BLT STUDIO - as small as a mouse's house

[DenLo]

But for some perspective her are Square feet for studios:
BWV = 416 -- 359
BCV = 356
SSR = 355
VWL = 365 -- 356
OKW = 376 -- 390
AKV Jambo Value = 316
AKV Jambo/Kidani = 366 --365

and the itsy bitsy BLT studio = 329

Yeah I think a max of 87 to a minimum of 26 sq ft difference is worth giving up a Monorail and MK/LV view. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm just saying......

I was surprised when I read your square footage shown in the earlier post as I had always heard that OKW has the largest rooms. So I checked the figures on DVC News and they have different amounts. Therefore with the revised figures the largest studio is only 61 square feet bigger. Somehow that makes me feel better.

But I agree with you, for us room size isn't as material as location and the resort of our choice. Considering all of the Groupie threads going around the DIS it would appear many prefer their favorite resort too.

 

[Sammie]

Well my point on the subject is I don't care for studios to begin with and each time they keep getting smaller, so my desire for them diminishes.

It is not really about sq. footage but more about placement of furniture. Even at All Star and Pop there is more room between beds than there is between the bed and the sofa at BLT and they placed the sofa right up against the draperies which is going to make for more wear and tear for them.

I think that for such a premium location and product they cheapen it by making the studios so small and putting the only place to dry your hair in touching distance of the kitchen area.

Just poor planning to me.

 

[Cmbar]

You sound a little defensive, Cmbar.... you put a lot of time into that post . Trust me: these rooms are quite small, and feel smaller than they are due to a variety of odd design decisions. I know small - we live in a 600 sf apartment. However, if you think they'll work for you over the long haul, more power to you! I certainly plan to stay in a studio again there on occasion.

Nah, not defensive,just long winded and just amused at the seriousness of some that they are living in the slums by choosing a studio at BLT. I suspect I will think the studios are a bit small, but I just don't think it will affect me enough to write BLT off the map as some are saying. My point is that everyone has a different opinon about what is important. I though BWV was nice, but I would never, ever buy there because they refuse to put in some kind of quick service and I refuse to cook on vacation. But it doesn't take away the beautiful view or location of the resort.

I was surprised when I read your square footage shown in the earlier post as I had always heard that OKW has the largest rooms. So I checked the figures on DVC News and they have different amounts. Therefore with the revised figures the largest studio is only 61 square feet bigger. Somehow that makes me feel better.

But I agree with you, for us room size isn't as material as location and the resort of our choice. Considering all of the Groupie threads going around the DIS it would appear many prefer their favorite resort too.

Thanks for clarifying that. I also thought that was strange that OKW didn't come up the biggest because I had always heard it was the largest. I was just googling anyways... didn't put too much time in it! Thanks for correcting me. Now I see that the differences are small and it probably more about the layout than any real difference in size. I understand the balconies are larger so maybe that will make up for it. Again, not sure what people do in their room so much on a Disney vacation to need so much room to sleep and shower But again just my opinion.

The whole jist of the thread is that it is so small that the children of the OP we horrified that they had to stay in a small room. My kids would have gotten an earful (of course my kids are older, so no offense to the OP kids!) of how blessed they were to stay at the resort and walk to our favorite park!

It's all good!

 

[Cmbar]

Well my point on the subject is I don't care for studios to begin with and each time they keep getting smaller, so my desire for them diminishes.

It is not really about sq. footage but more about placement of furniture. Even at All Star and Pop there is more room between beds than there is between the bed and the sofa at BLT and they placed the sofa right up against the draperies which is going to make for more wear and tear for them.

I think that for such a premium location and product they cheapen it by making the studios so small and putting the only place to dry your hair in touching distance of the kitchen area.

Just poor planning to me.

Can't disagree with you there I think the architect should have been shot and the DVC people when the built the models should have see that it was a problem. I am sure the Sales reps hated having to try and sell those. But we didn't buy BLT for the room, we bought it for the location. So like someone said, will Disney get by with this because of the location?

One thing to consider is that Kidani and Grand California studios all came in bigger than the BCV and BWV and VWL. So I don't think it is a trend, but a product of the BLT building itself.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Nah, not defensive,just long winded and just amused at the seriousness of some that they are living in the slums by choosing a studio at BLT.

Definitely not the slums....not at that price and points per night! Ouch!!! I was truly excited by the addition of BLT, but there are several things that have put me off.....the price to purchase, points per night and the size (or lack of it)

I think, we may try to book seven months out. That way, we can see if we like it before we make a final decision.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Perhaps someone should bring a measuring tape. I'd be curious to know if the rumor about the balcony being included in the square footage is fact or fiction.
I know what the guides say, but.....

MG

 

[Sammie]

Can't disagree with you there I think the architect should have been shot and the DVC people when the built the models should have see that it was a problem. I am sure the Sales reps hated having to try and sell those. But we didn't buy BLT for the room, we bought it for the location. So like someone said, will Disney get by with this because of the location?

One thing to consider is that Kidani and Grand California studios all came in bigger than the BCV and BWV and VWL. So I don't think it is a trend, but a product of the BLT building itself.

It is such a beautiful resort and they did so much right, lovely one and two bedrooms, beautiful lounge, great park access and views, nice pool area, then bam, they mess with the studios.

I just do not understand at times what the heck they are thinking or actually not thinking.

