Originally posted by ellie&mattys mom
Has anyone stayed here...it looks great for the location the price is great...how was kids pool and playground..
thanks..
can't decide where to stay...
We had an awesome stay at the BWLBV, but I'd temper it with some comments.
The location was incredible. That's the biggest draw, for me. Also, the commons area (lobby, restaurants, etc) is completely refurbed and looks great. The rooms are old and worn, but clean. You find nagging stuff, like a drawer that wouldn't open straight, chipped paint on the balcony, etc. But I repeat, the rooms are clean and nice-sized. The pool was nice, and the pool area secluded. All in all, I have nothing bad to say about it, adding that the location is great, especially when your concentration for the week is going to be the DTD/Epcot area.
Now, the rest of the story...
We paid $35 a night via Priceline. Also, we went in late September. I'd pay more for the hotel, but not the $109 they wanted in June. What would I pay? Hard to say. I'd pay equal to or maybe five bucks more than whatever the Allstar is selling for at the time. While it doesn't have the theming the ASR have, I think the rooms, although older, are bigger. Kids may not agree, as there is more eye-candy at the ASR. So let's say if you can get the place under $80 a night, you're getting good return. If you get it under $50, you're getting a bargain.
The Pool: great pool, awesome pool. But at no time in September were there more than 12 people in the pool area. Looking at the size of that hotel, I can imagine if it were dead of summer and the place was full, that pool simply wouldn't be adequate for the crowds.
The playground: I have no kids (although they're on the way!), but I wasn't impressed. It didn't look unsafe or anything, but it didn't look so clean, perhaps a little overgrown brush around it. I don't think it got used much in September, maybe when there's crowds at the motel, they keep it in better condition.
DTD transportation: we bring a car, but tried the transportation. We found it excellent, but again, it was September. The busses in September were about 2/3rds full and on time. Can't imagine it wouldn't get dicey in July. It's NOT WDW-type transportation, it can take a while to get where you're going and the busses can be standing-room-only from what I've read.
All that said, I still say it's a great hotel at under $80 or so a night. I'd like to see another review from someone who's been there in July, to answer the above questions.
If you do stay there, a BIG suggestion: Ask for a room above the 8th floor, with a DTD view, preferably a corner room. The views are incredible at this level. You can clearly see Spaceship Earth, and Illuminations from here is a spectacle. Naturally you can't hear the music, but you can see the explosions and lasers. And with a digital camera with a zoom lense, you can clearly see the Contemporary and Space Mountain. Of course, DTD is very visable from most of these rooms.
As for the corner room, because of the angle of the hotel, the corner rooms are a little bigger, and the balcony on our room was a full 1/3rd bigger than those not on a corner.
Hope that all helps. If you have any specific questions, I'll be glad to answer them.
Pat
