Newport Coast renovations

[Bill4728]

Newport coast is currently doing renovation on some of the older buildings (1200- 2400)

We walked past one of the units in bldg 1400 and noted that they have removed the soaking tub from the master bedroom. Replacing it with a desk and makeup mirror.

We don't use the tub but I'd be really surprised if after all these years to suddenly find the tub was gone!

 

[jwalk03]

Newport coast is currently doing renovation on some of the older buildings (1200- 2400)

We walked past one of the units in bldg 1400 and noted that they have removed the soaking tub from the master bedroom. Replacing it with a desk and makeup mirror.

We don't use the tub but I'd be really surprised if after all these years to suddenly find the tub was gone!

They seem to be removing the big tubs from resorts all over the country as they go through their regular renovation cycles. They have fallen out of favor and apparently are a cleaning and maintenance problem.

Fairway Villas took them out and replaced them with nothing. Its just a big open space.

 

[dougp26364]

It would be fantastic, IMO, if Ocean Pointe would get rid of those tubs and replace them with a nice, larger, walk in shower. The one thing I’ve never been fond of at Ocean Pointe has been the small walk in shower in the master bedroom.

As for the tubs. We owned timeshare since 1998. In all those years I believe we’ve used those large soaking or better tubs all of half a dozen times. Sometimes just to say we actually got a little use out of it.

 

[sea&ski]

Oh phooey! Where will we put the laundry baskets?

 

[mjm1]

As an owner at Newport I am glad to see this change. Like others, we haven’t used the tub much and use it for storage. This should save on maintenance and water usage (from those who did use it.)

 

[dioxide45]

Grande Vista has been removing them during some of their refurbishments. I think we used them once and I made a video about cleaning them when we stayed at Cypress Harbour. The jutted tubs there are huge. If they ever replace them I don't know what they could put there. Though they also have tiny walk in showers at Cypress Harbour, so that could be a plus. The main issue is these things are cyclical. Granite counter tops are in, now it is marble. Tubs were all the rage in the 90s and early 2000s. Now no one uses them and walk in showers are preferred. How long till we get back to tubs being the in thing and them ripping out the showers to replace them with jetted tubs again?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Rick uses the tubs. He likes to soak in the hot water for his back. He has a 15% disability after an injury while on duty. That's why we have a big one at home. He is a very active person but that hot water really helps. He spends at least 45 minutes in the bathtub at night. He kind of counts on those on vacation.

I see how they are a maintenance issue, however. Cleaning our tub is an ordeal. I cannot reach the other side without hopping in. I use Soft Scrub and a sponge to clean it, and then I have to rinse it off. Not easy.

 

[davidvel]

Rick uses the tubs. He likes to soak in the hot water for his back. He has a 15% disability after an injury while on duty. That's why we have a big one at home. He is a very active person but that hot water really helps. He spends at least 45 minutes in the bathtub at night. He kind of counts on those on vacation.

I see how they are a maintenance issue, however. Cleaning our tub is an ordeal. I cannot reach the other side without hopping in. I use Soft Scrub and a sponge to clean it, and then I have to rinse it off. Not easy.

The real cleaning issue is what is in the jets and internal plumbing.

 

[ljmiii]

The real cleaning issue is what is in the jets and internal plumbing.

Indeed. Which is why in recent hard case refurbs DVC replaced the jacuzzi tubs w/unjetted soaking tubs. I wish MVC would do the same.

 

[ljmiii]

Fairway Villas took them out and replaced them with nothing. Its just a big open space.

The master bedroom/bath area looks really weird now. I wish they would have put in an unjetted soaking tub...but would have understood if they removed the jacuzzi to add a huge walk-in shower. What they did is just... *lame*.

 

[b2bailey]

We are some of the few who would miss the unjetted tub at Newport Coast.
We were there a month ago, and used it nearly every night -- some combination of adult with 2 year old child who loves a bubble bath.

 

[davidvel]

Indeed. Which is why in recent hard case refurbs DVC replaced the jacuzzi tubs w/unjetted soaking tubs. I wish MVC would do the same.

