Ugh-Just Got Here and Ready to Go Home...

[Tinker74]

We have never used online check-in and have had the x001 and x003 rooms quite a few times. We usually request upper floor and sometimes that request is met, sometimes not. We usually get to BWV about 2:00 or so. I think that arriving mid-week gives room assigners fewer options because there are fewer check-outs, so perhaps mid-week arrivals have less of a chance at getting requests honored.
I don't find the walk a big deal. When DH got to the point that walking was an issue, we started renting a scooter from Apple. I think Crest of the Wave has the best angle for viewing Illuminations and Wishes, so the trade off for a longer walk is a better view. I would much rather have these rooms than the 2nd floor rooms with the solid wall balconies or the 1st floor rooms. Since DVC involves so many years and we have quite a few points, I expect that sometimes we will be assigned rooms that are not our favorites. But, as I said in a previous post, we have had to cancel a few trips because of health issues, so I have come to be grateful to be in ANY room!

Hi...Do you know if it is only the 2nd floor rooms that have a solid wall balcony?...Thinking about this I really would much prefer a slatted balcony..I spend a lot of time sitting watching the view with my coffee!

If so maybe iam better requesting floor 3 or above??

 

[jekjones1558]

Hi...Do you know if it is only the 2nd floor rooms that have a solid wall balcony?...Thinking about this I really would much prefer a slatted balcony..I spend a lot of time sitting watching the view with my coffee!

If so maybe iam better requesting floor 3 or above??

AFAIK the solid wall balconies are all on 2nd floor. They are the BW view rooms closer to the elevator (Crest of the Wave rooms on 2nd floor have slats). If I am wrong hopefully someone else will post to correct me.

 

[Dean]

Please send a email to the DVC Satisfaction Team at: dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com.

They told me just a couple of days ago that the resorts always have spare rooms available and that members should never have to stay in a sub standard room.

Bill

It's unlikely they have spare BW view rooms but I agree in principle. The issue is that such is the nature of BWV with the long hallways and the elevator location. It's also the nature of the flexibility of the reservation system and trying to fit all the reservations together like a jigsaw. Someone does have to have the rooms. Generally I'd rather not go to Disney than have a HC unit but I also realize they have more total than they need for most times and that someone has to have them. We had one last time and I didn't even call when we got to the room, it's part of the nature of going with the Timeshare Flow. In this case they would have appropriately charged them had they moved them after they had occupied the room. It may be that staying at BWV isn't a good choice for some, even if they own there.

I think the bottom line is that once someone knows these issues they need to plan accordingly for the long hallways. If one is staying at BWV, it should be assumed you'll be at the end of the hallway. It really makes no sense to complain either to the front desk or DVC in general unless one is formally booked in to a HC unit OR has made a medical request up front. Even then, one should realize there are limitations and expect the worst.

 

[LJM721]

I stayed in one of those 1BR rooms several years ago when my wife was suffering from cancer. She was in a wheelchair and I couldn't believe how long those halls were. It was a major undertaking each time we left and returned to our room.

 

[Tinker74]

It's unlikely they have spare BW view rooms but I agree in principle. The issue is that such is the nature of BWV with the long hallways and the elevator location. It's also the nature of the flexibility of the reservation system and trying to fit all the reservations together like a jigsaw. Someone does have to have the rooms. Generally I'd rather not go to Disney than have a HC unit but I also realize they have more total than they need for most times and that someone has to have them. We had one last time and I didn't even call when we got to the room, it's part of the nature of going with the Timeshare Flow. In this case they would have appropriately charged them had they moved them after they had occupied the room. It may be that staying at BWV isn't a good choice for some, even if they own there.

I think the bottom line is that once someone knows these issues they need to plan accordingly for the long hallways. If one is staying at BWV, it should be assumed you'll be at the end of the hallway. It really makes no sense to complain either to the front desk or DVC in general unless one is formally booked in to a HC unit OR has made a medical request up front. Even then, one should realize there are limitations and expect the worst.

Some very good points Dean!...But why do you dislike HC rooms?

 

[Dean]

Some very good points Dean!...But why do you dislike HC rooms?

The showers and lack of storage are the main issues for us.

 

[BeesKnees]

It's unlikely they have spare BW view rooms but I agree in principle. The issue is that such is the nature of BWV with the long hallways and the elevator location. It's also the nature of the flexibility of the reservation system and trying to fit all the reservations together like a jigsaw. Someone does have to have the rooms. Generally I'd rather not go to Disney than have a HC unit but I also realize they have more total than they need for most times and that someone has to have them. We had one last time and I didn't even call when we got to the room, it's part of the nature of going with the Timeshare Flow. In this case they would have appropriately charged them had they moved them after they had occupied the room. It may be that staying at BWV isn't a good choice for some, even if they own there.

I think the bottom line is that once someone knows these issues they need to plan accordingly for the long hallways. If one is staying at BWV, it should be assumed you'll be at the end of the hallway. It really makes no sense to complain either to the front desk or DVC in general unless one is formally booked in to a HC unit OR has made a medical request up front. Even then, one should realize there are limitations and expect the worst.

