First Time at BLT

[jenluvswdw]

Hi, We are preparing for our first time at BLT this August (2 BR Villa 6 nights). It will also be the first time at a Villa. We are renting points before we make the DVC plunge. I am starting to think about what I will need to pack and what I will need to order from Garden Grocers. Because I we will have a washer and dryer in our room, I hoping to fit everything in carry ons and plan on doing 2 to 3 loads of laundry there. Do they provide any detergent at all? Do I just order or pack single packs? What else should I know about supplies? (ie. soaps, towels, toiletries etc.) Any helpful hints will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jamie J]

I stayed there a few years back and I believe there was 1 pack of detergent. We filled a water bottle at home and brought extra.

There were the small toiletries, just like any other hotel. However, they do not get refilled everyday. On points, you only get 'trash and towel' service 1 day during the stay. I am sure you may be able to ask though...

Hope this helps!

 

[jenluvswdw]

I stayed there a few years back and I believe there was 1 pack of detergent. We filled a water bottle at home and brought extra.

There were the small toiletries, just like any other hotel. However, they do not get refilled everyday. On points, you only get 'trash and towel' service 1 day during the stay. I am sure you may be able to ask though...

Hope this helps!

Thanks Jamie!! Very helpful!

 

[goodanu]

Future DVC OWNER ,

We just got back from a week at BCV 1br. We were four, so adjust accordingly. We used garden grocer for mostly breakfast items, adult beverages and water. We always did breakfast in the room, some lunches and never dinners. Who wants to cook dinner after a long day in the parks/pool.
Our garden grocer order consisted of eggs, milk, breads/ bagels / english muffins, 12 pack of beer , bottle of wine, 2 cases(32 ea) of Desani bottled water ( very few left after 8 days) , 5 gallon jugs of water (we only used 1, gave away the rest to neighbors), syrup, butter and cream cheese, cheese slices for grilled cheese and a few snacks. Things we brought were the pancake bottle mixes which worked great and easy to pack, mac n cheese, pasta boxes, peanut butter, granola bars, washing machine detergent pods, oscar meyer previously cooked bacon and I'm sure i forgot a few.
This was our second trip as owners, and to me, this plan worked great. Breakfast in the AM was a breeze, occasional lunch during the midday break kept you going until dinner, and using our food budget$$$ on a wonderful sit down meal every night. Plus as DVC owners the Tables In Wonderland card was great getting us 20% off all dinner for major-major, savings ( we purchased the card last summer and used it for two trips). BTW our first stay as owners was at BLT last summer in a 2br and we absolutely loved it.
DVC IS A GREAT WAY TO DO DISNEY and my guess is you will love it. Just wished we did it sooner. Good luck, you are going to love it!

 

[EOD K9]

Hi, We are preparing for our first time at BLT this August (2 BR Villa 6 nights). It will also be the first time at a Villa. We are renting points before we make the DVC plunge. I am starting to think about what I will need to pack and what I will need to order from Garden Grocers. Because I we will have a washer and dryer in our room, I hoping to fit everything in carry ons and plan on doing 2 to 3 loads of laundry there. Do they provide any detergent at all? Do I just order or pack single packs? What else should I know about supplies? (ie. soaps, towels, toiletries etc.) Any helpful hints will be greatly appreciated!

@jenluvswdw How wise of you to rent before you buy. To answer some of your questions:
You get one small (one load's worth) of detergent initially. You can purchase them there or nicely mousekeeping for an extra one via a note and throw them an extra dollar for their troubles. You can also throw them a dollar if you see them in the hall and ask for one. I've purchased the travel size from my local Tarjay and brought them with me. I forget the price off-hand, but you can purchase an extra towel/toiletry pack for a few bucks. Obviously, the towels aren't to be kept, it just gets you them sooner.
Soaps, towels, and toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, & lotion) are provided. However, when you stay on points, you don't get mousekeeping every day. You get trash and towel service on day four. They will change out those items for you. A full cleaning (trash, towels, new bed linens, vacuum) happen on day 8.
Be advised the washer and dryer are a stack unit. You can't really fit a whole lot in the dryer, and if you do, they usually don't dry well. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Hi there...

Many have answered your question already. My advice is to bring everything yourself. It's not a lot, and the shampoo/conditioner/bodywash that they provide...not that great. I would bring your own detergent. You should have enough towels and toilet paper. If you need more toilet paper, that's free, as are paper towels and dish detergent. Pool towels are provided at the pool. I usually recommend bringing a hair dryer. They have them, but, ya know. You can ask for additional blankets, pillows, hangers, and some other amenities at no charge. Just touch housekeeping on your in-room phone

Hmm...helpful stuff in general about BLT...

