Bay lake?

[PoohBearFamily]

We're considering renting DVC pts for our WDW trip, as a family of six. I was initially interested in Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk, but Bay lake seems like a good value and is on the monorail, right? Any recommendations? Thanks!

 

[eticketplease]

We're considering renting DVC pts for our WDW trip, as a family of six. I was initially interested in Wilderness Lodge and Boardwalk, but Bay lake seems like a good value and is on the monorail, right? Any recommendations? Thanks!

Yes Bay Lake Tower is the first stop after leaving MK on the monorail.
In DVC if you have 6 that means your options are a 2 bedroom or a Ft. Wilderness 1 bedroom cabin.
BLT has 3 bathrooms and a great location.
The pool is only so so but has a cute monorail slide if pools are important.

 

[deedubb]

If your trip will be MK heavy, I would choose Bay Lake. If it will be more EPCOT/DHS heavy I would choose Boardwalk or Beach Club. Boardwalk requires lower points, so it should be cheaper. However, with 6, you will need a 2 bdrm so it is not going to be cheap.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just in case your dates happen to overlap, FYI, the Bay Lake Tower pool (the Bay Cove Pool) and bar/whirlpool/splash pad will be closed for refurbishment late January through early May 2026. FYI.

 

[PoohBearFamily]

Just in case your dates happen to overlap, FYI, the Bay Lake Tower pool (the Bay Cove Pool) and bar/whirlpool/splash pad will be closed for refurbishment late January through early May 2026. FYI.

View attachment 985643

Thanks for this!

 

[PoohBearFamily]

If your trip will be MK heavy, I would choose Bay Lake. If it will be more EPCOT/DHS heavy I would choose Boardwalk or Beach Club. Boardwalk requires lower points, so it should be cheaper. However, with 6, you will need a 2 bdrm so it is not going to be cheap.

Beach Club and Boardwalk looked nice too. Are they cheaper for 2 bedroom than Bay lake?

 

[deedubb]

Beach Club and Boardwalk looked nice too. Are they cheaper for 2 bedroom than Bay lake?

Generally speaking, Boardwalk < Beach Club < Bay Lake.

If you google point charts for those resorts, you will be able to compare. Some resorts have more than one type of room (eg. standard view vs theme park view) and the points goes up accordingly.

Not sure if I can post this link, but you can look here to compare points (link may not work if it is a non-approved site):
https://dvcrequest.com/dvc-guests/cost-calculator

 

[zavandor]

Getting a 2BR at BWV is more difficult, because there are only lock-off units, meaning that they can be booked as 2BR or as a studio+1BR. Since studios are in high demand, 2BR disappear very quickly too. Don't look at 2BR resort view at BWV, they are cheap but extremely difficult to book, not likely to be available for rent.

 

[Nivarm09]

I've heard theme park view in BLT have larger livingroom. Anyone know if that's the same for either preferred or resort view?

 

[sethschroeder]

Not a fan of the BLT style.

Wilderness is very similar to our area of the country for what we can find so while we really like it just haven't stayed there. Plus you need to take a boat to MK.

I would choose Boardwalk/Beach Club/Riviera over any other resort. The benefit is the ease of access to Epcot/HS area and Boardwalk has some night time entertainment as well like jugglers and such.

If you have never been to WDW though then you might prefer BLT because you will be right next to MK for the fireworks and stuff.

 

[Girlstar30]

Look at virtual room tours if you can, the blt refurb rooms were very well received, davids dvc rental web page has good virtual tour videos of each hotel

 

[CarolynFH]

I've heard theme park view in BLT have larger livingroom. Anyone know if that's the same for either preferred or resort view?

The BLT building is a large C-shape, so the 1BR and larger villas are sort of wedge-shaped. By definition, all the theme park view are on the outside of the C, meaning the wedge is larger, so the living room is larger.

Preferred and resort view villas can be on the outside or the inside of the C. The ones on the inside of the curve are smaller wedges. If you request and are placed in an "even-numbered room" you'll be on the outside and have the larger living space.

 

[bbn1122]

Bay Lake Tower 2 Bedroom are spacious. Plus, renovated or renovations almost done.

