Poll - which hotel?

[Jhondy]

Which hotel would you choose? The trip is just me and my DD who will be 20 months. We will be going mid April. It’s the first time I’m traveling by myself with her and this is a trip to celebrate my bday. So choices are:

1. BLT studio - TP view.
I love BLT but idk if 300 dollars more than BRV is worth it for a 5 night stay. The other issue is the only dates that this room is available would involve us flying in on my birthday. We’d still make it to disney before lunch time and it would mean DD doesn’t miss her once a week dance class (the other ones she will miss a class)

2. Poly Studio
I’ve never stayed here before. I know monorail is currently not stopping at the hotel but I’ve also heard the walk to TTC isn’t bad. I feel like this has a better pool than BLT but the kid splash pad is under construction right now and I worry the opening will get delayed. I also don’t know if the cost of this hotel is worth it right now with all the construction going on.

3. BRV studio
I’ve stayed here a long time ago. WL is a beautiful lodge and I feel like we can walk around it a lot and the pools look nice. My DD also loves water so I think she will like seeing the waterfalls and the water going through the lobby. But it’s not as easy to get to MK and could mean folding stroller depending on which boat comes when we are waiting to go to MK. Also, it seems like a lot of the balconies have a view of just the woods and my backyard is all woods so that’s not an appealing view to me.

 

[Dug720]

If the play area wasn’t a consideration I would say Poly. I just stayed there truly solo and it was wonderful. I don’t like the look of the BLT rooms and BRV just look like grandma’s kitchen or something to me. Plus I am not into the whole western theme at Wilderness Lodge.

So for me personally if a play area was a consideration I would look at other options.

 

[Jhondy]

If the play area wasn’t a consideration I would say Poly. I just stayed there truly solo and it was wonderful. I don’t like the look of the BLT rooms and BRV just look like grandma’s kitchen or something to me. Plus I am not into the whole western theme at Wilderness Lodge.

So for me personally if a play area was a consideration I would look at other options.

I should add I do love BLT. It’s one of my favorite hotels cause I like the walk to the parks and I love watching the monorail go by...my DD now yells “mono” (she can’t say monorail yet) when she sees it go by because we’ve dated at BLT twice. If they had lake view available id probably book it in a heart beat but the added cost and the change to traveling on my bday is what is making me hesitate.

 

[JenBush]

My first choice would be BLT because of the short walk to MK and my second choice would be Poly.

 

[Sue M]

I voted for Poly! Even if splash pad isn’t open, the pool is gradual entry so she can sit and splash around in the shallows.
BLT and CR never appealed to me. And their studios are very small.
WL is very easy to get to MK, just hop on the boat. And I love the redone Villas pool.

 

[Cheburashka]

You're going with a baby. BLT is your favorite and it's by far the most convenient for your needs (walkable & stroller friendly monorail). Stay there. Never stay at a resort that's under construction. Stay at Wilderness Lodge when you're not with a baby and aren't as dependent on the convenience of walkability and/or monorail.

 

[Jhondy]

I did it! I just put in for the dedicated reservation for BLT. *fingers crossed* that I get it and no one else put in for it yet. I haven’t been having good luck with DVC requests lately.

I figured we will be in our room a lot cause DD needs naps and goes to bed early.,.hopefully it will be 7pm by the time we go... and it will be my bday trip. So getting to sit on the balcony and see the castle (especially at night) will be a great present to myself. And I can’t wait for my kid to see the monorail again and say “mono” it’s such a simple thing but I love seeing her face light up and say that. She does do it when she sees the monorail on the tv but it’s not the same as in person. I hope I hear quickly cause I gotta get flights changed too

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Looks like you already made your choice, but I was going to say BLT for the reasons PPs and you have noted. Poly would be second choice, but strong pref for BLT given what you describe.

I travel with my kids solo a lot and being somewhere that the parent can have some chill time after bedtime is worth a ton, IMO. A TPV fits that bill perfectly. Also BLT has a pretty high ‘convenience factor’ as well, in my opinion. Walk to the parks, covered access to food/dining options, BLT has a zero entry pool and the splash area is good for a 20 month. I think it’s the best overall setup for your situation.

 

[Jhondy]

Looks like you already made your choice, but I was going to say BLT for the reasons PPs and you have noted. Poly would be second choice, but strong pref for BLT given what you describe.

I travel with my kids solo a lot and being somewhere where the parent can have some chill time after bedtime is worth a ton, IMO. A TPV fits that bill perfectly. Also BLT has a pretty high ‘convenience factor’ as well, in my opinion. Walk to the parks, covered access to food/dining options, BLT has a zero entry pool and the splash area is good for a 20 month. I think it’s the best overall setup for your situation.

thanks for the the thoughts. I agree. While I think BLT pool and splash pad is kind of boring, she had fun with it when she was 14 months old. Plus I think we may go to blizzard beach one day. When my husband went with us and we stayed at BLT my favorite part of the night was walking over the bridge from CR to BLT and seeing the castle. So, I’m excited that (if this works out) I will be able to sit on my balcony and see that view. I’m going to be so sad if I don’t get this reservation

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Ok I am a little behind with new places but where exactly is BLT?

