unhappy with BLT

[purpleknightjc]

me and dh recently stayed at blt studio (lake view) and i have to say, we hated it!!! it was very small, lighting was poor, very worn looking, shower constantly ran (never shut off), lukewarm water at best. we thought it was very inconvenient to all parks except MK. it was very crowded-we were there 1st week of december. the transportation was horrendous! we ended up taking taxis to the parks. the food was awful in the whole resort. we had the DDD and had breakfast at chef mickeys and this was by far the worst meal we had. there was no theming, it was very sterile. it was xmas and you would barely know it. we also hated the fact that to refill our mugs, eat, shop, etc...we had to take elevators and skywalk to get to the main bldg. (it seemed like a lot of up and down with elevators and escalators!!)

now, we did have a great view, and the beds were VERY comfortable!! best i've slept in. it was very easy to get to MK but thats about it.

I'd say if you have kids (we don't) and your main park is MK, then this is perfect. but if you're looking for a romantic getaway, this is not the place. from now on we stick to BCV!! and please no negative comments, this is just my experience and opinions!

 

[ontheuptick]

and please no negative comments, this is just my experience and opinions!

I found this kind of funny, since your post was one big giant string of about 50 negative comments.

 

[Jennasis]

That's why Disney has sop many resort options...something for everyone! We adore BLT. I personally find it exceptionally romantic, soothing...yet right in the middle of all the action. The views can't be beat (IMO), great pool, some of the best resort shopping, and the food is fantastic (Cali Grille, Contempo Cafe, the Wave...all stellar. CM is not a draw for us either...blech).

At least you can say you've tried it!

 

[cedricandsophie]

Sorry ypu didn't like it. It's one of my favs. Would never stay in a studio though. Totally agree It is way too small. Even my husband staying by himself hated it. The one bedroom is great with two bathrooms. Love the rooftop view for fireworks and the lounge up there has excellent cocktails and food. The pool is also nice and there is a place to refill mugs at pool. And there are tennis courts which we like to use. But we will only go to parks one or two days out of a week. The California grill on the top floor is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. But I do detest chef mickeys. The hardest part is getting to downtown Disney or other hotels for dinners. But I haven't found the busses that bad although we often have a car and just drive to parks or hotels. We were just at Boardwalk and didn't get over there except to drive past in monorail while at the very merry Christmas party at magic kingdom. thought I saw some Xmas decorations around.

 

[Deb & Bill]

me and dh recently stayed at blt studio (lake view) and i have to say, we hated it!!! it was very small, lighting was poor, very worn looking, shower constantly ran (never shut off), lukewarm water at best. we thought it was very inconvenient to all parks except MK. it was very crowded-we were there 1st week of december. the transportation was horrendous! we ended up taking taxis to the parks. the food was awful in the whole resort. we had the DDD and had breakfast at chef mickeys and this was by far the worst meal we had. there was no theming, it was very sterile. it was xmas and you would barely know it. we also hated the fact that to refill our mugs, eat, shop, etc...we had to take elevators and skywalk to get to the main bldg. (it seemed like a lot of up and down with elevators and escalators!!)

now, we did have a great view, and the beds were VERY comfortable!! best i've slept in. it was very easy to get to MK but thats about it.

I'd say if you have kids (we don't) and your main park is MK, then this is perfect. but if you're looking for a romantic getaway, this is not the place. from now on we stick to BCV!! and please no negative comments, this is just my experience and opinions!

Ah for a romantic getaway, I would have chosen SSR since you are a short walk to DTD and a short bus ride to any theme park. You also can visit the Spa for massages and other fun things.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Each trip I stay at BLT I enjoy it more and more. And the studios more and more too. So your review is fine by me! (all positive remarks)

 

[McCrae]

me and dh recently stayed at blt studio (lake view) and i have to say, we hated it!!! it was very small, lighting was poor, very worn looking, shower constantly ran (never shut off), lukewarm water at best. we thought it was very inconvenient to all parks except MK. it was very crowded-we were there 1st week of december. the transportation was horrendous! we ended up taking taxis to the parks. the food was awful in the whole resort. we had the DDD and had breakfast at chef mickeys and this was by far the worst meal we had. there was no theming, it was very sterile. it was xmas and you would barely know it. we also hated the fact that to refill our mugs, eat, shop, etc...we had to take elevators and skywalk to get to the main bldg. (it seemed like a lot of up and down with elevators and escalators!!)

now, we did have a great view, and the beds were VERY comfortable!! best i've slept in. it was very easy to get to MK but thats about it.

