Check-in at BLT...view isues

[Sammie]

Maybe it is me but why do you think it takes so long to get rooms back up and running.

One reason is people checking out late. I truly wish DVC would charge another day of points for anyone over staying the 11am check out.

 

[DenLo]

I think requests should be granted in this order:

1. To the actual DVC member- not to a guest who has rented points from a DVC member and paid them cash

How do you know that the member has rented? I don't see how you can tell the difference between a renter and a friend or family of the member that are given the room. It might be that member may or may not be in another room at the same resort. So how would these people be treated?

2. To the DVC member who booked their room earliest and made a request. Those who booked at 11 months out should have priority over those who booked the month prior to check in. I don't agree that it should be the guest who checks in first as not everyone has that possibility.

I keep seeing posts that people post that there are rules for assigning rooms at various resorts. One I remember is that at BWV only members on points are given boardwalk views. How do you get a copy of all these rules? And who decides which ones are adopted?

As a newbie sometimes my head just spins at the things I do know!

 

[kellyf2626]

Hi everyone!!

Just thought I would check-in here! I stopped getting email updates, so didn't know the thread had taken-in a life of it's own!

As for all the negative responses...that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion! I posted this info not to hear what people thought of my decisions in the process. More to let people know that if they were paying cash for a MK view at BLT, they were given less "priority" as compared to DVC members using points. This is not told to DVC members when they book these rooms with cash. I just figured people would want to know!

Sorry that most people didn't take-away the real intent of this posting, but thought it better to pass judgement on actions that I took and then post highly-negative personal comments to myself. Hey, it's a public forum! That's life! Never knew I was surrounded by such quick-to-judge people on here. It would never even cross my mind to post such negative comments directed at a person on these boards. Kinda sad. I guess lesson learned!

Have a Magical Day!

 

[dpuck1998]

Hi everyone!!

Just thought I would check-in here! I stopped getting email updates, so didn't know the thread had taken-in a life of it's own!

As for all the negative responses...that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion! I posted this info not to hear what people thought of my decisions in the process. More to let people know that if they were paying cash for a MK view at BLT, they were given less "priority" as compared to DVC members using points. This is not told to DVC members when they book these rooms with cash. I just figured people would want to know!

Sorry that most people didn't take-away the real intent of this posting, but thought it better to pass judgement on actions that I took and then post highly-negative personal comments to myself. Hey, it's a public forum! That's life! Never knew I was surrounded by such quick-to-judge people on here. It would never even cross my mind to post such negative comments directed at a person on these boards. Kinda sad. I guess lesson learned!

Have a Magical Day!

Interesting where you draw the line....care to address the question about what was wrong with the second room and why you demanded a third room?

 

[kellyf2626]

Interesting where you draw the line....care to address the question about what was wrong with the second room and why you demanded a third room?

Sure...the 2nd room wasn't ready. I asked if he could talk to his supervisor if it was at all possible to get a room that was ready. That's when we were given the ready room on the 12th floor.

Where I draw the line? Hmmm...asking for a better view is somehow worse than publically bashing a person you don't even know? Interesting.

Oh, and did it ever occur to everyone that this whole back-and-forth was handled in a polite, respectful way? I love how it is assumed I was yelling and causing a scene simply because I was questioning something, where it was quite the opposite! The CM was nicely trying to accomodate us, and we both had smiles on our faces the entire time. I told him I was frustrated with the process, not him, and he even agreed!

Anywho....again...just wanted to let people booking cash through MS know what the scoop was on room assignments. I assume that everyone on this board know nows that! I'm done replying, as I don't feel like it would lend itself to anything positive.

 

[Chuck S]

At check-in, I was told my room was on the 3rd floor. Ummmm, ya, that wasn't going to fly. I told the CM that was in no way acceptable. He repeatedly told me that the upper floors were reserved for DVC members only. I told him I was, in fact, a DVC member that was paying cash for this ressie. They still refused to move the room. We argued for a bit and then I asked to speak with a manager. He went to the back room, and came out a few moments later to tell me we were on the 6th floor. I told him no way - still unacceptable - and that I wanted to actually speak to his superior. I was paying over $3,000 for 5 nights, and I wanted a good freakin view! He scurried out back and came back out about 5 minutes later to tell me that I was on the 12th floor AND that my room was actually ready (this was at 1:00).

