Anybody want to be honest?

[Lynne M]

Please, please, please don't feel that way.

DVC resorts (all Disney resorts, really) are some of the least snobby places you'll ever visit. If anyone's classless enough to be throwing 'who let them in' looks, well, that's their failing, not yours.

All of the resorts (BLT included) are very casual and family-oriented, and you'll feel very comfortable at any of them.

At any rate, there's just no way to tell who's a member and who isn't, who's paying cash and who's staying on points, who's using their own points and who's renting.....you just can't tell. And honestly, no one cares. They're all too busy enjoying their own vacations.

 

[dallastxcpa]

I think you will fit in just beautifully and your family will have a wonderful vacation.

As for the DVCer's who have been less than positive lately I think it all boils down to this.... We are all very proud of our homes...We want the people who use those homes to care for them and respect them as we do. I think a lot of people are upset because they perceive the extra use of the rooms as causing additional wear and tear.

I come from a very large family who is very loud. We put the RED in redneck sometimes. However, we are true southerners and were brought up with manners and to be respectful of others (including their property). So I say bring it on. We each vacation a little different; some of us only eating at the finest restaurants and others cooking in their villas and bringing their own case of beer. (I've done that)

So in conclusion to this very long post.... Just don't let your kids jump on the furniture in the lounge and I can promise you will be great.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

If you stay well clear of the polo grounds you should be fine..

MG

 

[Amy&Dan]

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?

You know its funny, before we bought, I had those same thoughts. Up until we bought, we had stayed in values and we had to "gasp" finance our contract and after reading a few threads I had my doubts. I mean I was buying into SSR (not the favorite around here) and I was financing my purchase. And I had only stayed at Pop and Movies. I was convinced I just wasn't good enough to buy into the whole "best kept secret"! Then I realized those threads I had read years ago (just like the ones going now) are a tiny slice of DVC membership. We joined, we still stay in values and mods sometimes when we are out of points or doing long trips, and we feel as at home at SSR, OKW and BWV as we do at Pop, POR or our own backyard. I am so glad we bought, we love our DVC, SSR in particular and have had so many wonderful trips that wouldn't have happened otherwise.

There is no secret handshake, no radar DVC members have to determine who owns, who is staying on cash or borrowed or rented points. You can't tell any difference at DVC resorts than anywhere else.

There is some real bitterness on these boards towards DVC members. When I see certain threads that pop now and again where DVC members come off badly, I think "that's why ppl hate DVC members". Then I see people who seem to just find the whole thing (DVC in general) irritating and post time and time again what a dumb "investment" it is and how they woudln't be caught dead buying a contract. There's just a few bad apples on all sides of this.

But in the end, you sound like me and most other DVC members. You want a sound way to enjoy fun times with your family. I think you'll be like most of us after you buy, you'll think "why didn't I do this sooner?"!

 

[bumbershoot]

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)!

Love that story! Our jeweler had a similar story about his own biases and how they were smashed to the ground by a dressed down early Microsoft employee who was able to retire in his 30s....

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.

Sure do hope it's not the norm! I really didn't like that thread, and I'm so happy for those who were upgraded!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

Sure do hope it's not the norm! I really didn't like that thread, and I'm so happy for those who were upgraded!!!!

it is not -most DVC members are happy about the upgrades and hoping these guest decide to buy too.

OP - believe me know where you are. My mother thought the same thing - say we would be outcasts because we couldn't afford the new clothes.

told her what new clothes - still wearing the same stuff - now do get a new top at WDW (or discount stores) once a year - but that is all.

don't worry most members will accept you - hey they accept me and by this board I am poor.

You and your family will love BLT. first brought at OKW in 1993 and sold OKW to buy BLT (could not afford both)

now know none of us have even stayed in BLT yet - but really think we will love it. It will be kid friendly all the DVC resorts are kid friendly - it will have a community hall (VWL and BC do not have one). so definitely kid friendly.


besides on those special trips (anniveraries, birthdays) you might be able to get a MK view - so you can watch Wishes from your room with the music on the TV. pretty wonderfully

 

[Sammie]

I think BLT will be a fabulous location for kids, I mean walking to the MK, how cool is that??????

