BLT, Riviera, Boardwalk

[kes601]

Just finished up our stay at these 3 resorts. 5 nights at BLT, 5 nights at Riviera, and 7 nights at BWV.

Overall we really enjoyed all 3 resorts. I think BLT was our least favorite room in terms of the room itself, but still a great location to be and we had a great view from the 8th floor overlooking the pool and lake. Also super convenient to have the short trek over to Magic Kingdom.

Riviera and BWV split for our favorite resort.

Riviera obviously has the nicest of the rooms, and we had a great preferred view from floor 9. Quick service food was hands down the best here. Primo is top notch. The only downside for us of staying here during the summer is the pop up storms and the skyliner. 2 or the 5 nights it was down most of the afternoon and evening for storms. Another day it was just down in general from about 1p until close. This is compounded by Bus Times saying to use skyliner. If the skyliner is closed I can’t take the skyliner. But, overlooking that Riviera is wonderful and really glad we stayed there.

Boardwalk is my personal favorite. The Inn always has been, this was our first stay at the Villas (first extended DVC stay since purchasing for us). It did not start out well though. We were first assigned a room on the first floor right next to the laundry for towels, linens, etc. You could hear the washers going through the wall and a loud sound every time the door swung open and closed. The doors were also following off the chest of drawers. We also never got checked in “fully” as our MagicBands didn’t work and we were never able to see bus times, it resulted in an error (my sister who checked in on July 2 at the Inn could see the times, so it was not an error for everybody). We spent about 30 minutes getting our MagicBands linked to the door.

At that point we asked to be moved and luckily they obliged quickly (it helped it was my birthday trip I think). We were moved to the third floor overlooking the Luna pool. After that the last 7 nights of the trip were great. We went to MK and watched fireworks on the 1st and the 3rd. They had the charter buses ready at the bus stop leaving MK. The first night we missed the first bus but literally as soon as the first one pulled out another charter bus pulled in. We were amazed that we even saw the end of Epcot Forever when stepping off the bus. The 2nd time we stayed for the fireworks was even better. We literally stepped off the bus at Boardwalk as Epcot Forever started.

At any rate, that’s my not so quick take on the 3 resorts. We currently have BLT and BWV booked for a split at Christmas.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

I agree with the weather problems and Skyliner. The Skyliner was pitched as a big benefit but in reality it's not the most reliable means of transportation but at the same time I understand why it goes down for the safety of guests and cast members. For this reason I think BW is the better location even though the rooms at RR are very, very nice.

I do like BLTs, I like the contemporary design of this resort, the location and access to monorail can't be beat. JMTCs.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

Just finished up our stay at these 3 resorts. 5 nights at BLT, 5 nights at Riviera, and 7 nights at BWV.

Overall we really enjoyed all 3 resorts. I think BLT was our least favorite room in terms of the room itself, but still a great location to be and we had a great view from the 8th floor overlooking the pool and lake. Also super convenient to have the short trek over to Magic Kingdom.

Riviera and BWV split for our favorite resort.

Riviera obviously has the nicest of the rooms, and we had a great preferred view from floor 9. Quick service food was hands down the best here. Primo is top notch. The only downside for us of staying here during the summer is the pop up storms and the skyliner. 2 or the 5 nights it was down most of the afternoon and evening for storms. Another day it was just down in general from about 1p until close. This is compounded by Bus Times saying to use skyliner. If the skyliner is closed I can’t take the skyliner. But, overlooking that Riviera is wonderful and really glad we stayed there.

Boardwalk is my personal favorite. The Inn always has been, this was our first stay at the Villas (first extended DVC stay since purchasing for us). It did not start out well though. We were first assigned a room on the first floor right next to the laundry for towels, linens, etc. You could hear the washers going through the wall and a loud sound every time the door swung open and closed. The doors were also following off the chest of drawers. We also never got checked in “fully” as our MagicBands didn’t work and we were never able to see bus times, it resulted in an error (my sister who checked in on July 2 at the Inn could see the times, so it was not an error for everybody). We spent about 30 minutes getting our MagicBands linked to the door.

