We stayed at BLT from Aug. 13-20th after being away from DW for the last 3 years. We had a 2BR suite which was amazingly appointed and clean. The inside the circle Bay Lake view was great for watching the electric water parade at night and also for seeing if our relatives were up yet... I did keep having this feeling of being in a large tenement high rise, seeing all my neighbors was a little disconcerting to me. I think, as other posters have said, that having an outside the circle Bay Lake view would be best.
We saw nearly every attraction at the four parks in a whirlwind of a vacation. I am just amazed at the outward patience and friendliness of the cast members. I don't think I would have the mental stamina to do what they do. My kids especially received lots of attention and stickers from so many CMs. I asked many stupid questions (Where is the nearest bathroom? - right behind me; Where is the Contempo Cafe? -10 ft in front of me, where do you get fast passes for Tower of Terror? - could reach out and touch the fast pass machine) and none of them gave a hint of laughing as I might be inclined to do. They just smiled kindly and simply stated "right here". How do they do it!? That in itself is magical.
It really sticks out when a cast member is rude because you really don't expect it. We only encountered this in a few places. Most notably FRANCE.
1) In Les Chefs our waiter Anthony was hilariously rude. Do they do this on purpose? He tried to get me to order a dessert when ordering the French onion soup and the mac and cheese entree. I asked if these were the only desserts (the 3 offered in the pick three center menu). He said "yes". I said I couldn't think that far ahead right now and would like to wait to see if I was hungry enough for dessert. Later when the bill came (I politely declined dessert), he billed us for the 39.95 for the center pick three meals. He also charged my husband for my brother's iced tea. When we brought this up he said, without apology, "I thought you were having a pick three meal." Obviously not if I didn't want to order dessert. When mentioning the iced tea he looked at my brother's empty glass in disbelief. He seriously looked like he was about to accuse my husband of putting his empty iced tea glass in front of my brother. I should also mention that my brother and sister-in-law were on the dining plan and my husband and I were not, and my husband ordered one of the most expensive entrees.
2) Thursday night, Aug. 19th in the bakery, "May I please have one Napoleon". Followed by outrageous laughter from the male in the center, and two females on either side of him, not helping any other customers. Then, low banter in French. Then, waiting, waiting... Did he hear me? Then, with no eye contact- one Napoleon placed on the counter top.
3) 10:00 Friday morning, Aug. 13th trying to enter the bathrooms between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. A, yes I will do it to identify her more completely, heavy-set young woman of African descent was blocking the way looking beyond the stone fence into a CM only area in an upset way at a skinny African descent young man. Because she hadn't moved, I said "Excuse me". She just made a "tsk" sound without eye contact and moved her sweeper and herself a little to the side.
4) Just out of character, not rude: Crying CM coming out of the boat ride in Mexico, and my husband witnessed 5) CM PDA in the LAND.
Exceptional CMs:
1) Melissa, our server in Le Cellier. She was so sweet and friendly and tried to get us fast passes on Toy Story the last night it was open because we were celebrating our anniversary. She asked her manager and the manager said she could only give us Epcot ones. WOW! Also amazing service. This was our fastest table service meal at DW. One hour compared to 2 at all the others.
2) Friday, Aug 20 11:00 CM working behind the counter at the Firehouse gift shop in the MK. My kids were run ragged on the brink of severe melting when I went in there with my double stroller, just trying to keep the kids moving and distracted while waiting for my husband. We knocked it must have been half a rack of shirts off their hangers and onto the floor. She just reassured me it was no problem, and not to worry about it. It was so nice to hear her friendly voice after severe exhaustion at the end of our trip.
3) We had fast pass problems the first day because we didn't put 2 of the kids cards through the front gate. The young man at the Spash Fast passes the first day explained how the cards didn't go through at the front gate in such a sincere tone showing such understanding! He gave us two extra fast passes to help us out!
4) Friday, Aug 20th 10:00 in the morning, CM at the Pinocchio's Village Haus gave us two large ice waters even though the restaurant wasn't open yet.
A little sad that:
1) Aunt Polly's porch wasn't open.
2) La Cantina wasn't open for illuminations viewing.
3) Small World wasn't open.
4) Mama Melrose wasn't all-you-can-eat pasta.
These were all favorites of our family.
Very pleased to find:
1) Free friendly ice water at all counter services you walk up to.
2) Sonny Eclipse and talking garbage cans.
3) Monsters Inc. (new favorite)
4) English maze garden with quiet bench in the shade and accompanying water fountain.
5) Food at Columbia Harbor House.
