1st DVC trip at BLT- Was This Normal???

[mom2cobysyd]

We returned on the 23rd from our 1st DVC stay. We purchased last year and stayed at our home resort BLT.

I just want to state that we absolutely loved our resort and our stay. We noticed the same things others have said about nicks and such on the furniture but personally they didn't bother us. I do feel that some blame is on those that are staying there and not taking care of things (there was red Kool-Aid looking stains on the carpet in the walkway towards the master bedroom- if my kids did this I assure you I would clean it or notify housekeeping so it wouldn't ruin the carpet).

We did have a couple issues that I wanted to run by the DIS DVC Experts to see if this is NORMAL for a DVC stay-

We stayed in a 1 bedroom for 3 nights and then switched to a 2 bedroom for 4 nights (upon check-in they were able to keep us in the same 1 bedroom and just add the connecting studio so we didn't have to move rooms). On our 5th day, my mom was in the room and we were at the parks and someone knocked on the door of the studio part and my mom didn't answer it- they proceeded to use a key and opened the door- upon seeing my mom they said they were just checking if everything was okay. We thought it strange but just assumed it might have to do with us adding the studio to make the 2 bedroom.

Well, the next day I was sitting in the living room and I heard knocking. I thought it was my son knocking on my mom's connecting door so I ignored it. Then I heard our door open and then shut immediately. I jumped up to make sure my son hadn't opened the door and gone into the hallway (he is only 10). When I opened our door, a man in a dark beige housekeeping looking uniform said "oh, sorry, I was sent to check that everything is okay with your room". I said yes and went back inside. I then realized that this is the 2nd time someone has used a key to access our room and what would they have done if we were NOT there??? I found it unsettling and went down to the concierge at the front desk to discuss if it was normal for this to happen. The lady I spoke to indicated that they were probably making sure the room had been cleaned on those 2 days. I told her we were DVC and the room was not to be cleaned. She was also unsure why they would do this. She then indicated that she would contact the housekeeping manager and leave me a message once she found out why on 2 separate days someone would try to access our room. Surprise, surprise, I was never given a message about why this happened (and I wasn't smart enough to get her name). I am planning on contacting member satisfaction but wanted to know if this is something that has happened to anyone else.

Also, on our last full day, my mom gets a knock on her door and I open it- it is a man in painting overalls and he said he had a work order to fix and paint the inside of the closet and something else- WHAT??? Why would they do this on a room that is booked? Needless to say, I asked him if he could come back the next day as this was our last day and he said no problem. I just don't understand what they would do- ask us to move all of our clothes and stuff out of the closet?

We have stayed at Disney many times (non DVC) and I have never had so many people knocking on our door. We did enjoy our stay but those last couple days I felt a little like someone could be in our room anytime we left.

 

[Chuck S]

It may have something to do with the computer system upgrade not properly tracking rooms that are supposed to be out for service. When we checked into OKW on Dec. 1, the computer systems were completely down for the upgrade. When we finally got our room assignment, we went to unload the car and were greeted by two workers in the room, stating that the room was supposed to be out of service to re-caulk the shower and replace part of the ceiling, as there was a noticeable crack above the king bed. The workers left, saying they would reschedule after our departure date. The systems were down again for more upgrades on the 15th and some reported problems on the 19th.

 

[wbl2745]

It may be the whole reservation system mess in December. When we checked into AKV on 12/1 my brother's room, a deluxe studio, had not been cleaned. I assumed that the computer system had failed to notify mousekeeping that the room needed cleaning.

 

[Rest&Relax]

We had a similar incident on the 6th. We checked in at BLT late evening around 8:00 pm. Check in went smooth but when we arrived to our room it had a big fan blowing on wet carpet. When I called the front desk to get another room they said they would have to call us back. After 20 minutes I called them back. We finally got settled into another room around 9:30. This was not the way I wanted to start my first stay at BLT.

We do like BLT but it does not have that "home feeling" like OKW does. We will try it again in June and see how it feels.

