Need Honest Opinions Please

[Dean]

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?

Not aimed at you, but some people are simply looking for an excuse to get their feelings hurt in this and similar areas.

As for your question, no I'd personally feel less strongly about the larger units than the studios. But I'd still rather stay home than have one.

 

[mark&sue]

When we build homes for disabled people we always make sure there is a shower and a bath as in a household it is likely other members of the household would like to take a bath. I wonder if a tub and a shower could be included in these rooms somehow.

Thank you for the kind reply about getting a cheap hotel for the night before but (with our time difference and our flight it feels like 3.00 a.m. to us) I feel that if I have booked nearly a year in advance surely I don't need to mess about staying at another hotel for a night. To be truthfull I would pay extra to get my request rather than have to check into another hotel check out again just to make sure I get a bath. I was told on my tour that I would be getting a much better class of room than I had been getting. To me that means a bath. Maybe it is a luxury but again I was led to believe DVC was superior accommodation. The luxury rooms sure won me over when I took the tour. I know to others it does not mean much but it makes my vacation to take a bath. I totally agree with others if at time of booking I am told that I will not get a bath I will make an informed choice to choose somewhere with a bath.

I am sure it is not being too picky to have the pleasure of relaxing in the tub each night on my eagerly awaiting vacation. After all this is meant to be home away from home and I have a bath everynight at home.

 

[snyderla]

Let me see....
Your first list of requests was all met, but you didn't like the room because it was handicapped so they moved you. Since you never requested "non-handicapped" I am not sure what ANYONE did wrong here.

Really??? Since when do you have to "request a non-handicapped room"? I have grandkids coming with me, we need bathtubs, but would never think to ask for a non handicapped room. They are designed for a special need, why do you need to request NOT to have one? I don't understand that.

Lori

 

[tjkraz]

Really??? Since when do you have to "request a non-handicapped room"? I have grandkids coming with me, we need bathtubs, but would never think to ask for a non handicapped room. They are designed for a special need, why do you need to request NOT to have one? I don't understand that.

You don't HAVE to request non-handicapped. But the DVC resorts are designed to be at 100% occupancy year-round, with the exception of scheduled room rehabs. If you're traveling during a peak occupancy period, and the HA rooms are not being utilized by folks who specifically request them, then someone still needs to go into that room.

Requests for non-handicapped are not guaranteed, as is the case with all other requests. But some think citing this request on the reservation does help.

 

[jarestel]

Requests for non-handicapped are not guaranteed, as is the case with all other requests. But some think citing this request on the reservation does help.

I'd like to be in a business where I didn't have to guarantee anything. Sounds like a great way to make money.

 

[crisi]

You are, you "own" DVC.

We are the customers, but we are also the owners (via lease) and we can kick the management company out.

 

[sarhenty]

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.

Nicely said!

 

[crisi]

Not aimed at you, but some people are simply looking for an excuse to get their feelings hurt in this and similar areas.

Not me, I don't have a pony in this race (except some risk of a very slight dues increase if they'd make HA a guarentee category).

Lets take a look at what guarenteeing the category would entail.

People reserving early would not take disabled rooms. First, even though I "don't mind" staying in one, they are "less than ideal" for anyone not disabled (and the specific disability roll in showers and low beds addresses). Second, everyone wants to make sure people who need these rooms gets them, so even if I like them just as much I wouldn't book one for my able bodied family.

So its the late bookers who would get these rooms, almost all the time. To those of us who book early, it wouldn't be a problem, but anyone booking late takes the risk. That is probably fine, after all "your lack of planning isn't my problem."

But it does involve assigning more rooms as they are reserved, and less flexibility to pull rooms from service - particularly on short notice - move people around, and the other things that make running the hotel easier (and makes customers happier - having the flexibility to pull a smokey non-smoking room from service is a good thing). In a place the VWL, with a relatively small number of rooms already hitting several guarentee categories (studio, one bedroom, dedicated two bedroom, lockoff two bedroom) (or perhaps worse, the nightmare that is BWVs with SV, BWView and Preferred view room in all the above categories but the dedicated) this could be logistically difficult. If, indeed, cash guests get these rooms, it may even further up the costs of non-DVC options, as cash guests may not choose home away from home if it becomes known they have a really good chance of getting a HA room. It may turn out to be worth it, may not. Can't make a judgement call there since it holds no value to me, and no one else can either because no one knows the cost. Obviously, some people will value these impacts differently. For people who use points to cruise, any increase in points for non-DVC options may be a big deal. For people who always plan ahead, don't mind a dues increase, don't trade out, and really care about HA rooms, probably worth it (as long as you don't get stuck in that smokey room).

