Just completed my 2nd BLT stay

[Ramsfan28]

I just had an amazing stay at BLT (9/18 - 9/25) and I thought I would share some feedback here that I planned on passing along to DVC member satisfaction (I would appreciate if somebody could post their email address here).

First of all every interaction I had with CM's at the resort and in the parks was wonderful. People were polite, friendly, and very helpful.

The resort is beautiful and love the location. This is our 2nd visit to BLT and we were able to use the pool for the 1st time, it was relaxing, fun, and not crowded at all. Sadly, there were a few guests that decided to leave their trash and dirty towels on their chairs (my wife and I cleaned up after them).

We used DME for the first time on this trip and found it fast and easy.

We did not have one bad meal - now we did go to a lot of signature dining locations outside of the parks, but even the meals in the park were very, very good.

With that said, there were a some things I didn't like:

1. The room was not cleaned appropriately prior to our arrival. There were food wrappers and plastic utensils on the floor and wedged under some of the furniture. Decided to clean up the messes ourselves due to timing of dinner reservations and my daughter's bedtime but in the future would call mousekeeping.

2. The bed was very uncomfortable. I travel all over the world and have been in many different classes of hotels (deluxe, economy, etc.) and the bed in our room was in very bad shape compared to a “normal” bed. It was very difficult to sleep on and I was shocked Disney would allow a bed this poor to be in a room.

3. Management allowing Halloween decorations /lights to be hung from the balcony of a room on our floor. It was a complete eyesore and took away from the beauty of the building. I am not sure why this was allowed to take place and why the owners were not forced to remove the decorations.

As I said, an overall great stay and look forward to my next visit to the BLT in May.

 

[Coach81]

Thanks for the report.. we are counting down the days until March!

 

[Mr_Potts]

3. Management allowing Halloween decorations /lights to be hung from the balcony of a room on our floor. It was a complete eyesore and took away from the beauty of the building. I am not sure why this was allowed to take place and why the owners were not forced to remove the decorations.

Glad you had a good trip. We were at WDW at the same time, but staying at SSR. It's funny. When we were in that area we noticed one of the balconies at BLT facing Magic Kingdom had orange lights on it. This reminded me that when we were there at Christmas almost every other balcony was nicely decorated, and people had also put snowflakes and other seasonal accents in their windows. I like these personal touches, which really make BLT feel like home, despite being a high rise. I would hate to see Disney forbid this. Where would it end--no Christmas trees in the windows?

 

[shellybaxter]

We enjoy both decorating our balcony and seeing others decorated as well. I hope they don't disallow this practice.

OP - glad you had a good stay

 

[Sammie]

Glad you had a good time.

The decoration situation will be one where there will be no middle ground. Either you are for it or against.

I am with you and don't care for it, or see the need.

I might can see if a guest was there on Halloween weekend or the week of Christmas.

But is it really necessary to decorate weeks in advance.

I can also see decorating where it does not distract from what is viewed by others. To me inside the room belongs to the guest and is open for decorations. The railings to the balconies are public and therefore should remain neutral.

Here is the address: DVCmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

On the "Excess Wear & Tear" thread a few weeks ago someone posted the section of the DVC by laws where it specifically prohibits balcony decorations. I will say up front I am one who is vehemently opposed to them, but without any enforcement I don't imagine balcony decorations will be going away anytime soon.

 

[cseca]

...

3. Management allowing Halloween decorations /lights to be hung from the balcony of a room on our floor. It was a complete eyesore and took away from the beauty of the building. I am not sure why this was allowed to take place and why the owners were not forced to remove the decorations.

As I said, an overall great stay and look forward to my next visit to the BLT in May.

According to an older thread, this is prohibited on any DVC property. (Un)fortunately they never bothered to enforce it.

So at any time if DVC decides to enforce it I'm sure you'll hear someone post it on the board...

 

[Ramsfan28]

I was really surprised to see the decorations and more surprised that they were still up as I left on the 25th. I was shocked Disney didn’t do anything to address the issue. As somebody else posted, it wasn't like the decorations were easy to miss.

What people do inside the villa (as long as it doesn't add to the wear and tear) should be fine, but in my opinion when you start adding things to the outside it impacts everyone else staying at the property.

I also own at the Marriott Surf Club in Aruba and even though it is forbidden, people continue to hang bathing suits, clothing, and towels over the balcony railings. Thankfully there, the property addesses the issue pretty quickly and items are removed.

 

[Ramsfan28]

We enjoy both decorating our balcony and seeing others decorated as well. I hope they don't disallow this practice.

OP - glad you had a good stay

The problem is, it isn't allowed and I rather Disney strictly enforce this versus allowing people to put up items that could be inappropriate or tacky.

I am sure there could be an entire thread on what some people feel is an appropriate / pretty / tasteful decoration and what isn't.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

If a rule isn't followed or enforced then why bother having it as a rule?

