BLT or PVB Stay - Studio (with Pack n Play)

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

Hello fellow disboard members! I've stayed in Poly hotel rooms more than 10 years ago, never poly DVC studios. I've stayed in a 2 BR at BLT more recently and loved it! I currently own at CCV and BLT. We are planning our next trip in the spring and at the time it will be an infant, toddler and my wife and I. I am sooo torn on where to stay (7 nights) ......

Pros for BLT/Studio
Walking distance to MK
Covered walkway to CR/restaurants
California Grill or pavilion on 4th FL to watch fireworks
True Kitchenette
BLT less crowded (less tourism traffic)
pretty good soundproofing bw rooms/hallway
chef mickey

Cons for BLT/studio
Space: from what you all said, really surprised to find only 339 sq ft!
Double sleeper couch (not even queen)
No trundle pull down for toddler
Pack and play needs to go by front/connecting door? (prefer to be in the room at base of sleeper couch. is that feasible?
Stroller storage on patio?

Pros for Poly/Studio
Honeymoon there and first ever disney trip. (special place for me
Space, space, and more space - 465 sq ft.
Recently soft refurb room
murphy queen instead of sleeper sofa
second bathroom (though less important to me with little ones)
Ohana and ohana character breakfast
trader sams and dole whip!
pools and beach area
walk to epcot monorail

Cons for Poly/studio
Tourist hotspot - as some of you mentioned always packed and not by hotel/dvc guests
more spread out
More DVC Points - for the stay im looking at 47 additional points (i can use but was going to bank or upgrade to 1 BR future visit)
no covered walkways if rains
boat (with stroller having to be folded) or having to access monorail to get to MK (more leaving the park then getting there)

Literally i keep going back and forth every day!! i currently have BLT booked. do i leave it or do i move to Poly? PLEASE HELP me decide

Also worth noting i am planning a second trip later next year. i have enough points for a studio but may look for 1 BR for that trip so points not critical but a factor.

 

[cellomom]

Tough decision and I can see why you’re going back-and-forth. My vote is for the Poly because you will have more space. You are correct in the evening time restaurants and GCH can be quite busy, but during our most recent stay (during 10/1), the Oasis pool area stayed quiet. If things get too hectic at Captain Cook‘s or GCH, head over there.

 

[kboo]

Recently both of my kids have graduated from strollers and cribs/pack and plays - what is your plan re: sleeping with the kids? Would the toddler be on the sleeper/small murphy and the infant would be in the pack and play? would you have 2 pack and play/cribs set up? Something else?

I haven't stayed in the poly studios (but have stayed in RIV and VGF which are similar and maybe a little larger in terms of non-bathroom floor space. We also own at BLT and stayed in a studio there for a long weekend once, just DH and I. Depending on your sleeping arrangements, it would be possible to make the BLT studio work, but it would definitely be easier in a Poly studio.

 

[RoseGold]

Poly hands down. You can put the pack n play in the extra half bath, and BOOM, you've got a suite! If the Murphy wasn't so cool, I might try to talk my four year into still doing this LOL.

You don't have to fold the stroller on the big boat from the TTC, which is what we always use anyway.

And you can walk by way of VGF to the early open, take the boat back.

 

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

Recently both of my kids have graduated from strollers and cribs/pack and plays - what is your plan re: sleeping with the kids? Would the toddler be on the sleeper/small murphy and the infant would be in the pack and play? would you have 2 pack and play/cribs set up? Something else?

I haven't stayed in the poly studios (but have stayed in RIV and VGF which are similar and maybe a little larger in terms of non-bathroom floor space. We also own at BLT and stayed in a studio there for a long weekend once, just DH and I. Depending on your sleeping arrangements, it would be possible to make the BLT studio work, but it would definitely be easier in a Poly studio.

Thanks for the feedback! The plan would be for the infant (1) to stay in pack n play and the toddler (3.5) to stay on the pullout or queen with one of us.
At the Poly I would try the toddler on the small trundle bed or the Murphy bed with one of us

 

[Geomom]

Poly--so much more room! BLT studio has a lot of space taken up by the kitchenette area...it's essentially a galley kitchen but just has a kitchenette setup. The BLT studio is just so tiny, especially when you need space for strollers and pack n play.