I'd say if you have kids (we don't) and your main park is MK, then this is perfect. but if you're looking for a romantic getaway, this is not the place. from now on we stick to BCV!! and please no negative comments, this is just my experience and opinions!

Have you tried getting a refill at AKL Kidani.... Now that's what I call a walk.... BLT is nothing in comparison and as other have said you can get a refill at the pool, no need to go to the main building.

Surprised you didn't like the food.... The Wave restaurant and the Cafe are usually pretty good.

What resort is your favorite?

Hope you have a better time on your next vacation.

 

[purpleknightjc]

My post was definitely not to dissuade anyone from going. I just wanted to post the experience i had. Our favorite resort is definitely BCV with a second of VGF. We just felt like second class citizens of the contemporary. It almost seemed like Contemporary guests were the priority. I do believe that is why there are so many different resorts... There is something for everyone.

 

[MinnieGi]

Isn't so nice there are so many different "varieties" of Disney resorts to try?!?! I like to sample them all! I find good and bad points about them all and some definitely become family favorites!!

We are another family that has really liked BLT!!! So much so we are looking at buying points there to gain home resort advantage. Now we have never stayed in a studio. One bedrooms and up only. Love the fact there are two bathrooms in a one bedroom.

I had to laugh about your comment about the mug refill - we just stayed at Kidani and we joked we should drive up to get a refill and to use their pool!! It was actually closer for us to walk to Jambo!!! Same at BWV where we never even get mugs because its such a pain to refill.

Our kids love watching the electric water pageant going by nightly and we enjoyed watching WISHES right from the observation deck, TOWL, or the sky bridge with the music piped in.

We love being able to walk to MK and take monorail to Epcot. This really can't be beat when going during Christmas week crowds. Seeing those huge long lines for the monorails, ferries, and buses and we can just WALK on back!!!!!

We have had good experiences with CR eating places Contempo Cafe, Cali Grill and Chef Mickey's which we just ate at Dec. 1st for breakfast. We don't like their dinner but breakfast was good at 9:00 am. Even when not staying at BLT our kids request to go to CR at some point during our stay!

 

[TisBit]

me and dh recently stayed at blt studio (lake view) and i have to say, we hated it!!! it was very small, lighting was poor, very worn looking, shower constantly ran (never shut off), lukewarm water at best. we thought it was very inconvenient to all parks except MK. it was very crowded-we were there 1st week of december. the transportation was horrendous! we ended up taking taxis to the parks. the food was awful in the whole resort. we had the DDD and had breakfast at chef mickeys and this was by far the worst meal we had. there was no theming, it was very sterile. it was xmas and you would barely know it. we also hated the fact that to refill our mugs, eat, shop, etc...we had to take elevators and skywalk to get to the main bldg. (it seemed like a lot of up and down with elevators and escalators!!)

now, we did have a great view, and the beds were VERY comfortable!! best i've slept in. it was very easy to get to MK but thats about it.

I'd say if you have kids (we don't) and your main park is MK, then this is perfect. but if you're looking for a romantic getaway, this is not the place. from now on we stick to BCV!! and please no negative comments, this is just my experience and opinions!

When we stayed at BLT, I did not feel there was poor lighting AKV I could make an argument that they were dark with all the wood, etc. I do agree that it would be nice if they had some type of QS or mug refills in BLT, but the walk even using the elevators isn't bad when you look at most resort. Even BCV's, I hated the long walk to the front when our room as the end of the building. Same thing with park transportation, most of the resorts have horrible transportation when they are so close to a park. While many people complain about SSR and transportation, I find it the least annoying as it seems to be a focus there because of the complaints.

