BLT - Theme Park View, not Fireworks View?

[MisterPat]

I booked 1 night in a 1BR at BLT to use points that I otherwise would lose. This is in the middle of our 2-week Florida vacation. I booked a MK view room and the CM stated it is a "theme park view, not a fireworks view."

What does that mean? I've looked all over this forum, and it appears you can see the fireworks from the MK view 1BRs. Am I missing something?

 

[simmons_m]

some of the views from BLT require that you are on the balcony, looking over the balcony, and looking to the right to see the castle & or fireworks.
when we were there in March, we could see the fireworks by sitting on the left side of the balcony, and looking right. you could not see the fireworks or the park if you were in the room. you could see the monorail station, and a partial view of the main gate/train station.
i personally would not recommend the MK view, however i have read from others who had the same room, and were very pleased with the view.

 

[simmons_m]

we were in room 8x28

 

[walkdmc]

I really think they need to refine the BLT view categories. We had issues with a "Lake View" 2 BR. And, to call something an MK view and requiring you to crane your neck to see the fireworks is just wrong, IMO, and misleading. I'm about to book our June 2011 trip as BLT is our DVC "home" and I will not spend my points on sketchy "Lake" or "Magic Kingdom" views. I'll be going for the Standard view.

 

[simmons_m]

what issues did you have with your lake view?
that is the level we plan on booking going forward.

 

[MisterPat]

From the plans, I can only expect that a 1BR MK View will be numbered either xx20 or xx26. Anyone who has had these room that could not see the fireworks?

Or, better yet, if you have pics, I'd love to see them.

 

[mac_tlc]

I took these pictures from Room 8120, 1bdr MK view

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/search.php?searchid=1470


mac_tlc

 

[kmk1180]

Here's a great thread with a breakdown of locations of rooms and many with photos of the views.
read the first post to learn more.
should be helpful in picking a room request and give you a good idea of what to expect.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082

 

[MisterPat]

Thanks kmk1180- But I've already looked through that post and was unable to figure out how a MK view would not have a view of the fireworks. Still don't know what that means.

mac tlc - I can;t see ay pics on that link. It just says I need to be registered to search.

 

[walkdmc]

We were originally placed in room 7605. It's on the inside of the C, overlooking the pool. About 75% of our window was covered with a view of the opposite side of the C and 25% lake out to the left. I was expecting a full on lake view.

AFter I called the front desk, they moved us to 7602. From that room you could see the MK and SM. I would've been equally happy with a nice, unobstructed serene lake view. However, the 6th floor isn't really high enough for such a view. There were a bunch swampy trees partially blocking our lake view. It would've been great to have something higher than the 6th floor.

I do hold out hope they will revise these room categories, to include a "Pool view" and such. It looks like, based on early reviews of BLT, they do take our comments into consideration and they may change the room categories. I can hope, right? Anyway, they mailed me a survey card after our stay. I went online, entered the PW and filled out one long survey during which I mentioned the problem with the "Lake View" not really being a "Lake View" in our case.

Despite all my negative ramblings, the BLT was beautiful. I loved every day there. In retrospect, we would've been fine in room 7605. In the end, I learned that I enjoy that resort so much that I don't need to spend points hoping to get a great Lake View or MK view. There are plenty of opportunities to see both, just strolling around the halls/building. That said, if they sell you a MK room, you should see fireworks.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks kmk1180- But I've already looked through that post and was unable to figure out how a MK view would not have a view of the fireworks. Still don't know what that means.

mac tlc - I can;t see ay pics on that link. It just says I need to be registered to search.

I think that there are some people who thought that if you were in an MK view room that you would be able to see fireworks from inside the room, either sitting on the coach or the bed, not having to go out to the balcony to see them.

That is most likely why they are just letting people know when they book just in case there is confusion. We have stayed SV and LV and think those are fine views. Matter of fact, I upgraded our 1 bedroom for SV to LV this summer because I didn't really want first floor. Now I am finding out that SV rooms go into floors 3 and 4 as well so from now on, it will be SV rooms all the way!

Good luck!

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks kmk1180- But I've already looked through that post and was unable to figure out how a MK view would not have a view of the fireworks. Still don't know what that means.

mac tlc - I can;t see ay pics on that link. It just says I need to be registered to search.

When a cm at member services looks at their computer - it shows them theme park view, lake view, standard view. They don't have a fireworks view listed so that is probably what she was saying.

One time I asked for a fireworks view for a standard view at BWV. The front desk cm said the room I had wouldn't be able to see fireworks. When I got to the room it had a perfect fireworks view. CM's don't always know the little details.

 

[sissy_42]

I think that there are some people who thought that if you were in an MK view room that you would be able to see fireworks from inside the room, either sitting on the coach or the bed, not having to go out to the balcony to see them.

