Pros and cons? AKV versus Bay Lake versus BCV?

[StheStampede]

Hello all! I'm looking for some first hand experience here! I'm having a difficult time deciding which DVC my family should stay at for our next vacation. To anyone who had stayed at any of these, what are some pros and cons? Any input would be super helpful, thank you!

 

[Sunshine22]

Pros for BLT
1. Can walk to MK (or take monorail)
2. Monorail to EP
3. Lots of restaurant and activity choices at Contemporary and via monorail at Polynesian and Grand Floridian
4. 1 and 2 BRs have extra bathrooms and extra pull out chair bed
5. MK views
Cons --small studios

Pros for BCV
1. Walk or boat ride to Epcot
2. Boat ride to Hollywood Studios
3. Easy access to restaurants at Boardwalk and Epcot
4. Great pool for kids (this is #1 for some families)
5. Smaller, cozier resort
Cons--most room views are just ok (IMO)

I haven't stayed at AKV so I'll let other comment on that one.

 

[hakepb]

Kidani also has the extra bathroom like BLT.
Jambo's 1and 2BR down not work as well for family's.

Kidani has a nice pool area, may be liked better than BLT

Kidani wins the longest hallway crown, and Jambo is still longer than BLT or BCV.

AKV busses are only AKV busses. BLT and BCV busses are shared with other resorts (an occasional BCV bus is shared with all 5 EPCOT area resorts)

AKV has a really nice QS Mara and buffet, Boma, but they are at Jambo, there is no breakfast served at Kidani.

I like Kidani's "underground" parking garage best, it's shaded from the weather and close to rooms with multiple elevators.

And AKV has animals!

But you have to consider where you have enjoyed staying in the past and why you liked it

 

[karrit2000]

I've never stayed at any of those three but here's my personal order of preference for staying at each:
1 - AKV
2 - BCV
3 - BLT
My reasoning is as follows.
AKV is really interesting to me. I like the feel of the resort even though it is far away from everything else, the distance is the only negative to me. You can watch the animals whenever you want from the viewing areas without having to leave the resort. I've done this several times while visiting the resort. I would probably choose to stay at Kidani since I like the set-up of the Villas there as opposed to converted hotel rooms at Jambo. Plus I could got to Mara & get Zebra Domes whenever I craved them.
BCV I'd like to stay at some time so I can experience it for myself. As I own one contract at BWV I'm familiar with the perk of being able to walk from the resort right into EPCOT with ease. I like the central location and SAB pool area is really nice. I got to pool hop there before they stopped allowing it. On the negative side I've read many reports of poor housekeeping in the past that worry me a little.
BLT is my absolute resort of last choice. I don't care if I never get to stay there. I find the whole Contemporary Resort with the exception of the CM's working on the Concourse to be very cold & impersonal. I hate the decor. The Villas seem very small to me. I hate the decor. The Studios are way too tiny. I hate the decor. I don't want to be prepping my breakfast while my room mate is brushing their teeth or drying their hair right next to me. I hate the decor. I stayed in the hotel once before long before there was ever BLT and I swore I'd stay never stay there again. Anywhere else on property is better to me including the All Stars. Oh, and did I forget to mention I hate the decor? The only thing this resort has in it's favor for me is the short distance to get to MK but that isn't enough to get me to want to stay there.

 

[RabbitFood]

Depends on what kind of vacation experience you're going for.
(Actually, it all depends on availability. We've been BLT owners since they first sold, but just finally got in this past month. We loved it, btw.)

AKV is great for getting away from the crowds and bustle and business of the parks. I love the savannah rooms--sitting on the balcony with a nice S. African wine, watching the animals wander around--pretty near perfection. But, getting around is kind of a pain unless you have your own car. If you're looking for a laid back, mellow kind of WDW experience, I'd choose AKV.

Like I said, we finally stayed in a 2 BR theme park view at BLT last month. I fell in love immediately. Lots of space in the room. Loved the design. Being so close to MK, having the monorail right there (easy transfer to Epcot at TTC) was wonderful. Watching the fireworks (the perspective is so different from TOWL!) was breathtaking. We often walked back and forth to the MK. Bus service to HS, AK and DTD seemed slow.

We've not stayed at BCV, though we have stayed at Beach Club. The proximity to Epcot can't be beat, but sharing bus service with so many other resorts is a huge pain. If you plan to spend a lot of time at Epcot (or even HS, a walk or boat ride away), this is a good choice. But Disney really needs to rethink all the resorts they cover with the Epcot area buses.

My suggestion? If you're staying long enough, do a split stay. My goal is to try every WDW resort some day!

 

[twinklebug]

Stampede, you couldn't have chosen 3 more different resorts.

Instead of looking at the pros and cons and comparing that way, I suggest you look at how you want to spend your time on your vacation and choose the best match.

