BLT worth extra points

[FreeTime]

I have been debating about changing our BWV 2 br to BLT if available. Is it worth the extra points? I am basing it on a standard view BWV to lake view at BLT. 45 more points.
Thanks

 

[Crystal_27]

Well, if you are planning on spending a lot of time at MK (opposed to Epcot or DHS, which are way more convenient to BWV) then BLT might be worth it from a convenience standpoint. If you are going to concentrate more on Epcot and DHS, I would leave your reservation at BWV and plan on checking out BLT at another time. Sure, BLT is cool and everything, but I wouldn't plan a special trip there if it means that you will have to add more travel time into your vacation. Happy planning!

 

[disneynutz]

My thoughts are that everyone needs to try each resort at least once. As Crystal said, I guess it depends on which park if any, you plan to visit more often.

Bill

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

The pros, I think, for BLT are:

• Walking Distance to MK.
• Monorail to 2 other resorts and their restaurants, pools and activities (Poly and GF).
• Single Bus to every other WDW resort (walk to MK bus stop, and get on any resort bus) for dining, pools and activities.
• Boat to WL for it's restaurant and activities.
• LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. Can't be beat.
• Monorail to Epcot is pretty convenient, and fairly quick. Excellent for access to all the restaurants at Epcot...It's not as convenient as BWV for Epcot though...so BWV does win this one...but BLT is still pretty good.
• Pretty much no bad views in the entire resort.
• 2 BR at BLT will have an extra full bathroom, 3 total... instead of the 2 bathrooms at BWV...Could prove vital if you have a lot of people who take a long time in the morning to get ready.
• Top of the world lounge is awesome!
• The theme! (subjective)

Here are some things I consider cons:

• Bathroom doors don't lock.
• No real night life
• A lot of people don't like the theme... not very "Disney" to them. (subjective. I love the theme... and there are hidden Mickeys everywhere.)
• A lot of people don't feel the MK view points are worth it.
• Expensive resort (point wise).

I'm sure other people can add to my lists. Also, some of my "pros" may be cons to you, and vice-versa.

 

[Turk82]

Thanks for the "pros and cons" list....I just bought at BLT today and a lot of that info I didn't know and am excited to find out!

 

[Eeyorerocks!]

I love BLT!! We'll be staying there for a second time in May

We love the convenience and decor of BLT - it even exceeded our expectations (which were pretty high to begin with).

 

[Sandisw]

I would vote yes, especially if having easy access to/from MK is important. However, if you prefer to be at Epcot more, than I would stay at BWV.

We did both resorts last year and just love BLT (stayed in December too!). Of course, we bought in to DVC because they built BLT so we are very biased.

As Bill said, it probably is a good thing to try all the resorts. We are trying BCV next summer for a few nights before switching to BLT for the remainder of our trip.

 

[katied]

For us, YES. We own at BWV and then purchased an add on at BLT. So, when booking at 11 months, we booked BLT for Jan 2011. We'll be travelling with a 7 mo old and a 3 yr old. We'll spend most of our time at MK - so being able to walk to the park is key. I won't have to collapse the stroller for the bus, etc. Also, the pool at BLT has a toddler size slide, and DS loved it this last trip. At BWV, he would be too little for their slide, and would be very disappointed.

We expect as the kids get older, BWV will be a highlight for us again, once they can enjoy some of the Boardwalk actvities, etc. Plus, we'll spend more time at DHS when they can enjoy those rides more.

 

[2Xited4Disney]

I am currently sitting at the desk at our one bedroom and looking out at the castle, monorail orange, just went by. The astro orbitor just went up with another group. there goes monorail grey, the ferry is unloading people from the TTC. Just heard the train.


Is it worth it? Wouldn't you be rather looking at all that rather than out your window right now?

 

[rhodymom]

Yes!! THe only reason I am not switching our Fall ressie there is we got AKL Conceirgie!! Whoot.

Loved it...

 

[CarolMN]

We are BWV owners and until last year spent every WDW DVC trip at BWV. Last year we gave BLT a try, even though I had heartburn over the extra points even the SV there required. We booked a lake view and waitlisted for standard view, which to my surprise, did come through.

I liked BLT, but not as much as BWV. We loved walking to the MK, watching fireworks from the TOTWL and being close to the Cali Grill & The Wave.

I found going anywhere besides the MK to be a pain - took too long, IMO and that included EPCOT (our favorite park). Even though we could use the monorail to go to EPCOT, we had to change monorails at the TTC. Not so bad going to EPCOT, but I did not enjoy going all around the loop after the change to get back to the Contemporary. Sometimes it took 15-20 minutes to transfer between monorails.

I'm glad we gave BLT a try - our 1 bedroom was great. Loved the extra bathroom and even the view was nice (we overlooked the area between BLT & the CR). But we will be going back to staying at our beloved BWV, secure in the knowledge that we still love it best.

TIP: If you take ME to the BLT and are having ME handle your checked luggage (i.e., you do not have luggage under the ME bus), then get off at the first stop (Poly) and take the monorail to the CR. You will be checked in long before the ME bus ever gets to the CR. Saved us at least 30-45 minutes of sitting on the ME bus at the other stops - I think that the CR is usually either last stop or next to last stop.

 

[dvc deernut]

We have points with ssr and bw but generally we stay at okw, we like the atmosphere and less points. This is just my opinion but for those extra 45 points you can stay longer another time. Your only in your room basically at night early morning. We usually get a 2 bedroom take the whole family and stay longer at okw. Or we have stayed at akl because of the atmosphere after we have been at the parks. I think for the extra points id rather stand in mk watch the fireworks from there or see whats going on up close than stay at blt.
But everyone is different and enjoy different things.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

TIP: If you take ME to the BLT and are having ME handle your checked luggage (i.e., you do not have luggage under the ME bus), then get off at the first stop (Poly) and take the monorail to the CR. You will be checked in long before the ME bus ever gets to the CR. Saved us at least 30-45 minutes of sitting on the ME bus at the other stops - I think that the CR is usually either last stop or next to last stop.

