It comes out to like almost $1000 CAD more for the three nights...doesn't seem overly worth it when we imagine that's a couple plane tickets or a lot of dining money! Especially given we won't be in the room a crazy amount!While I love AKL, I think BLT makes more sense for this trip from what you have described. I have not stayed in a standard view at BLT, so can not comment on that. Have you priced out the lake view?
This is good to know! I was under the impression that there's multiple stops for Kidani and Jambo each and they all share buses, but if just one each that's definitely better!We always go for 10+ days & my go to resorts are AKV & VGF, I’d never stay at BLT because we like a slower paced vacation & to stay in a resort w/ spacious/interesting grounds. But for a short, park commando type visit BLT works better if the park you’ll focus on the most is MK which you can walk to w/ Epcot as your second most visited park via monorail. If, instead, you’ll be spending more time at DHS w/ Epcot second I’d look at BWV w/ their reasonable point charts & walkability to DHS & Epcot.
AKL doesn’t have multiple bus stops to everywhere, btw. The park buses pick up/drop off at Kidani first then stop by Jambo & the next stop is the park they’re going to. I think BLT/contemporary sometimes shares w/ WL.
This is a good point! It's showing as available, but worst case we'll have to decide if the Lake view cost is something we can stomach, I suspect it might be for all the conveniences of BLT, or else we go back to our Kidani planAgree that for your trip BLT makes more sense. Without knowing your timeframe, however, availability on a 1 bed standard may be an issue. You may need to budget Lake view since lower point rooms tend to book first. Something to keep in mind.
If we weren't four adults I would certainly consider this, but everyone realllly wants that second bathroom!If you won’t be in your room that much, I’d book a studio.
Hello!
My group of 4 adults is planning a short (4 park day, 3 night) stay at one of these two resorts by renting DVC points. I've never stayed at either resort. It'll be a whirlwind trip with late nights in the parks, and I've adored staying on the monorail loop before, but we much prefer the theming and food options at AKL. For cost, Bay Lake Tower would just be a standard view, so I'm curious if anyone can weigh in on how much that would take away from the experience. At AKL we'd probably spring for Savannah view, which comes in at like $100 more than Bay Lake Tower standard view, but really the costs are almost identical. So I'm stuck...please weigh in and help me decide!
Basically here's the pro con list:
Kidani Village:
PROS
- Animal Theme! (We are huge animal lovers)
- Beautiful resort theming in general- definitely more my style
- Animals outside the window and a guaranteed good view
- Excellent dining for adults
- Nice looking pool (not super important since the trip is in January)
- Close to AK, which is quite possibly my favourite park
CONS
- Technically (barely) the more expensive option if we spring for Savannah view
- Far from everything except AK (significant given the short nature of our trip)
- Multiple bus stops on the way to everywhere
- We may not spend a ton of time back at the room so perhaps no point to Savannah view?
Bay Lake Tower
PROS
- Incredible location, walkway to MK
- Monorail access to EPCOT and MK
- Transportation in general....the location just makes so much more sense for a short trip
- Technically (shockingly) cheaper?
- The one bedroom villa rooms do look quite lovely? Even if not my typical style?
- Would allow me to complete the satisfying trifecta of having stayed at all 3 of the monorail resorts (I LOVE the Poly and GF, but the former has no one bedroom villas and the latter is cost prohibitive this time around and close to the Poly DVC construction)
CONS
- I'm really struggling with the theme. It reminds me of non-Disney hotels too much- unless anyone can assure me it still feels really Disney immersive?? (Contemporary was not a resort I thought I'd ever stay at because for the price I'd just rather be at the Poly or GF....never imagined booking it over those two)
- Is it worth the cost for only a standard view? While some rooms look like a pleasant surprise on Touring Plans, a lot of the standard views are pretty unfortunate, esp. compared to a Savannah view room...
- Basically no food options in Bay Lake Tower, seems there are several at Contemporary but they don't seem as appealing as the Kidani/AKL ones?
- Pool seems inferior to the Kidani one based on pictures? In size and theming? I could be wrong, please correct me if so
Would love some insight, especially if anyone has stayed at both resorts!
For cost, Bay Lake Tower would just be a standard view, so I'm curious if anyone can weigh in on how much that would take away from the experience.
Are the sv rooms facing MK the first 3 floors only? I seemed to think they were pretty hard to see the park from them but I must have not known something...Just so you know, the Standard View rooms at BLT can be quite a bargain. The TP view rooms are not the only rooms that face MK, many SV and LV rooms do also. Ask for a SV room facing the MK, and you can have Cinderella's castle for a night light.
I've stayed at both, and while I like the theming at AK, I prefer being on the monorail.
First five I believe. We were on the 4th last time I had a SV room. Enough to see above the monorail.Are the sv rooms facing MK the first 3 floors only? I seemed to think they were pretty hard to see the park from them but I must have not known something...