What are the differences between contemporary and BLT?

[TeamSy]

We are 2 adults and a toddler who sleeps in pack and play. I am considering bay lake tower just because it’s a couple of hundred dollars cheaper a night than contemporary for our dates. I know the studio will have a queen vs a king request at Contemporary. We have never stayed at either. We would still get full housekeeping at BLT, so that’s not affected. Any major differences that make the almost $200 a night difference worth it??

 

[ErinsMommy]

the resort has resort amenities such as dining options, concierge desk, and the monorail all in the A-frame building you can still walk across a bridge to use those amenities as well, but personally if it was a $200 difference and the queen vs. king bed doesn't bother you, i would go with BLT.

 

[FSU Girl]

BLT is DVC. In the studio you'll get a kitchenette along with the queen bed and couch. I've heard these rooms are a little small, but I've only stayed in the one and two bedrooms so I can't comment on that. At the Contemporary you'd more than likely get two queens over a king. I prefer Bay Lake Tower, I think the rooms are quieter. The tower rooms can get noisy with the open atrium and Chef Mickey's. It's still an easy walk across the bridge to get to the monorail and shops. I'd go with BLT to save the $200.

 

[cruisin5]

Agreed, BLT. The room will seem small because of the layout with the kitchenette. There will be a pack 'n play in your room.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The real name for BLT is BLT at the Contemporary Resort. So BLT is just a part of the Contemporary. It's just all DVC villas and no hotel rooms. You'll get a queen bed and double sized sleeper sofa and a pack and play in the closet. The studio living space is a bit small because they used a lot of space for the bathroom and kitchenette.

 

[TeamSy]

Thank you all! We have stayed at other dvc properties before and have loved it. The savings of staying here vs the “hotel” side is pretty insane for our dates, so I thought maybe I was missing something lol. Would obviously prefer a king, but for the price difference a queen is totally fine. The size of the room being small also isn’t a big factor. It’s not like we were going to get a suite or something at Contemporary anyway. We’re also not in the room much either except at night. I did think of some questions...

- When we arrive early will bay lake tower hold our luggage or would we have to go over to contemporary for that? Same with checkout and wanting to go to the park for the day before DME.

- Can you order room service at contemporary from BLT?

- Is it just as easy to walk to
magic Kingdom from BLT?

- To get to the monorail I assume we just use walkway to Contemporary- is this how we would go to the bus as well or would we just walk outside for the bus?

- Which pool do you like better?

- Would we have access to the top of the world view (I think that’s what it’s called?) or no because we are not actual members?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you all! We have stayed at other dvc properties before and have loved it. The savings of staying here vs the “hotel” side is pretty insane for our dates, so I thought maybe I was missing something lol. Would obviously prefer a king, but for the price difference a queen is totally fine. The size of the room being small also isn’t a big factor. It’s not like we were going to get a suite or something at Contemporary anyway. We’re also not in the room much either except at night. I did think of some questions...

- When we arrive early will bay lake tower hold our luggage or would we have to go over to contemporary for that? Same with checkout and wanting to go to the park for the day before DME.

- Can you order room service at contemporary from BLT?

- Is it just as easy to walk to
magic Kingdom from BLT?

- To get to the monorail I assume we just use walkway to Contemporary- is this how we would go to the bus as well or would we just walk outside for the bus?

- Which pool do you like better?

- Would we have access to the top of the world view (I think that’s what it’s called?) or no because we are not actual members?

Pretty much yes to everything but the last. You must be a DVC member staying at a WDW resort to access the lounge (Top of the World Lounge). You can walk outside to get to the bus or take the overhead walkway to get to the bus. The BLT pool is reserved for BLT guests only. You might enjoy that one. If not, try either of the other two pools at the CR.

 

[FSU Girl]

Is it just as easy to walk to
magic Kingdom from BLT?

I always feel like it's closer than the Contemporary, but it might just be the layout I've not counted the steps.

When we arrive early will bay lake tower hold our luggage or would we have to go over to contemporary for that? Same with checkout and wanting to go to the park for the day before DME.

They have a check in desk inside the BLT lobby, that's where you would go.

To get to the monorail I assume we just use walkway to Contemporary- is this how we would go to the bus as well or would we just walk outside for the bus?

There is an outdoor walkway between the two hotels. It's on floor 5 at BLT and you'll end up on floor 4 at the Contemporary. It's an easy walk over and you'll be on the level with the shops, quick service, Chef Mickeys and the entrance to the monorail.

Which pool do you like better?

I haven't used either, but I believe people staying at BLT are allowed to use both, while people staying at the Contemporary can only use the Contemporary pools.

Would we have access to the top of the world view (I think that’s what it’s called?) or no because we are not actual members?

No, you'd need the actual DVC card to prove you are a member to get up there. I tried the first time I stayed there.

 

[beccasmom]

The BLT studio is very nice, but on the small side. But I think you will enjoy it and accessing the services in the CR is very easy. You can’t beat the location!

 

[Jennasis]

All the benefits if the CR but waaaaaay quieter at BLT.

 

[keishashadow]

We are 2 adults and a toddler who sleeps in pack and play. I am considering bay lake tower just because it’s a couple of hundred dollars cheaper a night than contemporary for our dates. I know the studio will have a queen vs a king request at Contemporary. We have never stayed at either. We would still get full housekeeping at BLT, so that’s not affected. Any major differences that make the almost $200 a night difference worth it??

The studios @ BLT are very small (339 sq ft) especially compared to the CR tower rooms (415 sq ft). We enjoy staying there but feel the layout is a bit odd. We book AKVJ value studios often, which are even smaller, but the main area with the beds seems more spacious than BLT.

Make sure to look at the pictures before deciding

As long as you don’t open the sofa bed, pack & play would work but it will be tight @ BLT

CR proper is one of our favorite non-DVC properties, lively vibe vs the more subdued BLT. Neither resort’s pool is a true wow IMO

BLT is def closer than CR to MK but both def walkable.