BLT Too Exclusive or Just Right

[Sammie]

It may be too early to get a complete feel for this and I know with Disney anything can change, but I would love to know how everyone feels about the lockdown of BLT reading the Resort forums got to be to thinking about this.

Resort card to access lobby, building, pool, etc. and members only to the lounge.

I have no problem what so ever with the new policy at BLT, I say hooray. If I want to see it, or use the pool, I can book a stay there.

What I am having some concern with is, is this change fair to other DVC resorts that are wide open?

I mean everyone and their brother tells everyone and especially on this site, to use the buses at SSR to get to Downtown Disney.

Is it fair to lockdown BLT and allow total and complete access to the other resorts and that includes pool hopping.

I am just not sure that now there are 3 pools off limits to pool hopping that it is fair to continue to offer it to other resorts. It just seems like a double standard to me.

If staying at BCV, BLT and AKV on points is it fair to go to BW, VWL or even the Polynesian to swim.

I know some resorts would be hard to provide this type of exclusiveness due to design such as OKW and SSR, but VWL, BCV would be easy to implement.

Just wondering if anyone else has any thoughts on this new change or even why you think it happened. I truly do not believe it is for security and if it is not sure that is fair at all, does it mean DVC could care less about security at other resorts.

And please do not turn this into the DVC haves and the haves not, entitlement and such, just keep it civil and try to be adults.

 

[Muhlenberg]

I, too, was wondering why the hotel itself was locked with room-key entry only. My DH thought maybe because it's not completely finished. What did they do at other resorts that are done in stages, like AKV? Are the incomplete areas blocked off somehow?

Knowing, of course, that there's not much to see on the various floors, other than halls, walls, doors, floors and lights , it would be nice to just get a "feel" for the resort by looking at the public areas. It would be good for sales if people could just look around a little, but they're preventing that.

We bought at AKV, and went over to AKL to look around before we bought. We'd never been there before, and thought we should at least have a look.

I wonder, if after the "major curiosity stage", they will then just lock it in the overnight hours, like some hotels do.

I don't know that I feel it's "unfair" but more like...why are they locking it.

 

[flipflopmom]

I kind of think it is a security thing with MK being right there. Anyone can walk over and that would be hard to patrol and keep under control. Day guests walking over, trying to find a cool place to crash? There's nothing there as far as restaurants, etc. for others to need to be there, unlike other buildings with TS restaurants. The pool looks small, so I am guessing the no pool hopping is because they'll worry that it won't even be able to handle the guests of BLT, much less extras. Just my initial thoughts...

 

[DVC Mike]

I think it's fine, I just don't think it will last.

 

[photobob]

In regards to pools, I'd like to see every pool whether DVC or not be room key access or maybe wristband required. I'm not a fan of the pool hopping even though I have the privilege at most resorts. I just don't think it is fair to those staying at given resort to have to compete for chair and pool space with people who are staying elsewhere.

 

[ssawka]

I kind of think it is a security thing with MK being right there. Anyone can walk over and that would be hard to patrol and keep under control. Day guests walking over, trying to find a cool place to crash? There's nothing there as far as restaurants, etc. for others to need to be there, unlike other buildings with TS restaurants. The pool looks small, so I am guessing the no pool hopping is because they'll worry that it won't even be able to handle the guests of BLT, much less extras. Just my initial thoughts...

I think you hit the nail on the head! I think the issue with BLT is its proximity to MK. I could really see day guests from MK walking over to BLT to relax in the lobby or use the pool. I think by having the security policies in place Disney can provide less staff to BLT to patrol such things. This is good for owners because lower staff means lower MFs.

 

[disneynutz]

The cost to add card readers during construction is inexpensive as compared to adding them later.

DVD is either adding controlled access to all new resorts starting with BLT or they have elected to restrict access to BLT because they expect a lot of looky-loos and visitors trying to access the observation area. Exclusivity is also good for sales.

 

[Brian Noble]

I just don't think it will last.

I don't either. I suspect it's in place to discourage a wave of looky-lous who want to see the place. I'm guessing that after a little while, after the huge wave of online photos/blogs gets digested and most folks' curiosity is satisfied, the lobby at least will be open.

On the other hand, BLT is the one location that doesn't have any "public" services onsite---there are no open-to-the-public restaurants, no gift shops, etc. Every other DVC resort has at least a restaurant that anyone can visit.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I don't have a problem with it. I own there. But I don't own at BCV. I can't swim at their pool unless I'm staying there.

It would be different if they had a restaurant at a new DVC resort I couldn't eat at.

There are now 3 DVC resorts with exclusive use of pools. If they don't have shops and restaurants, I really don't have any reason to be walking around a resort.

The lounge on the top is currently a selling point. I was at an event last month. They mentioned it a few times that you could only go there if you were staying there on points and even people paying thousands cash in a GV for a week couldn't. Who knows what will happen there once the place is sold out?

 

[Ramsfan28]

I like the policy personally. I just hope it lasts and perks such at the Top of the World lounge don't go away after the BLT sells out.

 

[dizfanz]

I think the member lounge on the top floor has a lot to do with it. WHen AKL first opened, you needed to have a reason for going to visit it. You couldn't just say you were going to have dinner, but actually have your name on the ADR list. Once the excitement dies down, I bet you will be allowed to enter the building and grounds without a key, but lounge access will stil require one.

 

[rentayenta]

I don't really care. If I want to see it all, I can stay there. I don't stress over what someone may or may not be getting.

 

[gkrykewy]

It doesn't really affect me since they only time I'd ever be there is when we're staying on points, but I don't really like it.

