Villa choices for 2014 Princess half lodging

[camouseketeer]

I am debating between BLT and BCV. I have never stayed at either before, and I have never done the Princess Half. I did stay at the Poly two years ago when I did the Donald Half, and it was fabulous to be so close to the monorail. My family had such an easy time moving around to find me during the race.

In 2014, I will be traveling with my family, and I want a 1BR villa. I would love BLT because of the proximity to the monorail and MK, but the area and pool around BCV looks wonderful, and it seems so close to Epcot.

I would love opinions about both!

 

[kathleendsm]

I stayed at BWV for the Princess in 2012, and that was great. I just walked back through Epcot after the race, so no waiting for the bus. Then again, the cool thing about BLT would be how easy it would be for your family to get out by the road and cheer for you....that would feel pretty great!

 

[Ariel484]

I stayed at the BCV for the marathon in 2012 and the Grand Floridian this year for the marathon, and like you said...it was sooooo nice staying on the monorail. Transportation was fine for me from both places but it gave me peace of mind to know that the monorail was going right to the TTC. And you can use REAL bathrooms outside of Epcot before heading to the starting area. Big plus there.

Transportation was fine at the BCV, but keep in mind that by staying at BWV you'll share buses with ALL of the Epcot resorts: BW, BC, YC, Swan and Dolphin. It wasn't a big deal for me, just something to keep in mind. And if you do stay at BW and walk through Epcot, you'll need a ticket to get into the park.

Personally, for me...I think I'm spoiled now that I've stayed on the monorail for a race weekend. I'd vote for BLT, but I'm sure either one will be fine.

 

[kathleendsm]

So Ariel, can you take the monorail to the starting area for the Princess? That would be a seriously nice plus, because even from BWV, the buses were kind of awful and got caught in terrible traffic.

 

[Ariel484]

So Ariel, can you take the monorail to the starting area for the Princess? That would be a seriously nice plus, because even from BWV, the buses were kind of awful and got caught in terrible traffic.

Yep! They have the resort monorails running, so you'd monorail to the TTC, get off the monorail, then switch to the one going to Epcot. You get off the monorail at the entrance to Epcot and there are lots of helpful CMs there to direct you to the starting area. I took careful notes in my phone the morning of the WDW Half since I'd be there again the next morning for the full, and the whole trip took 25-30 minutes to get to the entrance of Epcot from the Grand Floridian.

I've never had issues with bus transportation to the races, but I know they bring in Mears buses, and the drivers sometimes don't know their way around property very well...especially with road closures for the races. So it was great to just take the monorail - can't really get lost there!

Now that I think of it, they probably don't even have buses running from the monorail resorts to the starting line of the Princess Half...during Marathon Weekend we HAD to take the monorail to the start (except for the 5K, when they had special bus transportation set up).

 

[kathleendsm]

Yep! They have the resort monorails running, so you'd monorail to the TTC, get off the monorail, then switch to the one going to Epcot. You get off the monorail at the entrance to Epcot and there are lots of helpful CMs there to direct you to the starting area. I took careful notes in my phone the morning of the WDW Half since I'd be there again the next morning for the full, and the whole trip took 25-30 minutes to get to the entrance of Epcot from the Grand Floridian.

I've never had issues with bus transportation to the races, but I know they bring in Mears buses, and the drivers sometimes don't know their way around property very well...especially with road closures for the races. So it was great to just take the monorail - can't really get lost there!

Now that I think of it, they probably don't even have buses running from the monorail resorts to the starting line of the Princess Half...during Marathon Weekend we HAD to take the monorail to the start (except for the 5K, when they had special bus transportation set up).

That is awesome! I was totally not aware of that...it pushes me to BLT for 2014 if possible. That would be a LOT easier than the buses! It wasn't a huge problem, they had plenty of buses, but the traffic was unreal and it took about 45 minutes to get to the Epcot parking lot.

 

[kappyfamily]

2012 there was no monorail from BLT/cr before the race. That is where I stayed. I know for the disneyworld marathon there is but not for princess. That may have changed this year, but I know in 2012 you couldn't. We had to taxi it to the race. Staying at BLT is amazing by the way.....

 

[Ariel484]

2012 there was no monorail from BLT/cr before the race. That is where I stayed. I know for the disneyworld marathon there is but not for princess. That may have changed this year, but I know in 2012 you couldn't. We had to taxi it to the race. Staying at BLT is amazing by the way.....

Really? Oh man, I'd be mad. I mean, that's part of what you pay for when staying in the monorail, right? Boooo

Here's the final instructions from this year's race...it does look like monorail transportation was available this year:

http://runningatdisney.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2013-Princess-FI-pg2.jpg