The pool area is looking great and Contemporary has the best arcade on property, yes I admit I go to the arcade.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

We have just bought into BLT, and it was primarily for the location - we have 2 young boys (2 and 5) and on numerous occassions we have been advised to stay at monorail resorts as we have young children. (We stayed at the poly last year and couldn't fault the monorail).

So I am guessing that young children at BLT will be the norm rather than the exception. I can see why people might think it is more adult themed because of the decor. But for us, the rooms are nice for the adults, but the location is the main reason we have bought into BLT - and that is mainly for our children!!

I have been visiting the world since I was 5 (I am now 35) and have never ever felt like I didn't belong - and we have stayed everywhere from Grand Floridian to All Stars and all the levels in between.

 

[nunzia]

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.

I second this! Cherish your family and this time with them. There are nice and not so nice people anywhere at anytime. Just be a nice one and have a nice time

 

[Inkmahm]

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?

Won't happen! As the other posters have told you, there really isn't any way to know who is a DVC member and who isn't.

If your clothes are clean and not full of holes, you're dressed well enough for Disney in my book. Actually, I laugh at the women I see in the expensive heels at the parks. I'm in my comfy crocs or tennis shoes, always. I don't care what my feet look like, only that they don't blister and I can walk with them.

In other words, you'll be fine. Don't worry, be happy!

 

[Tara]

I'm not sure why BLT seems more adult-oriented - I think it's very family friendly. The rooms are fun, the pool has some neat features for kids (play area, cool slide, Mickey heads everywhere, colored racing lights on the slide), there's a community hall unlike BCV (and I think VWL). It looks out on the most family friendly park of all AND the monorail, which is for kids of any age. PLUS it connects to the Contemporary, which has the most popular resort character meal (I'm guessing), the monorail runs through the building, and from all reports it has the best arcade of any deluxe resort. Oh, and 2 more pools for BLT guests to use, plus I believe the most water recreation options available. So like I said, very family-friendly IMO.

If it's the more modern decor that makes you think this, I'll just add that when we were at SSR in May, my 7yo son kept asking to go back to see the BLT model. Even though we looked at both the first day we were there (we'd seen them before), BLT was the one he kept asking to see.

Honestly, I've never even heard this issue come up re: DVC. The only time I hear such a concern raised is over staying at the Grand Floridian. I guess some people think of it as really ritzy or something, but in our experiences staying there, it's mostly like any other resort. It's a slightly different story when you go in the restaurants that restrict certain items (tank tops, for instance), but you know going in that a restaurant might have a slightly different dress code. All in all, you'll see a cross section of what you see in the parks at any of the resorts.

 

[twinklebug]

CR is very family-fun and I'm sure BLT is no different. I do wish they had allowed us to explore the lobby on our open house. They pushed the grand villa MK view & the Top of the World in our agenda instead. I can guarantee I'd be spending far more time traversing the lobby & at the pool than in the lounge or in a room I'd have to rob points from 5 years to come to be able to afford.

The only location Disney owns where I feel a little out of place is the Grand Floridian, and I get over that fast enough when I see the masses of stroller/balloon combos being pushed by without nannies to guide.

 

[the who #3]

it is in wdw and in view of the mk, i can not imagine more kid friendly.

the bank story is probably very true and a good lesson to anyone.

i have a friend (quite wealthy) who went with the necessary cash in his pocket, wearing overalls, to a mercades dealership to buy a car because that is what his wife wanted. the sales people told him that he was probably in the wrong place. therefore he produced the cash and told them that he would go spend it somewhere else. they profusely appolegized but he went to another dealer to buy the same car.

everyone should think before the speak or judge. i am not being critical of the poster to this thread. just commenting that things are not always as they seem.