BLT and toddler proofing

[iluvtheworld]

We are headed for our first DVC stay in 26 days I am just wondering if anyone knows if there are exposed electrical outlets, or are they all hidden behind furniture and things? We have a 2 year old so I need to bring some outlet covers to child proof the room. Also, can the door to the balcony be locked from the outside? Are the locks up high? I will bring some door knob covers, but I am a little concerned about my children being able to get out to the balcony on their own from the living room. My 7 year old and 5 year old are good listeners and shouldn't touch it if we tell them not to, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

and my fear of kids falling off the balcony is why we don't stay in rooms yet with them. 4 boys screwing around = 'accidents'

As for door knob covers - are the door knob, knobs or are they lever style?

Good luck and have a fun trip.

Sarah

 

[tomandrobin]

There are some outlets exposed, out in the open.

You can not lock the balcony door from the outside.

 

[iluvtheworld]

As for door knob covers - are the door knob, knobs or are they lever style?


Sarah

Good question. Anyone know what style the door knobs are?

Thanks to the other poster for letting me know about the outlets (I don't know how to multi-quote) I will be sure to pack outlet covers.

 

[The 6 J's]

We were there for 5 minutes in March and in the chaos of moving in our 2 yo was climbing up the railing on the balcony when I grabbed him. It was extrememly scary. We were on the top floor. After that we closed the balcony door and put the big chair in front of it and that door didn't open again the whole trip. In the bedroom we blocked it with chairs and the luggage stands.

If you have a climber/leaper watch out for this although it was probably just a freak accident. That same night that we got there the 5yo (doing his best Indiana Josh) climbed up on the back of the kitchen seating booth and jumped down to the floor behind it. The 2 yo (monkey see monkey do) followed. Upon landing on the thinly carpeted concrete floor instead of the thickly carpeted wood floors at home that give he broke his right leg. After 8 hours at the ER we were back with a hip-to-toe non-waterproof cast to enjoy for the rest of the trip.

Got some cool autographs though.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

After 8 hours at the ER we were back with a hip-to-toe non-waterproof cast to enjoy for the rest of the trip.Got some cool autographs though.

What a way to start a vacation!

 

[Sammie]

We were there for 5 minutes in March and in the chaos of moving in our 2 yo was climbing up the railing on the balcony when I grabbed him. It was extrememly scary. We were on the top floor. After that we closed the balcony door and put the big chair in front of it and that door didn't open again the whole trip. In the bedroom we blocked it with chairs and the luggage stands.

If you have a climber/leaper watch out for this although it was probably just a freak accident. That same night that we got there the 5yo (doing his best Indiana Josh) climbed up on the back of the kitchen seating booth and jumped down to the floor behind it. The 2 yo (monkey see monkey do) followed. Upon landing on the thinly carpeted concrete floor instead of the thickly carpeted wood floors at home that give he broke his right leg. After 8 hours at the ER we were back with a hip-to-toe non-waterproof cast to enjoy for the rest of the trip.

Got some cool autographs though.

Oh my gosh, how horrible, so glad it was not worse. Do you have this problem at home or is everything padded.

I can not even imagine, what that was like, hope he recovers completely.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We were there for 5 minutes in March and in the chaos of moving in our 2 yo was climbing up the railing on the balcony when I grabbed him. It was extrememly scary. We were on the top floor. After that we closed the balcony door and put the big chair in front of it and that door didn't open again the whole trip. In the bedroom we blocked it with chairs and the luggage stands.

If you have a climber/leaper watch out for this although it was probably just a freak accident. That same night that we got there the 5yo (doing his best Indiana Josh) climbed up on the back of the kitchen seating booth and jumped down to the floor behind it. The 2 yo (monkey see monkey do) followed. Upon landing on the thinly carpeted concrete floor instead of the thickly carpeted wood floors at home that give he broke his right leg. After 8 hours at the ER we were back with a hip-to-toe non-waterproof cast to enjoy for the rest of the trip.

Got some cool autographs though.

