Tell me which DVC resorts most need updating!

[WoodysRoundup]

We are THRILLED to be taking our first trip home this spring to AKV! We'd like to take a short Dec. trip and try another resort. I'm curious which DVC resorts are in most need of a "room makeover". I'm afraid we may become spoiled by the "newness" of AKV. We're interested in trying them all, of course. We stayed at WL resort prior to the latest softgoods makeover and felt it was worn. How do the villas compare? I'm also especially curious about BCV and BWV. I've read some posts about things being in disrepair. I'm very interested in your thoughts and observations!

 

[Tigger031266]

I think they should move Vero beach back 100 Feet to expand the beach. Does that count?

 

[Chuck S]

All DVC resorts go through scheduled room rehabs. At any resort you could get a freshly rehabbed, perfectly lovely room. You could also get a room that is near the end of he cycle, and scheduled for rehab soon.

For instance, at OKW, some buildings in the 40s area are undergoing rehab right now. Had you stayed in them just prior to this, you likely would have noticed that the rooms were "ready" for a rehab.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

All DVC resorts go through scheduled room rehabs. At any resort you could get a freshly rehabbed, perfectly lovely room. You could also get a room that is near the end of he cycle, and scheduled for rehab soon.

For instance, at OKW, some buildings in the 40s area are undergoing rehab right now. Had you stayed in them just prior to this, you likely would have noticed that the rooms were "ready" for a rehab.

Thanks. I'm glad to hear that this is the case. I was curious to find out (in general) if some resorts were more "tired" than others with room furnishings, etc.?

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's Disney....They have a reputation to uphold!

 

[colleen costello]

I agree it is the "rehab lottery." OKW is the oldest but many of our rooms have seemed brand new... The last room we stayed in there -- and it WAS in the area currently being rehabbed -- was looking a little threadbare. It was very clean and of course HUGE (one of the nicest things about OKW), it just looked a little shabby. I love the place so much I didn't care, but hubby was a little disappointed. I told him to hush, the points are cheap there

OUr last room at BCV was perfect, but the one before that was really in need of new furniture. The couch wsa REALLY stained. It looked kind of gross. That property only opened in 2002... It really depends on the room.

What is nice is that all the pools, grounds, common areas, restaurants, etc -- they all look WONDERFUL.

 

[kimberh]

Our BCV room in Dec was in Great shape! I had read some reviews that they needed updating, but we had no complaints! The resort has a whole was beautiful to us. We were in a dedicated 2 bedroom with 2 Queens

 

[kamgen]

I posted this in another thread, but I feel that the BWV resort needs to add some things to keep up with the newer DVC resorts. They need a dedicated food court type area like they have at SSR. And it would be nice to see some activity going on like Pool movies and more DVC merchandise for sale there. Seems you see the best assortment of that at OKW or SSR in my opinion. The place is still nice and we loved the room we had a week ago, but we missed a lot about SSR.

 

[wildernessDad]

Our VWL 1-bedroom villa was in pretty good shape. I just wish they'd replace the pull-out sofas.

 

[kid-at-heart]

Our VWL 1-bedroom villa was in pretty good shape. I just wish they'd replace the pull-out sofas.

I wish you had the option of a studio with a pull-out sofa or two queen/king beds - at all the DVC resorts.

 

[tubtruck]

I wish you had the option of a studio with a pull-out sofa or two queen/king beds - at all the DVC resorts.

Agreed , Thought the same myself.

 

[Anal Annie]

Our room at OKW in August was in very sad shape. We will likely not be staying there again - well, at least not until we know for sure that every room in the entire resort has been refurbished. If we had been paying cash thru CRO I would've been totally pissed. I kept telling myself it was a budget low cost trip (low point cost), but it was still a most disappointing stay for our first DVC trip. Even our DS who is 10 was not happy with it. We just did a quick 4 n. trip to VWL on a cash ressie and were SO-O much happier there. It was a beautiful place.

 

[Chuck S]

I wish you had the option of a studio with a pull-out sofa or two queen/king beds - at all the DVC resorts.

It would be a nightmare. Can you imagine another "guaranteed" booking category for MS to work with at each resort, and if that your "guaranteed" room were to go out of service for a problem, what would happen when you arrive at the resort?

Plus, I don't think they could "retrofit" to change existing rooms, it would possibly be illegal unfer FL timeshare law, as it "substantially" would change what we purchased.

 

[Chuck S]

Our room at OKW in August was in very sad shape. We will likely not be staying there again - well, at least not until we know for sure that every room in the entire resort has been refurbished. If we had been paying cash thru CRO I would've been totally pissed. I kept telling myself it was a budget low cost trip (low point cost), but it was still a most disappointing stay for our first DVC trip. Even our DS who is 10 was not happy with it. We just did a quick 4 n. trip to VWL on a cash ressie and were SO-O much happier there. It was a beautiful place.

Sorry you had a room at OKW that needed a rehab, but again, it certainly could happen at any resort. They are done a schedule, no where do they rehab an entire resort at the same time. You'll only come close to having all rooms in pristine condition immediately after a resort opens.

 

[starbox]

I think BCV needs DVD players in the studios (and they may as well put in flat screens while they're at it!!)

 

[dianeschlicht]

Our room at OKW in August was in very sad shape. We will likely not be staying there again - well, at least not until we know for sure that every room in the entire resort has been refurbished.