 

[MLK-RI]

Wow what a thread, I've learned a few things. We've stayed on property at Disney in several resorts and in DVC Villas since becoming members. We've never requested non -HC rooms (never even occurred to do so) and we've never been given one so I can't speak to that issue.

What I wanted to add here was that I wonder how many "older" female CMs with blondish/reddish hair named Hazel could be working the front desk at BCV? Of all the times we've been to Disney and all the CMs we've encountered our dealings last November with Hazel at the front desk of BCV were the most "magical".

Our Hazel was warm, friendly, polite, and very efficient. She got things right the first time with our reservation that had so many times been mishandled before. She made the check in process, quick, painless and actually a fun time. But it didn't stop there.

I ran into her coming out of the Villas front door as I was going in and as I was about to say, "hello Hazel", she said hello to me -using my name !! and inquired as to how my son was enjoying our stay here! I'd only met this woman once, 2 days before this, just to check in!

On our last day we were unable to secure a PS for dinner at Cape May Cafe any earlier than 7:45p. (Or several other restaurants we tried, granted same day requests) This wouldn't do for our family and we'd decided to just get something and eat in the room. Upon returning to the BCV I noticed Hazel at the front desk and no one waiting to check-in so, as almost a joke, I went by and said, "Hazel, what kind of pull have you got, can you get my family of 5 a PS someplace nearby before 7p?" I told her Cape May had nothing until 7:45p. She again called me by name and said "let's see" while firing up her computer. She said, "you wanted the seafood buffet eh?, do you know the restaurant at the Swan has a fabulous seafood buffet tonight AND as DVC you'd get the 20% discount?" As I was saying no, I didn't know and how lovely that would be, she asked, " I have 5:30, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15 would any of these times work"?

As she was printing out the PS info for us she shared with me some other great places that many people don't think of right away. And offered to set us up for any remaining evenings on our trip. Since we were leaving the next morning, we had to decline but Hazel certainly went out of her way and we felt she was exactly what every Disney CM should strive to be!

So -- two different Hazel's or just a bad day?

 

[Beca]

Wow what a thread, I've learned a few things. We've stayed on property at Disney in several resorts and in DVC Villas since becoming members. We've never requested non -HC rooms (never even occurred to do so) and we've never been given one so I can't speak to that issue.

What I wanted to add here was that I wonder how many "older" female CMs with blondish/reddish hair named Hazel could be working the front desk at BCV? Of all the times we've been to Disney and all the CMs we've encountered our dealings last November with Hazel at the front desk of BCV were the most "magical".

Our Hazel was warm, friendly, polite, and very efficient. She got things right the first time with our reservation that had so many times been mishandled before. She made the check in process, quick, painless and actually a fun time. But it didn't stop there.

I ran into her coming out of the Villas front door as I was going in and as I was about to say, "hello Hazel", she said hello to me -using my name !! and inquired as to how my son was enjoying our stay here! I'd only met this woman once, 2 days before this, just to check in!

On our last day we were unable to secure a PS for dinner at Cape May Cafe any earlier than 7:45p. (Or several other restaurants we tried, granted same day requests) This wouldn't do for our family and we'd decided to just get something and eat in the room. Upon returning to the BCV I noticed Hazel at the front desk and no one waiting to check-in so, as almost a joke, I went by and said, "Hazel, what kind of pull have you got, can you get my family of 5 a PS someplace nearby before 7p?" I told her Cape May had nothing until 7:45p. She again called me by name and said "let's see" while firing up her computer. She said, "you wanted the seafood buffet eh?, do you know the restaurant at the Swan has a fabulous seafood buffet tonight AND as DVC you'd get the 20% discount?" As I was saying no, I didn't know and how lovely that would be, she asked, " I have 5:30, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15 would any of these times work"?

As she was printing out the PS info for us she shared with me some other great places that many people don't think of right away. And offered to set us up for any remaining evenings on our trip. Since we were leaving the next morning, we had to decline but Hazel certainly went out of her way and we felt she was exactly what every Disney CM should strive to be!

