Amazing stay in a Grand Villa at BLT, but not in a huge hurry to stay again (brief resort report w pics)

[quinacciani]

I always believe that no one resort is “best” but there’s always a “best” resort for each type of trip. Obviously group size is a big factor, but also ages and make-up of your party and what your priorities are. This trip we traveled with 7 adults and 2 toddlers. Convenience was key here with small children during an MK heavy trip. Being able to walk back to the room mid-day for nap time was truly a parent’s dream. We also had two boys who were obsessed with the monorail, so to be able to watch that from our room all day was amazing. They loved riding it to Epcot. We watched the fireworks from our balcony most nights with the music piped in from the TV. It was incredible and we all had chills. I cried. After this trip, I still feel that we picked the best resort for us and this particular trip, but it could use some improvements to get me to stay there again.

The Grand Villa was a big splurge, but we had 2 sets of grandparents with us so we wanted to treat them. We all had our own bedrooms and my SIL and her son who came at the last minute slept on the upstairs pull-out but utilized the 4th bathroom downstairs. The extra bathroom was a major key here if you have more than 3 couples staying there. We had so much room to spread out and were super comfortable.

We booked a Lake View but were given room 8512, which after searching here is the best Lake View Grand Villa as far as views go. It was like, a few yards short of being a Theme Park View for so much less $$$. It was a HA room, so the kitchen cabinets and sink were awkward and the master bath wasn’t as fancy as we had hoped it would be due to the HA accommodations, but I was more than happy to trade that for the view! Photos of our view attached and the kids patiently waiting to see the monorail come around. Pure magic!

Here are my gripes with BLT, and while minor, sort of bothered me about staying as the sister property of the resort.

1. Deliveries all went to the main Contemporary Bell Services (a Scooter Bug stroller and breakfast box). Not a huge deal, but slightly annoying to walk over to get them.
2. The front desk didn’t have a first aid kit when my SIL needed Tylenol for my nephew in the middle of the night. She had to walk over to the main desk at the Contemporary.
3. Really no amenities at all at BLT except for the pool, which was lovely and not crowded at all. We had to walk over for the gym each day and to grab anything from the gift shop or a QS food order.
4. I understand they are due for a refurbishment soon, and it needs it. A lot of the fixtures just seemed worn out. The buttons on the microwave were so worn that we could barely read them and just guessed when we needed to heat something up haha.
5. This was my first time staying at BLT and we’ve never stayed at the Contemporary. I just didn’t get the resort feel like I’m used to at some of my other favorite resorts like WL or OKW. It sort of felt like I was there for a convention in the 80s lol. We had a planned rest day to enjoy the pool and it didn’t really hit the same way it did at the other resorts. I just couldn’t relax quite like I did other places. But maybe that was because I was chasing after a 18 month old and not the resort’s fault haha

 

[GGGT]

Thanks for the report and glad you enjoyed your stay. We've stayed at BLT GV's multiple times and your review is honest and "spot on". Love the proximity to MK (Especially post fireworks), laundry room, extra bathroom, the pool and the easy walk to the CR Lobby.

The floor plan works well for our party of 12 and the views are usually good. We've found the service to be good but as you mentioned, the resort is in need of a refurbishment.

We have also stayed in that exact room and awkward was a good description. If we don't do TPV in the future, we will ask to "not" be in that LV room.

Thanks for sharing your insights!

 

[quinacciani]

Thanks for the report and glad you enjoyed your stay. We've stayed at BLT GV's multiple times and your review is honest and "spot on". Love the proximity to MK (Especially post fireworks), laundry room, extra bathroom, the pool and the easy walk to the CR Lobby.

The floor plan works well for our party of 12 and the views are usually good. We've found the service to be good but as you mentioned, the resort is in need of a refurbishment.

We have also stayed in that exact room and awkward was a good description. If we don't do TPV in the future, we will ask to "not" be in that LV room.

Thanks for sharing your insights!

