Contemporary Bay Lake Villa vs. Beach Club Villa?

[BASS]

CaptainAmerica: Typically, we just spend 1 day at each of the parks. So, I figure that at least 1 day we have an easy commute. That's preferred, IMO, to having to bus or boat each day. It may not seem like a big deal, but with kids, reason enough for me to stay at one the boardwalk hotels.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We were just surprised to see a Poly to Epcot time of 45 minutes versus a Poly to DHS time of 20 minutes. Not that 45 minutes is a bad investment of time, it just seemed non-comparable to the 20 minutes number.

45 minutes assumes you board the monorail at the Polynesian, ride it around the loop, get off at the TTC and transfer to the Epcot monorail. 20 minutes to DHS is just a direct bus ride. As @DisneyOutsider correctly pointed out, you can walk from the Poly to the TTC to cut out the ride around the Magic Kingdom loop, but a bus is still significantly faster than the monorail.

With very few exceptions, a bus from ANY Disney resort to ANY Disney park is 20 minutes, give or take 5 minutes.

 

[Seeshark]

If ease to parks is a priority, as it is for me when I go, then I would suggest splitting your trip at staying at a MK resort for when you are going to go to MK, then move to Beach Club or a different Epcot one (will Riviera be open by then?) for the other parks. I love WL and its theming, much more than Bay Lake/Contemporary, and prefer the boat ride over even the monorail, particularly the boat ride home post-fireworks versus the monorail. You may have to wait 5-15 minutes for a boat, but they come regularly. Hit MK for a couple days, then on checkout day go to a different park and when you leave, go to the second resort nearby that you picked. They move the suitcases. Or a different option - stay at AKL, instead of WL, which is equally as nice, and do AK for a day or two before moving to the Epcot area. Either way, you minimize the bus trips. Most of the time, you'll be in walking distance or a short boat ride to a park, or in the case of AK, a short bus ride from AKL.

The ride from AKL to all the parks but AK isn't horrible, but if you do a midday break and go back at night, or go anywhere but AK, your time on buses can add up. I didn't like that, even though I love AKL, which is why I tried splitting my stay. Plus I like accessing the back entrance to Epcot for dinners and what not as opposed to the bus dropping me at the front gate. I've done it a few times now. Works for me.

 

[BASS]

I don't think a split stay is really an option with small children.

 

[correcaminos]

Hi all -- new the forum, appreciate your help in advance. We've been to Disney World once before, two years ago when our kids were only 4 and 2. We stayed in a main resort pool view room at Beach Club last time and LOVED the resort, we would absolutely go back -- our only complaint was the bus ride to Magic Kingdom felt very long (we had several long waits). So we are considering a monorail resort this time around.

Planning a trip for April 2019 and looking at 1 bedroom villas at Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary or Beach Club Villas -- does anyone here have experience at the villas at either/both of these? Is being on the monorail (or walkable) to MK really that much better? The pool at Contemporary looks pretty disappointing compared to Beach Club. How long is the walk from Bay Lake Tower to the main Contemporary resort building?

Any other pros or cons to one vs. the other would be greatly appreciated??

Side question: our first choice is a 1 bedroom suite at Polynesian, which are fully booked right now. Do these ever open up? If so, what's the best way to snag one in case someone else cancels their reservation?

Thanks!!

Hands down with kids that age, BLT. You can easily walk to MK and the pool is by far better for young ones than BCV. The extra bathroom is a nice thin too. The rooms are spacious and lovely.

Honestly I find the pool at BC overrated. It's quite spread out, not family friendly and the slides are far from the main pool area. It is also very crowded with chairs packed in like sardines with little to no shade available.

Food options at BLT will be better too IMO especially for kids. So for me there is a clear winner. Though I secretly hope your Polynesian room becomes available

 

[crawale]

Hi all -- new the forum, appreciate your help in advance. We've been to Disney World once before, two years ago when our kids were only 4 and 2. We stayed in a main resort pool view room at Beach Club last time and LOVED the resort, we would absolutely go back -- our only complaint was the bus ride to Magic Kingdom felt very long (we had several long waits). So we are considering a monorail resort this time around.

Planning a trip for April 2019 and looking at 1 bedroom villas at Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary or Beach Club Villas -- does anyone here have experience at the villas at either/both of these? Is being on the monorail (or walkable) to MK really that much better? The pool at Contemporary looks pretty disappointing compared to Beach Club. How long is the walk from Bay Lake Tower to the main Contemporary resort building?

Any other pros or cons to one vs. the other would be greatly appreciated??

Side question: our first choice is a 1 bedroom suite at Polynesian, which are fully booked right now. Do these ever open up? If so, what's the best way to snag one in case someone else cancels their reservation?

Thanks!!

If you spend most of your time at MK then Poly. But as kids get older they prefer HS or Epcot and both are so convenient by boat or walk from the Beach Club. My grandsons 8,7 and 4 are happy with one day at MK then a week for the other parks and of course the BC pool. When Star Wars Land opens it will be no contest.

 

[Seeshark]

I don't think a split stay is really an option with small children.

