BCV -- Slim Pickings with Late Sunday Check-In

[robinb]

We just returned from 5 days in a studio at BCV and another 3 days at AKL on a cash reservation. We checked in at 11:00 pm on Sunday 6/29 after a late flight in and a grocery stop. Our room, was of course, ready .

Unfortunately, the pickings were really slim. Our only requests were (1) non-smoking and (2) non-handicapped. We made our reservations 4 months ago. Our room was a 1st floor non-smoking room #125. At check-in I thought that I really wanted a balcony, so the infamous manager Brian said there was a 4th floor smoking room. I checked out the smoking room but it was too smokey so I went back down to the front desk to take the 1st floor room. Brian was in back, so another CM helped me. She looked at our reservation and said we had to stay in the 4th floor room that night and they would move us for free the next day. I said that Brian offered us #125 and said "Really? OK." When we arrived at the room, it was a handicapped room. Brian neglected to mention the fact it was a handicapped room . I thought "par for the course for Brian" ... I would have preferred to know it was a handicapped room before I walked into the room, but he probably wanted to avoid any complaints at the front desk.

The room turned out to have a great location. We were the first room from the main BCV lobby and were out the door or to the DVC pool in less than a minute. The patio was nice because we could duck out the back door to watch IllumiNations from the walkway behind the villas. The black flies were terrible, though! I was bitten a few times and it turns out I am pretty allergic to the bites. I still have welts 2 weeks later The downsides of the room were (1) the room was smaller to make room for a bigger bathroom, (2) there was no storage anywhere in the bathroom , (3) there was no tub.

We survived the handicapped room, but I know for sure that I would prefer a non h/c room next time.

 

[jaysue]

What's with the infamous manager? Has he caused problems or confusion in the past?

Seems a little harsh to single out an individual?

thanks
jaysue

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by jaysue
What's with the infamous manager? Has he caused problems or confusion in the past?

Yes, he has. Other members have had problems with him, most notably twinmomplus2 and her "trip from hell". I recognized him when he checked me in and he was very friendly. However, he reviewed my requests while I was at the front desk and chose not to tell me that the room was handicapped. I can only assume that he was avoiding telling me so I wouldn't complain. Given there were no other non-smoking/non-handicapped rooms available there was really not much I could have done and we chose to stay in the room the whole time. I would have preferred to know in advance and not be surprsied when I open the door.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I am alittle amazed that The BCV gave you a HC room when you didn't need it! I thought those rooms were held in reserve only for people who needed them, like me! Just my thoughts!

Allison BCV 6/03

 

[DebbieB]

When the resort is full and the people who need handicapped rooms are already accomodated, they will assign the handicapped rooms left to others.

 

[twinmomplus2]

Richard was very nice, Brian was nice. Noone at anytime was rude to me at the Beach Club, Just apathetic and complacent about my problems. let me correct that... Once the complaint got to Management, I fealt Richard was very professional. My main problem was letting it go for so long till it was to late to remedy. In hindsight that being 20/20.... I should have called management directly, posthaste instead of trying to remedy the issues with maintance for so long. Sorry you had a bad experience.

 

[luckytso]

Robin,

Glad you had a good trip. I know now before they assgn me a room, I will ask if it is a non smoking and non-handicapped (the only 2 requests that I too have on my ressie).

How was AKL? Did you get upgraded? How did you like it? Thanks

 

[jaysue]

Hmm....11pm - do you think he was tired and did not notice?

Thanks
jaysue

 

[colleen costello]

I think that late check-in is a bummer, and I do all I can to avoid it. If we arrive super-late, it is easier to go somehwere else for the night than have a crummy room the whole trip. This is a shame but for me it seems to be true.

In my opinion, the handicapped rooms are a bummer. The bathrooms are one big room so if someone is on the toilet the whole bathroom is off limits. There is a lack of storage space. The beds are so low that you can't puit suitcases under them. There is no bathtub! I have read here that the whole bathroom floor will be wet due to the roll-in shower. Yikes! I think this makes the most difference in the studios which are tight to begin with.

I guess I think that in a perfect world, no one would be assigned to an accessible room except those who need one. It's a bummer to pay a ton of points and then be assigned to a room that's so inconvenient. OF COURSE I know these rooms are there for a reason, no disrespect. But perhaps a small points discount would be nice? I know -- it'll never happen -- but it would be nice.

 

[BCV23]

I think poor Brian was in a no win situation...it's 11:00, he has a tired family in front of him who want NS, NH. He has two rooms each of which only satisfy one condition. I bet most people with that request would take NS over NH so I think he probably did his best.

Glad to hear your trip was good. We were there 6/29-7/4 but on the Epcot side. Did you notice the people with the room near the pool that left their door propped open? I saw a big black hornet fly in...hopefully it flew right back out but what were they thinking?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We got a smoking optional room about three weeks ago at BCV and it didn't smell like smoke at all. It was perfect. We had asked for non-smoking, but got there early - 8AM. There were a few rooms available, but this one was the best.

 

[Terry S]

I worry so much every time we have a late check in! Last trip we didn't get to the resort until 11:00 either. We had decided to take a late Friday night flight instead of Saturday Morning so we could get a jump start on our vacation. I really didn't want to stay at a different resort the first night because the kind of would have defeated the purpose of getting the jump start and getting settled in on Friday night. Soooo, I was really nervous on the flight and at the front desk, those CM's are kind of secretive when they are punching those keys and I was holding my breath the whole time. We got really lucky and got what we wanted, I assume it was because it was a Friday night though!