6) It's a PEOPLEMOVER again!
7) Soarin' is pretty good... Of course nothing could top Kitchen Kabaret.
Overall, Disney is the number one place in this world I would want to be right now. The experience is amazing and unmatched.
We saw nearly every attraction at the four parks in a whirlwind of a vacation. I am just amazed at the outward patience and friendliness of the cast members. I don't think I would have the mental stamina to do what they do. My kids especially received lots of attention and stickers from so many CMs. I asked many stupid questions (Where is the nearest bathroom? - right behind me; Where is the Contempo Cafe? -10 ft in front of me, where do you get fast passes for Tower of Terror? - could reach out and touch the fast pass machine) and none of them gave a hint of laughing as I might be inclined to do. They just smiled kindly and simply stated "right here". How do they do it!? That in itself is magical.
It really sticks out when a cast member is rude because you really don't expect it. We only encountered this in a few places. Most notably FRANCE.
1) In Les Chefs our waiter Anthony was hilariously rude. Do they do this on purpose? He tried to get me to order a dessert when ordering the French onion soup and the mac and cheese entree. I asked if these were the only desserts (the 3 offered in the pick three center menu). He said "yes". I said I couldn't think that far ahead right now and would like to wait to see if I was hungry enough for dessert. Later when the bill came (I politely declined dessert), he billed us for the 39.95 for the center pick three meals. He also charged my husband for my brother's iced tea. When we brought this up he said, without apology, "I thought you were having a pick three meal." Obviously not if I didn't want to order dessert. When mentioning the iced tea he looked at my brother's empty glass in disbelief. He seriously looked like he was about to accuse my husband of putting his empty iced tea glass in front of my brother. I should also mention that my brother and sister-in-law were on the dining plan and my husband and I were not, and my husband ordered one of the most expensive entrees.
2) Thursday night, Aug. 19th in the bakery, "May I please have one Napoleon". Followed by outrageous laughter from the male in the center, and two females on either side of him, not helping any other customers. Then, low banter in French. Then, waiting, waiting... Did he hear me? Then, with no eye contact- one Napoleon placed on the counter top.
3) 10:00 Friday morning, Aug. 13th trying to enter the bathrooms between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. A, yes I will do it to identify her more completely, heavy-set young woman of African descent was blocking the way looking beyond the stone fence into a CM only area in an upset way at a skinny African descent young man. Because she hadn't moved, I said "Excuse me". She just made a "tsk" sound without eye contact and moved her sweeper and herself a little to the side.
4) Just out of character, not rude: Crying CM coming out of the boat ride in Mexico, and my husband witnessed 5) CM PDA in the LAND.
Exceptional CMs:
1) Melissa, our server in Le Cellier. She was so sweet and friendly and tried to get us fast passes on Toy Story the last night it was open because we were celebrating our anniversary. She asked her manager and the manager said she could only give us Epcot ones. WOW! Also amazing service. This was our fastest table service meal at DW. One hour compared to 2 at all the others.
2) Friday, Aug 20 11:00 CM working behind the counter at the Firehouse gift shop in the MK. My kids were run ragged on the brink of severe melting when I went in there with my double stroller, just trying to keep the kids moving and distracted while waiting for my husband. We knocked it must have been half a rack of shirts off their hangers and onto the floor. She just reassured me it was no problem, and not to worry about it. It was so nice to hear her friendly voice after severe exhaustion at the end of our trip.
3) We had fast pass problems the first day because we didn't put 2 of the kids cards through the front gate. The young man at the Spash Fast passes the first day explained how the cards didn't go through at the front gate in such a sincere tone showing such understanding! He gave us two extra fast passes to help us out!
4) Friday, Aug 20th 10:00 in the morning, CM at the Pinocchio's Village Haus gave us two large ice waters even though the restaurant wasn't open yet.
A little sad that:
1) Aunt Polly's porch wasn't open.
2) La Cantina wasn't open for illuminations viewing.
3) Small World wasn't open.
4) Mama Melrose wasn't all-you-can-eat pasta.
These were all favorites of our family.
Very pleased to find:
1) Free friendly ice water at all counter services you walk up to.
2) Sonny Eclipse and talking garbage cans.
3) Monsters Inc. (new favorite)
4) English maze garden with quiet bench in the shade and accompanying water fountain.
5) Food at Columbia Harbor House.
6) It's a PEOPLEMOVER again!
7) Soarin' is pretty good... Of course nothing could top Kitchen Kabaret.
Overall, Disney is the number one place in this world I would want to be right now. The experience is amazing and unmatched.
