jjbescher

We will be there.  We used to bring a 6 foot tree, but I talked the family into a 4 foot tree and a lot less ornaments.

If you can't find one before the 21st, I will be there.  Just let me know.

On 2/10/2018 at 10:16 AM, h2odivers...Ray said:

It would be fun, once, to try several resorts in one trip  

Which DVC is your favorite resort and why?

I have done multiple trips with split stays.  Without a car, it makes it more difficult, but it is nice to be able to see the different resorts.  We have even stayed in different room types, in the same resort.

As for a favorite resort, it just depends.

Overall Theming - Beach Club
Closeness to Magic Kingdom - BLT
Closeness to EPCOT, DHS - Beach Club
Being able to get last minute - Saratoga Springs(SSR)
The size of the rooms - Old Key West(OKW)
Liked the least - Boardwalk
Pool - Beach Club
Not point happy - SSR, OKW

I own points at BCV and SSR.  I have stayed at BCV, SSR, OKW, VWL(Now Boulder Creek), Poly, BLT.

We use Marcel.  It has a monthly subscription, mainly because it uses a cell network to text/email us.  We use it for Power Loss/Temperature(High and Low) setting.  You can set it up to email/text multiple people.  My wife has set it up for me to get text messages and for her to get email and text messages.

2 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Adorable! I love the name. Congratulations!

TCD

Thanks, all of our animals need to be named after a Disney Character.  So, he is named after the Hyena in the Lion King.  It helped that he has bred in California and had a surfing litter name.  So, the Banzai Pipeline was also a help in his naming.

This is my latest pup, Banzai, a Miniature Australian Shepard at 5 1/2 Months.  We got him in October.

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Hey- that's cool.  I'm glad that you didn't say anything to the girls- it creeps them out.

I remember seeing that U-Haul truck and trailer in the campground once when I was out looping- I wonder if that was you?

I think it was, it would have been Saturday around 8:50AM.  It was at the 4 way stop sign, you were coming from the 2000 loop area, turning towards Meadow Trading post.  I was turning to leave.

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So you left on Saturday?  How long was your visit this time?

I was there for a week.  The 8th through the 15th.

I will be at Disney, staying at SSR for one night on May 1st, then moving to the Swan on May 2nd through the 6th for a conference.  Then I come back and stay at SSR for the opening of Pandora.

I knew this trip report was coming. I was behind the TCD girls when they were getting to device for the TVs, then I went to galatic nights and saw TCD with his camera. I was in a rush to get to Toy Story Mania.

The Rock N Roller Coaster was cool. They changed the lightning and the music.

Then, as I was bringing my Kenny cart back on Saturday, I saw TCD and girls driving their cart. I was the one in the uhaul truck, since I had to borrow their truck.

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For my family, this was a bust.  The food was mediocre, the best thing on thw buffet was the Caesar Salad.  Even the Mac and Cheese was bad.

The characters will sign and take pictures,  but you have to wait in line for them.

Now, if you have a child that is outgoing and likes to dance, this maybe for you.

If you have any questions about this, please ask.

We ate here for lunch on Saturday, April 8th.  The food was still excellent and my daughter loved the mac and cheese.

We will be going back in August with friends.

Had to have batteries replaced over Christmas 2015 and they came onsite and did it.  Do not know how Tee Time was able to come on property and do it.

I have rented for Spring Break week with him and will see how it goes.

Duane, how was the food at Paddlefish (same or better than when it was Fulton's)?

I will get sign up tomorrow. Got most of the site decorated, but need to still put up the tree and some other decorations.

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Site 1604

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Will be at the fort the 21st - 30th, would love to meet some of you.

My DW does drive our RV, even pulling the Honda Pilot behind it.  We do not go many places that require us backing in.

Yes- that's what I was getting at.  Anyone can access the pool at VWL, plus it's more like a quiet pool.  It doesn't have any of the amenities that the BLT pool has.

 

 

I forgot about AKL.  The Kidani Village pool is very nice, and has a bar, drink machine to refill mugs, and food.  I think that Jambo house guests can use it too.  Which is different from the situation at BLT.

 

I wonder what the though process was for giving the BLT such a nice pool and recreation area?  It's way nicer than what the other deluxe resorts have, except possibly AKL.

 

TCD

You are correct the pools at Beach Club, Boardwalk and Wilderness Lodge Villas are considered Quiet Pools.  Even Saratoga Springs and Old Key West have some pools that are considered quiet pools and some that are feature pools.

The only thing I can think of for BLT, is that A. they had the space and B. with the Monorail, they did not want people just going to the pool.  With it just being BLT guests it was fairly busy.   However, there were always chairs available and you were not bumper to bumper people like you are at the fort.  It would be nice if they gated the Fort People so only Fort guests could use it.

Is BLT the only DVC resort at WDW with an exclusive pool area?

 

(Not counting Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, of course.)

 

I think it is.

 

I haven't heard of an exclusive pool area at the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club.

 

TCD

Technically, NO, but it is the only one that has Gate Access that is exclusive to that Resort.  Beach Club Villas has a small pool that is restricted to Beach Club Villas guests, but anyone can get to it.  Same with Wilderness Lodge.  Grand Floridian, do not know, but I do not know since I have not stayed there and I do not foresee Polynesian creating a separate pool.  Boardwalk has its own pool, but same thing anyone can get to it without a key.  AKL I do not know since I have not stayed there, but I do not recall them building a pool at Kidani Village, they built the Savannah instead.

