No Bed Bugs At Boardwalk!

[nntucket]

A few weeks ago, there were several discussions about bed bugs at Boardwalk. Well, we have just returned from a week at Boardwalk, and having read the posts, my wife was quite concerned. Consequently, we checked carefully, but found no evidence of bed bugs (or any other kind of bugs or pests) anywhere in our rooms at Boardwalk. In fact, everything in the rooms was extremely clean; perhaps even better than we remember from prior stays at Boardwalk.

It did appear to us, however, that Disney is cutting costs in the Parks. We didn't feel that it diminished our enjoyment of the Parks, but it seemed clear that there was some cost cutting going on at Disney. All the same, it is still the best vacation for our family.

 

[Granny]

Thanks for sharing your positive experience with your DVC accommodations. Glad you enjoyed your trip!

 

[5champs]

what type of cost cutting did you notice?

 

[Ms. WDW]

Thanks for that report. Exactly what did you notice at the parks??

 

[rwcmath]

I am very happy to read your report about the room.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by nntucket
A few weeks ago, there were several discussions about bed bugs at Boardwalk. Well, we have just returned from a week at Boardwalk, and having read the posts, my wife was quite concerned. Consequently, we checked carefully, but found no evidence of bed bugs (or any other kind of bugs or pests) anywhere in our rooms at Boardwalk. In fact, everything in the rooms was extremely clean; perhaps even better than we remember from prior stays at Boardwalk.

I could have told you that!! LOL!
I agree with you about cutting costs at the parks somewhat. Where I have noticed the difference is in the restrooms. Unfortunately we have noticed bathrooms that are not being serviced throughout the day like they used to be. By park closing some of the bathrooms are definitely not like Disney restrooms were always kept. The worst offender was the restroom in Morocco.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Most of the bedbugs decided the points were too high and the rooms to small to justify staying there. They originally left OKW because they got tired of chewing on old skin that tasted of Ben Gay. Rumor has it they are heading over for the grand opening of SSR. The combination of lower points & tender generation X flesh made the move a no brainer.

 

[MAC3]

First and foremost please let me say that I love the Boardwalk! It is my favorite DVC resort! I did not have bed bugs, but we did have ants in the kitchen area.

So I made sure the girls were careful about where they left food and everything was fine.

I never reported it as it didn't infringe on our vacation fun.

Just a heads up,
Lisa

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
Most of the bedbugs decided the points were too high and the rooms to small to justify staying there.

LOL!! maybe they just got tired walking down the long hallways! Just kidding folks!

 

[Pa@okw95]

We have reached a point where when there are no bed bugs it is positive. Also if we find a clean bathroom to use at the parks we should rejoice. What a class place WDW has become, what next, if you don't get sick eating the food we should be happy.

 

[MJTinNH]

Originally posted by nntucket
A few weeks ago, there were several discussions about bed bugs at Boardwalk. Well, we have just returned from a week at Boardwalk, and having read the posts, my wife was quite concerned. Consequently, we checked carefully, but found no evidence of bed bugs (or any other kind of bugs or pests) anywhere in our rooms at Boardwalk.

Good!! Going in two weeks and the "Bedbug" post kinda creeped me out! I will probably check too! Thanks for posting!

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
We have reached a point where when there are no bed bugs it is positive. Also if we find a clean bathroom to use at the parks we should rejoice. What a class place WDW has become, what next, if you don't get sick eating the food we should be happy.

Unfortunately, this is sad but largely true. The whole focus has changed without a visionary leader like Walt. Will his wife's comment finally come home: "Why do you want to build an amusement park? They're so dirty!"

Rather than being guided by the vision, Disney seems to be gided by the buck. Ironically, it is leading them further and further from what made WDW successful in the first place.


Although, I think bed bugs are another matter. Any room could develop bed bugs from just one guiest. To prevent any chance, the hotels would need to spray everyone on arrival. I'd rather run the risk of bugs than be exposed to unnecessary insecticide. We all have to do our part -- inspect and report.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
We have reached a point where when there are no bed bugs it is positive. Also if we find a clean bathroom to use at the parks we should rejoice. What a class place WDW has become, what next, if you don't get sick eating the food we should be happy.

I admit I have seen a decline in the upkeep of the restrooms at the parks and also less staffing in many areas around the parks. However I still find WDW standards to be far, far above any other vacation destination I have ever been to, and I have been to my far share of them. Also I live and work at the NJ shore, which is a very large vacation destination that ranges from quaint towns like Cape May to casinos to beaches and boardwalks. Consequently we have all types of vacation spots and vacation services and standards that run the whole spectrum also. And even our best resorts, attractions, etc can not even begin to compare to what WDW offers nor can they compare in how well WDW maintains their standards. IMO, WDW is still very much top shelf and first class all the way. All vacation destinations have had to tighten their belts and cut back a little. The effect of 9/11 on tourism is slowly ebbing but tourism is far from back to normal.

