BLT - 2 bedroom vs OKW grand villa

[haleofafamily]

My family will be going to Disney World the 1st week of June. I have a reservation for a 2 bedroom at BLT, but a grand villa at OKW has opened up. I'm torn over which to choose. I like BLT because we have never stayed there before (we like to try different resorts) and the proximity to MK. I like OKW because it's a grand villa and the resort is so peaceful.

Has anyone stayed at both and have pros/cons to share?

 

[Donna M]

We have and I'd take the 3 bd at OKW. It's huge! It looks like you have a large family. You and the kids would love the space, plenty of seating in the living room and a dining room table you can all fit at, plus there is one more bedroom, no one has to sleep in the living room. The space is fantastic and it's a peaceful resort as you said. The pool was fun too.

BLT was nice and we had a great view of the lake and a piece of MK on our first trip. On our second trip we had a view into the rooms across the way. The design is not magical enough for us now. OKW feels very Floridian for us Northerners.

 

[magicaldisney]

There wouldn't even be a decision to be made for us. OKW grand villa, hands down.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We have stayed in the BLT 2 bedroom and an OKW GV as well as a BLT GV. You didn't say how many people are staying with you, but an OKW GV will give you more room than the BLT 2-bedroom, and more privacy if someone does indeed need to sleep on the pull out in the living room and there are 4 full baths in the OKW GV. The OKW GV balcony is huge and great for enjoying a meal outdoors.

 

[haleofafamily]

Thanks for the replies!

There are 8 of us ~ possibly 9 if my mom decides to join us.

Y'all have given me a lot to think about.

 

[beer dave]

Thanks for the replies!

There are 8 of us ~ possibly 9 if my mom decides to join us.

Y'all have given me a lot to think about.

Sorry I have to disagree with the others.... Yeah, the OKW room is huge.... but the buss's are still crowded....... and they make the huge loop.....
There's nothing like staying in a spot that feels like you are still in the MK. And monorail to Epcot.... and from there boat to HS..... I hate buss's.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Done them both. GV would be my pick...how about a split stay????

 

[disney55]

If I had a car and planned on cooking meals I would pick OKW
If I were using Disney transportation and restaurants I would pick BLT

 

[Song of the South]

We just stayed at OKW in a GV for the first time.

It was big enough for the families we had along. We were too far to go to the pool more than once which was a bummer.

We will be decreasing our party size for next January so we can go back to BLT. With the age of our kids and our focus on MK it makes sense for us logistically.

It is a trade off though.

 

[gdrj]

Tough choice. Being on the monorail and being able to walk to MK and watch fireworks from Resort would be pretty tempting. Also if your 15 and 16 yr old are allowed to venture on their own having access to walk to MK and Monorail to EPCOT is pretty nice. Plus if Mom gets tired or wants to avoid heat plenty of shopping at Contemporary and other Monorail resorts. Of course 9 in a grand Villa has its pluses too! My Wife's answer would be not a split stay but two stays one at each!

 

[jimmytammy]

Honestly, I dont think you can wrong either way. Both have plusses and minuses, here are pros and cons for me personally. 1st, room size, OKW wins on this one, weigh this one out. 2nd, Proximity to parks, BLT wins this one, walk or monorail to MK, Monorail to Epcot(in a roundabout way). 3rd, amenities, this one is equal to me, as community hall at OKW is a plus, but proximity to food is a plus at BLT/Contemporary. There are lots more of pros/cons IMO, but these 3 for me and depending on your circumstances are ones that stand out

 

[haleofafamily]

Thanks for all your help. I'm leaning towards BLT because of location and it will be a new resort for us. But the size of OKW GV is still tempting! We will use Disney Dining - kitchen will be for a quick breakfast.

It's only a 4 night stay because we're combining it with a longer vacation - tour of the southeast US. So I don't want to do a split stay.

I'm going to show videos of each to everyone tonight and get their opinion.

 

[disprincess2213]

I love this thread. I constantly go back and forth between these two resorts. My favorite is BLT and OKW. BLT for location and OKW for room size. We are debating the same situation for an upcoming trip so I am glad to see this thread. DH and I were blown away by the size of rooms at OKW.... they are HUGE and it made such a difference in our stay.....it felt so "different" like we were home, but still on vacation (if that makes sense!). It was just an incredible and relaxing stay at OKW. BLT was busier and closer to MK and good restaurants. Such a hard decision!! Let us know what you decide!!

 

[js]

I get a teo bedroom when there are 4-5 of us going. For 8-9 people, I would most certainly get the GV.

Two bathrooms for 9 people doesnt sound like a great deal. It can be done but if you have an option for larger accomodations I would choose GV.

We had a GV for 10 of is at SSR, and that was pushing it!

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

I get a teo bedroom when there are 4-5 of us going. For 8-9 people, I would most certainly get the GV.

Two bathrooms for 9 people doesnt sound like a great deal. It can be done but if you have an option for larger accomodations I would choose GV.

We had a GV for 10 of is at SSR, and that was pushing it!

A 2br at BLT has 3 bathrooms

 

[jmkjr72]

We have done okw grand villa several times. never done a blt stay that will be this trip in a 1 bedroom
big plus I can see before our stay is the space and the bathrooms plus a full on laundry room in the grand villa at okw
2 trips we were in the handicap gv and that was really close to the smaller pool and one it wasn't too far of a walk to the hospitality house and main pool
the nice thing is even if your far from the hospitality house is the busses stop there when they enter and when they leave

 

[weswife]

We are in the same boat! We stayed at BLT last year and loved loved loved it! The year before we stayed at OKW it was nice and quiet but my family loves being in the center of Disney. So for location reasons BLT wins. This year my older DD and a friend are coming which makes me lean towards a grand villa at OKW! I am booked at BLT but reading all the replies is tempting me.....

 

[haleofafamily]

Thanks for all helpful input! For now we are staying at BLT because we have never stayed there before and for the location.

 

[Halle]

Just wanted to let you know that I think you made the right decision. We stayed at OKW in a GV in May going to the pool was an issue....too far to walk so we packed up 6 adults and 3 toddlers to pool hop. This May we are headed to BLT in a GV. Our first time in a GV but many trips in a 1 and 2 bedroom and love it and I think your family will too.

 

[bltpoppins]

If it is raining, then getting to the Community Room is so much easier at BLT!
I had a chance to stay in a GV at OKW but will take my 2 BR at BLT anyday! Love the balcony! And love the feeling at the pool and beach that we are so close to all the action but feel a million miles away.