Bay Lake Tower Review

[andreadoiron]

i agree w/this statement re the food...we stayed at BCV and had a very long walk from the main pool (through the lobby of the beach club) to our villa and there is no food in the villa section at all. also at AKL we stayed at kidani which had some food but we ended up at jambo house frequently. and at SSR there really was only 1 food section and all the other villas had to walk or bus to that main pool area. the beauty of staying in a villa is the full kitchen to eliminate the constant need to eat out.

 

[andreadoiron]

Thanks for the review Clockwork23: we arrive in just over 2 weeks for split stay between BLT and AK Kidani, 2 resorts we have not yet tried. I appreciate reading the thoughts of those who have just been...thanks for taking the time to let us in on your trip.

PS: Did you make any requests for the one bedroom location or was this "luck of the draw?"

i'd love to hear about your trip after you get back. we are staying at BLT for easter break next year so using lots of points due to having to book a Lakeview room (standard not avail due to easter break) and with all the negative reviews, i am starting to question whether staying there is the best idea. we loved AKL kidani when we went so i'd love to hear how you compare the two.
have a wonderful trip!

 

[andreadoiron]

My kids are probably the reason that there are no locks on the Bathroom doors. In 1/2009 my 3 year old locked himself in the bathroom three times when we stayed in a 2BR villa at AKV. The maintenance crew was not very happy, so I am guessing they decided locks might not be in their best interest.

i bet it happens alot! i honestly couldn't say whether any bathroom at AKL, OKW, or SSR has locks since we never bother w/locking the door. the lock thing would not be an issue for everyone

 

[andreadoiron]

you are kidding right?
this is definitely the smallest floor wise that DVC has build.
nothing is far.
had a north side standard room - it is a short walk to the skywalk and you get a view of the MK...

if you think it is far don't even think about VWL, BWV, BCV, AKV

you forgot to include SSR and OKW ...both resorts are very spread out and if you don't get close to the main pool/food, it is definately a bus ride or very long walk. we can see OKW rooms on the boat ride to DTD and think how much of a distance it is to the main checkin/pool area where the CH and food is located

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

Good review, thanks for sharing. I can understand point of view. Our check-in was not the best and if you don't like modern decor I can see how you'd think it was "cold."

However, we stayed at BLT in December, and I was very happy with the resort. I think the Contemporary is one of the most exciting resorts in WDW, with the monorail sailing through it! I loved being just a short walk from all the the Contemporary has to offer. And being able to walk to MK is a huge plus!

We had a 2bdrm and really appreciated the space and the third FULL bathroom!

I've heard others complain about the pool, but for someone with children I thought is was great...it had all the components we like: zero entry, big slide, little slide, separate fountain play area, bar, snack bar in a very compact space so the kids could go where they pleased but I could still see them. We love SAB but if you lose track of someone in that complex it can take a long time to find them!

As others have said, it is good to have many different resorts to choose from, something for everyone!

 

[BlackRock]

I do agree with you on a lot of the points you made; using the gym was kind of a hassle. But I do love using the Contemporary's pool; I like it better than Beach Club.

Blackrock

 

[kevmag]

Location, Location, Location....
and thats why we bought into BLT a few years ago.

If Poly, Grand Floridian and Contemporary all had DVC units, we probably would have bought Poly. But since only BLT was available, that's what we did!

Our bottom line was:

1. Favorite Park - Magic Kingdom, always has been, in the 20 years we've been going to WDW. Being able to walk there so easily, or jump on the Monorail, was it for us (especially with 2 grandkids coming of age).

2. 2nd Favorite Park - Close to a tie for us between Epcot and MGM (yes, we are old school, and still close it Disney MGM)! So Epcot is right there also on the monorail.

Every other reason fades behind the above 2. We actually spent most of our vacations at the Wilderness over the years (and truly loved it), but when we decided to finally buy into DVC, we felt the proximity of BLT to MK trumped everything.

 

[NJOGRE]

So here it goes:

Check Inid it online so I would not to have a long line (nope didn't happen)
45 minutes to check in @ 11 AM

Room was ready (WOO HOO) nope wrong the room was clean but every garbage can had something in it including dirty diapers. Went to the desk, got a lukewarm sorry, they did come back to clean the room again and was given some free fast-pass' for Epcot. Not very magical at all

After I went back to the room the safe was locked so back to the front desk again. All I got this time was we will get it opened right away. So I took the family to Contempo for lunch and at 2 pm when we got back the safe was opened and the room re-cleaned. So off to MK. Dinner at the Wave and back to room at 7:45 pm for bed. We were up since 4 am.

