BLT - thoughts/suggestions

[gwhb75]

Except MK, Epcot, TTC, Poly, GF, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness.

J/K I'm sorry your experience was so subpar. I will add this, mostly to the OP - when I stayed there, it was in a 1BR Villa. I didn't even think about the studios, and I know other people besides TheBeastMom have now pointed this out, but the BLT studios are amongst the smallest rooms onsite, even smaller than any of the mods. If the OP is staying in a studio, it could get to feel cramped fast especially if there will be more than 2 people in the room (and with 4 people in the avatar, I'm guessing there will be). While I certainly hope that's not the case, it could be.

I don't think the deluxe resorts share buses all of the time, or just during slower seasons to save money. To the OP, when you arrive, I'd suggest asking the front desk what the situation is there. If all the monorail resorts are sharing buses, and IF you're going someplace other than MK or Epcot (like the Studios, AK or DtD), and IF you don't have your own car, you may want to consider taking the monorail to the TTC and busing from there. It's an extra stop, but compared to the two potential extra stops on the bus line, it might be a better use of your time. But since it seems that the Contemporary is always the first resort back, I'd use the buses to the resorts on the way back to your room FROM the parks or DtD.

Thanks for the tips. The bus sharing seems like a bit of a hassle, so we'll need to figure that out. Going to the TTC may be the best. Room size may be a bit of a concern. We've done studios before at AKL, SSR and BCV, but we've had 1 bed rooms for the past few years, so going back to a studio will be an adjustment. What we wanted to do is one year of studio to bank a bunch of points and then do I bedrooms for the next few years. Thanks again.

 

[gwhb75]

I am doing a split stay between AKL and BLT in two weeks. (4 nights each) I have stayed at AKL three times before, but BLT will be my first. I'll provide you my insight once I am back. (Thats if you care!)

I am sure you will enjoy BLT though. It will definitely be a different feel, but the convenience to MK is a factor that is pretty unique. I have done the walk numerous times and it is quite short.

I care. Would love to hear how your stay was.

 

[gwhb75]

I love BLT but the studios are annoyingly small. And they are not all the same size even within BLT no matter what some people may tell you. They seem to range from about 339 square feet down to about 310 square feet, more like a moderate than a deluxe. I know this from personal experience. Oh and bring a soap dish (of all things). We have stayed in about 10 different studios at BLT and none of them have soap dishes built in to the shower. I don't know if the 1 and 2 bedroom units have them or not. The construction budget must have been REALLY tight!

Don't use soap, so not an issue....just kidding

 

[gwhb75]

Congrats on getting your wait list request! We just tried to book a room at BLT earlier this week for the second week of December, and had no availability, along with most other DVC resorts. So we decided to wait list not only for BLT, but also AKL, with the hope that one of them will come through. In the meantime, we're confirmed OKW.

Just remember, OKW is better than no Disney at all.

 

[gwhb75]

3/2012 we had a family wedding in the middle of our DVC trip. We flew into Orlando on a Tuesday...rode to DVC on the ME had some good fun then on Friday Enterprise rent a car picked us up....we checked out and drove to TAMPA.

Monday morning we drove to BLT, dropped off the rental car and spent 3 horrible nights in a studio.

We were 2 adults with 4 pieces of luggage, two computer backpacks and a camper case.

We were put on the ground floor facing the Marina. NO PRIVACY at all! The drapes are black out drapes so, you close the drapes you are in the DARK.

There was nothing they would do...so we set out to enjoy the BLT DVC member amenities. The lounge on the roof must be where they send the surly barkeeps.... she explained they don't do food prep there so everything is pushed over the skywalk from the Contemporary. It was not the festive atmosphere they suggest and there are no comps....no happy hour snacks...everything is the same as other bar locations and the same price.

While we were there the front desk messed up the book keeping on our meal plan and we lost 4 counter services. We went through hell to get them back.

We approached the concierge about DVC discounts we had read about and none knew ANYTHING. The morning we checked out there were brochures about the Discounts but it was too late, we had to leave. It did not feel LIKE HOME.

The bathroom was not great, it seems cramped and the door doesn't really close tight so private bathroom sounds are amplified into the suite.

It's a long walk everywhere and the pool was full of tiny leaves/seeds as was every flat surface in March. the way the building surrounds the pool it echos the pool noise and shields it from sun. The pool area seemed cool/chilled most of the warmest days.

We went because we wanted the experience.... well we aren't heading back. We stayed at WLV the next March and enjoyed the resort 10x more than BLT.

KEEP IN MIND: ALL the monorail resorts SHARE a BUS. You STOP at Cont., GF, POLY every time to go some where....it gets old.

hmmmm...sounds concerning. We'll give it a shot and see how we feel about it.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yeah, we're looking forward to being able to walk to the MK &/or take the monorail. Wasn't aware of the bus sharing, so we'll need to figure that out. Did you ever go up to the Top of the World Lounge?

Bus sharing isn't that big of a deal. When we were there in November we shared a bus with Grand Floridian one day and Poly the next. We never had all 3 resorts together. It was kinda random. Look at it this way:
CR/BLT = 950 rooms
Poly = 847 rooms
GF= 867 rooms
Pop = 2,880 rooms
Even if you combine all 3 monorail resorts together in one bus that's still less rooms sharing a bus than Pop Century. The All Stars have 2,000 rooms each and sometimes share a bus when it's a less crowded time.

Keep in mind you won't need to take a bus to MK or EPCOT. So for most people less than half the time.

Top of the World is definitely worth checking out. It's a unique way to view Wishes and not have to fight the crowds out. We were lucky enough to have a room on the top floor last trip so our room was on the same floor as Top of the World and our wrist bands got the elevator to go all the way up. If you aren't on the top floor you need to go down to the lobby first and have a CM let you into the elevator that goes up there.

 

[gwhb75]

Bus sharing isn't that big of a deal. When we were there in November we shared a bus with Grand Floridian one day and Poly the next. We never had all 3 resorts together. It was kinda random. Look at it this way:
CR/BLT = 950 rooms
Poly = 847 rooms
GF= 867 rooms
Pop = 2,880 rooms
Even if you combine all 3 monorail resorts together in one bus that's still less rooms sharing a bus than Pop Century. The All Stars have 2,000 rooms each and sometimes share a bus when it's a less crowded time.

Keep in mind you won't need to take a bus to MK or EPCOT. So for most people less than half the time.

Top of the World is definitely worth checking out. It's a unique way to view Wishes and not have to fight the crowds out. We were lucky enough to have a room on the top floor last trip so our room was on the same floor as Top of the World and our wrist bands got the elevator to go all the way up. If you aren't on the top floor you need to go down to the lobby first and have a CM let you into the elevator that goes up there.

Cool. Thanks for the info again.