New water park construction is degrading Westin Desert Willow

[M Wyo]

The city of Palm Desert is constructing a large water park, the Desert Surf, next door to WDW. The construction noise can be heard throughout the entire property. Once the park has been completed and in operation, will the noise from the large wave generator adjacent to the resort be noticeable? Then there will be the construction noise from all the rentals/residences surrounding the water park that will be ongoing for years.

We have been coming to WDW, our home resort, for years and while disappointing, it is what it is. Staying at Westin Mission Hills or converting to abound points will be our likely choice in the future.

 

[iowaguy09]

Well, if you stay at MVC Desert Springs 1, be sure to avoid the units facing the JW Marriott so you don’t hear the noise from their chillers and condensers.

From your photos it looks like the wave generation equipment is opposite and away from the WDW units?

 

[M Wyo]

Well, if you stay at MVC Desert Springs 1, be sure to avoid the units facing the JW Marriott so you don’t hear the noise from their chillers and condensers.

From your photos it looks like the wave generation equipment is opposite and away from the WDW units?

The suction will come from the resort boundary side. Quite possible, even probable the wave generator will direct the noise to the suction side. All speculation.

 

[GerryWA]

The city of Palm Desert is constructing a large water park, the Desert Surf, next door to WDW. The construction noise can be heard throughout the entire property. Once the park has been completed and in operation, will the noise from the large wave generator adjacent to the resort be noticeable? Then there will be the construction noise from all the rentals/residences surrounding the water park that will be ongoing for years.

We have been coming to WDW, our home resort, for years and while disappointing, it is what it is. Staying at Westin Mission Hills or converting to abound points will be our likely choice in the future.

I was over there last week staying at another marriot resort. Drove up to the golf course behind WDW. The new water park is going to be a disaster as you describe. There is night lighting like you see at ball parks, that will really mess with the night ambiance of the resort. Really too bad, this substantially reduces the value of this property.

 

[mjm1]

The city of Palm Desert is constructing a large water park, the Desert Surf, next door to WDW. The construction noise can be heard throughout the entire property. Once the park has been completed and in operation, will the noise from the large wave generator adjacent to the resort be noticeable? Then there will be the construction noise from all the rentals/residences surrounding the water park that will be ongoing for years.

We have been coming to WDW, our home resort, for years and while disappointing, it is what it is. Staying at Westin Mission Hills or converting to abound points will be our likely choice in the future.

It might be worth a call to the resort Manager to get his/her understanding of the situation and potential impact on the resort and guests.

 

[M Wyo]

It might be worth a call to the resort Manager to get his/her understanding of the situation and potential impact on the resort and guests.

We did have communication with the general manager and he was remorseful that we were assigned a room as close to the construction as humanly possible (see picture take from outside our room). Mind you...we specifically asked for a room assignment away from the construction. He acknowledged the fail. I spoke to folks rooms adjacent to us. Some were owners. Some were not. They were unanimous in their disappointment to the situation. Including the very nice coating od dust and dirt you get when you are parked in building 1 and 2's lot.

 

[daviator]

There are only two buildings really impacted, it’s not true that you can hear construction noise throughout the resort. Construction is in the third year now, I’ve stayed there eight or nine times since construction began and not been bothered by it, but I never choose the buildings at the front of the property, partly for that reason.

The City of Palm Desert has nothing to do with the project, other than that they approved it. There has been a lot of back and forth between the developer and Desert Willow management, my understanding is that the lighting is supposed to be directed so that it doesn’t shine into Desert Willow units, but of course those staying in the buildings which face the surf park will obviously be able to see it.

Eventually (years from now, probably) they are supposed to build a hotel and housing around the surf pool, all of which should help to soak up noise and light. In the shorter term it remains to be seen how the impacts on WDW will be. There is an expectation that until the hotel is built, WDW will become a convenient place for surf park visitors to stay, so that may add some value by making it easier or more lucrative to rent units at WDW. I know that the resort negotiated some kind of access agreement that I think will allow visitors who are staying at WDW to access the surf park directly without having to go out to the street and around, but it’s possible that the agreement was only for emergency access, I don’t know the details. The GM mentioned it at the last annual meeting.

When I’ve been there, they’ve seemingly been doing a good job of preventing blowing dirt and sand, but a certain amount of that is endemic to the desert environment. My car is usually filthy after a couple of days there, and that has nothing to do with construction. I end up going to the car wash a couple of times on every trip.

My guess is that most of us who own there will gravitate to the buildings which don’t face the surf park, and those buildings will most frequently house transient (cash-paying) guests, once the surf park opens. Certainly I’d agree that the peaceful view from the rooms in buildings 1 and 2 are significantly and negatively impacted, but there’s not much we or the resort can do about it. So far it has not had any negative impact on my very frequent use of the property and I don’t really expect it to.

 

[M Wyo]

There are only two buildings really impacted, it’s not true that you can hear construction noise throughout the resort. Construction is in the third year now, I’ve stayed there eight or nine times since construction began and not been bothered by it, but I never choose the buildings at the front of the property, partly for that reason.

