Bad Experience at the Boardwalk

[ghost1000]

We just got back from the Boardwalk last night. I'm hoping our experience isn't the norm.

We checked into our two-bedroom (Boardwalk view) on Monday morning, between 10:30 and 11:00. Since our room wasn't ready we all headed over to Epcot. About 3:45 Doug and I returned to the checkin desk and learned the room still wasn't ready, but would be ready "soon". The rest of our party showed up and we finally got into the room about 4:30 (we had a 5:00 dinner reservation at Spoodles). The first thing I noticed was there were no kitchen washup supplies in the one-bedroom portion (no Palmolive, no kitchen towel, no dishwasher powder, no sponge). I called mousekeeping to request these just before we walked out the door for our dinner reservation.

After dinner we went to the Studios (it was evening EMH). When we returned to the room there were still no kitchen supplies. The next morning we discovered used Q-tips left in the trash by the previous guests. This was the last straw and Doug went down to the front desk to complain (still no kitchen supplies). Before he got back Mousekeeping called me and confirmed what we needed (they offered a full cleaning but I said that wasn't necessary). But they did send someone up with towels and kitchen supplies. We got a full set of towels EXCEPT for the kitchen towel, and we finally were able to wash our accumulation of dishes and flatware (the pile of towels ended up on one of the chairs in the living room area).

The next day we were passing some mousekeeping carts in the hallway, and I appropriated a kitchen towel to use.

Thursday was trash and towel day. Mousekeeping came in and took all our used towels (and some unused towels), but left the pile of towels that had been delivered on Tuesday morning. However, the maid did not distribute the towels around the bathroom, but just left the pile sitting on the edge of the tub. And she took our kitchen towel but didn't replace it.

I'm hoping that someone will tell me that we just had a bad experience caused by an inexperienced mousekeeper.

On the plus side, we had a great view. We were on the fourth floor in the "Crest o the Wave" section, and if you looked out the door Spaceship Earth was right in front of us.

[mickeyndvcfan]

We stayed in a one bedroom in Sept. and the room was great. The only thing that we were missing was laundry detergent. I didn't say anything because I had brought my own. We had all our kitchen supplies and they put everything where it was suppose to be when they cleaned. When I needed more toilet paper they brought it up within 15 mins. Sorry you had a bad experience, but I don't think that it is the norm.

[jiggerj]

Oh drats Rita....I was hoping that everything would have been perfect for ya- :(

I dont think what you experienced is the norm at least not thru any of my stays at the Boardwalk-

Wasnt that view just fabulous!!!! Hope that you took lots of pics to share with us...:)

[idratherbeinwdw]

I had some issues with missing Kitchen supplies I requested that were never delivered at BWV last trip (see my trip report from October for details). This was the first time I had any mousekeeping complaints at BWV, and I've stayed there numerous times.

I hope you reported these problems to management. I did, and just last night I got a call from a Disney rep. I spent at least 20 minutes on the phone with her discussing the problems with the room (also had a big chunk of tile broken in the shower), and some other issues I had with BWV this past trip. She made a big point of saying how important it is to report things like this, and thanked me for doing so. I know most of what she said was PR stuff, but it was still nice to get the call and be listened to.

BTW one of the issues was we were celebrating my daughter's birthday and they promised to send a card for her to the room, but it never arrived. (even after I went to the desk the day after her bday and they apologized profusely and said they'd send something that day to make up for it). The woman I talked to last night said she felt really badly and wanted to make up for that. She said she'd send a surprise for Sarah via mail. She also gave me her direct phone number so I can follow up if there are any problems.

Anyway, I hope you reported your BWV troubles to Disney, they need to know about these things. After my experience, and now yours, it would appear Mousekeeping seems to be having issues at BWV, it needs to be corrected.

[ghost1000]

Here's an early morning picture from our balcony.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/ghost1000/mouseowne/Dscf3547.jpg

Boardwalk view is definitely the way to go!

[nono]

In Feb. while at BWV we didn't have a corkscrew and was told it wasn't "standard issue" in DVC. Horse hockey! I never seemed to have a problem in the past...and I'm pretty sure all my DVC visits include wine. We just came back from our OKW visit and all 3 villas had corkscrews. Anyway, while at BWV, we did get our corkscrew delivered...after about an hour.

