Question - say we do go DVT w/ BLT as home resort...

[passionfruit23]

So say we go with BLT as our home resort... we have a few questions.

1. What should we expect when we go to BLT? We have seen the studio and 1BR at our Disney Vacations Store and they do look nice.
2. Is it very crowded? Is it loud? We like to go to Waldorf Orlando or Four Seasons type hotels where it is quiet and luxurious - will BLT disappoint or satisfy?
3. How responsive are staff to say cleaning the room or some room service requests?
4. Is it CLEAN?

Thanks!!

 

[Suz333]

So say we go with BLT as our home resort... we have a few questions.

1. What should we expect when we go to BLT? We have seen the studio and 1BR at our Disney Vacations Store and they do look nice.
2. Is it very crowded? Is it loud? We like to go to Waldorf Orlando or Four Seasons type hotels where it is quiet and luxurious - will BLT disappoint or satisfy?
3. How responsive are staff to say cleaning the room or some room service requests?
4. Is it CLEAN?

Thanks!!

1) The room configuration can be slightly different than the room model. (The shape of rooms is slightly different if they're inside the "C" vs outside.)
2) I've only stayed once so far (the 1st half of Thanksgiving week last November.) I don't remember it being particulary loud, so I'm guessing it wasn't. (Noise usually bothers me - if it had been loud I would probably remember.) BLT won't be as luxurious as the hotels you mentioned, though.
3) sorry, didn't make any requests
4) Our room was clean with one exception - there was a water bottle on top of a shelf in the living room. It was an odd place for a guest to put something, and it's my guess that housekeeping just missed it.

The one thing I didn't like was the shower in the master bedroom ... it has 2 shower heads, and the overhead one dripped cold water when I was trying to use the other one.

My nine-year old niece's comment when we walked into the room "wow - this must have cost a million dollars!"

Oh, I do remember that my sister said it was cold in the living room ... there aren't separate temperature controls. People who get cold easily might want to request an extra blanket.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So say we go with BLT as our home resort... we have a few questions.

1. What should we expect when we go to BLT? We have seen the studio and 1BR at our Disney Vacations Store and they do look nice.
2. Is it very crowded? Is it loud? We like to go to Waldorf Orlando or Four Seasons type hotels where it is quiet and luxurious - will BLT disappoint or satisfy?
3. How responsive are staff to say cleaning the room or some room service requests?
4. Is it CLEAN?

Thanks!!

BLT is nothing like the Waldorf or Four Seasons, just like all the WDW resorts. They are crowded, loud, full of kids and not quiet and luxurious. There is no club level at BLT.

You don't get service as requested, only as it comes with the room unless you pay extra. BLT is a DVC resort and, thus, a timeshare. In a timeshare, the owners pay for everything, nothing is free and you don't just call and ask for something to be delivered without paying for it.

The BLT studio is the smallest of all the studios. They might work okay for a couple or for a family with one small child. But even though they do sleep four, four will be crowded and four larger persons will hate it. They will feel wall-to-wall.

As for cleanliness, I've been satisfied by the housekeepers. Others haven't been. But I don't mind cleaning up a little mess that was left behind accidently. If you want spotless, don't go to WDW because you won't get it.

If you want full service, luxury and quiet, you don't want to be a DVC member. It's just a timeshare.

 

[disneynutz]

We own at BLT and for us, it's our least favorite resort. We don't care for the theming and the hospital look. We are also concerned on the finishes selected that are showing more wear then they should. Dues went up 8.41% for 2012, other resorts had a increase half as much.

Location is the major plus for the resort. All services are at the Contemporary.

Bill

 

[bbn1122]

We just bought into DVC in 2010 and BLT is our home resort. We bought into DVC because we are a family of 5 and we need space when we go away, at least 1bedroom, plus LR and Kitchen. We love Disney service. We actually joined DVC while on our first Disney cruise. We did not see the rooms first hand, just the picture in a booklet. We like the idea that we could stay at different resorts, not just BLT.

We stayed at BLT last Easter (2011) in a 2 Bedroom (which has 3 bathrooms).
We loved it, DH, me and 3 sons (17-11). Here are my observations: BLT is part of the Contemporary Resort, that is why is it is called Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary Resort. You check in at CR, there is a walk way from CR to BLT (I believe it 4th or 5th floor). BLT has a beautiful and very elegant lobby, it is very quiet. We found the resort quiet in the hallways and lobby.
Of course, the CR is very active. So it was nice to have the quiet of BLT, but be steps away from the restaurants, quick service, stores and arcade and monorail. There is a Community Room at BLT, with games, foosball etc, crafts and video rentals (free for DVC). The Top of the World Lounge on the top floor was gorgeous. It is a lounge and bar with a small menu. All our welcomed. We went up there with our sons. It a great place to watch the fireworks, there is a huge balcony up there for viewing.

The outside area by the pool is very nice. The pool are is not huge, but nice, with bar, food concession, hot tub and splash area for kids. We found the pool very busy in the afternoon with families and kids. But, because the CR is a stones throw away, we just went over to pool there, which is huge area. It was quieter. There is also a circle pool by the lake which is very quiet, it almost seem like an adult area.
We did use the BLt eariler in the morning and in the evening...it was empty at those times.

