Is anyone else disappointed with the BLT or THV fiasco

[katscradle]

Is anyone else disappointed with this mornings fiasco and trying to book BLT or THV.
I know I am!
Started calling at 8:57am
Busy signals till 10:45am
Then hold for another 25 minutes.
Bought at BLT
Was so looking forward to having a Magic Kindom view.
Only to find out the best I could do was a lake view for our 2 week trip in Dec.
We wanted a studio for 1 week, and a 1 bedroom for the second week.
Then I hear what for right now I will classfiy as a rumor, that there are only 20 studio and 1 bedrooms combined that have a MK view.
Why would Disney open BLT and THV on the same day and time?

 

[lugnut33]

Awwww, sorry you didn't get your preference. I know it was a cluster this morning, but I think everyone knew that it was going to be crazy.

As for the view, I really think the lake view will be great. Even better than the MK view. Plus, you'll be able to view the fireworks up top on the observation deck. Remember, a long time ago at the Contemporary, they charged more for lake view than park view. I think you'll be very happy with the lake view.

Here's hoping you an your family have a magical vacation!!

 

[katscradle]

I hope your right.
DH isn't as disappointed as I am over this.
I think it is because for months I have been thinking of just relaxing after a long day and watching the fireworks from the room.
Then the time it took to get through was just exasperating.
This really wasn't thought out very well by Disney.

 

[dvc_john]

I think opening bookings for both THV and BLT on the same day was a very very stupid idea. It took me 3 hours to get through, and that's by far the worst experience I've had getting thru to MS in 15 years. Even booking New Years Eve has never been anything like this.

I have to give MS kudos though, for remaining upbeat and cheerful through it all.

Let's see...
They had scheduled THV for SSR owners on Feb 8, THV for non-SSR owners on Feb 22, BLT for BLT owners on March 1, and BLT for non-BLT owners on March 15.

If they wanted to move up BLT bookings, a logical and sensible way would have been:
THV for SSR owners on Feb 8, BLT for BLT owners on Feb 15, THV for non-SSR owners on Feb 22, and BLT for non-BLT owners on March 1.

At least I won't be trying for THV or BLT for non-owners on Feb 22. I hope you all have a better experience than we did!


btw, did you waitlist for the MK view? With more BLT units to be declared, you might still have a shot at getting it.

 

[DoOverDreams]

katscradle, I'm with you. I REALLY wanted that MK view. Truthfully, that's the only reason we bought into BLT! Then when we found out about the higher points that are required for BLT, we added on, just so we would have enough points for a week in a 1 bedroom MK view.

After the frantic redialing for an hour, being on hold for 20 minutes, then finally getting through to a real live person, only to be told sorry, no MK view for you, I am sad, mad, depressed. Especially watching all the happy (smug, sorry, sour grapes) people posting, gleefully saying "oh, I got just I wanted and it was sooo easy, all I did was dial! hurray for me!"

Groan. I started at a couple minutes to 9 also and hit the busy signal hell. I just knew it was going to happen....I feel like Eeyore right now....

Ok, enough of the pity party, I suppose we're really lucky just getting anything.

 

[katscradle]

katscradle, I'm with you. I REALLY wanted that MK view. Truthfully, that's the only reason we bought into BLT! Then when we found out about the higher points that are required for BLT, we added on, just so we would have enough points for a week in a 1 bedroom MK view.

After the frantic redialing for an hour, being on hold for 20 minutes, then finally getting through to a real live person, only to be told sorry, no MK view for you, I am sad, mad, depressed. Especially watching all the happy (smug, sorry, sour grapes) people posting, gleefully saying "oh, I got just I wanted and it was sooo easy, all I did was dial! hurray for me!"

Groan. I started at a couple minutes to 9 also and hit the busy signal hell. I just knew it was going to happen....I feel like Eeyore right now....

Ok, enough of the pity party, I suppose we're really lucky just getting anything.

My sentiments exactly.
When did you book for and what did you get?
Also did you waitlist for what you wanted?

 

[DoOverDreams]

We did get a one bedroom LV Aug 4-8. Silly me, I had my hopes set on being there the first day, MK view!

I know, I shouldn't feel too bad. I'm sure it will great. Just not what I wanted. Of course, now I have a bunch of points left over....

Yes, we're wait listed for that MK view

 

[katscradle]

We did get a one bedroom LV Aug 4-8. Silly me, I had my hopes set on being there the first day, MK view!

I know, I shouldn't feel too bad. I'm sure it will great. Just not what I wanted. Of course, now I have a bunch of points left over....

Yes, we're wait listed for that MK view

Well LV is better than SV.
As for the leftover points bank those for next year.
We will have better luck next year, as everyone's 11 month window will not be in the same month let alone the same day.

 

[CarolA]

Nope, because I expected it.

One of the problems is the limitations of Disney's phone system and it's unrealistic to expect them to upgrade to meet once every few years demand.

Also, I waited until later in the day and as expected got thru fairly easily and got what I wanted. In truth there were probably VERY few things that HAD to be booked this morning.... ANY MK views LOL, Christmas... and that's probably it. So if those of you booking those could have convinced others to do like me, it would have been easier.

That said I think that MK view is going to be TOUGH from here on out! If that's the ONLY reason you bought... this could be rough. It's a limited number of units at any given time

That said call back and waitlist. As Disney declares units in based on sales you just might get one of those declared in units with the view you want!

 

[DebbieB]

We did get a one bedroom LV Aug 4-8. Silly me, I had my hopes set on being there the first day, MK view!

