Here Now - DVC & BWV Observations

SpaceMountain77 · Dec 7, 2016

disneynutz said:
CM confirms that room request info isn't always attached to the room reservation. Resorts have discussed this several times with DVC but problem still exists.

We are currently at VGF. Although I had called twice, prior to our trip, to confirm our requests, neither request was attached to our studio-standard or studio-lake reservation. Our split stay started in the studio-standard, so I was able to get our studio-lake request on-site through a back office phone call by a cast member.

SpaceMountain77 · Dec 7, 2016

disneynutz said:
Resort Christmas decorations budget was cut again this year, lobby decorations are noticeably less than previous years.

This is also the case at VGF. Garland no longer lines the covered walkway from the main building to the villas. Moreover, there are no Christmas trees in the lobby of the villas, only two wreaths.

disneynutz · Dec 8, 2016

I don't get it, Disney posts billions in profit but they cut the Christmas decoration budget while increasing prices!

BW lobby is weird, BC, YC, and WL are still beautiful.

AnnaKat · Dec 8, 2016

disneynutz said:
I don't get it, Disney posts billions in profit but they cut the Christmas decoration budget while increasing prices!

BW lobby is weird, BC, YC, and WL are still beautiful.

IMO, the Bean Counters keep cutting NO matter what the profits keep growing to be! They must keep cutting & cutting!
Disney no longer goes by the old ' goodwill ' rules. They just want to find more things to cut every quarter, period.

Oh, BTW, The YC did not put up the miniature village train set this year

disneynutz · Dec 8, 2016

AnnaKat said:
IMO, the Bean Counters keep cutting NO matter what the profits keep growing to be! They must keep cutting & cutting!
Disney no longer goes by the old ' goodwill ' rules. They just want to find more things to cut every quarter, period.

Oh, BTW, The YC did not put up the miniature village train set this year

I'm pretty sure that we saw the YC train set and BC had the gingerbread carousel.

Mrs.Milo · Dec 8, 2016

Not surprising more cuts at Disney. Eliminate decorations and add a store to make more money in the Boardwalk lobby. Since Iger took over running Disney it's been less for more consistently.

disneynutz · Dec 8, 2016

News to me, the resorts are eliminating the concierge desks and having the front disk take on a dual roll. BWV concierge desk is closed.

KAT4DISNEY · Dec 8, 2016

disneynutz said:
News to me, the resorts are eliminating the concierge desks and having the front disk take on a dual roll. BWV concierge desk is closed.

Really? At BWV they would also act as a front desk during busy times. I've checked in with them more than once. So, essentially a staffing cut.

jekjones1558 · Dec 8, 2016

The concierge desk was also closed at BWV when we were there in October.

disneynutz · Dec 8, 2016

Also closed at BC, YC, and WL. They do have a concierge moveable desk sign that they set up at the front desk. At BWI/BWV the old concierge desk is closed and not staffed but it is decorated with Christmas decorations. I asked why and was told that the decorators must not have gotten the memo!

KAT4DISNEY · Dec 8, 2016

Remind me, the front desk portion for dues must have gone down, yes? Or at least didn't increase?

wdrl · Dec 8, 2016

KAT4DISNEY said:
Remind me, the front desk portion for dues must have gone down, yes? Or at least didn't increase?

Correct, at least for BLT and AKV.

For AKV, the Administration and Front Desk budget line item dropped from $0.8227 in 2016 to $0.8143 in 2017.

For BLT, the budget line item dropped from $0.6256 in 2016 to $0.5823 in 2017.

KAT4DISNEY · Dec 8, 2016

wdrl said:
Correct, at least for BLT and AKV.

For AKV, the Administration and Front Desk budget line item dropped from $0.8227 in 2016 to $0.8143 in 2017.

For BLT, the budget line item dropped from $0.6256 in 2016 to $0.5823 in 2017.

Not sure I like it but if the the decrease is there as it should be then at least that's good.

keishashadow · Dec 9, 2016

araffle said:
I try to not get too caught up on "what's not" and just enjoy the heck out of "what is"

Normally, I strive for the cup half full philosophy too, however, decorations in the lobbies are a time-honored tradition. One of the reasons we purchased WL back in the day was that the holiday theming was perfect, helped to seal the deal with the Mr that we first visited-when the decorations were in place.

