BLT first trip home 8/23-8/28! Report and pics (Standard View Studio)

[pditullio]

We were there the first Saturday after it opened. By Sunday the gate stopped working. You had to yank it open. So it has been broken for 3 weeks.

Yes, this is sort of what I meant. I had read here on the boards that the locks were not working before I went, so I knew it was BS when he was telling me they were 'working on them.'

What I don't get, is why do they have to wait until the locks are fixed (the locks were never fixed at Kidani when we were there in July - what is it with these new gates!)? Can't they do a wristband system or just ask people for a KTTW card? I know I would GLADLY show mine if I knew it would mean booting the hoppers. They have got to stop being so political about it. Who cares if the hoppers are offended or whatever it is that Disney is afraid of. I would think that if they don't do anything about it, this will be the most crowded pool on property.

My question is, why are they hesitant to have that system here but not at Stormalong? Do they check cards at Kidani? I'm really disappointed at the lack of a plan for the resort's opening. I mean, I know there are growing pains for every new resort, but they must have known there would be speculators.

And on Thursday of our trip, it just may have been 'the most crowded pool on property.' It told me something that everywhere else in BLT -- the halls, laundry room, community hall, and even the deck for wishes the night before -- was dead as a doornail, and yet there were a couple hundred people in the pool area? Come on! Those were hoppers. Or at least fair number of them were. We couldn't even find chairs that day. In fact, that day we ended up walking over to the CR pool for a little while so DS could use their slide without waiting in line so long. What is the occupancy of the CR vs. BLT? Their pool was nowhere near as crowded.

Another morning I was sitting at the table near the slide watching DS come down it, and a woman and her 3 kids came in and took the table next to me. She smiled at me and said, "Wow, this is a great pool! Our kids were bored with our pool." I didn't ask where 'her pool' was, but she proceeded to call her DH and tell him to follow with their stuff. Which he did. Plus one more kid. They were still there when we left a couple hours later.

From our room balcony (which was second floor just above the front entrance) we watched a family arrive in their swimming gear by car (not sure what they told the gate attendant), unpack their stuff, try to use their KTTW cards in the front door, and then when that didn't work, proceed to walk all the way around the building to the pool instead.

These are just a couple of examples, but in my opinion, it's just not functioning as an exclusive pool. And they are not really trying to make it one. I don't understand why.

 

[locodemickey]

I think we all need to voice our concern on this. Who do we write to? I know there are those who say 'What is it hurting you to have hoppers there?' but when we have to stand in line longer, or can't find a chair, etc. it does affect us!! I follow the hopping rules, why can't Disney protect my huge investment and give me what I paid for?

 

[Sandisw]

I think we all need to voice our concern on this. Who do we write to? I know there are those who say 'What is it hurting you to have hoppers there?' but when we have to stand in line longer, or can't find a chair, etc. it does affect us!! I follow the hopping rules, why can't Disney protect my huge investment and give me what I paid for?

You can send an email to member satisfaction. Here is the email address:

Disney Vacation Club Member Satisfaction <DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com>

I think it is important that things be done the way that they are supposed to. If they can monitor it at BCV, then they can at BLT and AKV.

 

[WalterYensid]

I think it is important that things be done the way that they are supposed to. If they can monitor it at BCV, then they can at BLT and AKV.

They can regulate pool hopping at AKV and BLT and the members will pay for it in higher MF fees.
1 CM 12 hours/day @ $20/hr x 365 days = $87,600/year. $20/hr is not too much either. If anything it probably too low by $5-10. Granted the CM's get paid diddley, but once you figure in med Ins., Comp, Employers SS tax, Unemployment tax, supervision and personnel overhead, it adds up.

If it gets really bad then maybe they should, but do you really want to pay more if it's only a minor problem?

While we're on the subject...
* Housekeeping can be perfect
* No one will have accents
* Mickey can greet us at the front door
* Fresh flowers in room upon check-in

Just so long as we are willing to pay.

 

[locodemickey]

They can regulate pool hopping at AKV and BLT and the members will pay for it in higher MF fees.
1 CM 12 hours/day @ $20/hr x 365 days = $87,600/year. $20/hr is not too much either. If anything it probably too low by $5-10. Granted the CM's get paid diddley, but once you figure in med Ins., Comp, Employers SS tax, Unemployment tax, supervision and personnel overhead, it adds up.

If it gets really bad then maybe they should, but do you really want to pay more if it's only a minor problem?

