Need Honest Opinions Please

[crisi]

Perhaps I am oversensative too. But I wonder how a disabled person would feel to hear the rooms they require (and I know not all disabled people require HA rooms) described as "awful." I imagine I'd feel lousy to have to subject my family to such "awful" accomodations that so few able bodied people want to stay in. I know no one here is calling the handicapped "awful" but it does really sound to me like very few people here are willing to put up with any inconvience that results from the existance of the handicapped. Being disabled is fine, just as long as your disability doesn't interfere with my vacation.....

This is probably not what is meant, as I'm sure no one here is so insensitive to mean to imply this, particularly those of us aware of longtime DVCers with disabled family members or disabled themselves. But Carol is not alone in being able to read many of the responses in these threads this way.

I have some respect for the attitude that "I'd be willing to pay extra not to stay in a HA room" but have to agree with Chuck - for myself, I'd rather not have the overhead (and even just putting these in a guarentee category will create overhead) for something I don't value. I now know how the "no pool slide at OKW" people felt - please don't spend my money on something I don't value. Even if its pennies a year, I think its a bad precident to ghettoize HA rooms - and by extention the disabled people who require them.

And I do completely agree that anyone given the brush off by a CM when asking directly "is this a HA room" has a very valid complaint. These rooms should be handed out with either "we were able to meet these requests, but the room is HA" or "the room is HA, and its the only (studio, one-bedroom, etc) unoccupied." With room ready (unless they do preassign as has been reported by some at some resorts during some periods) there doesn't seem to be any reason not to warn you and let you move around at check in if there is another room available.

 

[DMDSTPRGIL]

The HP room can be a problem if you really don't need it. But if they changed it fine. We had the same problem at BWV and they changed the room no questions.

As for the two cast members going into the back room. There is one huge reason for that. There is a computer that is tied into member services in a small office just behind the doors of all the DVC resorts. They can access everything that is connected to the DVC rooms including how many and what kind of rooms are decitated to DVC members.Not all are.

All DVC resorts are not fully owned by the DVC. Half the rooms might go to DVC members and the rest go rack rate to the general public. So the thinking that DVC members should get first crack at a room over the general public is not true. They are paying even more for the room then we are. (March, one bedroom almost $600 a night)

I do agree that they should be bending over backwards for DVC members seeing as when it's the slow times at Disney we keep them hopping by showing up. I have never had a problem with them not filling my requests. And it does bother me not being able to get into the rooms untill 4pm or so.Also if it's quite they may block off a floor or section and not rent out that area. The whole hotel is not up for grabs at all times. Disney even shuts down whole resorts when it gets real slow.

Been to Disney 21 times as a member and have never gotten in before 3pm ever. But I also understand why. I am very good friends with the general manager of the BWV. He showed me several rooms a couple of years ago after the familys checked out. Not all but a large number of rooms were left in conditions that you would just call the people who stayed there pigs.They amount of items stolen after the stay is getting out of control to the point that Disney is going to start to take inventory before and after you check in and out and bill you for the missing items. This I know for a fact is in the works.

Because the one berooms are just like cleaning a small house and studios have kitchenettes to contend with also. It takes a while to get these places back in order and replace the stolen items.

But still it's no reason for a CM to come accross as rude..

 

[Doctor P]

DMDSTPRGIL,

Thanks for the info about the computer. On the other point, either you misspoke or are misinformed about DVC allocations. At the sold out resorts, 100% of the DVC portion of the resort is owned by DVC members and DVD in terms of access to accomodations. 3-4% is held back as the developer's inventory and some other rooms may be made available for cash reservations through CRO but only through those rooms being freed up by member exchanges or being released at the 30 day mark to try to get breakage income. Nevertheless, those are still DVC rooms.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

DMDSTPRGIL-alot of nice info and points here

however, I disagree with the notion dvc members should not get first choice. DVC members are repeat customers, we go back many many more times than the average cash paying guest. sometimes 2-3 times per year. each time spending money on tickets, food, entertainment.

Of course the cash guest is entitled to the best as well, but just shouldnt get first choice of rooms over dvc guests

also my main issue with the manager was not that she went into the back, thats fine, but then she basically ignored the guest once they came back to the front. I know a manager needs to train the cm but cases like this is exactly why a manager is there. take care of the guest in the nicest most magical way .