Just part of a continuing national trend toward superficial security at the expense of comfort and convenience.

I hope it is not permanent. For people thinking that there'd be hordes of Magic Kingdom guests walking there during the day for a "break" if not for the lockdown.... it's really not close enough, convenient enough, or obvious enough to make very many people think that would be a good idea.

 

[DenLo]

I think several prior posters have got it right. The close proximity to MK, no restaurant of any kind and the building itself is different from other DVC properties. Because it is a high rise condo looking building, it's easily set up to block it from guests not staying at that resort.

There also is the close proximity to CR that was probably considered by Disney, CR resort guests would considered it just part of the hotel. After all it just replaced one of the garden room buildings, right? CR's guests would think, since it's part of CR shouldn't we be allowed to use the pool and the lounge on top? But is not part of CR. It's DVC.

The other DVC resorts have guards to prevent a guest not staying at the resort from entering the grounds. BWV and BCV might be easily accessible, however neither of these resorts have their own restaurants, nor a lounge. And the pools are small and wouldn't attract anyone not staying there. The main pools were either already built (SAB) or also built for use by the cash reservation guests. At BLT there are too many entrances from which a CR resort guest could enter, the walkway, the pool, the front entrance and who knows how many side doors. It's easy to walk out the back of CR and walk over to the back of BLT.

Then there was the problem of TOW. How many guests can stay at BLT any given night? And if most wanted to go up to the lounge? Could it handle that crowd? Probably not so therefore restrict it to DVC members only and see how popular it becomes.

I just believe everything is really in flux, after a trial period things will change. Especially TOW restricted to DVC only. Disney will have a lot of headaches with that one. I can imagine the complaints daily at the front desk. And who can blame them, they paid a ton of money for their cash stay at BLT. Since at least 2 percent (some say 4%) of all DVC resorts belong to Disney and all rooms that are not booked 60 days out are turned back to Disney for cash reservations, it's not practical to think DVC properties really only belong to DVC members. These cash rentals keep our MF down too.

 

[Brian Noble]

For people thinking that there'd be hordes of Magic Kingdom guests walking there during the day for a "break" if not for the lockdown.... it's really not as close enough, convenient enough, or obvious enough to make very many people think that would be a good idea.

Good point. It would be shorter to walk to the (air-conditioned) monorail, and take it to the CR canyon---and that's been possible more or less forever, with no ill effects.

Since at least 2 percent (some say 4%) of all DVC resorts belong to Disney and all rooms that are not booked 60 days out are turned back to Disney for cash reservations, it's not practical to think DVC properties really only belong to DVC members.

And, for at least the next year, probably a lot more than that. If I recall correctly, only about half the tower is even declared into inventory.

 

[toniosmom]

In regards to pools, I'd like to see every pool whether DVC or not be room key access or maybe wristband required. I'm not a fan of the pool hopping even though I have the privilege at most resorts. I just don't think it is fair to those staying at given resort to have to compete for chair and pool space with people who are staying elsewhere.

While I like the idea of changing things up and visiting other resort pools, I agree with you. I'd be really annoyed if I couldn't get a chair at my own resort pool because others staying at another resort were hopping that day.

 

[Muhlenberg]

While I like the idea of changing things up and visiting other resort pools, I agree with you. I'd be really annoyed if I couldn't get a chair at my own resort pool because others staying at another resort were hopping that day.

Ditto. I never really "got" the pool hopping thing...I'd much rather stay at my own resort. To each his own!

And the ToTW Lounge? For obvious capacity reasons, that has to be controlled, too...just like they are now.

As far as a cool down rest period from the MK...it'd be a whole lot more convenient to just take a monorail loop for 20 minutes.

I just think the lobby/public areas should be viewable to others. It looks like that very well may be the case in the future, as it appears Disney is going to have model rooms at BLT open for DVC members to view.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This might also be a plus for marketing. If they do have models at BLT scheduling a tour may be the best or only way for the curious to get in and see the building.

All in all I don't have a problem with the security but I too doubt it will last long after a sell out of the property. I think it is probably necessary because of its newness and proximity to the busiest theme park in the world. I also think they ought to allow CR guests to have access should they wish because BLT is sharing amenties with them. However I think there is a difference in non-guests going to the Contemporary. If guests stop there they have things to do - eat, get a drink, buy something in the gift shop or even rent a boat to go out on the lake. There are much larger common areas to accomodate visitors without infringing much on guests staying there. Visitors going to BLT will be the curious who won't find anything for themselves- or people trying to get to the top to view the MK. Think about how they've closed down CG compared to just a few years ago when you could take the elevator right up.

I can understand how the pool would be problematic - it's just not that large and it seems a bit more fun than the CR pool. I think it might have been a good idea to enlarge and improve the pool at CR and consider the BLT pool a small quiet pool and let all CR/BLT guests have access to both.

 

[Sammie]

Good points everyone, I appreciate the different points of view. I agee that the proximity to MK was probably an issue.

I agree that it does not bother me at all, I just wonder if this is just a special case or do you think this is the format going forward?

I appreciate the comment that it is less costly to install these features while building than to implement them after, had not considered that.

Do you think members have voiced concerns about this? It would have been very easy to implement this at BCV, VWL and even Kidani, but it was not done.

It will be interesting to see if it lasts. I hope it does, I would not want DVC to use this feature as a selling point, then later on abandon it.

 

[rentayenta]

It will be interesting to see if it last. I hope it does, I would not want DVC to use this feature as a selling point, then later on abandon it.

I think you hit the nail on the head.