BLT Views

[kdzgon]

It does not surprise me that your view would be considered an MK view. Could you see the fireworks from your room? If so, then that is probably the main reason why it is categorized as an MK view.

I agree the fireworks view is the primary reason for an MK view classification, not to mention the MK rooms have the fireworks music piped in to the rooms directly to accompany the display.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

Maybe they need a 4th category, unfortunately?

Yeah, I can just see the brochures: "...or, imagine yourself straining your neck to see the the tip of Cinderella's Castle from the balcony of one of our prestigious "Totally Crappy Parking Lot Views"...

 

[ToddyLu]

I just paid a lot of money to join AKV...our first trip is SV in a studio at Kidani. I am anxious to see if we get tree top canopy savanah view or animals gazing savanah view. Best of luck in your new room on the ninth floor...I would have requested (er uh demanded) a different room.

 

[dizfan]

Have to admit, seeing the pictures from these lower level rooms makes us glad we have a Lake view booked.

IMHO, Disney should come up with another category for less points. I would be upset paying extra points for any room that isn't higher than the sky bridge.

 

[simmons_m]

We have a MK View booked in March '10, we have requested a top floor, and hope it works out.

I wonder if they will reclasify some of the lake views on the north of center side of the tower as MK View rooms. Those seem to be the best lake views/MK views.

Can they reclassify rooms?

Looking forward to seeing the 9th floor room views.

Mike

 

[toniosmom]

It is disgraceful that the view you show in your photo could be classified as MK view. I would be so upset, like you. I hate that they told you that they are waiving the room change fee as a one-time only request. Like they are doing you a favor because you asked them to basically NOT RIP YOU OFF!

If I ever go to BLT, I will never ask for anything higher than a Lake view. It's just not worth it to me, if I can go up to the top floor lounge to view the fireworks. Yeah, it would be nice to view them from my own balcony, but I just think the price is too high.

I hope you enjoy your new view and hope that it is a nice one.

 

[liznboys]

Yeah, I can just see the brochures: "...or, imagine yourself straining your neck to see the the tip of Cinderella's Castle from the balcony of one of our prestigious "Totally Crappy Parking Lot Views"...

As long as the point cost reflects that! lol

 

[Disney Princess]

I am sorry about your view and hope that management realizes after a lot of people complain that some of these "views" aren't worth the premium. OP - I hope your 9th floor room is much nicer! Enjoy your trip.

 

[disneynutz]

I just called today and asked about views from BLT towers, specifically the lower floors- long story but we want a lower floor bc we have a toddler and with stroller, gear, etc, we don't want a long elevator ride. The agent warned that lower floors did not have as good a view. I'm a new DVC member- can you request specific room #'s or to be on a certain # floor when you reserve?

BLT has the fastest elevators on Disney property. I rode several time last week, never a wait of more than a minute. If you aren't staying at BLT for the view, I wouldn't waste my money.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

BLT has the fastest elevators on Disney property. I rode several time last week, never a wait of more than a minute. If you aren't staying at BLT for the view, I wouldn't waste my money.

I wouldn't go that far...being near the MK is ideal for a family with a toddler. Now, I wouldn't bother spending my points a MK view however.

 

[queenie82]

BLT has the fastest elevators on Disney property. I rode several time last week, never a wait of more than a minute. If you aren't staying at BLT for the view, I wouldn't waste my money.

I disagree with this. I think standard view studios are great value for the benefit of location and beautiful surrounds and the TOTW lounge etc.

It is definitely to each their own though...

 

[Slakk]

Hey all,

First let me say that I understand that salespeople can and will do anything for a sale, so I am not looking for feedback on that. With that understood....

Back in June we had the opportunity to tour BLT during a members' only event. We were shown a room on the 14th floor as an example of what MK Views would offer. At that time, we were assured -- by multiple people -- that rooms on the lower floors which featured significantly less impressive views would not be categorized as MK, particularly if their primary view was the parking lot. The views from that room were impressive, with sight lines that enabled guests to see Main Street and as far back as Splash Mountain.

Fast forward to today, when we checked in and were assigned a room on the 4th floor. This is the view from our room MK View:

While obviously you can see the top of Cinderella's castle and Space Mountain, the primary view is that of the parking lot. I feel that the DVC management members who decided this was MK View might have taken their lead from some not-so-reputable hotels which categorize a room as Ocean View even if you need to be on your balcony, standing on a table while leaning over the railing to see water.

In your opinion, should this view justify a "MK View" categorization and the additional points needed to secure this type of reservation?

If I get that room in October I will be selling my BLT points as soon as I can. That would royally tick me off and I am TIRED of DVC treating owner like crap.

I have said it before Marriott makes sure the owners have the BEST rooms - DVC seems to like to kick us in the butt and then expect us to smile.

Thank you for reminding me to change my reservation to HIGH floor - not that it will probably help.

They are going to get KILLED by people checking in who get this.

 

[disneynutz]

I wouldn't go that far...being near the MK is ideal for a family with a toddler. Now, I wouldn't bother spending my points a MK view however.

