Bay Lake Tower 1br. TPV vs. Poly 1br. Concierge

[KateMW]

Planning a week over Spring Break in March. Our daughter will be 9 and we will have a 15w. old son by then as well!

So, we're looking for a one bd. somewhere. We would prefer to be on the monorail since we'll have a stroller with us at all times probably and find that easier than buses. I'm leaning towards the 1br. villa at BLT {Theme park view is all they have right now} over the 1br. suite at the Poly, simply because of price {$500 less at BLT} and the fact that the Villas have a kitchenette. Am I missing anything else? We do the dining plan, so the concierge food seems like an overkill. The only problem that I'm having with what I see as an easy choice is that WE LOVE THE POLY! Our daughter loves the Neverland Club, I love a good pineapple drink and it just feels more Disney to us.

So, I guess what I'm looking for is reassurance that BLT will still feel like Disney and it's the right choice. Or tell me I'm nuts and to stay at the Poly.

 

[trishadono]

Planning a week over Spring Break in March. Our daughter will be 9 and we will have a 15w. old son by then as well!

So, we're looking for a one bd. somewhere. We would prefer to be on the monorail since we'll have a stroller with us at all times probably and find that easier than buses. I'm leaning towards the 1br. villa at BLT {Theme park view is all they have right now} over the 1br. suite at the Poly, simply because of price {$500 less at BLT} and the fact that the Villas have a kitchenette. Am I missing anything else? We do the dining plan, so the concierge food seems like an overkill. The only problem that I'm having with what I see as an easy choice is that WE LOVE THE POLY! Our daughter loves the Neverland Club, I love a good pineapple drink and it just feels more Disney to us.

So, I guess what I'm looking for is reassurance that BLT will still feel like Disney and it's the right choice. Or tell me I'm nuts and to stay at the Poly.

We love the poly too! However when traveling with a boy and girl in teens we need space of BLT and prices of suites are bit out of range.

I often leave a park and take bus/monorail right to poly. We eat there or enjoy a drink on the beach or in my fav place The Tambu Lounge

Same thing at evening.

Everything is so close, sleep where comfortable and enjoy exploring the monorails many offerings.

We love BLT! The view is incredible. Your daughter will love it. Also having a king bed is nice! Not too many on disney property.

Having laundry available is a plus too. I thought I would not use it but it is so convenient that I find my self washing and going home with clean clothes.

Sitting on balcony with a glass of wine ( fav drink)while kids are asleep will be nice too.

Lastly sometimes with stroller it is just easier to walk home from MK. Can't do that at Poly.

Honestly I love both resorts. Stayed as family at BLt in Nov and stayed with dd18 at poly in April and first trip without kids one night CR and one night at Poly with dh. For us any monorail resort will do

 

[kmb584]

All things considered, I'd go for the 1 bedroom villa at BLT! When DD was an infant and toddler staying at a monorail resort made life a lot easier. A huge perk of staying at either CR or BLT is the walkway; I'd often walk "home" after a night at MK and the stroller ride lulled DD to sleep. Our last stay at BLT was in 2011 (DD was 2) in a 1 bedroom and having both a kitchen and in-room laundry was fantastic for me -- it'll be even more fantastic with a newborn! You're also going to have a TPV which I'm sure the entire family is going to love (at least we always do! ).

Whenever you need your Poly fix, all it takes is a walk across the sky bridge and a hop onto the monorail. I'd suggest an evening on the beach watching Wishes and the EWP too!

No matter your decision, you can't go wrong. Both are incredible resorts with awesome amenities.

 

[spiceycat]

love BLT - it is my home resort.

Now the TPV - don't necessary like them - like lake view better - because most of lake view or standard view is not where the monorail can see into the units.

plus for some unknown reason there is just the curtains - no shades to make looking into the room harder. So all that lovely view - you can't appreciate while your family is getting ready for bed - or even in bed - while most of the standard and lake view are to the sides of the BLT and are not directly in site of the monorail.

that say you can see the monorail and MK from the sides. well the north side and even number rooms.

now if you still want a TPV - go for it!!! had one once and it is pretty nice.

being able to walk over and back will same you time - otherwise in the morning - you need to walk over to CR and get on the monorail, then TTC, Polyn, GF and finally the MK.

lots of people can get to the MK in a little more than just getting to the monorail (I can;t)

now coming back unless there are lines - riding the monorail is great because CR is the first stop.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

What about a 1 bedroom villa at the Grand Floridan? They are opening soon!

 

[KateMW]

I am not a GF fan, but I did see that they were opening soon. I am on the lookout for a regular view at BLT, because honestly the TPV is not that important to us...but is the only one available right now for our trip. I'll miss the Poly, but it's only a monorail ride away I guess!