I agree but I would still like to know who is getting the closer rooms and why has it never been us? Should I be tipping the cast member who is handling my check-in? We go very often during the value seasons and the only explanation I can come up with for why we are always in the last 20 percent of the rooms is because someone else is ALWAYS requesting to be close and if that is the case, is it fair?

The only way in which we are fortunate is that there are no rooms that require a 5 mile hike uphill in the snow to get to them because those are the rooms we would get. The magic of Disney would make it uphill to leave the room too... uphill both ways.

 

[donkortajr]

Just want to chime in on the ECV. We went in January for a week. I rented an ECV offsite for the week but was REALLY nervous about peoples attitudes and the ECV. I ended up being blown away at how the nice and accommodating all the bus drivers were (well all except 1) and how nice the other Disney visitors were. After the first day, I never worried again. Rent for the entire trip and be done with it. Its actually cheaper than park rental and no fuss. I used Apple Scooter who was great and I know other have had just as good a time working with the other rentals.

 

[Tinker74]

I agree but I would still like to know who is getting the closer rooms and why has it never been us? Should I be tipping the cast member who is handling my check-in? We go very often during the value seasons and the only explanation I can come up with for why we are always in the last 20 percent of the rooms is because someone else is ALWAYS requesting to be close and if that is the case, is it fair?

The only way in which we are fortunate is that there are no rooms that require a 5 mile hike uphill in the snow to get to them because those are the rooms we would get. The magic of Disney would make it uphill to leave the room too... uphill both ways.

Do you make requests at BW bees kness?...and do you check in early in the day or late?

 

[drusba]

The only way in which we are fortunate is that there are no rooms that require a 5 mile hike uphill in the snow to get to them because those are the rooms we would get. The magic of Disney would make it uphill to leave the room too... uphill both ways.

You apparently have not yet had the opportunity to stay at AKV Kidani where the walk to the end rooms on the north wing is 5 miles, up hill, both ways, and we had one of those rooms in January 2010 when it snowed.

 

[JWG]

Isn't part of this a trade off? The further the room from the lobby and the further around the "bowl" so-to-speak of the resort shape, the better the Boardwalk view. As you get away from the lobby don't you have a better chance of getting a view of Epcot and the fireworks if you're further down the hall?

We've always felt the walk was in exchange for a slightly better view. Though, that's a personal preference as to which is more valuable.

I stopped thinking the BWV hallways were long when I visited AKV-Kidani I didn't think I was ever going to get to the end.

 

[Dean]

I agree but I would still like to know who is getting the closer rooms and why has it never been us? Should I be tipping the cast member who is handling my check-in? We go very often during the value seasons and the only explanation I can come up with for why we are always in the last 20 percent of the rooms is because someone else is ALWAYS requesting to be close and if that is the case, is it fair?

The only way in which we are fortunate is that there are no rooms that require a 5 mile hike uphill in the snow to get to them because those are the rooms we would get. The magic of Disney would make it uphill to leave the room too... uphill both ways.

Unfortunately DVC has abandoned any type of formal request process, in part, due to overly unreasonable requests like specific rooms and the complaints and arguments that ensued at the front desk. Rather than doing what I think they should have, they essentially scraped the entire system. There is no longer FORMAL attention to requests on a consistent basis and each resort is left to decide how and if they will even pay attention to it. IMO, the far better approach would have been to publish appropriate requests and stick to those principles. Things like high floor or general area but not specific building or rooms. All of the Marriott's I know of actually employ someone who's job description includes room controller. Their job is to assign rooms. They have a hierarchy they look at that goes something like this in order of preference from highest to lowest.

1. Owner at THAT resort staying for multiple weeks or with multiple units.
2. Single week owner at THAT resort
3. Same variables for Marriott exchangers.
4. Cash guests
5. Then come non Marriott Exchangers.

They even look to see what you got the last year or two and take that into account the next year. Some will say that Marriott's unit assignments is much easier than DVC's but I don't think that's really the case, esp not since last June. ASAMOF, I've come to think that it's actually more difficult at Marriott for busier times. For DVC it could be home resort AND date of booking or just date of booking, which is the way it used to be.

I can't speak for your situation but I think MOST recurrent request issues are related to late check in and multiple requests that make it difficult for them. Anything more than 1 or 2 requests is probably unreasonable. For example, HIGH floor AND close to the elevator is getting to the point of ensuring something won't work right, esp for BW view or similar limited availability options. Remember they're trying to fit together a jigsaw puzzle that includes arrival dates, requests, unit types (dedicated vs lockoff) and view type. They they have to juggle when things happen, when people complain and when rooms have to have repairs/service and may go out of service unexpectedly.

Our requests are very simple. NO HC unit and if we have multiple units, they be close together. Occasionally we request close to BBQ grills or bus stop for a given trip. I try to always make sure that we have no more than 2 requests and if I ever go over that, I always make sure they know the order of preference. I follow these principles with all timeshare stays. I make appropriate requests and I am very flexible in all but one area, that of smoking/NS which isn't nearly an issue anymore as most systems have gone all NS. Many of the Marriott's just went all NS including balconies and all but designated areas (the rooms were already). That's the same as DVC except Marriott will enforce it and charge guests appropriately.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

You apparently have not yet had the opportunity to stay at AKV Kidani where the walk to the end rooms on the north wing is 5 miles, up hill, both ways, and we had one of those rooms in January 2010 when it snowed.