That is most likely why they are just letting people know when they book just in case there is confusion. We have stayed SV and LV and think those are fine views. Matter of fact, I upgraded our 1 bedroom for SV to LV this summer because I didn't really want first floor. Now I am finding out that SV rooms go into floors 3 and 4 as well so from now on, it will be SV rooms all the way!

Good luck!

This is the impression I was given when I did my DVC tour last year. After reading more about BLT I'm glad I went with AKV. I'm sure I'll stay at BLT someday, but I think I will be happier overall at AKV.

 

[mac_tlc]

mac tlc - I can;t see ay pics on that link. It just says I need to be registered to search.

Here are some of them:

mac_tlc

 

[SonicGuy]

My wife and I just had this conversation about views at BLT. Last December we stayed in LV and this May in MK view. We actually preferred the LV. While it was nice to see the fireworks from the balcony, the noise coming off the Contemporary - luggage transfers, employee shift change, loading docks, etc - really took some magic out of it. Besides, as someone else stated, there are so many places in the resort to get a great view of the fireworks.

When we had the LV we found it very peaceful and actually watched the electrical parade more often than we did the fireworks in the MK view.

Definitely will be saving the points. They really want a premium, which is not a problem because we have plenty, but our preference was the LV.

 

[disneynutz]

The above photos are using a telephoto lens. To the naked eye, the distance is like the view through the window in photo number 5.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think that there are some people who thought that if you were in an MK view room that you would be able to see fireworks from inside the room, either sitting on the coach or the bed, not having to go out to the balcony to see them.

That is most likely why they are just letting people know when they book just in case there is confusion. We have stayed SV and LV and think those are fine views. Matter of fact, I upgraded our 1 bedroom for SV to LV this summer because I didn't really want first floor. Now I am finding out that SV rooms go into floors 3 and 4 as well so from now on, it will be SV rooms all the way!

Good luck!

Some people (me) expected when booking a Magic Kingdom view (which was what it was listed as at the time) that the MK would be able to be viewed from the room itself and I would not have to go out on the balcony to see it. I actually didn't think a whole lot about the fireworks b/c I know where they are shot off from and could see how that might not be possible to see from inside some of the rooms but to see them I could only sit in one corner of the balcony. There are LV category rooms that have better theme park views and I knew this from pictures here.

I am holding out hope that they will review some of the room assignments and get them changed.

Of course by the time I stayed in the theme park view I already had booked our Dec. trip in a theme park view since the Standard views were booked up. We'll see what we get for what will likely be my last time in that category unless they do change some of the view assignments. It's a very iffy category at the moment.

 

[Sandisw]

Some people (me) expected when booking a Magic Kingdom view (which was what it was listed as at the time) that the MK would be able to be viewed from the room itself and I would not have to go out on the balcony to see it. I actually didn't think a whole lot about the fireworks b/c I know where they are shot off from and could see how that might not be possible to see from inside some of the rooms but to see them I could only sit in one corner of the balcony. There are LV category rooms that have better theme park views and I knew this from pictures here.

I am holding out hope that they will review some of the room assignments and get them changed.

Of course by the time I stayed in the theme park view I already had booked our Dec. trip in a theme park view since the Standard views were booked up. We'll see what we get for what will likely be my last time in that category unless they do change some of the view assignments. It's a very iffy category at the moment.

I agree with you that they need to change the room assignments. We were there opening weekend and have a great LV room, IMO. We watched the fireworks from our balcony.

I also think that they did promote MK viw rooms as rooms that could see the park and fireworks (wasn't that the fake picture they had off the balcony at the models?) so I don't think anyone expected them to classify the rooms they way the did. I know we will never do MK view because it can be a lower floor and can't justify paying that much extra for something one floor up from SV.

Now that they probably getting complaints (and have had to refund points to people), they are being more careful when booking those room.

I hope you get a great view in December. We have LV in a few weeks and requested the same part of the resort we had last time, but we will see what happens.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree with you that they need to change the room assignments. We were there opening weekend and have a great LV room, IMO. We watched the fireworks from our balcony.

I also think that they did promote MK viw rooms as rooms that could see the park and fireworks (wasn't that the fake picture they had off the balcony at the models?) so I don't think anyone expected them to classify the rooms they way the did. I know we will never do MK view because it can be a lower floor and can't justify paying that much extra for something one floor up from SV.

Now that they probably getting complaints (and have had to refund points to people), they are being more careful when booking those room.

I hope you get a great view in December. We have LV in a few weeks and requested the same part of the resort we had last time, but we will see what happens.

Thanks Sandi for the good luck wishes. Hope you get the LV view you're hoping for!

Yes, the picture they showed from the room was the perfect, direct view of the MK and fireworks. I'm not certain that exact view is even possible though! They also did have a disclaimer up by it as I recall but I'm sure many people did not even see that. I too have been especially surprised by the low floors that they have classified for the view.

 

[dizfan]

mac_tlc

mac_tlc, thank you for mentioning the lamp when you stayed there last year. When we stayed in December, I immediately moved the lamp to the side so that we had a much better view through the living room window.