Wilderness Lodge - Was our room typical?

[TiggerBouncy]

Hi group!

We just got back from a short stay at Wilderness Lodge (1 bedroom / Villas). Normally we have stayed at BLT and Kidani - newer resorts. We did stay at Old Key West (not sure how that compares). So I am not sure if this is just how all of the older resorts are or not.

I want to love this resort - I really, really do. However there were 2 things that were frustrating. One I can live with, and one - well I would have to cross WL off our list if all the rooms are like this.

The first is the couch was very dated. The seams on the couch were literally falling apart and pillow stuffing was showing. That was disappointing, but survivable. Do some of the rooms have newer / updated furniture?

The big problem however was the shower:
* you couldn't turn the thing on without standing IN the shower to do it. this meant you were guaranteed a cold blast of water when you turned it on.
* The shower head had 3 settings - NEEDLE YOU TO DEATH / acupuncture mode, Pencil thin massage mode, or droopy finger wide mode. There was no normal shower type operation.
* the shower had a bad habit of going from sun temperature to arctic temperature and back to sun every 30 seconds or so without warning or touching the knob.

Are all the villas rooms in WL the same as this, or were we just unlucky?

 

[sleepydog25]

Not sure if this will help or not, but the VWL rooms were refurbished within the last couple of years. The fact stuffing is coming out of the couch is cause for concern and hopefully something you noted to someone. I've been in a few VWL rooms since the refurb and didn't notice any issues, but obviously, some rooms will show more damage than others depending on who has stayed there. I thought DVC did the refurb largely on the cheap--though it looks okay, the new furnishings seemed a tad cheap. Others may disagree. As for the shower heads, can't help you there. I've not noticed a real issue with them.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree with Sleepy that the rooms were updated - all of them - so you had the new. But I also thought it was very much done on the cheap including some of the furniture so it's very sad to hear that at least one is falling apart. However, the refurbed rooms we have stayed in have not had that.

For the shower, I also can't say any more than it's not been anything unusual for us. I've not experience the hot/cold issue nor have I disliked the shower heads. I would like if the handle were by the door though but I just turn the head towards the wall and it's fine. BLT shower heads though? In the studios those can be painful and the only way to control is by adjusting the water flow. I haven't noticed that problem in the master of the 1BR's there though.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Just so you can see. This is the new couch. I took this picture when we stayed there 2 1/2 months after they finished the refurb and you can see that the cushions were already twisting. The fabric was obviously a low grade:

But for dated - in the lower right corner you can see a bit of the little beauty they hauled out of there in 2014:

 

[jlovesee]

I've stayed at WLV several times over the past years, both pre and post renovation, we also own a few points there too (along with BLT, Poly and OKW). We just got back from four nights after the marathon there too. I can understand a few of your complaints.

First, while I don't hate the renovation overall, I was very disappointed. I miss the old carpet, I miss the green cabinets (which were cheaply repainted the insides are still dark green), I DO miss the crazy pattern couch, the print seemed to go with the whole rustic theme, and I do HATE the pep bismol chairs. UGH.

I'm not sure about the stuffing issue, I would report that, that would be unacceptable to me.

As far as the shower. I agree with the temperature change, we had that too, I thought it was just our room, I should have reported it. As far as the shower head, yes you have to be in the shower to turn it on, but I just turned the shower head away from me and started it, I didn't get wet, and it warmed up quickly. No issues with water pressure.

I still LOVE WLV, ever since the first time I stepped into its lobby I knew right then I wanted to own DVC. But I am rather dismayed recently as to the upkeep of the DVC rooms.

Jennifer

 

[disneynutz]

Here is my take:

DVC rooms will never be maintained as well as cash rooms and they have more wear due to the higher occupancy rate and fewer cleanings.

Converted buildings will have more issues than new buildings.

Disney will never hold guests accountable for damage done to the units.

The recently announced rehabilitation schedule will help but it won't be a cure-all.

Based on recent room updates, DVC has decided to remove the theming and go with a more generic look with some pictures providing the Disney look.

Hotel shower heads are the worse.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hotel shower heads are the worse.

Bill

We'll disagree on that - I love the shower heads at BWV and I'm afraid they are taking them out. Actually, I bought what is normally a hotel shower head for our house several years ago. It's the best. IMO.

 

[sleepydog25]

First, while I don't hate the renovation overall, I was very disappointed. I miss the old carpet, I miss the green cabinets (which were cheaply repainted the insides are still dark green), I DO miss the crazy pattern couch, the print seemed to go with the whole rustic theme, and I do HATE the pep bismol chairs. UGH.
Jennifer

Exactly. As Bill says above, the corporate (read: money saving) decision has been to go bland and generic on recent refurbs and builds. For me, a major factor that helped Disney resorts stand apart was their articulated theming. Much of that is being lost, and VWL is one of the resorts where it's easiest to see. I loved the dark colors, the homey (and admittedly somewhat homely) furniture, the throwback patterns. What is there now is fine. . .but just fine, not bold and distinctive. You could throw the pepto bismol couch/chairs in any DVC room which I'm certain is the intent.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Yeah, I didn't take a picture of the couch - I should have.

The shower head is hard to explain. it may just be my taste in showers. It wasn't water pressure... It was just the 3 choices the head had were needle thin, spread really far apart or very thick really close together. There was no option that I would describe as a "usual" shower head like i find in most places...

