BLT - Models are OPEN - Photo Tour!

[RobDoc]

The past 2 days we've stopped at several DVC kiosks and asked when we could see the BLT models. Most of the kiosk reps were excited to be able to talk about it! One said the models would be open over the weekend, one said "Call your Guide", one said they would be open in 2 weeks, another said "Soon".

We took our usual walk to DD this morning from OKW and decided to stop at the Sales Center along the way and ask when we could view the BLT models. They invited us to take the tour right then - after we had coffee and juice!

Fortunately, I did have my camera and photos of the BLT villa will follow. We were given a prospectus which includes the point chart already published on the member site. I did not ask about the discrepancy for the weekend studio points. The guide who accompanied us also had a laminated fact sheet with many stats about the BLT villas. Total number of villas will be 428 - but no breakdown was shown. The guide "thought" that there would be either 2 or 4 GVs. The villa sizes are the same as already reported here:
Studio: 339 sq.ft.
1BR: 803 sq.ft.
2BR: 1152 sq.ft.
GV: 2044 sq.ft.

We were VERY impressed with both the Studio and 1BR villa. We do not usually stay in Studios, but would consider it at BLT. There are some unique aspects in both villas as far as design, decor and function. Some interesting space-saving design has been utilized to make the 339 sq.ft. studio have a much larger feel.

Each Studio has it's own balcony - similar in size to the other recent DVC resorts. The 1BR has a balcony off the bedroom, but floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room (no balcony there). The sliding doors between bedroom and jacuzzi tub is a nice feature. There are 2 bathrooms in the 1BR and the sleep chair - a'la AKV so these 1BRs will sleep 5 and the 2BR villa will sleep 9. the studio bathroom has a sliding door - no intrusion into the hallway - and also has a pull-out pantry in the kitchenette providing a lot of additional space there.

The 1BR is a little larger than most other DVC resorts and even thought the studio is a bit smaller the 2BRs are also larger than most.

If you click on a thumbnail photo, you can see a larger image. Enjoy!
There are more photos taken this evening in this thread.
BLT STUDIOS






BLT 1BR VILLAS

 

[PamOKW]

Doc your tremendous "on the spot" reporting of new DVCs continues! Thanks so much for sharing.

On another thread, someone was asking about closets in the MB. Did you happen to notice the plans for that? I was wondering if there was some space-saving gizmo involved like the pantry.

 

[bellazachmom]

Thanks for the great pictures and for sharing your thoughts!!

Can I ask your opinion of the vanity area in the studio? Is it really right across from the kitchenette? How did it feel?
We don't utilize the studio size villas since we are a fmaily of 5, but I was thinking it sure would be a nice place for a "Mommy vacation" or a parents only trip once in a while!

 

[keishashadow]

thank you for posting

im having trouble opening 1 pic im most interested in...the shot of the studio bed & sofa pic

do you think there was enough room to navigate in that area, sofa bed looks as though it's positioned right against the balcony glass & not much room between bed & kitchen wall?

 

[Muhlenberg]

Thanks! Does the decor "feel" nicer in person? Many have noticed that the rooms look "cold", decor-wise.

Oh and it seemed as if the studios didn't have much storage space. Is there enough room somewhere for luggage?

 

[dcamdad]

Thanks for the photos Doc. Now I wish they had a THV you could get to give us a report.

 

[drusba]

Nice photos, and of course the Q's: (a) where is the closet in the 1BR? (b) where is the washer/dryer? (a) and did they explain how 339 sq ft (studio) plus 803 sq ft (1BR) equals 1152 sq ft (2BR lock-off)?

 

[jbrowna]

Great stuff!

One question: what did the guide mean when they said "There will be either 2 or 4 GVs."? Only that many GVs for the whole building? Just looking at it, I count what look like 14 places on the outside, and have no idea about the inside.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Oh darn, I missed seeing the BLT models by one week. Thank goodness you had your camera and thanks so much for the pics!

 

[edk35]

Thanks for posting the pictures.

 

[liznboys]

Thanks Doc!!!