The only time we tried the tub, when our kids were young, a lot of black mold type substance came out as we turned jets on. Kids into shower for deep clean, and never again.

 

[Lakeshore]

There are no jets in the NCV tubs. It’s just a huge soaking tub, and I use it every night when we are there. Also when our kids were little, they loved having their baths in there. I would think they could at least replace it with a smaller stand alone no jetted tub that many upscale resorts have now…there are those of us who like a nice soak after an adventurous day.
I wish they would have surveyed the owners before they made the decision to completely take away the master tub.

 

[b2bailey]

I was at Newport Coast first week of February.
When I checked in, I was surprised that bath towels can no longer be exchanged without paying minor cleaning fee ($40?) Thankfully, an endless supply of washer detergent is available. Bed linens were exchanged midweek at no cost.

The sting of losing towel exchange was softened somewhat by our room location. Main building, top floor, corner unit. I think it's my favorite after 20 years of visits.

However, I was surprised (and irritated) that a string of decorative light bulbs surrounding bar were left on all night, every night. Seems a waste of electricity.

 

[dioxide45]

I was at Newport Coast first week of February.
When I checked in, I was surprised that bath towels can no longer be exchanged without paying minor cleaning fee ($40?) Thankfully, an endless supply of washer detergent is available. Bed linens were exchanged midweek at no cost.

The sting of losing towel exchange was softened somewhat by our room location. Main building, top floor, corner unit. I think it's my favorite after 20 years of visits.

However, I was surprised (and irritated) that a string of decorative light bulbs surrounding bar were left on all night, every night. Seems a waste of electricity.

Apparently you can simply ask for more bath towels and they will bring them. They just won't take the old ones as it is considered a towel exchange. Makes no sense. Though Newport Coast is all 2BR units with in room laundry. You can simply wash and dry towels to get fresh ones.

 

[DanCali]

Newport coast is currently doing renovation on some of the older buildings (1200- 2400)

We walked past one of the units in bldg 1400 and noted that they have removed the soaking tub from the master bedroom. Replacing it with a desk and makeup mirror.

We don't use the tub but I'd be really surprised if after all these years to suddenly find the tub was gone!

I found a youtube video with a renovated room tour. Here's the tub gone... It's a makeup area but could be used as a small desk maybe?

Looks like new cabinets and nightstands with plenty of usb outlets - pretty nice!

 

[rcdcowner557]

The only time we tried the tub, when our kids were young, a lot of black mold type substance came out as we turned jets on. Kids into shower for deep clean, and never again.

Bumping this post to the fore for anyone reading the "asked to do more at checkout?" thread discussion of housekeeping and cleaning tubs. I think that any destination that wants to market itself as family-friendly needs to keep a bathtub. I don't know anyone with young children who would stay anywhere that did not have that facility.

 

[dougp26364]

Bumping this post to the fore for anyone reading the "asked to do more at checkout?" thread discussion of housekeeping and cleaning tubs. I think that any destination that wants to market itself as family-friendly needs to keep a bathtub. I don't know anyone with young children who would stay anywhere that did not have that facility.

I think every 2 bedroom unit we’ve been in had a shallow tub/shower combo. The master suites have nearly always had a deep jetted tub or a deep soaking tub. Neither of which is considered very good for bathing children in, but that’s just me

 

[rcdcowner557]

I think every 2 bedroom unit we’ve been in had a shallow tub/shower combo. The master suites have nearly always had a deep jetted tub or a deep soaking tub. Neither of which is considered very good for bathing children in, but that’s just me

Interesting - would you recommend not bringing young children to the resort? Or, if you would, what would you recommend for bathing them?

Update: Never mind - see post below where another user suggests that whatever they had was suitable for bathing their children. As your post suggests, preferences will differ on this issue. It is not one to which I had ever given any consideration prior to a spate of posts today.

For my part, I am indifferent/have no opinion, other than that I can understand why any hotel operator would want to do whatever it could to cut costs, and if dispensing with tubs cuts costs without diminishing the brand, then more power to any operator who chooses that path.

