A/C problems at Polynesian Bungalows

[ford91exploder]

"intermittent challenges"??? Just fix it.

Why fix it - somebody's gonna get a bonus for reducing maintenance expenses in Q4FY16 and it will not be an issue till this time NEXT year again...

 

[ford91exploder]

I wouldn't be surprised if the problem is trying to be as energy-efficient as possible. In the past, most A/C installs would be somewhat overbuilt to be safe, but the most efficient A/C is one that is basically just powerful enough to keep things cool on the hottest days by running constantly. But trying that leaves you no margin for error.

Probably a combination of both Disney being cheap - so they install A/C units undersized for max load even though with a modern inverter based condensing unit they only run at full power when necessary.

There is a big difference in price between a 2 ton A/C unit and a 3 Ton one or a 3 Ton and a 5 Ton unit.

 

[ford91exploder]

We've been to Disney approximately 30 times, mostly in Deluxe resorts, so I'm certainly no Disney basher for the amount of money we continue to spend there. However, from an purely operational perspective, for over $2,000 a night there are no good excuses for underestimating the air conditioning requirement, if that is indeed the problem or purchasing units that are failing within the first year. It's just totally uncharacteristic for this company. Does anyone here have first hand experience with how well or how poorly the AC is functioning?

No it's no longer uncharacteristic for WDW, It's all about cutting expenses these days both on the capital and operational budgets WDW no longer cares about 'Guest Experience' they care about what Wall St thinks about their Financial Performance not their operational performance.

 

[ford91exploder]

This is the first summer Disney has had bungalows on a beach , so it is within the realm of possibility they underestimated how hot they would get. Even if they did look at historical documentation, and who is to say they didn't? And it isn't like the air conditioning isn't functioning, sheesh. They are letting guests know they have added additional units until they can fix the problem and make the standard air conditioning cool as much as they want it too.

There are well known models to calculate A/C requirements and every developer in Florida knows and uses them otherwise no one would buy or lease their homes and commercial buildings. Disney once again cut corners where it would affect the guests.

 

[Hakunamatata]

There are well known models to calculate A/C requirements and every developer in Florida knows and uses them otherwise no one would buy or lease their homes and commercial buildings. Disney once again cut corners where it would affect the guests.

I may have missed the info but has the actual problem been identified? I can understand blaming Disney for ineptness driven by greed if it's a design issue but it very well could be a mechanical issue with the AC units themselves that Disney would not have known about.

 

[ford91exploder]

I may have missed the info but has the actual problem been identified? I can understand blaming Disney for ineptness driven by greed if it's a design issue but it very well could be a mechanical issue with the AC units themselves that Disney would not have known about.

Once again A/C design is a very well known discipline, If Disney went with A/C systems which in reality are probably heat pumps in actuality from any of the well known vendors i.e. Mitsubishi, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Carrier, Trane they simply don't fail in that manner.

For the curious I've added a link to a load calculator for residential use.

http://www.loadcalc.net/

For the record I do this type of calculation for computer rooms IRL, Inadequate HVAC in NEW construction is always a design fault or contractor substituted undersized units in place of the specified units, Modern HVAC systems simply don't fail like this.

 

[ford91exploder]

If anyone is staying at the bungalows and can get a peek at the condensing units it would be interesting to see what the rating in BTU/H is, Btw a TON in HVAC speak is 12000 BTU.

 

[jakeman]

For the record I do this type of calculation for computer rooms IRL, Inadequate HVAC in NEW construction is always a design fault or contractor substituted undersized units in place of the specified units, Modern HVAC systems simply don't fail like this.

lol

No you don't.

 

[rob0519]

The only excuse they need is that the company is run by humans who some times screw up. There is not a single one of us who hasn't screwed up on the job at some point.

Ok, so taking your logic to an extreme. A company in the amusement park business designs a new roller coaster that will be located in a high humidity, rainy, hot location. It spends millions on the design and construction. Several months later, parts start to fail intermittently and people's safety is suddenly in danger. A stop gap solution is put in place until a permanent solution can be installed. That's ok however, because the company is run by humans who some times screw up? You can throw pixie dust on this all day but it still should not have happened on such a visible and expensive investment.

Was this human error? You bet. Was it avoidable? Of course it was. This was Disney trying to be as conservative as possible both financially and possibly ecologically. If they just got cheap and used too small a unit this was totally avoidable.