Why is that? My children were small when I did it. I could see if you have 5-10 bags that you don’t want to repack a few days into the trip. But it was great wheeling the stroller right onto the boat or walking into Epcot as opposed to having to fold it up to get up on a crowded bus.

 

[eliza61nyc]

I don't think a split stay is really an option with small children.

I'm with you on this one BASS, I tried it once and said, "hell to the no" for doing it again. lol, my kids loved it though but they weren't doing the lifting and packing. It might be that when my kids where small we tended to stay for 8 days and pack a lot of stuff. I like to dig in and get comfortable.

That being said OP, Beach club villas or the Boardwalk will always be my number 1 option IF convenience is what I'm going after. AS others have pointed out, there is just no beating walking to Epcot and Hollywood studios.
I also like them because of the boardwalk area, it gave us a nice option for entertainment at night if we were too pooped to go back to a park. I also loved the fact that there are endless eating opportunities.

 

[Corgi]

DEFINITELY go Beach Club! Everything about that resort is perfect! It has the best restaurant in WDW (Cape May Cafe), an amazing pool with real sand and a long water slide, and of course beautiful views of the Boardwalk! PLUS, both Epcot and Hollywood Studios are within walking distance. Epcot only takes about 5 minutes to walk to. I stayed in a DVC one bedroom villa at Beach Club this past summer, and a regular room the summer before that one. We have found our true 'home' resort. Everything about that hotel is beyond perfect.

 

[BASS]

Why is that? My children were small when I did it. I could see if you have 5-10 bags that you don’t want to repack a few days into the trip. But it was great wheeling the stroller right onto the boat or walking into Epcot as opposed to having to fold it up to get up on a crowded bus.

Have you forgotten?! As parents we tend to forget the long nights and the sh**ty parts of raising kids (literally and metaphorically). Like, if we all remembered those times, we all would have stopped at 1 kid!

But, seriously, I find arrival and departure really stressful. The kids make a mess. Their stuff is everywhere. They're an impediment to packing-like, they could care less about packing because the only thing that matters is whatever they *want* at that point in time, damn everything else.

As it is, particularly with smaller kids, most of the packing is their diapers, wipes, pacifiers, toys, extra change of clothes, snacks, milk, etc. And then, of course, there is the massive trailer-wide stroller you're lugging along. Hard pass!

 

[Seeshark]

Have you forgotten?! As parents we tend to forget the long nights and the sh**ty parts of raising kids (literally and metaphorically). Like, if we all remembered those times, we all would have stopped at 1 kid!

But, seriously, I find arrival and departure really stressful. The kids make a mess. Their stuff is everywhere. They're an impediment to packing-like, they could care less about packing because the only thing that matters is whatever they *want* at that point in time, damn everything else.

As it is, particularly with smaller kids, most of the packing is their diapers, wipes, pacifiers, toys, extra change of clothes, snacks, milk, etc. And then, of course, there is the massive trailer-wide stroller you're lugging along. Hard pass!

Fair enough - to each their own. My kids were young at the time, but not toddlers in diapers. I found it pretty simple, but that was just my experience.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Fair enough - to each their own. My kids were young at the time, but not toddlers in diapers. I found it pretty simple, but that was just my experience.

My only issue with changing resorts is some kids find they get in a comfort zone at one place, kids like routine, and when you move you change that, plus the inevitable, you promised I would get that thing at the gift shop and it's not at THIS gift shop, I did a split stay before and it went fine, but then again we were moving from a crowded AOA to a serene AKL and who can complain when there is a cape buffalo out your window.

 

[nickys]

My only issue with changing resorts is some kids find they get in a comfort zone at one place, kids like routine, and when you move you change that, plus the inevitable, you promised I would get that thing at the gift shop and it's not at THIS gift shop, I did a split stay before and it went fine, but then again we were moving from a crowded AOA to a serene AKL and who can complain when there is a cape buffalo out your window.

Ummmm, no buffalo on the AKL savannas. You do realise they’re actually classed as one of the most dangerous animals?

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Ummmm, no buffalo on the AKL savannas. You do realise they’re actually classed as one of the most dangerous animals?

Oh you never stayed in the Hakkuna Suite. It had it's own private Savannah, hippos are there too...very exclusive, but since its DVC you still have to make your own bed.
...that said I did confuse it with the , Ankole Cattle

 

[nickys]

Oh you never stayed in the Hakkuna Suite. It had it's own private Savannah, hippos are there too...very exclusive, but since its DVC you still have to make your own bed.
...that said I did confuse it with the , Ankole Cattle

Tame cows then?

 

[Tom P.]

With very few exceptions, a bus from ANY Disney resort to ANY Disney park is 20 minutes, give or take 5 minutes.

When we have stayed at Art of Animation, which is closest to Hollywood Studios than to any other theme park, it definitely always felt like it took significantly longer to get to Magic Kingdom, on the other end of the property, than it did to get to the other three parks. Perhaps that was just our perception, or perhaps that was one of the few exceptions you mention, but it definitely felt that way.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

When we have stayed at Art of Animation, which is closest to Hollywood Studios than to any other theme park, it definitely always felt like it took significantly longer to get to Magic Kingdom, on the other end of the property, than it did to get to the other three parks. Perhaps that was just our perception, or perhaps that was one of the few exceptions you mention, but it definitely felt that way.