I can understand how many felt the exchange wasn't terribly polite. Nor did you mention that the 6th floor room wasn't ready.

I do hope the exchange was polite.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

OP - I guess it's all how the original post was handled. About a month ago I posted my view of the MK from my "MK View" room on the 4th floor. Most were in agreement that my view should not have been classified as MK View. http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2264954

As far as your situation, I think you handled it much better than what most are giving you credit for. If DVC has made a management decision to keep cash ressies on lower floors then that information should be given to you as you are making the reservation. If you go to book BLT on the Disney website, you are shown the views from the upper floors as an example of what you can expect. If, in fact, those rooms are not available to you if you paid cash, then Disney should expect complaints over that policy.

Finally, one comment to all those who believe that OP bumped another guest from a the room they eventually got: You have no idea if that is anywhere close to true. DVC has not declared all rooms into inventory and as such, those rooms not declared are not earmarked for points reservations. There's a chance that the room OP was eventually assigned had not been declared and therefore was only available to cash guests anyway, so before you assume that OP bumped someone, take a full look at all of the possiblities that existed since the resort is not sold out.

 

[Chuck S]

Finally, one comment to all those who believe that OP bumped another guest from a the room they eventually got: You have no idea if that is anywhere close to true. DVC has not declared all rooms into inventory and as such, those rooms not declared are not earmarked for points reservations. There's a chance that the room OP was eventually assigned had not been declared and therefore was only available to cash guests anyway, so before you assume that OP bumped someone, take a full look at all of the possiblities that existed since the resort is not sold out.

That actully isn't how the declared vs undeclared inventory works. It works on percentages. If 30% of the rooms at an open and operating resort are undeclared, then 30% of the rooms are CRO rooms, but that 30% can be anywhere in the resort, it is not restricted to the actual physical undeclared units. Cash guests may be staying in declared units, and DVCers may be staying in undeclared units. It is simply legal-speak required for sales of a particular unit to begin.

 

[smjj]

We will be there in just 10 days. We have a 1 bedroom lake view. How high do we need to be to get a good view of the lake? I do not think, being lake side we will have to much to complain about thought, not like looking at a parking lot or the tops of the fireworks...smjj

 

[LIFERBABE]

That actully isn't how the declared vs undeclared inventory works. It works on percentages. If 30% of the rooms at an open and operating resort are undeclared, then 30% of the rooms are CRO rooms, but that 30% can be anywhere in the resort, it is not restricted to the actual physical undeclared units. Cash guests may be staying in declared units, and DVCers may be staying in undeclared units. It is simply legal-speak required for sales of a particular unit to begin.

Agreed

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

That actully isn't how the declared vs undeclared inventory works. It works on percentages. If 30% of the rooms at an open and operating resort are undeclared, then 30% of the rooms are CRO rooms, but that 30% can be anywhere in the resort, it is not restricted to the actual physical undeclared units. Cash guests may be staying in declared units, and DVCers may be staying in undeclared units. It is simply legal-speak required for sales of a particular unit to begin.

But think of it like this....

Assume that the resort construction is complete, but only 50% of the points are sold.

That means only 50% of the rooms can be booked with points at a given time.

So, with 15 floors, only 7.5 floors worth can be booked with points.

Then realize that rooms on the first two floors are standard views.

So, 5.5 of the upper floors can be used for DVC members. That means that starting on the 9th floor a cash reservation could possibly be placed into a MK View without upsetting any points-based ressie. That of course assumes that there aren't rooms on the 9th floor that have superior views to some of those MK views available on the 12th floor. Based on location and perspective, I would argue that some of the rooms that are on the 9th floor that are closer to SM are better than those on the 12th that are much further away.

Obviously this isn't a perfect representation of the OPs scenario and it probably includes many imperfect assumptions, specifically we don't know what percentage of rooms are occupancy ready, what percentage of ownership has been sold or how many points reservations were active for the night she checked-in.

My point was that none of us know this, yet many assumed that the OPs move to a new room automatically bounced someone else and some of those posters comments bordered on the rude side. That wasn't definitely the case and, in my opinion, some deference should have been shown to the OP based on that.

