Considering Buying BLT

[Courtjest9]

I went to Disney for Christmas and met with a DVC agent about purchasing points for BLT. I had gone two years ago and met with the same agent, who actually at the time was trying to sell me Animal Kingdom. I would Prefer BLT as it is closer to Magic Kingdom and on the Monorail. The agent told me that the last time I was here that points cost $108 each, then $120, and now are $130 and would only be going up(of course what else is he going to say). They then offered $13 off per point for 200 points and to backdate the purchase to June to get points for 2010. I saw the points at resale were significantly lower and would probably purchase there. I will not be financing. I just has a few questions before I did,

1. Is there any sense in calling the Disney agent and while I don't expect him to match the resale price where he might be willing to throw in other things of value from Disney to possibly even it out.

2. My kids are 4 and 2 so while they love Disney now and for our vacation (they did not even want to return home) will they be feeling the same way in about ten years.

3. For anyone who owns BLT now what are the positives and negatives. What if anything, would you have done differently. I took a look while i was there and it seems like a nice well kept place.

4. Like the last trip, I usually travel around Christmas time. Is that practical to get a reservation at the BLT for this time of the year?

5. Does it make any sense to use your points for a Cruise.

Thanks you in advance

Stuart

 

[walkdmc]

I would not call the DVC agent. They only have so many tricks up their sleeves and cannot match resale prices. Plus, they may make you feel bad about purchasing resale....might even try to scare you. I have never heard, read or experienced anything positive that resulted from someone telling their guide they were considering resale.

For 200 points, would you be visiting every 1 1/2-2 years? I don't think anyone can tell if your kids will get sick of WDW. Honestly, my 9 and 6 yo are tired of WDW. They've been 3 times in the past 1 1/2 years. I love WDW and recently bought DVC at BLT (resale, btw) so I would have no problem going annually but apparently, I'm the only one in my family who feels that way. I would like to use our points (310 annual) for ABD trips in the future. I have never taken a cruise, so can't answer that question.

I love BLT, mainly for the location. I am a fan of the decor also. There is no comparing DVC rooms to traditional resort rooms. I love having a W/D as well as kitchen. And, the CR has THE BEST arcade on property, IMO. My kids love to visit it at least once during the stay.

 

[cvjw]

My kids are 14 and 11, and we have been going at least once a year for the last 10 years. Some years, we visited more than once - last year, we went 4 times to Disney. My kids never tire of Disney, but they have grown up with Disney. They were just asking today could we visit before our next scheduled trip in May.

 

[Sandisw]

We bought BLT and we love the resort. The ease to/from MK just can't be beat. This is our favorite park and we visit it almost daily when we go on our yearly trips.

Prior to DVC, we mostly stayed at CR for this reason so I knew the resort area well when we decided to become DVC members, buying at BLT.

I don't think I can tell you very many cons yet and have found that the rooms in which we have stayed (been there 3 times) have been in fine shape--although I have read that some are really showing wear.

I would probably say that I wish was different was the size of the studio. It was a little tight for 4 people. The other issue, the sliding bathroom door with no lock, is being fixed, so no longer something to worry about. And, I wish they had more ice machines in the building. I know that you can turn it on in the refrigerator, but it ours a full day to make ice last summer and we were only there 3 nights. Finding that room was a little tough as I believe there are only two in the entire building.

We have been going since 1994, pretty much yearly, and my kids still enjoy it. However, now that they are older, they enjoy it much differently. The fact that we will be visiting so often, I am no longer concerned when they want to tour for a few hours in the AM and then hang out in the room and/or pool the rest of the day. DH and I head to a park if we want and leave them to their own devices--of course, they are 22, 18, and 14 1/2 (and the younger one usually comes with us).

Using the points to cruise does not maximize the value and I would not suggest to anyone to buy for that purpose. However, we will have no problem using points for a cruise if we decide to skip WDW that year and cruise instead. For me, it makes no difference if I spend 220 points at WDW or 220 points cruising. That is why I bought the points--to cover my yearly vacation.

