blt studio for family of 4?

[vassar36]

I really want to try BLT for our next trip, but we usually only go once a year and stay for 8-10 days. I am very hesitant to book at studio there b/c of all the reports saying it is too cramped. (We have done studios before and we were ok.. at VWL and BCV)
I would love to hear any feedback from families that have stayed there for about that length of time and what you thought....

 

[DVC Jen]

If you have done studios before and were ok you will be fine at BLT. We are a family of four (all adults - DDs college age) and we nearly always stay in studios. We never have a problem. We were in a BLT studio for 5 nights (then transferred to VWL studio for another 5) and we didn't have an issue at all. I thought the way the kitchenette area is set up made it feel larger. We used the sink and the mirror in the kitchenette for someone to get ready in the mornings. I also think they have a wonderful amount of storage in there and that helped a lot.

 

[bwang123]

I really want to try BLT for our next trip, but we usually only go once a year and stay for 8-10 days. I am very hesitant to book at studio there b/c of all the reports saying it is too cramped. (We have done studios before and we were ok.. at VWL and BCV)
I would love to hear any feedback from families that have stayed there for about that length of time and what you thought....

we did a BLT studio earlier this year, 2 adults, 6 and 2 year old. It wasn't too bad but might be too small for us when they are older. Once you pull out the sofa bed, there is almost no room left in the sleeping areas because there is also a coffee table you have to put somewhere.

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[M5ward]

My husband and I stayed in a BLT studio last January (and will again this January). I felt it was cramped with just the two of us...and we aren't particularly big people. I could never do it with other family members...even kids.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

I think it really depends on the family. We did BLT studios on cash ressies twice and were fine with it. We are a family of 4 (including 2 teenage daughters) and were there for 4 nights both times. The extra sink in the kitchen does help for getting ready in the morning.

We did spend the days in the parks however and basically came back to the room for fireworks and bed. As we wanted to be sure not to have cranky teenage girls, we gave them the bed and my husband and I used the pullout. I have to say, it was the most comfortable pullout I have ever used.

Since becoming DVC owners, we have gotten used to the bigger units but would have not problem staying in a studio again if we were sure it would only be the 4 of us going.

 

[cluvsdisney]

My husband and I stayed in a BLT studio last January (and will again this January). I felt it was cramped with just the two of us...and we aren't particularly big people. I could never do it with other family members...even kids.

We feel the same way. I would never consider staying in a studio with more than 2 people. So much of the square footage is wasted on the kitchen & entry area which left the living space incredibly cramped.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I really want to try BLT for our next trip, but we usually only go once a year and stay for 8-10 days. I am very hesitant to book at studio there b/c of all the reports saying it is too cramped. (We have done studios before and we were ok.. at VWL and BCV)
I would love to hear any feedback from families that have stayed there for about that length of time and what you thought....

The BLT studio is much smaller than the BCV or VWL studio. Plus the layout is much different. The limited space in the BLT studio is taken up by the large bathroom (sliding door so it takes up more room), the larger kitchenette that was originally supposed to also be the bathroom sink area but that was moved to the bathroom and the hallway. So about half of the space isn't really living space.

When opened up, the sleeper sofa nearly touches the queen sized bed and it is right up next to the window.

If you want to stay in a studio to save points, go with any other studio. If you want BLT, go with a one bedroom. If you want BLT and to save points, go for fewer nights in at one bedroom or split your stay (part BLT one bedroom and part any other studio).

 

[missycj96]

We stayed in a blt studio last summer 2 adults and 2 girls 1 and 6. It is small but storage is good . Blt is important to us because of the walk and monorail to mk. We didnt have enough points for a bigger unit due to a trip to hhi. When we first walked in, i thought uh oh this is going to be small. But then we got everything put away and organized and it was fine. With the points i had and my mk loving dd i'd make the same choice again.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are a family of 4 (DH, myself, DD11, and DD9) and we stayed in a Studio for 9 nights in September. Yes at times it felt like we were cramped, especially when the pull out couch was down, but when it was put away, the room was fine. We loved where the kitchenette was, and like the PP said it seemed to make the room a tad bigger. When we stay in DVC villas we tend to stay in studios too to maximize our points and haven't had any problems with it. If you are fine with the 4 of you staying in a studio, like you have mentioned, then I would definitely give BLT a try. There is nothing like being so close to MK plus being on the monorail line is great...and it is a beautiful resort too .

 

[kiddisney]

studio was fine for us - 2ad w/a 19y/o and a 21y/o - only problem was them hugging the blankets - i bring my own sheet because they like to wrap themselves in their blankets

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

The other part we enjoy about staying in studios is that the whole family is together in one room. For us parents, this just adds to the magic of a "family vacation". We may all be on computers or reading but together just the same. When in the bigger rooms, we find the kids always are off in another room somewhere. For some this may be a bonus but for us we enjoy when we are all together.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We were very fine with 3, 2 adults and 1 child. I would give 4 a try and hope for the best. Best wishes!

 

[amypetecar]

I agree with the other poster that said its cramped with the pull out sleeper out. But when everyone goes to bed, how much time do you spend walking around the room?

I stayed with a family of four for 5 nights and was fine. The room was quiet, over looked MK, was amazingly convenient, had great restaurants, and is by far the cheapest way to stay at a monorail resort. You just have to be organized with your personal items. There's no room to let your luggage sprawl.