So -- two different Hazel's or just a bad day?

Wow!!! That makes me think that something really might've been going on here, other than what was mentioned by the OP. Or, maybe Hazel was just having a bad day..who knows? But, as someone who was lucky enough to have just passed ROFR on a BCV contract...I am very happy to hear this!!!!



Beca

 

[Alexander]

I can't believe this thread is still alive! It seems like the poor "dead horse" just keeps getting beat over and over again!

 

[erikthewise]

I can't believe this thread is still alive! It seems like the poor "dead horse" just keeps getting beat over and over again!

LOL! We make a career out of beating dead equines around here!
It's probably worth remembering that there must be very few if any CM's who go around intentionally abusing guests day after day. And just because it took me 50 years to learn not to make a judgement based on one side of a story doesn't mean others can't learn it more quickly.

 

[Dean]

Really??? Since when do you have to "request a non-handicapped room"? I have grandkids coming with me, we need bathtubs, but would never think to ask for a non handicapped room. They are designed for a special need, why do you need to request NOT to have one? I don't understand that.

Lori

You don't have to request as long as you don't mind getting one. If it is important not to get one, then you should definitely request not to have one.

 

[Dean]

Not me, I don't have a pony in this race (except some risk of a very slight dues increase if they'd make HA a guarentee category).

Lets take a look at what guarenteeing the category would entail.

People reserving early would not take disabled rooms. First, even though I "don't mind" staying in one, they are "less than ideal" for anyone not disabled (and the specific disability roll in showers and low beds addresses). Second, everyone wants to make sure people who need these rooms gets them, so even if I like them just as much I wouldn't book one for my able bodied family.

So its the late bookers who would get these rooms, almost all the time. To those of us who book early, it wouldn't be a problem, but anyone booking late takes the risk. That is probably fine, after all "your lack of planning isn't my problem."

But it does involve assigning more rooms as they are reserved, and less flexibility to pull rooms from service - particularly on short notice - move people around, and the other things that make running the hotel easier (and makes customers happier - having the flexibility to pull a smokey non-smoking room from service is a good thing). In a place the VWL, with a relatively small number of rooms already hitting several guarentee categories (studio, one bedroom, dedicated two bedroom, lockoff two bedroom) (or perhaps worse, the nightmare that is BWVs with SV, BWView and Preferred view room in all the above categories but the dedicated) this could be logistically difficult. If, indeed, cash guests get these rooms, it may even further up the costs of non-DVC options, as cash guests may not choose home away from home if it becomes known they have a really good chance of getting a HA room. It may turn out to be worth it, may not. Can't make a judgement call there since it holds no value to me, and no one else can either because no one knows the cost. Obviously, some people will value these impacts differently. For people who use points to cruise, any increase in points for non-DVC options may be a big deal. For people who always plan ahead, don't mind a dues increase, don't trade out, and really care about HA rooms, probably worth it (as long as you don't get stuck in that smokey room).

I don't have any problems with ordering room assignments by home resort and/or timing of the reservation/request; AMOF, I'd prefer it. I also would prefer certain rooms types be separate booking categories like smoking/NS and would gladly give up the ability to book dedicated vs lockoff to have it. Actually, I'm surprised they have the different types of 2 BR as direct reservation types as those are far more trivial to many people than S/NS or even the HC room.

 

[krdisneybound]

I have stayed at VWL more than 30 times and only had one bad check-in, as I stated above - and always gotten what was requested. so that is pretty dang good. Maybe my "red head CM" was just having a bad day and I am glad that I kept my cool and didn't cause a ruckuss with anything. What goes around comes around. A vote for me. LOL

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Wow what a thread, I've learned a few things. We've stayed on property at Disney in several resorts and in DVC Villas since becoming members. We've never requested non -HC rooms (never even occurred to do so) and we've never been given one so I can't speak to that issue.

What I wanted to add here was that I wonder how many "older" female CMs with blondish/reddish hair named Hazel could be working the front desk at BCV? Of all the times we've been to Disney and all the CMs we've encountered our dealings last November with Hazel at the front desk of BCV were the most "magical".

Our Hazel was warm, friendly, polite, and very efficient. She got things right the first time with our reservation that had so many times been mishandled before. She made the check in process, quick, painless and actually a fun time. But it didn't stop there.

