MS's confirmed no more Stormalong Bay hopping

[kem330]

I agree that pool hopping to SAB is a practical decision based on the additional influx of BCV members. It simply can't handle any more volume. I don't believe pool crashing has been a huge issue there. Anytime we've stayed there at peak times, we were always checked for id's. Ndiz fan has a point- when its really low season- I don't think they care or check. But essentially, SAB is available to all DVC members by virtue of the fact that you can use your points at BCV (or YC for that matter). Of course that 7 month window may be difficult to get in but you could always try a trade with someone.
I think its unfortunate that DVC so widely promoted all the benefits and perks when as Dean and GScott stated, they were never guaranteed- just so called "privileges". This has created a lot of unhappy campers. We almost bought VB because of the existence of SSPL- we thought we'd be able to get into WDW at new years with this program. Thank god we found this board and learned about resales, and buy where you plan to stay. When they cancelled SSPL, we learned something about privileges vs contractual obligations. When they raised Disney Collection last year, it was lesson number 2. Now the cruise increases, etc have been quite an eye opener for many of us who bought DVC based on the expectations that it truly offered more options than just a DVC stay. That said, it still is a great program for staying at Disney. The resorts are beautiful and it definitely offers a savings if you visit every 2 years or more. I just think it's been bad PR on Disney's part to tout all these privileges and then one by one take them away.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I'm in favor of limiting pool hopping at BCV and I am glad the new policy is being put in place. When staying at Beach Club Villas, even if SAB is not at complete capacity, it would be nice to go there when it is not a busy and there is some extra elbow room.

It's very easy, if folks are that interested in using SAB, stay at BCV. I'm sure there will be some reasonable availability at the 7 month window. The pool should be reserved soley for Beach Club Villa, BC and YC guests, in my opinion and I'm glad the policy is being implemented. Great job DVC leadership, this is a very good decision.

 

[mikesmom]

Come on, guys, all you have to do to use that pool is make a reservation at BCV. You should be more irritated if you were staying there and the pool was so busy that you couldn't enjoy it!

I don't for a minute think they're doing this to drive sales at BCV. It's not even open yet and so many sales have been made that they've removed all the incentive packages. I think there's not only new member sales (and those people probably didn't know about PH anyway), but a subset of members who are buying at BCV because they've wanted ressies at BWV and couldn't get them. Location means a lot!

Maybe it will be difficut to make ressies at the 7 month window - time will tell. It isn't more difficult now. DH and I wanted to go down for three days to the Food & Wine Fest. Unfortunately we didn't realize we could handle getting away until we were about 9 months out . Tried to make ressies at BWV (home). Stayed on the waitlist for 2 months and said we would take anything - any view, studio or 1 bed, ANYTHING. We hit the 7 month window for BCV and had absolutely no problem getting a reservation.

 

[DoeWDW]

I have to agree that, as a new BCV owner, I'm happy that pool-hopping to SAB is being stopped. I like the idea of using SAB without tons of people being around.

Every day, new people buy into DVC at one resort or another. There's no way that you can indefinitely apply all these perks to more and more members.

I bought into DVC expecting what was in the contract - not all the other perks that may or may not be around for the long haul.

Doreen in PA

 

[disnefile]

I agree. I did it once and it was a pain. My wife would never do it again as it was so crowded. I am also happy it is being stopped. Disney did the right thing. Just because you own DVC what makes people think they have the right to use other people's property. It was a nice perk while it lasted. It was a gift and you should be thankful Disney allowed it. DVC has taken nothing away for members since I have been there in 1994. All these options that people are complaining about were told that they could end at any time. Disney more than lived up to its end of the bargain. NO other tinme share does what Disney does. Instead of complaining sell. There are more than enough others who will buy and realize the value that we have.

If SAB means so much then buy there.

End this.

Pete

 

[ncligs]

disnefile,

Well said Pete, I agree

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by PKS44
The above 3 quotes say it all- this is a sales strategy-purely- there is no year round capacity issue. If every addded BCV guest were swimming when we went midday during a very busy October weekend along with the people who were already there it still would not have been crowded.

If it is as Dean says, TOO MUCH HASSLE to enforce, then it will be no problem for the well-prepared family to go at slow times and act accordingly- (warn the kids that it may not work out and go)....am I saying break the rules? If it is too much of a hassle to enforce it is too much of a hassle to obey...no one should go when capacity is at issue-which has always been the case, but otherwise....

As I said previously, I don't think this can be reasonably constued as a sales tactic but that's not to say the sales staff won't take advantage of it, I'm sure they will.

When I said hassle to enforce, I was referring to having someone keep up with usage, make a determination on a day by day or even hourly basis about how crowded the pool was then get all those phone calls from DVC members asking if they can come on over. I think they will need to (and should) continue to card those entering the pool area at SAB.

Actually, the real fix of this issue is to add another pool area about the equal of SAB possibly slightly better, but maybe somewhat larger. Maybe they will do that at DI or EP. They should make it easy to monitor. EP would seem to be the logical choice as the resort will need a draw more than golf anyway. It's out of the way enough that crashers won't be as big of a problem as the rest and could be designed ahead to handle the usage.

As far as the "sell if you don't like it line", that one really makes my skin crawl. I would agree that if someone is truly unhappy with their ownership, it's an option to sell, however, for most issues it is better to try to affect change from the inside.

 

[disnefile]

like I said, SELL

 

[chris1gill]

How nice....