For future trips 1 bedroom at BLT would be great, 2 full bathrooms, sofa chair and sofa bed, kitchen, laundry, etc.

 

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

Poly--so much more room! BLT studio has a lot of space taken up by the kitchenette area...it's essentially a galley kitchen but just has a kitchenette setup. The BLT studio is just so tiny, especially when you need space for strollers and pack n play.

For future trips 1 bedroom at BLT would be great, 2 full bathrooms, sofa chair and sofa bed, kitchen, laundry, etc.

Thanks! normally I would take that route. Bc I’m going peek spring break, a studio eats up almost if not just as many points as a 1BR other times of the year!!

 

[Geomom]

Thanks! normally I would take that route. Bc I’m going peek spring break, a studio eats up almost if not just as many points as a 1BR other times of the year!!

Thanks! normally I would take that route. Bc I’m going peek spring break, a studio eats up almost if not just as many points as a 1BR other times of the year!!

We've done most of our trips in studios with our 2 kids unless travelling with others, so I understand trying to get the most of your points! We never did the studio at BLT though, saw how tiny it was when we did the 2 bedroom lockoff with friends when the kids were all teens, their daughter slept in the living room with our girls and their son got the sofabed in the studio, (our friends had the studio as their base room, but everyone could come in the living room before bedtime.)

 

[Dizzydizney]

The BLT studio would work if you can manage to be super organized. There is plenty of drawer storage for clothes in the TV console/dresser thing (a large cabinet to the side of the TV that people tend to overlook also). The kitchenette also has lots of storage...love the floor to ceiling pull out cabinet for cereals, snacks, etc. and also shelving under the mirror. The foyer is large enough to store strollers and luggage. The cushions for the fold out sofa bed can be stored alongside the sofa bed. Coffee table can be rolled to the side to make room for the pack n play. The key is to fold the bed back up first thing to have the floor space to get ready in the morning.
You already know the pros and cons for both resorts. BLT also has a very nice community hall for the kids. Also some great outdoor games like shuffleboard, a giant chess set, and other things. Also the Contemporary is just a great place to wander around.
Does the Poly have a community hall? Those are great for rainy days. Also the laundry room is easy to get to and works out great when you’re at the pool. Throw in wash, go to pool, put clothes in dryer, back to pool.
I do agree that for sleeping arrangements and bathroom, Poly studio wins. But for convenience to MK and the monorail for Epcot and just the compactness (lots of elevators, short walk to the pool, easy parking lot access) BLT wins.
Not an easy decision.

We also honeymooned at Poly many decades ago, so I get that too!

 

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

The BLT studio would work if you can manage to be super organized. There is plenty of drawer storage for clothes in the TV console/dresser thing (a large cabinet to the side of the TV that people tend to overlook also). The kitchenette also has lots of storage...love the floor to ceiling pull out cabinet for cereals, snacks, etc. and also shelving under the mirror. The foyer is large enough to store strollers and luggage. The cushions for the fold out sofa bed can be stored alongside the sofa bed. Coffee table can be rolled to the side to make room for the pack n play. The key is to fold the bed back up first thing to have the floor space to get ready in the morning.
You already know the pros and cons for both resorts. BLT also has a very nice community hall for the kids. Also some great outdoor games like shuffleboard, a giant chess set, and other things. Also the Contemporary is just a great place to wander around.
Does the Poly have a community hall? Those are great for rainy days. Also the laundry room is easy to get to and works out great when you’re at the pool. Throw in wash, go to pool, put clothes in dryer, back to pool.
I do agree that for sleeping arrangements and bathroom, Poly studio wins. But for convenience to MK and the monorail for Epcot and just the compactness (lots of elevators, short walk to the pool, easy parking lot access) BLT wins.
Not an easy decision.

We also honeymooned at Poly many decades ago, so I get that too!

Thanks! Good insight. After reading this the pendulum shifts back to BLT (for the time being) lol

 

[francoAlbertan]

Haha! I’m a new DVC owner and struggled with exactly this question for our first trip on the contract, with myself, DW, and two boys (7 and 8) for a week.
It ended up such a tough choice we are doing a split stay to see which we prefer. The walk to MK is going to be so nice our first few nights, but then the extra space and the nicer pool at Poly convinced me to put up with the hassle of a move and borrowing a few points to make it work.
Good luck with your choice!

