BLT experience (caution long post)

[dvcssr1]

Ok, so I am sure that I am going to get flamed for this post BUT I feel that I need to go ahead anyway.

Let me start this off with the fact that we have been members since 2003 and make an average of 2 visits per year. And we have NEVER had any issues like we did this visit at BLT! Also, our youngest son and his family stayed at BLT this past June and loved it. They were in a lake view studio.

We just got back from a weeks stay. First night 1 bedroom at AKV Kidani savannah view. Was kind of worried, but it was a beautiful room. Super clean and the view was fantastic.
Next morning we, DH, DS (32), DSIL and myself moved to a lake view 1 bedroom at BLT. Did online check-in (as well as requested when I made the ressies) with the following requests, 1st and formost NO handicap accessible!, north tower, even numbered room and higher floor. We got the text at about 2:30, it was ready. Whoopie! Went to room and it was everything we asked for except it was handicap accessible. Now the issue we have with a HA room is that the shower is a "roll in" and the bathroom tends to have the whole floor with puddles and wet. So it makes for somewhat slippery floor and hard to dry off with the towel.
We went downstairs and asked if it was possible to be moved to a non-accessible room. Cast member checked and if we give them about a half hour no problem. Ok, so by now it is about 3:30. They let us know that it is ready. Up we go. Not an accessible room Yahoo! But as we walk through the room we are picking up "stuff" off the floor (the plastic tags that hold the price tags on to new clothes, empty packs from over the counter pills etc) DH goes to check out the kitchen and the sink is dirty with a dirty spoon in it. YUK. DS uses the hall bath and the door won't slide open once closed. I go to help and can't get it to move either. Lovely! DH finally gets the door open. Seems that there is a hump in the carpet and once the door goes over the hump it won't open unless you lift the door.
So down we trudge to the loby again. Explain the issues and they find us another room. It is an accessible room but with a tub! Now we are talking! They suggest that we check out the room before we move luggage over there. DH & DS go to check it out. Fantastic. Very clean, the view we had been hoping for and we are good to go. DS waits there and DH goes to previous room to wait for someone to pick up luggage and purple locker to move to new room. The head of maintenance comes and checks with the issues with the "bad" room with DH. He appoligizes.
Ok, so now it is about 5:00, call for extra pillows. Unpack and check out the rooms. 6:00, no pillows so we call agin and they say we don't have to be in the room for them to leave pillows. So out to the parks!!!
Return at 10:30 p.m., no pillows. Call again and they bring them right up.

Trash and towel was suppose to be thursday. They show up on wednesday, DS is in room in afternoon sleeping (has a bad cold), they say sorry we will be back tomorrow. Tomorrow comes, no show. So we said just forget about it. We already gave up 3/4's of a day just getting our room.
Now, we come to departure day. DH takes our purple locker (by car) to the front to leave for pickup, 4 bell services guys standing around talking with 3 bell carts near by. They tell him he can't leave car out there. He says he is just dropping off. Too bad (my words not theirs), then you have to leave your keys. Ok, no problem. Where do I drop this off? One turns around and points to inside and says in there. Gee thanks for the help!

During our stay, we spoke with 2 different DVC employees at different times and places. They both told us that BLT has serious issues with the housekeeping and maintenance. They were in a rush to get things done and hired anyone who applied. They said that they have heard many stories like ours. They suggested to write a letter to member services, speaking with your guide will not have the same impact, neither will them as employees going to members services make the kind on impact that a letter from a owner to member services will do. Letter is in the mail!

Will we try there again? Maybe. It does have many redeeming qualities. But not for awhile.

Ok, now flame away.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Glad you finally got a nice room! Hope that you had a nice time despite the issues! Thank you for posting!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Unfortunately DVC in general is riddled with poor housekeeping, not just BLT.
I have always said the weak link for DVC is the housekeeping. Kind of amazing for a company who prides themselves on cleanliness.

MG

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm just glad you got a room that worked for you. Having dealt with the no-tub HA room at Jambo last December (many many exhausting days into our trip when a soak in epsom salts was desperately needed), and being forced to wait until the next day to move rooms (that night doesn't bear thinking about, as I was freezing cold and in pain), and having it color EVERYTHING about my memories of Jambo, the fact that you stood your ground and got an appropriate room makes me happy!

For me, the T&T stuff isn't worth thinking about...we actually put out the do not disturb sign on T&T day b/c it's just so useless in a 4 night stay...but I understand you did want it.

 

[rock_doctor]

Ok, now flame away.

I doubt you will get flamed. I love blt it is our home resort and we stay there 2-3 weeks a year. But...but...but...the major problem is blt does not have its own services. We rely on the Contemporary for our services and they just do not do as much and in some cases what they should even though we pay the Contemporary several million dollars a year for their support services. Bell services is an outside company so i am not surprised they were less then "Magical". Not much you can do about housekeeping as a whole across Disney property it has become a serious issue. You can get dirty and badly maintained rooms anyplace on property (one of reason we refuse to say at Pop anymore). So it is really important to check your room ASAP and complain faster then ASAP. And you have to really push the issue. I absolutely recommend you send a letter to member services and include any pictures you may have. Every time maintenance is not done or a room is not cleaned they just cheated us (owners) for that service since we specifically pay for those services. If you had a service come into your home to clean and maintain it. If they don't do it, you would fire them... This is exactly the same thing and we have to make sure it is being done. Remember always take pictures of any issue you may have and then post them here. This way they can't say it did not happen... We know disney does watch this site and this way we can let corporate know what its DVC leg (arm, hand, foot what ever) is doing.