Of the 3 you mentioned:

For MK access: BLT wins hands down.
EPCOT/DHS access: BCV, followed by BLT for an easy monorail transfer into EPCOT.
AK access: AKV has a short short trip over.

For being a world unto itself AKV wins.
Many will argue that the pool at BCV wins, but Kidani's play area for kids is sweet.
Access to restaurants: they all win.

 

[majortom1981]

it depends. I live by NYC and love kidani village. BLT to me seems like any other hotel in NYC.

IF you want a quiet vacation akv might be better for you.

PS the walk at kidani isnt that bad if you have ever stayed at ssr. Twice at ssr we got stuck at a 10 or 15 minute walk from any of the ssr bus stops.

 

[Sandisw]

I have stayed at all 3 and I agree that they all offer a completely different experience.

What is most important to you for the trip? As already mentioned, I think that will help you decide which one will meet your needs best.

We love BLT--its our favorite and one of the reasons is that MK is our favorite park and I like to visit that the most so being able to walk to it is a big plus. We also like a very quiet, hotel like atmosphere and BLT offers that as well. The pool is smaller but our kids are teens/young adults so having more is not necessary.

We also love the Epcot area and usually split our stay by staying BWV or BCV. We like how easy it is to get to DHS and Epcot and being able to watch the fireworks and be back in bed at BCV in less than 15 minutes was great. It was also nice having the Boardwalk area to just walk around in at night.

In terms of AKV, it is a very beautiful and themed resort and the pool at Jambo House was amazing. For a trip where a lot of down time is planned, I think this is a perfect choice. When we stayed, we didn't do the parks, except at night, and spent time at the pool. I did miss being able to walk to the parks but had rented a car so with the exception of MK, which we took a bus, we drove which worked out nicely.

All three are great choices...

 

[hakepb]

it depends. I live by NYC and love kidani village. BLT to me seems like any other hotel in NYC.

IF you want a quiet vacation akv might be better for you.

PS the walk at kidani isnt that bad if you have ever stayed at ssr. Twice at ssr we got stuck at a 10 or 15 minute walk from any of the ssr bus stops.

What section? Grandstand seems the most spread out, but it I not that bad. Unless you are talking THV..

 

[Goofgoof]

BLT is my absolute resort of last choice. I don't care if I never get to stay there. I find the whole Contemporary Resort with the exception of the CM's working on the Concourse to be very cold & impersonal. I hate the decor. The Villas seem very small to me. I hate the decor. The Studios are way too tiny. I hate the decor. I don't want to be prepping my breakfast while my room mate is brushing their teeth or drying their hair right next to me. I hate the decor. I stayed in the hotel once before long before there was ever BLT and I swore I'd stay never stay there again. Anywhere else on property is better to me including the All Stars. Oh, and did I forget to mention I hate the decor? The only thing this resort has in it's favor for me is the short distance to get to MK but that isn't enough to get me to want to stay there.

For me location is high on my priority list so BLT and BCV have a leg up since you can get to 2 parks without taking a bus. BLT has magical views of the MK and monorail access to Poly and GF. BCV has the boardwalk and a great pool. AK is really unique and well done too. You can't go wrong with any of them.

Decor is definitely a matter of personal preference. According to these links the BLT studio sink issue is either fixed or in the process of being addressed. I have only stayed in villas so I can't confirm if the work is complete.
http://www.disboards.com/archive/index.php/t-2702607.html
http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1350&Itemid=1

Just to be fair BLT's 1br and 2br villas are actually the largest of your 3 choices and the studio is pretty close to the same size per this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2823609

BCV
Studio: 356 sq.ft.
1BR: 719 sq.ft.
2BR: 1075 sq.ft.

AKV:
Studio: 316- 366 sq.ft.
1BR: 629-802 sq.ft.
2BR: 945 - 1173 sq.ft.

BLT:
Studio: 339 sq.ft.
1BR: 803 sq.ft.
2BR: 1152 sq.ft.

 

[spiceycat]

for summer or fall (food/wine) - BCV. summer it has a nice pool.

BLT for fall (halloween at MK) or winter (dec at MK) - like it also for spring

akv for trips when you are not visiting the parks.

also think like pp it depends upon what you are doing
2 or more days at the MK - then BLT
2 or more days at Epcot - then BCV - back up BLT
only going to visit the parks a few days - AKV

can't recommend AKV even for AK- on early opening day it did not even show up until almost 9am.... I got to the bus stop at 8:10am.

so being able to walk to a park is a big plus for me.

 

[Wedgeh]

Those are the 3 resorts I'm staying at on my next trip, so I guess I'm not the best person to answer that question! For a shorter trip (especially if you won't have your own car) I would favour the resorts with shorter journeys, BLT if you think you'll spend more time at MK or BCV if not. For a longer stay I'd highly recommend AKV, especially if you've never been there before, it's a truely wonderful resort.