Anyone having second thoughts about BLT?

[jakenjess]

We too were all ready to immediately add on when BLT went on sale, but I have to say the possible high price and high points have made me have second thoughts. For us it's all about the location, so the decor wouldn't sway me one way or another, but price will. If we do add on it will probably be fewer points than we originally had hoped. I agree with the PP, I think DVC has handled this poorly, with all the denials and delays in announcement. People seem to either really love the idea of BLT or have absolutely no interest. The possibility of BLT didn't stop us from adding on at AKV, as we wouldn't buy there anyway. If the price is too high at BLT we probably won't add on anywhere.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My initial reservations with BLT still hold--it looks like a very large resort hotel you might find on Waikiki beach. This resort seems like it will have more of a high-rise hotel feel, and while that may be alluring to some, I would much rather have the "resort" feel of the other locations. Give me OKW any day!

Absolutely!!!

 

[mom2rb]

DH and I made a deal. I could have AKL and he could have BLT. In fact we just sold our 120 point contract at SSR to get ready for BLT. We want 600 points total, we had 420 at SSR and 150 at AKL. I don't really care about BLT but DH loves it. If Disney prices it too high or makes the points per night too much then DH will walk away.

 

[PEANUT1]

I really like the idea of BLT...but the more I think about it, I think we'll wait to buy. I told hubby maybe we should stay at the contemporary in the new rooms before we decide. Another thing is that we will be in Disney on the 5th of October when people are predicting the announcement will come. Things always seem different in Disney and I might change my mind and just buy.

 

[AlexTina]

I was also gung ho for BLT and that is where we were going to buy our initial contract. Then waiting and waiting and waiting got old and we decided that since we really like AKL and they have great incentives at AKV we would buy there, so we bought 160 pts. We were still gung ho for BLT and that is why we only bought 160 pts. we would really like to have around 300 and figured as soon as they announced BLT we would do our add on there. BUT, the more we wait and weigh our options we think we would prefer to add on at AKV or VWL, we personally think that the themeing is better and we definately prefer the grounds. While BLT has a wonderful view of MK (in some rooms) the rest is basically concrete (parking lot views) and we prefer greenery.

Christine

 

[Disney Spaz]

DH wants BLT but after all the discussion about the points and prices we are definatley holding back. We just bought 200 pts at AKV to buy in and now are condidering WLV instead of BLT. DH likes the themeing there and overall I have been more impressed. I think Disney will really screw themselves if the points charts are too high. I think as a family a higher buy in might be justified but not if the points are going to be too high. JMHO

 

[noname70]

I really like the idea of BLT...but the more I think about it, I think we'll wait to buy. I told hubby maybe we should stay at the contemporary in the new rooms before we decide...

I dreamed of staying at the CR since childhood. When we finally did, I was suprisingly a bit disapointed. Although I loved the fact we could walk to MK, it was MUCH too busy-hussle-bussle-and almost loud for me. When I was in the main concourse I felt like I was in my local Galleria Mall on Black Friday. I found that I much prefer the relaxed atmosphere of DVC resorts, especially after a day in the parks. Certainly, this is a matter of personal taste, but I think after painful consideration, BLT will be like NYC-nice place to visit-wouldn't want to (own) there.

 

[JimMIA]

We never had first thoughts about BLT!

There are several reasons for that. Most importantly, we are doing okay with what we have. We could always stand a few more points, but we're fine for now.

The other reason we're holding off is we see a consistent pattern of sales over product and service delivery. We have experienced a significant decline in the quality of the overall product, and it appears to be caused from an almost total focus on sales and cost-cutting.

It seems like every policy change DVC has made in the last 2-3 years -- except going non-smoking -- has been a detriment to our ownership. The new banking policy, transfer limitations, the new reservations policy, the inability to use points outside during the last 4 months, the new waitlist policy -- all of those are negatives for us.

At this point, if we decide to add timeshare options, it will not be DVC. In fact, we may decide to sell our smaller DVC contract and buy something else.

 

[honeymo78]

the inability to use points outside during the last 4 months

Unless I'm misunderstanding something, you certainly can use your points outside the DVC in the last 4 months, you just can't book a "last minute" trip within that time. You can't book and travel at that time, but you can travel if you were already booked prior to 4 months.

I believe this is from the member site - got it from another message board
What is the Rule of Four?
You cannot book and travel on The Disney Collection (excluding Disneyland® Resort Hotels in California), Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last 4 months of your Use Year. However, you can travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you've booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year.

 

[blondietink]

UMM ... I booked a night at AKV in June for August and our use year is September 1st. We always travel t0 WDW in August and sometimes we don't know exactly when we can go until a couple of months beforehand. If they are going to impose a 4 month limit, then somehow we are going to have to gret our use year changed or something.

I thought the 4 month rule was strickly for the Disney Collection, concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations.

 

[JimMIA]

Unless I'm misunderstanding something, you certainly can use your points outside the DVC in the last 4 months, you just can't book a "last minute" trip within that time. You can't book and travel at that time, but you can travel if you were already booked prior to 4 months.

