SSR/GF/BLT

[ClaraOswald]

We are just a week away from (hopefully) booking our WDW trip! We are wanting to stay for just 5 nights. I know availability will definitely change and the odds are, we'll end up at SSR. But right now I can see there's a slight chance of getting a Resort Studio at the Grand Floridian or possibly a room at BLT.

I'm trying to do some research but if by chance all 3 of these are available, I'm not sure which is best for us.

Talk to me about transportation.
I know at SSR, we'd take a bus to all 4 parks. And that the buses have multiple stops around the resort. But I feel like SSR isn't super far from the parks (unlike Animal Kingdom Villas, which we eliminated due to distance.)

At GF, I know we can take the boat or monorail to the MK. What's the wait typically like for those? Are the stations far away from the Resort Studio rooms? We NEVER rope drop. We also never stay until park close. What's the easiest way to get to Epcot?
I assume bus to AK and HS is comparable to SSR?

How about BLT? I'm confused on transportation here as well.

We don't really care much about restaurants in the hotels. We just do a quick service breakfast and maybe a dinner or lunch (quick service) if we happen to be in the hotel at those time. So restaurant options don't factor into our decision.

Honestly, I think our main things are the transportation and how quiet it is in the rooms as I'm a light sleeper (even with my white noise machine.)

Any thoughts or help are greatly appreciated!

 

[CarolynFH]

We are just a week away from (hopefully) booking our WDW trip! We are wanting to stay for just 5 nights. I know availability will definitely change and the odds are, we'll end up at SSR. But right now I can see there's a slight chance of getting a Resort Studio at the Grand Floridian or possibly a room at BLT.

I'm trying to do some research but if by chance all 3 of these are available, I'm not sure which is best for us.

Talk to me about transportation.
I know at SSR, we'd take a bus to all 4 parks. And that the buses have multiple stops around the resort. But I feel like SSR isn't super far from the parks (unlike Animal Kingdom Villas, which we eliminated due to distance.)

Given the multiple bus stops at SSR, the bus ride from AKV to the parks isn't any longer than from SSR. Sorry to throw that at you!

At GF, I know we can take the boat or monorail to the MK. What's the wait typically like for those? Are the stations far away from the Resort Studio rooms? We NEVER rope drop. We also never stay until park close. What's the easiest way to get to Epcot?
I assume bus to AK and HS is comparable to SSR?

The monorail station at GF is about a 5 minute walk from the resort studios building - you need to cross the courtyard, enter the main building, and go up to the 2nd floor. You'll go through security there before you get to the loading dock. Normally the wait between trains isn't too long.

The boat dock is a 5 minute walk from the resort studios as well - see the map I linked in your other thread! From GF, the boat goes to the Poly and then to MK (the route is MK-GF-Poly-MK). So many guests like to take the monorail to MK (it's the next stop after GF) and take the boat "home" to GF.

Many guests like to walk from GF to MK - in January the weather should be nice for that, unless it's unusually cold or rainy.

How about BLT? I'm confused on transportation here as well.

From BLT of course you walk to MK. There's even a security screening on the walkway, much less busy than any other park entrance security! For Epcot, it's walk to CR, catch the monorail, get off next stop at TTC, transfer to Epcot monorail. Coming back it's Epcot monorail to TTC, transfer to resort monorail, stop at Poly, GF, and MK, then get off at CR and walk back to BLT. I must confess that when we stayed at BLT, it was having to take the monorail to Epcot that we didn't like, but of course we're spoiled by being BWV homies and having the choice of walking or taking the boat! It's bus to AK and DHS.

We don't really care much about restaurants in the hotels. We just do a quick service breakfast and maybe a dinner or lunch (quick service) if we happen to be in the hotel at those time. So restaurant options don't factor into our decision.

Honestly, I think our main things are the transportation and how quiet it is in the rooms as I'm a light sleeper (even with my white noise machine.)

As I said in the other thread, and I believe others have or will tell you, the Resort Studios are getting the reputation of being the noisiest of all DVC studios. Apparently BPK doesn't have very good sound insulation.

Any thoughts or help are greatly appreciated!

For the 3 of you, a BLT studio will probably work, but they are small and the arrangement of the kitchen and bathroom are problematic. Some of the bathrooms don't have a sink - the sink is in the kitchen area. Look at the floorplans before deciding what to book!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Reality is that AKV is closer to DHS and Epcot than BLT or VGF are. AKV is really only far form MK, but the MK area resorts are really only close to MK. When you look at actual times and a real scale map of property it becomes more obvious than it is on the Disney maps and in people's heads due to MK being the original and thus how many peope measure things.

 

[10CJ]

I agree that Magic Kingdom is the outlier, not Animal Kingdom, when you look at a map. Which parks are you planning on going to? How many days will you go to MK?

