Check-in at BLT...view isues

[LisaRN97]

We had a LV with a partial MK view and IMO, that view is even better than a MK view. The parking lot is an eye sore We were there for 3 nights last week and 2 of the 3 nights viewed wishes from the TOTWL......(the 3rd night our girls were asleep by 9). In the future we will always go with LV or standard....and be happy that we are even there!!!

 

[whitfamily]

Sad thing is think of all the people out of work, losing their homes or barely getting by right now. We're all fortunate to even be able to go to WDW, let alone afford the great accommodations of DVC. Instead of throwing a temper tantrum because things aren't 100% perfect enjoy the other 99% of things that are and realize you and your family are having experiences many would dream of in todays economy.

YOU'RE AT DISNEY WORLD FOR PETE SAKE!

 

[DVCJones]

When I was at BLT in August, I saw a DVC member yelling at a CM in the lobby about some stupid thing, so much so that it drove her to tears.

My wife was so upset to see such bad behavior from another DVC member that we spoke to the CM and her manager afterwards, and we were a bit ashamed to learn that this is a commonplace thing. DVC Members get extremely upset about something and take it out on the CM.

I'm not saying that is what took place here, but it's a shame that DVC members have this reputation.

This is a real shame.

 

[Sammie]

I think part of the problem, not sure about OP, but in general that until DVC built at the Contemporary most that are now staying there as DVC had not stayed there.

I am sorry but the MK views at the Contemporary in my opinion are not dazzling. You have to be up really high to see the castle and most of the MK, if not you are looking a very large, very brightly lit parking lot.

The location is excellent at the Contemporary and has a lot going for it, but in my opinion view is not its best feature. I personally think the Bay Lake views are much nicer.

 

[Chuck S]

I think part of the problem, not sure about OP, but in general that until DVC built at the Contemporary most that are now staying there as DVC had not stayed there.

I am sorry but the MK views at the Contemporary in my opinion are not dazzling. You have to be up really high to see the castle and most of the MK, if not you are looking a very large, very brightly lit parking lot.

The location is excellent at the Contemporary and has a lot going for it, but in my opinion view is not its best feature. I personally think the Bay Lake views are much nicer.

This is true, before buying into DVC we stayed at the Contemporary, 8th floor and 11th floor facing the MK. The view of the MK was nice, but not spectacular, it was interesting to see what we could of the park at night after everyone had left and the rides that were visible, like the Astro Orbiter (and at that time the skyway) shut down, and you could hear things going on, like music tests etc. But the actual view was mainly CR parking lot, MK bus area and to the left the "new" convention center. And the way that the BLT sits back some from the original tower, I imagine the view is even a little worse at BLT than from a CR balcony. Wait until the turkey vultures start perching on the upper BLT balconies, like they do at the CR.

 

[Cmbar]

We were just there last week and I had emailed customer support on the DVC member website. They responded that they passed the message along to BLT and that they will try to meet my request, but it is not a guarantee. I requested a room in the North Tower (studio LV) and got what I had asked for....plus we didn't check in until 9:30pm.

Have fun!!

Thank you Lisa! When did you email them? Was it far in advance of your trip or just before it?? Thanks!

 

[gkrykewy]

Wait until the turkey vultures start perching on the upper BLT balconies, like they do at the CR.

That ship has sailed, I'm afraid. Multiple layers of bird droppings on our LV (specific view: lake, marina, contemporary, monorail, GF) balcony in August.

 

[BroganMc]

While this won't stop me from inquiring about certain rooms, areas, and changes at check-in, I will never let myself be some arrogant, entitled, self-important brat who demand that I be given the best seat in the house. I may even prompt the CM to make sure they aren't trampling over someone else request to accommodate me (unless I made the reservation/request before they did , of course

Good story to share.

