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

[Disneybuckeye]

I hope your trip improves. We were at BWV in March in an end room on the first floor. We loved coming and going out the door right outside our room that was right above the walking path to DHS. We loved it, but we enjoy walking. I can see how that could be an issue with someone who cannot walk a long ways. Seeing the Boardwalk every morning does sound lovely!

 

[MinnesotaChill]

We had that very last room on the top floor too once. We had a view of the pool though and we finally gave in and decided it was a benefit because we could run right down to the hot tub!

We also used the stairs A LOT! I don't think we went to the lobby more than once, although with very young children it was tough.

We go every two years and have only had that room once. We've gotten middle hall rooms, elevator rooms and the rooms with a pool view that are closed in so you can't see the pool. We've also had spectacular BW views, so we HAVE had a variety.

I've even vaulted over the picket fence on the BW that forms little courtyard in front of the old models. Granted it was after Party for the Sense and I was feeling pretty good, but as an uncoordinated 5' tall woman, let's just say people's jaws were hanging open that I made smoothly over. Run, jump, hand plant, swing legs, landed on two legs. I felt like I'd won a gold medal in the vault! My husband and brother in law still can't believe I made it - they were standing in the patio door daring me. My sister walked around all the way to the lobby. One of my most jubilant moments.

 

[DebbieB]

I've had boardwalk views 7 or 8 times, mostly 6 nights and have been all over the floor. Once above the gallery, over the store, over Big River, all the way down to Jellyrolls. I think it really comes down to what is open the day you check-in, there is no "scheme". Also with lockoffs, they have to pre-plan to make sure they have both sides open on the day a 2 bedroom reservation checks in.

My experience is BWV pre-assigns rooms so don't wait until check-in to make requests.

 

[Shamus]

Just remember that for Stuido, 1 and 2 Bdrms a request of "Boardwalk View" and "Close to the Elevator" are mutually exculsive as roughly 2/3 of Boardwalk View Rooms will require you to walk 60% or more of the length of the entire hallway.

 

[Donut23]

We made a couple happy a few years ago at Boardwalk Inn. We added one night and couldn't stay in the Villa.....so we got a great rate for the Inn. We popped out to checkin for our single night.....me in my scooter......we got our room and scooted off.

It was the same level as the lobby - convenient for the scooter - and absolutely at the end of the hallway. We called bell services to bring down our bags. They called us right back to see if we were going to change the room.....it's the most declined room at BWI.

We LOVED IT - go figure.

2 balconies, freshly renovated and lovely, quiet, stairs right there to walk down to the quiet pool.

It really is a fabulous room.....but one heck of a walk. Now I HAVE to admit in the scooter.....the walk doesn't seem as long.

When we don't stay in BWV and pickup a quick few nights at BWI.....we always request OUR room - least popular room at the Inn. I guess we make some couple happy because they will not be stuck in OUR room.

 

[appleorchard]

We've learned that walking to the Swolphin boat dock is faster than using the Boardwalk's. DH is okay going down the stairs--it's up he struggles with. Unfortunately, it has impacted our trip. You really have to think twice about every trip back to the room. Tonight coming back from dinner at Jiko we realized that he left his scooter paperwork in the room, so we had to go get it before we went of to Epcot to watch Illuminations. I thought he'd just give up rather than make that trek back and forth again, even though I offered to do the running. He said he couldn't tell me where he'd put them! (Like the room is SO big lol) But he still wanted to go. And we did make it to Epcot with 10 minutes to spare before Illuminations!

We'll have to make some decisions before our December trip. We're in a standard 1 BR then, so there's some pretty long hikes there too! We may go back to the full-time scooter rental, even though he really only needs it if we get a long hall! Yes, it's still better at Disney than at home, but I don't underestimate these kind of stamina and mobility issues anymore-they really can impact your stay. I mean, my feet hurt at the end of the day, but I can deal with that type of annoyance.

I hate to hear that some people can no longer go at all due to stamina issues and hope that's not us in a few years, even though I know realistically it probably will be. That's why every trip is more special now. And yes, there are way worse things than not having a good trip to WDW, as many of us know all too well.