 

[mac_tlc]

Doesn't seem like December has been a good month the BLT housekeeping..........

mac_tlc

 

[disneynutz]

Sorry that this happened to you. Keep your door locked when you are in your room, you never know who might enter. Since DVC rooms are booked for 100% occupancy, maintenance is sometimes preformed while the rooms are occupied.

 

[mickey mouse lover]

I keep my "do not disturb" sign out the whole time, unless I want service on the day I'm supposed to get it.

 

[toniosmom]

After reading about similar incidents like this on DIS, I got into the habit of locking the deadbolt while we are in the room. This way, no one can get in if a knock goes unanswered. I also put the 'privacy' sign out for the entire trip (except on trash and towel day). I met a woman who told me that she forgot to remove the sign and they didn't do t&t that day.

On our last trip, I did get a knock on the door, asking if they could change the battery on the lock, which I allowed. It took just a few minutes and because the door isn't visible from the living room, we were hardly aware they were there.

 

[mom2cobysyd]

OP here. I didn't think to relate the system upgrades to our problems but it does make sense that it could be giving housekeeping the wrong information.

I forgot about the new batteries in the door locks- we were also disturbed for this! Like I said, it just seemed like everytime we were in the room someone was knocking on the door. We will be using the Do Not Disturb signs next visit for sure!

I don't want to give anyone the idea that we did not enjoy BLT. We really did like it and LOVED our Standard View- it was room 7136 and we had a view of the marina and lake and back side of the Contemporary. The weather was on the chilly side for Florida but we could sit on the patio in the direct sun which was wonderful. The kids could just walk over to the sand area directly across from us. We were so close to the Contemporary that it was just a short distance to the monorail, bus stop, Contempo Cafe, Arcade, etc. I would take this standard view room every visit if I could!

 

[Brandis]

Since DVC rooms are booked for 100% occupancy, maintenance is sometimes preformed while the rooms are occupied.

I thought that's what the percentage of rooms owned by DVC is used for, to take rooms out of the booking cycle to have them refurbished while making another room available instead. That way, the total number of available rooms for members doesn't change.

 

[toocherie]

I would be peeved if DVC tried to paint a closet in my villa while I was booked in the unit.

 

[maminnie]

Like other hotels, why doesn't DVC/resort management at least slip a note under the door indicating that they will need to enter the unit for a specific repair. That way people can be prepared by putting things away that they do not want sitting out.

People just entering units throughout one's stay to do things like painting, etc. seems odd to me. I too would have been very upset if maintenance painted in my unit while I was there. This one really seems strange. Keep in mind that some people may have a sensitivity to paint smells. I would not have wanted my babies or small children around the smells either.

I too use the Do Not Disturb sign when I am there.

maminnie

 

[mom2cobysyd]

Personally, I feel that if we are staying as part of our timeshare purchase we should not be put out because they want to do maintenance on the room. They should only do these things when a room is not booked or in the least, ask the member if they mind if they do work on the room. Painting is something that would affect anyone in the room with the fumes and the time it would take to do it. I also find it funny that they are worried about painting the inside of a closet- this studio was not fixed yet with the new renovations so why not do it then?

I hope our next stay is less eventful We are going to try BWV and Vero as I would like to try all of the DVC resorts if we can.

 

[dopeygirl76]

Doesn't seem like December has been a good month the BLT housekeeping..........

mac_tlc

After reading waht happened to you and your family....LOVED...following along BTW............this is a HUGE understatement!!!!!!

 

[Sammie]

I can't imagine ever staying in a hotel room and not locking the deadbolt and latch.

People, this is not your home, other people have a key to your door.

Lock the deadbolt, throw the latch.

what would they have done if we were NOT there

This comment I don't understand, surely you do realize in a hotel when you are gone or your door is not latched anyone on staff can walk in.

 

[normr]

Yes that is true, if you have your privacy sign on the door, they will not come in, tonight after we got back from a lousy day at Universal IoA, we had a telephone message from housekeeping asking when they could come to perform TaT, since I forgot to take the sign down.