BLT Bound! Have some questions though...

[Main Street Matilda]

I am so excited about this trip, in part because the very first time I went to WDW when I was 17, I ate lunch at the Contemporary and loved the hotel, promising myself I would stay there one day ... well, I'm almost there (more or less). I have a couple of questions though ...

My MIL, who is pretty much wheelchair bound is coming with us and is concerned about getting to and from the buses and monorail. About how long does it take to get to the monorail? Are the buses in front of BLT or do you have to go through the Contemporary?

Also, would love any information that would "feed my excitement" over this trip. Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

The buses are the same as for CR...in front of the CR. You can just walk out the front of BLT and walk over there...no problem with a wheelchair. As far as getting on the monorail...there is an elevator that goes up to the monorail platform. You can use the 'bridge' from BLT...I think it's on the 5th floor, can't remember exactly...and it empties out on the Concourse level..just take the elevator there up to the monorail area.
It should take about 5-8 mins to get to the bus area, and about the same for the monorail.
You're going to love it there!!!

 

[walkdmc]

I'll admit I did something really dumb, so no one else repeats my mistake. As the PP said, go to the ground floor of the BLT and walk out the front door. Follow the walkway to the front of the CR to wait for a bus. Don't walk through and down the CR and out the CR front doors to catch a bus.

Seriously, we were on our last day, packing up the car in front of the BLT when I saw this easier route to the buses.

The CR has an energy to it we haven't felt anywhere else. Of course, this energy tapers when you walk into the BLT, but just by a little. We loved the peace and quiet of the BLT but enjoyed easy access to all the pro's of the CR. Stroll around the dock at the CR if the weather is nice.

We stayed in a 2 BR and it was amazing. We loved the place and hopefully you will too. There are so many good Wishes viewing spots, don't sweat your room's view. By the end of the week, we were like "let's keep moving, we've seen wishes every night", as we walked the walkway while the fireworks were going off.

 

[Main Street Matilda]

I'll admit I did something really dumb, so no one else repeats my mistake. As the PP said, go to the ground floor of the BLT and walk out the front door. Follow the walkway to the front of the CR to wait for a bus. Don't walk through and down the CR and out the CR front doors to catch a bus.

I'm really glad you mentioned this ... I am practically certain I would have done the same thing!

 

[diznykidz]

We just returned from a wonderful stay at BLT. You will love it! It will be no problem with the wheelchair there is elevators in both places. The walkway to CR is on the 5th floor and very easy to get you to the restaurant platform and shops then it's just a quick elevator ride to the monorail level. Also just outside the front door of BLT walk straight through to the bus platform. It is easiest to take the monorail for Epcot and Magic Kingdom and buses to all other parks. We hope you love it just as much as we did.
Have a very Magical Trip.

 

[walkdmc]

Also, you can walk to the MK. I didn't do that but took the 'rail every time. However, a lot of folks walk to to the MK on the designated path, in front of the BLT/CR.

 

[scroot]

We are BLT owners and wheelchair users. It is as easy as everyone says.

I would add one thing. There is an elevator in the contemporary that you need to use to gether the chair up to or down from the monorail level. Both sides of this elevator open and the bottons can be confusing.

When getting on the monorail you want to exit the same door you entered thourgh and then get in the monorail que--the cm's will direct you from there. The monorail cm's will always ask you what stop you are getting off at.

When getting off of the monorail you enter the rear doors of the same elevator. That waiting area is too narrow for wheelchairs to pass each other so if someone is trying to get out of the elevator through the back door a trafic jams happens.

It is easy to figure out but takes a time or two and be prepared to run into a few people who haven't figured it out yet.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

We spent 8 nights at BLT earlier this month! We absolutely loved it. I'm sure you will too.

Your questions have been answered, but I just wanted to add a couple of other thoughts.

As someone mentioned, there is a nice walkway to MK. We found it faster to walk to MK then to take the monorail. When you take the monorail, you stop at the TTC, Poly, GF and then MK. At night, we took the resort monorail back to the CR as it seemed faster.

As others have mentioned, when you get off the monorail at the CR, go the opposite direction as the crowds to catch the elevator. We saw a very frustrated person with a stroller who went the wrong direction.

There is a small store at the CR where you can buy some groceries.

Enjoy feeling the buzz & magic of staying so close to MK! We loved seeing & hearing the ferry boats, watching the monorail glide by and feeling the excitement of the Grand Canyon concourse. When returning "home" at night, you may catch fireworks at the MK or the electric water pageant. Take time to slow down and enjoy some of these uniquely Disney items.

We can't wait to return to BLT next year!