AnnaKat said:
IMO, the Bean Counters keep cutting NO matter what the profits keep growing to be! They must keep cutting & cutting!
Disney no longer goes by the old ' goodwill ' rules. They just want to find more things to cut every quarter, period.

Oh, BTW, The YC did not put up the miniature village train set this year

Hard to believe putting up existing decorations stored in a warehouse somewhere is a ridiculously huge line item. With the various WDW backstage tours, surprised they haven't followed New Orleans' lead wherein guests can tour several warehouses to see Mardi Gras floats.

Maistre Gracey · Dec 9, 2016

Yet these boards are filled with Disney apologists that swear there have been no cutbacks over the years.

MG

AnnaKat · Dec 9, 2016

disneynutz said:
Also closed at BC, YC, and WL. They do have a concierge moveable desk sign that they set up at the front desk. At BWI/BWV the old concierge desk is closed and not staffed but it is decorated with Christmas decorations. I asked why and was told that the decorators must not have gotten the memo!

Concierge @ Jambo House was alive & well on our recent Trip. On 11/27/16, concierge went above & beyond for us for our situation. I specifically noted on the Disney Resort Stay Survey. Now I will also complete an Applause-O-Gram for that great CM!

Sure hope they don!t downsize/combine AKL's Concierge with their Front Desk!

I also heard that Club Level Concierge was getting downsized; A Call Center is replacing the Club Level CMs, i heard.

disneynutz · Dec 9, 2016

keishashadow said:
Normally, I strive for the cup half full philosophy too, however, decorations in the lobbies are a time-honored tradition. One of the reasons we purchased WL back in the day was that the holiday theming was perfect, helped to seal the deal with the Mr that we first visited-when the decorations were in place.

Hard to believe putting up existing decorations stored in a warehouse somewhere is a ridiculously huge line item. With the various WDW backstage tours, surprised they haven't followed New Orleans' lead wherein guests can tour several warehouses to see Mardi Gras floats.

We went on a backstage tour a couple of years ago and we visited the holiday decorations warehouse. There were maybe 8 CM's who test, repair and replace the decorations and light bulbs. A year or so later at BWV, I stayed up overnight to watch the lobby decorations going up. At that time the CM's commented that their were less decorations to install and some of their team had been let go. Disney brought some of them and the supervisor back as temporally employed contract labor.

I suppose new guests don't know the difference and feel as much magic as we used to. If we decide to not come back, there are plenty of people willing to spend money at Disney, maybe more than we do.

jekjones1558 · Dec 9, 2016

disneynutz said:
We went on a backstage tour a couple of years ago and we visited the holiday decorations warehouse. There were maybe 8 CM's who test, repair and replace the decorations and light bulbs. A year or so later at BWV, I stayed up overnight to watch the lobby decorations going up. At that time the CM's commented that their were less decorations to install and some of their team had been let go. Disney brought some of them and the supervisor back as temporally employed contract labor.

I suppose new guests don't know the difference and feel as much magic as we used to. If we decide to not come back, there are plenty of people willing to spend money at Disney, maybe more than we do.

I always said that I would stay up to watch those BWV garlands going up or coming down. They were so full of ornaments that I couldn't imagine how CMs could avoid breaking ornaments. Sadly we were never at BWV on the right date. One more bucket list item that will never be checked.

keishashadow · Dec 9, 2016

disneynutz said:
We went on a backstage tour a couple of years ago and we visited the holiday decorations warehouse. There were maybe 8 CM's who test, repair and replace the decorations and light bulbs. A year or so later at BWV, I stayed up overnight to watch the lobby decorations going up. At that time the CM's commented that their were less decorations to install and some of their team had been let go. Disney brought some of them and the supervisor back as temporally employed contract labor.

I suppose new guests don't know the difference and feel as much magic as we used to. If we decide to not come back, there are plenty of people willing to spend money at Disney, maybe more than we do.

It's been years but during keys to kingdom @ MK we got a small glimpse backstage into one, but little description other than the obvious. Interesting info you received.

disneynutz · Dec 9, 2016

jekjones1558 said:
I always said that I would stay up to watch those BWV garlands going up or coming down. They were so full of ornaments that I couldn't imagine how CMs could avoid breaking ornaments. Sadly we were never at BWV on the right date. One more bucket list item that will never be checked.

Never say never, the decorations come in crates and delivered by forklift, each hanging inside safe and secure.

Here Now - DVC & BWV Observations

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