VWL is just a boat ride away from MK and the theming is better IMHO.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Hey all,

Thanks to all that have posted their thoughts. We were moved earlier today to the 9th floor in a room that is exactly 5 floors above the room we previously had. IMO, the view is significantly better. Now we can clearly see Cinderella's Castle, parts of Main Street and Splash Mountain, as well as other areas of interest. For those of you who wanted a comparison, here is the view taken from the same perspective as the earlier 4th floor picture:

Using a bit of zoom, here is a clear view of the castle, astro orbiter and splash:

Doesn't that crane look stellar? ;-)

 

[drusba]

The OP had a 4th floor view and the 3d floor below it is also MK view so I can imagine what that one is like. People now are getting higher floors when complaining That can't last once you get toward selling out much of the resort. You will have all those getting MK view asking for higher floor and thus it will become impossible to meet those requests and many are going to be stuck on floors 3 and 4 and 5...don't know when the view becomes more than looking at cars in a lot.

Right now they might be able to still make a change but it is not easy and the more of the resort that gets sold the more it will become impossible to change because they have to change the total number of points they are selling. In other words, to effect a change they have to redo the offering statements and lower total points to be sold so those low parking lot view rooms get categorized at a lower point cost. You likely have conflicting views going on right now. Members are making it clear that they think they have been ripped off paying MK point value for lower floor rooms. On the other end, you likely have the "suits" who are thinking "We aren't going to admit we were idiots designating those rooms as MK view" and "a change would mean less profit." Don't know who will win this battle. At Boardwalk, the members did when early on there was only one point structure (the current preferred view point structure) and members complained that the front views (the current standard view rooms) were a rip off at the same point cost. DVD did an about face early into sales and redid the offering and lowered total points to be sold and created the standard view point cost rooms. I fear the current management is not as intelligent or as caring about the members' views.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

VWL is just a boat ride away from MK and the theming is better IMHO.

I don't want to harp on this...but I have stayed at both the Contemporary Resort and the Wilderness Lodge, and there is IMHO a significant difference in the convenience factor.

 

[RLRDA]

We booked a 1BR MK view villa from 8/20 to 8/23. Checked in and got the room keys - headed off to DHS until we were notified that our room was ready (approx. 3pm). We were told that our rm# was 732X (can't remember exactly but it was twenty-something). We thought we were on the 7th floor - nope, we were on the 3rd floor. My DH and I took 2 steps into the villa, saw that we were looking at the roofs of cars and walked back out. We thought it had to be a mistake so DH went back down to the check-in desk to inquire. He was told that we were given an MK view and he commented that he thought those would begin at least at the level of the skybridge (which is the 5th floor). Luckily they were able to switch us at that time to the 11th floor which had a view similar to the OP's 2nd room.

IMHO this is going to get sticky - someone is going to get charged premium points for that yucky view and not be able to move to another villa. I've seen a picture of one of the LV villas that had a better view of the MK than those 3rd and 4th floor MK view villas. Here's the link:http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2257082 - check out post #3 - gorgeous view for LV points.

Don't get me wrong - we loved our stay at BLT and will definitely stay there again in the future but I'd probably try a LV or SV (if I could get it).

 

[lark]

Right now they might be able to still make a change but it is not easy and the more of the resort that gets sold the more it will become impossible to change because they have to change the total number of points they are selling. In other words, to effect a change they have to redo the offering statements and lower total points to be sold so those low parking lot view rooms get categorized at a lower point cost.

Would they have to do that? Couldn't they just reallocate views and adjust the point totals for the resort so that the same total number of points is available? Let's say you downgraded the units on the 3d-5th floors that are currently designated at MK view, and you call them something new, like "preferred." This would affect only 12 2 BRs, 6 studios and 6 1 BRs. On average, each 2 BR unit would drop about 64 points per week, each studio would drop about 28 points per week, and each one BR would drop about 58 points per week. I think you could still charge more points than standard for these rooms. Let's say you make them a little less than lake view. By my calculations, this would be a pretty nominal effect -- it would end up in a reduction of about 60,000 points out of 5.8 million. This would not be hard to make up. Basically, if you add a point here or there to a 1 BR, 2 BR or GV LV or Standard, you can make that up pretty easily.

Now, if the public offering materials state unequivocally that 20 percent of the resort will be MK view and do not make allowance for view reclassification, that would be a different story.

 

[dizfan]

Would they have to do that? Couldn't they just reallocate views and adjust the point totals for the resort so that the same total number of points is available? Let's say you downgraded the units on the 3d-5th floors that are currently designated at MK view, and you call them something new, like "preferred." This would affect only 12 2 BRs, 6 studios and 6 1 BRs. On average, each 2 BR unit would drop about 64 points per week, each studio would drop about 28 points per week, and each one BR would drop about 58 points per week. I think you could still charge more points than standard for these rooms. Let's say you make them a little less than lake view. By my calculations, this would be a pretty nominal effect -- it would end up in a reduction of about 60,000 points out of 5.8 million. This would not be hard to make up. Basically, if you add a point here or there to a 1 BR, 2 BR or GV LV or Standard, you can make that up pretty easily.

Now, if the public offering materials state unequivocally that 20 percent of the resort will be MK view and do not make allowance for view reclassification, that would be a different story.

lark, I think your approach is a winner.

The most important factor is to make sure those paying top points for MK view are happy with their view. Walt always tried to make sure customers would be happy.

Keep the MK view customers happy and give the "preferred view" customers something they know what to expect.

 

[Sammie]

VWL is just a boat ride away from MK and the theming is better IMHO.

The absolute best way to get to the MK is the VWL boat.

Fast, efficient, scenic and never crowded even at closing.