As for me, my only "must have" request is the special needs room with roll-in shower. I may request certain areas and views on the ressie, but this is the only one I'm sure to fight for as it is absolutely crucial for me. Now you may wonder why I even have to bother checking and rechecking that. Special Needs does lock the room in on reservation but I have arrived and found the Front Office room assigner put us in the HA room with the tub. It's easy to miss the tub vs shower portion of the room description.

 

[BroganMc]

I think part of the problem, not sure about OP, but in general that until DVC built at the Contemporary most that are now staying there as DVC had not stayed there.

This is why when we purchased our add-on it was with Lake View rooms in mind. Having been to Contemporary and seen MK and Lake views I knew which we considered worth the money.

 

[JimMIA]

Wait until the turkey vultures start perching on the upper BLT balconies, like they do at the CR.

Years ago here in Miami, we had a big problem with turkey vultures perching on the County Courthouse. The obvious joke was that they were attracted by the "scent" of corruption inside. The county tried everything imaginable, but nothing worked.

Eventually, the growth of the community made it necessary to build a separate county govenment building right next door to the courthouse. The courts stayed in the courthouse; most of the government offices and all of the elected officials moved to the new County Hall.

Guess what the vultures did? They moved next door to where the politicians are!

[ETA: They're still there!]

 

[dizfan]

For those that do not know, when BWV opened it had one room category.

After enough complaints they split into two categories to eliminate CMs from putting up with this.

Disney can still correct this problem.

 

[BroganMc]

Guess what the vultures did? They moved next door to where the politicians are!

[ETA: They're still there!]

LOL. Who knew birds were so smart?

 

[dioxide45]

This does seem like this will be a problem. With the points chart already defined, I don't see how they will be able to change the room location's naming. Could they?

I'd bet MS can't arbitrarily change the MK view from X floor to Y floor and above. Points were established at that resort based on the total number of points available. If you suddenly change an entire floor to a lesser category - from MK view to standard view - multiple points have been lost and cannot be sold. .

If BLT isn't sold out, they could fix the problem. Just readjust the views. If the number of units that change had x number of points before and now only have n number of points now. Just take x-n and multiply it by that number of rooms. Then don't sell that number of points. They could also fix it if they build another tower that has MK views.

This all boils down to $$ and profit for DVC, nothing else.

 

[Deb & Bill]

For those that do not know, when BWV opened it had one room category.

After enough complaints they split into two categories to eliminate CMs from putting up with this.

Disney can still correct this problem.

But they can't decrease the number of points required, only increase as they did with BWV. The standard view rooms are about the same as OKW rooms of the same size. The preferred view rooms were more than the standard view.

Unless they are willing to decrease the total number of points available to be sold. And would they have to go through the whole timeshare process with the states again at that point??

 

[Chuck S]

If BLT isn't sold out, they could fix the problem. Just readjust the views. If the number of units that change had x number of points before and now only have n number of points now. Just take x-n and multiply it by that number of rooms. Then don't sell that number of points. They could also fix it if they build another tower that has MK views.

This all boils down to $$ and profit for DVC, nothing else.

Not exactly, the number of points for the resort are fixed, reducing the number of available points will increase dues, and they'd wind up with a situation like at VB where DVD subsidizes dues for those that have already purchased. More than likely, if they re-designated some rooms out of MK view and into standard, the points required per night would increase somewhere, either for the remaining MK views, or BLT resort wide.

 

[dizfan]

But they can't decrease the number of points required, only increase as they did with BWV. The standard view rooms are about the same as OKW rooms of the same size. The preferred view rooms were more than the standard view.

Unless they are willing to decrease the total number of points available to be sold. And would they have to go through the whole timeshare process with the states again at that point??

Could they create another category or two, and splitting rooms as needed?
Maybe a Monorail view for the lower level MK side rooms.
Could also call many of the Northside outer C rooms LF (Lake view with Fireworks view).

This would allow them to keep total points for the resort, plus eliminate issues where one floor up/down can be 30-40% difference in points.

