nomoretslt
Guest
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2017
- Messages
- 785
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- 812
Just returned from a 10 night stay…all at BLT.
Our studio was ready when we arrived a little after 2 pm. It was only for one night, as it was a travel day and we were doing the dining plan for the one night. It was an ADA studio that I didn’t ask for … same thing happened at BWV in January. It was really no biggie, just does not have the same floor plan as regular studio with galley kitchenette. Hung at the pool for a bit then We used our counter service credits for the angus burger platter at Contemporary Cafe for dinner. Really good as it was last time and was able to have vodka drink in a can too (the name escapes me). Got our mugs….they are $23 plus tax now, but came with the dining plan.
Next morning was move in day for the one bedroom. Checked out early, made the trek to Epcot for Flower & Garden snack credits and very late lunch in Italy. DH was not up for a long walk from Epcot monorail to the other side, so we bussed from Contemporary to Hollywood, boarded the skyliner and got off at back gate of Epcot.
Oysters were good….at American kiosk, potato pancake thing in Germany not so much..
Lunch and dinner menus at Italy nearly identical. We had Italian Martini, lobster ravioli with braised beef (delicious) and a really good dessert with lots of chocolate (it was early so no interference with sleep). We really got much more than our moneys worth with the dining plan for one night. Our one bedroom was ready before we returned. Did not get the requested room area. And was a problem for our stay. Being in the inner part of the horseshoe during a busy week with lots of kids ( as far as I know there was no school holiday) was not a good experience. I expect normal noise and noise from the recreational games set up in the courtyard, but constant shrill screaming from the courtyard and the pool…..for most of the day…..not a good experience, even with the doors shut and curtains closed.
This was our first time in the newly renovated rooms. They did a wonderful job. The murphy bed was great, the master bedroom and bathroom…..so much brighter. The extra bathroom also well done. Sad to see no more jacuzzi tub and sliding wall….but new tub is nice and roomy. They kept all the nice storage cabinets in the kitchen…..it seems that they did a “resurface” of the cabinets. And I’m pretty sure we are one year into the refurb and things seem to be holding up well.
Our last night, we were in a studio again to “save points” since we were leaving at 6 am. We will not be doing that any more. Room wasn’t ready until almost 4. I kept stalking to try and keep the one bedroom ( and the front desk checked also). No luck.
Speaking of the front desk, I am not a fan of this new lobby at BLT. Wow, lots more comfortable seating…..but no more front desk or a sign that says wait here for next available CM. Still a small desk on the one side and bell services on the other. It was pretty awful. No cohesive way of asking who is next….the CMs wander around with portable devices that are super slow, people lining up at bell services thinking it’s the check in desk. CMs I spoke with are not happy either. DH and I were wondering if the same person who thought putting the bathroom sink in the galley kitchenette in the studios when BLT first opened was also asked to redesign the lobby this go around. The expense DVC went thru to correct that dumb design….and the only thing I didn’t like in the new studio was that they removed the mirror over the counter that had been left in place after they moved that ridiculous sink.
DVC members only get a tour of the Poly tower between 6:30 and 7:30 pm ( as of last week). Wow!! Jaw dropping. Everything they missed the mark on with Riviera…..they made up for it with the tower. Duo studios much bigger than tower rooms a RIV. Studios also huge. One bedrooms have same set up as BLT and Kidani with 2 full baths. The finishes and design work is wonderful. Fantastic views of lake and MK. Only drawback is a bit if a walk to monorail. We actually walked to GF to catch monorail there for return to BLT. Not ideal if wanting to go to Epcot early as it goes around the whole loop to get to TTC. I did manage to snag a duo studio for our first night in the fall.
I did late night at MK….Wednesday nights. Totally worth it. Everyone was lining up for the nighttime parade…posted wait time for Thunder mountain was 50 minutes…more like 40. More or less the same except ride is now much smoother. I did notice it was down a lot during the week….it had just reopened a few days after we arrived…and apparently there was a fire in the loading area. On to 7 Dwarfs…25 minute wait….everyone was waiting for fireworks. Great ride, fireworks were going off during the ride, then it broke down for about 10 minutes while I was right outside of the end….got a spectacular view of the fireworks grand finale. Tron was next…35 minute wait was more like 20. Such an awesome ride. Planned on taking monorail back to BLT, my feet were tired. the fireworks crowd was still leaving and both ramps were still chock full…I opted for the quiet 10 minute walk back to BLT.
It seems like the road widening on I-95 that starts at the border of Georgia and SC is going well. I think it will go up to the main interchange near Charleston…. Route 25 maybe? Maybe a bit further…they took down a lot of those huge trees that were in the center median. I hope it’s finished in my lifetime.
All in all a good trip, although I ventured out alot on my own. And wow is Lakeside Lodge huge!!!! Took a ride on one of the smaller boats that goes from Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness to get a good view. I am excited to stay there, but they will need dedicated transportation for that place.