We liked blt studios enough to book 7 nights for thanksgiving for our second blt stay, so I'd give it a try!

 

[luckyman_apd]

I think it really depends on the family. We did BLT studios on cash ressies twice and were fine with it. We are a family of 4 (including 2 teenage daughters) and were there for 4 nights both times. The extra sink in the kitchen does help for getting ready in the morning.

We did spend the days in the parks however and basically came back to the room for fireworks and bed. As we wanted to be sure not to have cranky teenage girls, we gave them the bed and my husband and I used the pullout. I have to say, it was the most comfortable pullout I have ever used.

Since becoming DVC owners, we have gotten used to the bigger units but would have not problem staying in a studio again if we were sure it would only be the 4 of us going.

I like this answer. It really depends on the family. Right now as a family of 4, we could do it, but prefer the 1 bedroom. Kids are 3 and 7. Need nap time in a separate room, and kids go to bed earlier. I'm a night owl, so I tend to be up later than the rest of my family. So having the living room to hang out in while they crash is great for me. If we needed to we could do it, but it would be because we are stretching points to stay longer, and might consider another resort if that's the case (not sure as we haven't crossed that bridge yet). Our first trip when our daughter was 3, we stayed at Coronado in a regular room. My wife and her went to sleep early, and I took advantage of Magic Hours at HS to ride the big rides. When I came back, it woke them up. Won't happen in a 1 br.

I do see a time in our future when the kids are older, we spend less time in the room, where we get studio's to stretch to points for multiple visits. I think the space for us is needed while the kids are little, and only will need the pullout sofa at bedtime. But we shall see. It really does depend on your family's needs.

 

[luckyman_apd]

The other part we enjoy about staying in studios is that the whole family is together in one room. For us parents, this just adds to the magic of a "family vacation". We may all be on computers or reading but together just the same. When in the bigger rooms, we find the kids always are off in another room somewhere. For some this may be a bonus but for us we enjoy when we are all together.

We are family oriented like this too (not that others AREN'T family oriented by not staying close) but our kids like to be with us. My 7 year old still climbs into our bed in the middle of the night. Depending on the length of stay, and age (once my kids don't go to bed so early) we will use studio's more often. The washer & dryer will be hard to give up on a stay longer than 5 days though, so that may be our deciding factor for 1 br vs studio.

 

[DVC Jen]

The other part we enjoy about staying in studios is that the whole family is together in one room. For us parents, this just adds to the magic of a "family vacation". We may all be on computers or reading but together just the same. When in the bigger rooms, we find the kids always are off in another room somewhere. For some this may be a bonus but for us we enjoy when we are all together.

I feel the same way. I actually LIKE to spend time with my family. In our real life we don't get that much time together so for Mom (me) it is a treat.

 

[vassar36]

Thanks for the all the feedback.....also we have 2 DDs so we tend to pack a lot of clothes with us...does anyone know how the drawer space is there compared to the other studio's (same or less?)?

 

[tjkraz]

It seems there are two philosophies on stays for families of 3-4.

One philosophy is that a Studio is quite adequate, and probably means more days spent on vacation than a One Bedroom or cash hotel. If you subscribe to this school of thought, I doubt the BLT rooms are going to be a deal-breaker. Yes they are smaller than other DVC studios but not dramatically so. Size-wise they are more on par with a Moderate resort or some of the smaller deluxes like Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge.

The other philosophy is that Studios aren't suitable for any group larger than one adult couple. That's where we tend to fall. 99% of our reason for buying into DVC was so that our day didn't have to revolve around our kids' sleeping schedules. When younger they could nap peacefully in the master bedroom and now that they're older, they sleep in the living room while my wife and I go on with our lives. I'm a self-employed night owl who often has work to do in the evenings and it's frustrating to have to turn-in at 9-10pm when the kids need to get to sleep. Staying in 1B and larger villas means that never happens.

But to each their own. If you're comfortable in a Studio at SSR or BWV, I doubt BLT will be viewed as a huge step down.

 

[goofy4tink]

We have stayed in studios at BW, BC, WL, Kidani, OKW and BLT. Yes, BLT is a bit smaller than the others. But we always fold the sofa bed up during the day, so it's a non-issue for us.
I think BLT has about the same storage as other studios..but I think they all have too little storage. At BLT, we tend to live out of the suitcases a bit. We hang stuff and put underwear in the drawers. If there are just two of us, then fine, we share the drawers, but if my dh comes with us, then we use suitcases.

I really have no issue with 4 in a BLT studio. Unless you're planning on partying in there, then it shouldn't be a problem. The one thing I would suggest??? When the sofa bed is unfolded, there is very little room over to the window/patio side of the bed, so if someone in the group has to use the bathroom at night, that is going to be a bad spot for them. Put someone with a larger bladder on that side!!!

 

[smidgy]

it is just hubby and me, and the BLT studio was fine.

we, however, did not like the kitchentte at all! It was kinda dark, and long and skinny. the 2 of us in there at the same time became annoying. to me, if I was in the kitchen trying to make sandwiches or breakfast or something, and hubby was trying to make a drink, that was bad enough.. throw in a couple kids underfoot.. majorly annoying!