"Welcome Home" phrase not used

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We just spent a whole week (2/18-2/25) at the BWV's and not once in the whole week did I hear "welcome home". Last year at the VWL, I could hardly turn a corner without a CM telling me "welcome home". The 180 DEGREE difference was interesting.

Is Disney dropping the use of "welcome home" for some reason?
Were they doing a sales job at the VWL last year?
Or am I just sensitive to the nice people on the Dis Board and pay attention to wierd things?

I am curious as to whether others have heard the phrse used recently.

 

[ReneeQ]

Our first two trips home to BWV (10/00 and 1/01) we never heard "Welcome Home" once. No, not once. I was so disappointed, as new owners, I was really looking forward to hearing it. We just went again in 1/02 and heard it when we checked in (but not at the guard gate).

 

[DebbieB]

We stayed at OKW twice & BWV twice in the past 2 years. All 4 times we got a "welcome home" at check-in, but never at the guard gate. The last time was at BWV in December, the guard had to check a list when I said we were checking in, I thought she might say it, but she just said to pull up to the main entrance.

Our first DVC trip was to OKW almost 2 years ago and I was waiting for the "welcome home" at the guard gate, he just waived us through! I stopped and said "checking in", he just said "enjoy!".

 

[NancyDVC]

We have been members since 1992 and have heard 'Welcome Home' about half the time. On some trips it seems to be every time that we drive through the front gate at OKW and other times it is only once or twice. We are off to OKW this Wednesday (in about 82 hours) and I am looking forward to that Welcome Home!

 

[ceejay13]

We just returned from a 6 night stay at OKW and got many "Welcome Homes", both from the guards at the gate and at the front desk. When we stayed at BWV in November last year, we got a "Welcome Home" when checking in at the front desk. I have heard that many have not received them, and maybe we've just been lucky. It does make you feel special.

 

[DaveH]

In late Nov at check in at VWL we did not hear welcome home. At the gates for OKW and VWL we heard Welcome Home. Around OKW we heard it most of the time. When we were in the Villas at VWL we heard Welcome Home.

 

[JALaP]

Now this may seem off thread, but I have a similar gripe, or observation, which is that no matter where we stay at Disney (value/moderate/deluxe) we never get a towel animal or anything cute from housekeeping. We keep our room perfect (I'm compulsive!) and tip generously every day. I mean, we go to DIsney about 2x a year, for years! So when we join DVC this month, and make our first trip home in Jan, I'm just going to try not to expect that Welcome home! Judy

 

[Laurabearz]

We stayed at OKW in Jan and got a big ole Welcome Home from the gate guard everytime we entered!
No cute housekeeping tricks :-( (we stayed there as cash paying non DVC andhad housekeeping everyday)

 

[Deb & Bill]

We usually get a Welcome Home, but we have the DVC license plate on the front of our vehicle.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We get the "Welcome Home" about 1/2 the time now. Occasionally from the gate guard, sometimes from the front desk. Sometimes we get another form of "jovial "greeting-other times, a wave, a nod, or occasionally, a cold stare.
Not all DVC CM's are as friendly as the publicity suggests they are...

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

No "welcome home" when we checked in to BWV for the first time last November, but we did get a "welcome home" at the guard gate when we went to have lunch at Olivia's at OKW.

At AK, we walked past the DVC cart, and I said to no one in particular, "Ooooo, DVC!!" And the CM at the cart said, "that's us!" and I said, "that's us too!" and she said, "welcome home!" Made my day.

 

[Lisa F]

If you want to guarantee towel animals, try the cruise line. It's not just the whim of the stateroom host/hostess but just something they do as a policy. There are other great reasons to go on a disney cruise too

As far as getting a "welcome home" at WL, I'm not sure what the deal was there, but they were saying welcome home to EVERYONE. When we stayed at AKL, they were also welcoming everyone home. In fact, I also remember getting a "welcome home" at the contemporary a couple of times. I have to wonder if Disney is moving toward this as a policy at ALL of the resorts and as wtih everything else Disney, the CM's are just really inconsistent about it.

Lisa

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Last summer at BWV we got a Welcome Home. However, during President's week at VWL, we did not. My DB mentioned that during his stay at the Lodge in January, he got a "Welcome Home", but didn't understand the significance!!!

 

[Peter Johnson]

In May 2001 we spent 11 nights at OKW, and not once did anyone at OKW say "Welcome home" to us. On the 10th morning we went over to PO Riverside for breakfast, and the guard gave us a hearty Welcome Home. Alas, it was the only welcome we got the entire visit.

When we visited in December, it was back to normal... lots of welcomes throughout the visit.

 

[Eeyore2U]

DW got a "Welcome Home" when we checked in on 2/24 and we got one on October too. We had more good mornings and how's it going then previous trips too.

 

[PamOKW]

JALaP -- If it makes you feel any better, I never heard about the towel animals until this site. Many, many trips to WDW with no animals in my room.

One reason why "Welcome Homes" may be heard less often at BWV (and probably BCV) is that they also have a lot of business/convention people checking in. They might feel "Welcome Home" to be an odd greeting. Unless they know for sure it's a member, they may just skip it.

 

[Lisa P.]

We've heard "Welcome Home" at a Hilton in Atlanta, GA and at a non-Disney timeshare resort, more than once. The first time I ever heard it at a paid lodging site was actually at a non-Disney resort but I've heard it more consistently at Disney's OKW than any other place.

We've also had towel animals left in our cabin every night of a Carnival Cruise. And our children's stuffed animals (when they were younger) have been left in sweet positions & locations at many of the hotels where we've stayed over the years. It adds a nice personal touch too.

 

[JALaP]

Back to the stuffed animal business: Not only do I crave the towel animals, but I actually , deliberately, leave my daughter's stuffed animal on the bed when we go out, very conspicous---it practically says, "do something cute with me!"- but no luck there either. Should be my worst problem, I know. Judy

 

[LoveRafiki]

We stayed in VWL in December and got several Welcome Homes -- first drive through the gate and also when we walked into the lobby of the Villas. It was a nice touch. But I can understand that some Cast Members who operate both the DVC areas and regular Hotel areas may not be geared into saying it all the time. The more important item for us was the GREAT surroundings and AWESOME atmosphere.

 

[^^^ SnowBunny ^^^]

OKW is the BEST for the welcome homes!!! Absolutely love the place!!