BLT - what has been your experience?

[pinipig523]

Hello!

We were looking to buy a BLT DVC deed, but we have no first hand idea of what it's like staying there.

So, for those who have stayed at BLT - what's it like?

What's great about it? What's not so great about it?

We have stayed at the Polynesian before so we know what to expect with Deluxe resorts... we were thinking about staying at the Contemporary next time we go, but BLT via DVC sounds pretty comparable, no?

Is there a bellman to help you? Is there a main operator's desk in the ground floor?

I know that there isn't daily housekeeping.

Are there any other hotel amenities like room service available?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Have stayed at the Contemporary three times before DVC and have stayed at BLT twice now.

BLT is comparable to the Contemporary. If you think you like the styling of the Contemporary then you'll probably like the styling of BLT.

While there is a desk in the lobby, you would check in through the main front desk over at the Contemporary then go over to your room. So you have full advantage of the Contemporary's services (bell desk, check in / out) etc.

Room service is available.

There are no restaurants actually in BLT, you have to walk over to the Contemporary to get food or shop.

 

[DVC Jen]

I am very much a lover of our home resort - Villas wilderness lodge. Our last trip to WDW was to celebrate the high school graduation of our youngest DD. She really wanted to say at BLT - so we spent 5 nights there and then moved over to VWL for the remaining 5 nights of our trip.

I wasn't expecting to like BLT as much as I did. The rooms were a tiny bit smaller than what we are used to at VWL (we normally stay in studios with four of us) but there was so much more storage we didn't notice it that much.

Housekeeping (not daily for members staying on points) was really good. The very few times we had to call for something (toilet paper and a different wifi cable) it was brought to us very quickly.

The walk over to the contemporary for the restaurants was pleasant.

We did have a Magic Kingdom view and it made our stay there - it was well... magical! The views of the lake side of the resort were also very nice.

We didn't really spend any time at the Top of the World Lounge although we did go up there to see it.

It is a beautiful resort and didn't have the cold feeling I had expected at all.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

I think that BLT has something for everyone.

Some people, like us, love the hustle and bustle of being at WDW. We therefore love our BLT with MK view where we can watch the comings and goings of the monorail, traffic, and train in MK. We love to see the fireworks from our room. We keep our drapes open during the night and love to look at Cinderella`s castle from bed. One year we spent 2 days at BLT (before DVC ownership) and 2 days at the Grand Floridian. We were actually disappointed when we moved over to GF as we no longer felt as connected to Disney. It was nice, don`t get me wrong, but something was missing. We had magic kingdom view there as well but it was not at all the same. The magic was not the same.

There are others who love the serenity that some resorts offer after a long day in the parks. I believe that lake view would offer that type of vacation experience to those folks as well.

It really all depends what type of vacationer you are.

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our BLT DVC.

 

[kerickson]

Pros and Cons from our visit a year ago:

Pros: had two small kids at the time so we loved being able to jump on the monorail and head to Magic Kingdom or Epcot (when kids are older though, I'll prefer proximity to Epcot/Hollywood Studios or DDD). Top of the World Lounge was great. We watched the special Mickey's Christmas fireworks show from up there without having to pay for admission!

Cons: Pool doesn't have much sun exposure. We like to hit the parts in the morning and swim in the afternoon, so this was a con for us. We were there in Nov so the shade wasn't a plus. The horseshoe shape had us looking into other guests rooms which I'm not a fan of.

I assume it has room service, but we don't usually order food that way.
Overall we loved the resort. Being from the West Coast I don't know when we'll be back to WDW, but I'd stay there again.

 

[bobbiwoz]

The bellmen come from the Cont and we used their services coming and going in January, and the service was very good.

I stayed stayed in a studio myself for just 2 nights in January because I've heard how small they were and I wanted to see for myself if it was going to be doable for DH, myself and DGS (8) because we will bring him with us in August and that is where he really wanted to stay. I think that although the studios are smaller than we are used to, we're going to be just fine.

I've stayed in a dedicated 2 bedroom and a 1 bedroom with different people over the years. (Most recently a 1 bedroom with DCuz in January.) I really enjoy the location and the amenities, the shower in the MB, the access to the balcony from the bedroom as well as from the living room and the extra bathroom as opposed to the older DVCs which don't have the 2 baths in the 1 bedroom or the 3 baths in the 2 bedrooms.