 

[rcdcowner557]

There are no jets in the NCV tubs. It’s just a huge soaking tub, and I use it every night when we are there. Also when our kids were little, they loved having their baths in there. I would think they could at least replace it with a smaller stand alone no jetted tub that many upscale resorts have now…there are those of us who like a nice soak after an adventurous day.
I wish they would have surveyed the owners before they made the decision to completely take away the master tub.

This is absolutely the type of issue on which many (but not all) HOA boards poll owners. Is this a property that is now majority-owned by the MVC Trust?

 

[Lakeshore]

I think every 2 bedroom unit we’ve been in had a shallow tub/shower combo. The master suites have nearly always had a deep jetted tub or a deep soaking tub. Neither of which is considered very good for bathing children in, but that’s just me

The master was just a big soaking tub…not a jetted tub (I personally can’t stand a jetted tub in a resort bathroom). We own at NCV, going every year (and the past four years, twice a year) for twenty years. My kids, when they were ages ages 2-5 or 6(I can’t remember exactly)loved bathing in it…it was like a little private pool for them! Ha! The smaller regular tub/shower combo in the second bathroom was great for smaller toddlers/babies. And I loved having a big soaking tub in the master, and it filled fast, too, which was really nice. As I stated before, I bummed they didn’t poll us owners at NCV…I didn’t read anything about this renovation we own five weeks there. And I truly think one of the smaller upscale looking stand alone tubs would have been great in that spot in the master…they have them at the Hyatt Kaanapali Residence Club, and Four Seasons resorts at which we have stayed. They would have been easier to clean than the big tubs and would have really made it an updated spa like master bathroom. We go there next month, and I do t really want an updated room because of this. Uggg. And looking at pictures, they have made it look more sterile in the bathrooms….in the second, there isn’t storage under the sink. But I guess we will find out soon enough. I might ask if I can see one or see renderings….they used to have renderings of the updates for rooms in the main lobby years ago. I didn’t see anything this last year.

 

[dougp26364]

Interesting - would you recommend not bringing young children to the resort? Or, if you would, what would you recommend for bathing them?

Update: Never mind - see post below where another user suggests that whatever they had was suitable for bathing their children. As your post suggests, preferences will differ on this issue. It is not one to which I had ever given any consideration prior to a spate of posts today.

For my part, I am indifferent/have no opinion, other than that I can understand why any hotel operator would want to do whatever it could to cut costs, and if dispensing with tubs cuts costs without diminishing the brand, then more power to any operator who chooses that path.

I don’t recommend anything. The issue is modern design and, IMHO, the tubs they had in there since we’ve been owners (2001) were back breakers because of the depth. Most of the second bedroom baths had a nice shallow tub that worked better for bathing children.

I’m older now. Kids are grown. No grand kids. So my personal preference is a nice large walk in shower. Getting in/out of bathtubs can be risky business.

I don’t begrudge the large tubs. They’re just a waste of space for us

 

[hapstersmom]

I loved the tub at NCV. And at other places like FS Troon North or WKORV. I live in a condo built in the early 70s and the bathroom is of its era. These resort tubs always bring me joy. I get the issue of cleaning the jets though. To me, though really needed in MVC bedrooms, the new makeup table in the pics here seems a bit off.

 

[Lakeshore]

I loved the tub at NCV. And at other places like FS Troon North or WKORV. I live in a condo built in the early 70s and the bathroom is of its era. These resort tubs always bring me joy. I get the issue of cleaning the jets though. To me, though really needed in MVC bedrooms, the new makeup table in the pics here seems a bit off.

I agree…it looks so weird…they could have easily put a sleek stand alone tub that would have fit perfect in that space and elevate the look of the whole bathroom. The shower was already big. Strange to take away a tub in the master. All of the FS we have stayed at, and some have been amazing properties, have tubs. I mean, the counter space was already good enough with two sinks, and space for make up application. But this looks like a weird desk area…who wants to work in the bathroom?!!
I REALLY wish they would have polled all of us owners at NCV.
Also, in the past, they would have drawings of the new renovations that were to take place…they were usually set up on big stands in the check in area. I always liked it when they did that in advance.