Wilderness Lodge construction dilemma, booked with rented points :(

[Bec88Haz]

I'm staying at the Wilderness Lodge January 10-16, 2016 with points I rented through Davids. I'm now hearing there will be construction going on while I'm there. I've read that others have received resort transfers, water park tickets, or monetary compensation. I'm thinking I have no recourse because I'll be there on rented points. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

 

[JimMIA]

Your reservation is a private transaction between you and the owner who made your reservation. You need to contact them to see if any compensation is available. As a practical matter, construction is quite common and seldom an inconvenience.

 

[DenLo]

If the resort offers water park tickets even renters will be eligible for them. However since it is only the quiet pool that is being closed, I doubt a water park ticket will be offered. DVC members rarely get monetary compensation as we are staying on points so I highly doubt VWL members will be offered money. Those that made reservations through CRO could get monetary compensation, but that would be because they are probably paying $300 - $600 per night.

The construction will be done in phases and I expect the only thing you might encounter in January is the closure of the quiet pool and some day-time construction noise, no more than what GF and Poly guests encountered during the construction of the DVC buildings.

The problem you will have is that with David's there are no cancellations or changes. That is the risk you have using David's.

 

[disneynutz]

I just canceled our December VWL stay today. According to MS they expect the area between the villas and the beach to be torn up with some major work going on.

Bill

 

[DenLo]

I just canceled our December VWL stay today. According to MS they expect the area between the villas and the beach to be torn up with some major work going on.

Bill

That would be the quiet pool reno area.

 

[Pigletpal40]

After booking at the 11 mo. window last year, we found out at about 6 mo. out the WL main pool would be closed. We still did our Oct. trip as planned, had a great time, but received nothing in compensation other than a boat ride to use the pool at Contemporary. We now are waiting to book until all the construction is completed.

 

[rocketriter]

For what it's worth, January is usually too cool to do much swimming.

 

[Straughn]

Got a phone call earlier this week from "Disney Guest Experience" telling me that they will start the renovation of the quiet pool on October 26. I asked when the walls would go up and was told that it would be on the 26th. I am leaving that day, so no issue for me. This may be useful info for others.

 

[houseofduck]

Got a phone call earlier this week from "Disney Guest Experience" telling me that they will start the renovation of the quiet pool on October 26. I asked when the walls would go up and was told that it would be on the 26th. I am leaving that day, so no issue for me. This may be useful info for others.

I received a similar call, but didn't get to speak with anyone yet. I find it strange that they called. When I made a reservation at the Poly, they just sent a letter describing the construction. Aside from telling you about the construction, was there anything more to the call?

 

[StaciaRae]

No advice, just wanted to say that I sympathize with you. We're in the same situation. We rented points and will be at VWL 1/5-1/12. I am quite disappointed about the construction because we're bringing two small children and had planned lots of resort time for naps. I am disappointed, but dh doesn't mind and my little boy will love seeing the heavy equipment. This is certainly a downside to renting points that I hadn't thought of when deciding whether to rent or not.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I received a similar call, but didn't get to speak with anyone yet. I find it strange that they called. When I made a reservation at the Poly, they just sent a letter describing the construction. Aside from telling you about the construction, was there anything more to the call?

I received a call yesterday. When I questioned they said that they are trying to move people to other resorts if possible. They couldn't help us but it sounds like a few have found different locations.

 

[DenLo]

No advice, just wanted to say that I sympathize with you. We're in the same situation. We rented points and will be at VWL 1/5-1/12. I am quite disappointed about the construction because we're bringing two small children and had planned lots of resort time for naps. I am disappointed, but dh doesn't mind and my little boy will love seeing the heavy equipment. This is certainly a downside to renting points that I hadn't thought of when deciding whether to rent or not.