As a DVC Member we are allowed to pool hop to the other DVC pools and main pools at the resort except BLT's and Storm-a-long bay at the Yacht and Beach Club.  Storm-a-long bay, they do check the keys and I assume MB's now to allow access into the pool area.  They have been doing that since we became members in 2002.  During Holiday seasons we are not allowed to pool hop at all.

The pool and recreation area is very nice.  Is all of this still exclusively for BLT guests?  Contemporary Resort guests are not allowed, right?

 

I really like the grilling area.

 

TCD

You are correct.  The Pool is exclusive to BLT guests, but the Grilling area, Corn Hole, Ping Pong, Bocce and Shuffleboard are not.  However to use most of those you need to be able to check things out from the Community Hall.  To get back into BLT from the pool/entertainment area you need to use your magic band or you could walk around the building to the front.

BLT guests are allowed to use the Contemporary pool.  There are no gates around it.

I think the only thing shared at night could be the campfire and the movie, however there was a firepit at the BLT pool.

This post contains some of the common areas of Bay Lake Tower like the grilling Area, Corn Hole, Shuffleboard, Ping Pong and Bocce areas

If you were not looking for the grilling area, you probably would not find it.  It is off of the pool but is kinda hidden.  Which is nice, I think the grills are far enough away that the smoke does not get to the pool area, but you never know.  I never noticed the area until the day before we were going to grill out.

Grilling Area
At BLT alone they have 4 grills that you can use.  You need to provide the charcoal, but you can check out Grill Utensils, which does include matches, from the Community Hall.

2 of the grills

Grill 3


Grill 4

 

Water Fountains


Pavilion to sit at to eat or while waiting for food to cook, there are two picnic tables under the shelter




Emergency Phone


View of BLT from pavilion


You must scan Magic Band at gate in order to enter the pool


Shuffleboard, there are two courts.  Equipment can be checked out at Community Hall.  No cost.


Bamboo


Ping Pong table, looks like paddles and ping pong balls are left at the table.

 

Corn Hole or Bean Bag Toss, Bags most likely checked out at Community Hall, no cost.

Fountain


Fountain looking at the lobby indoors


Bocce Courts, once again equipment can be checked out at Community Hall


Next some interior photos and some pictures at night.
 

Looks like it is time for pictures of the pool.

Picture of the pool from the window right outside our door


Splash Ground.  There is no slide in this area, just an area for the kids to run around in.  The colored stuff is that rubbery material.

Pool Pictures

That is a baby slide.  It goes into about 3 feet of water.

 

Zero Entry


Stairs to Slide


View of BLT from Pool




Slide


Walkway that goes under the slide






Slide Rules


Eating area


Drink machine Options


Cove Bar Menu


View of pool from Cove Bar area


Up Next – Grilling Area and other amenities at BLT.

Is the second bedroom a studio room that connects with the one bedroom suite?

 

The bathroom looks kind of blah compared to the bathroom in the one bedroom unit.

 

TCD

For this room, it is dedicated, so it is not a studio.  However, the room size is the same.  The bathroom is the same between a Studio and the dedicated second bedroom.  The difference is in a studio, the second bed becomes a pullout couch and there is a dorm room size fridge, extra sink and microwave, what they call a dinette area.  They also provide you paper plates and plastic ware.  There is also a coffee maker.

DH thinks I'm crazy too.

Well, that is good to know.

I think you're all crazy.

But thanks for the pics nonetheless. I love sitting on the balcony and watching the boats in the morning and the fireworks at night.

We have only been on the opposite side of the resort so seeing your pics shows us something different.

I think I still prefer the other side though, but seeing the monorails, marina, etc would be cool too.

First time we stayed we had the mixed MK and Lake view.  I miss seeing the fireworks from the room, but the Frozen Fireworks were better than the MK.  We could also see the Illuminations Fireworks.  If we hurried we could go downstairs, catch the elevator up to the top and then watch the MK fireworks, a little late, but that would be all three sets of fireworks.

Considering how "Euro" looking those rooms are to me, I'm surprised they don't have those toilets with 2 buttons on top....one for #1 and one for #2. 

The toilets are considered residential, but for a commercial use.  How I do know that?  Well, ours would not flush right away.  So I opened up the top and well, it was definitely different.  I should have taken a picture.  So we called maintenance.  When we came back from the park, the maintenance guy was leaving.  He told me that information along with that we should have waited a few more minutes and it would have flushed.

Nice room! The furniture does match the theme, so I think they did a good job. Love the rain shower and tub!

The furniture does match the room, just not very comfortable.  I bet they could have gotten furniture made a little more comfortable along with the cushions actually staying on the chair and the couch.

Well, we only have a few pictures of the second bedroom.  The inlaws got into the room before I could take pictures and they left after us.  Did not want to take too many pictures of their stuff.

I think these are two queen beds.

Bathroom sink


Toilet and shower, just a normal shower behind the curtain




View of entertainment center


View from the second bedroom balcony

That is it for the second bedroom.

I still have some pictures from at night that I will post in the next update.

Thanks for all the pictures!

No problem.  My DW thinks I am crazy, but I think my DD is starting to get on board.