 

[sweetdana]

I agree with one of the PP ask to go to SSR.

All rooms are reasonable to a bus stop.

The hallways, and no walk in pool, and the lack of DP options at BWV are the reasons we pick SSR over BW even for more points. The location is fantastic everything else is IMO middle of the road. I hope it works out.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

All I need is to know we all get treated equally, if I stay at a resort home or not I take the room I get unless there is a reason I cant (handicap or disability). Sometimes ya have better units than others but as long as it is done fairly to everyone, you just have to deal with it and not let it ruin your vacation or it will. I also think the reason requests have gone away is because we are our own worst enemy over the almost decade I have been a member I have seen altercations at many front desks about a request not recieved and read dozens of posts about unhappy rooms or calls to member services.

 

[BeesKnees]

Do you make requests at BW bees kness?...and do you check in early in the day or late?

Generally no because most often when we stay at a valet resort it is because the guests we are bringing were allowed to make the choice and being close to our party is more important than a longer walk. I did have a sore knee one year and requested a room close to the elevator at BLT, I ended up near the furthest elevator of course.

At OKW we rent a car so we now ask to be placed further out so the guests who do not have cars have a better shot at being close to the Hospitality House. We started doing that after the BLT experience.

Our check-in times have gotten a little later due to flight times but even when we were arriving at 10am we ended up with nice long treks.

 

[appleorchard]

This really has not been a good Boardwalk stay...yesterday my niece and great-nephews arrived and ME put their luggage in our LAST room--the 4001 room! When she called after 5 hours because the luggage wasn't there yet. they said she wasn't in the ME system--this after they had just delivered the car seat she left on the bus. Then they finally located the luggage--in the room DH and I had vacated the day before. Yikes! Either the room was empty or the people in it weren't there to call about it. Hopefully it was empty!

Last night my sister also had a bad reaction to Ambien, which she takes occasionally and has never had a problem with, but I think the combination of heat, dehydration and exhaustion gave it an extra whollop. We considered calling 911, but once I was sure it was the Ambien (I'm an RN) we decided against it. What a day!

I talked to the manager today before I came home and asked that when they're moved against TOMORROW, that they NOT get the room they were currently assigned to, which was four doors closer to the elevator than our old room. He moved them closer to the elevator.

We've talked about the changes we're going to make to have better trips in the future because of all this. For one thing, we're booking 2 days during the next trip at BLT, if possible. Then we can go to the MK directly from there. We're skipping AK next trip--that park did (and always does) do us in, because of all the criss-crossing you have to do to get all the shows in. We'll be there at rope drop and take an afternoon break. If DH gets a scooter for the whole trip, he won't have to take it on any buses, just the monorail and the boats, which will simplify things tremendously.

I thank everyone for their input. We're NOT complainers normally. We've never asked to change rooms or anything else--we're happy to be there and go with the flow. A number of circumstances, including constant confusion over our reservation due to the number of people coming and going, made this trip very difficult. The heat, the volume of walking, the too-short number of days, trying to pack too much in to a short time and the fact that we're getting old all conspired to make the perfect storm of a not so great trip.

December will be better! I put in a medical request on our Dec. reservation as soon as I got home, but we may rent a scooter the whole time anyway.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

Just look at it this way December has to go better and I am sure it will.

 

[jade1]

We now rent a scooter for the week so DH doesn't have to do the long trek. The other BW view rooms I don't like are x051 rooms on the corner because then are not really direct BW view, and the first floor BW view rooms next to the model.
Now having said that, the x001 rooms like yours have a great view of fireworks, IMO!
Hope you can still find some magic!

We used your advice on the scooter for DFIL at BWV-it was great. That aside we love BWV rooms at the end-best BW View and also like jumping off at S&D and walking to the room when at MK. Makes it a direct bus ride there and back. And no bus for EPOT and DHS. And of course we have twenty somethings that love Jelly Rolls. But for the OP I can sympathize-too bad, you know many folks would love to trade but just how to go about it.

 

[heaven2dc]

I was placed in the room right next to Jellyrolls on the 2nd floor and was wearing a foot brace at the time (I requested close to elevators, upper floor) and got neither. After listening to the music til 2:30 a.m., people in front of my room chatting loudly like it was 3 in the afternoon instead of 3 a.m. and having to use the stairs to avoid the long walk to the elevator, I asked to be moved the next day and got a room on the 3rd floor near the Mercantile shop. Much better!

I would also be as dismayed as you are having had a similar experience - our last trip we got the 5th floor in the Crest O'Wave area and at first hated the long trek but then enjoyed the awesome view. I hope you won't get discouraged with BWV - we are thinking of staying at Beach Club next trip but hate where the rooms are located for DVC stays (you can't beat the BWV view!).