Just back from BLT!

[queenie82]

Thats unfortunate. Its pretty sad when a place is begging for business and they dont' let other guests come in. Do any of the other DVC sites do this as well? I'm really surprised since anyone can use any of the lounges at all of the properties (except CL of course....).

The Lounge is a unique and very special place on the 16th floor with limited space. I understand it may not be filling at the moment...but the place is not yet fully sold so not all the rooms are declared.

In the future it will be filling up.
It is something people who bought into BLT are paying for and DVC members deserve exclusive access to it.

 

[DVCPAT]

Thats unfortunate. Its pretty sad when a place is begging for business and they dont' let other guests come in. Do any of the other DVC sites do this as well? I'm really surprised since anyone can use any of the lounges at all of the properties (except CL of course....).

The lounge is really nice but I don’t see it staying exclusive to DVC members for long. It has a lot of potential….Disney does a great job keeping guests happy while resort sales are active. Once the resort sells out, Disney will change the set up and maximize its profit.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

The Lounge is a unique and very special place on the 16th floor with limited space. I understand it may not be filling at the moment...but the place is not yet fully sold so not all the rooms are declared.

In the future it will be filling up.
It is something people who bought into BLT are paying for and DVC members deserve exclusive access to it.

I completely agree with you!

The concern is that it's been open for 30 days or so and it has not generated any revenue. I know BLT was not "full" while we were there but there was nobody up there. Even the servers expressed concern. I hope it CAN stay exclusive to BLT members and I hope more start going up to that fantastic place!

 

[WoodysRoundup]

The lounge is a really nice but I don’t see it staying exclusive to DVC members for long. It has a lot of potential….Disney does a great job keeping guests happy while resort sales are active. Once the resort sells out, Disney will change the set up and maximize its profit.

That's what I'm afraid of. Why else would the contract say that it's not part of the ownership agreement for purchase of BLT pts.?

 

[DVCPAT]

The Lounge is a unique and very special place on the 16th floor with limited space. I understand it may not be filling at the moment...but the place is not yet fully sold so not all the rooms are declared.

In the future it will be filling up.
It is something people who bought into BLT are paying for and DVC members deserve exclusive access to it.

I don’t think its part of DVC so member dues don’t support it. Disney offered a similar perk during Boardwalk sales and later revoked it. DVC is a good deal but only rely on what’s in the contract.

 

[DVCPAT]

That's what I'm afraid of. Why else would the contract say that it's not part of the ownership agreement for purchase of BLT pts.?

Exactly… It would be nice if Disney always allows members exclusive access to the viewing area.

 

[mskayjay]

"It is something people who bought into BLT are paying for and DVC members deserve exclusive access to it. "

My goodness! Between this and your unnecessary capitalization of ONLY in your first response to me..... How cold!

I truly hope that since the right is "exclusive" to DVC *owners* that you make sure to never let anyone you sell points to to have access to this priviliege since it was in fact intended for DVC "members" only. You really shouldn't be transferring that privilege to mere renters of your points! And I assume that any cash paying member of the public staying at BLT would also be denied access under the terms you are describing?

My point was and is that the club may not be able to continue to function without being opened to the public, you will lose your club there completely, and I do not see where this is done at any other facility. I have never been denied use of a lounge area at any resort. This is tantamount to telling folks that if they are not guests at a resort that they cannot use the bars and in fact shouldn't use the restaurants therein since the guest of that hotel is covering the cost of those facilities with their room charges. It makes no sense from a business perspective.

 

[McCrae]

I own at BLT and I would not be happy if I could not get access to the Top of the World Lounge because space was taken up by members staying at another resort.

When space is limited Disney does ration access. Currently DVC members cant get access to all of the pools unless you are staying at a specific resort.

BLT requires more points to stay at than other resorts, why should guests using less points staying at another resort have access to the same facilities?

 

[mskayjay]

I own at BLT and I would not be happy if I could not get access to the Top of the World Lounge because space was taken up by members staying at another resort.

When space is limited Disney does ration access. Currently DVC members cant get access to all of the pools unless you are staying at a specific resort.

BLT requires more points to stay at than other resorts, why should guests using less points staying at another resort have access to the same facilities?

McCrae I respectfully understand what you are saying but it is a lounge/bar. If I were to take your point and run it outwards to apply to all such situations at WDW, why should a guest at a value resort be able to get a dining reservation ahead of me at my deluxe resort. See my point? I am trying to view the lounge as comparable to staying concierge level which makes it make much more sense. I just really sensed a lot of attitude in the other poster's comments and took offense to it quite frankly. I do not like to see any establishments not being successful and I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be for the staff at the BLT Lounge. Perhaps they could implement something similar to how Cali Grill limits those who can go to the restaurant. A limited number of guests can be up there at a time who are not DVC members???? I don't know how they would hold to it, but I'm just thinking out loud......