 

[dis-happy]

At check-in, I was told my room was on the 3rd floor. Ummmm, ya, that wasn't going to fly. I told the CM that was in no way acceptable. He repeatedly told me that the upper floors were reserved for DVC members only. I told him I was, in fact, a DVC member that was paying cash for this ressie. They still refused to move the room. We argued for a bit and then I asked to speak with a manager. He went to the back room, and came out a few moments later to tell me we were on the 6th floor. I told him no way - still unacceptable - and that I wanted to actually speak to his superior. I was paying over $3,000 for 5 nights, and I wanted a good freakin view! He scurried out back and came back out about 5 minutes later to tell me that I was on the 12th floor AND that my room was actually ready (this was at 1:00).

The original words conveyed a much different atmosphere at the check-in desk. Even giving the benefit of the doubt, why would anyone ask for a supervisor (and state they needed a different room) because the room wasn't ready at 1:00?

 

[las3888]

Just wanted to give my 2 cents that I agree with the OP. I wouldn't want to spend $3k nor the great amount of points that I am spending for our very future stay at BLT and get a view of the parking lot when I've been sold a very magical view. I do think that people who actually are willing to spend the massive amount of points or cash for a MK view should by-golly get a MK view! I am getting stressed about our upcoming stay and hoping our view is magical (and high ) but if it's not, and I have no other choice, I will deal with the hand dealt to me (yes, I do realize life is good) but I do believe it is within my realm to request a refund of points (or cash if I were paying cash) for not having the promised view.

 

[dpuck1998]

So we got back last Sunday from a wonderful 16-day trip to the world. We started off by staying 5 nights at BLT in a Magic Kingdom view. We were using all of our points for the remaining 10 nights, so we booked these 5 nights with cash.

At check-in, I was told my room was on the 3rd floor. Ummmm, ya, that wasn't going to fly. I told the CM that was in no way acceptable. He repeatedly told me that the upper floors were reserved for DVC members only. I told him I was, in fact, a DVC member that was paying cash for this ressie. They still refused to move the room. We argued for a bit and then I asked to speak with a manager. He went to the back room, and came out a few moments later to tell me we were on the 6th floor. I told him no way - still unacceptable - and that I wanted to actually speak to his superior. I was paying over $3,000 for 5 nights, and I wanted a good freakin view! He scurried out back and came back out about 5 minutes later to tell me that I was on the 12th floor AND that my room was actually ready (this was at 1:00).

While I was happy with the end-result, there are some things I am disappointed in:

*floors 1-5 should NOT be considered MK views. They are views of the parking lot, with a glance of the top of the castle. They should be standard views!!!! I was not shelling out all that money to look at cars!

*DVC members paying cash should not be treated as lower-tier DVC members. I decided to add-on to my trip and pay more money to experience BLT. If this is the way they are going to treat cash-paying DVC memebers, they need to explain this when you book your stay, disclosing that you will get a lower-level floor and less priority when assigning rooms. Some people may decide to get a larger room with a lake view instead of a smaller room with (essentially) a parking lot view.

I am happy that the end result was a good one, and our room and stay at BLT was incredible. Just thought I would share my experience at check-in!

Sure...the 2nd room wasn't ready. I asked if he could talk to his supervisor if it was at all possible to get a room that was ready. That's when we were given the ready room on the 12th floor.

Where I draw the line? Hmmm...asking for a better view is somehow worse than publically bashing a person you don't even know? Interesting.

Oh, and did it ever occur to everyone that this whole back-and-forth was handled in a polite, respectful way? I love how it is assumed I was yelling and causing a scene simply because I was questioning something, where it was quite the opposite! The CM was nicely trying to accomodate us, and we both had smiles on our faces the entire time. I told him I was frustrated with the process, not him, and he even agreed!

Anywho....again...just wanted to let people booking cash through MS know what the scoop was on room assignments. I assume that everyone on this board know nows that! I'm done replying, as I don't feel like it would lend itself to anything positive.

I can understand how many felt the exchange wasn't terribly polite. Nor did you mention that the 6th floor room wasn't ready.

I do hope the exchange was polite.

Yea, can't imagine where we got that idea??

 

[TagsMissy]

... deleting my post as I found the answer I wanted a couple pages earlier.

