Is BLT Lake view worth extra points

[emmababy]

We are currently booked for BWV 1 br standard view next March. Now my niece is coming- so we are looking to do BLT for the sleep chair and extra bathroom. However, standard view not avail and Lake view would be 70 more points!!! That seems like a crazy amount more. The standard view was only going to be 33 more which was reasonable...

 

[luckyman_apd]

We are currently booked for BWV 1 br standard view next March. Now my niece is coming- so we are looking to do BLT for the sleep chair and extra bathroom. However, standard view not avail and Lake view would be 70 more points!!! That seems like a crazy amount more. The standard view was only going to be 33 more which was reasonable...

As a BLT owner and a low points owner, I lean toward no....and unless you own there, it's doubtful you ever would get SV. Now I'm in the opposite end. I have BLT SV booked for next July, and would consider switching (studio) to BWV as we really want to try it. But if i can't get BWV at SV than it's not worth it. It's a 9 point difference for BLT over BWV preferred for the entire trip. But if I could get SV it would be like 31 points.

The thing with BLT is the proximity to MK and having the Monorail for Epcot. The sleep chair is sure better than the floor and an extra shower/bathroom is always a + but 70 points is a lot. Think of it like this....(i'm undervaluing here) but lets just say at $10 a point, is it worth $700 for the difference? Me, I pick SV to save points for 2 reasons...A) I don't have a lot to begin with....and B) I value another trip by saving points over an upgraded room. The catch here is do you value BLT over BWV. Personally my wife values BLT over other resorts...so we bought there so I can get SV at 11 months out to save the points.

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

I think its really a matter of opinion.
We frequent BLT and always do a lake view on the marina side. We refuse to spend the points on theme park views when there are a million places to watch the fireworks from - Roof of BLT, the walkway, the CR balcony at the walkway, any window from the north tower hallways..... you get the picture.

We do like the marina side because many times we just like to lounge on our balcony and....... wait for it...... view the fireworks! Its relaxing to just have some coffee or an adult beverage and be able to chill out in your pjs right on your own balcony to view them.
Also, on the marina side you can see the Epcot fireworks, and the Electrical lake show goes right by, which is kind of nice.
Get the right room and you'll be able to watch the weekly movie on the green from your balcony as well.

On the other hand, if you don't want to spend the points, then Id say stick with your standard view. You could always request a room over the pool, which would be much nicer than the parking lot in my opinion.

Before becoming DVC members, we always said "we don't go to Disney for the hotels"
NOw that we are in BLT regularly, we don't ever want any less than a Marina Side Lake View.

 

[hakepb]

Kidani Standard would also have the extra chair and bathroom and should have greater availability, but no park proximity. (Sure, Jambo has the chair but its a weird bathroom arrangement)
OKW also has a sleeper chair, and would be a bigger room than BWV.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I guess I would wait list the SV 1 bedroom and let "fate" decide! Unless...
Do you need the extra sleep chair? Will the sofa bed already be used? If so, then, yes, I would bite the bullet and pay the points.

Bobbi

PS. Something else to consider, is your niece's coming more or less set in stone?

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

Annnnnddddd I totally missed the whole BWV portion of your question. Thought you were referring to BLT standard vs lake view.

My bad....

-Clearly im in desperate need of a Disney vacation because my brain is frazzled.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Before becoming DVC members, we always said "we don't go to Disney for the hotels"
NOw that we are in BLT regularly, we don't ever want any less than a Marina Side Lake View.

I have to say, while others hate the decor and complained of the cheap furniture and other problems....I do love BLT. Originally I felt as though my wife and I should have bought SSR and and maybe for the price difference could have even gotten more points.....Well, I'm glad she insisted on BLT, as Dec will be our 2nd BLT trip that we WOULDN'T have had a room there if we didn't own, let alone the SV we have this time. But I have yet to stay at BW or BC.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It seems like the real question in your case is if having the extra sleeper chair and extra bathroom are worth 70 more points. AKV also has that at Kidani and would be fewer points than a BLT lakeview. And Jambo savanna view and standard view have the extra sleeper chair although not the extra bathroom.

 

[nalajms]

You are comparing such different resorts. To just pin it down to an extra bathroom and sleeper chair isn't a fair comparison. As other people have stated, AKV gives you the extras without 70 extra points. So really, the extra points are paying for the resort location rather than the room.

If you want to be near MK and monorail, take the room. If you really need the extra sleeper chair but don't care about location, look at AKV. If none of the above, stick with BWV. The SV views there are pretty hard to get as well. And for the location and points used, I think it's the best deal.

Good luck!