As far as the points and other members utilizing it, I think that point is kind of offset by the fact that it is not a free benefit of being at BLT but again, a lounge where you pay for a service, no???

 

[WoodysRoundup]

McCrae I respectfully understand what you are saying but it is a lounge/bar. If I were to take your point and run it outwards to apply to all such situations at WDW, why should a guest at a value resort be able to get a dining reservation ahead of me at my deluxe resort. See my point? I am trying to view the lounge as comparable to staying concierge level which makes it make much more sense. I just really sensed a lot of attitude in the other poster's comments and took offense to it quite frankly. I do not like to see any establishments not being successful and I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be for the staff at the BLT Lounge. Perhaps they could implement something similar to how Cali Grill limits those who can go to the restaurant. A limited number of guests can be up there at a time who are not DVC members???? I don't know how they would hold to it, but I'm just thinking out loud......

As far as the points and other members utilizing it, I think that point is kind of offset by the fact that it is not a free benefit of being at BLT but again, a lounge where you pay for a service, no???

I am sorry you are so upset about the lounge situation. I just want to also say respectfully that I didn't find anything offensive at all about queenie82's posts. I do believe she was just trying to emphasize the point of the current "rules" about usage of the TOTW Lounge. You have the option to buy or not to buy points at BLT. As it stands now, if you own there, it states that you will have access to the lounge if staying on your points.

I hope I didn't start a debate about who should and shouldn't use the lounge. Just trying to relay the info. that there was nobody up there when we were there.

 

[mskayjay]

I am sorry you are so upset about the lounge situation. I just want to also say respectfully that I didn't find anything offensive at all about queenie82's posts. I do believe she was just trying to emphasize the point of the current "rules" about usage of the TOTW Lounge. You have the option to buy or not to buy points at BLT. As it stands now, if you own there, it states that you will have access to the lounge if staying on your points.

I hope I didn't start a debate about who should and shouldn't use the lounge. Just trying to relay the info. that there was nobody up there when we were there.

Oh honey I am not at all upset about the lounge situation! It sounds like it would be a lovely place to spend some time with my DH when we go to visit the Mouse next month but there are so many fine places to go! I just always am shocked by how folks get so protective over some things that consider just "theirs" at WDW. Once I viewed the lounge more as something akin to concierge it is easier to understand, but again, it is a business in a hotel (whether it is DVC or not is not the point since you can pay cash to stay there) and when I read your post about the lack of business I thought we would just pop in. At this stage of life with kids grown and no grands yet, its fun to explore the more adult side of WDW and this sounds like our cup of tea.

I just really felt like queenie's comments sounded very "royal" if you will and took offense to the underlying tone. It is hard on a web board to hear body language, know what I mean? I assure you, you didn't do anything wrong at all and I probably shouldn't have come into this area of the boards. I happened upon your post because I was searching under "new posts" and didn't realize it was under the DVC stuff till after my 2nd post.

no hard feelings!
K

 

[Sandisw]

I am sorry you are so upset about the lounge situation. I just want to also say respectfully that I didn't find anything offensive at all about queenie82's posts. I do believe she was just trying to emphasize the point of the current "rules" about usage of the TOTW Lounge. You have the option to buy or not to buy points at BLT. As it stands now, if you own there, it states that you will have access to the lounge if staying on your points.

I hope I didn't start a debate about who should and shouldn't use the lounge. Just trying to relay the info. that there was nobody up there when we were there.

Just to clarify. The BLT lounge is not for only BLT owners. It is for any DVC members and there guests who are staying at BLT on points, regardless of where they own.

As a BLT owner, it is clear from the paperwork that we signed, that the lounge is not part of what I bought and that DVD can limit or eliminate my use of it at any time.

I think right now, they are trying to make it DVC only. Once the resort becomes more sold out and we go through some of the more busier times, they will make a decision about who gets to use it. If it starts being used by DVC'rs staying at BLT more often and the lounge is making money, it will stay DVC.

But, if does not, at some point, it will be opened up to others (either DVC members or cash guests) or made into something for private events.

I do think they will keep it as is for awhile because it isn't really fair to judge things based on only 1 month--especially since August is not a busy DVC time, BLT is not even 50% sold (so most BLT guests at this point are not eligible) and the parks are still open late-which limits the ability to use as many are in the parks until 10 - 11 pm at night.

 

[Halle]

We stayed at the BWV a couple of months after they opened the Attic was closed our entire (3 night) stay. I hope that doesn't happen at BLT. We are staying at BLT in November and our friends who are DVC members are staying at OKW. I wish that they'd allow you to bring guests to the lounge with you during slower times.