You are correct that this is a downside to renting points. You won't be alone at VWL as there will be many DVC owners there with you. DVC isn't like hotel rooms where there is a 20% or more vacancy, so most owners will only be able to cancel the reservation as at this late date many owners would lose the points by canceling if they are using points that cannot be banked into next year.

 

[Straughn]

I received a similar call, but didn't get to speak with anyone yet. I find it strange that they called. When I made a reservation at the Poly, they just sent a letter describing the construction. Aside from telling you about the construction, was there anything more to the call?

The call lasted, at most, 5-6 minutes. She went thru the usual Disney pleasantness about who she was and from where she was calling. She then explained that they were calling guests booked at the VWL with reservations that included Oct. 26, 2015 and after, and then went on to explain the construction. I don't remember the specifics about what she said because, once I realized it started the day I checked out, it was a none issue. I then asked if there was any chance it would start before the 26th, to which the answer was no. Then I asked about the walls going up, and she said that would happen starting on the 26th. To confirm, I said "so nothing will happen before Oct 26" and she stated that was correct.

 

[LVSWL]

No advice, just wanted to say that I sympathize with you. We're in the same situation. We rented points and will be at VWL 1/5-1/12. I am quite disappointed about the construction because we're bringing two small children and had planned lots of resort time for naps. I am disappointed, but dh doesn't mind and my little boy will love seeing the heavy equipment. This is certainly a downside to renting points that I hadn't thought of when deciding whether to rent or not.

My sons would have loved watching the big machines also! Has your son ever seen Mighty Machines videos? Check them out on youtube

 

[delilah]

In 2008, I stayed at AKV Jambo with my brother's family using my membership points. I had booked savannah rooms. They were building Kidani across the savannah, which was visible from my room. For some reason, they gave my brother, who was a guest on my membership, a $100 credit for the inconvenience, but, I was given no compensation of any type at all. So, a renter of points might be in a better position than a member using points in that regard. The irony of the entire situation was that my brother didn't use the $100, tried to transfer it to my account to pay for charges to the room, and that wasn't allowed.

 

[houseofduck]

I received a call yesterday. When I questioned they said that they are trying to move people to other resorts if possible. They couldn't help us but it sounds like a few have found different locations.

I called Guest Experiences a few times over the weekend. I have two reservations for other people (one in November, one in January). The January reservation was able to move to BLT, but only SSR and OKW were available for the November reservation.

 

[houseofduck]

I'm staying at the Wilderness Lodge January 10-16, 2016 with points I rented through Davids. I'm now hearing there will be construction going on while I'm there. I've read that others have received resort transfers, water park tickets, or monetary compensation. I'm thinking I have no recourse because I'll be there on rented points. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?

I would contact David's to see if the owner can call to have your reservation changed to a different resort. If you don't want to change resorts, I was told that you could contact Disney's Guest Experiences directly to discuss compensation for your inconvenience.

 

[StaciaRae]

Just wondering if anyone has had any contact with David's about this? I haven't had any luck contacting them.

 

[keishashadow]

We were at WLV (a home resort) when the main pool was being refurbished. It was Columbus Day time frame, we were there for the party. Members know those dates go fast, no room was available elsewhere. We would've been able to bank the points, but I wanted to use them vs pay cash for accommodations that trip.

I did call member services and indicated my disappointment as to the main pool being closed, they offered water park tickets for one day of our stay.

Turned out to be one of our best trips ever since resort didn't seem at capacity, especially when factoring in how easy it is to return from party to the resort.

OP - I suggest contacting the renter and try to switch if you feel you won't be happy dealing with the construction. I wouldn't 'bank' on receiving any compensation from WDW. Wyndham Bonnet Creek is a very nice property to consider if no DVC units are available. You can easily rent thru an owner. If interested check out the hotel board here.

 

[LVSWL]

Just wondering if anyone has had any contact with David's about this? I haven't had any luck contacting them.

Have you tried calling? I have spoken with someone at David's several times in the last week about this very thing. I am the owner, but I know they have been in contact with my renters.