Girlstar30
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2025
- Messages
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Topics of Discussion at the BLT Board Meeting
Since im doing lengthy reviews, im doing it seperate. Im enjoying my AKV savannah view with a cup of coffee and happy to report
I was disappointed by this meeting just because it seemed completely rushed and I did not feel the enthusiasm from the board that I felt at the AKV meeting. It last 33 minutes vs 1 hour of akv. With that being said, important things were actually addressed, I just wish it was longer. Did not feel it was a waste for that reason.
Questions asked and Key Takeways:
*Praise for the refurbishment by a couple of people. The overall vibe is that everyone is pleased with the LOOK of the refurbishment.
*However someone brought up valid concernz that aesthetically pleasing does not equal functionality and that is just as important which brought us to:
1. A couple of women complaining about the mirrors. Apparently before the mirrors were much better for women to get an overall view of themselves and put their makeup on (Im not kidding) and that more mirrors would be appreciated. Ive never stayed at blt pre refurb so I cant comment on that.
2. Complaint about tables being taken away, where are we supposed to sit. They need to take into consideration how the room functions and not just how great it looks
3. Along those lines, complaint that the front desk has been completely removed and we now have cast members with ipads a la PIT. The member said that when they walk in they dont know where to go, no one approaches them, and its not functional. I didnt know this because when we stayed in January there was a front desk. This was disappointing to me as well. The board tried to explain that the intention is that families would sit on the couch and relax and a cast member would approach them and handle the checkin in comfort. We went to blt after to test this out and to me the member was right. We didnt know who to go up to if we were checking in. It turns out there was one cast member with an iPad but a family was surrounding him and chatting so we couldnt see he was the one to go to. We sat in hopes to be approached and it never happened so that intention wasnt being carried out. The board said this was a learning process and they were still working out the kinks and thanked us for our patience.
4. Someone asked about being able to see a newly refurbished room. They told her to ask at the hotel. We decided to test that out as well and it was annoying how it was handled. They told us we had to go with a guide which is understandable, but they made us walk back to the Contemporary to the dvc desk when we were already there. A quick phone call should have solved this, but on the flip side our guide happened to be there and took us! Jordan is wonderful if you ever need a guide, he offered to take us to the Grand villa without us asking and he is a huge Disney fan and we've never seen a grand villa before. Sorry this is turning more into a trip report, back on subject.
5. Somebody asked about the upcoming pool refurb and said that they would like the pool to be better themed. The board said the pool was recently updated and there wont be a new theme. They did say some changes were coming to the pool restaurant.
6. Someone asked why the coffee machines have to be different at each resort whenever they update it and he never knows what coffee machine he will have. The board told them that with different refurbs comes more modern or new machines so they go with that.
7. Someone was concerned she can never get parking and that makes her not want to stay during the holidays. She heard that people from other resorts were getting wristbands to be able to park there and she was upset
The board said this absolutely wasnt true, they are aware of the parking issues and they are trying to figure out how to address it. She said she noticed a lot of people were Coming just for fireworks and leaving and its not fair to the people there. She would like a seperate parking area for DVC members only. The board did not seem to agree with this.
8. Concerns about the annual dues increase. Why was it so much and is it due for the refurb when they have so much money in reserves for that. They told us that the whole property was reassessed and the value went way up and that hopefully they will be charged less taxes in the future. Someone asked if it was possible they could appeal the amount being charged. They said it was possible but that they would decide if it was worth it to pursue that and if they feel they actually have a chance at winning. Which they apparently decided its not worth it.
9. Someone asked about the taxes and why we have to pay for the library and resident stuff They said it was the law because we own property in the state, we have to pay local taxes.
Thats all I can remember for now! Hope you got something from it!
Since im doing lengthy reviews, im doing it seperate. Im enjoying my AKV savannah view with a cup of coffee and happy to report
I was disappointed by this meeting just because it seemed completely rushed and I did not feel the enthusiasm from the board that I felt at the AKV meeting. It last 33 minutes vs 1 hour of akv. With that being said, important things were actually addressed, I just wish it was longer. Did not feel it was a waste for that reason.
Questions asked and Key Takeways:
*Praise for the refurbishment by a couple of people. The overall vibe is that everyone is pleased with the LOOK of the refurbishment.
*However someone brought up valid concernz that aesthetically pleasing does not equal functionality and that is just as important which brought us to:
1. A couple of women complaining about the mirrors. Apparently before the mirrors were much better for women to get an overall view of themselves and put their makeup on (Im not kidding) and that more mirrors would be appreciated. Ive never stayed at blt pre refurb so I cant comment on that.
2. Complaint about tables being taken away, where are we supposed to sit. They need to take into consideration how the room functions and not just how great it looks
3. Along those lines, complaint that the front desk has been completely removed and we now have cast members with ipads a la PIT. The member said that when they walk in they dont know where to go, no one approaches them, and its not functional. I didnt know this because when we stayed in January there was a front desk. This was disappointing to me as well. The board tried to explain that the intention is that families would sit on the couch and relax and a cast member would approach them and handle the checkin in comfort. We went to blt after to test this out and to me the member was right. We didnt know who to go up to if we were checking in. It turns out there was one cast member with an iPad but a family was surrounding him and chatting so we couldnt see he was the one to go to. We sat in hopes to be approached and it never happened so that intention wasnt being carried out. The board said this was a learning process and they were still working out the kinks and thanked us for our patience.
4. Someone asked about being able to see a newly refurbished room. They told her to ask at the hotel. We decided to test that out as well and it was annoying how it was handled. They told us we had to go with a guide which is understandable, but they made us walk back to the Contemporary to the dvc desk when we were already there. A quick phone call should have solved this, but on the flip side our guide happened to be there and took us! Jordan is wonderful if you ever need a guide, he offered to take us to the Grand villa without us asking and he is a huge Disney fan and we've never seen a grand villa before. Sorry this is turning more into a trip report, back on subject.
5. Somebody asked about the upcoming pool refurb and said that they would like the pool to be better themed. The board said the pool was recently updated and there wont be a new theme. They did say some changes were coming to the pool restaurant.
6. Someone asked why the coffee machines have to be different at each resort whenever they update it and he never knows what coffee machine he will have. The board told them that with different refurbs comes more modern or new machines so they go with that.
7. Someone was concerned she can never get parking and that makes her not want to stay during the holidays. She heard that people from other resorts were getting wristbands to be able to park there and she was upset
The board said this absolutely wasnt true, they are aware of the parking issues and they are trying to figure out how to address it. She said she noticed a lot of people were Coming just for fireworks and leaving and its not fair to the people there. She would like a seperate parking area for DVC members only. The board did not seem to agree with this.8. Concerns about the annual dues increase. Why was it so much and is it due for the refurb when they have so much money in reserves for that. They told us that the whole property was reassessed and the value went way up and that hopefully they will be charged less taxes in the future. Someone asked if it was possible they could appeal the amount being charged. They said it was possible but that they would decide if it was worth it to pursue that and if they feel they actually have a chance at winning. Which they apparently decided its not worth it.
9. Someone asked about the taxes and why we have to pay for the library and resident stuff
They said it was the law because we own property in the state, we have to pay local taxes.Thats all I can remember for now! Hope you got something from it!
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I hate going to the apple store too, its just annoying to me idk why. Other members def feel the same as us. It is concerning because I hope this sint the trend from now on.
