Bay Lake Tower Question

[MegansMom]

I'm sure this has been posted before:

I know they are scheduled to open "Fall 2009," but does anyone know when they are going to begin accepting vacation reservations---which dates they are going to start booking? TIA

 

[JLitfin]

March 1st for BLT owners and March 15th for non-BLT owners

 

[spiceycat]

think it is opening Sept, 2009 - it might open early.

but probably won't accept points until Sept. Disney can rent it for cash if it open early enough for the summer season.

 

[MegansMom]

think it is opening Sept, 2009 - it might open early.

but probably won't accept points until Sept. Disney can rent it for cash if it open early enough for the summer season.

I am thinking about planning a trip for Mid-Late September......do you think I might be able to book a ressie there on points in March?

 

[spiceycat]

I am thinking about planning a trip for Mid-Late September......do you think I might be able to book a ressie there on points in March?

yes - sept is a slow month.

and members who want to book when it opens are booking Sept 1.

 

[MegansMom]

Thank you so much for your info!!! DH and I were just talking about it the other night---thinking about our options as to where we want to stay this time, and he brought it back up because he so desperately wants to stay on the monorail, but we weren't sure if they were booking for September or not.

SpiceyCat--since you own at OKW, BWV, and VWL--can I pick your brain for a bit? We have stayed at BWV, SSR, and OKW for our last three trips. We REALLY liked BWV, thought SSR was pretty but couldn't stand the bus transportation there, and liked OKW overall as well. We both have always loved the look and atmosphere of VWL, so that has been a contender for this trip, but we also have thought about going back to BWV a lot. I have also been a little curious to check out AKV----do you have a favorite, and why?

 

[spiceycat]

gee like them all for different things.

ssr - walking to DD is a breezy. their community hall has some of the best activtities for adults and kids. the rooms themselves are very upscale.

okw - atmosphere, community feeling, wildlife, you also walk to DD from here

AKV - it is amazing. animals plus the way the hotel is designed. Now it is darker and some people don't like that. very upscale rooms. there are short cuts here. So if you stay here and get a standard or value room be sure to ask.

VWL - it is done by the same architect who did the WL - so it just lovely. the scale is smaller and really more like home than the WL. Love the restuarants in WL. Since walking to WL is under cover - it just feels like the same place.
it only has one section that is just acceptable. the service building. can give you a list of rooms to avoid if possible. most studios.

BWV - this is probably my least favorite. too much like town. (yea and just brought BLT - can you say crazy) it is great for Epcot and Studio - you can walk or boat to both. what I don't like. no restuarant or counter service in the resort itself. You must go out on BW for food. So just get groceries here. love the community hall here. for some reason hardily any members use this place.

BCV - definitely feels like it is part of the BC. Love the restuarants. Walking to Epcot in under 7 minutes. There is no place like it. their garden tour. for commuity hall you must walk over to BWV. there are some activities but those are generally done by BC. some of the rooms can see parts of illiuinations. a few can at BWV too - but here it is definitely closer to the action


right now my favorites (which are subject to change) - BCV and VWL - 2 very, very different resorts

 

[mopee3]

AKV - it is amazing. animals plus the way the hotel is designed. Now it is darker and some people don't like that. very upscale rooms. there are short cuts here. So if you stay here and get a standard or value room be sure to ask.

So what are "short cuts here"?

Mo

 

[MegansMom]

gee like them all for different things.

ssr - walking to DD is a breezy. their community hall has some of the best activtities for adults and kids. the rooms themselves are very upscale.

I TOTALLY agree about SSR---our biggest problem with it was the buses---just madness!!!

okw - atmosphere, community feeling, wildlife, you also walk to DD from here

We did like OKW--I feel so badly that I did not know you could walk to DD from here---what is wrong with me?!?!?!

AKV - it is amazing. animals plus the way the hotel is designed. Now it is darker and some people don't like that. very upscale rooms. there are short cuts here. So if you stay here and get a standard or value room be sure to ask.

We have just recently become intrigued by AKV---to the point that it is really a contender for this trip. Two questions: what is the bus transportation like here---good, bad, indifferent---and I second the PP comment: "What are the short cuts here?"

VWL - it is done by the same architect who did the WL - so it just lovely. the scale is smaller and really more like home than the WL. Love the restuarants in WL. Since walking to WL is under cover - it just feels like the same place.
it only has one section that is just acceptable. the service building. can give you a list of rooms to avoid if possible. most studios.

This is by far the place that we wanted to stay at the most this time......until we started thinking about BLT and AKV. I so love the look and feel of the lodge---glad to know that the villas are so similarly kept! I know that the WL underwent a rehab in the rooms not too long ago---did they stretch that rehab out to the VWL as well? I would LOVE a list of rooms to avoid there---not sure at all what to ask for in the ways of preferences!

BWV - this is probably my least favorite. too much like town. (yea and just brought BLT - can you say crazy) it is great for Epcot and Studio - you can walk or boat to both. what I don't like. no restuarant or counter service in the resort itself. You must go out on BW for food. So just get groceries here. love the community hall here. for some reason hardily any members use this place.

We did enjoy our stay there in 2006---but now that you mention it, not having the restaurants and counter service there was a big problem for us.......this may fall off the list for this year.

BCV - definitely feels like it is part of the BC. Love the restuarants. Walking to Epcot in under 7 minutes. There is no place like it. their garden tour. for commuity hall you must walk over to BWV. there are some activities but those are generally done by BC. some of the rooms can see parts of illiuinations. a few can at BWV too - but here it is definitely closer to the action

Good to know---thanks for the info here, but I think one of the others might win out this year!!! I will keep that in mind for trips to come!

right now my favorites (which are subject to change) - BCV and VWL - 2 very, very different resorts

Thanks so much for all your input---it is GREATLY appreciated!!! Knowing that BLT will be open and bookable for this trip too is a big advantage---I know being on the monorail is SUCH a temptation for DH!

 

[wildernessDad]

VWL was recently given a refurbishment.

 

[spiceycat]

So what are "short cuts here"?

Mo

for standard view - go down the steps not elevator to get to lobby and out to the buses. go to the secondary elevator to get to the food court. the laundry mat is very close to you. near room 5408 - it is a couple of doors closer to the lobby

----
for value view swimming - you are closer to a secondary elevator - near that elevator is steps - these steps are short cut to the buses. they are between floors - so taking the elevator does not help going down. going up it definitely does.

also uses this elevator for going to the gift shop.

use the main elevator for the snack bar and restuarants.