As you know, you can walk to the Magic Kingdom from the resort it took my boys and me less then 10 minutes. It is one stop on the monorail coming back, but at closing time you can avoid the crowds by walking back.

We found the resort spotless. DVC housekeeping is different than the hotels. Mousekeeping comes every 7 days to do the whole suite, but there is trash and towel service on I believe day 4. I believe you can pay extra to have mousekeeping more often. And also if you need clean towel etc.

I love BLT locations, you are a boatride to the WL and a boat or monorail stop from the Poly and GF, so all great restaurants and those resorts amenties are very close by.

We stayed at AKL last summer and enjoyed it, but my sons loved BLT more and we are planning to go next June for a week.

We are going to HHI (Hilton Head) this summer.

The space of the Villa is what I enjoyed. You need to remember BLT amenites include CR. So, you get two resorts for one.

Good luck with your decision, I hope my info helps.....

 

[Sammie]

the biggest advantage to us in owning DVC is the larger units. If you are only interested in a studio I can't see the advantage for the loss of services.

If you are used to luxury 4 and5 star hotels you will more than likely be disappointed in any time share.

Unless you pay extra you will not get daily housecleaning or extra towels.

Also since the members pay for rehabs of the rooms with their dues, the rehabs are not as often as Disney resorts. Therefore when a resort is due for a rehab you might have to put up with the wear and tear for a longer time period before it is redone.

We have a few issues with getting clean room but they did respond to our concerns and re-cleaned it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...DVC housekeeping is different than the hotels. Mousekeeping comes every 7 days to do the whole suite, but there is trash and towel service on I believe day 4. I believe you can pay extra to have mousekeeping more often. And also if you need clean towel etc....

If you stay seven nights or less, you get your towels replaced and trash removed on day four with day one as check in day. If you stay eight nights or more, you get a full cleaning on day 4 and trash and towel service on day 8. If you trip is longer, the cycle repeats.

You can purchase a towel pack for $6 for a four day use. That includes four bath towels, two hand towels, four face cloths and a tub mat. On the next service day if you want it again, you'll pay for it again. You can pay for extra trash and towel service or full cleaning, but, again, you will pay for it.

 

[passionfruit23]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone! I did the calculations last night and am a little scared of the increase in maintenance fees yearly. This year at BLT it increased about 8%. If we buy 65 points and it increases 8% every year, in 48 years our annual maintenance fee will be around $10,000 (compared to first year where we would pay about $275). I compared it to OKW which has been around for awhile and their maintenance fee has only doubled in 20 years. I could deal with that if it was true for BLT, but there really is no telling. I can't imagine the maintenance fee for those who bought 200+ points!

Anyway, right now we are still debating. With no kids it's cheaper for us to stay at a regular room at Waldorf and it's quieter. I guess we could just get cabs if we don't want to wait for the buses. We wouldn't have the kitchen or the laundry, but honestly I don't foresee myself cooking meals while on that kind of a vacation. Laundry option would be great, but we've gone without it before.

I guess the ballgame would change for us if we do have kids and want to do a Disney vacation. We would not want one studio, we would want a one bedroom and that is where things get more expensive at the Waldorf than DVC possibly.

*sigh* Such a difficult decision!

 

[Meggysmum]

BLT is our home resort and we have only stayed once so far and that was in a 1-bed which is ideal with two teenage children as they get sepArate beds in the lounge area.

Our room was very clean, no complaints there at all.

I have to agree that some of the furnishings have not stood the test of time very well and when the rooms are refurbed in the future I imagine a different quality will be applied as other, older DVc resorts look less well used.

However I found the resort amazingly quiet. we visted at the end of October and speaking to reception they said it was pretty much completely full, probably due to MNSSHP but we hardly saw anyone, heard no-one and only ever met a couple of people by the pool too!

The location is brilliant and it meant our kids could go off to MK together which they absolutely loved and we could have some chilling time on the balcony overlooking the lake.

I would never use points for a theme park view as i prefer looking at the lake rather than the car-park!

The rise in dues was unpleasant but I believe some of the other resorts have had big hikes every now and again and it is still over $2.50 less than VB.

 

[jennypenny]

I love DVC, but it's definitely not in the same class as a Waldorff or Four Seasons. You might be better off waiting for the villas at the Grand Floridian.

 

[drusba]

If what you desire and expect is the kind of luxury and service you get with Waldorf, Four Seasons, or Ritz Carlton, then you should rethink any idea about staying DVC and, in fact, rethink any idea about staying in any Disney hotel. First, DVC rooms are nice but not luxurious and you do not even have daily maid service. Second, you won't even find the kind of luxury and service you are used to even if you stay at Disney's premier resort, the Grand Floridian. If that degree of luxury and service is what you are looking for with Disney World ownership, I would suggest that you wait until the new Four Seasons resort opens (probably next year) that is being built on land leased by Disney (where the Osprey Ridge golf course is near Fort Wilderness) and will be a combination hotel, homes, and timeshares (very expensive timeshares).