Art of Animation or BLT for little ones??

[Tortellini5]

Hi!
I am planning our first family trip to WDW for Oct 2018. I was dead set on BLT so we'd be close to MK however I recently started having second thoughts and was thinking about AOA. Any one want to share their thoughts on which is better. It will be my husband and I with our son who will be 4 and our daughter who will be almost 3 at that time. No matter what we will need at least a one bedroom.
I know BLT is better for location however AOA seems like we'd get more for our money and maybe a better pool and room overall.
Any info would be helpful, thanks in advance!
(I've stayed at BLT before but not AOA)

 

[DisneyWishes14]

There's no comparison, IMHO. You are comparing a deluxe resort to a value. We've stayed at both and there is no way I'd give up the convenience and amenities of BLT to stay at AoA. AoA offers you a chaotic food court, buses to every park, paper-thin walls and the most uncomfortable bedding I've ever slept on. It looks cute, but there is no way around it. You are simply staying in a cute, large, value room. The cuteness wears off pretty quickly. BLT has TS options, walking to MK, monorail to EP, comfortable beds and other deluxe amenities. Are you considering a 1-bedroom at BLT? If so, you will also get a full kitchen and an in-room washer/dryer which were priceless to me when DS was younger.

 

[cmoliver5]

We stayed at BLT this past February with my DD who was 18mo at the time. She loved the pool and splash area. Obviously not as large as the Big Blue Pool at AOA but it was also nice because it was a smaller, less busy area. Easier to keep tabs on her. The ability to walk to and from MK cannot be overstated. When comparing the 10-20 minute wait for a bus and then the actual bus ride to the resort to a 15 minute walk from the MK gate to the elevator at BLT with kids...it's night and day.

Obviously the budget is a lot different. I'd definitely recommend renting points for BLT over paying rack rate if you can. Another alternative would be to rent points and stay at BRV. The boat ride is still easier than catching the bus and the points per night are lower than BLT.

 

[Tortellini5]

Thank you! You both made up my mind

 

[DizMomAndWife]

I think the seller for BLT for us was location. We did POFQ with our DD when she was 1.5 and the hassle of getting on and off the busses with her, the stroller, and a bag was not fun. This time, we'll have two and a double stroller. We opted for BLT so we could walk to MK and take the monorail (no folding the stroller!!) to Epcot.

 

[Madivan]

You can't beat location of BLT. We loved walking to MK and having CM onsite - we did like 4 breakfasts there on our recent trip. Fireworks from your balcony. Great restaurants onsite. Pool has a great toddler sized slide that your kids will love. Monorail resort. I could keep going.

I'm booked at BC in March for our week long trip and I'm totally second guessing - wanted to stay somewhere different but I might just rebook at BLT. We stay short trips at various resorts throughout the year but BLT may be home for long trips while the kids are small.

I would never consider AOA over BLT.

 

[StraightToDumbo]

Go with your gut. There's always next year for the one you don't choose. Caution: Once you've done DVC it's hard to go back. For that reason I'd do AoA first and then "upgrade".