If possible, I would try and avoid SSR if I did not have a car. I would stay at AKV over SSR if relying on Disney transportation unless I had a very MK heavy trip.

Being able to walk to MK from BLT is great. The walk from the GF is not too bad either.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

BLT shares buses with WL somewhat frequently, and especially at lower demand times of the day which it sounds like when you’ll be using it. Usually it goes park-WL-CR-park, so that’s good heading there and bad heading back, unless you have an ECV, in which case you might get stuck if the bus already is at capacity.

The monorail from BLT to MK takes *forever*, and nearly everyone walks instead; if you need the monorail after a long day though it’s quick to go back. The monorail from Epcot back to BLT also takes forever, but going there isn’t bad. Then GF is exactly the opposite of these good/bad scenarios to Epcot and MK in terms of the monorail except it’s too far for most people to want to walk (but the option is there).

 

[Chili327]

We are just a week away from (hopefully) booking our WDW trip! We are wanting to stay for just 5 nights. I know availability will definitely change and the odds are, we'll end up at SSR. But right now I can see there's a slight chance of getting a Resort Studio at the Grand Floridian or possibly a room at BLT.

I'm trying to do some research but if by chance all 3 of these are available, I'm not sure which is best for us.

Talk to me about transportation.
I know at SSR, we'd take a bus to all 4 parks. And that the buses have multiple stops around the resort. But I feel like SSR isn't super far from the parks (unlike Animal Kingdom Villas, which we eliminated due to distance.)

At GF, I know we can take the boat or monorail to the MK. What's the wait typically like for those? Are the stations far away from the Resort Studio rooms? We NEVER rope drop. We also never stay until park close. What's the easiest way to get to Epcot?
I assume bus to AK and HS is comparable to SSR?

How about BLT? I'm confused on transportation here as well.

We don't really care much about restaurants in the hotels. We just do a quick service breakfast and maybe a dinner or lunch (quick service) if we happen to be in the hotel at those time. So restaurant options don't factor into our decision.

Honestly, I think our main things are the transportation and how quiet it is in the rooms as I'm a light sleeper (even with my white noise machine.)

Any thoughts or help are greatly appreciated!

I'm coming up on my 7-month window as well.!! Getting antsy to make whatever changes i can.

Reality is that AKV is closer to DHS and Epcot than BLT or VGF are. AKV is really only far form MK, but the MK area resorts are really only close to MK. When you look at actual times and a real scale map of property it becomes more obvious than it is on the Disney maps and in people's heads due to MK being the original and thus how many peope measure things.

I agree that Magic Kingdom is the outlier, not Animal Kingdom, when you look at a map. Which parks are you planning on going to? How many days will you go to MK?

Great info.!!
I didn't realize AK isn't so bad, I too thought it was way out, but if its actually not bad I may stay at AKV a few extra days, & maybe waitlist BW/BC.
I have 5 nights at BRV, but hoping to try some others before I "move in" to BRV to finish out the trip.

 

[Sandisw]

Out of all of those, I like the GF the best but to be honest, I think the reported noise issues of BPK might cause you an issue if you are sensitive to it.

BLT is great for MK but the studios are on the smaller side compared to the others. Plus, you hafe a pull out sofa where the others have the Murphy bed.

This is one reason we do split stays so we are in the MK for part of the trip and Epcot area for the other.

But, outside of the potential noise..we did stay one night at BPK in a resort studio last year and didn’t have a problem…VGF is tops for me.

I’d go SSR second due to size of the room

 

[ClaraOswald]

More info....

We haven't been to WDW since 2012. This is our son's first WDW trip. He'll be 10 and is autistic.
We will have 4 park days. Planning to get hoppers since I feel we won't want to spend a full day at Animal Kingdom or Hollywood studios (even though I actually LOVE AK a lot...there just isn't a ton there that our son would be into.)

This is kind of a 'trial' trip to see how our son does and to get a better idea of what our WDW touring style might be going forward.

We've taken our son to Disneyland in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023 so he's pretty good for our 'routine' there...which is to basically just take our time. We also like to take a break in the afternoon though I feel that might be trickier at WDW if we're only there 4 days.

In an ideal world, we'd spend a few hours at one park, take a break at the hotel, then a few hours at a different park in the evening. But with transportation....I just worry there won't be time. So our "break" might really just be a bus or monorail ride on our way to a 2nd park. I can't remember....do buses go from park to park? I assume so.

I need to sit down and look at the attraction lists to see where I think we'll want to spend the most time. I suspect a lot of Epcot and Magic Kingdom followed by HS and AK, with the least amount of time.

