AK or BLT Grand Villa for my 50th?

[BBG-BLT]

Ok - I thought I had my mind made up with the grand villa at BLT for my 50th (june 2013) now I'm re-thinking because I hear that the Grand Villas at AK are wonderful.

There will be 10 of us. Me and my crew wife and 4 kids ages 11, 11, 7 and 5 at the time of the trip. and friends of ours (2 adults and 1 kid also 11).

My kids love the park but are also good with hanging out and doing kid activities. Now in 2 years will they be - who the heck knows.

We own at BLT so I would get that at 11 months to be safe.

But which would you do AK or BLT

 

[mickeys girl 52]

I have stayed at both these resorts and think they are both beautiful in thier own way. But for a special occasion like this BLT would be my choice.
Because/

1 Easy access to 2 parks via the monorail.

2 all the restaurants that are easily accessible at 2 other resorts

3 Fireworks from the Room if you get MK View.


Whatever you decide I hope it is wonderful.

 

[rentayenta]

Having only stayed at AKV and not BLT (because I have limited desire) take my opinion for what it's worth.

From what I've seen the view at BLT is not that fabulous or guaranteed. Granted I have not experienced BLT so maybe the pictures and trip reports I've seen don't do it justice. Having to train my eyes to look over a parking lot to see the castle doesn't sound like my kind of fun. With AKV the view is terrific and with a savanah view, you are virtually guaranteed to see animals unless they are all on vacation.

AVK is such an amazingly themed resort and it's beautiful- high quality. Again, from what I've read the wear and tear on BLT is pretty sad. It's such a great location but it seems Disney cheaped out. AKV is a sure thing but I think BLT has too many variables.

Happy Birthday!

 

[fitzpa]

I've stayed at both too. I'd choose the BLT for a celebration and AK for a relaxing trip. The kids will love being right next to MK at the BLT. Also, you can view the fireworks at the TOTW if you are staying on points. They are awesome from there!

 

[hakepb]

It is a tough decision. A "fireworks" viewing party in the 2 story BLT GV

Or

The "over the top" Jambo GV with a pool table room and master bath with its own flat-screen TV.

I'm leaning Jambo.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

It would depend on what my focus of the trip is.......

If it was going to spend time in the parks then I'm going BLT (which is what I answered in the polls).

If I was going for a relaxing vacation, spending lots of time in the pools, etc, I would do AKV.

 

[BBG-BLT]

I didn't know the GV in AK had pool tables. Do they all? or do you need to request a "pool table" room

 

[hakepb]

Jambo only has the pool tables and Jambo is a guaranteed booking category. (Jambo is only one floor, so it does not have the 2 story high room but you do get a huge balcony.

So I would informally rank Jambo > BLT > Kidani

 

[Deb & Bill]

But getting a GV at 7 months out is going to be tough. Especially if you want it for an entire week. Book at your home resort at 11 months out and see if you can change that reservation at 7 months out.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I would try for a lake view grand villa at BLT!

 

[alice99]

I love BLT, has more of a celebratory feel for a birthday.

AKL is great, but for a more relaxed stay.

It's a win-win either way!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I love BLT and think it would be more festive!

But...then there's the pool table. My DH would love that.

I just wonder how much he would enjoy a bunch of pre-teens constantly playing pool.

I think I would vote for a grand villa at BWV or HHI.

 

[mjc2003]

Book Jambo, or BLT. We booked a Kidani GV (at 6 months, and it was available for our entire 9 day trip, FYI) for 4 nights in November. When I called I was new to the game, and I was told that both the Jambo and Kidani GV's were available for 7+ nights of our trip.
I asked the MS rep which of the GV's was 1 story. We have a traveler in our group who is having knee replacement about a month prior, the less stairs the better. I said, "I want the 1 bedroom with the pool table, the one that is one story. I need one story, not two. I think that's Jambo?" He said, "Nope! That's Kidani!" I said, "Are you sure?" He said, "Yes I sure am, I just toured them a few weeks ago!"

So I booked Kidani. He was wrong.
I wanted Jambo for 2 reasons: The dining room table is bigger, and it's one floor. The knee replacement is my father in law, I wanted him to be happy. I was livid at the MS rep for steering me wrong, but should have done my homework. But, I was new.

We'll have fun regardless. But, my point is, for a group of your size I would think the Jambo GV is much better than Kidani. So, book BLT and if you can get Jambo at 7 months I'd switch. But, don't switch for Kidani.....

 

[wbl2745]

I voted for AKV, but I suppose it depends on what type of trip you'd like. I've never stayed at BLT, but the morning I spent on my balcony just watching the animals was super relaxing! If I were going to celebrate my 50th birthday (again...) I'd make it a relaxing trip.

 

[alanapapa]

Even though it can be a bit of a walk, I would take a GV at Kidani again in a heartbeat. We stayed in one at Xmas, the very last end unit so it was a LONG walk from the elevators, but having the view of the savannah was awesome. We had 9 people, 5 adults and 4 teenage girls and it was great.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I've stayed at both resorts including a GV at BLT. (There are pics in my TR below.) IMO, BLT is much more magical! You can access the TOTW lounge directly from the second story of your room (instead of being let up by elevator.) I thought that was cool. There is a nice area with (pull-out) couch and t.v. for kids to hang out upstairs between the bedrooms. Accessing quick servive food is much easier at BLT and accessing parks is easier too. The pool is more convenient at BLT and if you get tired of that pool, you can walk to the pool at CR which also serves a better selection of food for lunch. Also easy to get on the monorail to the Poly to "hop" to their pool or QS restaurant (which are both better than average.) Another thing I like about BLT is that it's close to a lot of good TS restaurants. We had great group dinners at restaurants in Poly and Wilderness Lodge.

The animals are nice to watch but you can do that sometime on your own. The kids would be all over that pool table and it would probably cause more noise and fights than enyoyment. (At least it would with my 5 and 6 yr old boys.)

Congrats and have fun whichever you choose!

 

[jstarcze]

I voted for BLT because I'm thinking fireworks to celebrate those first "fireworks" you experienced as a newly married couple.

 

[Scraper]

I chose BLT because of the location. I livw the AKV but when we go on long trips I only do a couple nights there because it is so far away from everthing. Except AK.

 

[dbs1228]

I have 3 teenaged daughters and hands down if I am going with kids I would pick BLT. My DD's love to be able to go off wandering, monorail, different resort shops, boats to WL and FW walk to MK just because they can and go back to the room when they want from EPCOT and MK as long as they travel in pairs. There is just way more to "do" at BLT for teens and kids. If it was an adult trip I would probably pick AKV because that resort is so relaxing and the cocktails on the balcony cannot be beat!

 

[paminpa]

I've stayed in GVs at both BLT and Jambo AKV- had major housekeeping issues at BLT that will keep me from going back- AKV Jambo as others have said, great pool table but remember you will probably have a long walk to get to your GV.