 

[MaleficentRN]

At least you can say you've been there and done that.
I love BLT. Love the proximity, sitting on the balcony, sitting by the pool and lake.
I don't mind the walk to CR. We only have breakfast there a couple of times since we bring our own food. You should try The Wave during another visit, even if you aren't staying there. Love their breakfast buffet!
I'll give you it's smaller than most, but for two we've had plenty of room. And if you think it's dark there, stay away from WL. You need a flashlight in the shower!
The only complaint I have about BLT is the stupid bathroom door and the overpowering smell-o-vision or whatever they call it.

 

[allshookup]

We love BLT, so much so that we sold SSR and bought BLT resale. Of course we love the Contemporary it's just always felt like Disney to us, and some resorts feel very far removed. We also like the restaurants, even the pool bar has some nice sandwiches. But like PP said, there are positive and negatives about all resorts and I can honestly say there isn't one I wouldn't stay at.

DH and I stayed in a studio for the first time in October since we were traveling without the kids and I have to say the only negative was that there was no ceiling fan and I like to feel a breeze on me at night. I loved the separate kitchen area and although the room was small, it was fine for DH & I especially with the balcony to escape to.

 

[holden]

We own at BLT and love it! We've never stayed in a studio though, so I can't comment on that. We love being able to walk to MK, and we thought it was very convenient to the monorail and amenities at the Contemporary. Also, the Top of the World lounge is the best!

Having said that, there are DVC properties we didn't like. OKW just wasn't for us, though it has its fans. We found the room to be dirty and that just turned me off right away. We even called housekeeping. They supposedly cleaned again, but I still found the same spots that were there before the second cleaning. It was the only time in all of my traveling I felt compelled to clean a hotel room. Good thing I brought clorox wipes with me!

That's why there are so many resorts...there's something for everyone.

 

[twinklebug]

I can't say you're wrong on any of the points you noted - they are your experience, and I'd agree with you on many to most, but I'd still stay there again.

BLT room wear and tear: modern decor is not my thing partially because by design it's plain, and hence, shows wear and tear much much faster than any other style. The running shower should have been addressed the same day you reported it. How long did it take maintenance to respond to your report?

The Contemporary's food services don't excite me either, But staying in DVC means we don't have to hit the resort restaurants when we're starved: a kitchenette will hold plenty of food to get us through to dinner.

Chef Mickey's used to be good once upon a time. It became overly popular due to the internet and everyone telling everyone else it was a "must do". In response to the increased popularity Disney increased seating while reducing quality of the food and hiking prices sky high. Additionally I've found the CMs working there are among the least friendly I've encountered, often standing to the side mocking customers or yelling at people just trying to walk to/from the buffet as they're in the way of pictures and character interaction. (We used to dine here every trip, it's now on the "never again" list.)

I've heard excellent reviews on on the Wave. I'll have to try it next trip.

Disney transportation is always hit or miss. There are times they're right on, and other trips we seem to be stranded for 45+ minutes at a time. Doesn't matter which resort we're at.

Top of the World Lounge, for me, really is a must do, and even better if staying in BLT as it can make for a wonderfully peaceful way to end the evening. Did you enjoy an evening relaxing up there?

 

[SugarLoaf]

me and dh recently stayed at blt studio (lake view) and i have to say, we hated it!!! it was very small, lighting was poor, very worn looking, shower constantly ran (never shut off), lukewarm water at best. we thought it was very inconvenient to all parks except MK. it was very crowded-we were there 1st week of december. the transportation was horrendous! we ended up taking taxis to the parks. the food was awful in the whole resort. we had the DDD and had breakfast at chef mickeys and this was by far the worst meal we had. there was no theming, it was very sterile. it was xmas and you would barely know it. we also hated the fact that to refill our mugs, eat, shop, etc...we had to take elevators and skywalk to get to the main bldg. (it seemed like a lot of up and down with elevators and escalators!!)

now, we did have a great view, and the beds were VERY comfortable!! best i've slept in. it was very easy to get to MK but thats about it.

