Beach Club Resort - 20 Month Refurb

[llrain]

There is complete justification, the rooms are still filled each and every night, cant get any more justified than that.

Standard view room was $930 last holiday season, GF broke the 1K barrier, When you can get club level rooms in the Orlando Hilton(s) for $300 or so, There is NO justification whatever for these prices.

 

[ford91exploder]

There is complete justification, the rooms are still filled each and every night, cant get any more justified than that.

I'm reminded of P.T. Barnum's quote "There is a sucker born every minute", Paying those rates for those rooms proves it.

 

[ford91exploder]

Not sure if this schedule is true or not, If it is Disney has a major problem on its hand. The beach club refurb is safe(unless it is delayed) inside its dates mentioned below but the Yacht Club is where you are going to have major issues with timing.
That will be during Gartner, the single biggest Disney convention booked. They take up all the epcot resort area resorts and kill capacity inside them.
Bad move if you do this Disney, it may force gartner to not return in 2015. One resort out of commission may sound like, "Ah sure they could just move or take over another resort" but you don't realize, they literally take over all 5 resorts over there, swan, dolphin, boardwalk, yacht and beach. Loosing space at even one of them is extremely determental. Should be interesting to see what Gartner decides

With a 20 month schedule, they can probably schedule no rooms out of service during Gartner and I'd be AMAZED if they have not.

 

[BrerJon]

There is complete justification, the rooms are still filled each and every night, cant get any more justified than that.

I don't think they are, Disney just closes buildings to fake up occupancy rates I believe. I'm sure @ParentsOf4 has had some interesting posts about hotel occupancy statistics in the past.

 

[xdan0920]

I'm glad we've made a decision about this refurb months before it starts. I hate having to "see something for myself" or "make up my own mind." Now I don't have to, I know this refurb sucks, unsubscribing.

 

[ford91exploder]

I'm glad we've made a decision about this refurb months before it starts. I hate having to "see something for myself" or "make up my own mind." Now I don't have to, I know this refurb sucks, unsubscribing.

Ya know IF Disney had done AMAZING jobs on other refurbs instead of de-furbs we could make another conclusion. Disney has continued to underwhelm us so is it any surprise that is what most of us expect these days in that it will be done on the cheap and poorly.

 

[TinkerbellKate]

We stayed at the Beach Club Villas last month and while they weren't the most up to date, I definitely wasn't underwhelmed. Sure, everything needs a little updating but I thought the resort was pretty well taken care of. The lobby was nice. The villa was clean and I didn't notice any glaring imperfections in the furniture. Maybe it's something about the magic of Disney that makes me overlook the small stuff. I'm happy they are giving the resort a little TLC but I would stay there again even if they weren't.

 

[Lad]

I am staying at the Yacht Club in May 2015. Will this renovation affect me at all? Just wondering if I should think about booking elsewhere as I would hate to be there if walls are up everywhere, Stormalong Bay is under construction, etc...

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

We stayed at the Beach Club last weekend. It was our first time at a deluxe. Even though the place is beautiful, it is not a place I have a desire to return to in the future. Since this thread is about refurbishment, I'll stick to that point. Our room really needed work. Both sinks were cracked and the drains were rusty. The side mirror was broken off the wall and hadn't been replaced. They simply put anchors in the holes. Our plugs for our hairdryer, cell phones, and camera wouldn't stay in a couple of the plugs. The carpet was dirty. There were holes in the tile in the bathroom. The wood furniture tops were peeling and covered in water spots. None of these things are a deal breaker though. There were other things that were, but that's for another thread.

