Why are DVC rooms different than regular rooms?

[FLmomof2]

The photo above shows exactly what I was commenting on (just with the BC). I was under the impression all the rooms would be on the same level as the deluxe resort because it was never stated to us otherwise. They did tell us over and over again we were buying into deluxe accommodations.

YES its our fault for not thinking to ask about the other villas, but when we were shown AKV and BLT and they were new and beautiful, I guess we just assumed that the other DVC resorts would be just as beautiful and feel more luxurious.

Everyone has their own opinions, and I personally would pay more to have the white comforters (I know some of you think thats petty) but it gives the room a totally different feel than the current decor. I remember staying at beach club and coming into the room, and it was just so crisp and beautiful. I feel like some of the DVC studios are more value/moderate resort decor than deluxe resort.

Just one of the things I wish I had known before buying...not that we don't love our DVC..just wish more of the rooms had an upscale feeling.

 

[DebbieB]

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?

DVC members do not pay for the boardwalk itself or the entertainers. Dues are slightly higher than BCV or VWL because of the lower standard points available, they have to charge more to spread it over a lower total points per room. BWV is $5.46, BCV $5.28, VWL $5.34, they all have similiar building setups.

 

[Brian Noble]

No kidding?

I was pretty sure that you understood this, but the way you worded your post was a little ambiguous:

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

One way to read that is that "I believe the current fees warrant better service," rather than "I am wiling to pay more for better service." If you meant the latter, then please accept my apologies.

 

[Brian Noble]

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

It's probably more accurate to say "Disney fans are deceiving themselves that Disney's "Deluxe and Deluxe Villa" resorts are deluxe resorts.

You can draw distinction between a Disney-Deluxe and a DVC unit. But, neither compete well with what most people would consider a truly top-end brand. Disney, as a hotelier, is consistently better-than-average, but rarely superior.

 

[Dean]

Refurbishment is paid for by members separate and above the other dues. Thus if one assumes the current costs are appropriate to the work done, better upkeep would mean higher fees.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I've not had any complaints about the condition of the soft goods but agree with the complaint that DVC hasn't updated the styles in their refurbs. OKW was the closest but sadly that was just partially done and they ignored the bathrooms and the kitchen cabinets which really needed it IMO. Saying it was a 90% refurb was an exaggeration.

Bedspreads are my big beef. Hate them. And they are expensive. I don't believe that changing to a comforter and the white covers would cost anything more. And the covers are not much more than sheets and would be laundered after each guest unlike those gross bedspreads.

 

[Bell30012]

My DD9 and I have stayed at AKV (Jambo & Kidani), SSR and OKW. I really didn't see any signs that they were worn out or not kept up. The only thing that we did notice was the old style CRT televisions at OKW. Maybe our standards aren't as high as others.

 

[DenLo]

It's probably more accurate to say "Disney fans are deceiving themselves that Disney's "Deluxe and Deluxe Villa" resorts are deluxe resorts.

You can draw distinction between a Disney-Deluxe and a DVC unit. But, neither compete well with what most people would consider a truly top-end brand. Disney, as a hotelier, is consistently better-than-average, but rarely superior.

I started a sentence or two saying that the same could be said about cash Disney WDW resorts but decided I was getting off topic about the villas, so I deleted those lines. I agree with your statement.

 

[lilpooh108]

Bedspreads are my big beef. Hate them. And they are expensive. I don't believe that changing to a comforter and the white covers would cost anything more. And the covers are not much more than sheets and would be laundered after each guest unlike those gross bedspreads.

AGREED. The bedspreads do not prevent children from getting them dirty, since most of the posts I've read on DIS indicate that people simply take/throw off the bedspreads upon arrival. Everyone knows that they're not washed regularly, so why would anyone use them?

And frankly, I do not want to "save" dues on not having my bedding laundered. Save dues by getting uglier coffee tables or uglier balcony furniture, I don't care. But please don't save 20 cents per dollar on my dues because you can't afford to launder the bedding. Gross.

It does seem like, however, DVC is moving towards using duvet covers and the modern throws....like at BLT and Aulani. Hopefully the other DVC resorts will "soon" follow suit.

 

[LisaS]

Bedspreads are my big beef. Hate them. And they are expensive. I don't believe that changing to a comforter and the white covers would cost anything more. And the covers are not much more than sheets and would be laundered after each guest unlike those gross bedspreads.

I agree. Bedspreads are heavy and inflexible and tend to slip off the bed during the night so they are not comfortable as a bed covering while sleeping. And then there is that whole cleanliness issue... If we take it off the bed then it ends up taking up space in the room. I would much rather have a warm, light weight comforter with freshly washed cover.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I prefer the blanket with bedspread. I can take off the bed spread if I get too warm, but still want a cover (the blanket). But with a duvet, that is all I get. If I am too warm, I'm left with only a sheet.

 

[DebbieB]

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.

I personally favor the villas decor. I think the Inn decor is too formal for a timeshare.

 

[Sammie]

Well personally I think during the Jim Lewis era the money was mismanaged and we were fed a line about they can't keep up the standard to the resort rooms due to Maintenance fees.