 

[kappyfamily]

We've stayed at both. We had the two bedroom at BLT and we feel there is nothing better then BLT. Walking to MK is a snap. We loved everything about it. Poly is our next favorite. Have fun!

 

[kappyfamily]

I am not a GF fan, but I did see that they were opening soon. I am on the lookout for a regular view at BLT, because honestly the TPV is not that important to us...but is the only one available right now for our trip. I'll miss the Poly, but it's only a monorail ride away I guess!

You sound like us, GF is not our style at all. TPV was not really important to us either. We ended up getting a garden view but asked for a room on the "inside of the C", the rooms are larger there. The CM asked the manager over and mentioned we wanted a larger room. He put us in the exact middle of the building looking at the pool. He said it was the largest 2 bedroom on the property. It was huge! So if you want a little more room try for the inside not the outside of the C. Although if you have TPV they would all be outside the C. I guess you could always book it and keep an eye on it to see if anything else opens up. Have fun!

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

We did BLTlast year when DS was 7 mos. I wanted the kitchen for breakfast and bottles. We did a handful of other meals/snacks there which was nice too. And the laundry meant we didn't have to pack as much. The entry was easy enough to pull the stroller in and park it out of the way. So nice.

I love the Poly too. But we are going back to BLT in a couple of months. We really did enjoy it that much! We did lake view and it was fun to watch the electric light parade from the balcony. And walking home was even more of a luxury than we were expecting. I liked the theming and my daughter was fascinated by the monorail inside the hotel. We still ride over for meals and to look around. But BLT was a real winner for us. I would try it for sure because you might REALLY like it when tour baby turns to toddler and you need food and laundry.

Oh, and the extra bathroom for your DD is also so great!

 

[Missyrose]

The 1-bedroom villa will have a full kitchen, not just a kitchenette. Just want to make sure you know that the second bed in the BLT villa will be a pullout couch, not a regular bed.

 

[ArwenMarie]

BLT is great. It very much feels like Disney...You can't be that close to MK and not feel Disney! It's very calm and peaceful somehow too. Plan a few meals at the Poly to get your Poly fix and all will be well!

 

[Magic3forme]

BLT is my favorite resort. The extra space will be great....and the 2nd bathroom is a huge bonus!!

Also I love having a full kitchen. ( I dont cook, but we do have breakfast in the room) and a dishwasher is just nice to have.

I am a laundry queen.. so I am always using the washing machine. --its great to wash bathing suits/ towels.

Our kids love the pool at BLT too.

Have fun...

 

[Marthasor]

I would do BLT. I would take the washer/dryer and kitchen (plus the cost savings) over a kitchenette and CL food. Plus, for the price, I don't the the 1-bed suite at Poly is in the best location and you would have to walk over to the Hawaii building for the mid-day, evening amenities. Just not worth it, IMHO.

 

[KateMW]

Thanks everybody! Now I have a new "problem" in that if we rent points, we can get a 2br. standard view for less than the 1br. But it makes me really nervous to rent points. Anybody rent points for their stays? Am I nuts to worry?

 

[babyberger]

Thanks everybody! Now I have a new "problem" in that if we rent points, we can get a 2br. standard view for less than the 1br. But it makes me really nervous to rent points. Anybody rent points for their stays? Am I nuts to worry?

My main reason for not renting points is being locked in. I have had to move and cancel reservations and with renting points you don't have that option. I have figured with discount, wether AP/GP/FL res/visa I can get pretty close to the amount it would cost to rent points and have peace of mind.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[kappyfamily]

Thanks everybody! Now I have a new "problem" in that if we rent points, we can get a 2br. standard view for less than the 1br. But it makes me really nervous to rent points. Anybody rent points for their stays? Am I nuts to worry?

Davids vacation rentals. Awesome experience, great communication. Highly recommend!

 

[Polybound]

It's a hike from the BLT to the Monorail. All you need is more walking while at WDW. It's also not just a quick hike to the MK either from the BLT.

 

[KateMW]

It's a hike from the BLT to the Monorail. All you need is more walking while at WDW. It's also not just a quick hike to the MK either from the BLT.

Well, I think we know where you fall in this. I will miss walking straight out the GCH to the monorail.

 

[kappyfamily]

It's a hike from the BLT to the Monorail. All you need is more walking while at WDW. It's also not just a quick hike to the MK either from the BLT.

It's not a hike at all. It took us about 4 minutes tops to walk across the bridge to the CR to get on the monorail. The walk from BLT to MK is like 6 minutes...... It's so easy.