Disappointment at BLT

[wildernessDad]

A 2 br lockoff is the same number of points as a dedicated 2 br.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You wrote that you were supposed to get a 2BR lockoff... but to guarantee this, you would have to book a studio and a 1BR and link the reservations. That would be more points.

lol - changing what you wrote, eh?

Just to add a bit to what Lisa wrote. A person can reserve a 2BR lockoff and often that is intentionally done. What you get in that scenario are the guaranteed connecting rooms but each room will have it's own entry. Also, the 2nd BR will have the kitchenette which sometimes is wanted for extended families traveling together - or friends.

The point total is less when booking a 2BR but you also are "stuck" with it. Say your friends cancel you can't just cancel the studio portion. You could do that if you had reserved the 1BR and studio separately but then they most likely will not be connecting unless you get very, very lucky.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

lol - changing what you wrote, eh?

Just to add a bit to what Lisa wrote. A person can reserve a 2BR lockoff and often that is intentionally done. What you get in that scenario are the guaranteed connecting rooms but each room will have it's own entry. Also, the 2nd BR will have the kitchenette which sometimes is wanted for extended families traveling together - or friends.

The point total is less when booking a 2BR but you also are "stuck" with it. Say your friends cancel you can't just cancel the studio portion. You could do that if you had reserved the 1BR and studio separately but then they most likely will not be connecting unless you get very, very lucky.

Yep, I did edit it earlier! When I didn't see a response at first, I looked up the points chart and didn't see a classification for a lockoff versus a dedicated 2BR. How do you differentiate when making your reservation? We're booked for a 2BR in January, and I didn't realize there was a choice in what type you get. I certainly didn't specify one way or another when making the reservation and didn't know we even could! We've always stayed in multiple BWV studios to give more privacy previously, but since the studios at BLT are not very enticing, we opted for the single larger unit. Info, please! =)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yep, I did edit it earlier! When I didn't see a response at first, I looked up the points chart and didn't see a classification for a lockoff versus a dedicated 2BR. How do you differentiate when making your reservation? We're booked for a 2BR in January, and I didn't realize there was a choice in what type you get. I certainly didn't specify one way or another when making the reservation and didn't know we even could! We've always stayed in multiple BWV studios to give more privacy previously, but since the studios at BLT are not very enticing, we opted for the single larger unit. Info, please! =)

A request for a lock off or a dedicated is just that. A request and it's not guaranteed. Usually a guest is put into a dedicated to reserve the lock offs to be booked as a studio, one bedroom or two bedroom.

 

[n2mm]

Yep, I did edit it earlier! When I didn't see a response at first, I looked up the points chart and didn't see a classification for a lockoff versus a dedicated 2BR. How do you differentiate when making your reservation? We're booked for a 2BR in January, and I didn't realize there was a choice in what type you get. I certainly didn't specify one way or another when making the reservation and didn't know we even could! We've always stayed in multiple BWV studios to give more privacy previously, but since the studios at BLT are not very enticing, we opted for the single larger unit. Info, please! =)

It should say on your print out you received. I have a 2 bedroom dedicated standard view for BLT for Oct. 31 and this is exactly what it says. I wanted the 2 beds in the second bedroom and only the dedicated rooms have that.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A request for a lock off or a dedicated is just that. A request and it's not guaranteed. Usually a guest is put into a dedicated to reserve the lock offs to be booked as a studio, one bedroom or two bedroom.

No - They are booking categories and you will know which one you are in when you book.

Yep, I did edit it earlier! When I didn't see a response at first, I looked up the points chart and didn't see a classification for a lockoff versus a dedicated 2BR. How do you differentiate when making your reservation? We're booked for a 2BR in January, and I didn't realize there was a choice in what type you get. I certainly didn't specify one way or another when making the reservation and didn't know we even could! We've always stayed in multiple BWV studios to give more privacy previously, but since the studios at BLT are not very enticing, we opted for the single larger unit. Info, please! =)

When you book the by default the first thing DVC tries to place you in is a dedicated. If that is not available sometimes the CM will look for a lock off or you may have to ask but either way they should have told you if it was a lock off. Also, your confirmation should say dedicated or lock off on it. It also shows on the member website.

Here's what I see for our 2BR BLT 2BR for Dec under accommodation type: Dedicated 2BR Theme Park

And here's what I had for VWL 2BR and also a BCV 2BR when we had booked lock offs: 2-Bedroom Lockoff

Last year I tried to get a dedicated at VWL but it was unavailable for the whole stay so I booked a lock off and waitlisted for the dedicated - which never came thru.

 

[LisaS]

I looked up the points chart and didn't see a classification for a lockoff versus a dedicated 2BR. How do you differentiate when making your reservation?

At those resorts that do have dedicated 2BRs, it is usually a separate booking category. At AKV for example, if you want a Dedicated 2BR you need to book a Dedicated 2BR. That would also restrict you to Kidani Village since Jambo has only lockoff 2BRs. (There are no dedicated 2BRs at BWV either.)

Families with small children seem to prefer the Dedicated 2BRs because there is no outside entrance to the 2BR. If adults will be occupying the 2nd bedroom then a lockoff 2BR may work better since there will be a kitchenette and sofa in the 2nd bedroom, allowing the adult occupants to have their own space.

You get 2 queen beds and more closet space in the 2nd bedroom of a Dedicated 2BR except for some of the Dedicated 2BRs at BCV which have a queen bed and double-sized pullout due to space constraints. So at BCV, the Dedicated 2BR category breaks down into 2 types and if you want a "Dedicated 2BR with 2 Queens" then you have to book that specific room type.