I seriously have problems believing that the Aulani dues situation was the only thing not handled properly.

The decor does not concern me as much as general overall cleaning and maintenance.

Although I will say the bed at the Yacht Club I slept in this summer was more comfortable than any DVC bed.

I do think the Beach Club resort rooms do look much nicer than the BCV studio rooms.

 

[rentayenta]

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

mte!

 

[tjkraz]

Well personally I think during the Jim Lewis era the money was mismanaged and we were fed a line about they can't keep up the standard to the resort rooms due to Maintenance fees.

I seriously have problems believing that the Aulani dues situation was the only thing not handled properly.

An understandable response but I doubt that will prove to have been the case. There are likely too many checks and balances in place for any great conspiracy to have occurred. Budgets are reviewed not only internally but by external auditors and state regulators.

I can understand holding Jim Lewis accountable for housekeeping errors but he's certainly not responsible for issues. When in charge of DVC, Lewis wasn't instructing Cast to do a shoddy job. Housekeepers were not directed to skip rooms altogether or refuse to deliver pillows, blankets, etc.

Responsibility falls upon resort management.

If management didn't have the resources to do their jobs effectively, then it should manifest itself in the form of long check-in lines in the lobby or arriving guests receiving their rooms late. Poor maintenance is also one byproduct.

Housekeeping, on the other hand, is a quality driven issue. If they are under-staffed, either guests get in their rooms late or managers have to work harder to pick up the slack. If housekeepers are not trained properly, managers should be making corrections.

Ultimately the buck stops with Lewis and now Claire Bilby. But if housekeeping is consistently bad at a resort such as Bay Lake Tower, my question is what's wrong with management at the CR? Why aren't they doing their jobs?

 

[disneynutz]

It all boils down to money.

Budgets need to be cut so they have fewer Mousekeepers and Maintenance people. Dues are expected to be kept at a certain level so they wait longer to do a rehab or they select less expensive and of course poorer quality goods.

They don't have to keep us happy like the cash paying public because we can either use our points or sell to someone else who has to use the points. Disney will always have full DVC resorts for the life of the contracts, that is the design of Disney timeshares.

From a business stand point it makes sense to spend time keeping cash Guests happy and less time on members who have zero impact to their bottom line. We can vent on the internet all we want and discuss the problems with the DVC, but in reality we are seen by Disney as a minor annoyance who will pay them billions of dollars over the life of our contracts not only for our leases but for dining, admission tickets, special events, and Disney merchandise.

Direct sale prices are at a all time high and resorts continue to sell out so I don't think that worn rooms, a lack of customer service, taking away the DDP segmenting and not giving us online booking is chasing many buyers away.

Bill

 

[nunzia]

Well personally I think during the Jim Lewis era the money was mismanaged and we were fed a line about they can't keep up the standard to the resort rooms due to Maintenance fees.

I seriously have problems believing that the Aulani dues situation was the only thing not handled properly.

The decor does not concern me as much as general overall cleaning and maintenance.

Although I will say the bed at the Yacht Club I slept in this summer was more comfortable than any DVC bed.

I do think the Beach Club resort rooms do look much nicer than the BCV studio rooms.

This was exactly what I was thinking..ie Jim Lewis. I'm hopeful the new President will focus on things that really matter to us..room up keep and cleanliness..that's all I really care about. I stay at VGC, and the villa studios are nearly identical to the Grand Californian rooms except for the wet bar area and fold out couch, although if I recall, there are many hotel rooms that have a king and couch set up also. Still, VGC is new and their furnishing choices much more durable than say, BLT, but I would be pretty upset if those rooms fell by the wayside in comparion to the regular rooms. I bought DVC for a prepaid/discounted room at the same standards as an equivalent hotel room.

 

[crisi]

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

THAT has been one of my broken record statements around here for a decade. DVC resorts are NOT Deluxe resorts - make sure you understand the difference before buying.

I prefer the Deluxe resorts - I like maid service and duvets. But I can't have my kids sleep in another room, or scramble up some eggs, or throw a load of laundry in before we go to the park if I stay at the Boardwalk Inn - unless I'd spend a ton of cash on a suite. So for now, DVC is a good VALUE for our family. If the dues were to increase, it wouldn't be a good value for us.

 

[dianeschlicht]

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

Right on, MG! I couldn't agree more, and when they do refurbs like they did at OKW where they didn't stick to the theme and did a "cheap" version of a 90% redo that looked more like a 50% redo...well... I'd rather have done right than done cheap.

 

[Hopefully]

I prefer the blanket with bedspread. I can take off the bed spread if I get too warm, but still want a cover (the blanket). But with a duvet, that is all I get. If I am too warm, I'm left with only a sheet.

I agree completely. I prefer the current design. I travel internationally a lot, and in Europe, I often get the duvet, without even the additional sheet. I find I never sleep well. I am either hot or cold. I recently complained about that in a follow up survey to the hotel.
Also, my DVC Villa is "themed". That is part of what I purchased. And my theme is not white duvets. If I want a deluxe room with a duvet, I stay at a hotel. When I go to my "home away from home", I expect theming.