BLT pros/cons...... go!

disneyobessed · Jul 4, 2015

Looking into a 2 bedroom HA BLT Lake View room for our next trip... We have stayed at BCV BWV and AKV Kidanin and Jambo... Ready for a new adventure... but nervous being out of the Epcot area..

3 Hobbits 2 Disney · Jul 4, 2015

Pros - still a monorail resort, TOW easy access, bathroom config
Cons - theming - you either love it or hate it, there does not appear to be a middle ground; small pool area; materials can show lots of wear and tear in the room

DenLo · Jul 4, 2015

What size room are you interested in? Will you have ECV or wheelchair? The 1 & 2 BRs have very large living rooms. Easy to store an ECV in the room.

PRO:

BLT is around a 10 minute walk to MK. Or you can ride the resort monorail around (takes 20-30 minutes). Only a 5 minute monorail ride back from MK.

Just a monorail ride to the restaurants at the Poly and GF.

Just a ferry ride to Ft. Wilderness or WL

Cons:

You have to ride the resort monorail to the TTC and switch to the Epcot monorail. That means you have to go down the ramp and back up another ramp on the other side since the express monorail is between the two monorails.

If the monorail goes down you have to go by bus to Epcot.

There are delays from time to time on the monorails, especially if it rains.

disneyobessed · Jul 4, 2015

DenLo said:
What size room are you interested in? Will you have ECV or wheelchair? The 1 & 2 BRs have very large living rooms. Easy to store an ECV in the room.

PRO:

BLT is around a 10 minute walk to MK. Or you can ride the resort monorail around (takes 20-30 minutes). Only a 5 minute monorail ride back from MK.

Just a monorail ride to the restaurants at the Poly and GF.

Just a ferry ride to Ft. Wilderness or WL

Cons:

You have to ride the resort monorail to the TTC and switch to the Epcot monorail. That means you have to go down the ramp and back up another ramp on the other side since the express monorail is between the two monorails.

If the monorail goes down you have to go by bus to Epcot.

There are delays from time to time on the monorails, especially if it rains.

We are looking for a 2br. We are not taking evc this trip. Just wheelchair. My son is limited mobility but can get in/out of chair. He wont need it in room. Just the HA bathroom.

anett · Jul 8, 2015

disneyobessed said:
Looking into a 2 bedroom HA BLT Lake View room for our next trip... We have stayed at BCV BWV and AKV Kidanin and Jambo... Ready for a new adventure... but nervous being out of the Epcot area..

Pro: Walking distance or Monorail to MK, which is so wonderful if you wish to just pop back to the resort for a mid day break or pop over to MK at night to see the fireworks. Monorail to fabulous destinations, restaurants and entertainment at Poly and Grand Floridian. We take full advantage of this by getting to explore other resorts or take in a show. Monorail to Epcot! Beautiful Ferry ride to Wilderness Lodge and Campground (Hoop-Dee-Doo). Breathtaking Sunsets on BayLake and roast some Marshmallows while you are there. Lake views: interior side of building shows both pool and lake or our favorite is North side exterior view of lake and trees and yes... sometimes you can see MK too. Top of the World Lounge for light fare and spectacular fireworks nightly. Access to all amenities at the Contemporary including easy accessibility to food court and full use of Contemporary pool. BLT has a great water slide!!!!!

Con: Small pool and extremely shallow...

As you can tell we love BLT!

Sparrow624 · Jul 8, 2015

For us:

Pro: Very close to Magic Kingdom (we loved the walk)

Cons: Hated the theming. Found castmembers to be rude and willing to do as little as possible to help. Small Rooms.

Having stayed at GFV, AKL, BCV, and BWV, we would choose all 4 above BLT now.

Really can't beat the walk to MK though. Personally, if possible, I would go to GFV or the Poly.

DISNEYFAN3260 · Jul 9, 2015

In my opinion (BLT is our home resort),

Pros:
Location, location, location! - quick walk to MK is wonderful, especially when you're leaving the park after fireworks. Monorail to TTC, GFV, PVB, MK

2bdrm - roomy for families. We are very comfortable with 2 adults and 4 teens. 3 bathrooms is great

Pool - nice water slide, love seeing the water show at night on the lake

Access to TOW - great for adults to have a cocktail and see the views at night

Cons:
Theming - stark and boring, not very Disney-like, wouldn't appeal to young kids

Pool - small(ish)

Vibe - generally not as friendly as other resorts, not "magical"

TOW fireworks viewing - overrated, off to the side so you get a warped perspective of the show

Fastpassminus · Jul 9, 2015

Pros-

Walk to MK! Love this. It makes the resort feel like it's INSIDE the MK.
Theme - I liked the theme. It felt like I was living IN tomorrow land.
Pool- I love the breeze off of the pool on a HOT day.
Access to CR - Awesome to watch the monorails go in and out while having lunch at CR. The Grand Concourse is classic disney

Cons-

Seems like a far commute to Epcot ( monorail switch)
Theme- Even though I liked the theme it didn't scream WELCOME HOME like OKW does. A signature cocktail like at OKW would be nice. Honestly I feel like it will take time for the newer DVC resorts to get that homey DVC feeling.

Fauntleroy · Jul 9, 2015

Fastpassminus said:
Theme - I liked the theme. It felt like I was living IN tomorrow land.

This. I think it's kind of funny that many seem to find BLT's theme "un Disney".