Went to pull out the couch and sleeping chair. The beds had sheets on them but no blankets. Ok, I looked around and no extra pillow or blankets for my kids. So at 7:45 PM after being up from 4 am I go back to the front desk, I tell the manager that my kids need to go to sleep and we need the supplies right away, he makes a call while I was standing there and says they are on the way. Its now 8 pm. By the time I get back to the room the kids are passed out its now 8 :10, 9:30 rolls around still no blankets or pillows. I put the do not disturb sign on the door and go to sleep. At 11:30 pm there is a knock at the door. Pillows and blankets and extra towels. All I have to say for the guy outside is he is lucky he didn't wake any of the 3 kids . Really 3 and a half hours after I asked for them they come. WHAT HAPPENED TO DISNEY SERVICE? NO DISNEY MAGIC HERE. This put a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the trip.

However the taste wore off the more I explored. The Bar on the top of BLT is great and can't believe more people don't use it. great view, great drinks. So said to here that it is under used. Possibly closing. Pool is ok, small but it worked. I liked being close to the MK and the monorail. Made for easy transport to ADRs.

Town hall seemed small but then again they all seem small next to SSR's community hall.

Oh one last thing, Friday night at 6:30 there is a knock on the door. Maintenance got a call to change the filter for the A/C I told him wrong room but he kept saying it is the right room. I told him to come back in an hour so that we can get ready to go to our ADR. We go eat and come back and I get the kids to bed at 9:30 pm. At 10:10pm a knock on the door, its maintenance again. I told him to come back tomorrow. I then say to my wife can you believe this, this is the worst customer service that we ever got at Disney. So I left with a bad taste in my mouth for BLT. will not go back ever.

Over we liked the room and the location but the service was horrible.

 

[Greysword]

So here it goes:

...45 minutes to check in @ 11 AM

...the room was clean but every garbage can had something in it including dirty diapers. Went to the desk, got a lukewarm sorry

After I went back to the room the safe was locked so back to the front desk again.

Went to pull out the couch and sleeping chair. The beds had sheets on them but no blankets...9:30 rolls around still no blankets or pillows. I put the do not disturb sign on the door and go to sleep. At 11:30 pm there is a knock at the door. ...WHAT HAPPENED TO DISNEY SERVICE? NO DISNEY MAGIC HERE.

Pool is ok, small but it worked. I liked being close to the MK and the monorail. Made for easy transport to ADRs.

Friday night at 6:30 there is a knock on the door. Maintenance got a call to change the filter for the A/C I told him wrong room but he kept saying it is the right room... At 10:10pm a knock on the door, its maintenance again. I told him to come back tomorrow. I then say to my wife can you believe this, this is the worst customer service that we ever got at Disney.

So I left with a bad taste in my mouth for BLT. will not go back ever.

Over we liked the room and the location but the service was horrible.

Please contact member satisfaction and tell them this story. The service (front desk, mousekeeping, etc) is provided by the CR, and we pay them for it. Member Satisfaction needs to know, so they can correct the issues.

 

[NJOGRE]

Please contact member satisfaction and tell them this story. The service (front desk, mousekeeping, etc) is provided by the CR, and we pay them for it. Member Satisfaction needs to know, so they can correct the issues.

do you have an email or contact for them?

 

[disneynutz]

do you have an email or contact for them?

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

Bill

 

[NJOGRE]

dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com

Bill

Thanks, I wrote them this morning

 

[Greysword]

Thanks Bill, I should have included it. Thanks for writing, NJ.

 

[n2mm]

OP, I share alot of your same thoughts. I've stayed there 3 times now and actually own some of my points there. AFter every stay I've given a feedback card (in the mail or online) and the small pool issue always makes it to my feedback. They need a "quiet" pool on the tennis court side of the building.

Just wanted to comment on your room tip. While a person can certainly ask for it, they should remember it's only a request. I've stayed twice in standard and both times asked for the area you suggested. But I've never gotten it, nor have I ever been close. The first time it was pool view over the community center. The second time (just this past August) was ground floor facing the marina.