Anybody want to be honest?

[flipflopmom]

OK, so I had wondered if BLT, which we are buying into, is going to be very kid friendly. It seems more, well, adult, to me. DH says you can't get more kid friendly than MK in your backyard, but I still kind of worry....

Then, I read a thread referenced about DVC members being upset, and some non-DVC Dis members were NOT very complimentary towards DVC members. What should I expect as far as treatment, both from non-DVC and fellow DVC members?

We aren't wealthy by any standards, but consider our family trips to be the most important times of our lives and time we'll never get back with our girls, and we tend to invest heavily in them. DVC is really no more, even less, than our typical week renting a beach house or a week at WDW, plus we'll get some long weekends at HHI for family time. Our week in WDW together was truly the best of our lives, and I can't wait to go back!

I am almost now afraid that we'll get some "They'll let anyone in" looks and comments... (yes, I have some self-esteem issues) Anyone want to truthfully give me a heads up?

 

[rentayenta]

I wouldn't give another thought to what others will or won't think. Life is too short. Enjoy your new home away from home!

 

[Sammie]

Honestly when I am on vacation unless someone is running around indecently I never even notice other people.

I mean do people shout out I Am DVC, when they go in the lobby or pool area.

Rude people come in all containers, some are DVC and some are not. Enjoy your stay and put the rest behind you.

 

[lisareniff]

No worries, FlipFlop.

The social hierarchy really gets leveled out when we all put on our mickey ears!

 

[arthur06]

Have you ever read the book "Give 'em the Pickle"? It is a book about customer service and filled with many short stories.

There is one story that I recall...(to the best of my recollection...) A man is dressed casually to almost homely. Is downtown doing some business where paying for parking is required. He does some business in front of his bank, when he realizes that he doesn't have the cash to pay for his parking. So, he goes into his bank and ask the teller to validate his parking meter stub. the teller says that they only do that for bank customers. The gentleman explains that he banks there. The teller reminds him that the service is only for people making transactions that day. And in the process criticizes the man and his appearance. The man asks for the bank manager, and when prompted the bank manager sides with the bank employee, stating that transactions have to be made for the parking ticket to be validated. So, the customer decided to make a transaction and withdraw his money from the bank...something like $1.2 million. (and they validated his ticket)!

Don't worry about what others think! There will be people with more money then you, and people with less. Enjoy your time there and if people want to judge you, remember that if they don't have anything better to do at WDW, then to judge others, they really don't get/have the MAGIC!

 

[flipflopmom]

And at the end of the day, for our family, it's all about the magic. Thanks guys.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We are also not wealthy but we also feel that our WDW trips are a huge part of our family fabric and so we invest our $$$ there. We don't own at BLT, but at AKV and I have never felt like we don't belong. We are just a big family with 4 kids that are loud and crazy. If they don't make you feel welcome there come and hang out with us at AKV.

 

[fla4fun]

Well, I've stayed on cash reservations at many of the DVC resorts, and I would hazard a guess that most people couldn't tell if I was an owner or not. I certainly don't look at the other guests and try to determine who owns and who doesn't. I don't even pay much attention to other people, unless there's some sort of incident where attention is warranted (I always seem to be handing out band-aids and hand wash towelettes to people . . .). I'm certainly not going to ask everyone I come across in the resort whether they own or not.

I think this tough economy has a lot of people on edge, and they're just taking it out on others whenever they can. And that's sad. Especially in a forum dedicated to the most magical place on Earth. People have been paying different prices for the same rooms, airfare, and attraction tickets for years - it's just the Internet that has made that information available to the masses. Just book your vacation at a resort you like at a price you can afford, and let it go. Let's all get some Disney zen now . . . .

 

[eliza61]

Honestly when I am on vacation unless someone is running around indecently I never even notice other people.

I mean do people shout out I Am DVC, when they go in the lobby or pool area.

Rude people come in all containers, some are DVC and some are not. Enjoy your stay and put the rest behind you.

This is soooo me (not the running around indecent part) Sammie,
I couldn't tell you how was there on points and who were DVC members if you offered me a million bucks and I can honestly say I've never had a conversation with any one about how the paid for their vacations.

Op, I can't really think of any place at the world that hasn't seen some type of kid, even Victoria and Alberts gets an occasional half pint now and then.

BLT will be fine, so will your vacations.

 

[Corinne]

Home flipflopmom! I have also not noticed a difference between DVC members and non-DVC Members. Like you we joined DVC because we loved our yearly summer trips to WDW and wanted to 'invest' in that. I can honestly say we have never regretted our purchase. Our boys, now 22 & 19 still have a love of WDW. This year they are both coming along. Our younger son is bringing friends & our older son is bringing his gf. I am so excited! PS~I am sure BLT will be kid friendly!