I own DVC at BLT. Walking distance to MK, Bay Lake location, Contemporary Resort steps away and monorail resorts, plus boat to WL and FT. Wilderness.

In regards to the pool area, its nice, but you can use the other 2 pools, plus splash area over at CR.

2 great restaurantsare steps away, Steakhouse 71 and California Grill. Plus, all the monorail resorts restaurants, lounges and stores.

My family always loved to take the boat to WL for dinner.

If you do not have a MK view for fireworks, watch them from the bridge or balcony at CR. Plus, water parade on Bay Lake.

Also, just two monrails to Epcot!!

So, much to do and see when you stay on the monorail loop and the Bay Lake.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I own at BLT and it works great for my family of 5 because we fit in a 1BR. The 1BRs have 2 bathrooms which is REALLY nice.

Since you are a party of 6 though...
That's going to put you in a 2 br, and frankly we like the 2brs better at Wilderness lodge. The WL lobby is amazing, the pool is better and taking the boat to MK is much more vacation-ey - even in comparison to taking the monorail or walking.

BUT...
Since you are a party of 6, you really ought to do a price comparison to the 1BR family suites at AoA. We stayed there once and loved it. Those also have 2 bathrooms and sleeping space for 6.

 

[Mle8308]

When are you planning on going? That makes a big difference in the DVC world. If you want a 2BR, it's probably best to book at the 11 month mark, where owners can book at their home resort. You will have the best luck at getting what you want. Saratoga and OKW (and sometimes AKL) can be a little easier after the 11 month mark. Non owners can book where they want (as long as no restricted points) at the 7 month time frame. DVC demand times can be different from normal WDW demand times, so once you know when and where, start looking for an owner with enough points to rent what you want.

 

[zackiedawg]

Regarding proximity to parks, BLT is walkable to MK, or you can cross a sky bridge to the Contemporary to get to the Monorail. Wilderness Lodge has a boat that goes right to the entrance gates of MK - so still has very easy and convenient access to MK unless you really really love the monorail and wanted to ride it. You actually can also take the boat to Contemporary Resort and hop the monorail there if you just wanted to ride it.

The Beach/Yacht/Boardwalk resorts all have walk-in access to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, as well as boats to access both parks if you didn't want to walk. That Epcot resort area has 6 hotels all around the lagoons, so you have a lot of different restaurant options and themed resorts to visit and roam...plus you can hop the Skyliner gondolas and visit Riviera Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Pop/Art resorts.

Some of the cheaper options for a party of 6:
Fort Wilderness Cabins - they're a little more removed from the theme parks - but depending on whether you want to splurge a bit, you can rent golf carts for your stay that would allow you to get around the sprawling grounds there, and easily ride over to the boat that goes to MK< or the bus stop to other parks. The cabin prices are often cheaper than the Art of Animation and All-Star family suites...it's a small space - note that the family of six would be 2 on a murphy pull-down, 2 in the bedroom on a queen, and 2 in that same bedroom on bunks. But you're in a cabin in the woods with a big deck and private grill, and you'll see deer and armadillos and even wild turkeys roaming around - sometimes right outside your cabin deck...so it's a fun, camp-like experience.

Saratoga Springs is also more reasonably priced and is a huge resort with lots of availability, and also includes the Treehouses. There's no direct theme park access - all busses only, but you are connected to Disney Springs by a bridge and by boats, so you have access to tons of restaurants and shopping, and if you learn your way around, you learn that you can use the Disney Springs bus stop to access resort busses - using those to get to the theme parks (like taking the Beach or Boardwalk bus and walking to Epcot, or the Contemporary bus and walking to MK).

Old Key West is a little more isolated - it's a very long walk to Disney Springs, but they do have a boat to take you there - all the theme parks would be by bus. But it has one side advantage in that the villas are massive - biggest on Disney property. It feels like you're staying in an island or golf resort and not as much like you're at DIsney - some may actually find that kind of nice, like after a busy park day you head to your resort and you're in a tropical resort listening to Jimmy Buffet and hanging at the pool.