Why buy at Bay Lake Tower?

[lark]

We own at BLT, but I don't think I would have bought there for $115 per point. That really does start to stretch the value. My guess is that prices will come down in the not too distant future. The place was selling like crazy at $95 to $101 per point and they raised the cost. I bet sales are really slowing down, which I think may have been what they wanted for whatever reason -- maybe to sell more points at AK. But I doubt it's going to stay like that very long.

By the way -- I don't really agree with buy where you want to stay as one size fits all advice for everyone. I would modify it -- if you can save a lot money with resale, buy at a place where you would not mind staying if your waitlist doesn't come through.

 

[dburg30]

Convince me why I should spend $115 per point for BLT when I can get a SSR resalefor about $40 less per point.

If you WANT/NEED to stay at BLT, and you travel during busy times, the 11 month thing will be very important, buy BLT.

If you would LIKE to stay at BLT during busy times, but wont be upset if you have to stay at SSR, buy SSR, make an 11 month ressies, then at 7 months try for a BLT ressie, if not available, waitlist.

If you are going in off times and dont care where you stay, almost always would be something available at 7 months, then buy the cheapest resale you can (basically the same thing you are asking)

 

[dphie28]

Thank you all so much for your replies! I finally feel 100% about our decision to buy resale at SSR. DH and I watched the DVD last night and really like the atmosphere of the Boardwalk/BCV and the decor/proximity to MK at VWL, but since their contracts will expire in 2042, we are going with SSR. When the kids are older, they can head over to Downtown Disney easily...maybe DH will learn to golf at some point...etc. The resort is more along our style of 'homey" with their decor. BLT just isn't the right fit for us. The monorail access was the only thing really pulling us in....but since there are so many other great places to stay, we may just try our luck at the 7 mo. window and visit them all!

Now, we also own at SSR, and although we like it, we find it's a bit of a struggle to stay there with kids, so we've had absolutely no problem at 7 months getting all resorts

Tiger - can you please elaborate on this? Our boys are 2, 6 and 8. I had the same concerns about SSR when they are young...what did you find a struggle about it? The downside I see is that buses are the only mode of transportation to the parks.

Thanks!

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

Buy where you want to stay!!!!

This is solid advice but must also include...Provided you make your reservations more than 7 months in advance! Otherwise, you'll lose that booking advantage that your home resort gives you.

We own at SSR and AKL and have been able to stay at every DVC resort at WDW. Most of these reservations were made within the 7-month window, not necessarily calling right at 7 months.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

This is solid advice but must also include...Provided you make your reservations more than 7 months in advance! Otherwise, you'll lose that booking advantage that your home resort gives you.

We own at SSR and AKL and have been able to stay at every DVC resort at WDW. Most of these reservations were made within the 7-month window, not necessarily calling right at 7 months.

You give great advice Buzz.

Jason

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

*If DVC ever makes a rule that you have to stay at your home resort, we are comfortable at BLT.

In my opinion if you start making your decisions based on a list of "If's" the decision process might go on for a long time.

Jason

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Great inside joke to those who have stayed there

We've not stayed at BLT.

Dh and I were convinced that we would buy at BLT. Our first 2 trips after our honeymoon were at the Contemporary Resort. We love the history, and the great access. We are actually some of the few people who GOT the Contemporary before they redesigned it. (It was part of tomorrowland.) We had stayed in the Garden Wings on each trip.

However, the decor is very cold, the point charts are too high, the price per point is too high, and layout in the studios are just awful. I would have looked over everything else.

I wanted to buy BLT, but DVC did not build BLT to meet our needs.

I will stay there eventually, and may feel the need to purchase then.

 

[spiceycat]

waited 15 years for a monrail DVC - when it was built - definitely buying it.

sold OKW to get it.

you might also look at OKW.

secondly when Disney does have a sale (using the word loosely) to the general public it is generally SSR and OKW.

SSR is a big resort. from some of the resort it is a long walk to the food court/restuarant.

BLT is one building - everything is between 3 and 10 minutes walk (including the MK). the floors are small - but it is tall - it even has 2 elevators places - BWV has one.

could go on and on - but hey everyone is different - if you really love SSR and would not mind staying there - then go for it.

 

[crisi]

Thank you for your opinions. I do think that we are going to go resale instead. BLT is in a great location, but the decor and price are not for us.

Congrats and welcome home.

Chances are that you'll have opportunities to use your SSR points (or wherever you buy your resale) at BLT and the other DVC resorts. I prefer the "buy where you won't be disappointed to end up" and for many people even if the have a resort preference, on Disney property is good enough - and at the same time, one shouldn't put oneself in a financial bind in order to afford a certain resort. Buy in price, dues, contract length and likely availability at seven months all need to play into a decision to purchase, and right now, its hard to make a case for not going resale unless you have an excess of spare change in your couch to the tune of a few grand and no place to spend it.