DGS really enjoyed the Community room there, and the CM's have been very friendly to him and our other DGC when they used it.

I was thrilled when I was able to get a standard view studio for our stay with our DGS in August!

I'm waiting to see what the VGF will be costing before deciding which monorail DVC we'll add on.

Bobbi

 

[disneynutz]

We bought BLT without ever staying there and we own 5 resorts. Of all of the WDW DVC resorts, we like BLT the least. If you love to visit the MK, BLT is a close walk. Other than that we just don't care for it, the theming isn't magical and we feel like we are staying at any other high rise or condo.

I recommend that you take the time to stay before buying.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

Both the Polynesian and the Contemporary Resort are older resorts, so the rooms are pretty big. BLT is a very new building, so the rooms are a lot smaller when you compare the studio with the hotel room. The hotel room at CR and Polynesian would be comfortable for four or five people. The BLT studio would not be that comfortable for four and five people would not be permitted unless one was under the age of three. But five? Not for this family.

Even so we seldom stay in studios, we've done BWV once for a few days and OKW for a few days. Otherwise, we're always in one bedrooms. Right now we're planning a trip for the two of us (our son might be able to join us for a few nights) and we'll book a one bedroom for the two of us. The king sized bed, washer and dryer and full sized kitchen, as well as the nice living room, make it a choice for us. We love to pack light and go home with clean clothes.

 

[Muushka]

We own at VWL. I love VWL. I am a more natural, green tree, fireplace, totem pole kind of gal.

I LOVED BLT! It was new. I was shiney. It was cool. I loved that urban feel (which shocks me!). I loved the location. I loved the view (could see the lake, pool). Really, I just loved this resort and did not expect to. Which is why I always say, try them all, it may surprise you!

We stayed in a 1 BR. Loved it. Loved sitting out on the balcony at night with my wine and taking in all the sights and sounds.
I loved cooking in that kitchen! It was a fun kitchen. I loved the bathrooms (only used 1, but the other was nice too!).
I loved the proximity to MK. Walked there, monorailed there. Loved being able to take the boat to VWL. Had to have my fix.
And most of all I loved that lounge. We spent many evenings up there.

Yup, really loved BLT

 

[bobbiwoz]

We own at VWL. I love VWL. I am a more natural, green tree, fireplace, totem pole kind of gal.

I LOVED BLT! It was new. I was shiney. It was cool. I loved that urban feel (which shocks me!). I loved the location. I loved the view (could see the lake, pool). Really, I just loved this resort and did not expect to. Which is why I always say, try them all, it may surprise you!

We stayed in a 1 BR. Loved it. Loved sitting out on the balcony at night with my wine and taking in all the sights and sounds.
I loved cooking in that kitchen! It was a fun kitchen. I loved the bathrooms (only used 1, but the other was nice too!).
I loved the proximity to MK. Walked there, monorailed there. Loved being able to take the boat to VWL. Had to have my fix.
And most of all I loved that lounge. We spent many evenings up there.

Yup, really loved BLT

Boy did I smile when I read this because, I love VWL! I love going to National Parks, and think Disney got it right when they built WL & VWL! But I love BLT too, and no one was more surprised than me!

 

[Muushka]

Yup, Bobbi and me, 2 peas in a pod!

 

[fsufan53]

My wife and I fell in love with the Contemporary in 2008 and after staying at the Floridian in 2010 we were so homesick for the Contemporary we bought into BLT. We look at it as our little piece of heaven and would like to buy another 125-150 points so we can have two weeks. This might sound corny, but we feel so blessed to be BLT owners and thank the Lord for the privilege. Please keep im mind I am a banker so this decision came with alot of financial analysis and we think its worth every penny, especially if you go every year.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[disneybride96]

So, you have never stayed in any DVC room?

My husband is at a conference staying at The Grand Floridian this week. He says it doesn't compare with DVC rooms. We have been spoiled.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Poly and Contemporary are a bit different even though both are deluxe and both on the monorail. Since BLT is a more expensive DVC to purchase and you haven't stayed there or at CR (and I consider both to be comparable experiences) I'd really recommend trying it before buying. Yes, you could save on a trip but it's a long term commitment and if you don't like it you won't have saved at all.