 

[Mississippian]

Then you were very fortunate indeed. Your mistake that you didn't have non-handicapped at the top of your list. Why are you complaining? If you really don't want a hcp room MORE than you want those other two requests - why aren't you just putting it at the top of your request list to be sure. Sounds to me like you want / feel entitled to everything - even the requests that you don't list!

If you were to rent a car and get one with no foot pedals, only hand controls because it was a handicapped car, would you feel cheated? After all, you didn't SPECIFY that you wanted a non-handicapped car.

The notion that one would be given a handicapped room is so outrageous that most people would never think to specify it. In addition, the OP made the point that she believed cash customers were being given the good rooms while the DVC members were getting the shaft.

I made the point before, but if DVC would provide some small compensation for having a handicapped room, then those who don't mind them would be jumping at the chance to get them, while everyone else could be assured of having a normal room. This would NOT make dues go through the roof, and it would be money well spent for the assurance that one's vacation would not be ruined by having an HA room.

 

[greenban]

As I come from the UK I really would not wish to go with having a relaxing bath during the two weeks of my stay and would therefore have to pay $25 to move my room. I will state non HA when I book 11 months in advance but as our flights from the UK are always in the afternoon and sometimes have delays we cannot guarantee to check in until the evening.

I was most annoyed in October when we arrived for our dream trip for my 40th birthday at the Grand Floridian that we got the worst room in the hotel (according to the unofficial guide). I found out that it didn't matter that we had booked over a year in advance and paid over £7,000 ($13,000) but that because our flight from UK was delayed 3 hours that we checked in at 9 p.m. that we got the worse room. We were stuck behind the pool building and I know we really should have moved room during the two weeks but DH didn't want to make a fuss.

I am now worrying that the same thing will happen now we have joined DVC as our flights are beyond our control.

I really enjoy relaxing in a bath and it makes a very important part of my vacation. When I come back from the parks I really look forward to my bath to get ready to go out in the evening. I would pay extra to have a bath rather than a shower. I know we are not all the same as DH and DD love to take a shower and really would not care.

I can't wait for my first bath a SSR.

Susan

Hello Luv! (The full extent of my British English abilities)

I understand exactly how you feel. Might I suggest this option? Stay at some low-cost near Disney Motel the night of your flight, and check-in to DVC early the next morning. Why should your risk a $13,000.00 (US I hope not pounds ) vacation, or even a slightly less expensive DVC stay when for less than $80.00 for the first night and even if you pay $50.00 more for transport from motel 1 to DVC, you come out way ahead.

This is my plan, and I live in Jersey (Ner Jersey, this side of the pond).

Pip pip, cheerio and tootles!

-Tony

 

[crisi]

If you were to rent a car and get one with no foot pedals, only hand controls because it was a handicapped car, would you feel cheated? After all, you didn't SPECIFY that you wanted a non-handicapped car.

The notion that one would be given a handicapped room is so outrageous that most people would never think to specify it. In addition, the OP made the point that she believed cash customers were being given the good rooms while the DVC members were getting the shaft.

I made the point before, but if DVC would provide some small compensation for having a handicapped room, then those who don't mind them would be jumping at the chance to get them, while everyone else could be assured of having a normal room. This would NOT make dues go through the roof, and it would be money well spent for the assurance that one's vacation would not be ruined by having an HA room.

Well, there is a lot of difference between a car and a room. And it isn't outrageous - happens in hotels across the country every day. I've been in HA rooms in Sheratons and Radissons. They hand them out at non DVC Disney resorts as well. As was pointed out, one of the big differences is occupancy rate. DVC resorts generally run pretty darn full, meaning rooms (even HA rooms) don't sit empty, while a lot of hotels are happy to have 80% occupancy and will let their HA rooms sit empty unless the hotel is full.

As for compensation, who foots that bill? It will come out of our dues in one way or another. I'm not willing to compensate you for staying in a HA room, sorry.