 

[CarolA]

I am SORRY, but the Non-handicap is just a request. If you don't get it that is no reason to trash the manager. He did move you when you requested a balcony and told you it was a smoking room.


There are times I think DVC should just allow one request per room (ie. smoking, non smoking) unless it is a medical necessity. A lot of people seem to get so obsessed about room requirements that their vacation gets off to a bad start when they don't get their requests.

 

[Connears]

I was your neighbor! I was in 120 from 6/22-26. Loved that little wing. Very convenient. My 1 bedroom was not a handicap one. We loved how close we were to everything. Did not encounter the infamous Brian, but had a great CM on check-in. Everyone was very pleasant the whole time.
Connears

 

[CK1]

Hmmm.. while I agree that no one should let a non-granted "request" sour their whole stay, perhaps there should be some distinction between what is "request" versus a room type.

To me, a view is a request. Pool, bay, woods, Epcot, evil clown... it's a view. Don't like it? Don't look. Close the blinds or leave the room, no biggie. Nice if you get a great one, but not a devastating loss and cause to fire the manager if ya don't.

Location is a request, to some degree, if again it's for aesthetic reasons (nearer to Epcot walkway, nearer to a bus stop, nearer to Hospitality house or pool, up high to see fireworks, over a boardwalk to people-watch, etc.)

Smoking, however, should be a room type, IMO. For some it may be negotiable, but for so many, it's not. And it's not escapable -- and you gotta sleep there sooner or later, so even if you're at the park all day, it's not like drapes you can just close or an extra ten strides you have to make -- it's a room TYPE. Make a ressie and it should say "SMOKING", right next to "2 bedroom lock-off" or whatever it was you requested.

Handicapped should similarly be a room type. It is a safety risk to those with small children (door handles down low, stove controls within reach, aye yi yi...) Likewise, if I am handicapped, I obviously want and need that room. So it should be a room type.

If I called MS and asked for a dedicated 2 br because I didn't want my kids escaping outside via the extra door, they can tell me if it's available, wait-list me, or I just decide to suck it up and take a lock-off. If I arrive and they say, "Hey, guess what, we have a dedicated -- do you want it?" then woohoo for me! But at least I didn't arrive expecting a room type that they now can't offer me. I just don't see why they can't also tell someone reserving a studio, "Oh, sorry, all we have left are HC studios... is that ok or do you want to wait list for a non-HC room?" To arrive at destination and be put in a smoking room or HC room could be avoided if they went by room type instead of "request".

Just an opinion, as always. Hopping down from ye olde soapbox....

Cindy

 

[colleen costello]

I agree with Cindy, sopabox or not. I had read here about the Handicapped rooms and been alerted to the "wet bathroom floor" issue which really scared me. The week before we left for WDW, I yanked my back out of whack. I had to rest up for 2 days with ice and Vioxx to be able to make the drive South. I was feeling better by the time we checked in, but getting assigned to the HC room had me FREAKED -- I kept thinking about how 1 little slip on the wet floor and I might not be able to do WDW all week, let alone drive home... I was pretty manic when I called down to the front desk to request being moved, and I did tell them "I am a back patient and I can't risk a fall." In hindsight, I think this may have been why they agreed to move me. All they need is a nut (me) with a lawsuit... I was just glad to be reassigned. Now my ONLY requests will be "non-smoking, non-handicapped" please!

 

[invalid_char]

I think Cindy makes an excellent point! Great idea! If a 2BR dedicated can be a room type, why not handicapped. Well, probably because they have an excess of handicapped rooms and yet they are required to have a certain number? I see no reason why smoking can't be a room type.

On another note, I have posted numerous times on how WONDERFUL our experience was with Brian Blakely @ the BC. He really helped us out tremendously during a room mix-up we had during our last trip. But you know, people only seem to remember the negative posts... a shame. Honestly, I would not want Brian's job even for a day and I don't know how he does it with a smile on his face. If you book 4 months out and check in at 11 pm, you're going to get the short straw. Unless they implement Cindy's suggestion, this is going to happen.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by BCV23
I think poor Brian was in a no win situation...it's 11:00, he has a tired family in front of him who want NS, NH. He has two rooms each of which only satisfy one condition. I bet most people with that request would take NS over NH so I think he probably did his best.

ITA. I think he put us in the best room for us and his hands were tied since the resort was sold out. I would have preferred him to say, "I'm sorry we couldn't fill all your requests. All we have left is handicapped and smoking optional rooms." We chose to stay in the room and it didn't ruin our vacation . This was our second stay at BCV since buying our 2nd resale (OKW, BWV) and it made me wish I had bought at BCV instead. Then again, I love every Disney resort that I am currently staying at better than the last. I'm really looking forward to our Grand Villa experience at OKW over NYE! I'm not sure it gets better that that .

I didn't mean this to be a "trash Brian" thread , although we had further non-location related dealings with him later in the stay that I would prefer not to go into. I was hoping to point out that pickings can be really slim when you check in late on Sunday night. Next time I am forced to take a late flight, I may stay off-site via Priceline that first night and be "homeless" until the next afternoon.

It's nice to hear that a number of DISer's were at the BCV that same time! I didn't see the open door near the pool, but we had a couple of bugs fly into our room too before we shut the door. We did have a couple of wasps that buzzed me while I was trying to read outside. Between the wasps and the black flies (ouch!) I was forced to read inside by the light of the cracked drapes as my 3 year old DD was sleeping. We also had a bit of the wet floor problem in the bathroom, but it turned into a really soggy bathmat problem instead .