Let's use the basic nightly rate of $2,170 per night for each of the 20 bungalows. That's $43,400 per week or $15,841,000 at full occupancy for 365 days. Even at 80% occupancy that's still $12,600,000 give or take. At that type of return, there should be no "screw up". So, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

 

[xdan0920]

There is a big difference in price between a 2 ton A/C unit and a 3 Ton one or a 3 Ton and a 5 Ton unit.

This is not true.

Edit to add....

Different Seer ratings can run up costs but still....

in the grand scheme of these bungalows, You're talking about a fraction of a percentage. AND Disney doesn't give a poop what these cost to operate. Because maintenance is paid for by owners

 

[ford91exploder]

This is not true.

Edit to add....

Different Seer ratings can run up costs but still....

in the grand scheme of these bungalows, You're talking about a fraction of a percentage. AND Disney doesn't give a poop what these cost to operate. Because maintenance is paid for by owners

Considering a 3 Ton condenser costs about 2,500 and a 5 Ton condenser is about 5,500 bucks I'd say there is a considerable difference in price.

 

[xdan0920]

Considering a 3 Ton condenser costs about 2,500 and a 5 Ton condenser is about 5,500 bucks I'd say there is a considerable difference in price.

Now you're jumping 2 tons at a time. But ok. Let's use those figures. Even if they are a touch inflated....

That's $60,000 in savings on how many millions in construction costs? You're talking a fraction of a percent dude.

Listen, I agree this is laughable that they have window units in 2k a night rooms. But it's not the reason you've cited.

 

[unkadug]

...
For the record I do this type of calculation for computer rooms IRL, Inadequate HVAC in NEW construction is always a design fault or contractor substituted undersized units in place of the specified units, Modern HVAC systems simply don't fail like this.

Wow...what DON'T you do for a living?

 

[LongLiveTheKing]

Therefore, we will offer a daily housekeeping service and will be waiving the associated fee during your stay.

I'm confused. I thought all Disney hotels included free housekeeping... Actually even the motels across the street from Disneyland offer free housekeeping. This $2000 a night set of rooms doesn't include free housekeeping somehow?

 

[Minthorne]

I'm confused. I thought all Disney hotels included free housekeeping... Actually even the motels across the street from Disneyland offer free housekeeping. This $2000 a night set of rooms doesn't include free housekeeping somehow?

They are not a hotel rooms. They are accomdations in the Disney Vacation Club. If they are booked using DVC points there isn't daily housekeeping. If they are rented by cash then there is daily housekeeping. The offer of housekeeping is to those who are staying on DVC points.

 

[ford91exploder]

Wow...what DON'T you do for a living?

I'm an engineer that does large scale IT infrastructure and that includes EVERYTHING that supports it like electric power and air conditioning, I also FIX it when too often the inexperienced screw it up beyond all recall like the classic error of undersizing air conditioning and electric power - the latter two tend to get people fired because when the six or seven figure repair bill lands those paying the bill are not pleased.

 

[jakeman]

I'm an engineer that does large scale IT infrastructure and that includes EVERYTHING that supports it like electric power and air conditioning, I also FIX it when too often the inexperienced screw it up beyond all recall like the classic error of undersizing air conditioning and electric power - the latter two tend to get people fired because when the six or seven figure repair bill lands those paying the bill are not pleased.

Translation:

I work at a help desk somewhere and I have access to Google.

EDIT: By the way, if this is the line you're going with, you better look back through your post and give them a good cleaning because you've got some conflicting jobs you've stated in the past.

 

[George]

I'm an engineer that does large scale IT infrastructure and that includes EVERYTHING that supports it like electric power and air conditioning, I also FIX it when too often the inexperienced screw it up beyond all recall like the classic error of undersizing air conditioning and electric power - the latter two tend to get people fired because when the six or seven figure repair bill lands those paying the bill are not pleased.

Why do you sit next to a mass spectrometer?

 

[ford91exploder]

Why do you sit next to a mass spectrometer?

The sheer magnetism of the Mass Spec...

 

[LongLiveTheKing]

Translation:

I work at a help desk somewhere and I have access to Google.

EDIT: By the way, if this is the line you're going with, you better look back through your post and give them a good cleaning because you've got some conflicting jobs you've stated in the past.

I do actually want this addressed if he actually does do this work. I don't care if you're going to dispute him claims based on post history (people change jobs so it has to be something really unique to mean he has no possibility of being an engineer) but I'm already sick of this snarky and condescending attitude.