It's very Disney IMHO- just perhaps more Walt Disney's (the actual man) "view of the future"/original plan for the FL property, etc. as opposed to "magical"/make-believe Disney. Both are awesome- and both "Disney" (IMHO).

drusba · Jul 9, 2015

Pros: large 2BRs (similar to Kidani) with three bathrooms; lake view is actually better than theme park view; no balcony off of living room but almost floor to ceiling and wall to wall windows in living room are fantastic for views and you can get to the main bedroom balcony from a living room door; monorail to MK (unless walking) and to Epcot; at Contemporary, Chef Mickey's, one of the best character meals; California Grill, one of the best table service restaurants; the Contemporary merchandise stores are large and have more things than many others; if you want to go to Hoop Dee Doo, it is an easy boat ride from Contemporary; if you have a car, you can usually get a space within easy walking distance to front door

Cons: buses to AK and Studios can take long time because of dual resort sharing: the Contemporary is still what it has always been, a stark, ugly building particularly inside (although BLT is fine); the doors to balconies have kid-proof latches/locks (a good thing) but which are also adult proof for those of us who are mechanically challenged -- you have to maneuver the lock and door handle together and time an opening correctly to get it unlocked.

Fastpassminus · Jul 9, 2015

Fauntleroy said:
This. I find it funny that many seem to find BLT's theme "un Disney".

It's very Disney IMHO- just perhaps more Walt Disney's (the actual man) "view of the future"/original plan for the FL property, etc. as opposed to "magical"/make-believe Disney. Both are awesome- and both "Disney" (IMHO).

Yes. I love the "future of the past" I love the pop art around the resort & the smell of the lobby. It feels like that little city at the end of Space Mountain came to life.

Plus you are really close to the 5 legged goat! He's Disney to the core!

theSurlyMermaid · Jul 9, 2015

Pros: Location. The walk from Magic Kingdom is the single best feature. My kids loved the pool but it is small. I also liked being so connected to the Contemporary.

Cons: Just about everything else for me. I hated the theming of the towers, I thought the CMs were awful, and the rooms were just meh. I really cannot tell you a single thing about them, nothing stood out. We are staying at VGF next, hope its an atmosphere improvement (BWV is our home resort).

Hillbeans · Jul 10, 2015

If you love AKV you will dislike BLT (at least, that'y my opinion).

BLT felt cold, uninviting and stark. Miami high Rise feel. Even though we had a lake view and a side view of the castle I felt AKV is much more "Disney" to me. The lobby is sterile, the pool was tiny. The firework viewing area was also a let-down. There were 3-4 benches but you had to stand up to an almost 5 foot concrete wall to view any fireworks. I am NOT a complainer at all but I felt the BLT was as warm and inviting as a wet fish. We will not be going back to BLT.

chainkid · Jul 10, 2015

Pro's location was only thing I could think of
con's cheap sterile looking room, no Disney magic at all. Pool are very unappealing and crowded.

Stayed in a two bedroom Theme park view villa on 10th floor. Enjoyed the view of the castle and the fire works but everything else left me cold. I was deciding whether or not to add points there as my little grandson would be spending a lot of time at magic kingdom next visit . It was not my cup of tea. I love my BWV so imagine how funny I felt when a guy on the bus said how much he hated BWV and that BLT was so much nicer. We are all different so my opinion reflects what I like but should not deter someone from trying it for themselves as others love it there. I tried Grand Villas and found them more to my liking but too rich for my pocket book so will make the commute.

holden · Jul 11, 2015

BLT is our home resort

Pros: proximity to MK (so nice to walk back after Wishes and not wait in line for bus, monorail, boat), TOWL, quick walk to The Wave and Cali Grill, monorail access to Poly and GF, 2 bathrooms in 1BR, MK and lake views

Cons: theming (not to my taste), not much shade in pool area

FWIW, the CMs have always been very nice and helpful to us.

DenLo · Jul 11, 2015

holden said:
. . .

Cons: theming (not to my taste), not much shade in pool area. .. . .

During the summer in the afternoon people complain about too much shade at the BLT pool as the building casts shade over a large portion of the pool.

I agree the CMs at BLT are fine and very friendly. As are the CMs at the shops and at the Contempo Cafe at CR.

DebbieB · Jul 11, 2015

I stayed there a couple of years ago, I had a rental car and ended up driving to Epcot. The monorail takes forever with the switch plus my room was at the end of hall above the tennis courts so it was a long walk from the station.

dizfan · Jul 11, 2015

When BLT first opened, the CMs were not as friendly. By the second year we stayed there, we noticed a significant improvement. Our favorite greeter had been moved from BWV to BLT. We talked with him for a bit. He said they heard the complaints and brought in a team (including him) to improve things. Sadly, he was moved to VGF when it opened.

With BLT pool sun/shade, I think it depends on the pool. The main pools at CR have very little shade. The pool at BLT has no sun at all once the sun is blocked by the BLT building. I forget when this occurs, maybe around 2pm.

BEASLYBOO · Jul 11, 2015

PROS: Monorail, TOTWL, close proximaty to Citricos, Narcosees, CA Grill for sushi only, The Wave, Kona (French press coffee breakfast), GF (eggs Benedicte breakfast). The spectacular smelling lobby and the wonderful staff.

CONS: Wi-Fi, it's near to non existent!

::danielle:: · Jul 12, 2015

I thought I would mention that we too hated the monorail switch to Epcot. The worst part is going allllllll the way down the ramp just to walk alllllll the way up the other. We finally started walking to MK and loading on the Epcot bus there. We did the same at night (for any of the parks that we were leaving). The bus wait time at MK was much less than the Contemporary. Plus the park to park buses were rarely crowded.

BLT pros/cons...... go!

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