BLT Tour

[disneynutz]

We are at WDW now and I got the scoop on the new BLT tour program.

Disney is not very happy with the declining sales at AKV and BLT.

To increase BLT sales they are offering a 9:00 AM tour that you sign up for through any ASA location. The tour consists of rooms, pool, TOTW. After the tour you are expected to sit through the sales presentation with a Guide that can last 2 hours.

The DVD Cast Members that I spoke to are very unhappy with their instructions for this program. They feel that Disney is shifting to the same sales tactics as other timeshare companies.

Bill

 

[Crystal_27]

The tour consists of rooms, pool, TOTW. After the tour you are expected to sit through the sales presentation with a Guide that can last 2 hours.

WOW - touring guest areas (rooms) at 9:00 a.m.?!? Those guests are sure going to be running into BLT guests at their worst - before coffee, before showers, before breakfast, still in their PJs, etc. I actually don't mind if people are expected to sit through a sales presentation - - as long as they are told up front what is going to happen. If a potential buyer doesn't want to do the tour, they can always opt to buy over the phone, I guess. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[disneynutz]

I actually don't mind if people are expected to sit through a sales presentation - - as long as they are told up front what is going to happen.

That's the part that has the ASA's upset, they are told to push it as a tour, not a sales presentation.

Bill

 

[Crystal_27]

That's the part that has the ASA's upset, they are told to push it as a tour, not a sales presentation.

Bill

Oh, well in that case, that's just deceitful and quite disappointing when coming from a company that you think should be above those types of tactics.

 

[Audray]

When we were there in January, we arranged for a tour at BLT. They picked us up at the WL, and we did a one on one tour around 3PM (grounds, rooms, rooftop lounge/viewing area). I was surprised that at the end, the guide couldn't get us out of there fast enough. Unfortunately for him, we were like 85% of the way there and probably would have bought if he made any effort at all. We came home, I spent some time reading DIS and asking questions, and we are now waiting on ROFR on a resale. I'm glad that I didn't get subjected to a 2 hour preso, but at that time it did seem like they were really disorganized.

 

[rljslo]

Yikes... almost makes me want to go the resale route... (I'm one of those people who will pay more for car just so I don't have to deal with the "game" or the high pressure stuff).

We are going to WDW in July, renting DVC points to try it out - and assuming all goes well (I'm sure it will), we will discuss buying into DVC.

My one hope was that when we met with DVC, they would answer our questions and allow us to leave when we want in order to make the decision. As it is for most people, DVC is a big financial commitment for us so we really need to take the time to work out the details in our head. Honestly. any sort of "pressure" tactic will shut us right down from making a decision.

Everyone I've talked to who is a part of DVC has had nothing but good things to say about their meetings with DVC prior to purchase. My guess is that anyone willing to meet with DVC is already 65%-75% of the way towards purchase. I - for one - hope that Disney does not lose sight of how much a high pressure sales tactic can have a negative affect.

 

[robertdangelo]

Have you ever seen the episode of South Park where they visit Aspen for free as part of a Timeshare pitch. The kids enjoy themselves while the parents are stuck(and keep getting trapped) in non-stop sales presentations all weekend!
I've always felt DVC was above this and a cut above the rest.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And what is the incentive for doing the required 2 hour presentation? Usually for other timeshares it's something fairly decent.

I won't even get into the thought about them increasing prices during a bad economy and not expecting to see some effect from that.......

 

[disneynutz]

And what is the incentive for doing the required 2 hour presentation? Usually for other timeshares it's something fairly decent.

I won't even get into the thought about them increasing prices during a bad economy and not expecting to see some effect from that.......

Fast passes are the gift.

They raise the prices so they can lower them for a limited time. This creates a feeling of a special deal and it causes the fence sitters to commit.

Bill

 

[Nancy F]

And our guide Linda couldn't have been nicer. We were there pretty late too. I know that she had dinner plans but we never felt rushed or pressured. We loved what we saw and signed that same night. The next day Linda helped me move my April 2010 trip from the Contemporary to BLT. I think the guides make all the difference. They should just let them do their jobs.
Nancy

 

[mgilmer]

Have you ever seen the episode of South Park where they visit Aspen for free as part of a Timeshare pitch. The kids enjoy themselves while the parents are stuck(and keep getting trapped) in non-stop sales presentations all weekend!
I've always felt DVC was above this and a cut above the rest.

How dare you make fun of Jim Lewis and his membership recruitment enhancements. Have you no shame!?!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Fast passes are the gift.

They raise the prices so they can lower them for a limited time. This creates a feeling of a special deal and it causes the fence sitters to commit.

Bill

Oooooooooohhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! What a deal!