.... OP I have to say you are FAR clearer now than your original post, I can see how people reacted based on how and what you said the first posting to your further explanation. THings you said the second time were not mentioned in your original post or they were not made clear. I am glad it was a polite communication you had with the CM

 

[jcf]

I don't quite understand why you are paying so much for your stay. Did you opt out of using any points so that you could get a MK view instead of a Lake View or was there absolutely nothing available at BLT.. Why didn't you waitlist? I understand wanting to have a MK view, but to pay out of pocket the amount of a small add on in points just to see the MK seems crazy to me. The OP chose to pay out of pocket because she needed to have a MK view I suppose, but I don't feel the least bit sorry for her that she paid a premium and that she got (well should have gotten) less priority than a DVC member staying on points. JMHO!

NOTHING was left for 1 bedroom once I got through to MS on the first day of booking. I didn't think a waitlist would work as most of days missing.

I don't know why a DVC member paying cash is treated differently than one using points

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I don't know why a DVC member paying cash is treated differently than one using points

If DVC were a cash based operation, then cash would get first priority. But since it is based on points, points reservations should take priority over cash reservations. For example, the BWV BW view rooms are only supposed to be book on points. Same with BCV dedicated two bedroom with two queens in the second bedroom.

Otherwise members with non-home resort advantage would book with cash for these locations before the home resort advantage was ended. Couldn't you just hear the outcry then when a BWV resort owner couldn't get a BWV BW view at 11 months out??

 

[cheezNE1]

If DVC were a cash based operation, then cash would get first priority. But since it is based on points, points reservations should take priority over cash reservations. For example, the BWV BW view rooms are only supposed to be book on points. Same with BCV dedicated two bedroom with two queens in the second bedroom.

Otherwise members with non-home resort advantage would book with cash for these locations before the home resort advantage was ended. Couldn't you just hear the outcry then when a BWV resort owner couldn't get a BWV BW view at 11 months out??

 

[Cmbar]

I don't quite understand why you are paying so much for your stay. Did you opt out of using any points so that you could get a MK view instead of a Lake View or was there absolutely nothing available at BLT.. Why didn't you waitlist? I understand wanting to have a MK view, but to pay out of pocket the amount of a small add on in points just to see the MK seems crazy to me. The OP chose to pay out of pocket because she needed to have a MK view I suppose, but I don't feel the least bit sorry for her that she paid a premium and that she got (well should have gotten) less priority than a DVC member staying on points. JMHO!

NOTHING was left for 1 bedroom once I got through to MS on the first day of booking. I didn't think a waitlist would work as most of days missing.

I don't know why a DVC member paying cash is treated differently than one using points

Please don't get me wrong. I hope you get a fantastic view, but I dont think I understand the paying cash thing for DVC. First I don't understand how it is done. When you called for BLT (and that really stinks you couldn't get anything on the first day) they told you no room right? Then do you just make a cash reservation with MS right there? Do they have some kind of discount on the rooms?

Trying to understand the cash situtation for DVC. I think I understand paying Cash for the room but I don't understand where the room comes from. Is it from DVC's portion of the BLT?

Personally, I wouldn't pay to stay in a DVC resort unless it was to add a night that I either didn't have points for, or pay for a weekend night where it doesn't make sense to not buy at the resort! But that is only because I know I have some 40 + years to come back and stay there at another time. So if I am going to pay cash for a Disney resort it will be at a NoN DVC resort.

As far as the DVC points vs Cash, I just assumed that cash reservations are just that... cash reservations anyone can make. How do they distinguish a person buying a Cash reservation is a DVC member vs a non DVC member. If they can't then I would say yes that Cash Ressies should get let preference because those people aren't owners of the resort. But I can certainly understand being upset if you didn't get a MK view if you paid for one. The OP's original post was quite explicit that she was arguing with the CM originally (although she has said that is was a cordial conversation) and she did say twice that a 3rd and 6th floor room was not "acceptable". Asking for a better room (in your mind) is fine, demanding it and displacing a member who booked on points is in my opinon, over the top. The fact is that 3rd and 6th floor rooms do qualify as MK view. Requests are simply requests. If you request a high floor it is simply a request and not guaranteed. I suppose it would have been prudent for Disney to classify exactly which rooms quality for MK view so people would have the opportunity to see if they should take the risk and buy or use high cost points.