1. It sits slightly down from the Contemporary, so go up to floor 5 to get to floor four (main concourse) of the Contemporary. It's shorter to walk the breezeway than to go across via the first floor.
2. If you decide to swim (since it is August), you will have access to both pools, not just BLT's pool.
3. The food is best at Contempo Cafe. Worth the hike upstairs if you need quick service food.
4. I assume you're planning on cooking, but please go to breakfast one day at Kona (hop a monorail over to Polynesian). I promise you won't regret it!
5. The pool is less crowded in the morning than the afternoon.
6. If you don't want pool games, go in the morning
7. There is shuffleboard and bocce ball. You have to go to Community Hall to get what you need to play. The courts are located right outside the pool gates.
8. I could be wrong, but since you are not officially DVC members, you will not have access to the top of BLT. I believe that is reserved for owners at BLT staying there using their points. Like I said, I could be wrong, but don't get your hopes up.
9. You will get trash and towel service once while there. You will not get a full cleaning. Keep this in mind.

My family owns there. It's my favorite DVC at WDW. Actually, I'll be over there about the same time you are.

 

[jenluvswdw]

YAY!!! Thanks so much! I LOVE this site! You all answered all my questions and gave good advice. I feel more at ease with knowing what to expect. Ready to enjoy a beautifully magical stay at BLT!

 

[toolsnspools]

To get to the ToTW lounge, you'll need your room key and a form of ID, to prove that it's your room key. Because you're renting points, your room key will say DVC, and you should be fine. DW and I watched the 4th of July fireworks from up there on the 5th. It was a great way to watch them. Not too crowded and they pipe the music in from MK. They said there was about 400 people up there on the 4th, and I doubt there were 150 on the 5th. It will probably be even less crowded in August. One thing you will miss from up there though is the castle projection show. It's too far to make out the details on the castle, so they don't even bother to pipe the music up there.

Oh, yeah. One note about the BLT pool. It is shaded in the afternoon/evening. In August, this might be a good thing. When we stayed there in April, it got a little chilly.

 

[jenluvswdw]

To get to the ToTW lounge, you'll need your room key and a form of ID, to prove that it's your room key. Because you're renting points, your room key will say DVC, and you should be fine. DW and I watched the 4th of July fireworks from up there on the 5th. It was a great way to watch them. Not too crowded and they pipe the music in from MK. They said there was about 400 people up there on the 4th, and I doubt there were 150 on the 5th. It will probably be even less crowded in August. One thing you will miss from up there though is the castle projection show. It's too far to make out the details on the castle, so they don't even bother to pipe the music up there.

Oh, yeah. One note about the BLT pool. It is shaded in the afternoon/evening. In August, this might be a good thing. When we stayed there in April, it got a little chilly.

Thanks so much! Excited that we will be able to get to go up to TOTW. Nice to know there will be shade in the afternoon when we take our break from the parks. I will want to nap but some my like the pool. Thanks!

 

[Mr. CPA]

Hi there...

Many have answered your question already. My advice is to bring everything yourself. It's not a lot, and the shampoo/conditioner/bodywash that they provide...not that great. I would bring your own detergent. You should have enough towels and toilet paper. If you need more toilet paper, that's free, as are paper towels and dish detergent. Pool towels are provided at the pool. I usually recommend bringing a hair dryer. They have them, but, ya know. You can ask for additional blankets, pillows, hangers, and some other amenities at no charge. Just touch housekeeping on your in-room phone

Hmm...helpful stuff in general about BLT...

1. It sits slightly down from the Contemporary, so go up to floor 5 to get to floor four (main concourse) of the Contemporary. It's shorter to walk the breezeway than to go across via the first floor.
2. If you decide to swim (since it is August), you will have access to both pools, not just BLT's pool.
3. The food is best at Contempo Cafe. Worth the hike upstairs if you need quick service food.
4. I assume you're planning on cooking, but please go to breakfast one day at Kona (hop a monorail over to Polynesian). I promise you won't regret it!
5. The pool is less crowded in the morning than the afternoon.
6. If you don't want pool games, go in the morning
7. There is shuffleboard and bocce ball. You have to go to Community Hall to get what you need to play. The courts are located right outside the pool gates.
8. I could be wrong, but since you are not officially DVC members, you will not have access to the top of BLT. I believe that is reserved for owners at BLT staying there using their points. Like I said, I could be wrong, but don't get your hopes up.
9. You will get trash and towel service once while there. You will not get a full cleaning. Keep this in mind.

My family owns there. It's my favorite DVC at WDW. Actually, I'll be over there about the same time you are.

You forgot to mention the BEST feature about BLT!!!

The WALK to Magic Kingdom!

We stayed there a few months ago. It would seem like walking over to the Contemporary and taking the monorail would be quick and easy... but, you can walk to MK in about half the time of taking the monorail. I highly recommend it.

 

[dvcnut]

My first stay at a DVC was at a 2 bedroom villa in BLT too. I signed up as a DVC member shortly thereafter because we had such a great experience.