Our studio was ready when we arrived a little after 2 pm. It was only for one night, as it was a travel day and we were doing the dining plan for the one night. It was an ADA studio that I didn’t ask for … same thing happened at BWV in January. It was really no biggie, just does not have the same floor plan as regular studio with galley kitchenette. Hung at the pool for a bit then We used our counter service credits for the angus burger platter at Contemporary Cafe for dinner. Really good as it was last time and was able to have vodka drink in a can too (the name escapes me). Got our mugs….they are $23 plus tax now, but came with the dining plan.
Next morning was move in day for the one bedroom. Checked out early, made the trek to Epcot for Flower & Garden snack credits and very late lunch in Italy. DH was not up for a long walk from Epcot monorail to the other side, so we bussed from Contemporary to Hollywood, boarded the skyliner and got off at back gate of Epcot.
Oysters were good….at American kiosk, potato pancake thing in Germany not so much..
Lunch and dinner menus at Italy nearly identical. We had Italian Martini, lobster ravioli with braised beef (delicious) and a really good dessert with lots of chocolate (it was early so no interference with sleep). We really got much more than our moneys worth with the dining plan for one night. Our one bedroom was ready before we returned. Did not get the requested room area. And was a problem for our stay. Being in the inner part of the horseshoe during a busy week with lots of kids ( as far as I know there was no school holiday) was not a good experience. I expect normal noise and noise from the recreational games set up in the courtyard, but constant shrill screaming from the courtyard and the pool…..for most of the day…..not a good experience, even with the doors shut and curtains closed.
This was our first time in the newly renovated rooms. They did a wonderful job. The murphy bed was great, the master bedroom and bathroom…..so much brighter. The extra bathroom also well done. Sad to see no more jacuzzi tub and sliding wall….but new tub is nice and roomy. They kept all the nice storage cabinets in the kitchen…..it seems that they did a “resurface” of the cabinets. And I’m pretty sure we are one year into the refurb and things seem to be holding up well.
Our last night, we were in a studio again to “save points” since we were leaving at 6 am. We will not be doing that any more. Room wasn’t ready until almost 4. I kept stalking to try and keep the one bedroom ( and the front desk checked also). No luck.
Speaking of the front desk, I am not a fan of this new lobby at BLT. Wow, lots more comfortable seating…..but no more front desk or a sign that says wait here for next available CM. Still a small desk on the one side and bell services on the other. It was pretty awful. No cohesive way of asking who is next….the CMs wander around with portable devices that are super slow, people lining up at bell services thinking it’s the check in desk. CMs I spoke with are not happy either. DH and I were wondering if the same person who thought putting the bathroom sink in the galley kitchenette in the studios when BLT first opened was also asked to redesign the lobby this go around. The expense DVC went thru to correct that dumb design….and the only thing I didn’t like in the new studio was that they removed the mirror over the counter that had been left in place after they moved that ridiculous sink.
DVC members only get a tour of the Poly tower between 6:30 and 7:30 pm ( as of last week). Wow!! Jaw dropping. Everything they missed the mark on with Riviera…..they made up for it with the tower. Duo studios much bigger than tower rooms a RIV. Studios also huge. One bedrooms have same set up as BLT and Kidani with 2 full baths. The finishes and design work is wonderful. Fantastic views of lake and MK. Only drawback is a bit if a walk to monorail. We actually walked to GF to catch monorail there for return to BLT. Not ideal if wanting to go to Epcot early as it goes around the whole loop to get to TTC. I did manage to snag a duo studio for our first night in the fall.
I did late night at MK….Wednesday nights. Totally worth it. Everyone was lining up for the nighttime parade…posted wait time for Thunder mountain was 50 minutes…more like 40. More or less the same except ride is now much smoother. I did notice it was down a lot during the week….it had just reopened a few days after we arrived…and apparently there was a fire in the loading area. On to 7 Dwarfs…25 minute wait….everyone was waiting for fireworks. Great ride, fireworks were going off during the ride, then it broke down for about 10 minutes while I was right outside of the end….got a spectacular view of the fireworks grand finale. Tron was next…35 minute wait was more like 20. Such an awesome ride. Planned on taking monorail back to BLT, my feet were tired. the fireworks crowd was still leaving and both ramps were still chock full…I opted for the quiet 10 minute walk back to BLT.
It seems like the road widening on I-95 that starts at the border of Georgia and SC is going well. I think it will go up to the main interchange near Charleston…. Route 25 maybe? Maybe a bit further…they took down a lot of those huge trees that were in the center median. I hope it’s finished in my lifetime.
All in all a good trip, although I ventured out alot on my own. And wow is Lakeside Lodge huge!!!! Took a ride on one of the smaller boats that goes from Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness to get a good view. I am excited to stay there, but they will need dedicated transportation for that place.