 

[Figment2005]

I'm really curious to know what you've seen so far at the Poly that you see as an upgrade. I have been following Tikiman's Facebook page and I have been almost completely underwhelmed. Captain Cooks looks like they did a nice job, but hardly an "upgrade", unless travel posters thrill you. The upstairs gift shop had all of the personality taken out of it and looks like a generic shop you see at the exits to the parks. The pineapple lanai has to be one of the blandest locations I've seen at the Poly in the 40 years I've been going there. The sign out front looks nice, but I can't get too excited about something I will drive by once or twice during my stay. I'm a DVC member and I'm not happy about the bungalows. They are destroying the site lines and the feel of the beach area. I'm sure there are many nice things to come and I'm still hopeful that I will be wowed at some point, but so far, I'm just not seeing it. I hope you are right about the front of the GCH.

I don't think that Disney has lost their quality touch, I just think that they take the cheap way out more often than not. They are fully capable of making amazing changes, they just choose not to in the name of the almighty dollar.

I can understand some of the larger items coming off as underwhelming, but they are all part of a larger picture. One example of a large upgrade would be the sign at the entrance. What used to be a small sign on top of a stick is now an elaborate landscape display. The pavement at the entrance to the GCH has been greatly improved over the original. The areas of the lobby that are coming out from behind the walls are well done with lots of detail. Pictures never do anything true justice, and I know that many folks opinions of the refurb are clouded by the fountain removal, including @tikiman. I am just still optimistic that this transformation will end up on the positive end of the spectrum.

 

[awilliams4]

I was pleasantly surprised when I visited Hilton Head to see how well everything was run, it was like being back in WDW in the early 90s again.

Just spent a week in a 2 Bedroom at HHI in August. The rooms and the resort were excellent.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I was pleasantly surprised when I visited Hilton Head to see how well everything was run, it was like being back in WDW in the early 90s again.

Yup. Those rooms just got renovated this year. We stayed there in December and the rooms were unrenovated. Everything felt old. Biggest complaint was the uncomfortable couch. Then we went back in June, and it was like night and day. Those rooms were great. Did not feel cheap at all. The resort overall had gotten some upgrades. Quite surprising, seeing as how several summers ago, they couldn't get enough money for a pool chiller. We are very excited to go back in December. We kind of go down there, enjoy the warmer weather, use the pool and the hot tub some, go bike riding, go walking on the beach, and just generally chill for a week. Since we spend quite a bit of time in the room, including for meals, we are so glad that the rooms are so nice now.

Aulani also never felt cheap in any way. Neither did Grand Californian. Disney is completely capable of doing a good refurb. And seeing as how Beach Club is such a mess right now, they cannot make it any worse.

 

[ford91exploder]

Yup. Those rooms just got renovated this year. We stayed there in December and the rooms were unrenovated. Everything felt old. Biggest complaint was the uncomfortable couch. Then we went back in June, and it was like night and day. Those rooms were great. Did not feel cheap at all. The resort overall had gotten some upgrades. Quite surprising, seeing as how several summers ago, they couldn't get enough money for a pool chiller. We are very excited to go back in December. We kind of go down there, enjoy the warmer weather, use the pool and the hot tub some, go bike riding, go walking on the beach, and just generally chill for a week. Since we spend quite a bit of time in the room, including for meals, we are so glad that the rooms are so nice now.

Aulani also never felt cheap in any way. Neither did Grand Californian. Disney is completely capable of doing a good refurb. And seeing as how Beach Club is such a mess right now, they cannot make it any worse.

Oh yes they CAN make it worse...

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

I've heard rumours now that Stormalong Bay will be renovated "soon". Does anyone know if and when this will be taking place. I am staying at BC next month and hoping the pool is in working order. It's also my niece and sisters first time staying and they have always wanted to experience the pool. They will be quite upset if it's not usable.

 

[llrain]

However, rooms are still open for business and stay filled all the time, even at 900.00 a night during the holiday, nothing faked there...Rooms that are available still go for big bucks and guests still pay the big bucks, how many rooms off the market is not a part of the equation, I never said they were selling out everything, just selling out what is available & at these rates, which is justification for charging so much, no matter what the price these rooms will remain filled.

I don't think they are, Disney just closes buildings to fake up occupancy rates I believe. I'm sure @ParentsOf4 has had some interesting posts about hotel occupancy statistics in the past.