That's probably one of the extremes... 15 minutes versus 25 minutes, but still within 20 minutes +- 5.

I wasn't trying to claim that everything is equidistant. I just wanted to make the point that everything is close enough where nobody should stress out worrying about how convenient or inconvenient a particular resort is. You're talking about ten extra minutes on a bus to some parks, ten fewer minutes on a bus to other parks. Everything is close enough where "convenience" is only a minor factor (unless of course you're on the monorail and visit Magic Kingdom WAAAAAAY more than the other three parks combined).

 

[Tom P.]

That's probably one of the extremes... 15 minutes versus 25 minutes, but still within 20 minutes +- 5.

I wasn't trying to claim that everything is equidistant. I just wanted to make the point that everything is close enough where nobody should stress out worrying about how convenient or inconvenient a particular resort is. You're talking about ten extra minutes on a bus to some parks, ten fewer minutes on a bus to other parks. Everything is close enough where "convenience" is only a minor factor (unless of course you're on the monorail and visit Magic Kingdom WAAAAAAY more than the other three parks combined).

I agree with that.

Interestingly, although we visit all of the parks, we always have park hoppers and frequently seem to end up at the Magic Kingdom at the end of the day more often than we end up at the other parks. Partially because MK seems to often have later hours than the other parks when we are there, partially because we do the Halloween Party, etc. But, given that, I can see where it would be more convenient late at night if we were staying at the Contemporary.

But, honestly, staying at a value resort that many would consider far away and inconvenient, I've never felt that it was bad. In fact, late at night when it's been very hot all day and we've been going non-stop, I rather enjoy that 15 minute air conditioned bus ride. It's rather relaxing and gives a nice little break before the hustle and bustle of getting back to the resort, refilling mugs for the night, getting kids into bed, etc.

 

[Seeshark]

My only issue with changing resorts is some kids find they get in a comfort zone at one place, kids like routine, and when you move you change that, plus the inevitable, you promised I would get that thing at the gift shop and it's not at THIS gift shop, I did a split stay before and it went fine, but then again we were moving from a crowded AOA to a serene AKL and who can complain when there is a cape buffalo out your window.

I was Mr. Routine when my kids were that young, despite telling my circle of friends and relatives before my kids were born that I would never be Mr. Routine. That lasted about 5 minutes.
So on resort-switch day the scenery changed, but the timing with regard to wake-up times, midday breaks or lights out, etc., did not, so that wasn't really an issue for us. I think the opposite actually - we kind of liked the switch in resort vibes. And going from Boulder Ridge to Boardwalk on one trip, it was almost as if someone just painted the walls - the room layouts were virtually identical. Plus I just did a couple night at WL when we planned on being at MK, and on a different trip, a couple nights at AKL when we were going to be at AK, before moving to a second resort for a longer stay. So none of my split stays were 50-50 splits, more like 70-30. I did have to buy something in each gift shop though...

 

[slappy magoo]

Hi all -- new the forum, appreciate your help in advance. We've been to Disney World once before, two years ago when our kids were only 4 and 2. We stayed in a main resort pool view room at Beach Club last time and LOVED the resort, we would absolutely go back -- our only complaint was the bus ride to Magic Kingdom felt very long (we had several long waits). So we are considering a monorail resort this time around.

Planning a trip for April 2019 and looking at 1 bedroom villas at Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary or Beach Club Villas -- does anyone here have experience at the villas at either/both of these? Is being on the monorail (or walkable) to MK really that much better? The pool at Contemporary looks pretty disappointing compared to Beach Club. How long is the walk from Bay Lake Tower to the main Contemporary resort building?

Any other pros or cons to one vs. the other would be greatly appreciated??



Thanks!!

1: were you to stay at Bay Lake Towers, there's a good chance your kids will consider the monorail to TTC and then Epcot as much of a "ride" as anything in the parks. My daughters are now 10 and 6 and they get just as much of a thrill riding the monorail as they did when they were younger. When staying at Bay Lake we sometimes just ride the monorail for a loop because they like it so much.
2: Were you to stay at Bay Lake, yes you're a hike away from some of the other parks, but you're also on the monorail to two other resorts and boating distance to two entirely other resorts (Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness). If you plan on only being in the parks for as long as possible, that might not be a big deal but if you wanted to make reservations to dine at any of those 4 resorts, or go see Hoop De Do at Fort Wilderness, or engage in other recreational activities, it's incredibly convenient. Although to be fair, Beach Club is not only close to TWO parks, but 4 other resorts with THEIR activities and restaurants...
3: Were you to stay at Bay Lake and get a 1BR Villas as you stated in your original post, you'll have 2 full bathrooms, and for my family that is incredibly convenient. One bathroom is significantly smaller but it is still a full bathroom with a shower/tub. The extra time you spend getting to Epcot might be offset by the time you saved getting out of the room that much earlier with everyone smelling like a rose.
4: Were you to stay at Beach Club...well that pool is hard to beat.