Staying at DVC resort during renovation?

[Chrionne]

Have you stayed at a DVC resort during renovation? We were hoping to go to HiltonHead this fall but exterior renovation will be going on. What was your experience at any of the resorts during exterior renovation work?

 

[Jwaire]

In my experience, they tend to try to put guests away from work being done.

However, last September, they were painting the Polynesian longhouses, rebuilding the decks and doing sewage repair out on the beach, which we heard during normal business hours (typically 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. or so).

I may have a different opinion of this, but as an owner, I was happy to see maintenance being done. That's just life. We want these resorts to last as long as possible. And that requires work and some guest disruption.

I would just be aware of exactly what work is being performed. For example, we also stayed at the Polynesian during the lobby gutting in 2015 or so. That was a nightmare since the GCH is so essential to that resort. I wouldn't do that again.

Basic exterior work? I'd take the chance.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Have you stayed at a DVC resort during renovation? We were hoping to go to HiltonHead this fall but exterior renovation will be going on. What was your experience at any of the resorts during exterior renovation work?

We were at HHI when they were doing the interior renovations last January. We heard noise but it wasn’t bad at all. 2 weeks ago we were at BRV and they were doing exterior work over at WL. We were eating breakfast at Roaring Fork and heard them using a grinder at about 8:30am. I remember saying to DH that’s unpleasant! I usually don’t mind the work and it wasn’t terrible but I wouldn’t love it if that was the majority of my vacation.

 

[Chrionne]

Thanks RuntheMouse and Jwaire. I hadn’t given a thought to “doing sewage repair on the beach”.

 

[Jwaire]

Thanks RuntheMouse and Jwaire. I hadn’t given a thought to “doing sewage repair on the beach”.

Apparently, the bungalows had sewer issues. So they dug up the beach last September to repair the pipe.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've been at SSR during their to-the-studs refurbishment. The buildings being worked on were clearly being worked on but it was not disruptive beyond a few walking paths being closed.

 

[stevelle]

Stayed at VGF during renovations twice. It really didn't bother me. Temporary walls or walkways, but things are still open and everyone is still so welcoming.

 

[Zubon]

We just stayed at the Riviera during the Topolino's Terrace renovation, which I think is more interior. We expected that to mean "the restaurant will not be available," but it was closer to "the building will be vibrating during business hours." The noise was disruptive roughly 10am-5pm on the East side of the resort. This is not a problem if you are park warriors; this was a problem for naps or taking a remote meeting while on vacation.

Topolino's Terrace is on the 10th floor. The music was turned up in the lobby to drown out the sound. We were on the 4th floor, and my eyes were vibrating in their sockets. One member of our party was getting ill from the vibration and sound and needed to leave the room. The renovations were basically unnoticeable if you were in the parks during daylight hours and rather unpleasant for folks closer to a "resort only" stay.

Earlier this year, we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge during their exterior renovations. The scaffolding disrupted some sight lines, but we otherwise hardly noticed it happening. That was more of a parks than resorts trip, so it might have been more disruptive during the hours I was not there.

So your experience might vary based on what particular work they are doing and when you are in your room. Daytime naps close to the renovations could be difficult, or they may not be doing heavy work near you, and evening hours seemed to be quiet hours.

 

[TexasJedi]

Not a DVC stay, but a couple of years ago my family stayed at AOA during a resort refurbishment. We paid a premium for the Finding Nemo suites only to find that a crane was parked outside our window for the whole stay with workers on it during the day painting the exterior of the building. The main entrance to the building was also unavailable off and on during the stay, so sometimes we'd have to walk to the far side of the building to go into a side door.

So, there were some awkward situations and minor inconveniences, but we just rolled with it. I wouldn't say it negatively impacted our experience overall, but If we'd realized what would be happening when we'd booked, we definitely would have opted for Lion King or Cars buildings instead. At the time it was a general refurbishment without much clarity beforehand about when and where the refurbishment would be happening around the resort.