Great tip Carol!! Can I just ask, would we need to let the bus driver know that we were getting off the ME bus early and that our luggage was continuing without us, or is that not necessary?? (actually just reread your post - this is the first time we will have done ME - so does your luggage travel seperately anyway if you are letting the ME deliver it to your room later? ) many thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

Great tip Carol!! Can I just ask, would we need to let the bus driver know that we were getting off the ME bus early and that our luggage was continuing without us, or is that not necessary?? (actually just reread your post - this is the first time we will have done ME - so does your luggage travel seperately anyway if you are letting the ME deliver it to your room later? ) many thanks!

If ME is bringing your luggage (ie: you are using the yellow tags), then you don't need to let the driver know.

If you are bringing your own luggage to the ME bus (ie: arriving after 10:00 pm when you have to pick it up and bring it to the bus yourself) then you can not do this as you can't leave your luggage unattended on the ME bus.

I wish I had thought to do this last December. We had only carry on bags with us and it did indeed take a while to go to GF, WL and then to BLT.

 

[sweetdana]

If you are on the DDP, and have hoppers, I'd vote BW or BC over BLT, as you are walking distance to Epcot.
If you have little once, the monorail is convenient. I do not know if the view it self is worth the diff. but the monorail may be.
If you have the QSDP go BLT, as BW doesn't have a good QS place. ... But they do have ENglands Fish and Chips walking distance in Epcot.

If you are going longer than 7 days, consider split stay, best of both worlds. Less than that don't split.
We like splitting 1) get lower point rates on weekends, get benefits of 2 different resorts, and go to MK, and Mickey's BBQ when at BLT an walk to Epcot and MGM while at BWV.
Good luck you will be happy either way!

 

[dizfan]

If you are going longer than 7 days, consider split stay, best of both worlds. Less than that don't split.
We like splitting 1) get lower point rates on weekends, get benefits of 2 different resorts, and go to MK, and Mickey's BBQ when at BLT an walk to Epcot and MGM while at BWV.

This is exactly what we'll be doing in October. We'll be staying at BWV for the first part of the trip going to F&W, including weekend nights. On Sunday, we move to BLT (monorail restaurants, MK, lake activities, and MNSSHP).

To us, both are great resorts.

 

[cg1200]

The pros, I think, for BLT are:

• Walking Distance to MK.
• Monorail to 2 other resorts and their restaurants, pools and activities (Poly and GF).
• Single Bus to every other WDW resort (walk to MK bus stop, and get on any resort bus) for dining, pools and activities.
• Boat to WL for it's restaurant and activities.
• LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. Can't be beat.
• Monorail to Epcot is pretty convenient, and fairly quick. Excellent for access to all the restaurants at Epcot...It's not as convenient as BWV for Epcot though...so BWV does win this one...but BLT is still pretty good.
• Pretty much no bad views in the entire resort.
• 2 BR at BLT will have an extra full bathroom, 3 total... instead of the 2 bathrooms at BWV...Could prove vital if you have a lot of people who take a long time in the morning to get ready.
• Top of the world lounge is awesome!
• The theme! (subjective)

Here are some things I consider cons:

• Bathroom doors don't lock.
• No real night life
• A lot of people don't like the theme... not very "Disney" to them. (subjective. I love the theme... and there are hidden Mickeys everywhere.)
• A lot of people don't feel the MK view points are worth it.
• Expensive resort (point wise).

I'm sure other people can add to my lists. Also, some of my "pros" may be cons to you, and vice-versa.

Great post! This nails in a concise way the major differences between BLT and BWV/BCV. We love both areas and wound up with contracts at both.

 

[CarolMN]

Great tip Carol!! Can I just ask, would we need to let the bus driver know that we were getting off the ME bus early and that our luggage was continuing without us, or is that not necessary?? (actually just reread your post - this is the first time we will have done ME - so does your luggage travel seperately anyway if you are letting the ME deliver it to your room later? ) many thanks!

Sandi already answered this, so I am just confirming. If you put the yellow tags on your luggage, it is shipped to your resort from MCO separately from the bus you ride.

 

[Lost in Neverland]

We stayed at BLT our last visit in January. We loved the extra bath in the dedicated 2 BR. I enjoyed my early mornings watching the boats come to life from their docks going to the TTC docks.But after that the shine sort of faded. Like PP going anywhere except the MK was a pain. The monorail switch was a real pain especially in the rain. It just seemed to take forever to get anywhere. We stayed at OKW the first half of our trip and honestly we got to where we were going just as quick. Have in mind though this was not in a high volume time of the year. But having the bus stop just outside our villa and only having to get on one bus to go anywhere was nice. For the points we will stay at OKW and enjoy the quiet of the golf course.

 

[DonDiegoDeLaVega]

My wife and i recently returned from a DW trip and stayed in BLT room 7718
seventh floor MK view,Studio...for a week the view was great and we both enjoyed it. That being said the view from the TOWL lounge was awesome as well and we both agreed that there was no need in the future to spend the extra points for a MK view ...all the views are amazing. I would say try it once
then save the points for longer or more frequent stays.
We own at BLT and at AK as well...we were at AK last OCT and will be returning this OCT too and love it there with the savanah views and will likely continue the extra point usage there!
Every DVC Resort seems to have its own Magic...and thats what makes owning into the DVC system such a great thing......just my two ears º0º worth