DId BLT use reconditioned furn ??

[nhmomx2]

I believe the valet service is a fairly recent cut. As for the condition of BLT...it's truly sad. I would hope the other DVC properties do not fall down under the same circumstances. I love my BWV and have never once regretted our decision to purchase...but as a new purchaser at BLT this would be scary me to death.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

When was free valet discontinued? We were at BWV last October and it was still free...

You must have been there just prior to it ending. It was never announced and people were surprised by it when checking in. It was some time in Oct that the change happened. We were there in Nov and they were charging.

 

[Inkmahm]

The biggest, weirdest thing we noticed there, that we have never noticed at another disney resort, was the bug problem. Several nights upon return after sundown we would find thousands, if not millions of bugs taking up the entire hallway of the north elevator (I think it was north...the side closest to CR). You could not even see an empty inch of the ceiling or wall. I realize they were harmless, but it frightened children and just looked disgusting. On the first night we went to say something and another couple was ahead of us already informing on the problem. They were told not to worry about it, it's a known problem from being near the water. They would leave the bugs there all night, then vacuum them up the next morning. It was very strange. In the mean time they'd get up into the elevators with people returning to their rooms and you'd find them in the halls on various floors of the hotel, though not in such great quantity as the main level. We stayed at WL, which is also on that same lake and I never saw anything like this there.

Exactly! We were there April 29-May 2 and the CM at the front desk seemed to say that the bugs had just hatched when we saw so many of them on the 30th. Using the hot tub at the pool at night was impossible due to the bugs. They were gross in the building,too. I have also never seen these at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Exactly! We were there April 29-May 2 and the CM at the front desk seemed to say that the bugs had just hatched when we saw so many of them on the 30th. Using the hot tub at the pool at night was impossible due to the bugs. They were gross in the building,too. I have also never seen these at Wilderness Lodge.

My nephew and I noticed the same thing in Nov when we went to look at BLT. We were staying at VWL and there wasn't the same bug problem.

 

[Inkmahm]

My nephew and I noticed the same thing in Nov when we went to look at BLT. We were staying at VWL and there wasn't the same bug problem.

Odd. We were at BLTfor one night mid-December after a cruise and there were no bugs then. There WERE a lot of cobwebs with bugs hanging in them on the outside of the windows in the hallway, but there were no bugs inside. I still wonder what kind of bugs they were as they looked like mosquittos.

 

[Anjelica]

Exactly! We were there April 29-May 2 and the CM at the front desk seemed to say that the bugs had just hatched when we saw so many of them on the 30th. Using the hot tub at the pool at night was impossible due to the bugs. They were gross in the building,too. I have also never seen these at Wilderness Lodge.

We have stayed at Wilderness Lodge several times and have never seen "those" bugs even when staying in April/May timeframe. We have even stayed at the once Garden Wing that is no more at Contemporary and never had any bug issues. Very interesting to say the least.

We just got back from Kidani this past week and I found the furnishings to be in good condition, etc. They didn't appear to be Ikea type furnishings either. They are dark so most blemishes, etc. won't show up but its interesting to see the two resorts differentiate in terms of wear and tear on the furniture when they are about the same age.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Odd. We were at BLTfor one night mid-December after a cruise and there were no bugs then. There WERE a lot of cobwebs with bugs hanging in them on the outside of the windows in the hallway, but there were no bugs inside. I still wonder what kind of bugs they were as they looked like mosquittos.

I wonder too but haven't taken the time to find out. I'm glad they aren't mosquitos though or all the guests would be sucked dry!

 

[smjj]

I read this post with alarm since we are taking our family there again this coming Oct. for a 6 night stay Grand Villa, garden view. When the wife and I stayed in a 1 bdrn last Oct. we never experienced these problems but it was still fairly new then. I called MS and the person I talked to suggested I e-mail MS to they would have a copy of my concerns. That was Friday. Today I got a call from them(can't remember the guys name). He assured me that although they did have some issues early on, they have now been taken care of. I brought up just about all the concerns mentioned in this post. He stated they sometimes experience a break in the chain as it concerns some of these issues but I was not to worry. I guess I will have to wait until this Oct. to see for myself. Anyway, I just wanted all to know they responded to my concerns very quickly and they evidently did have a issues a while ago but they have or are being addressed...smjj

 

[disneynutz]