 

[wdrl]

We took the BLT tour today, and I would not characterize it as a high pressure sales pitch. We are staying at BLT, and we signed up for the tour because the DVC person at the kiosk said that new incentives were being offered for add-ons by DVC members. We went to the TOWL where they offered us pastries, fruit, bagels, juice, etc. They also gave us a goody bag with a Disney DVC pin, lanyard, and a heavy duty plastic folder (portfolio?) with a DVC logo on it. The "sales pitch" consisted of the 50-60 members in attendance playing a trivia game about Disney, DCL, and DVC resorts (e.g., how many DVC rooms are at GCV? What can DCL do that the Coast Guard has not authorized other cruise lines to do?)), and each winner getting a prize. The grand prize drawing was a $100 Visa gift card.

After the "sales pitch", which lasted about 45 minutes, the Guides announced incentives for BLT, AKV, GVC, and SSR add-ons. Supposedly, these incentives are only good for those who do the tour.

We then left TOWL and toured a BLT GV. We then went back down to the first floor to tour the pool area and the community hall. We skipped this part of the tour and talked directly with a Guide about the incentives.

I don't think this tour was high pressure because you could leave any time you wanted. At least in our case, we knew this was more than just a tour because we were told upfront it would be a chance for us to talk to a Guide about the special add-on incentives. Oh, and by the way, we got some Fastpasses. I don't think you had to talk to a Guide to get the Fastpasses.

 

[robertdangelo]

How dare you make fun of Jim Lewis and his membership recruitment enhancements. Have you no shame!?!

Everybody's got a laughing Place!

 

[DenLo]

Here are the add on incentives from the BLT DVC member's tour (I went on the tour with my DH, wdrl):

Minimum purchase 25 points or 50 points if financing.

BLT - Current price $120 point

Buy:

50 - 100 points - $5 credit
100 - 124 points - $7
125 -159 - $9
160 -199 - $11
200 or more - $13

SSR - $112 current price

Buy:

50 - 100 points - $10 credit
100 - 124 points - $12
125 -159 - $14
160 -199 - $16
200 or more - $18

AKV and VGC - $112 current price

Buy:

50 - 100 points - $15 credit
100 - 124 points - $17
125 -159 - $19
160 -199 - $21
200 or more - $23

We actually found out the 50 point price in the private meeting with the guide as it wasn't announce at the TOTW Lounge. We have three days after we leave WDW to accept this offer. We also spoke to our guide and for 30 days after taking this tour any purchase we make, the commission is split between the guide we saw at the tour and our guide. That kind of seems strange to me when we only have three days after our departure to accept this offer.

 

[Inkmahm]

We took the BLT tour today, and I would not characterize it as a high pressure sales pitch. We are staying at BLT, and we signed up for the tour because the DVC person at the kiosk said that new incentives were being offered for add-ons by DVC members. We went to the TOWL where they offered us pastries, fruit, bagels, juice, etc. They also gave us a goody bag with a Disney DVC pin, lanyard, and a heavy duty plastic folder (portfolio?) with a DVC logo on it. The "sales pitch" consisted of the 50-60 members in attendance playing a trivia game about Disney, DCL, and DVC resorts (e.g., how many DVC rooms are at GCV? What can DCL do that the Coast Guard has not authorized other cruise lines to do?)), and each winner getting a prize. The grand prize drawing was a $100 Visa gift card.

After the "sales pitch", which lasted about 45 minutes, the Guides announced incentives for BLT, AKV, GVC, and SSR add-ons. Supposedly, these incentives are only good for those who do the tour.

We then left TOWL and toured a BLT GV. We then went back down to the first floor to tour the pool area and the community hall. We skipped this part of the tour and talked directly with a Guide about the incentives.

I don't think this tour was high pressure because you could leave any time you wanted. At least in our case, we knew this was more than just a tour because we were told upfront it would be a chance for us to talk to a Guide about the special add-on incentives. Oh, and by the way, we got some Fastpasses. I don't think you had to talk to a Guide to get the Fastpasses.

At which point did you get the fastpasses, right after the tour?

 

[wdrl]

At which point did you get the fastpasses, right after the tour?

After touring the Grand Villa, our group returned to the lobby to tour the pool area and community hall. My wife and I skipped that part of the tour and talked briefly with a Guide in one of the BLT model rooms that are on the first floor. We then returned to DVC kiosk located in the lobby and picked up our Fastpasses from the DVC rep.

 

[mlayton14]

How many fast passes do you get?

 

[wdrl]

How many fast passes do you get?

My wife and I each received a card containing three FastPasses. The Guide who gave us the cards said they would be good for three days.

 

[TinLizzy90]

I'm considering trying to tour BLT on our April trip. Should I just ask the DVC rep at WL? We have a lot of stuff planned, but could probably work it in on our first day, since we weren't planning on going to a park? The fast passes would be nice, but really...I just want to see what the places look like, since I'm thinking about buying in the next 12 months. I do NOT want to get into a situation where we spend 4 hours in high pressure sales he**, though.

Thoughts? Is it possible to tour later in the day? We won't be on property until 12:30 or so our first day.