DAS should help us with time management. We're debating getting Genie+ or maybe some ILLs for a few rides my husband and I want to do that our son won't (he doesn't like thrill rides.) But that stuff is lower priority to us.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Oh...as far as rooms....I'd like to avoid a pull-out couch but I suppose it's not a deal breaker (since that's what we're stuck with for our next VGC trip too.) Obviously a murphy would be better though.

 

[CarolynFH]

In an ideal world, we'd spend a few hours at one park, take a break at the hotel, then a few hours at a different park in the evening. But with transportation....I just worry there won't be time. So our "break" might really just be a bus or monorail ride on our way to a 2nd park. I can't remember....do buses go from park to park? I assume so.

Yes, there is park to park transportation. Some runs all day, e.g. the Skyliner and boats between DHS and Epcot as well as the monorail between MK and Epcot because they also provide transportation for resort guests in those areas. But buses that are strictly for hopping, such as between MK and DHS and AK, may not begin running until 1:30 or so since hopping isn’t allowed until 2:00.

In addition to returning to the hotel for breaks, we take advantage of the various transportation modes themselves. We’ll ride the MK-GF-Poly, MK-WL or MK-FW boats or the Skyliner and boats Epcot-DHS. Sometimes just the journey is enough of a break, or we get off and get a snack and explore the resorts. Maybe that would work for y’all.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I’d be so tempted by VGF in this situation. I guess BLT too. If you’re mostly at Epcot or MK, a monorail resort does seem to make sense.

I’ve only had my points for about 10 days and I’ve made so many reservations and cancelled them trying to find the perfect early January stay! I had 4 nights at VGF just today, but cancelled and switched back to SSR for the substantially lower point cost. But MK is unlikely to be where we’ll spend most of our time, and we’ll almost certainly have a car so I don’t mind SSR.

 

[DeeBee3]

I just want to throw out that BLT is in need of a refurbishment so the other places will have "nicer" rooms.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

Out of all of those, I like the GF the best but to be honest, I think the reported noise issues of

might cause you an issue if you are sensitive to it.

BLT is great for MK but the studios are on the smaller side compared to the others. Plus, you hafe a pull out sofa where the others have the Murphy bed.

This is one reason we do split stays so we are in the MK for part of the trip and Epcot area for the other.

But, outside of the potential noise..we did stay one night at BPK in a resort studio last year and didn’t have a problem…VGF is tops for me.

I’d go SSR second due to size of the room

What is BPK?

 

[CarolMN]

What is BPK?

Big Pine Key - the Grand Floridian Hotel Building recently converted to resort studios for DVC's VGF

 

[ClaraOswald]

Last night my husband and I spent some time looking at youtube videos of the rooms/resorts. We added Kidani Village and Old Key West into the mix. We have 5 more days to mull it over but here's where our heads are at now...

SSR - still nervous about the bus situation. But really love the relaxing vibe of the grounds and we love resorts with scenery that includes water. Years ago we were at POR and we had a long walk to the food court from Alligator Bayou but really enjoyed the relaxing walk by the water to get there. The rooms at SSR look pretty nice as well.

GF - As of now, the only room type that might be available would be the resort studio. And I think the noise reports are enough for me to eliminate it. (If a room in the regular DVC building was ever available, we'd likely try that but I don't see it happening.)

BLT - I am not a fan of being on a very high floor so this building kind of freaks me out. The rooms looks a bit....blah to me. And it just seems like a concrete vibe on the grounds instead of a more scenic looking area.

Kidani - This one actually looks pretty nice...though the lack of a waterway is a bit of a bummer for me. A touring plans page I found said it takes roughly 50 minutes to get to MK where in comparison, to get to all of the parks from SSR they listed times closer to 30 minutes. Not really sure on the accuracy though. It looks like these studios have a pullout couch instead of a murphy so loses a few points for that.

OKW - Seems super quiet and a vibe we really like. Grounds look similar to SSR. The studio room shape is odd. It looks like it lacks some storage compared to the other studios (we are NOT light packers so we like having good storage space to unpack and feel at home.) Also not a fan of the sink/vanity being inside the bathroom.

So as of right now...I think we have definitely eliminated GF and BLT. I think we're still leaning toward SSR but I'm still on the fence about Kidani and OKW possibly being options too.

I am a horrible decision maker!

 

[CarolynFH]

Last night my husband and I spent some time looking at youtube videos of the rooms/resorts. We added Kidani Village and Old Key West into the mix. We have 5 more days to mull it over but here's where our heads are at now...

SSR - still nervous about the bus situation. But really love the relaxing vibe of the grounds and we love resorts with scenery that includes water. Years ago we were at POR and we had a long walk to the food court from Alligator Bayou but really enjoyed the relaxing walk by the water to get there. The rooms at SSR look pretty nice as well.

GF - As of now, the only room type that might be available would be the resort studio. And I think the noise reports are enough for me to eliminate it. (If a room in the regular DVC building was ever available, we'd likely try that but I don't see it happening.)