That's never going to happen. While there might be a building or two that is need of rehab at any given time, the rest of the resort will likely be in good shape. Your attitude is harsh, and I'm wondering if you will say the same thing when you get a just ready to be rehabed room at your home resort. It could be especially difficult if you happened (by the luck of the draw) to get a "end of its useful life" room at each resort you stayed in. It might sour you on WDW completely. In 11 years of membership, we have only had one room that was in need of rehab. Unfortunately, it was our first stay in a GV and we had a lot of guests! When I asked about it at the front desk, I was told that building was going to be closed for rehab the next week. We were just unlucky to get it last. I could have decided right then and there I was never staying at OKW again, but I didn't, and as it turns out, it was our only less than stellar one so far.

 

[Anal Annie]

Your attitude is harsh, and I'm wondering if you will say the same thing when you get a just ready to be rehabed room at your home resort. It could be especially difficult if you happened (by the luck of the draw) to get a "end of its useful life" room at each resort you stayed in. It might sour you on WDW completely. In 11 years of membership, we have only had one room that was in need of rehab. Unfortunately, it was our first stay in a GV and we had a lot of guests! When I asked about it at the front desk, I was told that building was going to be closed for rehab the next week. We were just unlucky to get it last. I could have decided right then and there I was never staying at OKW again, but I didn't, and as it turns out, it was our only less than stellar one so far.

I'm sorry I sound bitter Diane, but I kinda am. I would've been mortified to have taken guests and been in such a unit. Really. If it ever happens again anywhere I think we will ask to be moved rather than trying to "deal with it" like we did... We expected so much more. This was NOT the equivalent of a "deluxe" stay and that's what we expected. We want to plan an extended family trip for 2009 and I was kind of checking out OKW as a possibility to save points. But I can tell you it's not going to happen there. The grounds were beautiful and well kept and I know people love it there but we just couldn't see it for the life of us. I kept apologizing to my DH all week for choosing it.

I keep telling myself I need to stay out of these kinds of threads 'cuz I can't shut up about it but I keep having weak moments. I'm sorry...I'll try to bite my tongue next time!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

we had a room at BWV last year that was in dire need of a rehab. I'll know tomorrow if we hit the room lottery or not

 

[tjkraz]

I'm sorry I sound bitter Diane, but I kinda am. I would've been mortified to have taken guests and been in such a unit. Really.

I'm sure you were disappointed, but I do agree with Diane's logic. Reeiving a bad room at OKW has little to do with either the age of the resort or OKW being run any differently than the others. As bad as the room looked when you arrived, it has certainly been refurbished many, many times over the last 16+ years.

If you start compiling a list of all of the DVC resorts where something goes wrong, after a few visits you may not have anywhere left to stay. The odds of receiving a bad room is pretty much the same across the board, regardless of the resort.

If it ever happens again anywhere I think we will ask to be moved rather than trying to "deal with it" like we did... We expected so much more. This was NOT the equivalent of a "deluxe" stay and that's what we expected.

If that was the case, you absolutely should ask to be moved.

I know at times it sounds like forum regulars here are beating-up on others, but we can't stress enough how important it is to report room maintenance and cleanliness problems. Look at it this way: If the guest who stayed there BEFORE YOU had reported the condition of the room, it just might have been taken out of service before you arrived. That would have spared you the experience altogether.

And if you went thru your entire trip without similarly reporting the room's condition, OKW promptly put ANOTHER guest in that room when you left.

We can't rely on maintenance or housekeeping to take the initiatives and get these things resolved. If the room was as bad as you describe, you should have gotten the situation resolved right away rather than let it taint your view of the resort.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm sure you were disappointed, but I do agree with Diane's logic. Reeiving a bad room at OKW has little to do with either the age of the resort or OKW being run any differently than the others. As bad as the room looked when you arrived, it has certainly been refurbished many, many times over the last 16+ years.

If you start compiling a list of all of the DVC resorts where something goes wrong, after a few visits you may not have anywhere left to stay. The odds of receiving a bad room is pretty much the same across the board, regardless of the resort.



If that was the case, you absolutely should ask to be moved.

I know at times it sounds like forum regulars here are beating-up on others, but we can't stress enough how important it is to report room maintenance and cleanliness problems. Look at it this way: If the guest who stayed there BEFORE YOU had reported the condition of the room, it just might have been taken out of service before you arrived. That would have spared you the experience altogether.

And if you went thru your entire trip without similarly reporting the room's condition, OKW promptly put ANOTHER guest in that room when you left.

We can't rely on maintenance or housekeeping to take the initiatives and get these things resolved. If the room was as bad as you describe, you should have gotten the situation resolved right away rather than let it taint your view of the resort.

You're absolutely right - our view of the entire resort is tainted now. But I was after all giving an answer to the OP's question about which resorts need a refurbishment. I happen to think OKW needs some work.

But who DO you complain to about a shoddy room anyway with DVC? The carpet was threadbare, the bathroom could've been cleaner (the corners along the wall & edges of the tile had dust on them), there was only a couple of pieces of plastic silverware & a couple of paper plates provided (I did call and request more silverware as there wasn't even 3 of everything), the freezer door was broken and wouldn't stay on, there was a hole about the size of a 50 cent piece in one of the bedspreads & the white stuffing was coming out...the outside steps needed to be swept off all week where stuff was falling from the trees (I kept watching for someone to clean them but nobody ever did - the stuff just kept collecting on them). It just wasn't...nice. I felt like I was in a Motel 6 that should've only cost $79 / night or something. But do you call the front desk? Demand to see the manager? Or do you write a letter when you return (and to whom do you send it)?! How do you get those kinds of things resolved? It was our first DVC stay & I didn't know what to expect - but I expected more.

(And here I go, ranting again! )