Cypress Point Resort Questions

[suzanne]

We arrive on 12/22/06 for an RCI exchange into a two bedroom unit. On the website and our confirmation it shows check in time is 4:00 PM. Is there any chance that we could check in any earlier say 2:30 to 3:00 PM? We have dinner reservations at Disney Magic Kingdom at 5:00 PM and are concerned about having enough time to check in and drop off our luggage and make our dinner reservations. My other question is are all the units at the resort
non-smoking? If not, do they have any non-smoking units and can we request one prior to check in?

Suzanne

 

[Stu]

That may well be a very busy day for check out and check in as it is a holiday peak week when the resort may be "sold out."

The front desk will let you check in early only if a unit just happens to be available at that moment, meaning it has been fully cleaned and inspected following another guest checking out. If you arrive early enough, and if there is still space to store it, they may allow you to leave your luggage with the front desk until you come back later to check-in. (This is a courtesy, not a right, so please be nice when asking, even if they can't accomodate you.) Otherwise, if they can't take any more luggage, you might ask if you can just wait for the next available unit is ready and for them to let you know when. But remember, no unit is necessarily going to be ready until 4 pm.

It is virtually impossible to enforce a no smoking policy at CPR within the residential units. We have signs in each unit asking that all smoking take place outside on the balconies, and provide ashtrays only at the balcony tables, I believe. Should you're unit be too "smokey", notify the front desk and they will attempt to find another unit, if available, or if none are available, they will try to use an ionizing machine to remove whatever they can. (I don't know if they have any Febreeze type products, but you could also ask.) Again, no guarantees-we rely on the courtesy of all guests not to smoke inside the units.
It never hurts to call the front desk the day before check-in to make any special request, but again, it's a real tough week and again, no guarantees... The phone number is 407-597-2700. Make sure you state which resort you are staying in, Cypress Pointe Resort (phase 1) or CPR GrandeVillas (phase 2) Good luck!

Yours for excellence at Cypress Pointe Resort at LBV,
Stu Schwartz,
Director & Treasurer
CPR@LBV Condo. Assoc.

 

[suzanne]

Thanks Stu for your help. I will call regarding the non smoking unit. If we can't check in by 4 PM, we will just leave the luggage in the car. That won't be a problem since we are driving up.

We are looking forward to our visit to the CPR.

Suzanne

 

[cindi]

Stu,

Your comment concerns me, that it is impossible to enforce no smoking in units. That can't be true, as many other timeshares either have non smoking buildings or total non smoking. They must have waysto enforce it, wouldn't you think?

With all the knowlege about second hand smoke, at the very least every resort should have compete buildings that are non smoking.

Not trying to pick on the smokers or cause a big fight, but I have hyperactive airways, and smoke causes me actual chest pain. One of the biggest enjoyments I have on vacation is sitting out on the balcony enjoying a cup of coffee. I can't do that if people around me are smoking.

I have first hand experience with my own resort in this regard. I had asked for a non smoking building, and for two days people on either side of me were smoking in the balcony. I finally called the front desk to make certain I HAD been place in a non smoking building, rather than smoking, by mistake. They assured me it was non smoking and actually sent someone to the rooms of the smokers to inform them of the fact. In addition, at least once a day I saw someone walking along between the balcony and the lake checking for comliance. I was exceedingly impressed with my resort as well as their handling of the issue.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Dangerous Practice!

We have signs in each unit asking that all smoking take place outside on the balconies, and provide ashtrays only at the balcony tables, I believe.

Stu,

I would encourage you to reconsider your practice of encouraging smoking on balconies. My husband was the building manager of an apartment complex, that lost 1/3 of their units to a "balcony smoker". Here is the link to the newspaper article . . . http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=38432 .

Yvonne

 

[Al D]

At a recent hotel stay, they stated on the check in slip "All rooms are non smoking. A $200 reconditioning charge will apply if this is not followed".