 

[Dziactor]

No one should buy at BLT! Then maybe the price per points will go down and I can get an add on. Its crazy high now.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

That was great. That brought back memories of when Richyams used to post on the Dis boards!

And Greenban (Can I say that?)

 

[spiceycat]

No one should buy at BLT! Then maybe the price per points will go down and I can get an add on. Its crazy high now.

hey that is why brought when I did....

the prices are not going to go lower - at least for a few years.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

And Greenban (Can I say that?)

I better watch it. I hate to admit it, but I really don't know where the envelope is on saying things like that.

I'm so glad that everybody enjoyed my comment in the fun way that it was intended.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

why? because we like it here!


...however, i am a lil' surprise....all the reasons we purchased blt

..haven't been mentioned. ( the 7/11 booking wasn't a factor for
us because we didn't understand this rule until later.)

anyhoo....i think the $115 is still a bargain .....based on the "returns"
& the factors we used in deciding what we wanted for our family
vacations.

best wishes to the op, in finding the right choice!

 

[CarolMN]

We stayed at BLT right after Thanksgiving last year. Although we enjoyed our stay there very much, I do not agree that access to the monorail is an advantage.

It's much easier and faster to walk to the MK than to take the monorail. IMO, it takes almost as long to walk to the CR monorail stop from the BLT as it does to the MK. Then you have to stop at the TTC, the Poly & the GF before you get to the MK monorail stop.

Using the monorail to get to EPCOT isn't especially wonderful, either, IMO. You have to transfer at the TTC and there is usually a bit of a wait to board the EPCOT monorail. Coming back, you have to transfer and then ride the resort monorail all the way around the loop, stopping at the Poly, the GF, and the MK before you get to the Contemporary. IMO, it is not faster than taking a bus to and from EPCOT when you stay at SSR, OKW, AKV or VWL. I do like a monorail ride better than a bus ride, though.

BCV & BWV are so much more convenient to EPCOT, which is our favorite park. Love the ability to walk to a park instead of waiting for a bus, monorail or boat.

Bottom line for us: Even though we enjoyed our BLT stay (loved the 1 bedroom and the close proximity to the MK), we probably will not pay the premium (in points) to stay there again. Even the standard views are more expensive than the BWV.

Isn't it wonderful that DVC gives us so many choices?

 

[cel_disney]

We really like the location, the fireworks/water pageant and the monorail access.

Having kids, taking the monorail is sometimes the best way to get somewhere even if its not the fastest because they like it! Also - we like to visit the other monorail resorts for dining so this will be a convenience for us.

And MK is our favorite park - the convenience of getting there so fast (or zipping back for naptime or a change of clothes so quickly!) is a huge perk!

I also think that as long as you buy were you will not be disappointed staying, you will be fine! Happy Shopping!

 

[rickafterburner]

We bought at BLT; don't neglect the cost of maintenance.

Here's what we were thinking. If we got to WDW during a peak time (Christmas or Spring Break), we're going to be hitting the biggest crowds, and we're going to want to be on the monorail. We're also going to need the 11 month advance reservations.

Saratoga Springs is beautiful, but at peak time, I don't want to be that far from the parks, and driving/buses are going to both be more challenging.

 

[cg1200]

OP - I wrestled with this exact dilemma though I was deciding between BWV and BLT. We already own at BWV and love it. We stayed at BLT back in Nov and though we weren't blown away by the sterile theming, the location was just too good to be true. Walking to MK was just so convenient. My kids are still young so we spend a lot of time there.

The other thing we really liked was that the 1BR has a 2nd full bathroom. That is a nice bonus with a family of 5.

It was really the upfront cost that put me off. 17K for 160 points at BLT vs about 8K for 150 points at BWV (resale). However over time, factoring in the dues it evened out. So did I want to spend more now or over time? Tough call. In the end we decided to buy BLT at the higher upfront cost. We felt the 11 month window might be more valuable over time as my kids get older and going off-peak season will get harder.

FWIW, I never considered AKV or SSR despite the lower costs. I never wanted to be "stuck" staying at a resort I really didn't like very much if the other resorts were full at 7 months.

 

[Michael623]

Sorry, I can't do it. I don't like the up front cost per point or the point chart itself. If I were in the market to make my first purchase I would buy OKW or SSR resale in a second over BLT.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

In my opinion if you start making your decisions based on a list of "If's" the decision process might go on for a long time.

Jason

True, but that was not my only reason, as stated.