http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=583881
This link was closed it appears because the direction of the posts were not related to DVC. I felt that PBB was making some valid points and along PBB's lines, I have some comments as they pertain to DVC.
I have been a member since 1999 and own at three resorts. In the last two years, I have been less than thrilled with my accomodations and the cleanliness during several of my stays. When I travel with friends and family, I want them to be impressed with the accomodations as I take pride in them because I am an owner. However, as of late, I now find myself rushing to arrive ahead of my guests so that I can clean up any missed details by the housekeeping staff. During my second to the last trip, I actually had to scrub what appeared to be chocolate milk that was splashed on the closet door and wall in the bedroom. It wasn't just a little bit, it was a whole lot. In fact, it took me 45 minutes to clean if off of the wall and the door. This was at Vero Beach. During my last stay, I was at both BWV and OKW. Both rooms had burned out lightbulbs and the mirrors were dirty in the bathrooms. After 16 hours of smelling old food that was left on trays in the hall from room service at BWV, I carried three trays downstairs myself and plopped them on the counter to the right of the check in desk. I could no longer stand the smell of warm thousand island salad dressing everytime I walked by it. I happened to be at the end of a hall and had to walk by them several times. And, when I say 16 hours, I may be wrong. It might have been more like 20-24 hours. During my stay a year ago at BCV, I had to clean the hair off of the bathroom floor and out of the shower - oh and there was a burned out lightbulb as well as stains that looked like blood on a throw pillow. The stay before that at OKW, our whirlpool tub didn't work. I did notify housekeeping and maintenance of these issues and they were promptly taken care of (except for VB). But the thing is, I had them happen not just once but on 4 out of 5 of my trips. These things weren't being picky either - burned out bulbs, tub not working, etc.
I have seen this carry over into the parks as well in areas that need refurbishment and particularly the bathrooms in the theme parks.
I have heard the saying that 'You get what you pay for". Well as an owner of DVC, I have not felt this to be the case as of recent. I could have bought other timeshares in the Orlando area for much less than the cost I paid for DVC. I also didn't pay for the name. I paid for the quality. Well, where is it? Where does all the money go that I spend at Disney? Where does the money for maintenance fees that are 1.5 to 2 times that of other timeshares go? Where did the extra $ I spent for quality accomodations over Vistana or Marriot go? What about that DVC polo shirt I bought that was $42.00 versus the one I bought at Sea World for $19.00? Where does that money go? What about the extra $ I fork over for a park hopper when I can by a similar ticket to all other Orlando parks for about half the price.
People may try and tell me "You are only paying for accomodations and nothing else." Well that is not the case. I am paying for an experience in addition to the accomodations and if you watch any DVC video, this is what is promoted. HMMMM, how does that saying go? "If you believe in magic, you belong." Anyone can own a timeshare. But to use a slogan such as this in promotional videos suggests that I will have a magical experience by being a member/owner. Well, I did believe in magic but it is fading away. Does Disney believe in me anymore? Please don't get me wrong. I am more than willing to pay extra for things I think are worth it. I am not a cheap person and don't think I should be entitled to the world because I am a DVC member. However, I do think that when there is a noticeable decline accross the board in the quality of accomodations, theme parks, cast members, etc., I should not have to start paying more money in dues, more money in admissions and do my own cleaning before I even unpack.
One statement that PBB mentioned regarding admission prices at the parks made me think of something (and perhaps this is what PBB was conveying). Is there a chance that the cost of everything non DVC such as admission, meals, etc rise so much as to devalue DVC itself? I certainly hope not. The main reason I bought a timeshare was so that I was "forced" to take vacations or lose the money I paid for them. I also want to impress friends and family as well as create memories with them.
Recently, I took my father to DVC. He had never been. Since my wife had been with me numerous times, she thought it would be nice for the two of us to go by ourselves. It took a lot of arm twisting to get my father to go. When he finally did go, it was great. We had a wonderful vacation. The room was very clean. However, I remember when we arrived at our room and I gave him the key. I wanted him to enter the room first so he would be impressed. There I stood, my heart was beating hard and I was nervous he would walk in and something would be wrong or dirty because it had been on the past trips. Isn't that sad?