BLT - I am not a fan of being on a very high floor so this building kind of freaks me out. The rooms looks a bit....blah to me. And it just seems like a concrete vibe on the grounds instead of a more scenic looking area.

Kidani - This one actually looks pretty nice...though the lack of a waterway is a bit of a bummer for me. A touring plans page I found said it takes roughly 50 minutes to get to MK where in comparison, to get to all of the parks from SSR they listed times closer to 30 minutes. Not really sure on the accuracy though. It looks like these studios have a pullout couch instead of a murphy so loses a few points for that.

OKW - Seems super quiet and a vibe we really like. Grounds look similar to SSR. The studio room shape is odd. It looks like it lacks some storage compared to the other studios (we are NOT light packers so we like having good storage space to unpack and feel at home.) Also not a fan of the sink/vanity being inside the bathroom.

So as of right now...I think we have definitely eliminated GF and BLT. I think we're still leaning toward SSR but I'm still on the fence about Kidani and OKW possibly being options too.

I am a horrible decision maker!

Driving time to MK from the last bus stop at SSR and from Kidani is roughly the same. I’ve stayed at both and don’t understand why the big difference quoted - maybe it’s because from Kidani you go to Jambo, then to parks. But if you board from one of the Standard bus stops at SSR, you have multiple other stops before actually leaving for the parks.

OTOH, yes, SSR has the Murphy, Kidani has sofa bed.

 

[Moneypenny]

For what it's worth, we're always pleasantly surprised at the bus situation at SSR. It doesn't take that long for it to make the loop around the resort, and it's pretty quick to all the parks. If your bus stop is near the end of the loop, you don't even notice on the way there. In contrast, I hate the busses at OKW. It's set up so it has to do a turnaround in very small parking lots for almost every bus stop, which seems to take a long time because the driver has to go so slowly to avoid hitting the vehicles parked in the lot. Drives me nuts when I'm anxious to get to a park or back to my room.

 

[nw6675]

We honestly thought we would not care for SSR, but we stayed last month and loved it! Quiet and relaxing, but still close to the parks and of course, DS. We had a car which I know you won't have, but there were constant buses.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

Last night my husband and I spent some time looking at youtube videos of the rooms/resorts. We added Kidani Village and Old Key West into the mix. We have 5 more days to mull it over but here's where our heads are at now...

SSR - still nervous about the bus situation. But really love the relaxing vibe of the grounds and we love resorts with scenery that includes water. Years ago we were at POR and we had a long walk to the food court from Alligator Bayou but really enjoyed the relaxing walk by the water to get there. The rooms at SSR look pretty nice as well.

GF - As of now, the only room type that might be available would be the resort studio. And I think the noise reports are enough for me to eliminate it. (If a room in the regular DVC building was ever available, we'd likely try that but I don't see it happening.)

BLT - I am not a fan of being on a very high floor so this building kind of freaks me out. The rooms looks a bit....blah to me. And it just seems like a concrete vibe on the grounds instead of a more scenic looking area.

Kidani - This one actually looks pretty nice...though the lack of a waterway is a bit of a bummer for me. A touring plans page I found said it takes roughly 50 minutes to get to MK where in comparison, to get to all of the parks from SSR they listed times closer to 30 minutes. Not really sure on the accuracy though. It looks like these studios have a pullout couch instead of a murphy so loses a few points for that.

OKW - Seems super quiet and a vibe we really like. Grounds look similar to SSR. The studio room shape is odd. It looks like it lacks some storage compared to the other studios (we are NOT light packers so we like having good storage space to unpack and feel at home.) Also not a fan of the sink/vanity being inside the bathroom.

So as of right now...I think we have definitely eliminated GF and BLT. I think we're still leaning toward SSR but I'm still on the fence about Kidani and OKW possibly being options too.

I am a horrible decision maker!

The big difference between OKW and SSR (to me) is that for SSR the dining/etc is in the middle of the resort and for OKW it’s way off to one end. If you’re near it (which is a separate booking category), great. If not, it’s not really walkable.

 

[Moneypenny]

The big difference between OKW and SSR (to me) is that for SSR the dining/etc is in the middle of the resort and for OKW it’s way off to one end. If you’re near it (which is a separate booking category), great. If not, it’s not really walkable.

Totally agree. There's also no indoor quick-service dining at OKW. You can pick up stuff from the outdoor counter at the main building (or I think the Turtle Pond shack has food), but then you either have to sit outside at a table, or walk forever back to your room, or ride with it on a bus that's going around the resort. We don't often eat at the resort, but when we do, it's because we're tired and want it to be quick and easy. 15-20 minutes of food transport or sitting outside in heat/humidity/rain/etc is not quick and easy.