7 Month possibilities......and is it worth it?

[apulk]

Thinking of trying to do a WDW trip in January, 2011. Home resort is HHI and for the first summer since we bought in (July 1997) we won't spend a week at DVC HHI (renting a house instead) but have banked our points into next year.

Thinking Sunday Jan 2nd -- January 9th (my wife's birthday too) to hopefully catch smaller crowds, fit it in during our two oldest's college breaks and maybe even catch some Christmas decorations.

Have never stayed in the tower at the Contemporary and I have always wanted to. Bay Lake Tower is almost like staying there but not quite. Just wondering though -- what are the chances at the 7 month window for Bay Lake Tower and -- is it worth the points? 2 bedroom MK view for 366 vs. say a 2 bedroom at Beach Club for 271 points or AKV for 273. Even a concierge room at AKV would be less points (again, if we could get one at 7 months). Just can't decide if it's worth the points to do BLT.

If you have stayed there and can give your opinions -- would really appreciate it. Also -- what do you think our chances are for that time of the year.

andy

 

[Disney Doc]

The only problem I foresee is that weekend is the Marathon weekend. I think DVC has been booked up at that time in the past. I'm sure others will have more detail of recent year's experiences.

 

[Anal Annie]

January is one of the cheapest point seasons you can go...IMHO the points for the MK view are absurd...but then I am a points scrooge (have to be conservative to stretch 'em out). We don't spend much time indoors when we're at the World so we don't blow points on views. We would like to try BLT sometime too but would only do it if we could go in that season...I would probably book the Lake View as I think it is a better value. Have you considered changing the view that you'd book?

I think BLT is too new for anyone to be able to predict the availability yet but I do think the MK view might be tough since there are so few units available in that category.

 

[marynvince]

if you book right at 7 months. stayed a couple of nights at BLT and was not overly impressed. Certainly wouldnt spend the points on the MK view. The Top of the world lounge is a great place to watch the fireworks. Other then that, how much time do you ever actually spend staring out your window. From my opinion the best view is a savanah view at AKV. Drinking coffee in the morning watching the giraffes is priceless in my opinion.

 

[TLPL]

I wouldn't waste the points on MK view neither, it is more like a parking lot view to me LOL. Lake view is nice tho, and require less points.

 

[rlovew]

If you call right at 7 months you should be able to get something- probably not an MK view or a standard view at BLT/BW but you should be able to stay on property- if nothing else at one of the larger resorts and then you can always waitlist for what you really want. Also you may want to see about moving a few days one way or the other as people staying over New Years may be using the first couple of days you want before they leave.

 

[mla1977]

You may be able to get something at BLT at 7 months. Only 20% of the units are classified as MK view. There are many that are LV that still give a decent view of MK. I just stayed there in a SV that despite being on the first floor had a nice view of the courtyard.

All the being said, as a BLT owner I am on a wait list for December 1-6 for any studio. BUT I just the other day changed my January ressies (Jan 3-6) from a 2br to a 1br SV.

With the marathon all I can say is: Good Luck!

 

[jlwhitney]

Defiantly wouldnt go for the mK view but book wherever you can get a reservation that you would be happy with and if it is not BLT then waitlist for it and see where things go.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had to waitlist but we got a dedicated 2 bedroom lake view for 5 nights which included Marathon weekend this year. It was great staying at BLT and we hope to do so again sometimes.

Bobbi