 

[krdisneybound]

IMHO I think the majority of CM's try to accommodate your needs. If you had a problem, you should have immediately asked for a supervisor and that possibly would have helped.
I had one CM at VWL (she had short red hair) on check-in could only answer "yes" or "no" to questions and had no conversation other than to check us in. She was not warm or friendly at all. She didn't even give us our DVC folder (but I have tons of them anyways) -
This type of person should definitely be reported professionally. While we were still at the counter, she looked around us at the line that had formed and said "next" before we even left. As my family walked away from the counter, we said to each other "welcome home". But the rest of our stay was awesome - we didn't let her ruin our fun time.

As far as HA room - you should ask before you leave the counter if it is a HA room and that would save you a trip back to the front desk. During peak season, I would be happy to get any room, HA or not
just my 2 cents

 

[Mississippian]

It isn't outrageous - happens in hotels across the country every day. I've been in HA rooms in Sheratons and Radissons. They hand them out at non DVC Disney resorts as well.
...
As for compensation, who foots that bill? It will come out of our dues in one way or another. I'm not willing to compensate you for staying in a HA room, sorry.

I've never been given an HA room without being TOLD that it was a HA room. In most cases I've declined and gone elsewhere. I've never been given a HA room when I had a reservation for a normal room.

As for compensation, the OP made the point that she believed Disney was giving preference to cash customers over DVC members. If all you care about is low dues, why not always rent the best rooms for cash and let DVC members always have the crappy rooms?

It seems to me that the DVC members ought to come first, but that's just me.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Perhaps I am oversensative too. But I wonder how a disabled person would feel to hear the rooms they require (and I know not all disabled people require HA rooms) described as "awful." I imagine I'd feel lousy to have to subject my family to such "awful" accomodations that so few able bodied people want to stay in. I know no one here is calling the handicapped "awful" but it does really sound to me like very few people here are willing to put up with any inconvience that results from the existance of the handicapped. Being disabled is fine, just as long as your disability doesn't interfere with my vacation.....

This is probably not what is meant, as I'm sure no one here is so insensitive to mean to imply this, particularly those of us aware of longtime DVCers with disabled family members or disabled themselves. But Carol is not alone in being able to read many of the responses in these threads this way.

I have some respect for the attitude that "I'd be willing to pay extra not to stay in a HA room" but have to agree with Chuck - for myself, I'd rather not have the overhead (and even just putting these in a guarentee category will create overhead) for something I don't value. I now know how the "no pool slide at OKW" people felt - please don't spend my money on something I don't value. Even if its pennies a year, I think its a bad precident to ghettoize HA rooms - and by extention the disabled people who require them.

And I do completely agree that anyone given the brush off by a CM when asking directly "is this a HA room" has a very valid complaint. These rooms should be handed out with either "we were able to meet these requests, but the room is HA" or "the room is HA, and its the only (studio, one-bedroom, etc) unoccupied." With room ready (unless they do preassign as has been reported by some at some resorts during some periods) there doesn't seem to be any reason not to warn you and let you move around at check in if there is another room available.

Again it has absolutely zero to do with handicapped people, nothing at all. These rooms are built for a specific purpose, if they are so perfect for everyone then why isnt every room in every resort across the world built HA. Its because these designs are not the most comfortable, efficient, and safe rooms for everyone. Why should anyone be inconvienced for something they pay top dollar for. doesnt matter if you are handicapped or not, you should be entitled to the best accomidations possible

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Well, there is a lot of difference between a car and a room. And it isn't outrageous - happens in hotels across the country every day. I've been in HA rooms in Sheratons and Radissons. They hand them out at non DVC Disney resorts as well. As was pointed out, one of the big differences is occupancy rate. DVC resorts generally run pretty darn full, meaning rooms (even HA rooms) don't sit empty, while a lot of hotels are happy to have 80% occupancy and will let their HA rooms sit empty unless the hotel is full.

As for compensation, who foots that bill? It will come out of our dues in one way or another. I'm not willing to compensate you for staying in a HA room, sorry.

