Add-on BLT vs. VWL - Transportation to MK comparison

[wingkng]

Before BLT came on the scene, VWL was highly desired for its location to MK. I have tried the boat ride from VWL to MK, and I have to say that it is quite a pleasant way to get to the park.

I wonder if monorail access from BLT to MK will be any better than boat access from VWL to MK. I know alot of people have sentimental value towards the monorail, but really how do they compare in terms of efficiency in getting around. I have seen long lines in getting on the monorail from the CR and from MK. The one time I have been on the boat from VWL was a very stress-free, leisurely experience.

I already own at VWL, and I am considering adding on at BLT or BWV/BCV in the future. Since I already have direct access to MK at VWL, does owning at BLT add any more to my "cache"? I thought perhaps owning at BWV/BCV would give me direct access to Epcot, which I don't have right now in the properties I call home.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm confused. Wouldn't you just WALK it? I thought that was one of the biggest draws to BLT - the ability to walk to MK in like 10 minutes. I would think by the time you walk back over to the Contemporary to catch the monorail you could be 1/2 way there.

I've never stayed at the Contemporary but we walked it from MK for a characater breakfast once. It was quite fast compared to waiting for transportation.

 

[spiceycat]

yea unless you want to take the monrail - walking from BLT to MK is the fastest.

now there were times when staying at CR that did take the monrail - generally the other party wanted to ride it.

so unless you travel with little kids - to them the monrail is a disney ride. or older folks - they just love it too. You can walk and be there really quick.

much faster than the boat from WL/VWL. just walking from vwl to the boat is almost walking from BLT to MK. now the MK is a little further but one a minute or two.

now at own at both - love WL/VWL for the atmosphere. don't think BLT will be anything close to the atmosphere at VWL so keeping both.

the times that BLT will have an advantageous are those late nights - especially if WDW kepts cutting CM. remember one time trying to get back to BWV from the MK - it took us 45 minutes to even get out of MK - then another 30 minutes to get to the bus - then an hour wait - around 35 mintes to ge there (this was back when the bus stopped at all the Epcot resorts). It was awfully. but WDW was short handed then. If blt was open then would still have the 45 minutes to get out of MK - but then 10 minutes to BLT - the path is never busy.

 

[tamclan]

I think buying near EPCOT gives you better diversity in the long run.

Your resorts would both be MK centric. Now if that is the Park you go to most it is great.

But if you enjoy EPCOT or HS, the walk back from those to BCV or BWV is great.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[wingkng]

I think buying near EPCOT gives you better diversity in the long run.

Your resorts would both be MK centric. Now if that is the Park you go to most it is great.

But if you enjoy EPCOT or HS, the walk back from those to BCV or BWV is great.

Just my 2 cents.

How about going from BLT to Epcot via monorail? Couldn't you do that with a connection at the TTC, and be able to bypass the bus system? How hard is it to go between BLT to Epcot via monorail?

 

[spiceycat]

epcot resorts are wonderful for epcot.

for mk they aren't so great. yes you can walk thru epcot to take the monrail - but that requires a pass hopper. the mk buses at the epcot resort share - bc shares with yc, bwv shares with d/s. on a bad time they all share.

so if the MK is your theme park of choice - then BLT is your dvc resort of your choice.

besides how many times have BCV or BWV members complainted about going in the back entrance at Epcot instead of the front. Now love the back entrance myself - especially for those late nights. but lots of folk only want the front entrance - again BLT has the best transportation, monrail to Epcot, besides the epcot resorts.

 

[helenk]

How about going from BLT to Epcot via monorail? Couldn't you do that with a connection at the TTC, and be able to bypass the bus system? How hard is it to go between BLT to Epcot via monorail?

Currently there are no buses from the monorail resorts to Epcot. I always thought this was a bit of a pain, I'd rather have the option of taking the bus or the monorail.
You will need to take the monorail to the TTC. Once at the TTC, you will need to get off the resort monorail and walk over to the Epcot monorail station.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Before DVC, DH and I stayed at CR a few times, and THEN stayed at WL. We were really bummed by the transportation at WL. The boat was nice, but it seemed like we were always waiting for it. We had long waits for the busses and had to share with the GF.

Before the DIS, we never thought about walking to MK from CR and always took the monorail. Plus the next stop is the TTC where you switch to get on the epcot monorail. I do really prefer taking the monorail to Epcot instead of riding a bus. (The ramps are a bit steep though!) Plus, the bus stop at CR is right next to the BLT, or I'll say that is where it was before construction started.

Although it is convenient to get to Epcot from MK resorts because of the monorail, it is not convenient to get from Epcot resorts to the MK using the monorail. It is more efficient to take the bus, UNLESS you happen to be going through Future World in Epcot anyway.

I hope this helps. I really like theming of VWL, but never considered buying there because we had lots of transportation problems. We own at BWV and are considering adding on at BLT.

