BLT does the view matter?

[hmcfall711]

We are planning to book a studio when our 7 month window opens for BLT the weekend after Thanksgiving. I personally would like a MK view but DH says that it is just a long weekend (Fri-Sun) and we will not be in the room much and that a standard is fine, if we really wanted to see the fireworks from the resort we can go to TOTWL.

For those who have been, is the view really that important? This is the first time we will have been when Christmas decorations are up and that is the main reason for going. (I know it sounds like I want it all: decorations, Christmas party, fireworks, and view. )

Is the standard just the parking lot?

We are not trying to save points we have enought to do either.

 

[robert@dvcstore]

I have stayed at Bay Lake Tower only once and did have a Magic Kingdom View. As nice as it was to view the fireworks from your room, TOTW view is wonderful as well.

In my opinion, the views of Bay Lake are very nice as well. It is a much more tranquil view as the Magic Kingdom view also overlooks the parking lot as well. Bay Lake views have a view of the pool, the lake and the surrounding landscape.

Robert

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We've done standard view twice & have had very nice views both times.

I agree with taking advantage of TOWL.

 

[Figment2]

Last Oct, I visited a friend's lake view room. They could see the Illuminations which I thought was awesome.

Cyn

 

[Sandisw]

I have been twice--once SV and once LV. Both times, I did not think my view was bad at all.

The only thing to be aware that some of the MK view rooms are not that much better than a SV or LV room. If you end up on the 3rd floor, you might find yourself disappointed.

To me, the extra points are just not worth it, especially since there is no guarantee that you will be on one of the higher floors.

For the quick weekend trip, I would go with SV or LV.

 

[spiceycat]

got sv twice soon to be 3 times.

my first was on the northside - it had a view of the Mk, tennis court and BL. It was on the 5th floor - it problem was the service area.

second time again northside but it was view of the BLT and pool. It was on the 3rd floor and had a tree blocking the pool view.

all standard view have some problem - depends upon you how much a problem it will be.

go for the standard view - if you can. they go really fast - even on the weekends.

definitely go to Topof world to see the fireworks.

 

[ccigliano]

I have yet to stay but have a lake view ressie for my b-day in May. Considering that you are going Christmastime though - if ever you were going to do the MK view, that would be the time to do it. The castle is lit up like an ice castle and if you haven't seen it yet - it is completely different than the rest of the year. I am sure there are pictures here on the DIS somewhere but even pictures don't do it justice. I think having that view at night from BLT would be spectacular and worth the extra points. Maybe someone who has been there Nov/Dec can comment on the view.

 

[Crystal_27]

The views at BLT seem all over the map. With some standard views you can see the castle, whereas with some MK views you barely see any of MK and see parking lot. Likewise, some lake views really don't show much of the lake and show the Contemporary. With that said, your best bet at being able to see the MK would be to book a MK view. Sure, there are less than desirable MK views, but that is the same at any DVC resort -- it's the luck of the draw. I think that your problem in booking at 7 months is that there is going to be limited (if any) availability with the standard or MK views, so you might be "stuck" with a lake view.

As to your question about how important view is, for us personally, we are at the parks so much that we really don't care about the view from our room at all. At BLT, you see MK at every turn and, as nice as I'm sure it is to see it from your room, for me it isn't worth the extra points to have that. But, there are some that would never book anything but an MK room, so everyone certainly feels differently about it. Either way, good luck with getting your view!

 

[allshookup]

We had a SV for NYE week & we had a lower view of the MK. The same view a PP mentioned, MK, tennis courts & yes the service area, but that didn't bother us. I just blocked it out! I personally would not spend the points for a MK view, when the SV can be almost as nice. Even though we could see the fireworks just fine from our room, we usually chose to go up to TOTW lounge anyway, so we could hear the music piped in, the view was fantastic, it was nice to sit & wait with a couple of drinks & the service & flatbreads were awesome!

 

[liznboys]

I've stayed there twice, both times in Lake View rooms (a 2br, then a studio). First time we had a view of the pool/lake, and it was great! Second time we had a view of the lake to the right and MK to the left, also great!

I personally would not get a MK view for a short weekend like that, I would go for either lake or standard. And as others said, take advantage of the lounge, or the other great views you get through the windows throughout the building.

