BLT or AKV...

[lync]

I'm trying to decide which one to go with....

I've always wanted to stay at a monorail resort but is it really worth the extra money. We are renting points so it would cost us about $830 more to stay at BLT.

HOw long does it take to get to the monorail station?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. We've never stayed at either resort. We've only eaten at boma.
Thanks in advance!!!

 

[lync]

Also, how is the standard view at AKV?

 

[amypetecar]

Our family loved staying on the monorail. If you have young kids it may be worth the money.

Is there any availability for a standard view room during your dates? That would keep the cost comporable to the other DVC resorts

 

[donnadennis]

My husband and I stayed there March of 2011. It is a wonderful place to stay for many reasons. Walking to MK is fun and the monorail makes it so easy to just get around. Our room was quiet and we looked out over the lake and pool. Stayed in the tower but guests that I talked to about the hotel said that was nice too.
The only thing that I would avoid is the buffet,Chef Mickeys, the one at the resort, awful and other guests we spoke to felt the same way.

 

[kellyf2626]

Well, we have never stayed at AKV, so it's hard for me to comment on that place (we are staying there for the first time on our next trip, Nov. 2012).

We have stayed at BLT and it is our favorite resort!! We love it for so many reasons! If you take a car (like we do) you can park right in front of the tower. You can walk to MK, which is AWESOME and way faster than taking the monorail. The restaurants are fantastic at Contemporary, and the quick-service is the best (we think) on property. The rooms are great, even the standard and lake views. I don't own there, so it's nearly impossible to book there at the 7-month window. We wanted to stay there so badly, we ended up paying cash and extending our trip by 5 days just to stay there!

I would say hands-down BLT and yes it is worth the extra money!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you have young children and are spending the greatest portion of your time at the Magic Kingdom, then by all means spring for BLT. If you plan to visit all parks equally and like a LOT of embiance and great views, then stay at AKV, but NOT in a standard view room. Frankly, for cheaper points AND ease of getting most anywhere except AK, I'd pick OKW, but that's me. There is just so much more room in the OKW units and the points are so much less, it makes sense on all levels.

You don't say how many people and what the makeup is of your travel group or the time of year, and that information would make a big difference to any response I would give on this question.

 

[Dean]

If you have young children and are spending the greatest portion of your time at the Magic Kingdom, then by all means spring for BLT. If you plan to visit all parks equally and like a LOT of embiance and great views, then stay at AKV, but NOT in a standard view room. Frankly, for cheaper points AND ease of getting most anywhere except AK, I'd pick OKW, but that's me. There is just so much more room in the OKW units and the points are so much less, it makes sense on all levels.

You don't say how many people and what the makeup is of your travel group or the time of year, and that information would make a big difference to any response I would give on this question.

Obviously there are variables for which we do not have the information. In general terms, I agree with Diane, that AKV in a Savannah view is a great choice and worth the cost difference between that and a Standard. As noted, if you'll spend the majority of your time at MK, that is a major factor and makes the extra cost worth it for many.

 

[dbs1228]

I have stayed at both loved both. BLT for location and ease to MK and Epcot along with checking out other resorts. I loved AKV but would not stay in anything but a savanna room because the balcony was heaven for me. If I am doing a trip with lots of park time I would go with BLT if I am doing down days I would do AKV. Good luck

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

We couldn't decide either so ended up splitting our next visit between the two. DH would have preferred the whole thing at BLT, but the kids pitched a fit and wanted to go to AKV. Now we have a compromise!

 

[lync]

If you have young children and are spending the greatest portion of your time at the Magic Kingdom, then by all means spring for BLT. If you plan to visit all parks equally and like a LOT of embiance and great views, then stay at AKV, but NOT in a standard view room. Frankly, for cheaper points AND ease of getting most anywhere except AK, I'd pick OKW, but that's me. There is just so much more room in the OKW units and the points are so much less, it makes sense on all levels.

You don't say how many people and what the makeup is of your travel group or the time of year, and that information would make a big difference to any response I would give on this question.

There are 6 of us....3 adults and 3 children (3,7, and 9). We would have to go with a 2 bedroom.

thanks for all of the replies!

 

[donnadennis]

I think that is a great compromise and then you will know for sure which one you like. I wouldn't mind staying at AK either, I just love animals and I hear that it is great too. I really want to try and stay at each resort eventually but you will love BLT.

 

[StormalongKay]

I have stayed at both. Either resort is a great choice given the ages of your kids. We had a 2BR MK view at BLT in November of 2010. I have to say looking at MK and the monorail right outside your window at sunrise and sunset was better than I was expecting. With kids at BLT, you can watch the evening fireworks right from bed if they are tired! The monorail is a quick walk via the bridge into the Contemporary hotel, but the walk to MK entrance gate is really short too. BLT was very sleek and contemporary, which is a different decor for us (but which we enjoyed). We also love to eat at The Wave in the Contemporary, so that was a plus having it close.

Last August we stayed in a savannah view 2BR at Kidani. My kids absolutely loved watching the animals. In fact, we spent more time in the room than we normally would just enjoying the animals (which wasn't a bad thing given the August heat). The pool area at Kidani is probably better equipped for your 3yo and 5yo, since it has a dedicated "little kid" area. Sanaa is a fabulous restaurant if your kids aren't picky eaters. Kidani really does feel like it is a world apart from the parks. We don't mind the Disney buses, but sometimes being at Kidani and having to take a bus everywhere did discourage us from taking a short trips. On the plus side, we walked to the Lodge to use their pool or took the shuttle over at night to wander the gift shops or get dessert. We also took advantage of being close to AK park and scheduled the Wild Africa trek for an early morning.

Its a hard choice, but if this is a first visit, or you may go awhile in between visits, I would choose BLT given the young ages of your children and the proximity to MK. You can always return to AKL.

Have a fantastic trip!

 

[aclov]

I'm staying at BLT in Sept but have stayed at AKL two times. It's a great resort especially if you or your kids love animals and I would recommend the savannah view, be sure to take binoculars! Seeing the animals from your balcony is incredible and also doing the night vision. But it is further than the other resorts to the parks, there's nothing in walking distance.

 

[spiceycat]

Also, how is the standard view at AKV?

depends upon which AKV you are talking about

at Jambo house it is the pool view. but there are no dedicated 2-bedrooms - so it would be a 1-bedroom with a studio. No a good situation with young children.

at Kidani - you get the new 2-bedroom with the chair bed. lots more room - plus you get the 3 bathrooms (instead of 2 at Jambo house).

the problem the standard views here are on the roads, pool, parking and other activities.

the other problem AKV is the furthest away from the MK - it takes the bus once it get there around 20 minutes to get to the MK unloading area.

you can walk over to the MK from BLT in less time than that.

that say agree with Dean and Diane - if you are seeing all 4 parks and DD - might go with OKW. It does not have 3 bathrooms like AKV and BLT do - but it does have the chair bed in the livingroom.

both AKV and OKW are bus transportation only. OKW does have a boat to DD.

BLT is walking to MK (it is much faster than the monrail), monrail to Epcot - but bus only transportation to the other places. It shares this bus with other MK resorts - probably 2 other resorts sometimes only 1.

AKV and OKW don't share the bus - okay AKV bus does stop at AKL before it leaves but that is one resort. OKW doesn't stop anywhere except OKW - that say it has 4 bus stops.

OKW is in a more central area than AKV.