Bcv vs. Blt

[120304]

Hello everyone,

My husband, mother, and two kids (4 and 1.5) will be going to Disney for a long weekend (4 days) in early October - still in time for free dining. Last time we went, we didn't have the 1.5 year old and stayed at the Poly in one room. I wasn't thrilled with the one room situation with a napping and early to bed toddler. This time, I booked a 1 bedroom at BCV, then thought the BLT might be better as it is closer to MK, which is where we will spend a fair amount of time. I have never been a huge Contemporary fan, but will try anything.
I am wondering if you think we will miss the Epcot area and SAB. We love Epcot and liked the YC hotel where we went to dinner on our last trip. Does anyone have any info. about the BLT pool?

Any advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If you plan to spend most of your time at the Magic Kingdom then I agree with trying Bay Lake Tower.

 

[frisco]

I'd say based on what the general consensus is, Beach Club is the better option. It's ranked #1 in the 2009 Unofficial Guide under which resort people would stay at again. The Contemporary was ranked toward the bottom, and dead last under Disney hotels they'd recommend to a friend. The pool at BC was ranked #1, CR's #10.

 

[BCV23]

The pool at BLT will have a cool looking slide...glass blocks with a not so hidden Mickey.

We love everything about BCV. But for your group BLT may have a couple advantages. A one BR at BLT will have two full bathrooms. The master will have a whirlpool tub and separate shower. The second bathroom will have a standard tub shower combo.

There will be a sleeper chair as well as a sleeper sofa in the living room at BLT. That might be nice for your family.

MK is of course more convenient from BLT but both Epcot and DHS are more so from BCV.

I don't think you can go wrong with either. Happy planning!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'd say based on what the general consensus is, Beach Club is the better option. It's ranked #1 in the 2009 Unofficial Guide under which resort people would stay at again. The Contemporary was ranked toward the bottom, and dead last under Disney hotels they'd recommend to a friend. The pool at BC was ranked #1, CR's #10.

I would not put to much stock into what the Unofficial Guide says, because in my opinion it's not really scientific research that WDW would use for the future and the OP would not be staying at the Contemporary. Now even though Bay Lake Tower guests would get access to the Contemporary pool, chances are they would spend most of their time at the Bay Lake Tower pool and no one will know how it is until Bay Lake Tower opens this August.

 

[Pakey]

While I love BCV, if I were planning to spend a great deal of time at MK, I'd be trying BLT. It's new, the rooms will be in great condition.

I doubt any pool will compare to SAB but with the age of your children, I don't think it would matter that much. There are many parts of SAB that are not good for young children.

I'm sure you'll have a great vacation either way. Staying in a one bedroom vs a hotel room will be a huge difference for you.

 

[frisco]

I would not put to much stock into what the Unofficial Guide says, because in my opinion it's not really scientific research that WDW would use for the future and the OP would not be staying at the Contemporary.

I put a lot of stock into what the Unofficial Guide says, as it gets it's information from the readers. The book itself, next to the Official Guide, is the biggest selling Disney travel guide on the market.

I agree, no one can say for sure about BLT until it opens, but I think it's pretty obvious that if someone likes CR, they'll like BLT, and if someone doesn't like CR, they probably won't care for BLT. They'll both be sharing the same public areas and restaurants.

 

[fla4fun]

I put a lot of stock into what the Unofficial Guide says, as it gets it's information from the readers. The book itself, next to the Official Guide, is the biggest selling Disney travel guide on the market.

I agree, no one can say for sure about BLT until it opens, but I think it's pretty obvious that if someone likes CR, they'll like BLT, and if someone doesn't like CR, they probably won't care for BLT. They'll both be sharing the same public areas and restaurants.

This is true. I like both BC and CR, for different reasons, and I've stayed at BCV, and will be staying at BLT when it opens in August. I try to base my resort choice, in part, according to where I will be spending the most time. So in the OP's case, since the one big complaint from the Epcot resorts area is regarding buses to MK, I would try BLT. I think they will appreciate being able to walk to MK, as well as use the monorail, and as others have said, we don't really know what the pool area will be like until the resort opens. Personally, when in the Epcot resorts area, I prefer the BW feature pool to SAB, but that could be because when I get in a pool I really want to swim, and it's just more difficult to find any significant swimming space at SAB.

Just for the record - if I had to pick a favorite between BC and CR, based on the resort alone, I would pick CR. I like the size of the rooms, I like the location and transportation options, I like that they have all three types of restaurant in the resort (character meal, 2 TS (one being signature), and CS), I like the gift shops, and I like the marina area and being able to get out on the lake. But that's just my personal preference. Yours may differ.