 

[pinipig523]

We bought BLT without ever staying there and we own 5 resorts. Of all of the WDW DVC resorts, we like BLT the least. If you love to visit the MK, BLT is a close walk. Other than that we just don't care for it, the theming isn't magical and we feel like we are staying at any other high rise or condo.

I recommend that you take the time to stay before buying.

Bill

Bill...

I think you just sold me on BLT. I don't want something too "theme-y".

 

[Tara]

Bill...

I think you just sold me on BLT. I don't want something too "theme-y".

This is EXACTLY why I love BLT's decor! It isn't over-the-top theme-y...and honestly, a lot of Disney resorts, especially DVC resorts, are heavy on the chintz + stripes + paisley + [insert busy pattern] approach to decorating. I love the clean lines and cheerful color palette at BLT. And the white bed linens! The rooms and public areas have plenty of nods to Disney itself through art that is modern but whimsical.

Also, several people have referenced the small room size. Yes, the studios are the smallest of all DVC studios. But the 1br and 2br units are some of the largest, with OKW being the largest and AKV Kidani running about the same as BLT. My BLT stays have been split stays, always moving from SSR or BCV and the difference in space is very noticeable.

Another thing - at BLT (and AKV Kidani) the 1br units have 2 full bathrooms, and the 2br units have 3 full baths. You won't find this at any other DVC property at WDW.

I would still recommend you try before you buy if you can...it's a big investment!

 

[amypetecar]

Pros
-convenience of monorail is beyond phenominal!
-beautiful views in all categories, even standard
-among the most quiet rooms of any resort
-very easy access to monorail resort pools and restaurants
-close parking to hotel
-don't need a rental car, no bus transfers to other resorts (catch the bus at MK bus depot)
-crowd control for pool area
-High resale value of points. (SSR and AK were built only a year or two before BLT and are worth 1/2 of what BLT resells for)
-nearby recreation options (boats in bay lake, boat ride to fort wilderness, etc, etc)
-the obvious (TOTW lounge, location to MK, only monorail DVC until GF opens)

Cons
-expensive points. both to buy in and total points needed per stay
-studios are very small, but liveable
-wear and tear in rooms seems excellerated b/c rooms are ALWAYS full
-dues jumped very high this year. from mid-$3 to low-$4.... scary trend for 50 year contract
-unattainable grand villas. a MK view week over christmas is just under 1000 points. I get it, christmas week... MK view... but come on... 1000 points?
-risk of poor view for premium view category (3rd floor MK view room, lake view that looks straight on to Contemporary resort instead of lake)

My short answer.... I LOVE BLT and absolutely made the right choice to make blt my home resort!

 

[Muushka]

My wife and I fell in love with the Contemporary in 2008 and after staying at the Floridian in 2010 we were so homesick for the Contemporary we bought into BLT. We look at it as our little piece of heaven and would like to buy another 125-150 points so we can have two weeks. This might sound corny, but we feel so blessed to be BLT owners and thank the Lord for the privilege. Please keep im mind I am a banker so this decision came with alot of financial analysis and we think its worth every penny, especially if you go every year.

Good luck on your decision.

Now that's love! (and not at all corny)

Poly and Contemporary are a bit different even though both are deluxe and both on the monorail. Since BLT is a more expensive DVC to purchase and you haven't stayed there or at CR (and I consider both to be comparable experiences) I'd really recommend trying it before buying. Yes, you could save on a trip but it's a long term commitment and if you don't like it you won't have saved at all.

My reading skills are shot! Kat, great advice. I didn't even notice this aspect of OP's question!

We had stayed at Wilderness Lodge and when VWL came into being, we stayed there to be sure we loved it.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I loved it.... my husband hated it.

I'd stay there before you buy!!!

 

[n2mm]

I bought a contract here and use it only when the grandkids are with us. We love to be able to walk to MK and we like the parking lot here compared to some of the other DVC resorts (BWV mostly). We are often in the standard rooms since I book at the 11 month window. We've stayed here 3 times now since buying.

We don't like the pool because it's too small for this size resort and the community hall is the least favorite of my grandkids. I think this resort needs a nice DVC quiet pool. This is the only pool where you can not really use a noodle as you are often elbow to elbow with the others in it. Though mygranddaughters love the slide here.

We've only stayed in the 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom and we actually like the inside set up better than the outside set up. We like have the large laundry room to store our luggage and other stuff.