A 2 Bed BLT or 2 x Poly studios for 4 adults and 2 kids

[roopster]

My wife and I are really wrestling with trying to decide which to book for a 5 day trip in September (and need to do it asap!)

There will be the two of us, our two children (daughter aged 8 who isn't a massive princess fan, but loves Mickey etc and son aged 3 who loves being active!) and my in laws. Father in law won't want to do a massive amount of walking and may like the convenience of being able to go back to the room for a nap!

We narrowed it down to two options: 1 x 2 bed BLT lake view for 200 points. Or 2 x Poly studios lake view for 200 points as well.

The Plus points we see for each:
BLT - more space having a 2 bed, living room etc. Maybe have breakfasts in the room (will probably do a meal plan anyway?)
Everyone in one space to feel like a family trip
Walk to MK
Nicer food
Poly - Nicer pool
Easier to get to Epcot (we are there during the food festival)
Generally a nicer 'feel'?
Maybe quieter at night when trying to calm 3 year old to go to sleep!

Negative points:
BLT - longer to get to Epcot
Bit more sterile?
Poly - No guarantee of rooms next to each other and general feeling of less space than a 2 bed, but how much time will we be spending in the room anyway?

We've never been as a family - I went in 1984 as a kid! Would love to have some of your wise input!

 

[DebbieB]

My wife and I are really wrestling with trying to decide which to book for a 5 day trip in September (and need to do it asap!)

There will be the two of us, our two children (daughter aged 8 who isn't a massive princess fan, but loves Mickey etc and son aged 3 who loves being active!) and my in laws. Father in law won't want to do a massive amount of walking and may like the convenience of being able to go back to the room for a nap!

We narrowed it down to two options: 1 x 2 bed BLT lake view for 200 points. Or 2 x Poly studios lake view for 200 points as well.

The Plus points we see for each:
BLT - more space having a 2 bed, living room etc. Maybe have breakfasts in the room (will probably do a meal plan anyway?)
Everyone in one space to feel like a family trip
Walk to MK
Nicer food
Poly - Nicer pool
Easier to get to Epcot (we are there during the food festival)
Generally a nicer 'feel'?
Maybe quieter at night when trying to calm 3 year old to go to sleep!

Negative points:
BLT - longer to get to Epcot
Bit more sterile?
Poly - No guarantee of rooms next to each other and general feeling of less space than a 2 bed, but how much time will we be spending in the room anyway?

We've never been as a family - I went in 1984 as a kid! Would love to have some of your wise input!

Tough call. Some things to consider:

BLT 2 bedroom will have 3 full bathrooms, but 2 Poly studios will have 4 showers (second bathroom does not have a toilet).
BLT will have a washer/dryer in the room
BLT - you can walk to MK

 

[DisBuckMan]

The 2br at BLT will give you 3 bathrooms.
Lots more room in the 2br...couple hundred more sq feet.
If you do a 2br dedicated at BLT, you'll get 3 real beds, a king and 2 queens.
Washer/dryer in room at BLT.

 

[roopster]

Thank you for the quick replies! I think we are leaning to sticking with our plan for the BLT, but I would love to hear from anyone who thinks we should go for the Polynesian! Is the pool in the Polynesian much closer to the rooms than in the BLT?

 

[DisBuckMan]

Is the pool in the Polynesian much closer to the rooms than in the BLT?

No. BLT rooms are closer to the pool than Poly DVC rooms are to the main pool.

 

[trishadono]

Thank you for the quick replies! I think we are leaning to sticking with our plan for the BLT, but I would love to hear from anyone who thinks we should go for the Polynesian! Is the pool in the Polynesian much closer to the rooms than in the BLT?

Also you can use the pool at CR. That isn't far and gives you more options.

You also will have 2 balconies at blt. We love the 2 br. It is hard to tell from pictures but when you first walk in room and look straight ahead and out the floor to ceiling windows you will love that.

