Shocked with my take on BLT vs AKV

[Shleedogg]

We're relatively new members, joined last summer. For our first 2 trips prior our trip last week, we went with other family members who always wanted to stay at AKV. We liked it, but really wanted to try our home resort at BLT. Well, this trip it was just us so we went for it. Could only get 5 nights so we decided to switch to AKV (it was that or SSR and we did like AKV and the splash park at Kidani for DD).

I really expected that BLT would blow AKV out of the water. The decor in the model was very posh, and it was in person too. We just felt more at home at AKV, I think it's the warmer wood tones. I've never had the dark issue with AKV, but I can see where some people would. I actually found BLT to be darker. The interior lighting is lacking. Maybe it was just our room, but the bulbs seemed really dim.

The transportation was the big shocker for me. I expected MK to be amazing transportation wise, and it was. The short walk there in the morning and monorail home at night was great. I could not believe the hassle getting to Epcot on the monorail. It took us 45 minutes. The buses are much faster than that. The other parks? Forget it. Sharing with 3-4 other hotels makes that bus ride for an over-heated pregnant lady unbearable. Is it just me or are the buses really hot during the day? The transportation from AKV seemed much more efficient. We rarely waited longer than 5-10 min for a bus, to and from the parks and it was always direct to AKV.

We love BLT, but are considering renting a car when we next stay there (probably 2-3 trips from now since we want to try the Epcot resorts) to avoid the bus hassle for AK and DHS.

I don't want this to sound like I'm complaining. All in all (minus DD getting sick) we had a great vacation and really did like BLT and AKV. I was just really surprised by the transportation differences. Thought I'd share our experiences for any who might be considering either resort or have questions about the transportation.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well even before Bay Lake Tower opened the buses from the Contemporay always shared routes with the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and in the mornings only with just the Wilderness Lodge. However I say you need to take the good with the bad because it's great having the Magic Kingdom within walking distance to there. As for the Epcot Monorail we have never had any issues with it and personally I would take that over the buses if I had to choose between them. So for those who stay at the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower you only need bus service to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon, unless you have a car and can drive to those locations. Also I would take the extra transportation options that the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower has to offer then just counting on resorts with bus service only like the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[DizGirl20]

Glad to hear it - we have our next trip planned @ Kidani and I was worried after staying at the Beach Club (and being within walking distance to Epcot) that I would get spoiled. Actually, it seems lately I am reading more and more posts on these boards that sing the praises of AKV transportation!

I personally love the decor of AKV and prefer it over many of the other resorts, which is why I am glad there are so many DVC resorts to choose from. To each their own, as they say! During our last trip we toured all the resorts and fell in love with AKV. So glad we became members last year and picked it as our home resort!

 

[mamaprincess]

We drive and always do. We stayed at BLT and loved the proximity of it to MK and the other resorts in the area. I don't know about the buses but we felt like it was a million miles away from DTD and AK. I don't know why it felt like this but SSR felt way more central for us. We really enjoyed BLT though. My mom stayed at AKV during that trip and I prefer the decor there to any other resort as I think it executes the theme perfectly and is just so unique.

 

[wdw1972]

I always used to laugh when people would say to stay at a monorail resort for the incredible convenience (transportation)! The ONLY thing a monorail resort is convenient to is MK and who spends an entire vacation there??? The other 3 parks, 2 water parks and Downtown Disney are not convenient at all to a monorail resort.....all of which are located out in the boondocks compared to many other resorts. Getting to Epcot from a monorail resort is a royal pain, with having to change monorail loops, and taking a bus is hardly convenient due to the distance and number of stops.

I'll still book BLT for a relatively short trip in cool weather when nothing's going on (like Food & Wine, Flower & Garden, or holiday stuff) and make it a trip to primarily spend time at MK, the resort, and dining around the monorail loop. My other trips will be in better overall locations for enjoying WDW.

 

[photobob]

Every resort has it's positives and negatives. I think you just have to find the positives that are most important to you coupled with the negatives you can live with.

I own at SSR but if I had to choose which is my favorite DVC resort it would probably be BWV because we love Epcot and the Boardwalk and DHS is a convenient boat ride away. Bus service at BWV though leaves much to be desired. SSR has a beautiful view of DTD, but it isn't near the parks but the bus service is very good.

 

[cvjw]

We just got back from our first stay at BLT and I was shocked that your only option for getting to EPCOT was the monorail. We had my in-laws with us, and all of the walking (to the Contemporary to the monorail, changing monorails at the TTC, and the long walk to exit the monorail at EPCOT) was really hard for them. It took us over an hour to get back to BLT from EPCOT at lunchtime - we couldn't believe how long that ride was. We drove our car to EPCOT every other time. We spent the second part of the week at VWL and they have a boat and a bus to MK, so we wondered why BLT couldn't have the monorail and a bus to EPCOT?