While we're on the subject...
* Housekeeping can be perfect
* No one will have accents
* Mickey can greet us at the front door
* Fresh flowers in room upon check-in

Just so long as we are willing to pay.

Please let me understand what you are saying. It would cost more dues $$ to cut out the hoppers? I know we don't live in a perfect world (I don't understand the above accent comment), but why is it so hard just to ask the hoppers to leave (or have a working locked gate)?

 

[DenLo]

They can regulate pool hopping at AKV and BLT and the members will pay for it in higher MF fees. .

If it gets really bad then maybe they should, but do you really want to pay more if it's only a minor problem?

Just so long as we are willing to pay.

Please let me understand what you are saying. It would cost more dues $$ to cut out the hoppers? I know we don't live in a perfect world (I don't understand the above accent comment), but why is it so hard just to ask the hoppers to leave (or have a working locked gate)?

Sorry, I can't agree that if BLT enforces the no pool hopping rule it will raise the MF. The DVC has already labeled it as a no pool hopping. Enforcing it while the gates are not working is part of management's job at BLT. For now they are trying to fix the gates (for most of the month), however, they need to take the next step and ensure that pool is for BLT guests only. If they can do it for the TOTW, they can figure out something for the pool. If in the end the gates do not stay fixed or do not prevent people sneaking in then DVC/BLT will have to decide what to do.

One question--has the additional people who are pool hopping made the pool more crowded? If the pool is not consistently crowded, maybe is not worth the extra expense of assigning an employee to check keycards.

 

[Sandy321]

You can send an email to member satisfaction. Here is the email address:

Disney Vacation Club Member Satisfaction <DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com>

I think it is important that things be done the way that they are supposed to. If they can monitor it at BCV, then they can at BLT and AKV.

I am not a member - but ITA - its one thing to complain on a message board, to get a variety of opinions - but unless MS gets notified, often - I dont see any changes coming on -

isnt the BLT member dues already higher than other DVC properties? or was that just the 'buy in"? because they enforce no pool hopping at one DVC property - I believe there should be an expectation of rule enforcement - who wants chaos on a vacation?

OP - - I really appreciated reading your trip report!!

 

[WalterYensid]

Enforcing it while the gates are not working is part of management's job at BLT.

We pay for all the management and maintenance with MF. Enforcing it would be our expense.

If the pool is not consistently crowded, maybe is not worth the extra expense of assigning an employee to check keycards.

My point exactly.

locodemickey mentioned he didn't understand my comment about "No one will have accents". Sorry Loco. I just hate it when I call Disney, MS, or anywhere else and I have a hard, if not impossible time understanding the person on the other end of the line.

 

[pditullio]

They can regulate pool hopping at AKV and BLT and the members will pay for it in higher MF fees.
1 CM 12 hours/day @ $20/hr x 365 days = $87,600/year. $20/hr is not too much either. If anything it probably too low by $5-10. Granted the CM's get paid diddley, but once you figure in med Ins., Comp, Employers SS tax, Unemployment tax, supervision and personnel overhead, it adds up.

If it gets really bad then maybe they should, but do you really want to pay more if it's only a minor problem?

While we're on the subject...
* Housekeeping can be perfect
* No one will have accents
* Mickey can greet us at the front door
* Fresh flowers in room upon check-in

Just so long as we are willing to pay.

First of all, it's your opinion that it's a "minor" problem. I gather from your sarcasm that you are implying that I am being too picky, or that I am insisting on perfection. For the record, I am not the type of guest who white-gloves everything, and am generally pretty nonchalant about imperfections here and there. My mousekeeper last week actually did a crapola job -- leaving us no trash bags, not exchanging the dish towels, and leaving us only 2 new bath towels instead of 4. But I didn't even mention it in my trip report, or complain about it, or get upset about it at the time. Over the years, we have had great mousekeeping, and lousy mousekeeping, and I don't generally concern myself with things like that.

However, this pool issue is completely different. I am not insisting on something additional, only what was sold to me. Maybe the private pool would not be a selling point for you, but it was for us.

If you stayed at a regular hotel and purchased a rate that was advertised daily breakfast, but then once you got there, they told you it was not included, wouldn't you be annoyed? What if they said, "But if we gave you that service, we would have to charge you a higher room rate to pay the servers"? Not your problem. It's a promise they shouldn't have made.

Now, let's assume your math is correct above. How much would $87,000 be divided by the millions of points available for sale at BLT? Pennies. And yes, I'd gladly pay it. But I shouldn't have to. It should have been factored into the original fee structure in the first place if they were going to market it as a feature of the resort.