 

[kristytru]

we own at VWL and have never shared buses with GF or anywhere else.

 

[erionm]

we own at VWL and have never shared buses with GF or anywhere else.

We stayed at VWL this past November and the buses to DAK & DHS both stopped at GF.

 

[spiceycat]

we own at VWL and have never shared buses with GF or anywhere else.

went to DD and shared a bus with Polyn.

that say since the CR shared with either Polyn or GF - really expect the BLT to use the same buses as CR - so sharing with other resorts for DD, studio and AK will happen.

 

[kristytru]

oh...
Maybe it has to do with time of year and crowd levels. We are usually there during Easter when crowd levels are high...

 

[spiceycat]

oh...
Maybe it has to do with time of year and crowd levels. We are usually there during Easter when crowd levels are high...

oh you are brave. never go to WDW when there is big holiday.

although one day will go for Christmas....just once.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

we own at VWL and have never shared buses with GF or anywhere else.

We went in early January 2005, so its been a while back. I distinctly remember sharing a bus with GF on the way back from DTD because we were on the bus with drunk teenagers who kept yelling out that they were better than everybody else because they were staying at the Grand Floridian.

I know it was an isolate incident, but it didn't increase my desire to stay at GF or WL.

As for the transportation, DH buzz words for the trip were "You just missed it." I really think anybody can have that kind of trip, and that was our trip of the mysterious missing transportation. We got to the point that we just took whatever bus showed up.

There were a lot of WL transportation complaints about at that time, but I think they were cleared up quite some time ago.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

We went in early January 2005, so its been a while back. I distinctly remember sharing a bus with GF on the way back from DTD because we were on the bus with drunk teenagers who kept yelling out that they were better than everybody else because they were staying at the Grand Floridian.

I know it was an isolate incident, but it didn't increase my desire to stay at GF or WL.


.

I don't think it's that isolated, our nickname for the GF is "The Redneck Ritz"

 

[Muushka]

wingkng, I just wanted to say howdy neighbor Cary AND VWL!

 

[wildernessDad]

Our VWL bus stopped at the GF before going to the Animal Kingdom and other places. It could be due to the economic downturn and energy crunch.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our VWL bus stopped at the GF before going to the Animal Kingdom and other places. It could be due to the economic downturn and energy crunch.

Sometimes the GF is on the route to some of the parks from VWL. That's how we go to the 1900 Park Fare character meal usually. We ask at the desk for information about which bus will take us there.

Bobbi

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

I don't think it's that isolated, our nickname for the GF is "The Redneck Ritz"

 

[BroganMc]

I already own at VWL, and I am considering adding on at BLT or BWV/BCV in the future. Since I already have direct access to MK at VWL, does owning at BLT add any more to my "cache"? I thought perhaps owning at BWV/BCV would give me direct access to Epcot, which I don't have right now in the properties I call home.

You own AKV, SSR and VWL?

Given that, I think I'd probably invest in BWV/BCV over BLT. VWL gives you the MK access and has one of the best executed themes onsite. I'm expecting it to become more a niche product myself (hopefully seeing less 7 mos. demand and an opening for me). I love visiting VWL during the Springtime when the bunnies are dashing about and finding a nice rocker on the porch.

The only thing that would make me consider owning BLT (if I had your portfolio) is for the potential investment. I'm expecting BLT will have a high demand given its location, nostalgia and all the included bells & whistles to renters. I doubt it would be hard to rent out a reservation there.

As for transportation comparisons, for me it does come down to accessibility. Now the same is true for my heavy pwoerwheelchair as those stroller brigades. When you take the smaller launches at VWL, you either can't go (not wheelie-friendly) or need to fold up/break down your stroller. The larger Friendship ferries are easily boarded, I'm told. I've yet to actually take a ferry from VWL because the accessible ones never show up for me.

Now BLT has monorail access. (The addition of the elevator was a HUGE improvement over the last decade.) And all the monorails are wheelie-n-stroller friendly. No collapsing, no tie-downs, nothing more than a little portable ramp the conductor throws down.

The ride from BLT to MK to TTC to EPCOT and Boardwalk/MGM beyond can be a long one but still just as scenic and pleasureful. I love that you get to ride around EPCOT before the monorail arrives at the station. I do not get to do that enough.

BWV/BCV is really only an advantage to me during October and November when F&W is happening. Perhaps NYE given the crowds. But at BLT I'm just more likely to fall asleep on the monorail to the TTC from too much booze. The conductors are very good at directing folks to the right monorail home. The resort one is never as busy as the express.

Plus at BLT you have the advantage of walking 5-10 minutes and hopping a bus to any resort from the MK bus lot.

In my dream portfolio, I own most of my points at SSR and two small add-ons at BLT and BWV. Then I alternate stays at AKV and VWL as the mood strikes me. I'm not jazzed enough about either to own there.