I read this post with alarm since we are taking our family there again this coming Oct. for a 6 night stay Grand Villa, garden view. When the wife and I stayed in a 1 bdrn last Oct. we never experienced these problems but it was still fairly new then. I called MS and the person I talked to suggested I e-mail MS to they would have a copy of my concerns. That was Friday. Today I got a call from them(can't remember the guys name). He assured me that although they did have some issues early on, they have now been taken care of. I brought up just about all the concerns mentioned in this post. He stated they sometimes experience a break in the chain as it concerns some of these issues but I was not to worry. I guess I will have to wait until this Oct. to see for myself. Anyway, I just wanted all to know they responded to my concerns very quickly and they evidently did have a issues a while ago but they have or are being addressed...smjj

Not to pop your bubble, but a CM who worked on the Member Satisfaction Team once told me that their job is to make Members feel better, not fix problem or change policy.

Bill

 

[Mommee]

Exactly! We were there April 29-May 2 and the CM at the front desk seemed to say that the bugs had just hatched when we saw so many of them on the 30th. Using the hot tub at the pool at night was impossible due to the bugs. They were gross in the building,too. I have also never seen these at Wilderness Lodge.

Just goes to show that different people experience different things... We were there April 29-May 4 and never saw a single bug
Granted, with little kids we had early evenings so maybe that's why?

We did, however, notice wear and tear. The sofa had a stain on the arm that looked like it couldn't possibly have ever been attempted to be cleaned. The carpet had wear patterns in it already, and the dark furniture was full of nicks. The washer ruined half the clothes in the first load I ran-they came out with rust stains on them

 

[disneynutz]

Last year the big problem that we noticed was hundreds of birds hanging around the Contemporary and BLT. We also noticed that they like to poop on the BLT windows.

Bill

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

We had a 1 BR at BLT over the Mother's Day weekend.

I was worried about it (it was our first trip home) after reading most of the posts in this thread. But I was pleasantly surprised.

True - there were cons. But I chose not to focus on them and enjoyed my DD3s first trip to WDW.

It was very nice to stay in a 1 bedroom. Was traveling with my two step kids (20 & 17) and there was plenty of room.

True, the door to the laundry room didn't shut (I couldn't figure out how to move the washer / dryer back far enough to get it to close), and the kitchen table was scratched pretty bad, but that's not enough to bug me.

 

[smjj]

Not to pop your bubble, but a CM who worked on the Member Satisfaction Team once told me that their job is to make Members feel better, not fix problem or change policy.

Bill

NP, I take all they say with a grain of salt. I did lay into him(very politely) about other issues as well. My anger with the way they butchered the menu at Olivia's and made it so vanilla to conform to the almost fast food they now serve to us so they have bascially have one set of menus due to the Disney Dining plan and that is made at their huge kitchen located near DTD to the outsourcing and deterearation(sp) of those services. I don't want to stray from this thread too much but DVC has made many changes in the past few years and I don't think the net is a gain for us but for the finanical guys now running the place. If Walt was still in charge, many of these complaints would not exist....smjj

 

[dzorn]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg068

If these are the bugs they only are around certain times of the year.

Denise in MI

 

[Nparrotte]

DW and I just got back Monday from a 5 night stay in a Studio #7528. We also noticed and were surprised to see how worn the furniture looked already. Just like some of the other poster stated the bed was extremely close to the wall and it felt a little cramped.

Our biggest let down was that we originally booked a lake view and wait listed for a MK view, they called us shortly after our ressie and said that the MK view was available. More points for MK view was not an issue initially, after checking into the room the only way you could see the MK was to go on the balcony and lean over the railing slightly. Our view really was of the loading dock of the Contemporary. IMHO this room was not worth the extra points and I wish we would have went with the lake view.

 

[disneynutz]

DW and I just got back Monday from a 5 night stay in a Studio #7528. We also noticed and were surprised to see how worn the furniture looked already. Just like some of the other poster stated the bed was extremely close to the wall and it felt a little cramped.

Our biggest let down was that we originally booked a lake view and wait listed for a MK view, they called us shortly after our ressie and said that the MK view was available. More points for MK view was not an issue initially, after checking into the room the only way you could see the MK was to go on the balcony and lean over the railing slightly. Our view really was of the loading dock of the Contemporary. IMHO this room was not worth the extra points and I wish we would have went with the lake view.

You should have requested a room change and you should contact the DVC Satisfaction Team.

