrees, but it was definitely not that cool. I figured the room would cool down soon. We went to the pool and explored the resort. When we returned, I again noticed the warmth of the hall and our room was still lukewarm, not hot, but not cool. I went to the front desk [not calling because I learned that from here
] and mentioned it. They were pleasant enough and said they would look into it. I didn't sleep very well that night because of it even though I used the ceiling fan above me. I also played with the thermostat trying to override it, get it lower, get the fan to stay on medium, anything to make it cooler. 
Day 2 - left for the parks that morning, returned that afternoon through the lobby. The first hall wing to our room was very cold, but the minute I hit our wing warm air and our room was lukewarm. I again went downstairs and mentioned the hall and our room being warm. The CM said that possibly it was because of all the windows overlooking the savanna. I didnt say anything even though I am usually more aggressive than that but the first wing had just as many windows and it was very cool. She said they would have someone come up and look into it [she knew I was headed back out to the parks] and I said I hope so because it was affecting my sleep. I didnt asked to be moved, nor did she ever offer it, because we were only there 2 more nights and I didnt want to repack and move; plus I had high hopes they would get it fixed. Of course, when I came home that night it was no better and I rigged up my own personal air conditioning system the ceiling fan going and my white noise fan right on top of me. Again, too warm for me [but maybe for someone else not an issue] and I slept fitfully.
Day 3 that morning I went down again, more forcefully and discussed the situation in depth. They assured me they would look into it and send someone right up. Well, you know the spiel by now . . . nothing was ever fixed, no-one ever got back with me.
It just felt like a true lack of concern. Since it was my last night there I just gave up.
If I had been there for more than 3 nights, I would have insisted on being moved, but at that point in our trip, I was tired and ready to go home; not particularly caring about fussing with customer service.
So, should I e-mail or write MS about it or chalk it up to a not-so-great DVC experience. I wouldnt say it ruined my last 3 days, but I did begin to dread returning to the room. Its at times like this I feel at a disadvantage to being a DVC owner not sure they really care that much about making our stay fabulous. I did mention it every single day.
First off, let me say that I think AKV - Kidani will be a beautiful resort when completed. BUT, I now realize that I should wait until a property is finished because I don't like seeing construction workers, work trailers, unfinished grassland, dirt roads, etc. But I knew that going in - so my bad.
I also will never save points again by staying in a standard view at Kidani; so not worth it. Besides my comments on another thread about the traffic noise, I really don't like seeing the outside world around 192. Of course, this isn't Disney's fault, I just know now that I don't care for it. Good: Resort is gorgeous.
I loved the parking garage - if it is raining, you never have to get out into the elements and we were always able to park right by the elevator close to our room. Don't laugh, but the windows looking out onto the savanna were always so clean and shiny. Rooms are wonderfully laid out and the balcony is huge. Lobby and the surrounding public spaces are stunning. Great arcade so I hear from my son. So/So: Pool area is very nice, but way too small. Whats up with the bathroom fan coming on every single time you walk into it? I resisted peeing in the middle of the night because I didnt want to hear it. Oops, TMI.
Im not crazy about looking at Jambo House on the other side of the savanna; didnt realize the resorts were quite that close. It appears all studios are lock-offs; I actually prefer a dedicated studio. Why does it take so long for Disneys flat screen tvs to change channels and why do some of the channels have problems keeping up with the digital signal resulting in abstract looking scenes. Bad: Not very good standard views - traffic noise issues. I was a little grossed out finding a child's used band-aid in the shower curtain and remnants of frosted flakes in the inside of the pull out couch.
I didn't say anything out loud because my son is going through a phase where stuff will really gag him and I didn't even want him to know about those things because he would not have forgotten it. Also, why oh why did they go to that type of a pull out couch? I had just came from BCV and loved the ease of that one. At AKV, you have to take off all the big cushions and find a place for them out of the way - then when you pull it out, the 'mattress' is 3 separate fold outs, resulting in 2 crosswise grooves. My DS9 begged to sleep with me because it was uncomfortable to him. I also struggled to put the bed back in the first morning and slammed it on my bare foot; I learned that lesson well and it never happened again. Now, here is my question about WWYD, i.e. leave it alone or contact MS and complain:
Day 1 - Our room was on the 5th floor of the last wing of the opened part only 2 wings were open on our side; the remaining wings were still under construction. I knew when I first entered our hall from the parking garage elevator there might be a problem - it was so warm in the hall. Then, when I entered our room the air felt stale - which I attributed to no-one being in there for awhile. The thermostat read 68 degrees, but it was definitely not that cool. I figured the room would cool down soon. We went to the pool and explored the resort. When we returned, I again noticed the warmth of the hall and our room was still lukewarm, not hot, but not cool. I went to the front desk [not calling because I learned that from here
] and mentioned it. They were pleasant enough and said they would look into it. I didn't sleep very well that night because of it even though I used the ceiling fan above me. I also played with the thermostat trying to override it, get it lower, get the fan to stay on medium, anything to make it cooler. Day 2 - left for the parks that morning, returned that afternoon through the lobby. The first hall wing to our room was very cold, but the minute I hit our wing warm air and our room was lukewarm. I again went downstairs and mentioned the hall and our room being warm. The CM said that possibly it was because of all the windows overlooking the savanna. I didnt say anything even though I am usually more aggressive than that but the first wing had just as many windows and it was very cool. She said they would have someone come up and look into it [she knew I was headed back out to the parks] and I said I hope so because it was affecting my sleep. I didnt asked to be moved, nor did she ever offer it, because we were only there 2 more nights and I didnt want to repack and move; plus I had high hopes they would get it fixed. Of course, when I came home that night it was no better and I rigged up my own personal air conditioning system the ceiling fan going and my white noise fan right on top of me. Again, too warm for me [but maybe for someone else not an issue] and I slept fitfully.
Day 3 that morning I went down again, more forcefully and discussed the situation in depth. They assured me they would look into it and send someone right up. Well, you know the spiel by now . . . nothing was ever fixed, no-one ever got back with me.
It just felt like a true lack of concern. Since it was my last night there I just gave up. If I had been there for more than 3 nights, I would have insisted on being moved, but at that point in our trip, I was tired and ready to go home; not particularly caring about fussing with customer service.
So, should I e-mail or write MS about it or chalk it up to a not-so-great DVC experience.
I wouldnt say it ruined my last 3 days, but I did begin to dread returning to the room. Its at times like this I feel at a disadvantage to being a DVC owner not sure they really care that much about making our stay fabulous. I did mention it every single day.
I tried everything with that dang thermostat to get the temperature lower - even though it always said it was 68 degrees. It didn't help any that we had just left BCV where our room stayed super cold - I loved that. 