 

[drusba]

As to whether lake view at BLT is worth it, personal view is definitely yes. I have had theme park view and consider the lake view to be better. TP view has an ugly parking lot below your room and is good mainly for seeing castle and fireworks at night. Lake view is good view all day long. As noted above, AKV standard (or savanna view) would also give you the extra sleeper chair and larger room than BWV; another option is OKW, which has the largest 1BRs and now has the sleeper chair, for points close to what you are paying for BWV standard.

 

[g.armor]

We frequent BLT and always do a lake view on the marina side.

Where is the "marina side?"

We do like the marina side because many times we just like to lounge on our balcony and....... wait for it...... view the fireworks!

Are the Epcot fireworks the only fireworks you can see from this side?

You could always request a room over the pool

What "view" is this considered?

Thank you!!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Where is the "marina side?"

Are the Epcot fireworks the only fireworks you can see from this side?

What "view" is this considered?

Thank you!!

The pool is on the inside of the C so all but the lowest floors are lake view on the inside ring

 

[drusba]

The C-shaped building has a north side (top of that C) where the outer wall faces lake, woods, and partly MK (to the west), and a south wall (bottom of that C) that faces toward part of Contemporary, Epcot, the lake, and the main Contemporary marina. The internal part of the C looks over the pool and the lake toward what used to be Discovery Island. The very front/outer west side of the C has your TP rooms. All the rooms on the outer part of the C are even numbered and all within the C are odd. A good request for lake view is high floor and then depending on preference one of the following: (a) North wall/even numbered room (has best of both worlds, a lake view and a theme park view); (b) south wall/even numbered room (to get view of Epcot, marina, the nightly water parade); (c) or if you want the internal C ask for odd numbered room or pool view and perhaps a room location (I prefer rooms in the center part of the building there)

 

[deedisneydream97]

How old is your niece? Is she coming with her parents? Have you considered either getting a separate studio at BWV or a two bedroom? We love both resorts...and I must have my theme park view at BLT! Although I have heard wonderful things about lake view....and the one-bedrooms are awesome with the extra bathroom. Maybe in a few more years we will get tired of theme park view and save points with lake or standard....it is such a wonderfully located resort (just not a big fan of the pool). When we stay at BWV, though, we always want the standard view one-bedroom. We actually enjoy watching the driveway and people....and are sometimes lucky enough to get a room without a tree blocking the epcot fireworks. Lots of other good suggestions posted here though.

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

Where is the "marina side?"

Are the Epcot fireworks the only fireworks you can see from this side?

What "view" is this considered?

Thank you!!

Marina side is overlooking the walkway, CR pool and water sport area of the lake.

With the right luck of room placement youll be abke to see epcit fireworks to your left and MK fireworks on your right.

I believe pool views are considered standard. But not 100% positive. It will be on the interior side of the building which is shaped like a half circle.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Marina side is overlooking the walkway, CR pool and water sport area of the lake.

With the right luck of room placement youll be abke to see epcit fireworks to your left and MK fireworks on your right.

I believe pool views are considered standard. But not 100% positive. It will be on the interior side of the building which is shaped like a half circle.

Only lower floors are standard.

 

[sweetdana]

Wouldn't the 2 bedroom at BW be close to the sane points as the 1bd at BLT?

 

[hakepb]

Marina side is overlooking the walkway, CR pool and water sport area of the lake.

With the right luck of room placement youll be abke to see epcit fireworks to your left and MK fireworks on your right.

I believe pool views are considered standard. But not 100% positive. It will be on the interior side of the building which is shaped like a half circle.

Here's a panorama I took on the bridge. I guess You can see the marina view BLT rooms to the left, the marina in the middle and the contemporary to the right.

Most of the "inside" rooms are lake view (of Bay Lake ). The rooms do not curve, instead it is 3 blocks of straight rooms. My "inside" room had a very nice view of Bay Lake from the 5th floor. I was pleasantly suprised I did not feel like I was looking at other rooms.

 

[emmababy]

Wow! Thanks everyone. We love BWV location for the same reason BLT owners love theirs. We decided to wait list a 2 br BWV. We considered a split stay with AKV but it might be too remote for us and we are planning 3 days at beach so too much moving.

My niece is 20 and we have 3 little ones who wouldn't mind to sleep on floor. But the extra bathroom would be nice.

My hubby is really anti moving once we get there.

 

[Sammie]

Wow! Thanks everyone. We love BWV location for the same reason BLT owners love theirs. We decided to wait list a 2 br BWV. We considered a split stay with AKV but it might be too remote for us and we are planning 3 days at beach so too much moving.

My niece is 20 and we have 3 little ones who wouldn't mind to sleep on floor. But the extra bathroom would be nice.

My hubby is really anti moving once we get there.

So with the niece you will have 6 in your room, definitely get the 2 bedroom. I am guessing one of your little ones is under 3 due to occupancy levels.