Why are DVC rooms different than regular rooms?

[FLmomof2]

I can't understand why DVC rooms would be any different than the deluxe rooms.

Like why Beach Club Villa's do not have those beautiful comforters, and that the rooms in several of the DVC resorts look so tired and worn.

With all the money that Disney gets from DVC members, I would think that the rooms would at least be equal to the other rooms. Is there a reason why they are not refurbished on the same schedule as the resorts themselves?

We are planning our next visit and having a hard time choosing where to stay. BLT is our home, but we wanted to try the other resorts also. Looking online at videos a lot of the villas look so outdated.

This is our own fault for not knowing or checking beforehand, but it appeared to us that when we stay in a Studio, it would be identical to staying in the rooms at the resort itself. Instead, they often look older and less kept (except AKL and BLT, which are newer).

Just my thoughts. Does anyone have any insight?

 

[gojoe]

I haven't keep up with the other resorts but Boardwalk had a referb a couple of years ago.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Every so often, this topic come up, and it seems that the MF's don't cover refurbishments as often as the regular resorts. Never accept a room that not in correct working order. Standards of members are different as well. In September I stayed at BCV(studio), AKV(2 bedroom and a studio) and BWV (studio) and thought all of my villas were in excellent condition. BCV studios have patios or a balcony, and I for one, wouldn't trade a balcony for a comforter.

 

[Dean]

I can't understand why DVC rooms would be any different than the deluxe rooms.

Like why Beach Club Villa's do not have those beautiful comforters, and that the rooms in several of the DVC resorts look so tired and worn.

With all the money that Disney gets from DVC members, I would think that the rooms would at least be equal to the other rooms. Is there a reason why they are not refurbished on the same schedule as the resorts themselves?

We are planning our next visit and having a hard time choosing where to stay. BLT is our home, but we wanted to try the other resorts also. Looking online at videos a lot of the villas look so outdated.

This is our own fault for not knowing or checking beforehand, but it appeared to us that when we stay in a Studio, it would be identical to staying in the rooms at the resort itself. Instead, they often look older and less kept (except AKL and BLT, which are newer).

Just my thoughts. Does anyone have any insight?

Even top timeshares require a bit of compromise. For DVC, this is one area of compromise. Most timeshares, and all other top timeshares I know, have a set plan for refurbishment that generally runs between 5 and 7 years for soft goods with the better ones 5 and the lesser ones 7. Then every other cycle they do a full refurbishment. Soft Goods normally deals with carpet, furniture, drapes, mattresses and the like. Hard refurbishments normally add any furniture not changed out the last time, tile, hardwood floors, kitchen (cabinets, appliances) bathrooms, etc. Obviously there is some variability depending on wear and a few other variables.

In planning for such, many do test units along the way judging how well selected items actually work and perform as well as how the members like them. Unfortunately DVC hasn't taken this route and, IMO, the club members have suffered because of those choices. From what I can tell they wait until enough units have to be done, then do so, rather than having a set schedule. Cheaper, but you see the outcome.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I was wondering the same thing OP. The other day I was looking at photos of the new refurbed rooms at YC/BC and think they look beautiful. Then I looked at photos and video of BCV. Other than the flat TVs it looks the same as always. Since BWV and OKW have been refurbed I'm curious if BCV will eventually be too?

 

[vicki_c]

I don't get the question, personally. DVC is a timeshare. Deluxe resorts are not. That pretty much sums it up right there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

DVC villas are typically booked up to 95% or greater. That makes it harder to take things out of service for longer periods of time. I have no problem with renovations that just repair, repaint, instead of completely redoing something. A complete redo costs more money than just fixing what is already there. But I do wish they had not repainted the furniture a dark color at OKW or put that alligator finish on the coffee table. Expensive repaint that looks ugly.

If Disney wants to refurbish an existing resort (non-DVC) they just raise the prices once it is finished. Can't do that at DVC resorts.

And white comforters? In villas with lots of little kids? They would be replacing them constantly. If you want Hotel W, stay there. If you want DVC, you aren't going to get Hotel W.

 

[DenLo]

One reason might be that Disney resort guest pay a lot per night for their ordinary hotel rooms, even when they discount the room. I just checked for a weeks stay in Water/Pool view room at YC and it was $450 per night and $460 for weekend nights in early December. That's a lot of money to pay around with. But in reality, I would imagine the remodels are done not because Disney has extra monies, but because the competition for a hotel rooms is more fierce in this economy. If Disney wants to rent those rooms they need to remodel them to fill them just to keep up with the competition.

Once a DVC resort is sold out, what vested interest is there for Disney to remodel, none. It's up to the membership to pay for any remodels. And do members want to pay for higher dues? No. Just like a home, most of us remodel when necessary not just to be fashionable. And we think that way for our home away from home too.

 

[DebbieB]

They could increase the quality of the room amenities but your dues would go up to pay for it. I think if they did a poll, members would vote for lower dues over nicer bedspreads.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

DVC does not refurbish enough, and I feel a bit ripped off.
I didn't purchase DVC to do Disney on the cheap. If I wanted that, I would have done something off site. I was sold on a high end, superior product.
Cost? Isn't that what maintenance fees are for? I understand fees cover more than just refurbs, but to some extent maintenance and refurbishment are synonymous.

I don't mind paying high annual fees and receiving a superior product.
I hate paying high fees for mediocrity.

MG

 

[supersuperwendy]

So true...we've never refurbed a single thing in our house! I guess it makes sense then since the members have to cover the cost. So when BWV and OKW were refurbed it came out of the owners dues?

 

[DebbieB]

So true...we've never refurbed a single thing in our house! I guess it makes sense then since the members have to cover the cost. So when BWV and OKW were refurbed it came out of the owners dues?