 

[maryj11]

Ok I am a little behind with new places but where exactly is BLT?

Bay Lake Tower by the Contemporary
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/bay-lake-tower-at-contemporary/

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

For your purposes along with the Poly construction, I would say BLT. You are right though, the BLT pool is...not the best. I was there in the summer and it was so crowded, and that is the one area where masks aren’t required, so we wound up leaving the pool a couple of nights because it simply didn’t feel safe. Still, traveling with a baby where I presume more of your park time will be spent at MK, you can’t beat the convenience.

 

[SG131]

100% bay lake towers. Even if the splash pad at poly is open, it gets packed, so it may be tough with the age of your child. You can't beat the convenience of walking to magic kingdom that you get with MK. I love wilderness lodge, but BRV rooms are in DESPERATE need of a refurb. A refurb that was supposed to be happening now, but was pushed back due to covid.

 

[DeeBee3]

Which hotel would you choose? The trip is just me and my DD who will be 20 months. We will be going mid April. It’s the first time I’m traveling by myself with her and this is a trip to celebrate my bday. So choices are:

If I was by myself with my little kids I would do BLT since I would just walk to Magic Kingdom. However, I love Wilderness Lodge but folding up the stroller for the boat or bus each time would be abig hassle, IMO. I am a petite person so having child and bag and stroller to wrangle would be an issue for me.

 

[Blondie58]

Not on your list but for the price difference and being with a little I would stay at Pop and save $$$. As a couple we always stay GF or CR but I wanted to go to the Flower Show. Went alone. Stayed at Pop in the 60s building overlooking the pool and LOVED it. Room was spotless and updated. Pool area and food court were great. I had my AP and free air flight. I did three tours, meals, and my room cost for less than $1,500.00. I stayed seven nights. (My stay was right before the gondolas opened.) It all depends on individual preferences in the end.

 

[Jhondy]

im a petite person too so I was already dreading carrying the stroller, a bag, and my kid onto the bus. We will still have to do it some but not as much as if we weren’t at BLT (and even less if by some miracle the Epcot monorail line starts again before April.) this trip will primarily be MK and Epcot with maybe blizzard beach or a hop to HS

 

[Tink-osophy]

Finances aside, I'd say

BLT, if MK (and other parks) is the priority of your trip.

WL, if resort time is your priority.

If you're thinking it's 50:50, then I can't decide.! BLT is so handy for getting around, but WL is such a retreat. I suppose BLT would be handier for afternoon naps if you are in the parks.

 

[Blondie58]

im a petite person too so I was already dreading carrying the stroller, a bag, and my kid onto the bus. We will still have to do it some but not as much as if we weren’t at BLT (and even less if by some miracle the Epcot monorail line starts again before April.) this trip will primarily be MK and Epcot with maybe blizzard beach or a hop to HS

Sounds like you have answered your own question. Bay Lake sounds like the perfect decision. A thought: Don't be afraid to ask for help with the stroller and little if necessary. One time at HS a Mom was wrangling a three year old, 18 month old, and double stroller by herself. I asked if I could help. She handed me the little guy and he was just fine and so was I. My DH helped with the stroller and off we went. The 18th month old sat on my lap the entire ride tothe CR. I am waiting to be a Grandma so I loved it. lol. This Mom was from Europe and was traveling alone. She was such a lovely person and so kindly thanked us. There are good people that will help. Have a wonderful time. (I realize there is Covid and some folks would say to stay away from others. I would help anyway as all have masks.)

 

[bakerworld]

We own DVC and one of our homes is Bay Lake. I love being able to walk to MK but I always push for the 'lake' view because, to me, the Theme Park view is a parking lot view. I voted for the Poly because of nostalgia. Boulder is Ok. The buses for that area hit multi-hotels before leaving for their ultimate destination so Bay Lake and Poly are nice because you have the option of the transportation center.

 

[Jhondy]

Sounds like you have answered your own question. Bay Lake sounds like the perfect decision. A thought: Don't be afraid to ask for help with the stroller and little if necessary. One time at HS a Mom was wrangling a three year old, 18 month old, and double stroller by herself. I asked if I could help. She handed me the little guy and he was just fine and so was I. My DH helped with the stroller and off we went. The 18th month old sat on my lap the entire ride tothe CR. I am waiting to be a Grandma so I loved it. lol. This Mom was from Europe and was traveling alone. She was such a lovely person and so kindly thanked us. There are good people that will help. Have a wonderful time. (I realize there is Covid and some folks would say to stay away from others. I would help anyway as all have masks.)

thanks for the reminder to ask for help. I am the type of person that never asks for help and this trip I am definitely nervous about how to manage everything on my own. I’m most nervous about airport though cause I will have DD and luggage. Thankfully we should just need one suitcase and hopefully DD will not be a butthead about being in her stroller. I’m not worried about people getting close to me, I already had covid and I just got my second shot of the vaccine so I’m good there.DD didn’t get sick when DH and I had covid so I’m not worried about her either