I know, I shouldn't feel too bad. I'm sure it will great. Just not what I wanted. Of course, now I have a bunch of points left over....

Yes, we're wait listed for that MK view

Your waitlist may come through as more rooms are declared to DVC. At this point, I would imagine only a small percent of the total rooms have been declared since sales just began.

 

[maburke]

Then I hear what for right now I will classfiy as a rumor, that there are only 20 studio and 1 bedrooms combined that have a MK view.

If they are declaring inventory from the bottom up, that might be why there are so few MK views available: that side of the tower is standard view below a certain point (5th or 6th floor?) and MK view above. So definitely waitlist -- there may be a lot more MK views coming online.

 

[dkostel]

I had the 3+ hour ordeal this AM but still got what I wanted. I wanted lake view. Sure during Wishes MK view is going to be spectacular, but Bay Lake is spectacular all day and is especially amazing when the sun is rising, before the boats get on the lake! It may surprise you.

 

[Lexxiefern]

I am sorry for all of you that did not get what you wanted. I thought almost that whole side facing MK was a MK view. With the exception of the low floors of course. If the first 5 floors are standard than you could possibly get a partial fireworks view if you are on the 4th or 5th floor correct?

 

[drusba]

Was so looking forward to having a Magic Kingdom view. Only to find out the best I could do was a lake view for our 2 week trip in Dec. We wanted a studio for 1 week, and a 1 bedroom for the second week. Then I hear what for right now I will classfiy as a rumor, that there are only 20 studio and 1 bedrooms combined that have a MK view.
Why would Disney open BLT and THV on the same day and time?

Just on the the "rumor" that there may only be about 20 studios 1BRs combined that have MK view. Maybe not that exact number but it is likely close. Only 20% of all rooms are MK view (11% are standard, 69% lake view). Based on reports here, the room breakdown is 14 GVs, 148 dedicated 2BRs, and 133 lock-off 2BRs. There are no dedicated 1BRs or studios. If you put 20% of those lock-offs as MK view you only get a possible 26 studios and 26 1BRs and it could easily be less if they overload that view a little with the dedicated 2BRs or GVs. Don't know how much of the resort is sold but a guess would be at most 40%, meaning on any given night DVC members can reserve only 40% of the space -- thus you can easily have only 10 1BRs and 10 studios (your combined 20) with MK view available for members.

 

[pcdvc]

There are three limits you are dealing with:

1. Number of calls being able to be handled by the incoming phone lines
2. Number of calls that can be queued by MS phone system
3. Number of CM being able to attend to that calls come in

The problem today was that the phone lines used to handle incoming calls was overwelmed. I feel that the phone system could have handled and queued more people if they were able to get the call through to the phone system.

In an another post I read, it said something like 200 CMs were working today. If that was the case and on average it takes 10-15 minutes to handle a reservation, then in a 1 hour MS could process about 1000 reservations.

It would be difficult for DVC to justify the cost of being able to handle the extreme call volume of today. The only other solution would be able to use other incoming phone lines/numbers and allocate them on a temporary basis. However this would have to be configured and then be re allocated again is not really an ideal option if DVC had them. Then if you were able to handle the incoming calls, then you need to have the phone system be queue 1000 calls and have people have 30-60 minute wait times.

It would have been better to split BLT and THV release times by a week and it would have cut down the call volume significantly. I think there still would have been busy signals, but it would have been much better than it was today.

 

[AlwaysPlanning]

I have only posted one other time and the ressi thread for Jan 2010 will not let me post. NO studio SV are left for Jan 1st.

 

[tjkraz]

Nope, because I expected it.

One of the problems is the limitations of Disney's phone system and it's unrealistic to expect them to upgrade to meet once every few years demand.

Agreed. While there were more calls than would have otherwise been the case if the BLT and THV bookings were on separate days, you also had the phone traffic split over two resorts. Net impact should have been minimal by doing it this way.

If BLT bookings would have been done on a separate day, all of the calls would have been BLT owners and it would have been just as difficult to get any room/dates where demand exceeded supply.

I planned to book one of the Treehouse Villas and got a busy signal right from the start. Tried both numbers unsuccessfully for about 5 minutes...and then proceeded to leave the house for 3 hours. When I got back I called and got right into the queue. 20 minutes later I had my reservation.

 

[TinkTatoo]

Nope, because I expected it.....

Same here

I didn't get the view I wanted but at least I'm staying there. I knew it would be manic and once I got the busy signal at 9am I wasn't expecting much. No sour grapes from me, I'm pleased for everyone who got what they wanted and hopefully when I make another BLT reservation next year I'll get an MK view

 

[Dee77]

This may seem harsh so I apologize in advance but we are making reservations for vacation not doctor's appointments or surgery. Just trying to keep things in perspective. I happen to have gotten my first choice for the dates I preferred but I also was prepared to make adjustments if necessary. That said, everyone is a member and will be going back again and again so what may not come to fruition for this 1st BLT trip will hopefully happen in the future. I wish you all the best of luck with waitlisting your preferred rooms and hope everyone has safe and enjoyable travels this year.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

I am very happy that I got a THV for the dates I wanted but disappointed that i had to waste so much time and energy to get it.

The 2 new resorts should not have started booking on the same day- this would have lessened the volume of calls. It took a huge chunk out of my Sunday- we live in England so I started calling just before 2pm our time. Not looking forward to the phone bill either, was on hold for a while before and after i got a MS CM.

Now need to find some nice flights!!!

Mandy