Brief report on OKW and BCV

[BCV23]

We returned Thursday from another great vacation. We were at the Polynesian the first two nights, then 2 nights at OKW and four at BCV both in 1 BR.

Both rooms were in great shape. Minor issues in both which were corrected quickly. At OKW, we didn't have a carafe for the coffee pot. At BCV, we had only two bath towels which we didn't even notice until late at night. We just used pool towels that night and I called in the morning. When I called, the person who answered paused after I explained and then had a funny tone when she told me she would send some up. I think she was implying that she didn't believe me but hopefully she just swallowed wrong. Anyway, the towels arrived in short order and several more than we were missing at that.

We checked in early at both resorts and neither room was ready. However both were ready well before 4pm. I think OKW was ready at 1:30.

When I checked into BCV, the helpful and friendly CM told me the room would be ready by 4pm. I asked if I should call at 1 or 2 and he said yes I could try. Did not guarantee anything of course.

So I called at 1:30. The young lady who answered responded to my brief query as to the status of our room with a lecture about rooms being ready by 4, the fact that these were like apartments, etc.. She even told me that the units took four hours to clean. I don't think so! Her tone was pleasant but I simply asked if it was ready. I didn't demand, whine or cajole. If we are provided with a card to call and check on status, we should not be treated like this IMHO. I don't appreciate being lied to and lectured when I just ask if my room is ready.

Anyway, my DH called around 2 I think and was told it was almost ready. Shortly thereafter, we got in. Loved the room, love BCV and appreciate getting in early but am hoping for no lectures next time.

BTW, someone was wondering about frozen pancakes. The store carries frozen pancake batter but not the kind of pancakes to microwave. Syrup as well.

 

[rigsby25]

Just curious. Did you like OKW or BCV better and why or why not? I know its like comparing apples and oranges, but we're new to DVC and have only stayed at OKW. I'm also wondering why people change rooms on their vacations. Is it just to see diffferent things? Is it because of availability? Is it hard to move from place to place?

 

[JudithM]

Minor issues in both which were corrected quickly. At OKW, we didn't have a carafe for the coffee pot.

I find this unacceptable. I have had housekeeping/engineering issues on my last three stays at OKW - Dec 2004, April 2005 & again last week. I see two concerns. One, the lack of attention to detail by housekeeping. Your missing carafe is an example of this lack of attention to detail. It should have been very obvious to the housekeeper that the carafe was not there. The second is a lack of communication between housekeeping & engineering.

 

[BCV23]

Just curious. Did you like OKW or BCV better and why or why not? I know its like comparing apples and oranges, but we're new to DVC and have only stayed at OKW. I'm also wondering why people change rooms on their vacations. Is it just to see diffferent things? Is it because of availability? Is it hard to move from place to place?

I like both very much. BCV is our home resort and where we have stayed most in our short life as DVC owners but it already feels like home to us. OKW has beautiful views, spacious rooms and wonderful storage space.

As for why we changed rooms, we are old time Polynesian fans. We usually split Polynesian/BCV with an AP rate at the Polynesian. No AP rates were available for mid October but we were lucky enough to get another discount for both our Polynesian and OKW stays. If we had stayed in our lagoon view concierge room for Fri and Sat it would have been over $600/night with our extra adult. So we jumped at the discount at OKW. We had also wanted my husband to try a stay at OKW. It was certainly more moving than we would normally do but we were able to enjoy being the first guests in a newly renovated room at the Polynesian, give my DH a chance to enjoy OKW and stay at our DVC home.

I don't find it hard to move but as I really enjoy being around the resort in the afternoon, I do miss having a home for some hours. This was a one time thing for us. We also do not have small children. No way would I do it then.

 

[BCV23]

I find this unacceptable. I have had housekeeping/engineering issues on my last three stays at OKW - Dec 2004, April 2005 & again last week. I see two concerns. One, the lack of attention to detail by housekeeping. Your missing carafe is an example of this lack of attention. It shouldhave been very obvious tothe housekeeper that the carafe was not there. The second is a lack of communication between housekeeping & engineering.

The housekeeper did notice the carafe was missing. I happened to talk with her since we were on a cash stay. She told me she had called it in. It wasn't a big deal to me since a replacement was probably there within 10 minutes of my call. And I did not notice it was missing from our arrival early afternoon to the following am! So yes, someone dropped the ball but it was quickly retrieved.

 

[JudithM]

The housekeeper did notice the carafe was missing. I happened to talk with her since we were on a cash stay. She told me she had called it in. It wasn't a big deal to me since a replacement was probably there within 10 minutes of my call. And I did not notice it was missing from our arrival early afternoon to the following am! So yes, someone dropped the ball but it was quickly retrieved.

You are right ... someone dropped the ball. However, you would not have had to discover the missing carafe, if it was replaced before they assigned you that room. Again, attention to detail & lack of communication somewhere ...

 

[Beca]

ITA!!! Sometimes the BCV CM's are....well, let's just say, not what they should be. I seem to get lectures there more often than I would like. The worst was when my parents were staying at BCV, and we were staying "offsite" as chaperones of a choir trip. I had Mom sign dh and dd in (dd was actually staying with them some) to the room so they could use SAB. I went to go pick up the keys while dh and dd were "pin trading" with Art. The cm at the front desk (who had just finished telling her visiting relatives all the "tricks" about how to best use BCV), must've said 8-9 times that I was NOT to stay in the room, or use SAB. She kept saying, "Your family can use the facilities, but YOU cannot....you do undertand that, right?"

The "icing on the cake" was when my dd returned from trading with Art...she was crying. Art had been wearing two lanyards (a black and a green), and the pin she wanted was off of Art's black lanyard. He refused to give it to her...he said kids could ONLY trade off of the green lanyard. Okay....we all KNOW that is not true....and, she is only 3!! He turned to dh and said, "You can trade for it and give it to her, but I cannot allow her to trade for it"....okay, whatever!!!

And yet....somehow, I still ADORE BCV!!! But, the CM's definitely do not like having BCV's there....they can be so snotty sometimes!!!



Beca

 

[BCV23]

Beca, sorry for your experiences. Whatever was going on with Art doesn't sound like a BCV deal though or am I missing something? There is a woman in the Marketplace who didn't seem very friendly but I don't think it was because I was staying in the villas. She just is not a happy camper.

Every single CM who has checked me in has been friendly including one who is a DVC member himself. I did overhear the CM checking in the lady next to me say " The Villas have turned out to be a bit of a problem." But I think the guest was surprised her room wasn't ready at 7am. It didn't surprise me as BCV was at 100% as it often seems to be. So I was glad to get in the room early just didn't need or appreciate the lecture.

In general, all the CMs at Y&BC have been great though.