back from BLT

[spiceycat]

there were a few changes that I did not like.

first of all the doors (all the doors) are locked (your band does not work) at midnight until 6:30 am or 7 am - this is a BIG problem for me - because I like to leave a little after midnight.

best yet - the only person who can let you in or out is BELL SERVICES - now if security guards - then I could believe it was for my safety - but BS....no way.

secondly - the deck in front of Top of World is now closed until 5:00pm - and the CM I talked to (except one) refused to let me up. Now the last time I checked members were paying for it - now they are refusing to allow members to see it during the day. It is beautifully during the day and it was a treat to visit it.

thirdly - the inside doors on the first floor are locked (these are ones with an outside door too) - got told it was the fire department - well guess what BWV or BCV - does not have this problem. some do at VWL - but at least it has signs on the door warning people.

fourth - if you need to use the laundry (on the first floor - so you have to take the elevator) - then bring your reading glasses - the print is way too small to read w/o them.

Now still love BLT - but would have liked DVC to tell me these NEW rules not find them out the hard way.

any questions?

 

[MiaSRN62]

there were a few changes that I did not like.

first of all the doors (all the doors) are locked (your band does not work) at midnight until 6:30 am or 7 am - this is a BIG problem for me - because I like to leave a little after midnight.

best yet - the only person who can let you in or out is BELL SERVICES - now if security guards - then I could believe it was for my safety - but BS....no way.

secondly - the deck in front of Top of World is now closed until 5:00pm - and the CM I talked to (except one) refused to let me up. Now the last time I checked members were paying for it - now they are refusing to allow members to see it during the day. It is beautifully during the day and it was a treat to visit it.

thirdly - the inside doors on the first floor are locked (these are ones with an outside door too) - got told it was the fire department - well guess what BWV or BCV - does not have this problem. some do at VWL - but at least it has signs on the door warning people.

fourth - if you need to use the laundry (on the first floor - so you have to take the elevator) - then bring your reading glasses - the print is way too small to read w/o them.

Now still love BLT - but would have liked DVC to tell me these NEW rules not find them out the hard way.

any questions?

Wow Spicey......this is a change?! Did you ask any of the CM's about the locking of doors at midnight??? That is a big pain for sure. As is the deck being closed until 5 pm??? As a BLT owner never heard about this from MS. Thanks for the update.

 

[disneynutz]

You should contact Member Satisfaction and express your concerns/displeasure.

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

Bill

 

[spiceycat]

oh believe me they are going to heard about it - but really want to not be so mad - so hoping they will understand why I was upset.

yes told the CM about it - only one tried to help.

 

[supersnoop]

there were a few changes that I did not like.

first of all the doors (all the doors) are locked (your band does not work) at midnight until 6:30 am or 7 am - this is a BIG problem for me - because I like to leave a little after midnight.

best yet - the only person who can let you in or out is BELL SERVICES - now if security guards - then I could believe it was for my safety - but BS....no way.

secondly - the deck in front of Top of World is now closed until 5:00pm - and the CM I talked to (except one) refused to let me up. Now the last time I checked members were paying for it - now they are refusing to allow members to see it during the day. It is beautifully during the day and it was a treat to visit it.

thirdly - the inside doors on the first floor are locked (these are ones with an outside door too) - got told it was the fire department - well guess what BWV or BCV - does not have this problem. some do at VWL - but at least it has signs on the door warning people.

fourth - if you need to use the laundry (on the first floor - so you have to take the elevator) - then bring your reading glasses - the print is way too small to read w/o them.

Now still love BLT - but would have liked DVC to tell me these NEW rules not find them out the hard way.

any questions?

I'm having a difficult time understanding the changes, or believing them.
First - Nobody was staffing the lobby after midnight when I was there, and the band worked to open the doors. Are you sure this was a change and not just a problem with your band?
Second - I was under the impression this was always the case, but I hadn't recognized any difference between accessing the lounge and accessing the deck. Were you previously allowed to access the deck when the lounge was closed?
Third - Which "inside" doors are you talking about? The second set at the entrance, or the ones leading to the pool? Since the pool area isn't secure, I'd expect those doors to remain locked and accessible by band.
Fourth - Is this new?

 

[Carlnne]

Are you saying you can not get out without asking? Isnt that against firecode?

 

[deedisneydream97]

I'm confused. Why can't you get OUT of the hotel? That is surely a fire hazard and not safe at all.

As for not being able to get IN, other resorts usually engage their outside locks at 8 p.m. (personally, I wish they would be engaged 24/7). Perhaps the midnight thing is a safety precaution, and they only want one entrance accessible....so I hope they at least had a CM in the BLT lobby. I had heard from a few CM's that there was sometimes a problem with people walking over from the MK, trying to get access to the resort to "see" it, so maybe that is why. I wouldn't know, because I am usually in bed by 10:30.

As for the deck outside of Top of the World.....as I recall, you can ONLY get to that level on the one and only elevator that has to be key operated by a CM....and it has always been closed until 5 p.m. We have been staying there since they opened, and there has always been a sign at the desk that says a CM will be on duty at 5 p.m. I don't recall them being around to give people rides to the top to hang out on the deck....especially if there is nobody up there to keep an eye on you.

