Vwl Pool Update And Pics

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

Here a few pics I took during a recent holiday to VWL. As a "owner" at the VWL, I have been trying to convince my friends to vacation there, I managed it. It was a disaster!

When we checked in nobody mentioned the jack hammers and the 24 hour water pump and certainly no mention on the pool being refurbished. The hammers were very bad and to make matters worst, my wife was dressing in the bedroom when a high lift passed within 2 feet directly in front of the windows, without any warning they had started the schingle and paint program. Whilst I understand the need for the program, advance warning would have been considerate.

Speaking to the Gen Manager of the WL/VWL/FT WL, Mrs Jean Gallagher, she informed me that they had had a meeting to discuss advance notification to the affected guests were they asked other resorts there advice, anyhow the decided against it. They should have I my opinion.


Anyway back to the pool, the problem was the coping stones around the edge were breaking up badly and like the main resort last year the decided to replace them. However on draining the spa they found a big crack!!! and had to reline the whole thing. I told her the tub at the BCV had a massive crack last time I looked.

The pictures depict three scenes the pool and a constant running very large pump which I could not understand because the pools were dry, and the water coming from it was dirty water. Could there be a spring underneath???

They have had problems before I seem to recollect. Anyway the manager would not be drawn on this and we could not be found rooms as no HA rooms were available that week on any resort within DVC, thank god we had a good cruise the week before.

The last pic is of the main drain with waste water from the "brown building" next to the pool.

Overall the lodge looks great although the room, a 1Bdr, 3537 was looking tried.



Rgds,

 

[poggs]

ARGHH!!!

Going to the VWL for this first time this coming monday. Hope its fixed by then. Been nagging the family to try it for years. They always insist on old Key west! hope its not a bust!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Thanks for the update. Did they happen to give you a timeframe as when the work might be done? We will be arriving on Sunday.


As for:
"Here a few pics I took during a recent holiday to VWL. As a "owner" at the VWL, I have been trying to convince my friends to vacation there, I managed it. It was a disaster!"

No good deed goes unpunished- my Mom

 

[Granny]

Thank you for the information and pictures. It's good to hear everything...good, bad and ugly even though we love staying at VWL. I am thinking that something was discovered that required some immediate attention since this is a really bad time of the year to be doing major work on VWL. The reports of some people losing their rooms due to this work tells me that it is not regularly scheduled maintenance. And jackhammers.....ugh! Doesn't sound like refurbishment to me.

As an owner there, I'm glad they are addressing the issues. But it would have been nice if they worked out some other fair arrangement for those affected most by sound or workers on lifts outside the bedrooms.

I'm sorry that you and your family are not seeing VWL at its best. I hope the remainder of your trip is an awesome one!

 

[keishashadow]

They were doing substantial work to the outside of both the portion of the lodge facing the villas and were starting to work on the villas during our late June trip.

Impressed with how the workers took down the scaffolding each day, etc.; while noisy - didn't start until 8 or 9? ended before 4 pm.

Sorry your trip isn't turning out how you wished.

We were upset that the BW pool slide was closed in January, without receiving notice either...saw the info posted on allears site . When I called the resort desk, they knew initially knew nothing about it.

While i think a letter announcing rehab would just be another line item in our dues, IMO routine maintenance (even last minute stuff) should be at least posted prominently on DVC web site, just a few strokes of the keyboard.

 

[bobbiwoz]

When we were at VWL over Halloween, I was disappointed in the fact that the villa pool was closed, but I thought the work was supposed to be finished in November...has the work been extended? I hoped that we would be able to enjoy that pool in December.

Bobbi

 

[LIFERBABE]

ooouch!

Thanks for posting. I guess I'll cancel that December waitlist now

I think they didnt notify because guests would cancel and request to be placed elsewhere. People go to the VWL for the holidays for the ambience.

Unless that type of construction noise is expected and forwarned, like AKV, that is not acceptable.

 

[Muushka]

I really hope they have things better soon.
Our last TS vacation was jack hammers and blasts from 7A to 7P. Oy

OP Thank you for posting. And we thank the messenger.

 

[crisi]

ooouch!

Thanks for posting. I guess I'll cancel that December waitlist now

I think they didnt notify because guests would cancel and request to be placed elsewhere. People go to the VWL for the holidays for the ambience.

Unless that type of construction noise is expected and forwarned, like AKV, that is not acceptable.

I think that is the problem. So many people calling to switch when they get the pool closed notice - and nowhere for them to switch to. And angry calls and letters. Probably easier for Disney to let it be a surprise when you show up - you are unlikely to waste your vacation time complaining about it too much - you get on with your vacation - and they've probably discovered far fewer people bother to complain after the vacation than tell them its "completely unacceptable" before the vacation starts.

 

[cocoswife]

Oh, no!! I'm checking in on Saturday Any more information on that timeframe?

 

[kimberh]

I am so sorry you came all the way from Scotland to this! Now I see why people were getting those calls last week that were reported on another thread.

 

[Merylj]

We`re heading to VWL on Sunday - thanks for the warning!

 

[dvc_john]

According the closures/rehab list, the pool was scheduled to be closed thru 11-21-07.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/rehab.htm

 

[vwlvette]

This is interesting, We were at our beloved VWL from 11/8 -11/13, The quiet pool was closed for rehab the first few days, then it was opened, we were sopme of the first swimmers in the reopened pool, When were these pics taken? did this happen after 11/13? There was alot of work being done, the walkway to the lodge was getting re stained, going to look great when done, The maintenance didn't bothers us, we had a 2bed & 2 studios, Rooms were in very good shape, Only the dishwasher's lower tray was missing a wheel, other then that all was great. We had a great trip, the maintenance has to be done sometime, it will always intrud on someone's vacation.

Too all those heading to our VWL, have a great trip!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We didn't get a warning about the pool being closed, but we did get a letter sliped under our door advising us to close our drapes!

Only my opinion, but I don't see this as a big deal. After all, the work has to be done sometime.

MG

 

[MaryJ]

This is interesting, We were at our beloved VWL from 11/8 -11/13, The quiet pool was closed for rehab the first few days, then it was opened, we were sopme of the first swimmers in the reopened pool, When were these pics taken? did this happen after 11/13? There was alot of work being done, the walkway to the lodge was getting re stained, going to look great when done, The maintenance didn't bothers us, we had a 2bed & 2 studios, Rooms were in very good shape, Only the dishwasher's lower tray was missing a wheel, other then that all was great. We had a great trip, the maintenance has to be done sometime, it will always intrud on someone's vacation.

Too all those heading to our VWL, have a great trip!

We were there at the same time and had the same problem with the dishwasher. And like you, the pool was reopened before we left.

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

The pictures were taken on the way back from the dock having watched the EWP on the 10/28. Yes I agree that maint needs to be addressed although if you had the hammering we did it was not the vacation we had looked forwarded to so much.

A warning letter would have been nice and I believe following my lengthy dicussion with the resort manager this was addressed.

Hopefully the pool is now back to it's beautiful self and the music is back playing we missed it soooooo much.

 

[MaryJ]

Hi there,

The pictures were taken on the way back from the dock having watched the EWP on the 10/28. Yes I agree that maint needs to be addressed although if you had the hammering we did it was not the vacation we had looked forwarded to so much.

A warning letter would have been nice and I believe following my lengthy dicussion with the resort manager this was addressed.

Hopefully the pool is now back to it's beautiful self and the music is back playing we missed it soooooo much.

Did you say anything to the manager about the new background music? We really missed the old background loop. Just didn't seem like we were "out west" like before.