 

[LSchrow]

Glad to hear you are making lemonade out of the lemons....we're at the BWVs now (I'm writng this from a little alcove by luna park, while squirrels play chase around me, and the birds are feeding their babies in the nests they built in the awnings )
We were a bit disappointed at checkin to find we were on the 2nd floor (BW view studio; we always request upper floor and normally get 4 or 5, occasionally 3 but NEVER 2nd). WOW the room is fabulous!!! HUGE balcony, a short stairs walk to the outside, and we feel like we are part of the action on the BW.
We haven't had any noise probs (aside from the families who yell LOUDLY in the hallway outside our door at 6-7AM - but that's not exclusive to the BW).
The weather has been gorgeous and crowd levels low. We have ridden TSM And soarin' multiple times, had beautiful walks to DHS and EPCOT, and met many nice ppl staying in the resort.
Btw, my mom suddenly became very ill later in the day that my DD and I got here (she's in a coma in ICU, but the docs said shes stable so not to come home - DH is there helping out).
This is some of the hardest "lemonade" I've had to make - we're trying to drink it slowly, savoring every drop.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation - it looks like today is going to be another glorious day!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Glad to hear you are making lemonade out of the lemons....we're at the BWVs now (I'm writng this from a little alcove by luna park, while squirrels play chase around me, and the birds are feeding their babies in the nests they built in the awnings )
We were a bit disappointed at checkin to find we were on the 2nd floor (BW view studio; we always request upper floor and normally get 4 or 5, occasionally 3 but NEVER 2nd). WOW the room is fabulous!!! HUGE balcony, a short stairs walk to the outside, and we feel like we are part of the action on the BW.
We haven't had any noise probs (aside from the families who yell LOUDLY in the hallway outside our door at 6-7AM - but that's not exclusive to the BW).
The weather has been gorgeous and crowd levels low. We have ridden TSM And soarin' multiple times, had beautiful walks to DHS and EPCOT, and met many nice ppl staying in the resort.
Btw, my mom suddenly became very ill later in the day that my DD and I got here (she's in a coma in ICU, but the docs said shes stable so not to come home - DH is there helping out).
This is some of the hardest "lemonade" I've had to make - we're trying to drink it slowly, savoring every drop.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation - it looks like today is going to be another glorious day!!

Prayers that you get better news about your mom.

 

[appleorchard]

Glad to hear you are making lemonade out of the lemons....we're at the BWVs now (I'm writng this from a little alcove by luna park, while squirrels play chase around me, and the birds are feeding their babies in the nests they built in the awnings )
We were a bit disappointed at checkin to find we were on the 2nd floor (BW view studio; we always request upper floor and normally get 4 or 5, occasionally 3 but NEVER 2nd). WOW the room is fabulous!!! HUGE balcony, a short stairs walk to the outside, and we feel like we are part of the action on the BW.
We haven't had any noise probs (aside from the families who yell LOUDLY in the hallway outside our door at 6-7AM - but that's not exclusive to the BW).
The weather has been gorgeous and crowd levels low. We have ridden TSM And soarin' multiple times, had beautiful walks to DHS and EPCOT, and met many nice ppl staying in the resort.
Btw, my mom suddenly became very ill later in the day that my DD and I got here (she's in a coma in ICU, but the docs said shes stable so not to come home - DH is there helping out).
This is some of the hardest "lemonade" I've had to make - we're trying to drink it slowly, savoring every drop.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation - it looks like today is going to be another glorious day!!

Sorry to hear about your mom. Yes, weather is lovely--got much hotter today!--but it still cools down at night. We figured out going down the stairs and walking outside puts us closer to the pool. tomorrow DH goes home and I switch to a standard studio with my sister and niece for a few days.Hoping for a little closer room lol

 

[icouldlivethere]

When we don't stay in BWV and pickup a quick few nights at BWI.....we always request OUR room - least popular room at the Inn. I guess we make some couple happy because they will not be stuck in OUR room.

Apparently, every hotel and villa has its share of those rooms that nobody wants. After getting stuck at the very end of the long hallway 3 trips in a row I suggested to my DH that he ask when we checked in if it was possible to have a first floor room. I have my own personal scooter that I use when traveling due to mobility and health issues. So, being at the end of the hallway isn't an issue for me but I feel bad for my DH because he gets stuck having to follow me down the hallway when he could have just gone down the stairs to get outside. I do feel a little unsafe at the end of the long hallway though because if we had to evacuate the building for any reason I would have trouble getting out.

We have never made a room request before and had always been satisfied to take whatever room was given us. When my DH asked the CM at the counter if he could have a first floor room for his wife who has a scooter, I fully expected her to say no. Instead she said I bet it would help her to be near the elevator too and my DH said yes it would and she said I have a first floor room near the elevator you can have AND its ready. I thought WOW, this is too good to be true. It was still morning and I couldn't believe our room was not only ready but it was on the first floor near the elevator. Perfect!

