Considering BLT Resale Purchase

[VGCgroupie]

Thanks, so much - and I just went over to your thread to see how you came out too. LOVED reading your story, and it really is such a good example of staying before buying. My head says, make sure I do that and follow your example. But, I'd be lying if I said was definitely not going to put an offer in on the right BLT resale contract. Part of me wants to figure out when I can book there and go experience it, and part of me just wants to make a go for those points!

I totally get it. It's very hard to resist good deals. I can say if I had caved and bought a very good deal BLT before our trip it wouldn't have been the worst thing. It wouldn't have been an SSR/OKW purchase

 

[cruisehopeful]

.But, I'd be lying if I said was definitely not going to put an offer in on the right BLT resale contract.

There's really no harm in doing that. If you will be happy staying there, that's what matters. If you can take emotion out of it and plan on only buying within certain parameters and stick to your guns, I think you'll make a good choice. It's a buyer's market. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If they give you any pushback, walk away. There will be another one soon.

 

[PolyRob]

People always knock the themeing and to me i truly dont get it. It has a lot of nods to classic Disney! Mickey is in so many places at the CR and BLT. He was all over the carpet and rooms before.

Now with the refurbished rooms you have the castle and nods to the attractions from a renowed Disney artist that did designs for Tokyo Disney as well!

There's awesome Mary Blair artwork in the CR lobby, character breakfast with the Fab 5, fantasia themed shop with lots of Disney merch. I mean really its the most Disney themed resort aside from the VDH and Riv which is on par. The nods for Disney fans are all there.

It's one of the Original Disney World hotels with a lot of history. I love The A frame retro 70s nostalgia look mixed with bright colors and modern designs. I do consider staying there to be part of CR when I write this because they are connected and a stay there means walking to CR for your restaurants and what not.

Okay you can tell im a fan, but short of Tinkerbell flying around the tower during the fireworks (something i have daydreamed about ), i really dont know what people expect. It is a great , thoughtfully themed Disney resort! Timeless and not cheesy.

I do love Bay View Gifts. It may look a bit tired, but it's basically a mini Emporium and usually has everything I saw in the parks that caught my eye + a confectionary case. You'll never convince me about Chef Mickey's though

 

[PolyRob]

Yeah, it’s interesting. I think she may have been able to read the tea leaves since my email to her was all about BLT with a passing glance to VGF and PIT. She was also not in the office the next two days, so if my wife wants to do the tour, she’d have to hand it off to another guide too. So, I get it. She was very nice and has been very helpful.

If I can convince my wife to do it, I would actually have her go to the VGF tour and then take the monorail over to check out what she can at BLT and the Contemporary. We’ll see if I can - she may not feel like she has the time given her other commitments while she’s down there.

This may be a dangerous idea! What if she falls in love with VGF? It sounds like they're going to tour her around the original villa building and probably close with that gorgeous grand villa

 

[VGCgroupie]

This may be a dangerous idea! What if she falls in love with VGF? It sounds like they're going to tour her around the original villa building and probably close with that gorgeous grand villa

I would've loved to have fallen in love with VGF. In fairness I didnt get to see any of the rooms. I think if I could choose one to fall in love with VGF or BLT I would want to fall in love with VGF.

 

[PolyRob]

I would've loved to have fallen in love with VGF. In fairness I didnt get to see any of the rooms. I think if I could choose one to fall in love with VGF or BLT I would want to fall in love with VGF.

I am definitely biased based on my home resort, but the lobby comparison alone! I also love penguins

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am definitely biased based on my home resort, but the lobby comparison alone! I also love penguins

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I missed the penguins... It looks very clean for under construction but I know no construction would've made a huge difference in how it felt to us. But I was so mf hot and sweaty that also made me feel a bit put of place because it was so nice and calm and fancy.

 

[Bo1203]

Just did a split stay at BLT and RR. Was great getting some late nights at MK and walking back to our room at BLT. We'd never stayed at MK area resort, was a nice change scenery and restaurants. The cheaper point charts and on par dues have us wanting a BLT contract.

The pool and views of the lake go under appreciated in my opinion.

 

[PolyRob]

I missed the penguins... It looks very clean for under construction but I know no construction would've made a huge difference in how it felt to us. But I was so mf hot and sweaty that also made me feel a bit put of place because it was so nice and calm and fancy.

Ohhh the penguin fountain is located in the original villa building lobby which isn’t under construction! The main resort lobby is under construction. It’s similar to how Island Tower has its own lobby compared to the Great Ceremonial House.

 

[WDWfantasy]

I would've loved to have fallen in love with VGF. In fairness I didnt get to see any of the rooms. I think if I could choose one to fall in love with VGF or BLT I would want to fall in love with VGF.

Studios with real glasses and real coffee cups. All rooms with robes. A pianist in the lobby. I VGF!!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Ohhh the penguin fountain is located in the original villa building lobby which isn’t under construction! The main resort lobby is under construction. It’s similar to how Island Tower has its own lobby compared to the Great Ceremonial House.

Well shiz. I had no idea.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Studios with real glasses and real coffee cups. All rooms with robes. A pianist in the lobby. I VGF!!

We went to the wrong lobby Its okay I still think I would've landed on the same choice. But I will have to stop by on our next trip so I get to see it.

 

[Girlstar30]

I do love Bay View Gifts. It may look a bit tired, but it's basically a mini Emporium and usually has everything I saw in the parks that caught my eye + a confectionary case. You'll never convince me about Chef Mickey's though

We all really liked the food, especially the cinnamon rolls! My wife really liked that it was the only buffett we went to that has "Mexican" style food. The characters were really animated with us as well, the kids loved it, our server was excellent too!