I read this as I was hasving my credit card swiped. If I was a smoker, I'd have to want it real bad to do it in the room for $200.

I don't know if they really would charge it, but I don't know if I would take the chance.

Great policy.

 

[timeos2]

The documents spell out the rules

Stu,

Your comment concerns me, that it is impossible to enforce no smoking in units. That can't be true, as many other timeshares either have non smoking buildings or total non smoking. They must have ways to enforce it, wouldn't you think?

The consumer protections that many states, especially Florida, have enacted to protect timeshare owners can cut both ways. It seems that an absolute ban on smoking in the units would have to be in the original disclosure statement at the time of sale. Since the documents were written in 1991/2 there was no push at that time to prohibit smoking. Without that the Board and Management cannot ban it now. To do so would require an amendment to the original documents and that would require that we obtain a super majority - 66.6% or more of owners voting at least 51% in favor of a change. That would be nearly impossible to achieve. Add in the fact that we have deeded units backing up each and every float week and there is no way to segregate one or more buildings as strictly non-smoking as every owner has a right to request and use any building/unit on the property under those same rules.

We can, and have, instituted a voluntary program of non-smoking. We ask that all units be treated as non-smoking and anyone that must smoke do so outside. After a slow start in 2001 that program now results in very few units with any trace of smoke. I can't even recall the last time I noticed any remnants of smoke in a unit. Most smokers now are very aware of the issues and do their best to avoid causing problems for other guests.

Back to the rules. Those protections for buyers are important but do tie the hands of the resort in cases where it appears to against the best interest of the majority. You have to remember that not every resort has the luxury of an independent, owner controlled HOA. Just look across the street to Westgate Blue Tree where there is an independent Board and a split off faction that controls 40-50% of the units that runs it's own show. At my Westgate Villas where King David holds firm rein - we need the locked in nature of the original documentation we purchased under or owners would be steamrolled by that megalomaniac. As it is they push the boundaries as far as possible and skirt the edges of the law. Imagine what things would be like if they could alter the rules at their whim. So the very rules that prevent us from instituting smoking rules rpotect my ownership rights at Westgate. We have to live with the good and bad sides of protectionist legislation.

 

[Stu]

The BOD doesn't "encourage" smoking at all, but as Board Prez. John's earlier post here points out, we're pretty much on an honor system to ask all guests to refrain from smoking indoors in the unit (where a fire starting from an errant lit smoke would be an even greater risk). I'd prefer no smoking in the entire resort, but neither I nor the BOD have the authority to do that unilaterally, nor are we likely to get that power. So we have to use common sense and good judgement.

It is interesting that the article you refer to doesn't state that a cigarette was identified as the cause and the fire officials stated only that the "...blaze possibly started on a porch in the northwest corner of the affected wing." (Perhaps your husband was privy to the actual cause, but for some reason it could not be disclosed officially/publicly?) So, per the article, there was no definite cause or definite starting point. The risk of fire is always present due to errant smoking, but in my opinion, if someone must smoke in one of our units, the risk is far less from someone smoking outside the unit on a balcony, than from elsewhere within. So far, our owners and guests have pretty much voluntarily complied and only infrequently have resort personnel been requested to deodorize.

In my past experiences in apartments and condos, a frequent cause of fire starting on balconies, porches or lanais is more from someone trying to use a small BBQ there, rather than go outside to a designated BBQ area. Thankfully, most leases for apts. and condos these days specifically ban BBQing from porches.

Best regards,
Stu Schwartz

 

[suzanne]

I appreciate all the responses to my questions. I understand where the resort is coming from. I was hoping for a non smoking unit and did call the resort as Stu suggested. I spoke with a very sweet lady who said that the entire resort had a non smoking policy in the units, but as Stu & John both stated, you can't really control what people do in the privacy of their unit. I am allergic to cigarette and cigar smoke which is why I want a non smoking unit.

Thanks again for all your responses.

Suzanne