VGF vs BLT for Littles

[kilik64]

Hey, long time reader, first time thread poster here!

We recently joined the DVC membership and are planning our first trip. We are going to try to do a split stay between VGF or BLT for first part (Sun to Wed) then our home resort of SSR (Wed to Sat) for the 2nd half.

The reason for VGF or BLT is proximity to MK and ability to walk to park and that we are planning to do back to back MK days. This is key since there are 5 of us going (Wife, 3 kids 7, 2, and 1, and myself) and the need for Momma to be able to take both the littles back to hotel easily if needed while my oldest and I stay in MK. Based on that, the questions I have about which is a better choice/fit are:

1) The walk to BLT seems to be shorter, but both are an easy walk back from MK if needed correct? If not walking, Monorail is option for both and should be about the same for that?

2) Would the BLT or the VGF studio be better for size of our family? We will have the pack n play for the baby, so that will take up some space in the room as well, I think BLT might be too tight with that?

3) VGF has the much better little kids play area with the jungle gym in the water it looks like from research, would VGF be better for that part too? The plan is to use our switch to SSR day as a resort type day and do the pool at whichever resort we are at for the start of the day before we move to SSR that afternoon, so which would be better for that?

Any other tips or tricks for having kids 2 and under or any suggestions are welcomed, thanks!

 

[Marionnette]

Hey, long time reader, first time thread poster here!

We recently joined the DVC membership and are planning our first trip. We are going to try to do a split stay between VGF or BLT for first part (Sun to Wed) then our home resort of SSR (Wed to Sat) for the 2nd half.

The reason for VGF or BLT is proximity to MK and ability to walk to park and that we are planning to do back to back MK days. This is key since there are 5 of us going (Wife, 3 kids 7, 2, and 1, and myself) and the need for Momma to be able to take both the littles back to hotel easily if needed while my oldest and I stay in MK. Based on that, the questions I have about which is a better choice/fit are:

1) The walk to BLT seems to be shorter, but both are an easy walk back from MK if needed correct? If not walking, Monorail is option for both and should be about the same for that?

2) Would the BLT or the VGF studio be better for size of our family? We will have the pack n play for the baby, so that will take up some space in the room as well, I think BLT might be too tight with that?

3) VGF has the much better little kids play area with the jungle gym in the water it looks like from research, would VGF be better for that part too? The plan is to use our switch to SSR day as a resort type day and do the pool at whichever resort we are at for the start of the day before we move to SSR that afternoon, so which would be better for that?

Any other tips or tricks for having kids 2 and under or any suggestions are welcomed, thanks!

Since you're booking a non-home resort, your choice could be made for you by whatever is available at 7 months. BLT will most likely be lake view studios. VGF is really small and might have a lake view but not likely to have standard view studios.

If both are available, I would choose VGF over BLT. The BLT studios are very small and with that many people, you will want the space.

 

[cellomom]

1.Yes BLT will be a shorter walk, VGF DVC villas are closer to the Wedding Pavilion, therefore a slightly longer walk.
monorail - first stop will be BLT, VGF three stops later, if the Poly monorail station is open
2. BLT studio is 339 sq ft (sleeps 4), VGF studios are 374 sq ft (sleeps 5), I agree with you that the size of VGF studios will be a better fit for your family.
3. Sorry but I don’t have a definitive answer here. When we travel it’s a multi generational group. My son and his wife along with our granddaughters stayed with us at BLT in May 2021 and VGF December 2020. The granddaughters truly enjoyed BLT’s pool in May but didn’t get to experience the VGF pool in Dec due to cold weather.

Both are awesome resorts. My son and DIL did walk away from BLT singing its praises. Navigating the resort was easy, elevators never too far away and as we’ve already mentioned easy walk to MK. Since you are planning a studio stay, VGF will be better, more space ❤

One day in the future, if your point budget will allow, give a a 1 br at BLT tower a try.

ETA; you mentioned doing a split stay… something to think about, you will be without a room between check-out (11am) and check-in (4pm). You know your family and what they are capable of, but this wouldn’t work for my grand girls (2yrs and 5mos)

 

[CSLucas]

I have done both with littles, and my vote from a pure convenience standpoint would be BLT - NOTHING beats that walk. The GF walkway is nice, but definitely longer. I also think the Contemporary is interesting for littles because they can watch the monorail which has always been a big hit with mine, and it's an easy walk to Chef Mickey's or the Wave for breakfast. Grand Floridian is a little more spaced out.

Can't help you with studio size - we have done a studio at both on the hotel side and had no problems at either, but for DVC we have only done 1 bedrooms.

100% VGF wins for the pool - the little splash pad area is awesome for littles and can definitely eat up a good amount of time. I will say that you might want to rethink your strategy, though, and do the pool at SSR - I wouldn't want to haul 3 very wet and tired kids to a new resort and try to check in with them that way. I guess you could change them in the lobby bathroom or something but it seems like a lot of stress with little kids.