 

[jekjones1558]

I read a post here recently from a DIS/DVCer that was shocking. It referenced the upgrades to SSR or OKW that Disney is offering to some guests who booked a value and it insinuated that those guests might somehow be socially unacceptable to the poster. Unbelievably arrogant.
Please know that this attitude is not the norm. The overwhelming majority of DVCers celebrate their common love of WDW and those here on the DIS are also willing to help each other whenever possible. There are many questions to ask yourself when buying into DVC, but whether or not you will feel comfortable or have fun with your family should NOT be concerns. My family is decidedly NOT high brow and we love DVC.

 

[allshookup]

Just like any other vacationer, DVC members come in all forms! I have to agree with most everyone here, that you can't tell who is a DVC member & who isn't (unless they're wearing DVC apparel). I have struck up conversations with many vacationers over the years & some have been DVC members, some first timers to WDW, etc. and almost everyone has been extremely pleasant. What you read on the internet, is not what you necessarily get in person.

As for BLT being adult oriented...well I would think that most of the accomodations in all the DVC resorts appeal to the adults, while the main pool areas seem to be geared towards the little ones and I think it will be the same with BLT. I think they'll be as many kids at BLT as any other DVC resort & I think most kids don't really pay too much attention to the resort decor, they will probably love the pool, be happy to be in WDW & you'll be happy to have a fridge where it's easy to give the little ones breakfast, snacks, etc. The memories you will create with your family over the years to come as a DVC member will be priceless & like most of us here, you will never regret the decision!

 

[Nikisha421]

cool story...have never read it but have been placed in similar situations on many occsions..although I dont have 1.2 million

 

[jakenjess]

We've taken many trips with our kids and stayed at most of the DVC resorts, and they've all been kid friendly. My kids love the Contemporary, and we're all thrilled that we've secured a 2 BR LV at BLT in January!

I'll join all the previous posters in saying I've never given a thought when at a DVC resort as to who is an owner or who isn't. When I'm on vacation, it's all about my family having a great time, and Disney offers the best family time I can imagine! Enjoy your BLT ownership and all the wonderful vacations you have ahead of you!

 

[jade1]

I expect to see a lot of strollers after Wishes with sleeping kids, peacefully walking back to BLT-now that's kid friendly. If we had little ones (and assume/hope we will have grandchildren one day) that's what we would be doing, instead of that whole bus/stroller fiasco to all the other DVC resorts. VWL boats aren't too bad if its the bigger one you can stroll right on.

 

[toniosmom]

Having only taken one DVC trip so far at SSR, I can honestly say that I couldn't have guessed who was DVC and who wasn't. Like many other posters, I don't pay too much attention to who is around me -- my DS4 loves swimming, so my eye is always on him. He is very friendly and on this trip asked to play along with a dad playing with his daughters in the pool. My son doesn't have a father (I adopted him as a single mother), so I really appreciated this man including my son in throwing the ball around the pool. So all I can say is that my experience with fellow vacationers has been quite pleasant and I have no idea if they were DVC or not.

Like others have said -- just enjoy your vacation with your family. What others may think or not think is of no consequence.

 

[stitchineeyore]

You will have MANY more wonderful trips to WDW with your family! I agree with your DH. I think BLT will be wonderfully kid friendly. And walking to the Magic Kingdom? YAY! My daughter and I did a trial trek last spring and can't wait. As for DVC membership, our first points were my birthday gift 10 years ago, and we bought the rest over the next two years. UNTIL Bay Lake Tower. HAD to add on! Our two adult children still enjoy vacationing at Disney with us, and the contract will go to them when we are gone (unless I can live to 110. Who knows?) Anyway, the purpose of this post was to tell you that 99.9% of the DVC folks I have interacted with over the years were grand. I am an early bird, and get lots of greetings walking out for coffee in those long BWV corridors. In any group, there were be some negative attitudes and behaviors, so just enjoy your family and your membership and ignore the naysayers. We have wonderful experiences with our points, and look forward to many more. Welcome Home neighbor!

 

[MinnieGi]

How could any Disney resort NOT be kid friendly! BLT will be full of kids and catering to kids. I've never stayed at any Disney resort and felt it more adult oriented.

 

[emmiesmom]

We have stayed at the Contemporary 2x in the past 2 years with our daughter (at ages 3 and 4) and found it very child friendly and we are not folk who are dressed to the nines (my husband has a year round self-imposed uniform of cargo shirts, polo shirt and sneakers- we live in the northeast but that's what he wears year-round!)
We have bought BLT because we love the location, sleek theming-I assume they're ready for little kids because we're coming in February with our own and our friends who have a 4 year old and a 22 month old

 

[DebbieB]

People say that about GF too, that people are snoody and look down at everyone else. I stayed there twice and never felt that way and we certainly did not look wealthy. Never felt that way at a DVC resort either. Just enjoy yourself!