The City of Palm Desert has nothing to do with the project, other than that they approved it. There has been a lot of back and forth between the developer and Desert Willow management, my understanding is that the lighting is supposed to be directed so that it doesn’t shine into Desert Willow units, but of course those staying in the buildings which face the surf park will obviously be able to see it.

Eventually (years from now, probably) they are supposed to build a hotel and housing around the surf pool, all of which should help to soak up noise and light. In the shorter term it remains to be seen how the impacts on WDW will be. There is an expectation that until the hotel is built, WDW will become a convenient place for surf park visitors to stay, so that may add some value by making it easier or more lucrative to rent units at WDW. I know that the resort negotiated some kind of access agreement that I think will allow visitors who are staying at WDW to access the surf park directly without having to go out to the street and around, but it’s possible that the agreement was only for emergency access, I don’t know the details. The GM mentioned it at the last annual meeting.

When I’ve been there, they’ve seemingly been doing a good job of preventing blowing dirt and sand, but a certain amount of that is endemic to the desert environment. My car is usually filthy after a couple of days there, and that has nothing to do with construction. I end up going to the car wash a couple of times on every trip.

My guess is that most of us who own there will gravitate to the buildings which don’t face the surf park, and those buildings will most frequently house transient (cash-paying) guests, once the surf park opens. Certainly I’d agree that the peaceful view from the rooms in buildings 1 and 2 are significantly and negatively impacted, but there’s not much we or the resort can do about it. So far it has not had any negative impact on my very frequent use of the property and I don’t really expect it to.

Thank you for the conscientious reply. Just a data point: The construction noise (which included Jack hammering and moving large boulders) could be clearly heard at the main pool on two of the days last week we were at the pool. Building 5 is another to avoid as it directly faces the activity one fairway anyway. Also, we were informed by the concierge staff that building 6 is exposed to construction noise as well. We are twenty year original executive level owners. We stay at WDW approximately twice a year. Despite making the reservation twelve months in advance and including a detailed request to be located as far away from the construction as possible, we were assigned a unit in building 2 right adjacent to the construction…..apparently in error.

Just a data point.

 

[daviator]

Thank you for the conscientious reply. Just a data point: The construction noise (which included Jack hammering and moving large boulders) could be clearly heard at the main pool on two of the days last week we were at the pool. Building 5 is another to avoid as it directly faces the activity one fairway anyway. Also, we were informed by the concierge staff that building 6 is exposed to construction noise as well. We are twenty year original executive level owners. We stay at WDW approximately twice a year. Despite making the reservation twelve months in advance and including a detailed request to be located as far away from the construction as possible, we were assigned a unit in building 2 right adjacent to the construction…..apparently in error.

Just a data point.

I don’t think they were doing any jackhammering during any of my stays. That’s a sound that really carries, so I’m not surprised it could be heard at the main pool, which is essentially just across from buildings 1 and 2. I guess the good news is that construction noise is temporary, I think you just pulled the short straw in terms of being there while they were doing something really noisy, (When they start putting up residential buildings there, that will have hammering noises too, but I think that’s years away, if it ever happens.)

It’s lousy that they put you in that building even though you asked to be away from it. It probably goes without saying that next time, you should complain at check-in if they try to do that. I doubt I’ll ever stay in one of those two buildings again…not willingly at least. For what it’s worth, when they send the pre-arrival email asking about your preferences, I usually ask for the specific buildings that I want (I usually specify two or three acceptable choices) and they’ve always gotten me into one of my choices. So consider doing that rather than just saying “away from the construction.” They’re doing hundreds of room assignments, the more close you make it, the more likely you’ll get what you want.

My longer-term concerns are about noise (for example, will they play amplified music at the big wave pool? I sure hope not.) There will undoubtedly be some people noise, but hopefully it’s not really much different than the kind of noise that already comes from the people at our pools. It’s not as if this is a stadium with a roaring crowd. So I’m optimistic it won’t be too bad. We may see an influx of “wave park people” staying at WDW, they may be a different crowd than we’re used to, but I think we can get used to that.

We were last there at Christmas and will be back in April. I look forward to seeing the progress. But I can’t imagine I’ll ever be a customer of the surf park.

 

[daviator]

The suction will come from the resort boundary side. Quite possible, even probable the wave generator will direct the noise to the suction side. All speculation.

One other note: I THINK I remember that the noisy equipment is going to be underground, to reduce or eliminate the sound issues from it. I know this was a concern early on, and I think I remember that they addressed it that way.

 

[M Wyo]

I don’t think they were doing any jackhammering during any of my stays. That’s a sound that really carries, so I’m not surprised it could be heard at the main pool, which is essentially just across from buildings 1 and 2. I guess the good news is that construction noise is temporary, I think you just pulled the short straw in terms of being there while they were doing something really noisy, (When they start putting up residential buildings there, that will have hammering noises too, but I think that’s years away, if it ever happens.)