 

[queenie82]

Oh honey I am not at all upset about the lounge situation! It sounds like it would be a lovely place to spend some time with my DH when we go to visit the Mouse next month but there are so many fine places to go! I just always am shocked by how folks get so protective over some things that consider just "theirs" at WDW. Once I viewed the lounge more as something akin to concierge it is easier to understand, but again, it is a business in a hotel (whether it is DVC or not is not the point since you can pay cash to stay there) and when I read your post about the lack of business I thought we would just pop in. At this stage of life with kids grown and no grands yet, its fun to explore the more adult side of WDW and this sounds like our cup of tea.

I just really felt like queenie's comments sounded very "royal" if you will and took offense to the underlying tone. It is hard on a web board to hear body language, know what I mean? I assure you, you didn't do anything wrong at all and I probably shouldn't have come into this area of the boards. I happened upon your post because I was searching under "new posts" and didn't realize it was under the DVC stuff till after my 2nd post.

no hard feelings!
K

You seem to be an ultra sensitive person given your reaction to my simple and plain posts. I meant no coldness nor royalty nor any of the other things you described my attitude as being. I think you have been rude in all your descriptions on me based on 2 simple and clear posts explaining the rules and nothing more.

Clarity does not mean coldness
I was merely trying to clarify the situation so it was understood. So many people are staying here without knowing the rules as they stand. If I were paying the high cash rates to stay here I would go in knowing the rules.

I think Sandisw says it best

I think right now, they are trying to make it DVC only. Once the resort becomes more sold out and we go through some of the more busier times, they will make a decision about who gets to use it. If it starts being used by DVC'rs staying at BLT more often and the lounge is making money, it will stay DVC.

I do think they will keep it as is for awhile because it isn't really fair to judge things based on only 1 month--especially since August is not a busy DVC time, BLT is not even 50% sold (so most BLT guests at this point are not eligible) and the parks are still open late-which limits the ability to use as many are in the parks until 10 - 11 pm at night.

 

[Tara]

It doesn't seem any different to limit access to the lounge than it does to limit pool hopping at SAB. SAB is a unique pool experience; ToWL is a unique lounge experience. For the moment it makes sense to not react too quickly to low usage at the lounge given that only half of the points have been sold and we're just now getting into the original opening dates for the resort. (Meaning that when the opening dates changed, many people may have been unable to alter their plans to take advantage of the earlier opening.) As a BLT owner, I do hope they are very careful in how they assess usage and the access policy - I'd hate to see a knee-jerk reaction this early.

 

[nexttripdisney]

Unfortunately, the previous guests in our room sort of trashed it.....very unsettling to see especially since the resort has only been open a few weeks. There was pen on the curtains, scratches on the dining table, a huge piece of the frame knocked off of the full length mirror in the master bedroom. There was a hole in the leather chair. The toilet paper roll in the master had been ripped off the wall and maitenance came in to drywall, paint and repair. Either the folks before us had children and let them do anything, or the people were playing football in the room.

If you look at the glass half-full--better to occupy the villa AFTER they are gone. Think of the families that had to share common walls and hallways with them! Yikes!

We once awoke at 2 am in a (non-Disney) hotel to find several 20-somethings playing hockey in the hallway! They had goal nets and sticks!

 

[Mean Queen]

We just stayed there this weekend too! We did just 2 nights in a MK view room. We never wanted to leave the room. I was very surprised the Top of the World lounge was so empty. We did our part by having some yummy crab nachos and many chocolate martinis. I agree that more members need to visit at times other than firework time. We witnessed an amazing rainbow from the back balcony over Bay Lake.

I also noticed the room didn't take wear and tear very well. The lights over the dinette were a little bent, there were marks on the light tan couch (bad choice of colors), and the concierge said the locks and drapes on the balcony doors were breaking because people couldn't figure them out. Overall though, it was amazing. I could even hear the rope drop music from my balcony the first morning (the street cleaner drowned it out the second.) We're already planning to add on more points to enjoy the 11-month window.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I agree with you on the disrespectful damages. We stayed at BLT DAY 4. and the kitchen table was already ruined. 2 very long deep scratches. and a large bubble on the wood, clearly from a hot pot. really a shame.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

The damaged stuff sucks to hear about, why some people don't give a darn ?????? I hope the people responsible get billed for it.
It won't bve long till we get the first post of someone refused entry into the observation deck due to capacity. That is going to be an ugly scene.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I own at both BLT and AKV and for my upcoming trip will be staying at Kidani. I would have liked to have stayed at my 'new home', but I am with my parents and my brother and his family. It is my parents' Golden Wedding Celebration and they wanted to stay at Kidani. It is a shame, I think, that even though I am an owner at BLT, I cannot access the lounge this trip because I am staying at my other home. It would be nice if all owners could access the lounge even if they are staying (on points) elsewhere