At that point we asked to be moved and luckily they obliged quickly (it helped it was my birthday trip I think). We were moved to the third floor overlooking the Luna pool. After that the last 7 nights of the trip were great. We went to MK and watched fireworks on the 1st and the 3rd. They had the charter buses ready at the bus stop leaving MK. The first night we missed the first bus but literally as soon as the first one pulled out another charter bus pulled in. We were amazed that we even saw the end of Epcot Forever when stepping off the bus. The 2nd time we stayed for the fireworks was even better. We literally stepped off the bus at Boardwalk as Epcot Forever started.

At any rate, that’s my not so quick take on the 3 resorts. We currently have BLT and BWV booked for a split at Christmas.

Hi, I'm curious if you were at Epcot during the time the Skyliner was down? How did you get back to your resort? Did you exit Epcot from the front gate or through IG? If you used IG were you directed to BW for your bus back to RR? How did that go, did you walk to BW or take the boat? If you took the boat was the boarding line long and was the bus boarding area crowded?

 

[kes601]

Hi, I'm curious if you were at Epcot during the time the Skyliner was down? How did you get back to your resort? Did you exit Epcot from the front gate or through IG? If you used IG were you directed to BW for your bus back to RR? How did that go, did you walk to BW or take the boat? If you took the boat was the boarding line long and was the bus boarding area crowded?

Indeed we were directed to the bus stop at the Boardwalk in order to get back to any of the skyliner resorts. But, that was before the inn side opened at BW. I can't imagine them doing that now, but who knows. We ended up just going to Beach Club and getting an Uber. Had we known the skyliner was still down while in Epcot we would have exited the main entrance and gone to the bus stop there.

 

[cccory]

That is pretty neat that you were able to stay at 3 different resorts during your vacation. Boardwalk and BLT can't be beat for their location. I love BLT design and being able to enjoy fireworks from your room. I wouldn't be interested in staying at RR. We took the skyliner over there and walked around for a bit. Didn't get the Disney feeling, and relying on the skyliner was too iffy for us.

 

[disneydreamer781]

The Boardwalk is my favorite too. I've yet to stay at Riviera but we may be doing so this December. As far as BLT goes, I really enjoy the rooms there and then taking the monorail but the place is an absolute madhouse! Contempo Cafe...OMG! So chaotic and noisy! I've stayed at Boardwalk many times and the whole place seems serene compared to BLT and CR and we've even done Boardwalk view rooms. When we leave the parks, particularly MK, we like to chill and decompress and BLT is not the place for us. I don't know what it is. Maybe because it's just BW is more spread out and the CR seems so cavernous compared to the BW. You also can't beat that walk to Epcot and DHS, which are my parks of choice lately, and access to the Skyliner, which right now, I prefer over the monorail. BLT is not even my first choice to stay in that area if I were doing one of the parties at MK. We've done BLT a couple of times but I probably wouldn't stay there again unless it was all I could get in that area for an event. We much prefer WL, CC, and BRV and taking the boat over.

 

[disneydreamer781]

Just finished up our stay at these 3 resorts. 5 nights at BLT, 5 nights at Riviera, and 7 nights at BWV.

Overall we really enjoyed all 3 resorts. I think BLT was our least favorite room in terms of the room itself, but still a great location to be and we had a great view from the 8th floor overlooking the pool and lake. Also super convenient to have the short trek over to Magic Kingdom.

Riviera and BWV split for our favorite resort.

Riviera obviously has the nicest of the rooms, and we had a great preferred view from floor 9. Quick service food was hands down the best here. Primo is top notch. The only downside for us of staying here during the summer is the pop up storms and the skyliner. 2 or the 5 nights it was down most of the afternoon and evening for storms. Another day it was just down in general from about 1p until close. This is compounded by Bus Times saying to use skyliner. If the skyliner is closed I can’t take the skyliner. But, overlooking that Riviera is wonderful and really glad we stayed there.

