BLT check in process is moving to the BLT lobby

[mecanterbruy]

Mf?

Most likely Maintenance Fee's

 

[missycj96]

I left Blt at about 12:30 today for magic kingdom and as of yet saw no sign of change

 

[Jillpie]

I left Blt at about 12:30 today for magic kingdom and as of yet saw no sign of change

I just checked the app where I got this announcement, and the start date has been changed to the 20th.

 

[Sammie]

Good grief, they haven't started yet and already it is a bad thing.

I will wait and see and reserve judgement until then.

 

[tjkraz]

BCV was a mess when they tried this a few years ago. Took almost a hour one time to check in. The CM's didn't know what to do and they had to keep calling the BC for help. One time they put us in the TV room and gave us each an apple. I can see lemonade and a cookie but an apple???

Not sure that one bad BC experience automatically means changes at BLT are doomed to fail.

I am getting tired of hearing about changes from everyone other that Disney. The DVC website is rarely up dated and our family doesn't get all of the emails even though I have discussed this with Disney several times.

Define "rarely updated?"

Half of the stories on the home page have been posted within the last 2 months. There's info on expanded MS hours, changes to Aulani, changes to Welcome Home Wednesdays, discounts at Disney Store, discounts on Halloween parties, and more. All of that is fairly recent.

I don't think the fact that one website has published this information suggests a massive failure on the part of DVC.

Our dues pay for the new check in process so Disney can try things for free.

Well, if you think about it, the dues for 2012 are already set. If this causes any overages, Disney is on the hook for it.

The new VP for DVD/DVC, Clare Bilby promised positive change but so far I haven't seen much.

If you truly believe that, then you will never be satisfied.

As the old saying goes, you can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs. Claire wasn't around during the BC test. Personally I think it's reassuring to know that she's willing to experiment with things again rather than allowing the BC test to stand as definitive proof that the Disney arrival process cannot be improved upon.

From what I have read about the BC test, the biggest hurdles were lack of back-up support and less-than-thorough training. Again, not insurmountable problems.

Assuming they only staff BLT with one or two people, I'm sure there will be times when arrivals overwhelm the staff. The simplest solution would be to have them equipped to handle guests at EITHER BLT or the CR front desk. According to this report, DME arrivals are being routed to CR so I suspect this is the case.

If the lines are too long at BLT and they can simply recommend some walk over to CR, that seems like a reasonable solution. Some people may still have to make the trek to CR if they don't want to wait in line. Many others will get their docs at BLT and be saved the extra trip.

 

[peabody58]

Looking forward to the new 'experiance' in Oct. It will be nice to add a little excitment in the BLT lobby area. DW was wondering if the front door willnow be unlocked all the time, with crowd control devices to keep peepers out of the BLT areas? Time will tell. Glad DVC is trying something. The check-in at the CRwasn't so bad. Sorta a primer to the big reveal.

 

[disneynutz]

Not sure that one bad BC experience automatically means changes at BLT are doomed to fail.

As the old saying goes, you can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs. Claire wasn't around during the BC test. Personally I think it's reassuring to know that she's willing to experiment with things again rather than allowing the BC test to stand as definitive proof that the Disney arrival process cannot be improved upon.

From what I have read about the BC test, the biggest hurdles were lack of back-up support and less-than-thorough training. Again, not insurmountable problems.

Assuming they only staff BLT with one or two people, I'm sure there will be times when arrivals overwhelm the staff. The simplest solution would be to have them equipped to handle guests at EITHER BLT or the CR front desk. According to this report, DME arrivals are being routed to CR so I suspect this is the case.

If the lines are too long at BLT and they can simply recommend some walk over to CR, that seems like a reasonable solution. Some people may still have to make the trek to CR if they don't want to wait in line. Many others will get their docs at BLT and be saved the extra trip.

I wish that I could share your optimism. I read about more DVC changes here on the DIS then I do on the member website.

During the two times that we used the BCV check in, we were not allowed to check in at the BC and it was obvious that they didn't have experienced CM's manning the desk. You would think that they would put their best at the remote location until things got up to speed.

There were reports last week of CM's manning a desk in the BLT lobby and that they seemed to be in a bad mood and when asked questions they didn't have correct answers. Maybe I am pre-judging them and the process will be better than it was at the BCV.

Time will tell.

Bill

 

[triciari]

I like it. We had faulty room cards once and it was a pain to schlep back to contemporary to have them fixed.

 

[jennypenny]

It didn't work very well at BCV, but that was before online check in. Maybe it would work better if it was only available to people who'd checked in online? Seems like that might make check in faster. I actually think it would be nice (picturing BCV), if they took your name upon arrival, let you hang out in the drawing room or breezeway and had some drinks and snacks, and called you to the desk by name when it was your turn. Almost like a concierge check in.