Sorry, I can't agree that if BLT enforces the no pool hopping rule it will raise the MF. The DVC has already labeled it as a no pool hopping. Enforcing it while the gates are not working is part of management's job at BLT. For now they are trying to fix the gates (for most of the month), however, they need to take the next step and ensure that pool is for BLT guests only. If they can do it for the TOTW, they can figure out something for the pool. If in the end the gates do not stay fixed or do not prevent people sneaking in then DVC/BLT will have to decide what to do.

My point exactly. They called it no pool hopping in their sales pitch. It's not me just saying, 'wouldn't it be nice, if..."

One question--has the additional people who are pool hopping made the pool more crowded? If the pool is not consistently crowded, maybe is not worth the extra expense of assigning an employee to check keycards.

Yes, see my previous post about how we were unable to find chairs. And how the line for the side was 20 people long all day. During a time when not all of BLT is even declared yet. And it's not even peak season.

It's an issue.

BUT. Even if weren't, even if it was only my party and one other non-BLT party at the whole pool, I still stand by my statement above: DVC marketed this pool at BLT only, and they are not delivering on that.

To the later posters: I have already made my call and sent an email to member satisfaction. I wanted to talk about it here so that other owners might do the same if they were inconvenienced, too.

 

[pixie921]

Yes, see my previous post about how we were unable to find chairs. And how the line for the side was 20 people long all day. During a time when not all of BLT is even declared yet. And it's not even peak season.

It's an issue.

BUT. Even if weren't, even if it was only my party and one other non-BLT party at the whole pool, I still stand by my statement above: DVC marketed this pool at BLT only, and they are not delivering on that.

I agree with you 100%. The promise of a restricted-access pool was a big selling point for us. I mean, it's obvious there are lots of people who would love the idea of spending the day at MK, then picking up their pool stuff from a locker and monorail-ing it over to the BLT for some pool time before going back to the MK and then to their OWN resort later. That was a big concern for us 'til DVC promised there would be no access unless you were a registered BLT guest. If that's not going to be enforced, that's going to be a huge issue.

To the later posters: I have already made my call and sent an email to member satisfaction. I wanted to talk about it here so that other owners might do the same if they were inconvenienced, too.

Good for you. We will do the same if we see it happening on our trip.

 

[Sandisw]

They can regulate pool hopping at AKV and BLT and the members will pay for it in higher MF fees.
1 CM 12 hours/day @ $20/hr x 365 days = $87,600/year. $20/hr is not too much either. If anything it probably too low by $5-10. Granted the CM's get paid diddley, but once you figure in med Ins., Comp, Employers SS tax, Unemployment tax, supervision and personnel overhead, it adds up.

If it gets really bad then maybe they should, but do you really want to pay more if it's only a minor problem?

While we're on the subject...
* Housekeeping can be perfect
* No one will have accents
* Mickey can greet us at the front door
* Fresh flowers in room upon check-in

Just so long as we are willing to pay.

My point is if you say that the pool is restricted, then take the steps to restrict it. If you find that the cost to restrict it is too much, then make them pools that allow "pool hopping" and be done with it.

But, to tell people that buy or stay at BLT and AKV, for that matter, that the pools will be restricted and to just ignore those that are breaking the rules is wrong.

If it means they didn't allow for it into the current MF's structure, then build it in and be done with it. It is obviously built in to the costs of running BCV, so it can be done.

With BLT being so close to the MK, this will become a bigger problem in the future as the resort becomes more popular and becomes sold out.

As the OP said, if they sell it to us one way, we should expect it to be that way.

 

[amv1605]

Coming to BLT in Jan!! with a Lake View ... Had I known that a Standard View might offer views like that I would have tried for that -- Yay for You!

I'm renting points from someone else --- Does that Mean that I can access everything at BLT, including the Sky Louge for Wishes??

 

[pixie921]

Coming to BLT in Jan!! with a Lake View ... Had I known that a Standard View might offer views like that I would have tried for that -- Yay for You!

I'm renting points from someone else --- Does that Mean that I can access everything at BLT, including the Sky Louge for Wishes??

Only actual DVC members staying at BLT can access the Top of the World lounge (you have to show your membership card for confirmation), so unfortunately, as a renter, you won't have access.