I stay over a hundred nights in hotels a year and over the last 4 years have had 1 HA room. So I dont know seems something is different here between dvc and other hotels

 

[crisi]

I stay over a hundred nights in hotels a year and over the last 4 years have had 1 HA room. So I dont know seems something is different here between dvc and other hotels

Yes, the difference is occupancy. Most hotels don't run at the occupancy rates of timeshares, so they can let the HA room sit empty (I've been to a couple conventions where the hotels are at 100% occupancy, and this is where I've gotten HA rooms). And I've never said these rooms are just as good. In fact, if they give a seperate category, I'll take non-HA every time (even though I am willing to stay in a HA room) - probably taking it from inventory from someone who cares more than I do. A HA room category is going to hurt those that plan late and really care. (That isn't me on either count, so maybe I shouldn't care).

And yes, DVC should give preference to members over cash customers. Complete agreement there! AND they should give preference to home resort owners over other DVC members. Since the OP didn't specify non-HC and the remainder of her requests were filled, I'm not sure how she knows that the cash guests got a non-HC room that met all her requests. CMs can't have cash guests hang around the lobby until all DVC members check in that day, check out their rooms and make sure they are the "best available." So they need to work with the information they have and SHOULD do the best they can. I'm SURE they don't in every case, with no room assigner I don't know how they could - perhaps this was one of those, perhaps not.

 

[Pluto4Pres]

Was told there was plenty of availability[/B] and they switched the ressie an hour before her arrival. They were only staying the one night. I go with her to check in and the CM was polite and cheerful. I asked if there was anything available close to us, but that it did not matter as long as it wasn’t a handicap studio. Guess what? It was a handicap studio. I said I would like it changed and the CM looked over to another CM, an older woman (lol, she was probably my age) named Hazel with red hair. He asked Hazel for help and she stated she wanted to see him in the back, which I thought was extremely rude. They came back out and we are told the room has been pre-assigned and there is nothing else available. Hazel never spoke to us directly and the poor CM did not know what to do when I quietly stated that there must be other studios available. He kept repeating they had nothing else to give us and Hazel re-iterated the fact to him (so we could hear her, though she refused to make eye contact or speak with us directly) that the room had been pre-assigned and there was nothing that could be done. My sister ended it by saying she would take it. No one raised their voice or spoke rudely except for Hazel.

I think people are getting off track from what the OP is really complaining about. If MS had told her they could switch her sister's reservation, but the only available room was a HA, she probably would have taken it without hesitation. Her complaint is that she left that check-in counter feeling that she was stuck with that room for some reason other than availability. Whether it was because she caused some CM extra work by having to change her room or because she changed her sister's reservation at the last minute. She felt that perhaps there is a "naughty list" and she somehow got on it.

This may not be true. It might have been that this was the only room available. If that is the case then the CMs did a poor job of communicating that to the OP. I think she should contact DVC and make her complaint known.

 

[mickeysgal]

I've never been given an HA room without being TOLD that it was a HA room. In most cases I've declined and gone elsewhere. I've never been given a HA room when I had a reservation for a normal room.
QUOTE]

I most certainly have...and only at Disney. Never at other non-Disney hotels. What I think aggravates people also is having to drive to the room, lug the bags to the room, find out its a handicapped room, load the car again, go back to the front desk for reassignment, etc. It not only takes time, but it can really get to people when everyone (kids and adults) is travel weary. It would have prevented a lot of hassle if they would of just TELL you at check-in instead of hoping that you either we're going to notice (yeah, right) or would just accept it as is.

Thinking back to how I book non-Disney hotels, I've always been given a choice of rooms...non-smoking, non-handicapped, etc. I simply don't understand why at the time of booking/reserving the room, that Disney can't say "yes, we have a non-smoking and non-handicapped room available or "no - at this time we don't". This way, you have the choice at that moment to either can inquire at another property, book it as is, or walk away.

If this method doesn't work for Disney, there has to be another way of handling this situation. Letting all this come to a head at check-in is just wrong. Period.

 

[Beca]

Letting all this come to a head at check-in is just wrong. Period.

I agree...I think "Disney policies" are why "Castmembers hate DVC'ers". If we knew what to expect of our room on check-in....there would be a LOT less disappointment, and a lot more "happy DVC owners" at check-in.