I recently posted pix of the newly updated rooms on the CR thread. I had the 1 br this time but it's the same master and living area.

 

[roopster]

Thanks everyone. Would you say the pool at the Poly might be more fun / suitable for a 3 year old and 8 year old (who is young acting, i.e. she will be too scared to go on slides!) or does the BLT have splash pools etc. as well?

 

[Lisann]

My vote is BLT. And it won't take you longer to get to Epcot, seconds maybe, but I don't consider that longer.

Go with BayLake.

 

[trishadono]

Thanks everyone. Would you say the pool at the Poly might be more fun / suitable for a 3 year old and 8 year old (who is young acting, i.e. she will be too scared to go on slides!) or does the BLT have splash pools etc. as well?

My kids r in college so I don't pay attention to splash pads. I do know there is a kids area at CR. Blt also has the zero entry pool which is nice for kiddos. At night blt is cute because the slide structure has a large lit up Mickey head on it. Go look at pix and google map it. That should help.

 

[DisBuckMan]

If you were comparing studios vs studios at each resort, the Poly would be an absolute slam dunk, IMO. I absolutely hate the studios at BLT. Small, and poorly designed, IMO. The 2br vs 2 studios changes the dynamic completely, though.

In your case, the only advantages I'd give the Poly are the food (prefer Poly restaurants over CR restaurants, and the pool (not a fan of BLT's pool, although it is a lot closer to DVC rooms than Poly's is...of course, CR's pool is an option, but it adds quite a walk and it's still not as nicely themed at Poly's), and proximity to the TTC.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would go with BLT and I would book quickly. I am assuming you already confirmed availability of both rooms and points?

 

[Quellman]

BLT isn't really longer to EPCOT. It's just a monorail ride away. It takes marginally less time to walk from the Poly to the transportation center (which you wouldn't want to do in the rain). Make sure you get the dedicated 2 bedroom at Baylake tower. You'll have 2 beds in the second bedroom.

 

[cvjw]

My family of 4 did a split stay a couple years ago - 2 connecting poly studios for the first part of the stay and then a 2 bedroom at BLT for the rest of the trip. There was no comparison between the two for us. BLT wins hands down. You get more room with the 2 bedroom - a full kitchen, living area, and a washer/dryer.

I think the kids area at the poly is better than the play areas at BLT/contemporary. But being able to walk to the magic kingdom is priceless!

 

[brockash]

My wife and I are really wrestling with trying to decide which to book for a 5 day trip in September (and need to do it asap!)

There will be the two of us, our two children (daughter aged 8 who isn't a massive princess fan, but loves Mickey etc and son aged 3 who loves being active!) and my in laws. Father in law won't want to do a massive amount of walking and may like the convenience of being able to go back to the room for a nap!

We narrowed it down to two options: 1 x 2 bed BLT lake view for 200 points. Or 2 x Poly studios lake view for 200 points as well.

The Plus points we see for each:
BLT - more space having a 2 bed, living room etc. Maybe have breakfasts in the room (will probably do a meal plan anyway?)
Everyone in one space to feel like a family trip
Walk to MK
Nicer food
Poly - Nicer pool
Easier to get to Epcot (we are there during the food festival)
Generally a nicer 'feel'?
Maybe quieter at night when trying to calm 3 year old to go to sleep!

Negative points:
BLT - longer to get to Epcot
Bit more sterile?
Poly - No guarantee of rooms next to each other and general feeling of less space than a 2 bed, but how much time will we be spending in the room anyway?

We've never been as a family - I went in 1984 as a kid! Would love to have some of your wise input!

We'd def. do the 2 bedroom at BLT. Having the 3rd bathroom is great and the studios are just so small. It's also nice to have a washer/dryer in the room (we don't use it often, but it does come in handy) and you also get a dishwasher and 3rd tv. There really will be enough room/space that you and the grandparents will feel like you have your own space. The ability to walk to MK (especially if you'll have a stroller) is wonderful for times that the monorail is down or at closing with a huge line.