To me I really don't care one way or the other, but if you aren't going to enforce it, pull it out of the bylaws.

 

[3inthefamily]

We were there from the 22-26 and found the bed to be terrible also! It was the most uncomfortable bed I have ever slept in! It was our second trip to BLT as DVC owners, and my husband was wishing we were back at POR...the beds were better there!

The room was clean but did show some wear already.

I have to say I loved the jacuzzi in the room though!

 

[Niagara2]

We decorate at OKW for Chirstmas all the time. I have had many of the CM's, including management remark how they enjoyed them too!
We decorate big time at home too, and feel like DVC is our home away from home. I feel bad, as I never thought that such a common practice as decorating for a holiday would bother others. I really felt we were enhanching the holiday spirit as all of WDW is decorated!
So, maybe tlme for a poll or maybe leave well enough alone!

 

[3inthefamily]

We were staying at BLT with the Halloween decorations on the balcony and thought it was cute! My son loved coming "home" each night and seeing in on the building!

It was no different to me than that big mickey head they had hanging on the Contemporary last Christmas...I thought that was kind of weird looking. Oh well...to each their own, right?

 

[Greysword]

First, this is a great topic! The idea of enforcing this regulation seems to be rife for hearing the (now) classic, "I paid eleventy-billion dollars for my membership and I'll do what I want."

As for decorations, it is my opinion that Christmas decorations are different from others, and personal touches likely add to the whole decore of the WDW resort complex, since all of the resorts, parks, restaurants, and general grounds are decorated in the same manner. Decorating for Halloween on the week of the holiday could add to the mystique, due to the feeling and proximity fo the festivities. However, decorating for Halloween in September seems to have made this one balcony standout and it may have been out of place. In this case, it seems to have been an outlier.

 

[Sammie]

It really concerns me that the beds are not wearing well at BLT, I certainly hope they are not buying a cheaper mattress.

For BLT to be such a young property it is just not wearing well.

 

[dbs1228]

I am way more concerned about the bed then decorations! We are staying at BLT in Dec and Feb and I was looking forward to a nice king size bed after busy park days! I have suffered with the little not so comfy murphy beds in the cabins for 15 years and was so looking forward to a nice "luxury" king size bed. I thought the king bed at OKW was pretty comfy and that resort is much, much older (not a remodeled room). I guess i will have to wait and see.

 

[Ramsfan28]

I am way more concerned about the bed then decorations! We are staying at BLT in Dec and Feb and I was looking forward to a nice king size bed after busy park days! I have suffered with the little not so comfy murphy beds in the cabins for 15 years and was so looking forward to a nice "luxury" king size bed. I thought the king bed at OKW was pretty comfy and that resort is much, much older (not a remodeled room). I guess i will have to wait and see.

Trust me after that last stay I am very concerned about both. I will continue to follow up with DVC and see what can be done.

Even though I had an incredible time both the decorations and the bed left a bad impression.

I also, forgot to comment on some of the VERY inappropriate Halloween costumes worn by some women. Thankfully my daughter is too young to notice these things yet. I think some forget that they are going to a Disney function and not an adult only party.

 

[PatsMom]

We were at BLT at the same time as the OP and we enjoyed the Halloween decorations on the balcony. We were there last year around the same time and wondered if it was the same family who decorated last year since the location and decorations were close to the same. And the timing would have fit someone doing what were were - getting one last trip out of the annual pass!

We were in a studio and didn't notice any excessive wear and tear. I still hate the bathroom door and will be glad when it is changed. Everything else was fine. I liked the bed. Can't remember our room number, but calling it a lake view was a stretch on the part of Disney. But we could see the EWP if we stood on one end of the balcony and leaned out and we weren't in the room much anyway so it didn't really matter. I was just a bit annoyed at having to cough up lake view points when what we really had was a view of the Contemporary pool and lawn!

We visited the Top of the World lounge several times and really enjoyed it. A studio is crowded with four people and we probably would not do it again given a choice. But the decision to include my sister in law and niece was kind of last minute and even if a one bedroom had been available, we didnt' want to borrow points to pay for it. We made it work. A sense of humor helps.

 

[mdsd8700]

The bed issue is a bit of a concern. There is nothing worse than not getting a good nights's sleep in general, vacation or not. We stayed at the VGC this past July and the bed in the 1 BR was awesome! The pillows were great as well.

As far as decorations, I would have to say they add to the spirit of the holiday. Although I am sure some more so than others. However it does seem silly to have a rule and then never enforce it. We have decorated our room and entry door, but never the balcony.

 

[Caren]

I thought the bed at BLT was very comfortable. What was your issue with it?

We did have an issue with the couch, which has cushions with a slant that seemed designed to dump people onto the floor.