Good luck!

 

[walkdmc]

I just wanted to add that several DVC families I met had older kids. They found when their kids became teenagers, they wanted to take friends. Then, they hang out with their friends (mainly at the water parks). Without DVC, I would not invite someone outside the family along, just too expensive to book multiple resort rooms.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

1) I doubt they would do anything to match a resale price. They usually offer you the current year points so essentially your first year you have double points so that is what they consider to be an even trade.

2) Well, I dunno. Your mileage may vary. I am hoping that my DD4 (who has now been twice) will continue to love it. We won't do WDW every single year, although we will do Aulani & DL every other year. We don't think we will do it, but there is a possibly of trying the SS Member cruise or an Alaskan cruise in a couple of years.

3) If I had to do it over again I would have bought the moment BLT started selling to get it cheaper then I did. We have made two trips to WDW on DVC. BLT once (after many Contemporary and GF stays in years previous) and love it. We also did AKV (first time). While the hotel was awesome and I can see going back there in 5-10 years when we aren't planning on doing much park touring AKV just seemed too far away with a 4 year old. Walking to the Magic Kingdom from BLT is just awesome. Hoping on the monorail and quickly switching over to EPCOT was just great.

4) If you own at BLT and book at the moment your 11 month window opens up you shouldn't have much problem. BLT has a lot of rooms. If you wanted something specific (like a standard view room, or a grand villa or something like that) it might be more difficult but I haven't tried that yet.

5) People on the boards say no, but I haven't crunched the numbers yet.

You will see lots of people rag on BLT about the furniture getting nicked, etc. I would not pay them much mind. When I was at AKV, the furniture, carpet, and shower area showed wear if you looked for it. It's just the style of BLT makes the nicks and such more apparent.

 

[thicks]

Condo's I have stayed in, in general, have not had effecient washer amd dryers. It took a long time for them to cycle; are the ones in blt any different?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Condo's I have stayed in, in general, have not had effecient washer amd dryers. It took a long time for them to cycle; are the ones in blt any different?

We did use the Washer and Dryer in our 1BR stay. They were brand new models (I work in appliances and they were new generation appliance). In general, we would throw stuff in on the way to the parks or just before turning in for the night so I didn't really check into how quickly they washed / dried stuff.

 

[Twinprincesses]

We love our BLT!! The only portion I do not like is that the drink machine is so far away. Other than that it is an amazing resort.

 

[thicks]

Ok, exactly what I was wanting to know. Thanks.

 

[walkdmc]

We were a party of 6, with 4 kids so we did a lot of laundry. The machines worked much better than the old units in the Poly's laundry room. A load took about 30 minutes to wash and 45 minutes to dry, no issues.

 

[sdzta]

We had looked at DVC a few years ago but decided not to purchase at that time. We went to Disney last month and decided to purchase. My kids are 8, 7, 4 and 2 and have all been to Disney the equivalent of their ages.
I grew up going to Disney and honestly went with my grandparents through college. My kids love it and are already asking when are we going back and we just got home Dec 17th.

I guess it really just depends on the family.

Good luck deciding!

 

[dbs1228]

We have been going to WDW for 15 years, now my youngest DD is almost 16 the other 2 in college and we finally took the plunge! BLT and location was the reason. My kids never tired of Disney after all these years but then again we stayed at the cabins and always had a home away from home and easy access to MK (our favorite park)! I have been twice since owning DVC and stayed in a 2 bdrm at OKW with girlfriends, and 2 bdrm at BLT with DH and our 2 BFF's, going back with the family in Feb and I am so happy I bought BLT. I love it and have no regrets, I LOVE being able to bring people with us also to share in the experience.