This link was closed it appears because the direction of the posts were not related to DVC. I felt that PBB was making some valid points and along PBB's lines, I have some comments as they pertain to DVC.
I have been a member since 1999 and own at three resorts. In the last two years, I have been less than thrilled with my accomodations and the cleanliness during several of my stays. When I travel with friends and family, I want them to be impressed with the accomodations as I take pride in them because I am an owner. However, as of late, I now find myself rushing to arrive ahead of my guests so that I can clean up any missed details by the housekeeping staff. During my second to the last trip, I actually had to scrub what appeared to be chocolate milk that was splashed on the closet door and wall in the bedroom. It wasn't just a little bit, it was a whole lot. In fact, it took me 45 minutes to clean if off of the wall and the door. This was at Vero Beach. During my last stay, I was at both BWV and OKW. Both rooms had burned out lightbulbs and the mirrors were dirty in the bathrooms. After 16 hours of smelling old food that was left on trays in the hall from room service at BWV, I carried three trays downstairs myself and plopped them on the counter to the right of the check in desk. I could no longer stand the smell of warm thousand island salad dressing everytime I walked by it. I happened to be at the end of a hall and had to walk by them several times. And, when I say 16 hours, I may be wrong. It might have been more like 20-24 hours. During my stay a year ago at BCV, I had to clean the hair off of the bathroom floor and out of the shower - oh and there was a burned out lightbulb as well as stains that looked like blood on a throw pillow. The stay before that at OKW, our whirlpool tub didn't work. I did notify housekeeping and maintenance of these issues and they were promptly taken care of (except for VB). But the thing is, I had them happen not just once but on 4 out of 5 of my trips. These things weren't being picky either - burned out bulbs, tub not working, etc.
I have seen this carry over into the parks as well in areas that need refurbishment and particularly the bathrooms in the theme parks.
I have heard the saying that 'You get what you pay for". Well as an owner of DVC, I have not felt this to be the case as of recent. I could have bought other timeshares in the Orlando area for much less than the cost I paid for DVC. I also didn't pay for the name. I paid for the quality. Well, where is it? Where does all the money go that I spend at Disney? Where does the money for maintenance fees that are 1.5 to 2 times that of other timeshares go? Where did the extra $ I spent for quality accomodations over Vistana or Marriot go? What about that DVC polo shirt I bought that was $42.00 versus the one I bought at Sea World for $19.00? Where does that money go? What about the extra $ I fork over for a park hopper when I can by a similar ticket to all other Orlando parks for about half the price.
People may try and tell me "You are only paying for accomodations and nothing else." Well that is not the case. I am paying for an experience in addition to the accomodations and if you watch any DVC video, this is what is promoted. HMMMM, how does that saying go? "If you believe in magic, you belong." Anyone can own a timeshare. But to use a slogan such as this in promotional videos suggests that I will have a magical experience by being a member/owner. Well, I did believe in magic but it is fading away. Does Disney believe in me anymore? Please don't get me wrong. I am more than willing to pay extra for things I think are worth it. I am not a cheap person and don't think I should be entitled to the world because I am a DVC member. However, I do think that when there is a noticeable decline accross the board in the quality of accomodations, theme parks, cast members, etc., I should not have to start paying more money in dues, more money in admissions and do my own cleaning before I even unpack.
One statement that PBB mentioned regarding admission prices at the parks made me think of something (and perhaps this is what PBB was conveying). Is there a chance that the cost of everything non DVC such as admission, meals, etc rise so much as to devalue DVC itself? I certainly hope not. The main reason I bought a timeshare was so that I was "forced" to take vacations or lose the money I paid for them. I also want to impress friends and family as well as create memories with them.
Recently, I took my father to DVC. He had never been. Since my wife had been with me numerous times, she thought it would be nice for the two of us to go by ourselves. It took a lot of arm twisting to get my father to go. When he finally did go, it was great. We had a wonderful vacation. The room was very clean. However, I remember when we arrived at our room and I gave him the key. I wanted him to enter the room first so he would be impressed. There I stood, my heart was beating hard and I was nervous he would walk in and something would be wrong or dirty because it had been on the past trips. Isn't that sad?
