4 Adults: AKV 1B Value or BLT Studio

[SpaceMountain77]

Hi everyone,

Well, we are at the 7-month mark and trying to decide between keeping our current AKV reservation or switching it for BLT. With 4 grown adults, would you prefer the space of an AKV 1B value or access to the monorail at the expense of space?

Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts!

Jim 8O

 

[TinkandGoofy'sMom]

I love both resorts, but where I stayed with three other adults would depend on who the others are. For example, if it was hubby and I with then another couple definitely a one bedroom. Actually, now that I think about it, the extra bathroom at AKV would seal the deal.

 

[chalee94]

I love both resorts, but where I stayed with three other adults would depend on who the others are. For example, if it was hubby and I with then another couple definitely a one bedroom. Actually, now that I think about it, the extra bathroom at AKV would seal the deal.

downer:

the value 1BRs at AKV do not have the extra bathroom (nor the sleeper chair).

i'd lean toward the AKV 1BR but neither is ideal...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi everyone,

Well, we are at the 7-month mark and trying to decide between keeping our current AKV reservation or switching it for BLT. With 4 grown adults, would you prefer the space of an AKV 1B value or access to the monorail at the expense of space?

Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts!

Jim 8O

The only way I'd recommend changing to BLT would be to a one bedroom. A studio will be awful with four grown adults. You would be wall to wall people.

And the space of the Value one bedroom might even be too small for four grown adults. But I wouldn't downsize to any studio. Except maybe an OKW studio where you have space and two real queen sized beds.

 

[Anna114]

4 adults that's a lot of people in a studio. Even if it was my least favorite DVC resort I would rather the one bedroom.

 

[Kidanifan08]

I would go with the value 1BR. At least you will have some degree of privacy. We did a studio at BLT once with the two of us and DS, and it was really crowded. The bathroom is tiny. You would be miserable with 4 adults needing to bath and dress in privacy. At least there are two viable private zones in the AKV 1BR.

 

[ldo]

if you can swing a few more points, the standard AKV 1Br all have a sleeper chair as well--so the other 2 adults do not have to share pull out sofa--and if you book Kidani, you would have a 2nd bathroom. I really like the ambiance of AKV, esp. in the evening to sit and have a glass of wine in the lobby bar or on your balcony. Definitely not 4 adults in s studio--that's sound like camping to me.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I've never stayed at AKV.....but BLT studios are tiny. There is a TON of storage space in the kitchenette for little things....but the couch is very close to the bed, and right next to the slider door. I feel that the couch bed was smaller than the one at SSR.

The real question is whether you can do it. What kind of adults? Will you be OK in close quarters? Or will you hate being on top of each other? How much time will you spend in the room? Is the monorail and park proximity more important than room space?

Only you can answer these questions to decide. We stay in studios with 4 but our kids are 4 and 8. When they are teenagers we'll probably cut down on our trips and do 1 bedrooms

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Keep AKV.

 

[cayennews]

I agree, keep the 1 bedroom. I stayed in a 1 bedroom at BLT with my sister and her 2 kids and it was a good amount of space. I could not imagine being in a studio with 3 other people. Plus there will be a lack of privacy in a studio. I love BLT though!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Thanks, everyone, for the quick and thoughtful replies. Right now, I am going to keep the AKV 1B Value reservation, but will explore the possibility of a 1B Standard. I would need to rent 2 points and we would lose one night, but it may be worth it for the additional space and sleeper chair.

If I was to book a AKV - Jambo House 1B Standard, is there a greater possibility of having a pool view or obstructed savannah? I ask because the walk from the lobby to the far end of the Kudu Trail would be difficult for a member of our party.

Thanks again,
Jim 8O

 

[cvjw]

Thanks, everyone, for the quick and thoughtful replies. Right now, I am going to keep the AKV 1B Value reservation, but will explore the possibility of a 1B Standard. I would need to rent 2 points and we would lose one night, but it may be worth it for the additional space and sleeper chair.

If I was to book a AKV - Jambo House 1B Standard, is there a greater possibility of having a pool view or obstructed savannah? I ask because the walk from the lobby to the far end of the Kudu Trail would be difficult for a member of our party.

Thanks again,
Jim 8O

Get the 1 bedroom at Kidani Village and you will have the extra bathroom and more space in the villa. The bathroom layout of the 1 bedroom at Jambo House didn't work for our family of 4 - everything is in one room so only one person could be in the bathroom at a time. It was forever getting everyone ready to leave in the morning.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Get the 1 bedroom at Kidani Village and you will have the extra bathroom and more space in the villa. The bathroom layout of the 1 bedroom at Jambo House didn't work for our family of 4 - everything is in one room so only one person could be in the bathroom at a time. It was forever getting everyone ready to leave in the morning.

Thanks, cvjw.

I think we are going to do the 1B Standard, at Kidani, because the extra full bath will certainly be a help. Are the standard view rooms close to the lobby? I know they overlook the parking and pool areas, but do not know how far out they extend.

Thanks,
Jim 8O

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks, cvjw.

I think we are going to do the 1B Standard, at Kidani, because the extra full bath will certainly be a help. Are the standard view rooms close to the lobby? I know they overlook the parking and pool areas, but do not know how far out they extend.

Thanks,
Jim 8O

They pretty much run the full length of the entire building.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks, cvjw.

I think we are going to do the 1B Standard, at Kidani, because the extra full bath will certainly be a help. Are the standard view rooms close to the lobby? I know they overlook the parking and pool areas, but do not know how far out they extend.

Thanks,
Jim 8O

Some of the standard views could be a long way away from the lobby. If you'll have a car then parking is underneath the building and there are elevators down to the parking so that would not be far. Otherwise you would at least want to request a room close to the lobby.

In that regard the Value Villa would be a better guarantee of being close to the Jambo lobby.

 

[lorie13]

Based on just the size of the rooms and since you are four adults, I would stick with AKV Value 1 Bedroom, approximately 629 square feet as opposed to BLT Studio which is approximately 339 sq feet. Both of these resorts are our home resorts and I have stayed at both. AKV to me is a warm and friendly resort, I love the decor, and there is nothing like watching the animals on the savanna, where as BLT is very contemporary in its decor and it lacks a nice lobby where you can just lounge in, though the transportation options are much better.

 

[ToddyLu]

Another vote for AK 1 bedroom. DH and I stayed in a BLT studio for Halloween night last year and were not impressed. View of MK to left and lake view straight ahead saved it for us but we were ready to get back to AKV.

Have a great trip it sounds fun!

 

[Kidanifan08]

Based on just the size of the rooms and since you are four adults, I would stick with AKV Value 1 Bedroom, approximately 629 square feet as opposed to BLT Studio which is approximately 339 sq feet. Both of these resorts are our home resorts and I have stayed at both. AKV to me is a warm and friendly resort, I love the decor, and there is nothing like watching the animals on the savanna, where as BLT is very contemporary in its decor and it lacks a nice lobby where you can just lounge in, though the transportation options are much better.

ITA, the room size is a huge issue. Even if we were traveling with our best friends, I would not want to spend more than a night in a BLT studio with them. In fact, there is not a studio on site that I would share with 2 adult friends. And I am talking about people who we have been friends with for over 20 years. Now, I am pretty sure we could survive a 1BR value at Jambo, although I would prefer a 1BR at Kidani for the second bathroom.

A little off topic, but I think the statement in bold is debatable. I don't think anyone would argue that walking or taking the monorail to MK from is the ultimate in convenience. OTOH, transportation to the other parks is no better than from AKV, and probably worse.

 

[GGOOFY1]

I vote for one bedroom. Gives you the privacy.