CR or BLT, maybe switch all together

[divabydisney]

I am currently at BLT. I've been going back/forth on trying to justify it. It will be our first time at the parks and I'm going by myself. Initially, my thought was to save time on busses and such and stay at a resort with the monorail. Now looking at how much I can save by staying at SSR I am really undecided. If I switch to CR it will save a little but is it still worth it. I've been to MK before, kids have not. They are not little/in strollers but am sure will be exhausted (aren't all kids? ). I can go back and forth a million times. Oh and one last thing to add, due to the costs of all of this, I most likely will not return soon, so I really want to make the most of this trip. Have no idea if/when we'd be able to come back.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well the main difference between the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower besides the room categories is that all the stores, restaurants, transportation options, check-in, Bell Services and Valet Parking is all located at the Contemporary. So when staying at Bay Lake Tower you are basically depending on the Contemporary for all those needs which could make staying there a lot easier.

 

[sam_gordon]

We just returned from BLT. The best thing for us was the room size. A single bedroom suite was perfect for our family of 5!

If we go to WDW again as a full family, we will continue with renting DVC points for the extra space.

Taking away the room size, & comparing w/CR...
As mentioned all the shops, food, & transportation is at CR. No, it's not far, but for us to get breakfast (for example) for the family... down the hall, elevator to 5th floor, walk across to CR, pickout food, carry food across walkway, up elevator, and down hallway to room.

I don't know if you're staying on points or cash, but if you're using points, at BLT you have access to community hall (we didn't use).

As far as transportation, BLT/CR is VERY close to MK. But if you're not going to spend a lot of time there, you might do better at Yacht Club or Boardwalk (if you're staying DVC). That's probably what we'll do. That gets you close to EC & DHS.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you are at BLT, hopefully you are in a one bedroom and not a studio. The studios are very small.

 

[divabydisney]

Yes, I'm at a studio now and paying cash. No points for us. So I really may just switch it out to save the couple extra hundred bucks and the 5 minute walk.

 

[Sammie]

I agree the studios at BLT are small. We don't ever pick a resort due to transportation.

No place is truly that much better and when we were there at the end of May at SSR as we were getting off the bus and going into the Magic Kingdom the monorail was stuck on the track.

We found the buses at SSR to be very efficient and quick.

 

[goopysolelady]

We were at BLT last summer and absolutely loved it! You don't even NEED to take the monorail...MK is a short walk away. Monorail to TTC for EPCOT; buses to HS & AK. Sooooo simple. As for the walk for breakfast...I actually enjoyed it! Would be the first out of bed and dressed; would wake the rest of our group as I left and they were able to have "bathroom time" and get dressed while I went for breakfast. The only thing I'm not sure of (for your family) is the studio. We were a group of 7 and were in the 2 bedroom (DD is a DVC member). Have never been in a studio so can't say one way or the other on that. We loved the pool area...small but that was a blessing with the 2 DGD's. Liked the pool side activities also. Don't know if you're driving but parking lot is close to BLT entrance. Personally, I wouldn't trade the location...especially for access to MK/Epcot; I just can't imagine all those bus trips with children. Good luck on your decision.

PS...I have BLT photos posted on the BLT thread - Resorts Photos & Videos

 

[Deb & Bill]

...No place is truly that much better and when we were there at the end of May at SSR as we were getting off the bus and going into the Magic Kingdom the monorail was stuck on the track.

We found the buses at SSR to be very efficient and quick.

Same with us in early June. We took the bus to Epcot. After we were there for a while, we headed to MK on the Epcot monorail. When we arrived at the TTC, both MK monorails (the resort and express) were both down and they were transporting guests via ferry and bus. The line for the buses was very long, so we opted for the ferry. It took five ferries before we were able to get on one to the MK. When we went back to Epcot after eating at the MK, the monorails were working again, but I was a bit leery.

You'll really want to get out of that BLT studio if there is more than two of you. It is really small compared to the CR hotel room or BLT one bedroom. SSR is a great resort, too. Lots of space, good buses, nice pools.

 

[divabydisney]

Will the new pool at SSR be open by October?

 

[stazmatic]

The walk from BLT to CR is NOTHING compared to the walk from AKL-Kidani to Jambo House. We stayed at BLT and loved everything about it. It was the perfect vacation in every way. Also, staying at CR unless you are paying extra for the Tower you will probably have the same distance walk from the garden buildings to the main buildings. Staying at BLT you have access to both pools, at CR you can only use the CR pool.
SSR is huge, very spread out and you will most likely be just as far away from the food court there. Also, our kids didn't find anything on the food court menu at SSR that they liked. The food is not kid friendly at all.
I much prefer walking to MK than any other form of transportation. It is much faster to walk to BLT or CR from MK than take a monorail.