 

[pooh2001]

Eek - the shower is knocking VWL off our list ;(

 

[DebbieB]

Exactly. As Bill says above, the corporate (read: money saving) decision has been to go bland and generic on recent refurbs and builds. For me, a major factor that helped Disney resorts stand apart was their articulated theming. Much of that is being lost, and VWL is one of the resorts where it's easiest to see. I loved the dark colors, the homey (and admittedly somewhat homely) furniture, the throwback patterns. What is there now is fine. . .but just fine, not bold and distinctive. You could throw the pepto bismol couch/chairs in any DVC room which I'm certain is the intent.

Renovation costs are paid by member dues. They are trying to keep dues increases down, it's hard to sell new points with high dues increases. There's a fine line there, do members want better quality but higher dues? Or keep dues increases down?

 

[disneynutz]

Renovation costs are paid by member dues. They are trying to keep dues increases down, it's hard to sell new points with high dues increases. There's a fine line there, do members want better quality but higher dues? Or keep dues increases down?

IMO the units should be maintained at a deluxe resort level with some Disney theming included. That is what all of us bought and expected would continue. If Disney can't deliver than IMO that's false advertising and we are all suckers.

If it will cost more to maintain clean well appointed units then so be it but I want an accounting of what the money is really spent on and I want better management involvement.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Renovation costs are paid by member dues. They are trying to keep dues increases down, it's hard to sell new points with high dues increases. There's a fine line there, do members want better quality but higher dues? Or keep dues increases down?

I don't think the design cost would vary much. The cost of the products will of course change but I don't think this really was as much about it. To me, it's a dumbing down or standardizing to be more like other hotels across the county. That or else lack of imagination. They removed unique items that easily could have been kept and designed or refreshed around and just went with off the shelf blah. "Imagineering" has been well removed from the refurbs. VWL had the added problem of poor workmanship and some poor planning. They didn't even manage to get refrigerators that fit correctly into the space nor to adjust the space to accommodate the refrigerators they bought. And the painting of the cabinets - many DIYer's would have done a better job.

 

[disneynutz]

I don't think the design cost would vary much. The cost of the products will of course change but I don't think this really was as much about it. To me, it's a dumbing down or standardizing to be more like other hotels across the county. That or else lack of imagination. They removed unique items that easily could have been kept and designed or refreshed around and just went with off the shelf blah. "Imagineering" has been well removed from the refurbs. VWL had the added problem of poor workmanship and some poor planning. They didn't even manage to get refrigerators that fit correctly into the space nor to adjust the space to accommodate the refrigerators they bought. And the painting of the cabinets - many DIYer's would have done a better job.

I noticed that the microwave door doesn't fully open in refurbished units because they didn't provide enough room against the inside cabinet corner. Incorrect or obstructed normal door movement could result in micro-wave energy leakage. I sent an email to member satisfaction but never received a response.

Bill

 

[BWV Dreamin]

No disrespect but I feel these are very minor complaints. I don't think they really qualify as a complaint but rather a dislike on your part. DVC rooms will never be "like your house". You are on vacation. There will be some thins you like and some you don't. I place more serious issues in the complaint category like flooding sinks and drains, bee nests on balconies, non working appliances, etc. See the difference ?

 

[KSkBWV]

The shower issue is an easy fix and your description was perfect. The shower valve stem(anti scalding spindle) needs to be replaced. The shower heads are terrible and need to be changed. This is one of our resorts along with BWV and SSR. We have not stayed there since the remodel but really want to go back in 2017 or 2018 after the construction is completed.
Our last stay 1/22/16-1/25/16 we stayed at SSR and the shower like to get hotter when you were showering. You could even watch the shower handle move very slowly making the water hotter. Same repair and a very common issue with showers that get used as much as these do.

 

[DVC Jen]

I am glad I am not the only one who is not thrilled with the new decor in the villas. Right after the refurb bell services was delivering our luggage and asked if it was our home resort. When I said yes he asked how we liked the refurb. I told him we didn't. We preferred the old theming. He seemed surprised.

 

[Halle]

I feel that theming the Villas is part of the magic and the generic look takes away from it. I can't imagine it would cost that much more to keep on theming.

 

[sleepydog25]

I don't think the design cost would vary much. The cost of the products will of course change but I don't think this really was as much about it. To me, it's a dumbing down or standardizing to be more like other hotels across the county. That or else lack of imagination. They removed unique items that easily could have been kept and designed or refreshed around and just went with off the shelf blah. "Imagineering" has been well removed from the refurbs. VWL had the added problem of poor workmanship and some poor planning. They didn't even manage to get refrigerators that fit correctly into the space nor to adjust the space to accommodate the refrigerators they bought. And the painting of the cabinets - many DIYer's would have done a better job.

Yes, on all points. As for the posed question regarding higher dues/better quality or less higher dues/cheaper quality, I would opt for the former. After all, it is listed as a deluxe resort, and the quick fix refurb solution generally means more refurbs since the stop-gap methods simply won't last as long. Once again, the final decisions about refurbishments will revolve around making money rather than improving or sustaining the brand. Such a mindset has worked for years now and until it doesn't, I don't see a change on the horizon.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have hated the shower head at VWL for years, but it was at VWL so I put up with it. Now, I do not like the pictures I see of the new rooms, and I am deeply disappointed.