I believe this is from the member site - got it from another message board
What is the Rule of Four?
You cannot book and travel on The Disney Collection (excluding Disneyland® Resort Hotels in California), Concierge Collection and Adventurer Collection vacations within the last 4 months of your Use Year. However, you can travel in the last 4 months of your Use Year as long as you've booked your stay more than 4 months before the end of your Use Year.

You're right; I worded it poorly. The change to not being able to book outside DVC for 1/3 of the year is what diminished value for us. If we watch our timing, we can stay anytime.

 

[LIFERBABE]

You're right; I worded it poorly. The change to not being able to book outside DVC for 1/3 of the year is what diminished value for us. If we watch our timing, we can stay anytime.

I agree Jim. When you are at the end of your UY and availability is tight at the DVC resorts, not being able to use your points at a Disney resort is pretty crucial. Im glad I dont have a December UY. Oct, Nov and December can be booked solid with DVC.

I dont think we are interested in BLT either. I dont have to be on the monorail and MK is not our favorite park. They would have to have some pretty Awesome amenities to get us away from SSR and BCV. We like the resorts more than we like the parks, so the resort is very important to us.

 

[riggins]

In the past, we've been HUGE CR fans and I proudly had my "CRV Wish Club" avatar by my name. We've missed staying there since we joined DVC. We couldn't wait for sales to start and we were ready to sign by the Mickey head as soon as we had the chance. However, we just came back from 5 nights in a MK-View room in the Tower and well . . . I have a new avatar. Most of my issues were related to construction noise that is a temporary issue that shouldn't impact BLT once its done. However, I was really disappointed in CR management and at this point, don't care to ever stay there again, much less have an ownership interest in it. That said, our room was beautiful, the view was spectacular, and the location can't be beat. But, I doubt we'll be buying in.

 

[ITGirl50]

It seems like every policy change DVC has made in the last 2-3 years -- except going non-smoking -- has been a detriment to our ownership.

I think free Internet access was a positive change. Most high-end hotels still charge $10 a day for wireless.

--
We are still waiting to see what happens. If it takes a ridiculous amount of points to stay there and the points cost a lot, we may add on at WLV instead. Then we can stay a few nights near MK and book at the 11-month window. We will see what happens.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I have been conflicted on this from early on. We would love to be on the monorail. MK and EP are our favorite parks. So at first, it was a no-brainer.

Then I saw the spec drawings. Prayed that the c-shaped thing would not come to be...that it was just an old design or something. Well, here it is. I love the location. But I don't know if I can get past that Miami High Rise type of look and feel.

So, we are on the wait and see list...

 

[BroganMc]

Given all the feedback on this thread, I wonder what will happen if Disney does get ahead of itself. i.e. come out with ridiculously high price and/or point charts. They've been going into this expecting it to be a sure thing. But if people aren't tripping over themselves to buy and sales fall off expectations, what will they do?

 

[Longhairbear]

We really don't like the BLT, so we never had any intention of adding on there.
We may add on at GCV, but even then, we may wait for a second DVC at DLR before we add on again, unless we decide to add on to our home base VWL.

 

[Longhairbear]

We never had first thoughts about BLT!

.

It seems like every policy change DVC has made in the last 2-3 years -- except going non-smoking -- has been a detriment to our ownership. ..

Actually, that was a detriment to us. We are cigar afficionados, and can no longer enjoy a brandy, or dessert wine with imported cigars after dinner on our balcony. The same is true for the morning coffee and cigarette. We doubt we would ever stay at BLT as running down 16 floors to have a smoke, or a brandy and cigar isn't relaxing.

 

[CraftyMouse]

We have never had any interest in adding on at BLT. While more points are always nice, we really don't need them. We have 340 and that works out perfectly for us.

I have also never understood the appeal of being on the monorail. Don't get me wrong, I love riding the monorail, but hotels on the monorail line really don't seem any more convenient/appealing to me than any other. At the monorail hotels you still have to take a bus to most places and I have found the bus service at them to be among the worst of any WDW resorts. We've had excellent bus service at the other resorts (including the All-Stars and Pop) but always seem to have issues at the monorail resorts.

So, for us, BLT is a no. If the points chart for it is not absurdly high we would consider trying them out, but we won't be purchasing.

 

[spiceycat]

one of the reasons for me to buy BLT was mother. well now she is in a nursing home so no more going to WDW for her at all.

don't know if will buy or not.

just don't know - would dearly love a DVC resort on the monrail but at $125 per point - that is just way beyond my budget.

also the rumors of even the bad views - parking lot and CR views being 12 points in a studio - well that is just too high. what the Mk view going to be 20 points a night?

way out of purportion to the other DVC resorts.

now if the the points are just one above the average - will definitely buy if I can afford it. but alot higher sorry as much as I love CR and have waited, waited, waited for this thing - it won't be worth it to me.

of course the other side - you could definitely rent them no matter what.