It was the longest hour of my life. :o

[Colorado Belle]

Sorry about the poor housekeeping, Ghost. Sounds like previous tenants overstayed their welcome and that the maids took a break before cleaning and then did a 'hurry up' with what was left on their carts. But the good news is:

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE VIEW! (gotta love that Wave of the Crest building!!!tho the balconies are smaller than the 'over Big River' building'. I was in Wave of the Crest for my October studio stay!

Nono...wouldn't want you to expire, having to wait an hour! Maybe you need one of John's lockers and you can keep your own opener and wine right inside (I know I do!:tapedshut )

When I stay at DVC, I know in advance I'll need to call housekeeping about top sheets for the beds (to replace the spreads which get folded up and stored), so I try to think of everything that I'll be needing or is missing, and try to get it all in one tip! er, trip!:D

[carolina_yankee]

We didn't have any issues with Mousekepeing, but the room was definitely getting long in the tooth. We also had questionable front desk experience, while Concierge excelled at every opportunity. I'm find the quality at BWV to be uneven at best, but the location (and your view!) is certainly a major plus.

Dirk

[Blue&Gold]

After my experience, and now yours, it would appear Mousekeeping seems to be having issues at BWV, it needs to be corrected.

I hate to beat a dead horse (not from this forum, but "elsewhere"), but annecdotal individual experiences do not necessarily translate to legitimate trends in an enterprise as large as the cleaning services of a resort the size of BWV. Even on the micro scale, it's unfair. Some days, my kitchen floor is dirty---that does not translate to to it being accurate to say I always have a dirty house.

I'm not trying to get in a scrum or in even the least suggest that any deviation from the expected standards is acceptable considering the premium we all pay. What I am saying is that in my six "check-ins" at BWV the rooms have all been fantastic, down to the little towel animals... It would be equally inaccurate for me to say that because I've had good experiences, there are "never" any mousekeeping issues at BWV.

Point being, is that I imagine on any given day, there are probably a small number of villas that don't meet standards. Not the most magical way to start a vacation, certainly.

We've got a BoardWalk View 2 BR coming up in January---hope we get your view---if not your mousekeeper :scratchch .

[idratherbeinwdw]

Point well taken B&G, and I certainly hope you are right. I LOVE BWV, and this was the first time I have had any major issues with mousekeeping there. It's hard not to have the visceral reaction of "uh oh" when one has a bad experience somewhere and then someone else mentions having a similar bad experience just a couple of weeks later. But indeed you are correct, it may have just been a coincidence.

On the other hand, this site doesn't have that many active members. Since two of us on here have had a similar experience within two weeks of each other, it does make me wonder what's up with BWV mousekeeping, especially when I haven't read about any similar complaints in the past. I work in a customer service field, and statistics I've read show that for every 1 person that complains, there are 10 who do not. I certainly hope you are right and this is not the beginning of a trend. And in any case I hope Ghost reported the problems to management, because just writing about it here won't change anything if indeed there a real trend.


I adore my home at BWV. BW view for me too this January, can't wait!! :kickingco

[PlutoFan21]

WOW Ghost1000 that balcony shot is awesome. We currently have a PV and are on the waitlist for BWV in February I hope, I hope, I hope it comes through!!!!:fingerscr :fingerscr

[tiggerguy2000]

I can feel your pain with room service but your view was worth the problems.I can only wish I got a room like that.My rooms are the pits on every trip and that's 2 or 3 times a year.It's now a standard joke:hahahaha: when im checking in because we know the room is going to be a nightmare.I pleaded with the cast member to please give me a good room and I asked for a room change twice on one trip and they gave me a room just one floor away with the same trash view.I bring a room layout map of the resort and when we checked into the beach club for 10 nights last july after waiting into the night for the room I showed the cast member which room I thought I was going to get and they laughed because other then the floor I was only five rooms away with my guess so like I said lets trade problems with rooms.

tiggerguy

[nono]

tiggerguy2000,

If you live at the Jersey shore, you get a great view every morning. The universe is just evening things out by giving you mediocre views while at DVC. :duck:

Did you catch this morning's sunrise? :rockband:

[CRSNDSNY]

Rita - sorry you had a less than stellar experience. we've stayed here a couple of times and I can totally believe this happened to you. I have never had a good (or pleasant) experience checking in. They're never really nice, welcoming or accomodating. And although I have not had a bad experience with mousekeeping there I've seen it at other places. They really should be on top of these things a bit more. Makes you wonder who isn't doing their job.