You have enough points for any view, but it sounds like your dh would rather part with less. I'm with him.

 

[dcfromva]

We are planning to book a studio when our 7 month window opens for BLT the weekend after Thanksgiving. I personally would like a MK view but DH says that it is just a long weekend (Fri-Sun) and we will not be in the room much and that a standard is fine, if we really wanted to see the fireworks from the resort we can go to TOTWL.

For those who have been, is the view really that important? This is the first time we will have been when Christmas decorations are up and that is the main reason for going. (I know it sounds like I want it all: decorations, Christmas party, fireworks, and view. )

Is the standard just the parking lot?

We are not trying to save points we have enought to do either.

Are you trying for a 26-27 Nov or 3-4 Dec visit?

I would be surprised if any category was available at 7months. But, I believe MK and SV will be booked for sure.

Here is what we experienced:
Our first visit. 1BR SV. We were on the ground floor inner ring. I think I liked this the best, so far. View was vegetation and bocce court.

Second visit. 2BR dedicated SV. We were on the second floor inner ring. View was fountain and trees.

Third visit. Studio MK view. We were on the 4th floor. We did have a view of the MK, no denying that. The daytime view was pretty good. But, the lights in the parking lot dominated the view at night. The view from the TOTWL was way better, so perhaps a higher floor would provide a better MK view. Since you risk getting a lower floor when you book MK view, we most likely won't spend the points for MK view again.

Fourth room. Studio BL view. We were moved across the hall on the 4th floor (we considered ourselves lucky to get a room because our flight was cancelled and we had to extend two days). We were on the inner ring--almost directly above the lobby. Our lake view was not much better than a std view. We could see the lake through the vegetation. But, we could not see but a couple of the floats of the electric water parade from our balcony (the view of the first couple floats was obstructed by the BLT and the view of some of the middle floats was obstructed by the vegetation).

We keep our shades drawn most of the time for privacy (because the windows also provide a good view of the folks inside the rooms, too ). Given that, I think in the future we will try for the std view first and then lake view if no std view is available. TOTWL provides an excellant view of the fireworks.

 

[dvc deernut]

I also dont think you will get in for that time of year. If you do get in and are not near the top whats the point. You see parking trees and castle. We would rather get a 2 bedroom 1 bedroom or studio at akl or okw save our points and stay longer at disney and enjoy the fireworks from right infront of castle.

 

[dvc deernut]

I think when you put a dollar value on the points your using just for the fireworks thats kind of expensive. Just my opinion.

 

[DenLo]

It might be a mute point since you are trying for a very popular weekend. The STD view villas are the first to book at BLT especially during peak times. If you end up with a lake view you could as for one on a high floor at the north end of the crescent. The rooms there have views of MK as well as a lake view. Good luck.

 

[cg1200]

Last Oct, I visited a friend's lake view room. They could see the Illuminations which I thought was awesome.

Cyn

We were there in Nov and noticed the same thing! We were able to see all 4 parks from our balcony (I have pictures of ToT, Spaceship Earth and Everest way off in the distance to prove it!).

We watched the fireworks from the TOTWL too. Also very, very nice. We are staying in a LV room for Thanksgiving. No need to spend more points on MK view as far as I'm concerned.

 

[hmcfall711]

We were worried about availability too. Since that seems to be more like to be the problem I will just call and ask at 7months if anything is available and be happy with what/ if anything they may have. If there is nothing there we will take whatever is available on property and just be happy just to be at WDW.

Since there seems to be some experience with the weekend after Thanksgiving here, I have another question.

Our only option will be to fly.

How terrible with it be to fly in/out of MCO at this time?

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

We were worried about availability too. Since that seems to be more like to be the problem I will just call and ask at 7months if anything is available and be happy with what/ if anything they may have. If there is nothing there we will take whatever is available on property and just be happy just to be at WDW.

Since there seems to be some experience with the weekend after Thanksgiving here, I have another question.

Our only option will be to fly.

How terrible with it be to fly in/out of MCO at this time?

We fly 99% of the time and love MCO. We have bben there during peak travel times without problems. Just give yourself extra time just in case. There is great shopping at MCO if you are early.