We had the bellmen take our luggage out of our car and we gave them our room number and asked them if they could direct us to our room. With a chuckle and a little smirk they said you can't miss it, it's right by the elevator. I got the distinct impression this was a room most people did not want. We went and parked our car and my DH walked and I scooted to our room. It ended up being a HA room on the first floor near the elevator looking out at the back side of Leaping Horse Libations and you could see a tiny bit of the pool. Seeing as I had booked a standard view room I was thrilled to have this partial pool view. I saw on another thread that this room was made a standard view because the pool view was blocked by LHL.

This room had a lot of things that other people didn't like in a room, being on the first floor, right by the elevator (people are afraid of noise), HA with a blocked view. Here was a room that nobody else wanted but it worked perfectly for us. I would be more than happy to take this room off of their hands every trip!

 

[girlsn980103]

Many of the OP have suggested that you tell the front desk you need a closer room due to medical issues. It doesn't work! DH and I took an anniversary trip (stayed at BWV) last year without the DD's. I was in a cast and on crutches. I called at least two weeks before the trip and requested a room close to elevators and was assured that with my cast, it would be arranged. We got to the hotel, and received the LAST room down the hall. I don't remember the number, but we immediately called the front desk and requested to be moved. We were told the whole hotel was full, but a manager would contact us about possibilities. We went by the front desk on our way back to the room after visiting the park and asked if there was a wheelchair available for my DH to take me back to our room. We were given a broken chair that wouldn't roll....thanks! When we got back to the room (on crutches...), there was a message from the manager telling us she had a room open for us, just call her and let her know when to send the bellhop up to help move the luggage. We called and she gave us the room RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US!!! I called MS, but they said they really couldn't do anything for us...
Even with the room, we had a beautiful (but COLD!!) anniversary trip and of course are headed back this month!

Sorry to hear you are being treated the same way! Try to enjoy the trip and tell Mickey we will see him soon!

mb

 

[robinb]

Btw, my mom suddenly became very ill later in the day that my DD and I got here (she's in a coma in ICU, but the docs said shes stable so not to come home - DH is there helping out).
This is some of the hardest "lemonade" I've had to make - we're trying to drink it slowly, savoring every drop.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation - it looks like today is going to be another glorious day!!

I hope your mom gets better soon {{hugs}}

It ended up being a HA room on the first floor near the elevator looking out at the back side of Leaping Horse Libations and you could see a tiny bit of the pool. Seeing as I had booked a standard view room I was thrilled to have this partial pool view. I saw on another thread that this room was made a standard view because the pool view was blocked by LHL.

This room had a lot of things that other people didn't like in a room, being on the first floor, right by the elevator (people are afraid of noise), HA with a blocked view. Here was a room that nobody else wanted but it worked perfectly for us. I would be more than happy to take this room off of their hands every trip!

I have also been in that room. We were given it one NYE when I booked a SV studio. Honestly, I was thrilled with the view and location. The bathroom was a PITB for us (we don't need a HA room) but that was OK too. The positives far outweighed the negatives for us.

Here was the view from our room:

 

[appleorchard]

I went up to the front desk after dinner tonight to beg for a room close to the elevator starting tomorrow. (Too late for DH--he's leaving tomorrow, but I'm tired of walking!) CE said we (my sister's coming tomorrow) have a room reasonably close to the elevator-yay! BUT he also said my sis, niece and grand-nephews, who are switching rooms Friday are only 4 or 5 doors closer than we are right now. ACK!

I didn't even tell my sister--she'll have to duke that one out herself. In fact, she was full of platitudes tonight on the phone about how someone has to get these rooms, yada yada. I'm pretty sure her tune will change on Friday, but I won't be here to hear it lol.

I thought it was interesting, though, that our rooms were already all assigned.

 

[tecodis]

It's not an easy situation for Disney or the guest. The fact is, Disney simply can't accommodate everyone's request no matter the reason. Without that accommodation, the guest may be put in a very difficult position as the OP has been. I suspect Disney has to deal with this every single day.

Not trying to flame here - just an honest question...
If the hotel is booked to the point where a closer room isn't available, what would you expect Disney to do about the situation?

 

[icouldlivethere]

I have also been in that room. We were given it one NYE when I booked a SV studio. Honestly, I was thrilled with the view and location. The bathroom was a PITB for us (we don't need a HA room) but that was OK too. The positives far outweighed the negatives for us.

Yes, I agree! I don't need a roll in shower which is why I would never book a HA room because I would not want to take it away from somebody who really needed it. I much prefer the layout of a non HA room to a HA room but like you the positives of the room far outweighed the negatives. I got the impression that they get a lot of complaints when they try to assign that room. Personally, I would be more than happy to take that room off of their hands any time.

I know a lot is made of the long hallways at the BW and nobody wants to be at the very end of that long hallway, but at least the walk is inside. Some of the resorts have longer walks than that and they are outside. I'd much rather be inside when the weather is cold or rainy.