Boardwalk is my personal favorite. The Inn always has been, this was our first stay at the Villas (first extended DVC stay since purchasing for us). It did not start out well though. We were first assigned a room on the first floor right next to the laundry for towels, linens, etc. You could hear the washers going through the wall and a loud sound every time the door swung open and closed. The doors were also following off the chest of drawers. We also never got checked in “fully” as our MagicBands didn’t work and we were never able to see bus times, it resulted in an error (my sister who checked in on July 2 at the Inn could see the times, so it was not an error for everybody). We spent about 30 minutes getting our MagicBands linked to the door.

At that point we asked to be moved and luckily they obliged quickly (it helped it was my birthday trip I think). We were moved to the third floor overlooking the Luna pool. After that the last 7 nights of the trip were great. We went to MK and watched fireworks on the 1st and the 3rd. They had the charter buses ready at the bus stop leaving MK. The first night we missed the first bus but literally as soon as the first one pulled out another charter bus pulled in. We were amazed that we even saw the end of Epcot Forever when stepping off the bus. The 2nd time we stayed for the fireworks was even better. We literally stepped off the bus at Boardwalk as Epcot Forever started.

At any rate, that’s my not so quick take on the 3 resorts. We currently have BLT and BWV booked for a split at Christmas.

The WL may not be your thing but even doing a couple of nights there during the holiday season is just incredible! I've stayed in other resorts during the holidays but this resort is at another level this time of year.

 

[kes601]

The WL may not be your thing but even doing a couple of nights there during the holiday season is just incredible! I've stayed in other resorts during the holidays but this resort is at another level this time of year.

We’ve never stayed at WL but have always wanted to — and get to do 12 nights this Christmas at Copper Creek. We are super excited.

 

[crazylady]

The Boardwalk is my favorite too. I've yet to stay at Riviera but we may be doing so this December. As far as BLT goes, I really enjoy the rooms there and then taking the monorail but the place is an absolute madhouse! Contempo Cafe...OMG! So chaotic and noisy! I've stayed at Boardwalk many times and the whole place seems serene compared to BLT and CR and we've even done Boardwalk view rooms. When we leave the parks, particularly MK, we like to chill and decompress and BLT is not the place for us. I don't know what it is. Maybe because it's just BW is more spread out and the CR seems so cavernous compared to the BW. You also can't beat that walk to Epcot and DHS, which are my parks of choice lately, and access to the Skyliner, which right now, I prefer over the monorail. BLT is not even my first choice to stay in that area if I were doing one of the parties at MK. We've done BLT a couple of times but I probably wouldn't stay there again unless it was all I could get in that area for an event. We much prefer WL, CC, and BRV and taking the boat over.

It's always interesting to me to hear other people's opinions. I actually found BLT so relaxing and peaceful. We stayed lakeside and I felt like I was on a whole different type of vacation from one side of the building to the other. I liked that BLT was an a separate building so we didn't have to go into the chaos of the Contemporary at all. Sounds like a good thing that we didn't have to use Contemo Cafe.

 

[disneydreamer781]

It's always interesting to me to hear other people's opinions. I actually found BLT so relaxing and peaceful. We stayed lakeside and I felt like I was on a whole different type of vacation from one side of the building to the other. I liked that BLT was an a separate building so we didn't have to go into the chaos of the Contemporary at all. Sounds like a good thing that we didn't have to use Contemo Cafe.

We stayed there during the holiday season both times so that probably has something to do with it. Wasn't too bad the first time as it was the second time in 2016. It was nuts and yes we spent a lot of time in the Contemporary with shopping and dining that trip and when we moved over to BW that same trip the difference was just so noticeable.