 

[DebbieB]

I've stayed at AKV twice, once at Jambo and once at Kidani. Before staying there, I thought it was a long distance from everything but was also surprised at how quick we got around. One morning I drove to DHS and was in the parking lot in 10 minutes.

I looked at both models at SSR a couple of years ago and really did not like BLT's rooms. They seem too sterile. The studio seemed really small. The only advantage I saw was the distance to MK. Last December we took a walk around BLT's lobby and again felt it was too sterile looking, like a hospital.

 

[Brave teacher]

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Although I am partially biased to AKV, I do appreciate hearing other people's opinions of the other DVC resorts.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We spent the second part of the week at VWL and they have a boat and a bus to MK, so we wondered why BLT couldn't have the monorail and a bus to EPCOT?

My guess is since the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower are located very close to the TTC and since it's the next stop after the Resort Monorail leaves the Contemporary, they don't have a need for a bus to Epcot. I mean they don't have buses to Epcot from the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, which are also Monorail Resorts. Personally I think going from the Contemporary/Bay Lake Tower to Epcot via the Monorail is easier then some people think and I don't mind the extra stops along the Resort Monorail when coming back from there.

 

[walkdmc]

We stayed at BLT in June. I also bought 310 points at BLT, so I liked it enough. I drove my car there from PA, with the intentions of never seeing it once during our 2 week stay. However, after our first day waiting, and waiting and waiting for buses to and from, we started driving to the parks. It was heaven. Driving a car to the parks was so much better than I ever expected and certainly better than the buses based on our experience. We are going back in November but we're staying at the AKV-Kidani. I already rented a car ($207 from Dollar, for the week). Your thread got me thinking I should cancel it? But I do look forward to stopping at the grocery store en route to WDW to pick up stuff.

Oh, and the monorail wasn't a lot better than the buses for a few days. One of the monorails kept breaking down and that delayed everything. It took us over 30 minutes to ride the 'rail from the CR to the MK. I guess that's what we get for being lazy and not walking the path, LOL.

And I agree with whomever mentioned all the walking to ride the 'rail to Epcot. That is one long walk to the turnstiles, after you get off the monorail. I also loved driving to Epcot, loved it. I tell you, can't say it enough, driving was so so so much better and would be well worth the rental fee, IMO.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I could be wrong, all the trips seem to blur into one at this point! but I remember instead of waiting for busses at BLT, we would walk over to MK, and grab a bus there to go to the other parks. We would always walk to MK, and then monorail home or walk back. I really wish they would open another entrance at MK for resort guests staying at BLT, VWL and FW, kind of in the area of Tomorrowland.

We didnt mind the monorail to EPCOT, but yes TTC is a PAIN!!! But I definately remember walking to MK and grabbing busses there.

 

[photobob]

I could be wrong, all the trips seem to blur into one at this point! but I remember instead of waiting for busses at BLT, we would walk over to MK, and grab a bus there to go to the other parks. We would always walk to MK, and then monorail home or walk back. I really wish they would open another entrance at MK for resort guests staying at BLT, VWL and FW, kind of in the area of Tomorrowland.

We didnt mind the monorail to EPCOT, but yes TTC is a PAIN!!! But I definately remember walking to MK and grabbing busses there.

I thought there were only resort buses at Mk and the theme park buses were at the TTC?? I could be wrong.

 

[gillep]

We own at AKV but I love the look of BLT the only thing that keeps me from wanting to book there is the monorail, I just do not find it to be a good transportation option especially to EPCOT. I am sure that when we finally get to stay there it won't be a problem and we will love it but I really dislike the monorail and do my best to avoid it.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I thought there were only resort buses at Mk and the theme park buses were at the TTC?? I could be wrong.

Again, i could be getting many trips confused!! if they werent direct then yes to TTC which is a pain, but easier than monorail

I can just remember finding different ways to circumvent transportation. Even taking BWV bus from MK to BWV then walking to DHS or Epcot, we did all kinds of silly routes. That could be what we did instead of direct buses from MK, how quick the mind goes!!!!

 

[jakenjess]

I thought there were only resort buses at Mk and the theme park buses were at the TTC?? I could be wrong.

I think that's right, you'd have to go to the TTC to get a theme park bus.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I agree with many of what the posters have been saying about it being a long trip on the monorail to EPcot from the Contemporary - but I do feel a lot of it is down to how you feel about the monorail trips.

The reason I say this is because we have always thought of the monorail as another ride!! - So it all adds to the fun for me - the buses on the other hand I don't enjoy at all!!

We plan to monorail to Epcot from BLT and then drive everywhere else - we will be walking to MK though - as I love that the Contemporary/BLT are the only hotels you can do that from!!