This is not right that Disney is allowed to do this. Unless we let them know that it is not acceptable, they will continue to take advantage and continue to make poor decisions that affects that quality of our vacations and DVC Membership.

Bill

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

When we toured BLT, the sales guide said, "In a MK view room, you can watch the fireworks from the jacuzzi in your master bedroom!" THIS will be my test anytime we book a MK view room. If I cannot see the MK from my jacuzzi, I'm marching right back down to the front desk to demand a different room... or points back in my account! =P

 

[Nparrotte]

You should have requested a room change and you should contact the DVC Satisfaction Team.

This is not right that Disney is allowed to do this. Unless we let them know that it is not acceptable, they will continue to take advantage and continue to make poor decisions that affects that quality of our vacations and DVC Membership.

Bill

You are right I should have requested a room change. While we were there I tried to make the best of our situation but it started to eat at me the last night and now that I am home and discovered this thread I am getting fired up. DW and I will be writing a long letter to let them know of our disappointment.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Our biggest let down was that we originally booked a lake view and wait listed for a MK view, they called us shortly after our ressie and said that the MK view was available. More points for MK view was not an issue initially, after checking into the room the only way you could see the MK was to go on the balcony and lean over the railing slightly. Our view really was of the loading dock of the Contemporary. IMHO this room was not worth the extra points and I wish we would have went with the lake view.

Well Im happy to hear that Im not just Pooh-Sized and others scraped against the wall getting in and out of bed!! I came home and went on a diet!

I understand exactly what you are saying. I stayed at BLT last Sept. in a Stan view, and After seeing what potential MK views I could receive even on high floor, (the TOWL is not hi enough imo) on my already booked MK view October trip with DH, I tried hard to call and find availability in stand. or lake views to no avail. At checkin I voluntarily gave up my MK view studio and requested a downgrade as an even exchange.

Im sorry, but I dont want to see all the comings and goings of a busy parking lot especially if I am paying premo points for it.

If you cant see MK from the bed or the tub or picture framed in your window, then it should not be MK points.

For the size of the studio and the view, I would rather stay in a Value studio at Jambo house where the parking lot view is less likely and if I get it, I wont miss the points. So far Im batting 1000 on Value studios with Sav. view.

I dont focus on the cons when on my trips either. I love my DVC and a proud owner of BLT, but I also know what magic they are capable of and it just seems that BLT took the brunt of several cost cutting measures that the other resorts did not. Im sure it sells on location alone, but it is still disappointing that they went so far to save money and then we have to choose to overlook it all. No ceiling fans, no sheers on the windows, no soap dishes, tiny studios, bad design of kitchenette, gaps in doors and locks everywhere so they dont have to staff the resort. The fit and finish is off.

I already have my BLT reservation for the 2010 Condo Meeting and I will be following up on my comments from last year. Im really hoping for improvements to be made at BLT because it is a great addition to DVC that just needs some re-engineering.

I've been here a long time and we've had DVC wars before about pros and cons, etc. and isolated issues with wear and tear, but not to this extent and not this early from opening. Where are the wear and tear issues with VGC or AKV or SSR? I dont want pristine, or outrageous dues, but what is happening to BLT should be addressed by DVD at many levels.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DW and I just got back Monday from a 5 night stay in a Studio #7528. We also noticed and were surprised to see how worn the furniture looked already. Just like some of the other poster stated the bed was extremely close to the wall and it felt a little cramped.

Our biggest let down was that we originally booked a lake view and wait listed for a MK view, they called us shortly after our ressie and said that the MK view was available. More points for MK view was not an issue initially, after checking into the room the only way you could see the MK was to go on the balcony and lean over the railing slightly. Our view really was of the loading dock of the Contemporary. IMHO this room was not worth the extra points and I wish we would have went with the lake view.

Welcome to the xx28 club! My first experience in the special MK view was 7428 so one floor lower. It has left me more than a little worried about the dedicated 2BR MK view I have reserved for Dec since some of those are even further around the south side of the building.

When I checked in I knew it wasn't going to be great just because it was on the 4th floor and asked to be changed. The CM checked but said there wasn't anything else available.

I did write to member satisfaction and they called back. I was told they were gathering input/feedback for review by higher ups and also that rooms can get recatagorized but it doesn't happen immediately. The more feedback they get the more likely that is to happen.