BLT/Contemporary Staff

[culli]

We have stayed at all the WDW DVC resorts except AKV. We have stayed at BLT 4 times and just got back earlier this week. I find the BLT and Contemporary staff to be below average in attitude and at times just plain rude (except the community hall staff). This includes check in, pool/bar staff, the people who stand in the BLT lobby all day, bell services, quick serve staff at the contemporary pool, pretty much all of them just don't seem to be up to par with the other DVC resort locations staff. Not just the DVC staff but the locations, people at the Boardwalk/Beach&Yacht club overall area (hotel, DVC, quick serve the whole area), OKW, SSR basically every location period on Disney grounds the staff just seems to nicer and have a more pleasant demeanor.

Now am I the only one with this perception/experience? We are pretty easy going and laid back people but every time we stay at BLT my wife and I just seem to walk away with that "this staff really isn't friendly" attitude.

We have been there 4x's, 1st time was the first Oct of the year it opened and the last time was just last week so I don't chalk it up to one bad experience or just caught them at a bad time. We love the location and it is not a certain bad incident, just not getting a very friendly vibe. Hope that makes sense and not trying to start a war or a "we had the worst experience at resort XYZ and will never go back", just wondering if anyone else gets this "vibe" from the Contemporary area.

 

[Starr W.]

We have stayed at all the WDW DVC resorts except AKV. We have stayed at BLT 4 times and just got back earlier this week. I find the BLT and Contemporary staff to be below average in attitude and at times just plain rude (except the community hall staff). This includes check in, pool/bar staff, the people who stand in the BLT lobby all day, bell services, quick serve staff at the contemporary pool, pretty much all of them just don't seem to be up to par with the other DVC resort locations staff. Not just the DVC staff but the locations, people at the Boardwalk/Beach&Yacht club overall area (hotel, DVC, quick serve the whole area), OKW, SSR basically every location period on Disney grounds the staff just seems to nicer and have a more pleasant demeanor.

Now am I the only one with this perception/experience? We are pretty easy going and laid back people but every time we stay at BLT my wife and I just seem to walk away with that "this staff really isn't friendly" attitude.

We have been there 4x's, 1st time was the first Oct of the year it opened and the last time was just last week so I don't chalk it up to one bad experience or just caught them at a bad time. We love the location and it is not a certain bad incident, just not getting a very friendly vibe. Hope that makes sense and not trying to start a war or a "we had the worst experience at resort XYZ and will never go back", just wondering if anyone else gets this "vibe" from the Contemporary area.

I found the front desk to have the "attitude". The others we ran across(shops, quick service and pool bar) were very Disney appropriate. I've eaten at The Wave twice and the wait staff there is very nice. Never had a complaint with the Cali Grill staff either. We stayed at BLT in January 2011.

 

[culli]

I found the front desk to have the "attitude". The others we ran across(shops, quick service and pool bar) were very Disney appropriate. I've eaten at The Wave twice and the wait staff there is very nice. Never had a complaint with the Cali Grill staff either. We stayed at BLT in January 2011.

I have not ate at either place, we did find Chef Mickey's to be good but not that quick service place right next it.

 

[Starr W.]

I have not ate at either place, we did find Chef Mickey's to be good but not that quick service place right next it.

I stopped at the QS to get flatbreads for the kids, before DH and I went to the Cali Grill. We were going to eat there one night, but walked up and they were sorry grills are not working, "so sad too bad attitude."

Went down and walked up to the Wave and had a really nice server, good sit down meal. Love the mini dessert trios there.

We've never done Chef Mickey's, made it to Crystal Palace and Cape May over the years. Now they are at the age when they will ask when are we doing date night and letting them eat pizza in the villa.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's been a few years since we stayed at the CR and we have a BLT visit coming up in October. We had very nice CMs at CR. I guess we'll just have to see in October.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

Just came back from BLT a couple weeks ago. No issues with any staff at all. Pretty good experiences all around.

 

[RachaelA]

I hope we don't have a bad experience in October. Its our home resort, but we've never stayed there (new members). We're used to AKL and how amazing the staff is there. But honestly in the end, we bought BLT because of the proximity to MK so we'll deal.

Thanks for letting us know about your experiences though. I hope you have a better one the next time you stay there

 

[bbluvsdis]

We have only stayed at BLT once in May 2011. I have to say we had the best check in experience ever there. The CM who checked us in spent about 15 minutes helping me pick the best room. He kept saying "you are an owner, you should be able to pick your room". I've never had a CM let us do that! I also got bronchitis while we were there and the concierge desk was helpful in giving us info as to options for a pharmacy and doctor in the area. Maybe it was unusual but we had great service there and are looking forward to going back in October.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I've had very helpful staff at CR. And I've seen staff training new staff that responded "well, if you want to bother checking you'll have to call the back". But, overall I've had the same sort of experience at CR/BLT as at all other resorts.

 

[Da_Hoser]

the last time I stayed at BLT (Nov 2010) I had a wonderful experience with the staff. Everyone was friendly and very helpful. The Front Desk staff went above and beyond for me, moving me to a "better" Magic Kingdom view room.