 

[Girlstar30]

Same here, but didnt happen for me

I would've loved to have fallen in love with VGF. In fairness I didnt get to see any of the rooms. I think if I could choose one to fall in love with VGF or BLT I would want to fall in love with VGF.

 

[MsChristy12]

@airjay75 since you mentioned WL, I will throw my two cents in too. We own both BLT and BRV and we bought the latter first. It's the resort my husband and I both agreed we love, and can see ourselves staying there over and over again, and will still love it. It's not the most convenient resort, but we always rent a car when we are in Orlando, so it's not a deal breaker. I'm not sure if people will look at BRV or CCV as an option if they want a resort close to MK though, simply because it's not close enough and boat/bus aren't as quick as monorail or walking.

I can tell you that, majority of people who own BRV/CCV (ourselves included), we simply just love the resort and the serenity, nothing else. It's pretty close to MK but yet very peaceful like you're miles and miles away. It's a tucked away little oasis. During the holidays, that's when a lot more people love WL! If you don't own there, you aren't getting a room at 7 months in December. well maybe a random 1 or 2 nights, that's possible So unless WL is your vibe and there's something specific you love about it, I think BLT is a better choice for you.

 

[airjay75]

This may be a dangerous idea! What if she falls in love with VGF? It sounds like they're going to tour her around the original villa building and probably close with that gorgeous grand villa

Haha - you are probably right about this. I suppose if she did, I'd at least I'd slow things down to the point of being, ok, well I need to come see this too then, and then maybe we'll think about it after that.

Alas, it looks like she is going to skip making the drive over while she's down there is weekend. Probably a good thing to help slow me down. Talked to my guide again, and she was very positive about showing us VGF in July. I think we'd both have to really, really love VGF for me to pull the trigger there.

 

[airjay75]

There's really no harm in doing that. If you will be happy staying there, that's what matters. If you can take emotion out of it and plan on only buying within certain parameters and stick to your guns, I think you'll make a good choice. It's a buyer's market. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If they give you any pushback, walk away. There will be another one soon.

Thanks. I like how you're thinking. I've been giving some thought to, if I do put in an offer on a BLT resale contract, I need to feel really good about the fact that I'm getting a good deal. If I can get confident enough about where I think that price point is, and I'm able to strike a deal with a seller that is within those parameters, I'd probably go for it. But, I need to be really clear about that is - seeing as we've never actually been or stayed at BLT, there is no need to get emotionally attached to getting a contract. Worst case, walk away, and I get more time. Been spending a fair amount of time over on the ROFR threads to get a better sense of where the market is.

 

[PolyRob]

We all really liked the food, especially the cinnamon rolls! My wife really liked that it was the only buffett we went to that has "Mexican" style food. The characters were really animated with us as well, the kids loved it, our server was excellent too!

I am glad your entire family had a positive experience! It just always seems very chaotic compared to other WDW character meals. I admit I personally prefer the family style and individually plated character meals than the traditional buffet.

 

[PolyRob]

Haha - you are probably right about this. I suppose if she did, I'd at least I'd slow things down to the point of being, ok, well I need to come see this too then, and then maybe we'll think about it after that.

Alas, it looks like she is going to skip making the drive over while she's down there is weekend. Probably a good thing to help slow me down. Talked to my guide again, and she was very positive about showing us VGF in July. I think we'd both have to really, really love VGF for me to pull the trigger there.

It's nice you can both tour it together in July! It's a completely different experience than BLT. If you're going for a "deal" BLT can't be beat on the monorail for price and access to MK. If you're going for a theme/style and amenities that's where VGF wins for me. Walkability to Poly also helps.

 

[airjay75]

@airjay75 since you mentioned WL, I will throw my two cents in too. We own both BLT and BRV and we bought the latter first. It's the resort my husband and I both agreed we love, and can see ourselves staying there over and over again, and will still love it. It's not the most convenient resort, but we always rent a car when we are in Orlando, so it's not a deal breaker. I'm not sure if people will look at BRV or CCV as an option if they want a resort close to MK though, simply because it's not close enough and boat/bus aren't as quick as monorail or walking.

I can tell you that, majority of people who own BRV/CCV (ourselves included), we simply just love the resort and the serenity, nothing else. It's pretty close to MK but yet very peaceful like you're miles and miles away. It's a tucked away little oasis. During the holidays, that's when a lot more people love WL! If you don't own there, you aren't getting a room at 7 months in December. well maybe a random 1 or 2 nights, that's possible So unless WL is your vibe and there's something specific you love about it, I think BLT is a better choice for you.

Thanks for sharing this. The way you describe BRV/CCV has a lot of similarities to how we feel about Riviera and why we made our initial purchase of points there, and feel like that is our keeper for the long-term. Just fell in love and could see ourselves going there for years to come. I guess that is, to some degree, what makes me open to BLT without having stayed there - what I want is a MK resort to use for partial stays. Sure, I want to like it - would be great if I love it - but, BLT is clearly the cheapest price point into the monorail resorts, and seems like there is a pretty good possibility we will really like it.

I did spend a little time looking at BRV/CCV earlier today just to see what feels I was getting as an initial matter because I just haven't done much thinking about it. It does seem like a very nice resort. I probably should give it some more attention than I have. I think part of the problem is, everytime I see the Pacific Northwest theming, it just seems sort of out of place for me - I grew up in Montana and love the mountains, but that's not really what I picture when I go to Florida. Still, might not know exactly how I would feel about it until I see it, and just because I feel that way doesn't meet the wife and kids will (and ultimately, this is, to a large degree, for them). All more reasons to slow myself down and see these resorts myself.