I hope they do something or make a steadfast rule so the CMs don't take the brunt of it. For us, WDW is about the magic and 90% of the time, the magic has been provided by a CM.

 

[Sandisw]

I think part of the problen, IMO, is that many people who put in requests expect them, even though they are not guaranteed. I have read a lot of posts where people were upset that they had requested something and it wasn't given to them.

But, I also think that they need to categorize those MK views even further (if they leave them as MK view) similarly to what they do at BWV.

Boardwalk view and preferred view are the same # of points, but are guaranteed booking categories. I personally think that a Boardwalk view is better than pool/garden view but there is no point savings.

Why can't they do that with BLT and the MK rooms? Take the MK view category and rename it "Regular/Preferred MK view". MK view rooms on floors 3 - 6 would be regular MK view and floors 7th and up would be "preferred MK view".

Same points, but when you make a reservation, you get to pick and then it is first come/first serve. If the only MK view rooms left when you call are those "regular MK view rooms" (meaning you know when booking you're going to be on a lower floor) then you make a choice--book or not. At least, people will know ahead of time what they are getting.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I think part of the problen, IMO, is that many people who put in requests expect them, even though they are not guaranteed. I have read a lot of posts where people were upset that they had requested something and it wasn't given to them.

But, I also think that they need to categorize those MK views even further (if they leave them as MK view) similarly to what they do at BWV.

Boardwalk view and preferred view are the same # of points, but are guaranteed booking categories. I personally think that a Boardwalk view is better than pool/garden view but there is no point savings.

Why can't they do that with BLT and the MK rooms? Take the MK view category and rename it "Regular/Preferred MK view". MK view rooms on floors 3 - 6 would be regular MK view and floors 7th and up would be "preferred MK view".

Same points, but when you make a reservation, you get to pick and then it is first come/first serve. If the only MK view rooms left when you call are those "regular MK view rooms" (meaning you know when booking you're going to be on a lower floor) then you make a choice--book or not. At least, people will know ahead of time what they are getting.

I really like this idea. I haven't been to BLT yet, (going in July!) but I have read lots of posts about the rooms/views. If your idea were in place, then when I called to book my reservation, I would have requested "preferred MK view" if that was not available I would have asked for a LV, as I personally think LV would be better than "regular MK view". Of course I won't really know what I think until I see BLT for myself. I do hope everyone gets a room that they love.

 

[dis-happy]

I've mentioned it before but maybe it's worth repeating: I never make any room requests (other than n/s when that was still an option). And the end result: we ALWAYS get fabulous room views and locations! Honestly, I think those room assigners get so tired of picky people with many requests and when someone comes along with no request they go out of their way to do something nice.

And if the day comes and we end up with the dumpster view or whatever, no big deal. Life goes on.

 

[Chuck S]

I think part of the problen, IMO, is that many people who put in requests expect them, even though they are not guaranteed. I have read a lot of posts where people were upset that they had requested something and it wasn't given to them.

But, I also think that they need to categorize those MK views even further (if they leave them as MK view) similarly to what they do at BWV.

Boardwalk view and preferred view are the same # of points, but are guaranteed booking categories. I personally think that a Boardwalk view is better than pool/garden view but there is no point savings.

Why can't they do that with BLT and the MK rooms? Take the MK view category and rename it "Regular/Preferred MK view". MK view rooms on floors 3 - 6 would be regular MK view and floors 7th and up would be "preferred MK view".

Same points, but when you make a reservation, you get to pick and then it is first come/first serve. If the only MK view rooms left when you call are those "regular MK view rooms" (meaning you know when booking you're going to be on a lower floor) then you make a choice--book or not. At least, people will know ahead of time what they are getting.

Yes, they could do that, but remember that the more "guaranteed" room categories there are, the more it will limit availability. For instance, can you imagine calling for an MK view, even at 8 months before it opens to the other owners, and having to move several times because nights aren't available for your entire trip in one "guaranteed" MK view area?