 

[Friendofpluto]

Stayed there Dec 2010 and March 2012. Felt they were friendlier this visit.

 

[disneynutz]

We have only stayed at BLT once in May 2011. I have to say we had the best check in experience ever there. The CM who checked us in spent about 15 minutes helping me pick the best room. He kept saying "you are an owner, you should be able to pick your room". I've never had a CM let us do that! I also got bronchitis while we were there and the concierge desk was helpful in giving us info as to options for a pharmacy and doctor in the area. Maybe it was unusual but we had great service there and are looking forward to going back in October.

Our first stay at BLT we were told by the Front Desk that they had a new policy that we weren't allowed to change rooms at check in and that's why Disney came up with online check in, to stop changes at check in.

I guess it all depends on who you talk to.

Bill

 

[rlovew]

We have stayed 5 times and felt that everyone has been very helpful and friendly to us. I will say however someone was checking in before us during our first stay and very upset about there standard view room (I was under the impression that was what they reserved) and felt she deserved a different view. While the front desk was working with her (and she was screaming obnoxiously) I felt they were doing what they could but not overly helpful. I think they eventually got ahold of member services to see about changing her view and the points she was using and had available. She was extremely steamed they would not give her a better view without charging more points. The front desk was extremely nice when we stepped up but I would have understood if they had been a little less than amazing after dealing with her.

 

[rock_doctor]

I have to agree that some of the Contemporary staff seem to have issues dealing with the BLT owners. I have walked up to the desk in the BLT lobby and had to wait for the CM to put his phone down before he would acknowledge me and i am not talking about a few seconds...and they very rarely give the "welcome home" hello... The check in CMs are hit and miss. If they are unhelpful just get back into line and wait for the next CM. I will say the contemporary does have good...floor walkers (don't know what they are called -the ones that stand out in the open with the guests). They have on a couple occasions helped us greatly and defused what was going to end up being a very non-disney moment for the CM....

In general, we have not had too many issues outside of the check in desk and the seriously aggressive housekeepers. ...that room is mine until 11am don't stand outside my door and look irritated that I am still there!!! BLT is our home and we just look at these CMs as the nasty weird neighbors that you try to ignore until they do something funky.

 

[diz8297]

We stayed at BLT for the first time this past August. We own at OKW and SSR and absolutedly love OKW. I found the cm's to be absolutedly great at BLT! I believe we were "welcomed home". Definitely as we drove up and I think at check-in. All cm's we encountered in the hallways, i.e., housekeeping, etc were friendly. The restaurants were fine and the shops were as well. In fact, at the shops I recall having some great chats with a couple of the cm's. Then again, I tend to be friendly so they can't help but smile back!

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

We stayed at BLT for the first time this past August. We own at OKW and SSR and absolutedly love OKW. I found the cm's to be absolutedly great at BLT! I believe we were "welcomed home". Definitely as we drove up and I think at check-in. All cm's we encountered in the hallways, i.e., housekeeping, etc were friendly. The restaurants were fine and the shops were as well. In fact, at the shops I recall having some great chats with a couple of the cm's. Then again, I tend to be friendly so they can't help but smile back!

That is my attitude as well. I always remind my daughters that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I always have a big smile on my face when at Disney and I tend to get big smiles right back!

 

[Starr W.]

That is my attitude as well. I always remind my daughters that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. I always have a big smile on my face when at Disney and I tend to get big smiles right back!

I am always pleasant with the staff, but it certainly didn't work with the front desk at CR. I think perhaps since they are used to more "professional travellers" who attend conventions there(FL GOP was at the CR when we stayed), DVC members seem to take longer to check in, "isn't there a room on a higher/lower floor, etc etc." Watched 2 DVC members take up one front desk person for 15-20 minutes, total time I was in line until I walked away(and they were still there).

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am always pleasant with the staff, but it certainly didn't work with the front desk at CR. I think perhaps since they are used to more "professional travellers" who attend conventions there(FL GOP was at the CR when we stayed), DVC members seem to take longer to check in, "isn't there a room on a higher/lower floor, etc etc." Watched 2 DVC members take up one front desk person for 15-20 minutes, total time I was in line until I walked away(and they were still there).

Hey Starr! Did you guys get your requested room? Was it only the front desk that didn't have " magical" attitudes? We won't get there unti 2014!

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

I am always pleasant with the staff, but it certainly didn't work with the front desk at CR. I think perhaps since they are used to more "professional travellers" who attend conventions there(FL GOP was at the CR when we stayed), DVC members seem to take longer to check in, "isn't there a room on a higher/lower floor, etc etc." Watched 2 DVC members take up one front desk person for 15-20 minutes, total time I was in line until I walked away(and they were still there).

I think this is the real problem. Nobody cares about the line forming behind them and they will stay put till they get what they want. Then those who have waited in line so long start off angry with the poor CMs.

 

[Dziactor]

I have never had a problem in 4 trips.