 

[llrain]

Stormalong is rehabbed every year at almost the same, its doubtful that the theming will change

I've heard rumours now that Stormalong Bay will be renovated "soon". Does anyone know if and when this will be taking place. I am staying at BC next month and hoping the pool is in working order. It's also my niece and sisters first time staying and they have always wanted to experience the pool. They will be quite upset if it's not usable.

 

[CDavid]

However, rooms are still open for business and stay filled all the time, even at 900.00 a night during the holiday, nothing faked there...Rooms that are available still go for big bucks and guests still pay the big bucks, how many rooms off the market is not a part of the equation, I never said they were selling out everything, just selling out what is available & at these rates, which is justification for charging so much, no matter what the price these rooms will remain filled.

Sure, if you have a 500 room resort but can only sell a hundred rooms at the prices you're charging, you take 400 rooms out of service and claim 100% occupancy. Or if you can only sell 10 rooms, shutter the other 490. But nobody can claim that gives an accurate picture of the true market for such a hotel - it just helps to hide the true severity of the problem (not good for the stock price or job security if you're the "fall guy" at parks & resorts).

How many rooms which are "off the market" is indeed central to the equation. You don't build a resort only to leave a certain percentage of the rooms closed off, nor are holiday periods reflective of occupancy the rest of the year. No matter how you try to spin it, occupancy rates are seriously down at Disney's deluxe resorts, and that is a very serious matter (and why Disney proposes to convert otherwise empty rooms into DVC, instead of taking bold action to actually solve the issue). The properties are simply overpriced; Disney could see better financial results by lowering the price and actually filling all the rooms, versus charging inflated prices and leaving a percentage (20% or more) empty (and thus earning zero revenue). Better still, increase the value to the consumer for price paid (free dining year round at deluxe resorts only would probably work wonders).

 

[llrain]

But its not about occupancy rates at all, its about the price that people are paying for a room that is outlandishly priced, no matter how many rooms are available, If there was only one room available that one room would still fetch a price that is Disney outrageous. That's the point, no matter how run down or how much it needs upgrading people will still pay a huge price for the room and it will be occupied all the time at that ridicluous price. The main point is that for that room people will keep paying the silly high rate meaning Disney is justified in charging that much.

Sure, if you have a 500 room resort but can only sell a hundred rooms at the prices you're charging, you take 400 rooms out of service and claim 100% occupancy. Or if you can only sell 10 rooms, shutter the other 490. But nobody can claim that gives an accurate picture of the true market for such a hotel - it just helps to hide the true severity of the problem (not good for the stock price or job security if you're the "fall guy" at parks & resorts).

How many rooms which are "off the market" is indeed central to the equation. You don't build a resort only to leave a certain percentage of the rooms closed off, nor are holiday periods reflective of occupancy the rest of the year. No matter how you try to spin it, occupancy rates are seriously down at Disney's deluxe resorts, and that is a very serious matter (and why Disney proposes to convert otherwise empty rooms into DVC, instead of taking bold action to actually solve the issue). The properties are simply overpriced; Disney could see better financial results by lowering the price and actually filling all the rooms, versus charging inflated prices and leaving a percentage (20% or more) empty (and thus earning zero revenue). Better still, increase the value to the consumer for price paid (free dining year round at deluxe resorts only would probably work wonders).

 

[Laura Ellen]

i am kinda angry about this because i literllay just spent thousands for a trip in Jan 2015 staying at the yacht club - they didn't notify me AT ALL.

I rang and they said the pool will be open, but there will be a noise issue from 10am - 4pm every day. just so...argh

 

[asialeigh]

i am kinda angry about this because i literllay just spent thousands for a trip in Jan 2015 staying at the yacht club - they didn't notify me AT ALL.

I rang and they said the pool will be open, but there will be a noise issue from 10am - 4pm every day. just so...argh

You can always modify the resort you're staying at...