We've never complained about any room we have ever gotten at Disney no matter its location. We've never made a request before either. When my DH made the request at the front desk I fully expected them to say no but thought what the heck it doesn't hurt to ask. I think they were just as happy to get rid of that room as we were to get it!

 

[appleorchard]

It's not an easy situation for Disney or the guest. The fact is, Disney simply can't accommodate everyone's request no matter the reason. Without that accommodation, the guest may be put in a very difficult position as the OP has been. I suspect Disney has to deal with this every single day.

Not trying to flame here - just an honest question...
If the hotel is booked to the point where a closer room isn't available, what would you expect Disney to do about the situation?

This of course is the problem(and Hi! My mom lives in St. Joe, MI). We're generally not complaining people. We overlook things many people would gripe about. Because I was especially worried about DH walking this time, it really hit me hard. We probably should have called for a scooter the first day. I may need one too! Then of course you have to listen to people gripe at the bus stop and because he CAN get up and walk, I see where they're coming from. He just can't walk this much.

The front desk said last night that they're overbooked and sending people to other hotels. A couple we met at the pool yesterday had water in their bathroom on the floor and they tried to send them to OKW or SSR. They said no and they found them another room. Seriously, if they ever tried to send me somewhere I didn't book after calling right at the 11 month window, my screaming would know no bounds! Move the cash paying people. I'm sorry but this IS our time share after all lol.

We've had rooms at the far ends of the earth many times over the years. We don't normally complain about them. I've just realized this is going to get much harder as we get even older and less mobile.

 

[disneynutz]

This of course is the problem(and Hi! My mom lives in St. Joe, MI). We're generally not complaining people. We overlook things many people would gripe about. Because I was especially worried about DH walking this time, it really hit me hard. We probably should have called for a scooter the first day. I may need one too! Then of course you have to listen to people gripe at the bus stop and because he CAN get up and walk, I see where they're coming from. He just can't walk this much.

The front desk said last night that they're overbooked and sending people to other hotels. A couple we met at the pool yesterday had water in their bathroom on the floor and they tried to send them to OKW or SSR. They said no and they found them another room. Seriously, if they ever tried to send me somewhere I didn't book after calling right at the 11 month window, my screaming would know no bounds! Move the cash paying people. I'm sorry but this IS our time share after all lol.

We've had rooms at the far ends of the earth many times over the years. We don't normally complain about them. I've just realized this is going to get much harder as we get even older and less mobile.

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

 

[drusba]

OP, not sure what kind of request you put in but try next time requesting room over the main store or one starting with end numbers 31 or higher. Also, put in that you have person with difficulty walking.

The bus system at BWV is the pits with the sharing with S/D and too often also with YC/BC. Also, of all bus lines, BWV is the one most likely to have a greater than 40 minute delay. Every trip I have taken, and I mean every trip, has always had at least two times where the bus never came for 40 minutes or longer (our record is 85 minutes waiting for a bus at MK and that has happened thrice). I have what has become a standard form complaint that I send to member satisfaction every time I return from BWV.

We also own at AKV and its bus system in comparison to BWV is like you have died and gone to heaven. However, if you feel the walk is long at BWV, you should avoid AKV where the walk at Kidani from lobby to end rooms on the north wing is about four times longer than the walk from BWV lobbby elevator to the last room furthest away from the elevator.

 

[LoveToDisney]

I understand what has been said about having a scooter and the bus situation. When we stayed at OKW we constantly had to wait for scooters to be loaded or unloaded both at OKW and at the parks we went to. Many times the scooters and their family would show up for a bus well after enough people were in line to fill the bus. Rather than declining and waiting for the next bus, the scooters and all their family members would gladly load the bus ahead of us. It got old real fast. We will never stay at OKW again. As the members age, I can see this will take place at more and more of the locations. We were stuck at Epcot after closing for about 1-1/2 hrs due to the constant flow of scooters and their families before we finally were able to load a bus. Some of the scooters are so large, they don't fit onto the bus lift very well and it takes repeated tries before they can get the scooter onto the bus.

 

[appleorchard]

It really is a difficult situation as people get older. And, guess what? The guy who told me no one was in the room and I could have it first thing was WRONG! Today's people said they can't ever see that ahead of time and have no idea why he told me that. So it's 2:30, I'm waiting for my room to be ready since I couldn't stay outside another minute at Epcot and I want to go swimming before I go to the Magic Kingdom. And--I'm in the room. In the first section from the elevator. Glory hallelujiah! Got the luggage, got the room, hitting the pool!