It’s tough because TPV wasn’t in the budget (we rent points) so I was happy to more or less get the same view, but the HA accommodations definitely had its quirks for sure. Now to dream about what resort we want to try next…

 

[GGGT]

It’s tough because TPV wasn’t in the budget (we rent points) so I was happy to more or less get the same view, but the HA accommodations definitely had its quirks for sure. Now to dream about what resort we want to try next…

You're right, the view was great. (Better than some of the BLT TPV's with the extensive parking lot imo)

 

[bigAWL]

I always believe that no one resort is “best” but there’s always a “best” resort for each type of trip. Obviously group size is a big factor, but also ages and make-up of your party and what your priorities are. This trip we traveled with 7 adults and 2 toddlers. Convenience was key here with small children during an MK heavy trip. Being able to walk back to the room mid-day for nap time was truly a parent’s dream. We also had two boys who were obsessed with the monorail, so to be able to watch that from our room all day was amazing. They loved riding it to Epcot. We watched the fireworks from our balcony most nights with the music piped in from the TV. It was incredible and we all had chills. I cried. After this trip, I still feel that we picked the best resort for us and this particular trip, but it could use some improvements to get me to stay there again.

The Grand Villa was a big splurge, but we had 2 sets of grandparents with us so we wanted to treat them. We all had our own bedrooms and my SIL and her son who came at the last minute slept on the upstairs pull-out but utilized the 4th bathroom downstairs. The extra bathroom was a major key here if you have more than 3 couples staying there. We had so much room to spread out and were super comfortable.

We booked a Lake View but were given room 8512, which after searching here is the best Lake View Grand Villa as far as views go. It was like, a few yards short of being a Theme Park View for so much less $$$. It was a HA room, so the kitchen cabinets and sink were awkward and the master bath wasn’t as fancy as we had hoped it would be due to the HA accommodations, but I was more than happy to trade that for the view! Photos of our view attached and the kids patiently waiting to see the monorail come around. Pure magic!

Here are my gripes with BLT, and while minor, sort of bothered me about staying as the sister property of the resort.

1. Deliveries all went to the main Contemporary Bell Services (a Scooter Bug stroller and breakfast box). Not a huge deal, but slightly annoying to walk over to get them.
2. The front desk didn’t have a first aid kit when my SIL needed Tylenol for my nephew in the middle of the night. She had to walk over to the main desk at the Contemporary.
3. Really no amenities at all at BLT except for the pool, which was lovely and not crowded at all. We had to walk over for the gym each day and to grab anything from the gift shop or a QS food order.
4. I understand they are due for a refurbishment soon, and it needs it. A lot of the fixtures just seemed worn out. The buttons on the microwave were so worn that we could barely read them and just guessed when we needed to heat something up haha.
5. This was my first time staying at BLT and we’ve never stayed at the Contemporary. I just didn’t get the resort feel like I’m used to at some of my other favorite resorts like WL or OKW. It sort of felt like I was there for a convention in the 80s lol. We had a planned rest day to enjoy the pool and it didn’t really hit the same way it did at the other resorts. I just couldn’t relax quite like I did other places. But maybe that was because I was chasing after a 18 month old and not the resort’s fault haha

That's a fantastic Lake View. Glad you had a good time.

It seems to me that your first three gripes would be an issue at most DVC properties, including your favorite OKW and WL (unless staying Copper Creek in the lodge). Riviera, BWV, and AKL are really the only DVCs where you won't have to leave the building your room is in to reach the resort amenities.

 

[quinacciani]

That's a fantastic Lake View. Glad you had a good time.

It seems to me that your first three gripes would be an issue at most DVC properties, including your favorite OKW and WL (unless staying Copper Creek in the lodge). Riviera, BWV, and AKL are really the only DVCs where you won't have to leave the building your room is in to reach the resort amenities.

I don’t disagree, but for some reason this just made BLT feel like the stepsister of the Contemporary. Like it’s big enough to have had at least some additional amenities but just doesn’t.