I ran into her coming out of the Villas front door as I was going in and as I was about to say, "hello Hazel", she said hello to me -using my name !! and inquired as to how my son was enjoying our stay here! I'd only met this woman once, 2 days before this, just to check in!

On our last day we were unable to secure a PS for dinner at Cape May Cafe any earlier than 7:45p. (Or several other restaurants we tried, granted same day requests) This wouldn't do for our family and we'd decided to just get something and eat in the room. Upon returning to the BCV I noticed Hazel at the front desk and no one waiting to check-in so, as almost a joke, I went by and said, "Hazel, what kind of pull have you got, can you get my family of 5 a PS someplace nearby before 7p?" I told her Cape May had nothing until 7:45p. She again called me by name and said "let's see" while firing up her computer. She said, "you wanted the seafood buffet eh?, do you know the restaurant at the Swan has a fabulous seafood buffet tonight AND as DVC you'd get the 20% discount?" As I was saying no, I didn't know and how lovely that would be, she asked, " I have 5:30, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15 would any of these times work"?

As she was printing out the PS info for us she shared with me some other great places that many people don't think of right away. And offered to set us up for any remaining evenings on our trip. Since we were leaving the next morning, we had to decline but Hazel certainly went out of her way and we felt she was exactly what every Disney CM should strive to be!

So -- two different Hazel's or just a bad day?

I dont doubt she made your trip magical and went beyond expectations, problem is a bad day on her end equates to a bad day for some unfortunate guest. Its gotta be tough to always be on, but if she had used some of Disney charm and personality she showed your family, I wonder if this thread ever would have even been started.

I still think all she needed to do, after they came from the back, was walk over to the guest say Im sorry Ms so and so, we just checked the system and unfortunately we do not have any Nh rooms available tonight. Done plain and simple. Why leave speculation in the guests mind as to why you went in the back, why make the guest feel like she is so unreasonable she is unapproachable

I dont envy CM's always having to be "on", but it is their job

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Real quick I had to say, Hazel checked us in on our first ever DVC trip in August of '03.
My first glance I thought "oh no, please don't let us get the curmudgeon behind the desk"

I felt terrible for making a snap judgement because she couldn't have been nicer. I should know better than to judge a book by its cover.......

Don't really know what to make of your experience....I am sure that if I got assigned a handicapped room I probably would not be happy about it, but I am not sure if I would request a change. Someone has to take those rooms.
I usually ask before leaving check in.

 

[lenshanem]

Just because you ask before you leave check in doesn't mean it won't be a handicap room when you get there. I KNOW! I asked back on our October trip and was told it WAS NOT a handicap room. Get to my room and SURPRISE it was.

I find this aspect of DVC very frustrating. In all my travels I NEVER ended up with a handicap room at other resorts, including non DVC Disney resorts and never knew to even ask about it or be concerned.

I also was NEVER told about this possibility when I joined DVC. Never.

I would like a tub for my kids when we are in a studio. I'm sorry if this bothers some, but I think it is really a rather simple want and something I have never had to worry about before. The same goes for non-smoking.

Like Dean, if I knew ahead of time I would choose another resort or dates if I couldn't get a non-smoking and non-handicap studio.

This topic is just so darn stagnant. Obviously DVC must be aware of many of their members concerns. I know I have emailed before and guess what? This past trip earlier this week despite it having on my confirmation with stars request non-smoking due to medical reasons we STILL were preassigned to a smoking room! And MS was the one that went back and added the request after my email to all our existing ressies.

Requests are a joke.

 

[Dean]

Just because you ask before you leave check in doesn't mean it won't be a handicap room when you get there. I KNOW! I asked back on our October trip and was told it WAS NOT a handicap room. Get to my room and SURPRISE it was.

And thus my honesty reference.

Requests are a joke.

I agree, but it's no laughing matter. If things work as poorly as they have for some on our next 2 or 3 trips, I'll likely sell all my points. May as well trade in since I can go off seasons starting this spring and be very flexible. Besides, I prefer OKW which is usually more available for II trades than the rest.

 

[jarestel]

I can't believe this thread is still alive! It seems like the poor "dead horse" just keeps getting beat over and over again!

The "I can't believe this thread is still alive" posts have the affect of pushing the thread back to the top of the page where it finds new life. "It's ALIVE"! LOL!

Whoops. I just pushed it back to the top...