 

[brockash]

Thanks everyone. Would you say the pool at the Poly might be more fun / suitable for a 3 year old and 8 year old (who is young acting, i.e. she will be too scared to go on slides!) or does the BLT have splash pools etc. as well?

I know there's a splash pad at CR (very close and you can use), I don't remember seeing one at the BLT one though, however they do have a zero entry pool which is really nice and they have 2 slides (kind of lol), one is a normal big slide and the other is super small, like a 1/2 year old could go on it, but bigger kids use it too, so if your kiddos didn't want to do a big slide, I'm sure they'd be comfortable with that.

 

[goofy4tink]

I own at BLT, but am seriously considering selling those points and buying at the Polynesian!! I love the studios at the Polynesian. I also prefer the food options at the Polynesian, and the pools at the Polynesian.
If you can get adjoining studios I would go with the Polynesian. That shouldn't be too difficult since there are only studios to begin with!!! Granted, you have the full kitchen and the w/d at BLT, as well as the 'all together' feel. But, if you don't need the kitchen, and don't mind just leaving the connecting door open at the Polynesian, then the studios would be fine. You get free laundry with the studios, so just a trip to the laundry room.

 

[roopster]

My family of 4 did a split stay a couple years ago - 2 connecting poly studios for the first part of the stay and then a 2 bedroom at BLT for the rest of the trip. There was no comparison between the two for us. BLT wins hands down. You get more room with the 2 bedroom - a full kitchen, living area, and a washer/dryer.

I think the kids area at the poly is better than the play areas at BLT/contemporary. But being able to walk to the magic kingdom is priceless!

That's great to hear someone who did exactly this comparison (wasn't expecting that!) Thank you!

 

[roopster]

I own at BLT, but am seriously considering selling those points and buying at the Polynesian!! I love the studios at the Polynesian. I also prefer the food options at the Polynesian, and the pools at the Polynesian.
If you can get adjoining studios I would go with the Polynesian. That shouldn't be too difficult since there are only studios to begin with!!! Granted, you have the full kitchen and the w/d at BLT, as well as the 'all together' feel. But, if you don't need the kitchen, and don't mind just leaving the connecting door open at the Polynesian, then the studios would be fine. You get free laundry with the studios, so just a trip to the laundry room.

AHHH! I was all set to do the BLT until I read this! I still think the living room and kitchen may sway it...To stay at the Poly we would have to move our dates slightly...at the moment we are looking at 9/3 to 9/8 in the BLT or 9/5 to 9/10 in the Poly. Lake view only in BLT for 200 points, either standard or lake view in the Poly at 176 or 216 points (because of the Friday/Saturday). But the 9/3 and 9/4 are the Sunday / Monday of Labor day weekend - will that Sunday and Monday be busier than the following Friday and Saturday?

 

[DisBuckMan]

AHHH! I was all set to do the BLT until I read this! I still think the living room and kitchen may sway it...To stay at the Poly we would have to move our dates slightly...at the moment we are looking at 9/3 to 9/8 in the BLT or 9/5 to 9/10 in the Poly. Lake view only in BLT for 200 points, either standard or lake view in the Poly at 176 or 216 points (because of the Friday/Saturday). But the 9/3 and 9/4 are the Sunday / Monday of Labor day weekend - will that Sunday and Monday be busier than the following Friday and Saturday?

Just remember that CONNECTING (you want connecting, not adjoining...adjoining simply means near each other) rooms are a request...not a guarantee. The only way to guarantee all of you in one room together is the 2br at BLT.

 

[roopster]

Just remember that CONNECTING (you want connecting, not adjoining...adjoining simply means near each other) rooms are a request...not a guarantee. The only way to guarantee all of you in one room together is the 2br at BLT.

Good point! Right, BLT it is. I'm sure we will have a great time whatever! Now to turn my attention to whether the dining plan is a good idea or not...