Beca

 

[Dean]

All DVC resorts are not fully owned by the DVC. Half the rooms might go to DVC members and the rest go rack rate to the general public. So the thinking that DVC members should get first crack at a room over the general public is not true. They are paying even more for the room then we are. (March, one bedroom almost $600 a night)

Other than SSR, all the resorts are sold out and essentially owned by the members. DVD, not DVC, retains a small percentage reported to be in the 2-4% range. I'd think 2% would be the min just to cover the units out of commission, so those units would generally not go to the public. Most timeshares only sell 51 weeks per unit and keep a full week to do maint and even that is not always enough. Unit assignments groups should be home resort, other DVC members, cash rentals, exchangers; in that order. Owners at that resort should get priority, period.

Remember that at resorts that are not sold out, only a part of the resort is actually available to the members. OF course DVC has to decide how to allocate the unit assignments, but for sake of explanation, they could easily have this room for DVC members and that room still owned by DVD and thus for cash rental. More realistically it's probably done by number of rooms rather than a line of tape down the hall but the end result should be the same.

As for HC units, I believe one can dislike them intensely without being in any way derogatory to those that need or want them. As I've said before, I'd rather stay home than have one, and I meant it. Would I feel differently if I, or another member of my clan needed one, of course I would. The attitude that one should just accept the room, like it, and be glad you don't really need it, is unacceptable to me. Of course I'm glad I don't need it and that it's there for those that do. And I know that DVC must use them at times for those that don't need them because their in the mix and they only have so many units and the resort is sold out. But the absolute minimum is they should be honest. If you request a non HC and they assign you one, they should tell you, PERIOD. If you ask and they don't own up, they should be fired on the spot. If they are dishonest to me, they will be starting another thread about DVC members abusing the CM because I will be talking to every manager in the place. If they tell me honestly and nicely it's a HC room and it's all they have and I believe them, I can live with that though I wouldn't be completely happy.

And having a supervisor or manager spouting behind the scenes but where you can hear and see them, and without acknowledging or interacting with the customer is simply beyond wrong. A formal and written complaint in addition to a visit to let the GM of the resort to let them know is the best approach. But I'd start by telling her directly how inappropriate I thought she was.

 

[Beca]

Other than SSR, all the resorts are sold out and essentially owned by the members. DVD, not DVC, retains a small percentage reported to be in the 2-4% range. I'd think 2% would be the min just to cover the units out of commission, so those units would generally not go to the public. Most timeshares only sell 51 weeks per unit and keep a full week to do maint and even that is not always enough. Unit assignments groups should be home resort, other DVC members, cash rentals, exchangers; in that order. Owners at that resort should get priority, period.

Remember that at resorts that are not sold out, only a part of the resort is actually available to the members. OF course DVC has to decide how to allocate the unit assignments, but for sake of explanation, they could easily have this room for DVC members and that room still owned by DVD and thus for cash rental. More realistically it's probably done by number of rooms rather than a line of tape down the hall but the end result should be the same.

As for HC units, I believe one can dislike them intensely without being in any way derogatory to those that need or want them. As I've said before, I'd rather stay home than have one, and I meant it. Would I feel differently if I, or another member of my clan needed one, of course I would. The attitude that one should just accept the room, like it, and be glad you don't really need it, is unacceptable to me. Of course I'm glad I don't need it and that it's there for those that do. And I know that DVC must use them at times for those that don't need them because their in the mix and they only have so many units and the resort is sold out. But the absolute minimum is they should be honest. If you request a non HC and they assign you one, they should tell you, PERIOD. If you ask and they don't own up, they should be fired on the spot. If they are dishonest to me, they will be starting another thread about DVC members abusing the CM because I will be talking to every manager in the place. If they tell me honestly and nicely it's a HC room and it's all they have and I believe them, I can live with that though I wouldn't be completely happy.

And having a supervisor or manager spouting behind the scenes but where you can hear and see them, and without acknowledging or interacting with the customer is simply beyond wrong. A formal and written complaint in addition to a visit to let the GM of the resort to let them know is the best approach. But I'd start by telling her directly how inappropriate I thought she was.

Well said!!!