 

[Pa@okw95]

It was predicted a long time ago by many on this site that WDW would be going down hill with the addition of the value resorts. Value resort customers as a rule are far less demanding then deluxe guests. From what I have seen on these boards regarding DVC the members are far less demanding then they used to be also. I think in part it has to do with the selling of DVC as a saving, thus you have people buying into DVC that are less demanding. I don't go to the other boards on this site very often but when I did the other day a lot of posters noticed the lack of repairs to attractions like Splash Mountain and the bathroom situation at the parks. I still love DVC because I get out of the cold in the winter. We now have many things going on like people cooking in studios, people stuffing in the max amount or higher of people in these units, a lot of things are changing down at WDW, but the biggest change is caused by less demanding guests.

 

[goofy4tink]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
It was predicted a long time ago by many on this site that WDW would be going down hill with the addition of the value resorts. Value resort customers as a rule are far less demanding then deluxe guests. From what I have seen on these boards regarding DVC the members are far less demanding then they used to be also. I think in part it has to do with the selling of DVC as a saving, thus you have people buying into DVC that are less demanding. I don't go to the other boards on this site very often but when I did the other day a lot of posters noticed the lack of repairs to attractions like Splash Mountain and the bathroom situation at the parks. I still love DVC because I get out of the cold in the winter. We now have many things going on like people cooking in studios, people stuffing in the max amount or higher of people in these units, a lot of things are changing down at WDW, but the biggest change is caused by less demanding guests.

I'm sorry but I have stayed at all levels of resort, most recently at the AllStars. We just bought into DVC. I don't feel that I am less demanding!! We found the most obnoxious people at the Polynesian, not at AllStarMusic. Please don't judge people by what they spend at a WDW resort.

We don't plan to 'stuff' more than 3 of us into a studio at BWV this summer. We do intend to report any 'deficiencies' to the powers that be. Just because we bought DVC and plan to mostly stay in a studio doesn't make us 'lesser or less demanding owners'. I really believe that the lack of 'magic' at the parks is due more to the fewer CM's hired to clean those bathrooms and the people who just leave 'stuff' everywhere. Now, some of those people could be day-trippers also!!! It seems to be that there is much less courtesy in the world today than even just 10 yrs. ago. Of course it will show at WDW also. Climbing down off the soap-box now.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
Value resort customers as a rule are far less demanding then deluxe guests. From what I have seen on these boards regarding DVC the members are far less demanding then they used to be also. I think in part it has to do with the selling of DVC as a saving, thus you have people buying into DVC that are less demanding.

With all due respect, I believe this is
1. Somewhat rudely elitist.
2. Wrong.


1. Read your post again from the point of view of someone who saves for years just to stay at a value resort.

2. Disney management should not let the least demanding guests set the standard. If they do, then THEY are responsible for the decline in quality -- not the guests.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95
...(snip)...... We now have many things going on like people cooking in studios, people stuffing in the max amount or higher of people in these units,............

FWIW, I believe those things were always going on. What we didn't have was boards like these to "inform" everyone about it.

Keeping in mind that negative items get way more posts/press than positive ones, I try very hard not to let my view of DVC become distorted due to posts on the internet.

I love the DIS, but also recognize that we are part of the problem. It's very easy to get caught up in the posts that pretty much have a theme of

"Here's what happened to us and oh ain't it awful and therefore it will of course happen to everyone going after us and all of (fill in the blank) is seriously going downhill."

If you read even one or two days' worth of posts, you can find many examples.

Let's just all try to keep things in perspective and not lose sight of the big picture.

 

[crisi]

What you also had was a much smaller pool of people staying in WDW resorts. The Contempory, Poly, and FW Cabins are only 2300 rooms. The AS and PC are 8640 rooms.

I actually do agree with Pa. Disney used to not be terribly affordable. In an effort to keep ticket costs down (and ticket cost in particular - but also room costs) - particularly the past few years with the travel slowdown and recession - Disney has had to cut services to get the same level of profit. And it isn't working - their last results show that they have more guests in the park, but less profit - and significantly less profit per guest. Appeal to people who only want to spend $60 a night on a hotel room - and your volume and margin on things like tshirts and plush dolls is also going to go down. So your choices become lower profit, cutting costs, or raising prices. Disney has chosen the first two - and a little of the third - but prices have not increased nearly as much as the cost of energy or insurance the past few years.

Compare this to DCL - where Disney has been able to keep a relatively high per passenger costs - and the cruise staff shows the difference - a higher level of staffing, far superior customer service, a better kept environment.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I did not need DIS to see the writing on the wall and to observe with my own eyes the slide. OKW has not suffered from the slide yet. Maybe it never will, but WDW has been on a decline for years. As for reports on this board about BCV in particular, they have not been good, regarding front desk personnel, service all around, etc. BCV may look like a deluxe resort but the service and reports of problems with rooms makes it far from a deluxe resort.

 

[KNWVIKING]

How do you account for this then?

"Disney hotels and restaurant win seven AAA Four Diamond Awards"

http://www.mouseplanet.com/parkupdates/wdw/wdw040426.htm