I'd say if you have kids (we don't) and your main park is MK, then this is perfect. but if you're looking for a romantic getaway, this is not the place. from now on we stick to BCV!! and please no negative comments, this is just my experience and opinions!

You're not alone. We hated it and will never be back. In addition to hating the theme and feel of the whole place, we also had horrible experiences time and again at California Grill.

At least now you know how you feel about it, can move on, and not be tempted or wonder about it again!

 

[newfangled]

me and dh recently stayed at blt studio (lake view) and i have to say, we hated it!!! it was very small, lighting was poor, very worn looking, shower constantly ran (never shut off), lukewarm water at best. we thought it was very inconvenient to all parks except MK. it was very crowded-we were there 1st week of december. the transportation was horrendous! we ended up taking taxis to the parks. the food was awful in the whole resort. we had the DDD and had breakfast at chef mickeys and this was by far the worst meal we had. there was no theming, it was very sterile. it was xmas and you would barely know it. we also hated the fact that to refill our mugs, eat, shop, etc...we had to take elevators and skywalk to get to the main bldg. (it seemed like a lot of up and down with elevators and escalators!!)

now, we did have a great view, and the beds were VERY comfortable!! best i've slept in. it was very easy to get to MK but thats about it.

I'd say if you have kids (we don't) and your main park is MK, then this is perfect. but if you're looking for a romantic getaway, this is not the place. from now on we stick to BCV!! and please no negative comments, this is just my experience and opinions!

Yikes! I have been thinking of trying for a couple of nights at BLT when our DVC purchase goes through (not our home resort). No kids for us, so I had been thinking this might be a great spot but maybe not!

I have heard that Chef Mickey's is nothing to write home about (never been because of that). I do love California Grill - first time there was this past March and it was magical. On another random evening we had a spontaneous dinner at the Contempo Cafe ...low expectations and were pleasantly surprised. (we did stuff like this when we lived 10 minutes away in Celebration - but we moved an hour away so it's prompted the DVC purchase, and more planning)

Are there any dining options at BTL without going over to the Contemporary?

Most disheartening to hear about your transportation issues! I would have thought BLT / Contemporary to be superior in this regard given the array of monorail, boat, and bus options! We never had any issues when just browsing around the resorts, but I'm certain it's different when you are staying there (thus coming and going at the same time as other guests).

 

[Cee]

Thanks for your review and it didn't dissuade me at all. Can't wait to stay there!

 

[DisneyMim]

AND this is the wonderful thing about DVC. So many different resorts for different tastes!!! Personally we don't like any studios. Too small. We find the regular resort rooms are set up more to our preference. Again, to each their own. It's good you tried it so you can move on "let it go". Sorry I couldn't resist, too much frozen everywhere!! LOL!!

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[bellablue2]

headed to blt in a one bedroom magic kingdom view the week before easter...first time, looking forward to it!

 

[McCrae]

Yikes! I have been thinking of trying for a couple of nights at BLT when our DVC purchase goes through (not our home resort). No kids for us, so I had been thinking this might be a great spot but maybe not!

I have heard that Chef Mickey's is nothing to write home about (never been because of that). I do love California Grill - first time there was this past March and it was magical. On another random evening we had a spontaneous dinner at the Contempo Cafe ...low expectations and were pleasantly surprised. (we did stuff like this when we lived 10 minutes away in Celebration - but we moved an hour away so it's prompted the DVC purchase, and more planning)

Are there any dining options at BTL without going over to the Contemporary?

Most disheartening to hear about your transportation issues! I would have thought BLT / Contemporary to be superior in this regard given the array of monorail, boat, and bus options! We never had any issues when just browsing around the resorts, but I'm certain it's different when you are staying there (thus coming and going at the same time as other guests).

Chief Mickey's is a kids character meal..... No way would I go there without kids! You are never going to get great food at a place set up to please kids.

The dining at the other restaurants is pretty good. The resort has probably the best disney quick service restaurant and the Wave is pretty good as well.