Sounds like you need to pad and hobble the boys, not the villa.

 

[Snurk71]

Good question. Anyone know what style the door knobs are?

We just got back and I think they were levers, though I apparently didn't pay close enough attention to really notice. I know the door knob to the patio from the living area was a lever and a slider in the bedroom to the patio.

 

[disprincessatheart]

Are you in a one bedroom or a studio? I'm guessing one bedroom from the living room comment. If so I would put the sleep chair infront of the door from the LR to the balcony. Since the windows are so huge, maybe your kids will be happy looking out and not be interested in the patio. We found the sliding door in the bedroom to be hard to open. There are definitely outlets that need covering. On our last stay I forgot to get them back - which minds me I need to get a new pack before our next trip!

 

[momof3poohlovers]

We just got back from BLT with an almost 2 year old. They do have levers instead of round door knobs so the knob covers wouldn't work. Luckily my 22 month old doesn't bother with outlets so we had no issues there. The first thing I did was move the sleeper chair in front of the living room balcony door so he didn't even realize there was a door there. We had a 2 bedroom and he wasn't allowed in the 2nd bedroom and his crib was in front of the balcony door in the master bedroom. We had no issues with the balcony. I would recommend looking over the floor though for dropped pills and such. We didn't find any this time but I have heard of others finding things. Have fun and try not to stress!

 

[Davids-Coco]

We stayed last year with a 19 mo old. My best advice at any villa is to do 3 things... move a big chair in front of the door; Find the knives and move them high; And, bring duct tape. These make a huge difference for us. Duct tape is easy and a good universal baby proofer. You can tape over the outlets, cover cords, keep drawers shut, etc. If you think it would stop the toddler, you could even wrap it sticky side out on lever door handles.

We stayed at both BLT and BCV when he was 19 months. Last month at 2.5 years, we stayed at VGC. We also bring a baby monitor to listen for it. You could bring a string of bells to hang from it too (we do this on the main door).

 

[Deb & Bill]

We stayed last year with a 19 mo old. My best advice at any villa is to do 3 things... move a big chair in front of the door; Find the knives and move them high; And, bring duct tape. These make a huge difference for us. Duct tape is easy and a good universal baby proofer. You can tape over the outlets, cover cords, keep drawers shut, etc. If you think it would stop the toddler, you could even wrap it sticky side out on lever door handles.

We stayed at both BLT and BCV when he was 19 months. Last month at 2.5 years, we stayed at VGC. We also bring a baby monitor to listen for it. You could bring a string of bells to hang from it too (we do this on the main door).

Please don't use duct tape on the walls, cabinets, etc. It leaves a residue. Watch your kid instead.

 

[Davids-Coco]

Please don't use duct tape on the walls, cabinets, etc. It leaves a residue. Watch your kid instead.

Nice implication and assumption that we do not watch our children. But then again, I guess it is a great departure from being called a helicopter parent for once. We have never had a single issue with residue on an outlet (only place we have needed thus far) so maybe it is the cheap, knockoff stuff.

 

[DenLo]

We stayed last year with a 19 mo old. My best advice at any villa is to do 3 things... move a big chair in front of the door; Find the knives and move them high; And, bring duct tape. These make a huge difference for us. Duct tape is easy and a good universal baby proofer. You can tape over the outlets, cover cords, keep drawers shut, etc. If you think it would stop the toddler, you could even wrap it sticky side out on lever door handles.

We stayed at both BLT and BCV when he was 19 months. Last month at 2.5 years, we stayed at VGC. We also bring a baby monitor to listen for it. You could bring a string of bells to hang from it too (we do this on the main door).

Please do not use duct tape. That stuff does not come off. And if you move the pull out chair please be careful of damaging the carpet. That chair is really heavy.

There is a child safety lock on the balcony doors. And you can keep the chain lock on on the door to the hallway. There are exposed outlets all over the place, under the table, under the shelves for night stands in the studio portion on the wall next to the TV credenza.