Yes. Each year, part of the dues money goes into a reserve fund for renovations. In the dues budget sent to the members, it shows the average life for different parts of the resort. For example, the roof will last 15 years (I just made up that number) so they have to set reserves to pay for a new roof every 15 years.

 

[DenLo]

DVC does not refurbish enough, and I feel a bit ripped off.
I didn't purchase DVC to do Disney on the cheap. If I wanted that, I would have done something off site. I was sold on a high end, superior product.
Cost? Isn't that what maintenance fees are for? I understand fees cover more than just refurbs, but to some extent maintenance and refurbishment are synonymous.

I don't mind paying high annual fees and receiving a superior product.
I hate paying high fees for mediocrity.

MG

Actually I understand what you saying. But part of the problem is that DVC sets the annual dues at a rate low enough to attract members. If they set them at the rate to remodel more frequently they probably wouldn't have sold as many membership. And if they hadn't successfully sold as many memberships they probably wouldn't have built more DVC resorts.

You know SuperSuperWendy is correct, if put to a vote most members would vote down higher dues.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Actually I understand what you saying. But part of the problem is that DVC sets the annual dues at a rate low enough to attract members. If they set them at the rate to remodel more frequently they probably wouldn't have sold as many membership. And if they hadn't successfully sold as many memberships they probably wouldn't have built more DVC resorts.

You may be correct.. But I'm in the camp that believes DVC has over built.

You know SuperSuperWendy is correct, if put to a vote most members would vote down higher dues.

Probably right again. That said, we own 1550 points across four resorts, and we find ourselves booking the Poly on cash and figuring out which points may be on the chopping block.
We are likely not the only Members considering voting with our wallets..

MG

 

[Brian Noble]

They could increase the quality of the room amenities but your dues would go up to pay for it.

This is exactly it. DVCMC has to balance the conflicting desires of the entire membership, and that necessarily means that not everyone will be happy. Some folks would be more than happy to pay higher dues for more frequent soft goods replacement and/or a higher quality level to begin with. Others would rather make do with a bedspread for an extra few years to save a little money.

I don't mind paying high annual fees and receiving a superior product.
I hate paying high fees for mediocrity.

I just want to be clear on something---your dues would go up with a more frequent soft goods replacement schedule and/or a higher quality level of soft goods. It's not a matter of paying the same and getting more or not getting more. That's not how this works.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I just want to be clear on something---your dues would go up with a more frequent soft goods replacement schedule and/or a higher quality level of soft goods. It's not a matter of paying the same and getting more or not getting more. That's not how this works.

No kidding?

MG

 

[BCV23]

BCV was refurbished recently....just before Y&BC. Sections of the resort were closed during the process which involved new carpeting, bedspreads, paint, curtains, a change to the banquette, etc.. The pattern of the bedspreads is the same as in the past but the soft goods were all new.

Personally, I'd prefer a white duvet with runner like Y&BC and BLT for that matter but I know others who prefer bedspreads since white duvets are so common in hotels right now.

 

[DenLo]

. . . . That said, we own 1550 points across four resorts, and we find ourselves booking the Poly on cash and figuring out which points may be on the chopping block.
We are likely not the only Members considering voting with our wallets..

MG

But you're still putting that cash into Disney hands, it just at the Poly instead. It won't really change the DVC's opinion on how to set up a DVC resort.

I've always thought that DVC members we're deceiving themselves that DVC resorts are deluxe resorts. So I can fully understand while those who can afford it might switch to a cash resort and drop their DVC membership. Or for that matter switch to the Four Seasons when it opens. But for most of us the DVC villas are still better than the moderate or value resorts we could afford at Disney prices.

Maybe Aulani is better example of what a member needs to pay in order to get a deluxe villa, even though it means higher MFs and more points per night.

But then I think of BWV's MFs, they are really high in comparison to all of the other WDW resorts. I've always thought it was to pay for all that entertainment on the boardwalk and maintenance of all of that wood on the boardwalk itself. Maybe they could do less entertainment and improve the villas. But would it be the boardwalk then? And would members be happy with those changes?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

But you're still putting that cash into Disney hands, it just at the Poly instead. It won't really change the DVC's opinion on how to set up a DVC resort.

Why not? I understand one single Member will not make a difference, but if enough Members sell it might.
Yes, I'm still putting the cash into Disney's hands, but I'm voting for the deluxe option... Taking money out of DVC and putting it into a deluxe resort.

I've always thought that DVC members we're deceiving themselves that DVC resorts are deluxe resorts.

That's largely due to Disney marketing. They only added a DVC component to the deluxe resorts, and even recently they re-categorized them as deluxe villas.

MG

 

[tjkraz]

I don't have any photos to back this up but my sense is that when DVC resorts like BoardWalk Villas and Beach Club Villas first opened, they WERE largely identical to cash rooms. What happened in the years since is that the cash rooms were renovated with more dramatic / noticeable improvements compared to the villas.

Looking at photos of hotel rooms and villas on Allears, it's pretty easy to pick up the differences. Hotel rooms have nicer headboards, wall sconces, lighting, artwork and other touches which are a notch above DVC.

I agree the added dollars would come out of dues. However, but when it comes to items which are largely one-time purchases, I do wish DVC would go the extra mile. Refurbs occur very infrequently and the dollars come from capital improvements. Funds are collected over a period of 5-10 years, not all at once.

Would it really cost owners that much more to go from this (BoardWalk Villas):

To this (BoardWalk Inn):

I can understand more conservative spending for many soft goods given the need for constant care (laundering) and replacement. But I doubt headboards and lighting fixtures need to be replaced all that often.