Two quick things that I wanted to add are:

1. Although DVC members don't get their rooms "refreshed" or cleaned as often as a normal guest, you can pay for the service. 2 bedroom villas cost more than a studio and 1 bedroom, but if that is important to you then it is an option. Personally, we've always gotten by without the added service.
2. Since you are only taking carry on with you, just know that laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets, snacks, and some grocery items are available in the Concourse Sundries & Spirits store in the Contemporary.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

I'll be staying there for the first time in March, can't wait. If you are using ME why not pack a bag with all the items that you can’t put in your carry-on luggage like the soap detergent and toiletries items, use the yellow label and have this back sent to your room. This way you won’t have to worry about the small bottle liquids at the security check at the airport. Plus it’s always nice to have a bag that is big enough in case you purchase a large souvenir. One year we had to purchase a duffle bag for our clothes because the castle took up all the space in the suitcase.
Have a good time

 

[jenluvswdw]

I'll be staying there for the first time in March, can't wait. If you are using ME why not pack a bag with all the items that you can’t put in your carry-on luggage like the soap detergent and toiletries items, use the yellow label and have this back sent to your room. This way you won’t have to worry about the small bottle liquids at the security check at the airport. Plus it’s always nice to have a bag that is big enough in case you purchase a large souvenir. One year we had to purchase a duffle bag for our clothes because the castle took up all the space in the suitcase.
Have a good time

This is good advice, but I am to cheap to pay for checked luggage..lol We are a carry-on only family for this trip. Hate giving the airline carrier any more of our money. They already charge an arm and a leg for the tickets. (sorry for the rant)

 

[mrerk]

You forgot to mention the BEST feature about BLT!!!

The WALK to Magic Kingdom!

We stayed there a few months ago. It would seem like walking over to the Contemporary and taking the monorail would be quick and easy... but, you can walk to MK in about half the time of taking the monorail. I highly recommend it.

You are right. Between the walk to the Contemporary and the fact that the resort monorail goes the opposite direction makes it much faster to walk.

This is good advice, but I am to cheap to pay for checked luggage..lol We are a carry-on only family for this trip. Hate giving the airline carrier any more of our money. They already charge an arm and a leg for the tickets. (sorry for the rant)

Time to find a new airline. Our main choices are Southwest (no charge), Jet Blue (no charge) or Delta. We just got a Delta AmEx that includes free bags.

A carry on bag is doable for a summer trip for us since most of our clothing is lighter. If we have the washer and dryer in the room we only need to pack for a few days. I could never do it for a winter trip.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

This is good advice, but I am to cheap to pay for checked luggage..lol We are a carry-on only family for this trip. Hate giving the airline carrier any more of our money. They already charge an arm and a leg for the tickets. (sorry for the rant)

I thought most airlines have at least the first bag free, I usually fly Southwest, no charge.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Sounds like you have got a lot of information, but here is my thoughts.

I am not sure how many are in your party, but I like getting a town car to pick us up from the airport and most companies (like Quicksilver) will offer a free stop @ the grocery store and you can get your own supplies for your stay. Garden Grocer is nice, but you pay a premium for the service and you are relying on someone getting exactly what you want. I personally like getting my own groceries. For laundry supplies we usually bring a few dryer sheets in a carry-on and purchase a small or travel size liquid laundry detergent @ our grocery stop. We also like getting a few bottles of wine to have for the evenings when we sit out on the balcony in the DVC resort. It is vacation and it is a wonderful way to relax after a busy day in the parks.

When staying @ BLT make sure you and everyone in your party carries their room key @ all times. All entrances to the BLT building are keyed access including the gates to get into the pool area. Now this may have changed since the check-in for BLT was supposedly moved to BLT and also since the addition of RFID bracelets the doors may all be RFID accessible.

To access the Top of the World Lounge you need to go to the ground floor and check in @ the main lobby to gain access to the top 2 floors unless your room is already located up there. Make sure you check out the balcony behind the bar. It faces Bay Lake and overlooks the pool. Most people seem to overlook it and I really enjoy it. It is a great spot to watch the Water Pageant pass by.

As already mention the pool area can get a little shady in the afternoon. I think in August you will be very happy that this has happened. If you are there November - April it can get downright chilly when that sun passes behind the BLT tower.

During your stay you will have only one towel and trash day which will most likely fall on day 4 of your stay. So make sure you hang your towels after showers to dry or you can wash them yourself or simply throw them in the dryer to dry them. If you like your coffee when you wake up, then you will want to bring some coffee and filter. Most of the time you will get enough to make one pot of coffee and no mare until your room is cleaned. As with all DVC resort your towel in your room stay there and if you go to the pool there are plenty of towels there.

I hope you enjoy your stay. I am not much of a Contemporary person, but we really enjoyed the location of the resort, the pool, TotW lounge and being able to go the Contemporary concourse with all of the shops, the arcade and food. We have stayed there on 3 occasions and would again.