It’s lousy that they put you in that building even though you asked to be away from it. It probably goes without saying that next time, you should complain at check-in if they try to do that. I doubt I’ll ever stay in one of those two buildings again…not willingly at least. For what it’s worth, when they send the pre-arrival email asking about your preferences, I usually ask for the specific buildings that I want (I usually specify two or three acceptable choices) and they’ve always gotten me into one of my choices. So consider doing that rather than just saying “away from the construction.” They’re doing hundreds of room assignments, the more close you make it, the more likely you’ll get what you want.

My longer-term concerns are about noise (for example, will they play amplified music at the big wave pool? I sure hope not.) There will undoubtedly be some people noise, but hopefully it’s not really much different than the kind of noise that already comes from the people at our pools. It’s not as if this is a stadium with a roaring crowd. So I’m optimistic it won’t be too bad. We may see an influx of “wave park people” staying at WDW, they may be a different crowd than we’re used to, but I think we can get used to that.

We were last there at Christmas and will be back in April. I look forward to seeing the progress. But I can’t imagine I’ll ever be a customer of the surf park.

Our villa preference included floors in 10 buildings selected to be away from the construction activity. And verified with concierge staff prior to submittal. I admire your optimism about the future. Us, not so much.

 

[regatta333]

We are staying at Desert Willow this week, having arrived on Friday. We were originally assigned a corner unit in building 2 facing the construction (probably the worst possible room assignment). We arrived at 12:15, early enough that there were apparently two other room options available, one in building 3 and another in building 15. We chose 15 since they said they are starting sandblasting on the Palo Verde pool tomorrow. I think if we had arrived at normal check-in time, we might have been stuck.

 

[regatta333]

I'd be interested to know if Marriott owners are getting preference over Vistana owners. I've been to two owner updates now (at Marriott resorts) where the salesperson has made a point of emphasizing that Marriott acquired Vistana, not the other way around, implying that we were done a favor by being brought into the Marriott family and how great their resorts are. I pointed out that I find the Westin resorts superior to Marriott. While he went so far as to concede that Nanea was a very nice property, he then went on to denigrate others, like Sheraton Broadway (which I happen to enjoy). The whole thing was a real turn off.

 

[daviator]

I'd be interested to know if Marriott owners are getting preference over Vistana owners. I've been to two owner updates now (at Marriott resorts) where the salesperson has made a point of emphasizing that Marriott acquired Vistana, not the other way around, implying that we were done a favor by being brought into the Marriott family and how great their resorts are. I pointed out that I find the Westin resorts superior to Marriott. While he went so far as to concede that Nanea was a very nice property, he then went on to denigrate others, like Sheraton Broadway (which I happen to enjoy). The whole thing was a real turn off.

It is NOT true that Marriott owners are getting any preference over Vistana owners in room assignment. And I haven’t noticed any difference in whether I get my requested room assignment or not based on whether I make a weeks owner reservation vs. a VSN reservation vs. an Abound reservation. It’s all the same I think. Many of the Westin properties do room assignments based on the reservation time stamp (how early you made the reservation) but I’m not sure that works at WDW, since it isn’t obvious which are “the best rooms” – some people want to stay close to the main pool, some people want to stay close to the quiet pool, or Palo Verde, or Ironwood… some people want an upper floor, some people want a lower floor, etc. So I think they just do their best to honor people’s requests, perhaps using time stamp to break ties. Maybe someone else has a better answer on that.

I agree that it’s insulting and not appreciated when the sales types try to make Vistana owners feel like second class citizens in the MVC world. Theyve tried that on me too. I don’t think it has any basis in reality, I think it’s just yet another lie that they tell because it apparently motivates some people to buy Abound points.

 

[Hindsite]

I'd be interested to know if Marriott owners are getting preference over Vistana owners. I've been to two owner updates now (at Marriott resorts) where the salesperson has made a point of emphasizing that Marriott acquired Vistana, not the other way around, implying that we were done a favor by being brought into the Marriott family and how great their resorts are. I pointed out that I find the Westin resorts superior to Marriott. While he went so far as to concede that Nanea was a very nice property, he then went on to denigrate others, like Sheraton Broadway (which I happen to enjoy). The whole thing was a real turn off.

Sales are just yanking your chain, so ignore them. Sheraton, Westin and MVC are all owned by the same company, MVW, along with II, Hyatt and a gaggle of other stuff, so sales make up stories about one vs the other depending on who you are and when you own. They have been known to tell MVC owners that Hyatt will be bookable via Abound "soon" but that's so remote, and less likely following the dreadful financial performance that the roll-out of Sheraton and Westin was supposed to avert. Westin owners seem to be an easy mark when it comes to suggesting that they are somehow going to be degraded by the wider ownership, so they'll keep plugging that line as long as it works.

Unhelpfully the umbrella brand for the collection of Sheraton, Westin and MVC timeshares is termed Marriott Vacation Clubs, so its easy for sales to mislead people that MVC (Marriott Vacation Club, no s on the end) owners have any kind of preference over the Sheraton or Westin owners. Thankfully they don't and long may that be the case, its enough of a mess already.