I can't remember the BLT lobby (maybe I was never in it when we stayed there?) so I don't know if it would work there.

 

[missycj96]

Lobby is still completely unchanged as of this morning. I'll report back later.

 

[wdrl]

Good grief, they haven't started yet and already it is a bad thing.

I will wait and see and reserve judgement until then.

That is one of the "fun" things about these internet blogs. . . you never have to wait for facts to surface before you form an unshakeable rock firm stance for or against something. Remember in December 2011 when Ms. Bilby announced there was going to be a point reallocation for 2013 and many people were convinced it meant early December would be taken out of the Adventure Season? Or when DVC announced that Disney characters would appear in the new soft goods used in the SSR refurbishment and some immediately complained that SSR was becoming too cartoonish?

There were reports last week of CM's manning a desk in the BLT lobby and that they seemed to be in a bad mood and when asked questions they didn't have correct answers. Maybe I am pre-judging them and the process will be better than it was at the BCV.

If you search long enough, you can find diametrically opposite opinions on any subject here on the disboards. Just this past week I saw a thread where the member said something like "I hate SSR and OKW with the intensity of 1,000 burning suns." The very next member posted "I love, love, love OKW." Sometimes, I have to accept what I read is just one person's opinion and not a statement of fact.

 

[disneynutz]

I guess that I am quick to jump to the dark side because we lived the BCV check in problem twice on two different vacations. After the problems the first time Disney didn't fix it. Why?

I know that it doesn't seem like much but I expect our well earned vacations to proceed as problem free as possible and when their policy/procedure change causes me extra work or a 45 minute delay checking in, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

DME won't drop arriving guests at BLT and Bell Services isn't at BLT, I see that as a possible problem. If guests can check in at BLT and take care of business there without additional delays then the change makes sense.

Bill

 

[dizfan]

Personally, I'm all for trying it. They already staff the lobby area from 5-10 for TOTWL, so we're really talking about staffing from 8am-5.

BLT is not BCV.
BLT is larger than BCV and has a clear defined building.
Technology is dramatically different today than 5 years ago. Notice how thousands of businesses have adapted to tablets and improved customer service because of it.

If Walt gave up because of a failure here or there, there would not even be a Disney corporation.

 

[Meggysmum]

I haven't seen any information on this elsewhere either and I have a booking for September 5th and as yet have not booked ME so they ceraatinly have not contacted members with upcoming bookings to tell them of the change.

It is actually my teenage daughter who is travelling on her first independednt trip so I want to make sure she has the correct information as after a 10 hour journey to get to WDW she wants to know where to check-in when she finally arrives!

 

[wdrl]

Lobby is still completely unchanged as of this morning. I'll report back later.

If you have a chance, could you go by the CR front desk and ask a CM if Disney has plans to put a check-in desk in the BLT lobby? Also, ask if the Magical Express will stop at BLT as well as CR.

Thanks!

 

[mdsd8700]

I will be checking back here to see if the change has happened, we are going in October.

We stayed at BLT once before and the check in at CR was smooth, though it was early morning. It seems it would be nice to be able to check in at both BLT and CR. We always drive so I don't think it makes too much of a difference either way. The walk from the CR to BLT isn't so bad.

Even though it failed at BC, I am glad to see they are willing to give it another try.

 

[missycj96]

If you have a chance, could you go by the CR front desk and ask a CM if Disney has plans to put a check-in desk in the BLT lobby? Also, ask if the Magical Express will stop at BLT as well as CR.

Thanks!

Will do. I was on line about my room at cr lobby this am and they were helping people with iPad looking devices so maybe they wont need to change anything.

 

[disneynutz]

If you have a chance, could you go by the CR front desk and ask a CM if Disney has plans to put a check-in desk in the BLT lobby? Also, ask if the Magical Express will stop at BLT as well as CR.

Thanks!

I don't think that the DME or Disney buses have enough room to stop at BLT and turn around.

Bill

 

[rock_doctor]

I always feel Disney floats rumors to see how people would react. I just don't see this happening. In June, they were loading a bus group from the BLT lobby it was a total zoo. There are enough people checking in and out to overload two or three counter CMs. The up side we pay the CR nearly a million dollars a year for check in services, we will for sure get that back since it is now our employees doing the checking in and out....

 

[Longhairbear]

I'm a bit skeptical about the new check in. WDWMagic is the only source mentioning the new location.
As we've never been to BLT, what is on the ground floor besides the lobby? Is there space for bell services to hold luggage until the villa is ready?