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by disnefile
like I said, SELL

I happen to agree with Disney on this one in this exact situation though I wish it wasn't necessary. The sentiment of sell if you don't like a certain thing is a very dangerous one. Eventually they will do something that you don't like, if so, will you sell then? Of course you'll have that option but there is definitely an in between from being a Disney zombie to selling one's ownership. Examples of possible negative options would include no pool hopping, elimination of any or all exchanges, points adjustments by season or weekend/weekday, increase in fees, new resorts much higher points, suspending banking/borrowing, changing the home resort priority, or even dropping a resort from the membership. What would get one upset enough to sell is not the same level for all of us. To me, the only issues above that woudl make me even consider selling would be the fees go up too much and if MY resort was dropped from DVC membership.

 

[chris1gill]

Originally posted by Dean
To me, the only issues above that woudl make me even consider selling would be the fees go up too much and if MY resort was dropped from DVC membership.

Dean, didn't your fees just go up recently write that check yet?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by chris1gill


Dean, didn't your fees just go up recently write that check yet?

LOL, they did go up and I got the points to prove it or at least it looks that way. Come to think of it, they went up to almost double. Why did you have to ruin a great day by reminding me that every silver lining has a cloud. LOL.

 

[disnefile]

Dean,

Dean

My comment was for those few people who complain about every change. No one ever thought that DVC would become so big. I think disney never should have allowed pool hopping as it was a disaster waiting to happen. They held off as long as they could in making this change. As far as points going up, well that is their decision. I think again it is a costly benefit and if you realy want to stay at a resort those people should never have purchased.

Other changes like you mentioned are valid complaints as they change the basic program. I am not against letting yourself be heard but people have to have be reasonable. PeteBt people should be reasonable complaints., Disney is not a charity and they are there to make a profit. My fear is that they will raise the dues to keep some of these programs that were never a guarantee.

Thanks for listening

Pete

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by disnefile
My comment was for those few people who complain about every change. No one ever thought that DVC would become so big. I think disney never should have allowed pool hopping as it was a disaster waiting to happen. They held off as long as they could in making this change. As far as points going up, well that is their decision. I think again it is a costly benefit and if you realy want to stay at a resort those people should never have purchased.

Other changes like you mentioned are valid complaints as they change the basic program. I am not against letting yourself be heard but people have to have be reasonable. PeteBt people should be reasonable complaints., Disney is not a charity and they are there to make a profit. My fear is that they will raise the dues to keep some of these programs that were never a guarantee.

I'm usually one of the ones saying if it's not in the contract, it's not guaranteed, so I hear where you're coming from. It's just that the sell if you don't like it always bugs me. Probably more than Rich's comments bug some. I remember the old Prodigy board and that was the standard line if anyone complained about anything.

 

[DeeP]

I love SAB but I must admit it is a hassle to go there and we are only coming from BWV. It is much easier to just use the pool at BWV. My DD actually cheered when I told her no more pool hopping to SAB, because I am always bugging her to pool hop there when we stay at BWV and she is much happier at Luna Park.
As for Disney ever building another pool comparable to SAB, that will most likely never happen. We were talking to one of the YC/BC managers about this and he told us Disney will never build another pool like SAB and they are sorry they ever built SAB. It is a very expensive pool to maintain, it requires more life guards, they always have problems with people trying to pool hop and he did say Disney does realize alot of the people are locals, also maintaining the sand bottom and the special filtration system, etc is very expensive.
What I would like to get back is the daily newspaper delivery we used to get at BWV. I can't believe Disney is saving that much money by cutting this perk out! We have gotten a newspaper by going down to the front desk but it was so much nicer to just open the front door.

 

[ehagerty]

1. Access to Stormalong Bay was a big part of our buying into the VC, since we saw it as a cost savings NOT to have to pay to go to the water parks - since we considered SAG a worthwhile alternative. We understood that any/all "programs" are subject to change, so be it. That said, unless you have a contractual agreement, BCV access to SAG could go away at some point in the future as well.

2. I purchased all the points at OKW I will ever need long before there was any discussion or awareness that they may build another resort - so there was no perceived "option" to buy into other resorts at that time.

3. I am disconcerted about the ugliness of the discussion here. I am not proud to be a member of a group that is so nasty to each other - and if I were thinking about buying into WDW-VC, this discussion thread would be a deterrent.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

That said, unless you have a contractual agreement, BCV access to SAG could go away at some point in the future as well.

ehagerty:

We did an add on at the BCV and purposefully read the public offering statement to see if SAB is mentioned. It is mentioned by Disney in the document as a pool available to BCV owners so I don't think they can take it away from BCV owners in the future. I even discussed this point with our guide. I take it as a contractual agreement.

HBC

 

[disnefile]

HBC,

you may think people are being nasty but it is just opinion. We are all entitled to one. I consider this a healthy discussion as most of us do.

If you bought to save money on water parks you did for a while. However, Disney does not have to allow this perk to continue. It was explained to most of us when we purchased. Were you mislead? If so, that is a problem of your sales person. However, if you made your purchase based on what you thought was a permanent situation then you made a big mistake. This is not nastiness just truthfulness
Pete

 

[disnefile]

Sorry HBC. My response was fro the previous post.

By the way, you are right that the SAB is part of the contract and can't be taken away, ever. I had my lawyer review the contract.

Thanks,

Pete

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Thanks for the clarification disnefile.

I was wondering what I said!