 

[CraigInPA]

BLT's walk is, IIRC, 1/3rd the walk from the GF DVC building to the MK entrance. You can also walk from BLT across the covered bridge right into the Contemporary to catch the monorail if you don't feel like walking. Bus transportation to other parks is next to the Contemporary, a five minute walk from BLT.

BLT's studios are a limit of 4, although you can skirt that limit with a child sleeping in a pack and play. From my own experience as a BLT member, you'll all fit (although you may be putting the pack and play by the front door). BLT Lake View studios are generally available at 7 months for most of the year.

I haven't stayed at the GF in a studio, so I can't comment on how well you'd fit there. Being the last stop on the monorail before the MK, you may find the monorail to be very crowded/full at the GF stop, especially in the morning. There's also a boat from the GF dock to the MK, which is pretty enjoyable. You may find getting a studio at GF difficult at 7 months; there aren't many studios there.

 

[Pinnochio]

The only thing better with BLT is the walk, and to me not by that much....everything else tips much in favor to VGF (awesome splash pad for the kids....great pools & slides, better beach, fastest monorail ride to MK, also nice little boat to MK, short walk to Poly, etc.).....VGF, hands down...

 

[Ms.Minnie]

The only thing better with BLT is the walk, and to me not by that much....everything else tips much in favor to VGF (awesome splash pad for the kids....great pools & slides, better beach, fastest monorail ride to MK, also nice little boat to MK, short walk to Poly, etc.).....VGF, hands down...

Longest ride back to resort from MK, BLT is first stop from MK. You don't have to go outside in bad weather to get the monorail at BLT, just access the catwalk over to main building and hop on.

 

[Marionnette]

Longest ride back to resort from MK, BLT is first stop from MK. You don't have to go outside in bad weather to get the monorail at BLT, just access the catwalk over to main building and hop on.

VGF has a covered sidewalk to the main building and monorail station. IIRC, the BLT catwalk is a covered skywalkway and is not enclosed, either. I'd put both buildings at an equal distance from their respective monorail stations but BLT doesn't require that you access an elevator in the main building in order to get to the monorail with a stroller. VGF's walkway is one level down from the station.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

^ the time we stayed at BLT they had plastic coverings similar to shades that enclosed the catwalk from BLT to main building which kept out most of the weather. The walk seemed shorter to me but I didn't measure. I do know that in the AM we were able to get on the monorail from the Contemporary stop while quests staying at Poly and GF had very limited seating if any at all available to them after passing through T&T. Granted this was over MLK weekend but something for people to consider if traveling during a holiday or other busy time.

 

[kilik64]

Thanks for all the replies. Gonna shoot for vgf but if not available gonna go with blt. We are going on early March and both were still available before the site went down, will see what we can get at the 7 month window day!

 

[cm8]

Thanks for all the replies. Gonna shoot for vgf but if not available gonna go with blt. We are going on early March and both were still available before the site went down, will see what we can get at the 7 month window day!

I would also choose VGF. On our very first stay at BLT with our daughter when she was 3 was not the greatest. There were so many sharp edges on the furniture pieces that we totally forgot about if you’re a young little wondering person.

The floor in the bathroom also proved this to be true as it was like being on a slip and slide when coming from the carpet to the waxed floor. Long story short, she ended up losing her balance after walking on the carpet when she went into the bathroom and hit her head pretty hard.

We were told that it had happened to other little people too and it was because the soap they used to shampoo the carpet left some sort of residue and that ended up on the bottom of her socks.

We ended up at Florida Hospital in Celebration that day. Thank God she only ended up with a concussion! By the time we got back, Disney had installed a mat from the carpet to the inside of the bathroom to prevent that issue from happening again. It was her birthday too so they had cards signed and a huge basket of goodies on the bed for her when we returned.

Make sure to bring a potty if you don’t already take one with you and a tub mat for the littles when they take a bath. The tub can get slippery (BLT) sometimes. Make sure to keep the door to the bathroom tied back to avoid them pinching their fingers in. That door can be heavy sometimes.
also, when you pull out the couch, place the pillows against the sliding glass doors to steer them away from it. Those balconies can look very tempting to little people who love to climb.

Also, the Community Hall at BLT had so many things to do it was like an experience on its on. These are some of the things I learned when we stayed at BLT. The VGF studios are much more spacious and you can do way more inside of them vs BLT. Good luck with getting your reservation. The water play areas and Gasparilla Grill made everything seem so easy!

 

[PalmettoPath]

Definitely VGF from my point of view. We own both BLT and VGF as home resorts. The walk is a bit closer, but the Grand Floridian in general offers more for kids and adults alike than BLT/Contemporary. But the main point for me would be the Studio Villa size. BLT are among the smallest of any DVC at 339 sq ft vs VGF studios size of 374 sq. ft. Really you can't go wrong either way. But we personally prefer VGF, as does our daughter.

 

[supersnoop]

With your family, I wouldn't rule out PVB. The studios there are the largest.