 

[n2mm]

It should say on your print out you received. I have a 2 bedroom dedicated standard view for BLT for Oct. 31 and this is exactly what it says. I wanted the 2 beds in the second bedroom and only the dedicated rooms have that.

Yep, just like the other posters have said, it is a booking category. I just looked at my account and here is what it says:


2) Arrival Date 10.31.2010 Departure Date 11.04.2010
Resort / Experience Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
Accommodation Ded.2BR Standard View Reservation Number 00000000 Vacation Points Used 140

 

[MrShiny]

Yes, you can request lockoff or dedicated at time of booking and once confirmed, it is a confirmed class - you should get it.

If you don't ask, they will book you in a dedicated until those are gone (since a dedicated can only be booked as a 2br, but a lockff could be booked as a 2br or a 1br + studio, giving DVC more flexibility).

Another reason for a dedicated is that you generally get 2 queens instead of a queen and a sleeper sofa in the second bedroom.

 

[5forDiz]

The point totals are the same for a dedicated or a lock off.

What you may be thinking of is booking a 1BR and a studio separately. The point total for that differs from booking a 2BR lock off.


Still - the are booking categories and the poster should have recieved what they booked. That would have been on their confirmation letter.

Thanks for posting this that if OP booked lock off then they should have gotten lock off - that is what I was thinking too, when I had posted. It seems that OP may have got the answer they did due to CM being inexperienced but inexperienced or not that CM's reply does come across as rude: " You're in a 2 bedroom. You got what you paid for. " Not that I'd expect any recourse from DVC now, but if they've still got their confirmation I'd send it off to member satisfaction detailing what happened at check in.

I'm not sure on this 100% but if your confirm said lock off then you should have been in lock off barring an extreme set of circumstances that took the lock off out of service. Hopefully others will be along to tell you for certain if this should have been case ( if so, you may want to contact member satisfaction ).

 

[Maistre Gracey]

A request for a lock off or a dedicated is just that. A request and it's not guaranteed. Usually a guest is put into a dedicated to reserve the lock offs to be booked as a studio, one bedroom or two bedroom.

Can't speak for BLT, but at VWL it's a gauranteed booking category.

MG

 

[csaj]

All I can say is my paperwork as well as the website all stated a 2BR lock off. We had a second family with us and the separate entrance, as well as the privacy issue would have been more comfortable for us. The lock off was not a request, it was a reservation category. It was specifically made by DVC MS.

 

[DenLo]

All I can say is my paperwork as well as the website all stated a 2BR lock off. We had a second family with us and the separate entrance, as well as the privacy issue would have been more comfortable for us. The lock off was not a request, it was a reservation category. It was specifically made by DVC MS.

I would complain to member satisfaction about the CM refusing to give you a lockoff, especially since it was a confirmed reservation for a lockoff. True it is possible that there just wasn't any available at the time you checked in. However, there may have been some that day and you should have been offered a lockoff villa.

Email them at DVCmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would complain to member satisfaction about the CM refusing to give you a lockoff, especially since it was a confirmed reservation for a lockoff. True it is possible that there just wasn't any available at the time you checked in. However, there may have been some that day and you should have been offered a lockoff villa.

Email them at DVCmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

I agree. You did NOT get what you booked.

 

[clc053103]

We were in the center in a lake view room, on the 11th floor....enjoyed the view of both the pool and the lake, couldn't see into any other rooms, liked it so much that we bought there! Didn't want MK view room as it is 90% parking lot with a glimpse of MK above it!

I do agree, if you had a confirmed lock off reservation, I would have requested the manager to get what I reserved. The worst part of BLT IMO is that it runs out of CR's front desk! We also had a terrible experience dealing with them on our last trip (the second bedroom of our two bedroom was flooded for days- they just kept drying it up, and the water kept coming back, and when we asked to be moved they were less than accomodating!)

 

[5forDiz]

Csaj at the very least member satisfaction should know your experience so they can look into better training for CM's handling BLT check-ins. Even if no lock-off was available for you due to a service issue or other reason that could have & should have been explained to you; that CM's answer/attitude of 'you're in a 2br, you got what you paid for' is inappropriate.

Good luck & if you do write, hope you'll post back about reply you get

 

[Disney Spaz]

As far as the view catagories i just have to say that we booked a 1bdrm lake view for this past Christmas and it was the 6th floor H/A room that had an amazing view of MK. We tried TOWL view and it didn't compare to our view from our room. I think it is sometimes you luck out and sometimes you don't.

 

[dizfan]

BLT should have an additional category of view rooms to split the bay lake views on the outside with the ones on the inside facing the pool. We stayed there and had specifically requested to stay on a high floor, on the outside, facing north. We were placed in the middle (9th floor) facing the pool. The rooms facing the pool have over half of the view blocked by other rooms. We spent the last four days of our vacation staring at other people on balconies, in various stages of disrobement. We tried to get a MK view, but those had been booked solid from the first day of the seven month booking period for non BLT owners. If DVC had a specific category, I would have either been guaranteed the view I wanted, or would have known I would be getting a pool view and would not have been disappointed. I would have been willing to use more points for the additional view. My advice would be if you cannot get a MK view, don’t bother with a bay lake view. If you get stuck on the inside, your view would be just as good, if not better with a standard view. We were also supposed to be in a 2BR lock off, but got a dedicated 2BR. When we complained, we were told by the CM, “You can see the bay. You’re in a two bedroom. You got what you paid for.” If enough people complain about this, DVC might actually do something about it.

Sorry to hear about your problems with the lock off room. I hope you send in a complaint regarding the lock off guarantee. The person who assigned your room made a mistake and DVC should to be told about it so that the problem is fixed.

Was your view anything like the one in this post? This was from a middle room on the 11th floor. Granted, two floors higher.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33962686&postcount=310