 

[Josh125]

Thanks for the pictures! We arrive Tuesday and can't wait to see them in person

 

[RobDoc]

I'll try to answer as many of these as I can ( I wish you had all been along to think of these in real-time ).

Storage spaces seems to be at a premium in both studio and 1BR - BUT - the studio does have a closet in the entry hallway with a little space to hang clothing and store luggage. In the 1BR, there is a short hallway just beyond the King bed - to the left off that hallway is the bathroom (2 areas - jacuzzi and toilet/shower) and at the end is a closet. In the entryway to the 1BR (the lock-off connecting door is just inside the front door for both Studio and 1BR), there is the 2nd Bathroom and just beyond that before the kitchen is another closet with the stacked washer/dryer. Sorry I didn't get photos of some of these features - I was taking photos with a LARGE resolution and ran out of card space and had to delete some photos to get what I did take.

The guide who accompanied us (I don't think she was really a DVC guide - just one of the many CMs available to let us access the BLT model) did not know many of the fine details and had to refer to the fact sheet. I suspect in the days to come, they will all have more information to share - this is all pretty new stuff and they are just getting ramped up for the barrage to come in a couple of weeks when BLT is part of the "official" DVC tour for everyone. I suspect that BLT will be open each evening from 5-7 for the regular member self-tour. With these self-tours, there are still DVC reps in the models to answer questions. The guide indicated either 2 or 4 GVs, but she did nto really know - and that info was not on the fact sheet. The percentages already reported for the 3 BLT "Views" is correct and did appear on the fact sheet - 20% will be MK views.

We were very impressed with the decor. It did not feel sterile at all. The studio decor is bright and a bit whimsical with understated Mickeys (we did not notice the Mickey above the bed until we looked at these photos). The 1BR is a little more muted, but the decor is ... well... contemporary and nicely suited to the room itself.

Yes, the vanity is directly across from the kitchenette. If you are facing one - the other will be at your back. It is a separate room from the bathroom - but adjacent. The living area for the studio felt very comfortable. Yes, when the sofa is pulled out, there will be minimal space, but when used as a sofa it has a nice feel to the room. To me, the sofa appears to be a double - not a queen (but I may be wrong on that too! )

As for the discrepancy between the reported size for a studio and 1BR not adding up to the 2BR size, I think the 2BR sq. footage reported is for a dedicated 2BR - again, these also typically use "average" sq. footage - whatever that means.

I may try to go back over during the Open House and try to get some more info.

 

[Disney Spaz]

subscribing and Thank You for the pics.

 

[bellazachmom]

Just spoke with my guide to clarify a few things before our add-on becomes a done deal ... he was able to verify that there will be 14 Grand Villas -- 6 with MK views and 8 with LV. Hope that helps!

 

[wildernessDad]

Doc, nice pictures! Thanks for providing them!

I liked the dining/kitchen area. It looks like it has more space to me. Maybe that's just the way it was designed in.

 

[deanna2426]

Doc....thank you so much for these pictures.

They were just what I needed to take the plunge....I am now a founding member of BLT!!

I am hoping our first stay there will be in December. I can't remember the last time I was this excited for something!!

Thanks again!

 

[jade1]

Yes, the vanity is directly across from the kitchenette. If you are facing one - the other will be at your back. It is a separate room from the bathroom - but adjacent. The living area for the studio felt very comfortable.
I may try to go back over during the Open House and try to get some more info.

That appears to be a nice feature to me. I can see having some grocery space/prep as well as another area for someone to get ready.

 

[Tiggr88]

Thanks for the great info and pictures!

When you say there are two bathrooms in the 1BR, does this mean there are two showers? Or is one more like a 1/2 bath with just toilet and sink?

Is there a floor plan anywhere? The ones I saw in the rumour threads were too small to make out that detail (at least for me, maybe others could tell).

Thanks

 

[musical2]

Thanks for the photos Doc!

Am I the only one who doesn't like the decor? I couldn't buy there because I don't think I could look at that decor for long.

Oh well. To each their own.