 

[Chellymouse]

Sounds like it was awesome! DH and I are in the process of figuring out how to do an add-on and we were thinking about BLT. We toured the model in 12/09 and there is some definite advantage of being on the monorail line. Sorry to hear about the pool hopping. Almost wonder if it was all DVC members or if it was folks from other resorts as well. Glad to hear BLT is living up to the hype.

 

[photobob]

Personally I wish every pool on property, whether DVC or All Stars, were restricted to the guests of the given resort. I just don't think it is fair to someone staying at a resort to go the pool and not have a chair and some one staying elsewhere sitting in one. As a DVC member i haven't pool hopped, just doesn't seem convenient to me but it is not a perk I would mind losing for the greater good of everyone.

 

[pditullio]

Personally I wish every pool on property, whether DVC or All Stars, were restricted to the guests of the given resort. I just don't think it is fair to someone staying at a resort to go the pool and not have a chair and some one staying elsewhere sitting in one. As a DVC member i haven't pool hopped, just doesn't seem convenient to me but it is not a perk I would mind losing for the greater good of everyone.

I actually wouldn't mind that myself. I plan my vacations based on what resort we want to spend time at for that vacation. If we are going at a time of year when we are doing more swimming and less time in parks, we usually stay at BCV. When my DS was little and we were in MK more than other parks, we stayed at WVL for the proximity...etc.

But maybe I'd feel differently if we went for longer stays. We usually go for 5 days once or twice a year. I can see my kid wanting to try out a different pool if we were there for 14 days every other year (which is how some people use their points). I don't know.

Still, I like the idea of the equity in all of the pools being specific to their own guests. Seems like they'd have a much better handle on capacity that way.

 

[queenie82]

I actually wouldn't mind that myself. I plan my vacations based on what resort we want to spend time at for that vacation. If we are going at a time of year when we are doing more swimming and less time in parks, we usually stay at BCV. When my DS was little and we were in MK more than other parks, we stayed at WVL for the proximity...etc.

But maybe I'd feel differently if we went for longer stays. We usually go for 5 days once or twice a year. I can see my kid wanting to try out a different pool if we were there for 14 days every other year (which is how some people use their points). I don't know.

Still, I like the idea of the equity in all of the pools being specific to their own guests. Seems like they'd have a much better handle on capacity that way.

I'm being "welcomed home" for the first time this December and we are splitting our 14 night stay between 4 resorts because we want to try out various ones...but also based a bit on pool access. (AKV, BLT, BWV and BCV) [plus OKW for 2 separate nights]
I do like the idea of pool hopping myself and can see myself doing it a bit (probably on a non park day or waterpark day) but I'm also happy with some being restricted. Whatever the rule...fine...I will stick to it...

What they need to do is make a rule and STICK TO IT. It is that simple. We bought BLT because of the monorail line, proximity to MK and a few others and a RESTRICTED POOL was on that list so at the end of a long day a relaxing dip could be had knowing it wasn't going to be excessively crowded.

If ANY pool is listed as a non hopping pool they MUST STICK TO THEIR OWN RULE.
And they especially need to do this in the beginning so word doesn't get out and more and more try.

As for the Trip report...greatly appreciated. We are staying in a standard view studio in December. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

 

[Sammie]

If you are not happy about the pool situation please let Member Services know. I have been told by management, that no one complains about the pool situations either to MS or Disney.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Only actual DVC members staying at BLT can access the Top of the World lounge (you have to show your membership card for confirmation), so unfortunately, as a renter, you won't have access.

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are renting points from someone else wont your room key say "DVC member" on it? If that is the case, you will be allowed access to the Top of the World.

 

[nunzia]

Personally I wish every pool on property, whether DVC or All Stars, were restricted to the guests of the given resort. I just don't think it is fair to someone staying at a resort to go the pool and not have a chair and some one staying elsewhere sitting in one. As a DVC member i haven't pool hopped, just doesn't seem convenient to me but it is not a perk I would mind losing for the greater good of everyone.

I agree with this as well. This whole pool hopping thing seems like trouble waiting to happen. It was obviously a big deal at BCV or they wouldn't have restricted it. I guess I can see that people who visit alot would like to experience other pools, but it really does seem unfair that if you happen to stay in a resort with a desirable pool, you, the guest staying there, can't find a chair. And at BLT it's a bigger deal. You were TOLD it would be for BLT users, so it should be enforced. I'm one of those annoying rule followers, so I get miffed when others don't and more miffed when rules aren't enforced, since over time that just makes it not a rule. Line cutting anyone?
Anyway..all they have to do is enforce the rule, then word gets out and then the problem pretty much goes away.