 

[spiceycat]

I'm having a difficult time understanding the changes, or believing them.
First - Nobody was staffing the lobby after midnight when I was there, and the band worked to open the doors. Are you sure this was a change and not just a problem with your band?
Second - I was under the impression this was always the case, but I hadn't recognized any difference between accessing the lounge and accessing the deck. Were you previously allowed to access the deck when the lounge was closed?
Third - Which "inside" doors are you talking about? The second set at the entrance, or the ones leading to the pool? Since the pool area isn't secure, I'd expect those doors to remain locked and accessible by band.
Fourth - Is this new?

believe me tried several times - so used the phone and called the operator - she told me the doors were locked and my band would NOT work. so I walked over to CR to get help and BS told me they could get in.

2) - yes - before this time - you could easily get to the deck during the day - at night it was always locked - but during the day you had no problems getting to it.

3) the exit doors near the pool are the ones that I am talking about - the exit door itself is not a problem the band worked most of the time. but the inside door did not open - so had to go to the 2nd floor to get to the lobby there. while the doors near the lobby - were not a problem.

4) yes - before you could walk down the steps to the laundry. Now the middle steps you can still walk down to get the laundry,

 

[spiceycat]

Are you saying you can not get out without asking? Isnt that against firecode?

since wanted out in the middle of the night - did not try - because w/o going to the CR there was no way to get back inside. need several trips to load my car.

 

[spiceycat]

I'm confused. Why can't you get OUT of the hotel? That is surely a fire hazard and not safe at all.

As for not being able to get IN, other resorts usually engage their outside locks at 8 p.m. (personally, I wish they would be engaged 24/7). Perhaps the midnight thing is a safety precaution, and they only want one entrance accessible....so I hope they at least had a CM in the BLT lobby. I had heard from a few CM's that there was sometimes a problem with people walking over from the MK, trying to get access to the resort to "see" it, so maybe that is why. I wouldn't know, because I am usually in bed by 10:30.

As for the deck outside of Top of the World.....as I recall, you can ONLY get to that level on the one and only elevator that has to be key operated by a CM....and it has always been closed until 5 p.m. We have been staying there since they opened, and there has always been a sign at the desk that says a CM will be on duty at 5 p.m. I don't recall them being around to give people rides to the top to hang out on the deck....especially if there is nobody up there to keep an eye on you.

there were no entrance into BLT w/o help from bell services at the CR - you could walk inside CR w/o problems. CR has a bigger problem than BLT about people who want to see it.

if they want to make it band entry only for guests staying at BLT - have no problem with that - but to lock out even guests - that I do have a problem.

you could get on the deck w/o problems during the DAY - until now. It is really nice (or was) to go up during the day - generally no crowds and you could see the MK, GF, Polyn on one side - the other WL, bay lake, FW, marina, etc.

that was a big problem when the Top of the world first opened because there were 3 security guards to make sure that no one got on top of the wall - since I have no wish to do this say here that though that was a bit extreme - and someone at WDW agreed - the next visit the security guards were gone.

you could take the elevator up to the 16th floor - not a problem until now. or it might have been 15th floor - then you could walk up the steps - now this door is kept locked at all times.

since members are paying for this deck now - don't see the need to lock it up until 5:00 pm.

yes before this visit had gone up to the deck each trip during the day w/o help.

 

[spiceycat]

I have been going to BLT since it opened - being lock out is a new experience.

 

[deedisneydream97]

I remember trying to get access to the top deck. There was no way to get past the floor right below the top unless your room was on the same level as the grand villas. The stairway doors were exit only. And the elevator won't go to that floor unless you are staying that high...I believe you have to scan your room key. At least that is how I remember it.

I guess when I check in I will ask the CM about these locked doors and such.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

Our magicbands unlocked the side doors for us at 2:00 am over the Christmas Holidays. That is how it should be.

 

[MaleficentRN]

there were a few changes that I did not like.

first of all the doors (all the doors) are locked (your band does not work) at midnight until 6:30 am or 7 am - this is a BIG problem for me - because I like to leave a little after midnight.

thirdly - the inside doors on the first floor are locked (these are ones with an outside door too) - got told it was the fire department - well guess what BWV or BCV - does not have this problem. some do at VWL - but at least it has signs on the door warning people.

Now still love BLT - but would have liked DVC to tell me these NEW rules not find them out the hard way.

any questions?

I know I had a hard time getting my band to work in December, but after a minute or so could get in the front entrance. How about the bridge door from CR to BLT?

And are you talking about the door from the stairwell that would open by the laundry room? Yeah, that is new and annoying. I would exit the stairwell from the side door and then back in the door from the outside. Still faster than waiting for the elevator.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am thinking Pat is referring to the door one would access if you had walked back from the MK----right off the BLT parking lot ---the lobby door? If this is now locked to even guests staying there that is a big pain.

 

[TeeterTots]

I will be staying for the first time next month. What about EMH?

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

I am very certain that the 16th floor, to access the observation deck, was ALWAYS locked down 24/7. The only way to ever get to the 16th floor was if you had a room there and you scanned your room key/magic band, or during the lounge hours where the CM would check if you were eligible and let you up.

 

[dvcblt93]

After 10 the front doors require a magic band to open them, just did it last night, as for the observation deck, they could station someone in the lobby all day to gain access, but we as members would have to pay for that. The lounge and deck have always only been open in the evening.

 

[ddiva]

I was there last week and able to get in at about 1 am using my magic band.

 

[spiceycat]

I am very certain that the 16th floor, to access the observation deck, was ALWAYS locked down 24/7. The only way to ever get to the 16th floor was if you had a room there and you scanned your room key/magic band, or during the lounge hours where the CM would check if you were eligible and let you up.

Sorry it was not - even last year you could easy get there in day time - ALONE.