 

[robinb]

Next morning we, DH, DS (32), DSIL and myself moved to a lake view 1 bedroom at BLT. Did online check-in (as well as requested when I made the ressies) with the following requests, 1st and formost NO handicap accessible!, north tower, even numbered room and higher floor. We got the text at about 2:30, it was ready. Whoopie! Went to room and it was everything we asked for except it was handicap accessible.

I always wonder if they misread the "NO" part of the "no handicap accessible" request . We really don't mind a h/a room, even with the additional issues one brings (no storage in the bathroom is by biggie). In any event, I'm glad you got the room you wanted.

 

[lilpooh108]

Thanks for your honest review. I'd be annoyed too if we got an HA room since we have a toddler and we don't want her slipping in the bathroom/shower area.

This comment is not directed at you, but I'm always confused when people review rooms and they say that they kept walking into/throughout the villa when they first go in and it's obviously not been cleaned yet... I mean, what's to see?

 

[Anal Annie]

We just got back from a weeks stay. First night 1 bedroom at AKV Kidani savannah view. Was kind of worried, but it was a beautiful room. Super clean and the view was fantastic.

What were you afraid of with this part of your stay?? What would be wrong with a Savannah view at AKV? You thought it wouldn't be clean? You thought it would smell like a farm? What??

Next morning we, DH, DS (32), DSIL and myself moved to a lake view 1 bedroom at BLT. Did online check-in (as well as requested when I made the ressies) with the following requests, 1st and formost NO handicap accessible!, north tower, even numbered room and higher floor. We got the text at about 2:30, it was ready. Whoopie! Went to room and it was everything we asked for except it was handicap accessible. Now the issue we have with a HA room is that the shower is a "roll in" and the bathroom tends to have the whole floor with puddles and wet. So it makes for somewhat slippery floor and hard to dry off with the towel.

We're staying at BLT in a LV studio for the first time next spring and I haven't put any requests on the ressie for it. I honestly haven't done any research about it yet. I understand the no HA thing & the higher floor but can I just ask about your other requests? What's with the north tower? What does that affect? What does that do for you as opposed to ______? I was thinking I would probably just as soon have a view on the inside of the crescent where we could see the lake rather than the parking lot but I don't know. And next I'm REALLLLLY baffled over why you wanted an even numbered room. Is that a superstition for you? What is wrong with the odd numbered rooms that I should know about?? Are the odds higher of getting a HA room at BLT than at other resorts?
thx

 

[n2mm]

No flames here. I too have talked to the satisfaction team and was told that BLT has the most housekeeping issues of any of the DVC resorts. We've been riddled with issues at BLT. I did write and someone called and discussed it with me. My most recent stay was August 2011 and it was my third stay. I expected hiccups during my first stay, but by the 3rd one I would've hoped they were worked out--but there were still issues.

 

[wdrl]

We're staying at BLT in a LV studio for the first time next spring and I haven't put any requests on the ressie for it. I honestly haven't done any research about it yet. I understand the no HA thing & the higher floor but can I just ask about your other requests? What's with the north tower? What does that affect? What does that do for you as opposed to ______? I was thinking I would probably just as soon have a view on the inside of the crescent where we could see the lake rather than the parking lot but I don't know. And next I'm REALLLLLY baffled over why you wanted an even numbered room. Is that a superstition for you? What is wrong with the odd numbered rooms that I should know about?? Are the odds higher of getting a HA room at BLT than at other resorts?
thx

If you take a look a work2play's excellent thread on BLT rooms and views on the Planning board, you'll get a good idea of the advantages of certain locations at BLT (see http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082). Work2play has maps of BLT that show the layout of the types of accommodations and the view category for each villa.

Even numbered villas are on the outside of the BLT "C". These villas face the MK, Seven Seas Lagoon, and the Contemporary Resort. The odd numbered villas are on the inside of the "C" and face the pool and Bay Lake.

The even numbered villas on BLT's North side are classified as Standard View or Lake View. However, a large number of those villas have views of the Magic Kingdom, and some of these views are as good, if not better, than some of the more expensive MK-view villas.

 

[jwieber]

Sorry to hear about the bad parts of the stay. We're heading out to our BLT home in two weeks and we know that there is always a chance that sooner or later we'll get a less than desired set of things go wrong.
To the poster who wanted to know about the room requets, Lake Views in the North Tower with an even # room actually face the MK, and you can see the fireworks from most all those rooms. So you get a MK view at a Lake View rate.