 

[crazylady]

BLT is very small. We stayed there when our kids were about 6 & 9 and it was lovely but so so small. I actually thought it was really cozy and there was great storage spaces but the pack-n-play is the problem.

When the sofa is pulled out, there is very little space to walk between the bed and the sofa bed. My thoughts would be to have the 3 year old sleep on the couch without pulling it out. That leaves a good amount of room for the pack in play in the family room area. Or, does the pack-n-play fit in the kitchenette?

All that to say, I would pick Poly.

 

[Dizzydizney]

Haha! I’m a new DVC owner and struggled with exactly this question for our first trip on the contract, with myself, DW, and two boys (7 and 8) for a week.
It ended up such a tough choice we are doing a split stay to see which we prefer. The walk to MK is going to be so nice our first few nights, but then the extra space and the nicer pool at Poly convinced me to put up with the hassle of a move and borrowing a few points to make it work.
Good luck with your choice!

I was going to suggest a split stay also. Just need to be organized about it. Then you can really make an informed decision going forward.
Was also thinking of the 3 y.o. Sleeping on the sofa without pulling it out, but can’t remember what the cushions etc were like.

 

[justme0729]

We love BLT and Poly so there isn’t a wrong choice! For our trip though, we picked Poly because it’s recently refurbished, there is the 2nd shower room for the pack n play, we like easy access to the Oasis pool right outside of one of the DVC buildings, and easier access to Epcot than BLT since you can walk to the TTC instead of doing a monorail transfer. We love the walk to MK from BLT and constant close views of the castle etc. but also enjoy riding the monorail/ boat from Poly. Having a theme park view at BLT for fireworks and chill time is also awesome. I would personally save BLT for when you want to do a 1 bedroom trip!

 

[Rob Huff]

I'm permanently biased in favor of the Poly over BLT. BLT was very "meh" for us whereas the Poly is our favorite.

That said, were I in your specific situation, I wouldn't even consider BLT. The Poly wins by that much. Perfect scenario: your toddler sleeps in the single Murphy bed, so you set up the pack n play in the living room. You'll still have plenty of space. Slightly less ideal: your toddler sleeps in the double Murphy bed, so the pack n play goes in the extra bathroom space (I'm a late-night showerer on vacation, so I'd push hard for option 1).

One additional nugget: the ferry boat at TTC isn't much further away from the Poly DVC buildings than the resort boat launch. If you don't want to fold up the stroller but still want to take a boat ride (especially if the little one is asleep), the ferry boat does the trick.

 

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

Ok now I’m leaning back towards Poly! Lol. my goal is to have this figured out by eow. I appreciate all your responses. Keep em coming they are helpful!

 

[RoseGold]

The pools are MUCH better at poly. If that’s in your plans, even for an afternoon, hard to beat your toddler in volcano pool with a dole whip.

I think the torches at night are so magical, and really feel like vacation.

When the boats were weird post-COVID, we started taking the ferry boat from the TTC. Why didn’t we do this all along? It runs pretty much continuously, it might even be closer depending on your room, might be a little faster, and you don’t have to fold a stroller. Bonus wheelchair accessible, which matters to us.

 

[dfan_welcomehomeall_19]

The pools are MUCH better at poly. If that’s in your plans, even for an afternoon, hard to beat your toddler in volcano pool with a dole whip.

I think the torches at night are so magical, and really feel like vacation.

When the boats were weird post-COVID, we started taking the ferry boat from the TTC. Why didn’t we do this all along? It runs pretty much continuously, it might even be closer depending on your room, might be a little faster, and you don’t have to fold a stroller. Bonus wheelchair accessible, which matters to us.

Alright the dole whip, pools, and torches sealed it! I just flipped to Poly. 47 more points but hey that’s what they are they for

thanks to all of you for your input!!

 

[Rob Huff]

Alright the dole whip, pools, and torches sealed it! I just flipped to Poly. 47 more points but hey that’s what they are they for

thanks to all of you for your input!!

We've never met, so I can't pass judgment on your life decisions.

(but you've made a great choice )