BLT or VWL w/young kids, no car

[Baltmom]

Would love to get some advice from experienced visitors . We are planning a trip in the first half of November with our then 6 and 4 1/2 yr old kids. Know that in order for any of us to sleep (from past experience), kids must be in a seperate room from us, so thinking of renting points to stay at a dvc location since it would be cheaper than two adjoining rooms at a deluxe resort. Realisticially we probably won't be back to the parks for a good 5 yrs or so.

We won't be renting a car. Is the transportation from BLT to non-MK parks alot better than VWL? Is there another option that would meet our needs that I'm overlooking?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Well, from BLT you can

1) Walk or Monorail to the MK.
2) Monorail from BLT to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then hop a monorail over to Epcot.

From VWL

1) You can boat from the Lodge to MK
2) Bus everywhere

If it was me, I would stay at BLT. But I'm biased because I own there. We recently got back from an AKV stay and I really didn't like being so far away from everything. Usually when we are at the parks, we always seem to end our day over at MK and catch Wishes or the night time parade....so when you leave MK you are a hop skip and a jump to BLT. Whereas it was a long way home back to AKV. That being said, I know that sometime in the future I will go back to AKV. Either for a solo trip, or a trip where we aren't worried about going to the parks so much. AKV was so quiet and peaceful.

Your mileage may vary. I can't say that you will go wrong at VWL. I have heard many, many great things about the resort and hope to visit there someday.

BTW, the fold out sleeper chair and the fold out sleeper sofa in the BLT 1 BR units are quite comfy. Much nicer than a typical pull out chair / couch.

 

[Cee]

I've never stayed at BLT but have stayed at the CR. I love the fact that you can walk to MK and monorail to the TTC and then monorail to Epcot. From there you can boat or walk to DHS.

I LOVE VWL, it is beautiful there. But I have to say, the buses are hit or miss. But that is probably how it is everywhere.

 

[londonderrydisneyfan]

We've stayed at both and prefer BLT over VWL. When we stayed at BLT we were in a Standard View room and lucked out with a nice view of MK and the monorail. Our son loved watching the monorail from the balcony.

 

[EeyoreEma]

I would hands down say BLT. Of course, I am biased as that is my home resort. BUT - you can walk to MK, take the monorail, get to Epcot easily... So easy. We have 2 young kids and it's wonderful to us to be able to walk to our favorite park.

 

[Elise79]

BLT - you can get to 2 parks without the need to fold your stroller or remove a sleeping child.

I dislike the buses with young children as it is just such a pain with all the stuff you have to carry and I like to minimize that as much as possible!

 

[rice00]

Although VWL is very nice I think your best option is BLT. It gives your best options of getting from park to park. You have direct access to the monorail which allows you to get to the Poly or GF or MK if you don't want to walk. The monorail also stops at the ticket and transportation station where you can change monorails to get to EPCOT. BLT also gives you the option of taking a boat to MK or VWL.

If you don't have a car BLT definitely makes sense!

 

[n2mm]

BLT hands down for us. I bought into BLT only for when the grandkids are with us. We have stayed there twice now with the little ones and it is their favorite resort. It is so great to be that close to MK and to have the monorail to eat at the other resorts. (We don't use the buses, and use our rental car, so we can't comment on the bus service to other locations.)

 

[csharpwv]

I am going to have to say VWL!

I think BLT is a great resort - but I think VWL has more to offer - and definitely offers more of an expeirence.

We love Wilderness Lodge - and I love the Contemporary - but the monorail isn't as much of a mode of transportation as it is an attraction these days. We spent almost an hour getting FROM the Contemporary TO the Magic Kingdom in December. (I TOLD my wife it would be quicker to walk!) The monoral has been having a lot of repair and maint. issues during our lat few stays.
It has also taken us an hour to get from the Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian before. It was really a royal pain!

We enjoy the boat rides from the Lodge to the Magic Kingdom!

We just feel that Wilderness Lodge is more a destination in the way it transports you to someplace else with the theming and the overall design and concept.

Plus there are quite a few repair issues with BLT as well - leaking showers - furniture scratches and things - as well as the now oddly configured studios since they moved the bathroom sink.

Just my opinion thought!

 

[spiceycat]

being able to walk to and back form the MK - is a big plus with kids that age.

so would go with BLT.

at my age walking back and forth is easier than taking the monrail. nothing up hill between mk (except at the mk) and blt.

so although love the monrail only take to to the other monrail hotels and Epcot.

 

[dizfan]

Since you mentioned your children sleeping in a separate room, I'm guessing you would be looking at a 1BR villa.

BLT 1BR has 2 bathrooms. One in the master suite and another in the main living area.
Also, if your children do not want to sleep in the same bed, BLT has a sleeper bed and sleeper chair.

On the other hand, unless you rent a 1BR standard view at BLT, BLT would cost more points per night than WLV.

 

[Deb & Bill]

BLT - you can get to 2 parks without the need to fold your stroller or remove a sleeping child.

I dislike the buses with young children as it is just such a pain with all the stuff you have to carry and I like to minimize that as much as possible!

Not always. The monorail was jammed packed this morning and all strollers had to be packed up with kids removed.

 

[dsneygirl]

VWL gets my vote for sure. The boat ride back from MK is 7 min and so relaxing at the end of the day. WL also has a great playground right on the beach and you can pop over to Fort Wilderness which has tonnes of great activities for little ones.

Although BLT has a zero entry pool it left much to be desired I didn't like the concete/glass I much prefer the WL pool.

 

[WDWFERN]

We have found that when we are using strollers, either walking or the monorail is the easiest. In addition to carrying our children, the strollers also serve as a carrier for backpacks, diaperbags, souveniers, etc so needing to disassemble everything can be a real headache, especially with a sleeping child. We LOVED BLT due to its many easy transportation options and found it made for the most relaxed trip we have had so far! Can't wait to go back!

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We went with an infant and an 8 yr old last summer and learned our lesson... In fact, for our trip this summer, I tried to get a split stay between BLT and the Boardwalk area or to stay at either one...I was unsuccessful.... The reason I tried to do this is obvious...When you are with young kids and using a stroller, if you are on the bus line, you have to keep taking your bags out and folding the stroller/s....If on the monorail or walking from the Boardwalk area, you just hop on the monorail with the stroller or simply walk to EPCOT/HS...Just a better way with kiddies.

 

[rhax07]

I'd recommend VWL even though I own at BLT. As many have said, the buses are pretty much hit or miss everwhere, but you are a short distance from two parks either via monorail or walking. VWL also offers more at the resort in my opinion.