[jwatson]

What I am saying is that in my six "check-ins" at BWV the rooms have all been fantastic, down to the little towel animals...

We have been DVC members since 1999 and have stayed at BWV at least once a year since then. We have NEVER gotten the little towel animals. I knew of them from our pre DVC trips, but just assumed that was something you don't get being DVC members, much like not getting a daily newspaper.
~Julie

[shovan]

[QUOTE=idratherbeinwdw]

I hope you reported these problems to management. I did, and just last night I got a call from a Disney rep. I spent at least 20 minutes on the phone with her discussing the problems with the room (also had a big chunk of tile broken in the shower), and some other issues I had with BWV this past trip. She made a big point of saying how important it is to report things like this, and thanked me for doing so. I know most of what she said was PR stuff, but it was still nice to get the call and be listened to.

Who did you report the problems to? Front desk while you were there or DVC when you returned home? I think it's great that they called you to discuss the problems!:clappingh Even if it is just standard PR, it sure makes a less than great experience, a bit better!

[idratherbeinwdw]

Who did you report the problems to? Front desk while you were there or DVC when you returned home? I think it's great that they called you to discuss the problems!:clappingh Even if it is just standard PR, it sure makes a less than great experience, a bit better!

I did 3 things. I reported it to a manager at the front desk. And when I got home I wrote to WDW guest relations AND DVC to tell them. It was guest relations who called me.

BTW jwatson, I've stayed at BWV 8 times and got the towel animals at least 6 of those times. Luck of the draw I guess. Hope you get some next trip!

CRSNDSNY I have had mostly good experiences at BWV with my check in, sorry it's not been the same for you.

[shovan]

I did 3 things. I reported it to a manager at the front desk. And when I got home I wrote to WDW guest relations AND DVC to tell them. It was guest relations who called me.

Thanks, hope I don't need to make any reports. Great Job, especially following through with WDW & DVC! Great idea!

[mushu]

In Feb. while at BWV we didn't have a corkscrew and was told it wasn't "standard issue" in DVC. Horse hockey! I never seemed to have a problem in the past...and I'm pretty sure all my DVC visits include wine. We just came back from our OKW visit and all 3 villas had corkscrews. Anyway, while at BWV, we did get our corkscrew delivered...after about an hour.

It was the longest hour of my life. :o
I have never been turned down on requesting one to be brought up to the rm. At any of the DVC I have stayed in.

[nono]

I have never been turned down on requesting one to be brought up to the rm. At any of the DVC I have stayed in.

Great so that's more than one instance where someone had to wait to open a freakin' bottle of wine at a DVC location. I'm sorry you've had the same experience.

THREAD DRIFT AHEAD:
The bothersome point to me is that a corkscrew is something that should be there. With all the wine that is sold on property at ridiculous mark-ups, as a shareholder, I want folks to be able to drink and drain those bottles as quickly as possible! :burp: Goes right to the bottom line! Customer's happy (didn't have to wait) and my bottom line is happy, as I didn't have to waste personnel costs in delivering something to a villa that should already be there. And I now have the potential of a virtuous cycle of "giving" to the bottom line as that first bottle of wine is now history!

[lenshanem]

Rita, this past October at the BWV we had no kitchen supplies in the studio, either. I called and they gave me a ~tad~ of attitude when I asked for a sponge and dish soap. Next day they left the soap, but no sponge and I never did get any kitchen towels. Are they cutting back and checking to see if we notice??????

There were cigarette ashes in the sink drawer in a nonsmoking room! DH wanted me to let mousekeeping know, but I didn't bother - the room looked clean otherwise.

[Rozzie]

We usually pack our own corkscrew, but now I will put that down in the most definately better have list. Nono, I would also be livid waiting on mousekeeping for cracking open a bottle of wine. Who is lifting all the $2 corkscrews, is it THE :viking: doing some holiday shopping??? :hahahaha:

I bet Mr Roz, knowing him, would march down to the giftshop and buy a $30 dollar markup one. He hates waiting on mousekeeping for anything. When the boy wants his wine, look out!! :duck:

[athenna]

Wow, so I guess the missing corkscrews aren't just an SSR thing. That was the 1 thing missing from our villa also. We called for one right away and that brought it while we were out.