I would advise never letting your toddler out on the balcony without an adult. They might try to climb up to hold on to the railing.

 

[iluvtheworld]

Please do not use duct tape. That stuff does not come off. And if you move the pull out chair please be careful of damaging the carpet. That chair is really heavy.

There is a child safety lock on the balcony doors. And you can keep the chain lock on on the door to the hallway. There are exposed outlets all over the place, under the table, under the shelves for night stands in the studio portion on the wall next to the TV credenza.

I would advise never letting your toddler out on the balcony without an adult. They might try to climb up to hold on to the railing.

Thanks for letting me know about the child safety lock. Looks like all we need to bring is some outlet covers. He never touches the outlets, but there is a first time for everything and I'd rather be safe than sorry!

 

[Elise79]

There is a child safety lock on the balcony doors. And you can keep the chain lock on on the door to the hallway.

Where is the child safety lock on the living room door? - the only lock I have ever seen in the one by the handle that turns and my 3 yo DD can undo that no problems!

 

[justwinnie]

When we stayed at BLT, my twins were 18 or 20 months. I did not think ahead about child-proofing, and what a nightmare my first night was!

Luckily, I was able to get outlet covers and a roll of (removable) painters tape!

We taped the drawers of the tv cabinet closed, along with the pull-out pantry, and lower kitchen cabinets. The boys enjoyed opening and closing every single cabinet and drawer in the villa! And they crushed their fingers a few times too!

We were there when BLT first opened, so the bathroom sliding door did not lock. I was able to jam a hanger into the track (did not damage the hanger or track) to keep the bathroom door closed when no one was inside. We did this for the master bath too.

The balcony was a big worry for me, but like others suggested, we moved the chair in front of the door to block it. I kind of remember a small, round knob as the door knob from the living room to the balcony. It was difficult for me to open, so I didn't think the twins could easily open it.

They also LOVED turning on the water for the jetted tub... it fills up quickly and the taps were at the perfect height for them!

We watched them, but they are very fast and just seemed to go crazy in there! We haven't been back yet because we can't trust them in there yet. They don't seem to get into as much trouble at other resorts.

I'm not saying this to scare you... we had a lovely time. It was just stressful the first night because all they wanted to do was explore the place and we had not child-proofed it.

I'm glad you have the foresight to ask!

 

[Tea4Alice]

We just got back and I think they were levers, though I apparently didn't pay close enough attention to really notice. I know the door knob to the patio from the living area was a lever and a slider in the bedroom to the patio.

We too just got back and yes they are levers, we noticed they were very heavy doors, our 3 year old DGD couldn't open them, we were also worried about her opening the door. We had a 2 bedroom dedicated theme view that also had a door in the front room that opened to the master bedroom balcony that had been left unlocked good thing my DH checked all the doors before our DGD got into the room!

 

[ShockMonkey3]

We spent 9 nights in November in a 1Br at BLT with a 2 year old.

We found the room to be not very child friendly. Lots of sharp corners all around. I could have used several feet of the corner bumper cushions. My son is always on the move, I found myself saying, "be careful" lots.

The suggestion to move a chair in front of the balcony door is a great one. I did not see any child locks, but I did not know to look either. My 2 year old could get that door open easily. Those lever doors are just too easy for little kids to work.

Watch out for the entry door. It is quite heavy, and just dangerous all around. I actually got hurt pretty badly. I opened the door to check to be sure I had brought in all my luggage, just popped out quickly to see, when the door shut way quick and my arm at the inner elbow got caught by the doorknob. Those doorknobs are really really sharp and I had a 5 inch scrape just like that.

I brought outlet plugs, but never used them. My son is obsessed with all buttons and that includes ones on the dvd player. We were able to relocate the dvd to the shelf under the tv, which made it out of reach.

My biggest fear was the bathroom floor. It is really shiny and pretty and I was just waiting for my little one to go running on in and slide on a puddle of water. I made sure bath mats were placed appropriately and was extra diligent to keep spills cleaned.