One thing about it when you have the sofa bed open, if anyone gets up during the night and stumbles they won't hit the floor.

 

[gkrykewy]

Perhaps someone should bring a measuring tape. I'd be curious to know if the rumor about the balcony being included in the square footage is fact or fiction.
I know what the guides say, but.....

MG

It's hard to put a finger on it - we've stayed in both, and something about the configuration of the living area made it feel notably smaller to us than an AKV value studio, even though the square footage is stated to be marginally larger. It could just be that the furnishings are larger, leaving less "free" space, or there could be a difference in the method of calculating the square footage.

 

[MinnesotaChill]

Okay,

Question #1
I am terribly confused. I just looked at the BLT tower pictures posted by Corey Martin on the DIS information site and the studio bathroom and kitchenette very clearly have two different sinks. The bathroom shows a mirror over the sink, the kitchen has a cabinet above it. Are the photos mis-labeled? Am I missing something, it seems like on here people are saying the bath and kitchenette share a sink...

We are looking at booking a 2bdrm for our family of five and inviting a family of four to join us in a studio. Family of four is actually grandma, mom and two kids 5 & 7 who have never been to Disney. My thinking is that we'll use our space as the meeting/living area, and the other family will just sleep in their room.

Question #2 - I was thinking MK view for them, lake for us, will there even be a remote chance we'll be able to be close by? I was thinking we'd maybe, fingers crossed, be across the hall... is that even possible? I can't tell from the schematic drawings...

 

[Cmbar]

MinnesotaChill;33327408]Okay,

Question #1
I am terribly confused. I just looked at the BLT tower pictures posted by Corey Martin on the DIS information site and the studio bathroom and kitchenette very clearly have two different sinks. The bathroom shows a mirror over the sink, the kitchen has a cabinet above it. Are the photos mis-labeled? Am I missing something, it seems like on here people are saying the bath and kitchenette share a sink

They are back to back. So the sink with the mirror back to the sink with the cabinet. They are about 32 inches apart so some are saying that this is a stupid design (me included) since you can blow dry your hair and bump into the person pouring coffee. Does that make sense?

We are looking at booking a 2bdrm for our family of five and inviting a family of four to join us in a studio. Family of four is actually grandma, mom and two kids 5 & 7 who have never been to Disney. My thinking is that we'll use our space as the meeting/living area, and the other family will just sleep in their room.

Sounds like a good idea... But why would you get a two bedroom for your family of five? Can you fit in the one bedroom comfortably? The living area for sleeping has a double sofa bed and a single sofa bed and the one bedrooms will fit five with an extra bathroom too. Better yet can you all fit in a two bedroom. We aren't really fussy about too many people, some are but a 2 bedroom at BLT gives you three bathrooms and sleeping for 9 and I understand that the 2 bedrooms are very roomy. Something to think about. Can the kids do the sofa and chair in the living room? A single 2 bedroom is cheaper in points than a 1 bedroom and studio although that is exactly what you get...


Question #2 - I was thinking MK view for them, lake for us, will there even be a remote chance we'll be able to be close by? I was thinking we'd maybe, fingers crossed, be across the hall... is that even possible? I can't tell from the schematic drawings

If you choose the two bedroom (unless you get a dedicated two bedroom) you can lock off the other family and they have their own entrance so you don't have to be in each other's space. Plus then you don't have to be separated and you can all have MK view!

Something to consider.... We aren't big on the room size because we are at the park and don't spend much time in the room. As long as everyone has a bed and there is ample bathrooms then we are good and don't see the point in wasting points. Good luck. Also one advantage to doing that is that if for some reason they cancel you will still have a 2 bedroom for your family and won't have wasted ( or put into holding) your extra points.

Happy planning

 

[MinnesotaChill]

Thank you so much! I'd forgotten that the one bedrms sleep five here! That will be absolutely perfect as separating the kids will be darn near impossible!

2 bdrm MK view - here we come! I hope... I have a long time to wait until my 7-month window....

I could kiss you!

 

[TLSnell1981]

MinnesotaChill;33327408]

. Also one advantage to doing that is that if for some reason they cancel you will still have a 2 bedroom for your family and won't have wasted ( or put into holding) your extra points.

[/COLOR]

This is a VERY good point. I was soooo happy I didn't book an extra room for my mother and step dad. Mom cancelled yesterday for our October '09 stay at BWV. At least, I only had to change our ADRs.

 

[Cmbar]

Thank you so much! I'd forgotten that the one bedrms sleep five here! That will be absolutely perfect as separating the kids will be darn near impossible!

2 bdrm MK view - here we come! I hope... I have a long time to wait until my 7-month window....

I could kiss you!

Well, so glad my idea works for you! We are usually pretty easy about bedding arrangements. To us it is all about the resort and I probably would be willing to go smaller accomodations for MK view!

One question... when are you going and are you thinking you will be able to get a MK view at 7 months? I hope so for your sake, but I understand that the Lake Views are pretty nice too. Are you an owner or a renter?

 

[MinnesotaChill]

We're owners at BWW and SSR, but if I can't get Oct (2010) MK view than LV will be fine. If not that, then WLV are also okay. I love WL to visit, but since we're from MN, the decor is way too similar to what we see when we go "up north." We normally stay at BWV in Oct for F&W, which I love, but this is a kid trip, so we decided to try for BLT. Hoping everyone else will be at an Epcot resort!