 

[mdsd8700]

We're staying at BLT in a LV studio for the first time next spring and I haven't put any requests on the ressie for it. I honestly haven't done any research about it yet. I understand the no HA thing & the higher floor but can I just ask about your other requests? What's with the north tower? What does that affect? What does that do for you as opposed to ______? I was thinking I would probably just as soon have a view on the inside of the crescent where we could see the lake rather than the parking lot but I don't know. And next I'm REALLLLLY baffled over why you wanted an even numbered room. Is that a superstition for you? What is wrong with the odd numbered rooms that I should know about?? Are the odds higher of getting a HA room at BLT than at other resorts?
thx

The even numbered rooms on the higher floors of the north tower can have good partial view of the MK (off to the side) but are considered LV. Those who have gotten them have been very pleased with their "MK" view for LV points.

I don't beleive the chances of getting an HA room are higher at BLT, but someone else may know better.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'd suggest requesting a room with a tub instead of a non-HA. I also believe that too often they just see the HA part and miss the no or non.

And at least you got pillows!! When we were there in Dec we also called for pillows. What was waiting for us in the room when we got back was a blanket!! Personally I think they're making a mistake by not leaving pillows in the room for the sofa bed and sleeper chair. There are plenty of pillows on the other beds that you can take from those which is what we did but it would be better to have some in the room specifically for the pull outs.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The even numbered rooms on the higher floors of the north tower can have good partial view of the MK (off to the side) but are considered LV. Those who have gotten them have been very pleased with their "MK" view for LV points.

I don't beleive the chances of getting an HA room are higher at BLT, but someone else may know better.

It may be higher with the request you listed above because that is the section that the HA rooms with roll in showers are.

 

[Sammie]

1st and formost NO handicap accessible!, north tower, even numbered room and higher floor

No flames but that is alot of requests. Being able to come up with that exact combination is pretty hard for a room assigner.

I never make more than one. More than likely they went with what room would give you the most requests checked off and they did that they gave you 3 out of 4 which most people would find to be outstanding.

I do think BLT has some issues that need to be addressed and hopefully now that Jim Lewis is gone they will be.

 

[disneynutz]

Just a couple of things to share. Disney is now using software to match pre-defined room requests. The software (like most of the software that DVC uses) was written for Disney cash bookings, not the DVC. If a water view is a choice, it gets checked and the software matches it to a room that has been designated as a water view. The problem is that the DVC rooms don't always match the pre-defined categories. Requests that are manually noted in the reservation as the OP's were are not assigned by computer but by a CM at the last minute if they see the manual entry. By then, most of the rooms are assigned and you get your choice of leftovers.

It was also posted by someone that Bell Services aren't Disney employees. That's true in the Value Resorts but at the DVC Resorts, Bell Services is still staffed by Disney CM's. The Valets and car unloaders out front are contracted employees.

 

[Jonell]

OP, your experience sounds alot like our recent stay at BWV. We requested a HA room and initally was not given one. After our room change we walked into a room with french fries and cheerios on the carpet, toothpaste on the BR sink, dried food stuck on the table and dusty furniture. We finally received our full cleaning, 2 days late, and after calling housekeeping 3 times. So I don't think BLT is the only resort with these type of issues. I sent an email to report these issues and I suggest you do the same.

 

[castleri]

Recently had 1 BR LV villa at BLT and there were 7 pillows on the master king bed. I just assumed that at least 3 of them were for the pull out sofa and chair.
I really don't think that there is a need for more than that.

My requests for that trip were high floor, north side even number and we got exactly that with a great view of both the lake and the MK

 

[rlovew]

A lot of the problems and trouble with room requests I think stems from the number of rooms available for any given day. When we checked into BLT this Monday we had a standard view studio- there were 2 that were changing over that day. We had not made a request and neither was available at the time we checked in. Originally they thought one of them was ready but it turned out not to be- it said it was ready in the system but the cm called to check and housekeeping said it was not actually available yet. Now the cm at the desk told us which room it was thinking we would actually be heading to it before she called. She then told us about where the other room was and we decided we preferred the one she was originally assigning us so she gave us that room in the system. It turned out to be a HA room without a roll in shower but it really wouldn't have mattered what our request had been the likelyhood of the 2 rooms available that day meeting our requests would have been slim.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'd suggest requesting a room with a tub instead of a non-HA. I also believe that too often they just see the HA part and miss the no or non.

And at least you got pillows!! When we were there in Dec we also called for pillows. What was waiting for us in the room when we got back was a blanket!! Personally I think they're making a mistake by not leaving pillows in the room for the sofa bed and sleeper chair. There are plenty of pillows on the other beds that you can take from those which is what we did but it would be better to have some in the room specifically for the pull outs.

They don't leave pillows for the sofa bed? Even if there's more than 2 people in the room? What kind of stupidity is that?! We're LANDING at MCO at like 10:30. WHO KNOWS what time DME will get us there. NO WAY I want to be calling for pillows at midnight for my DS. Thanks for the heads up on THAT ONE.

I will call TOMORROW to add some requests once I ask DH if he wants to face MK or the pool.