 

[mdphilps]

I went to Disney for Christmas and met with a DVC agent about purchasing points for BLT. I had gone two years ago and met with the same agent, who actually at the time was trying to sell me Animal Kingdom. I would Prefer BLT as it is closer to Magic Kingdom and on the Monorail. The agent told me that the last time I was here that points cost $108 each, then $120, and now are $130 and would only be going up(of course what else is he going to say). They then offered $13 off per point for 200 points and to backdate the purchase to June to get points for 2010. I saw the points at resale were significantly lower and would probably purchase there. I will not be financing. I just has a few questions before I did,

1. Is there any sense in calling the Disney agent and while I don't expect him to match the resale price where he might be willing to throw in other things of value from Disney to possibly even it out.

2. My kids are 4 and 2 so while they love Disney now and for our vacation (they did not even want to return home) will they be feeling the same way in about ten years.

3. For anyone who owns BLT now what are the positives and negatives. What if anything, would you have done differently. I took a look while i was there and it seems like a nice well kept place.

4. Like the last trip, I usually travel around Christmas time. Is that practical to get a reservation at the BLT for this time of the year?

5. Does it make any sense to use your points for a Cruise.

Thanks you in advance

Stuart

You should stay @ BLT first before buying.....you may not like it

 

[heathrow42]

1. Is there any sense in calling the Disney agent and while I don't expect him to match the resale price where he might be willing to throw in other things of value from Disney to possibly even it out.

2. My kids are 4 and 2 so while they love Disney now and for our vacation (they did not even want to return home) will they be feeling the same way in about ten years.

3. For anyone who owns BLT now what are the positives and negatives. What if anything, would you have done differently. I took a look while i was there and it seems like a nice well kept place.

4. Like the last trip, I usually travel around Christmas time. Is that practical to get a reservation at the BLT for this time of the year?

5. Does it make any sense to use your points for a Cruise.

Thanks you in advance

Stuart

My daughter is almost 2, we go to Disney several times a year. Everyone tells us she will be sick of it in a few years -- my answer is always the same.. *if* that happens, that's fine with me, but until she is old enough to drive/stayhome alone/goes to college, she's going to Disney with us, or staying with her grandparents while we go (though, grandma usually comes with us, so not sure that will work in her favor) There are far worse things in the world than being dragged to Disneyworld by your parents. We travel lots of other places around the world too, so it's not as though she is being deprived of any other experiences. I think I left my state all of 3 or 4 times before I was 16 - and I had never been to FL till after I left home. I make up for it by traveling lots now

We own at BLT - what would we have done differently: see the size of studio room and buy more points. We had budgeted to buy enough points to cover a week in a studio w/ a MK view. The BLT studios are awful, ridiculously small. The day after we bought I found out I was pregnant- in 2009 we stayed in a studio with the baby and I cried - there just wasn't enough room. No room for your luggage, no room for the packnplay - no room to walk by the side of the bed to get out of the bed. We borrowed points and moved to a 1BR. Stayed in a 1BR on our second BLT stay in 2010 - but we keep having to borrow. Another year of this and we won't have enough points to borrow and of course now the price for points is higher. The 1BR is really nice - we had plenty of space. The only other thing I don't care for, is that you have to checkin at CR and then go over to BLT. It would be nice if they had a checkin desk at BLT. It's not a big deal and you only need to checkin once.

We usually do our CR (now BLT) trip in December - we usually go for a week before Christmas, and leave by the 21st (example: 11-18). We have had trouble getting an MK view 1 BR - and that first year I couldn't get an MK view or Standard view studio, even calling the first day. We've ended up with lake views- I suppose this means that folks staying in MK or standard have checked into all the rooms before we arrive. Hard for me to believe. I think you can get a reservation - you just have to call on your 11mo booking day at the crack of dawn and be flexible about your room view.

--Heather

 

[ToddyLu]

If you purchase resale try to get two smaller contracts since they are easier to sale later if needed. So if you want 200 points get 2-100 point contracts listed the exactly the same on the title, with the same use year. That is the only thing I would have done differently.