Beca

 

[LIFERBABE]

Other than SSR, all the resorts are sold out and essentially owned by the members. DVD, not DVC, retains a small percentage reported to be in the 2-4% range. I'd think 2% would be the min just to cover the units out of commission, so those units would generally not go to the public. Most timeshares only sell 51 weeks per unit and keep a full week to do maint and even that is not always enough. Unit assignments groups should be home resort, other DVC members, cash rentals, exchangers; in that order. Owners at that resort should get priority, period.

Remember that at resorts that are not sold out, only a part of the resort is actually available to the members. OF course DVC has to decide how to allocate the unit assignments, but for sake of explanation, they could easily have this room for DVC members and that room still owned by DVD and thus for cash rental. More realistically it's probably done by number of rooms rather than a line of tape down the hall but the end result should be the same.

As for HC units, I believe one can dislike them intensely without being in any way derogatory to those that need or want them. As I've said before, I'd rather stay home than have one, and I meant it. Would I feel differently if I, or another member of my clan needed one, of course I would. The attitude that one should just accept the room, like it, and be glad you don't really need it, is unacceptable to me. Of course I'm glad I don't need it and that it's there for those that do. And I know that DVC must use them at times for those that don't need them because their in the mix and they only have so many units and the resort is sold out. But the absolute minimum is they should be honest. If you request a non HC and they assign you one, they should tell you, PERIOD. If you ask and they don't own up, they should be fired on the spot. If they are dishonest to me, they will be starting another thread about DVC members abusing the CM because I will be talking to every manager in the place. If they tell me honestly and nicely it's a HC room and it's all they have and I believe them, I can live with that though I wouldn't be completely happy.

And having a supervisor or manager spouting behind the scenes but where you can hear and see them, and without acknowledging or interacting with the customer is simply beyond wrong. A formal and written complaint in addition to a visit to let the GM of the resort to let them know is the best approach. But I'd start by telling her directly how inappropriate I thought she was.

Totally and completely Agree!!

Even those of us that don't deal with the public daily, know how to make someone feel comfortable. They are as nice as pie, when they take your money but cant muster up a smile or greeting at checkin? I dont want something for nothing and Im willing to make DVC a priority in my family's financial life.

And I agree, only with DVC is HA a request and the OP, like many was not aware of it. If I didnt read this board daily, I wouldnt have known it either.

I've checked into other non-Disney hotels and have always been told if the room being assigned to me was HA. The standard rooms were booked and when I declined, I was upgraded. I know timeshares are different, but I accept that "No HA" requests are not common knowledge to most.

Why should you actively have to opt out of something you didnt request in the first place?

 

[goofy4dvc]

Perhaps I am oversensative too. But I wonder how a disabled person would feel to hear the rooms they require (and I know not all disabled people require HA rooms) described as "awful." I imagine I'd feel lousy to have to subject my family to such "awful" accomodations that so few able bodied people want to stay in. I know no one here is calling the handicapped "awful" but it does really sound to me like very few people here are willing to put up with any inconvience that results from the existance of the handicapped. Being disabled is fine, just as long as your disability doesn't interfere with my vacation.....

This is probably not what is meant, as I'm sure no one here is so insensitive to mean to imply this, particularly those of us aware of longtime DVCers with disabled family members or disabled themselves. But Carol is not alone in being able to read many of the responses in these threads this way.

I think that what people mean is that the HA rooms do not meet the needs of those who are not handicapped. People with children need a tub. Women really like to have a vanity in the bathroom to put your make-up on, etc. What makes these rooms suitable for a handicapped person is the same thing that makes them unsuitable for those who are not handicapped. While a handicapped person would be burdened by a vanity area and tub, a non-handicapped person would be inconvenienced not to have them. It certainly has no bearing on the handicapped people who stay in these rooms -- only with the amenities or structure of the room itself.

 

[crisi]

I think that's exactly what people mean..... but I think people need to be more aware of how they are saying it and what could be read into it.

One and two bedrooms have jaccuzzi tubs and plenty of space for all your makeup in the master bath. The do have the "messy shower" issue - and some other - what I would consider - "inconviences" - like exposed trash under the sink, less counter space in the kitchen, lower light fixtures. I think the real problem is the studios.....but I obviously can't speak for other people. Do the HA room dislikers feel as strongly about the one and two bedroom (and I'd assume Grand Villa) units as about the studios?