BLT Studio, Having Second Thoughts

[searlproudbottom]

Having Second Thoughts
We are a family of four with 2 teenage girls. We have reservations at BLT. We usually stay in a 1 bedroom, but for budget reasons decided to rent out some of our points and stay in a studio. After looking at Disney’s web site the Studio at BLT looks really small. Should I borrow points from 2010 and waitlist for a larger room at another resort? Or stay where I am.
What do you think? What would you do?
Thanks in advance
Searl

 

[CarolMN]

How much time do you actually plan to be in the room? How long are you staying?

Since you made the reservation based on "budget" reasons, I'd stick with the original plan and see how it goes. Either it will be OK and you will know you can do it again if necessary, or you will find out it's just not a good idea and make future decisions based on real experience.

That said, if you are staying longer than a week or plan to do laundry more than once while you are there, I'd seriously recommend you go with the 1 bedroom plan.

Good luck!

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

Having Second Thoughts
We are a family of four with 2 teenage girls. We have reservations at BLT. We usually stay in a 1 bedroom, but for budget reasons decided to rent out some of our points and stay in a studio. After looking at Disney’s web site the Studio at BLT looks really small. Should I borrow points from 2010 and waitlist for a larger room at another resort? Or stay where I am.
What do you think? What would you do?
Thanks in advance
Searl

We were booked in a studio at BLT in August. We just canceled it last week and extended our stay in the one bedroom at VWL. While we really wanted to try BLT, we just could bear the thought of being in that tiny room with our 2 and 5 year olds! We just went away to Maine last weekend and stayed in a regular hotel room, and let's just say it did not go well. DVC has spoiled us! We need a 1 bedroom at the least!!
I do see a BLT add on in our future, but only when I can afford to buy enough points to get us in a one bedroom!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I would stay with your plan. It's hard to tell from a 2d picture how cramped you'll feel. If it doesn't work, then you chalk it up to a learning experience and go bigger next time. If it does work, then you've saved yourself some dough!

 

[SSRFred]

Based on the model @ SSR, the studio is that small. The only saving grace is that the sinks are in the kitchen and not the bathroom which allows for two people to get ready simultaneously.
If you plan on spending very little time in the room, keep the reservation. You can't beat walking to MK plus easy access to the Monorail.
If you are planning on hanging out in the room for extended periods of time, move to another resort such as OKW.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think the design of the BLT studio is terrible and the architect should be ashamed. Putting the bathroom sink and counter in the same space as the kitchenette was a bad idea. There is three feet or less between the kitchenette sink and the bathroom sink. So if those teenaged girls are drying their hair in the bathroom, brushing their teeth or putting on make-up (don't really need it at WDW, but try to tell teenaged girls that), no one better be trying to make coffee or toast at the same time.

There is no room between the bed and the wall and between the bed and the sleeper sofa. Very, very cramped. Pretty, but tiny.

You'd be better off in an OKW studio with larger bathroom and two queen sized beds. Or any other older resort.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm going by the models at SSR of the BLT studio, and I wouldn't want to have 4 in a BLT studio. The model felt small. I do not think two people would easily fit in the kitchenette/bathroom sink area. There are some lovely touches, like a pull out food storing closet, but I think going solo would be my most comfortable use of a BLT studo.

Bobbi

 

[Handsomeprince]

Apologies to the OP for hijacking your thread (although this is not off topic). Am I right in thinking that there are also no laundry facilities in studios? If so, this would be another reason to opt for 1 bedroom or above, especially if staying for more than a few days.

We are in a SSR studio for 3 nights before New Year, followed by a 4 night DCL cruise and then a further 3 nights at SSR. Without laundry it will be difficult unless there are communal facilities at SSR or on DCL.

Anyone know?

 

[dianeschlicht]

No laundry in the studios.

We thought the BLT studio model at SSR felt VERY small, and I for sure would not want 4 adult sized people in one...ESPECIALLY if two of them are teenaged girls!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Apologies to the OP for hijacking your thread (although this is not off topic). Am I right in thinking that there are also no laundry facilities in studios? If so, this would be another reason to opt for 1 bedroom or above, especially if staying for more than a few days.

We are in a SSR studio for 3 nights before New Year, followed by a 4 night DCL cruise and then a further 3 nights at SSR. Without laundry it will be difficult unless there are communal facilities at SSR or on DCL.

Anyone know?

Yes, there are communal facilities for use at all of the DVC resorts, and they are free for people staying in a studios...actually anyone can use them for free, even people in 1-2-3 bedroom units. You have to provide your own detergent/drier sheets, but there are coin operated dispensers if you haven't brought your own.

Bobbi

 

[Crystal_27]

If it were me, I think I'd attempt the studio at BLT. We typically stay at the Poly so when we took the tour of the BLT model rooms, we compared them to those at the Poly and I really didn't think that the BLT rooms felt any different than those at the Poly, despite the fact that the Poly rooms are larger. If you are trying to conserve your points and would like to stay at BLT, I think that if you prepare yourself going in that you'll be in a "typical" hotel room that you'll be able to take it for what it is and enjoy. Either way, good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Anal Annie]

Based on the BLT models, the studio is really small - there is like a foot between the bed and the sofa (sofabed). We tend to leave the sofa bed out a lot of the time since that's where DS plops himself and I'm not sure I could stand it. I don't know how the SF of the BLT studio compares to the Value Studio at AKV...Anybody know that comparison? I am also really bothered by the bathroom sink being in the kitchette area. There HAD to have been a better way. As much as I like a split bath I'd rather they have put the sink IN the bathroom and not done a split. Nobody in our family has long hair to fly around and none of us uses a hairdryer (DH has no hair & DS and I both just air dry) but it's still just an ewww factor that the bathroom sink is RIGHT THERE. I have not decided yet if we could actually spend a whole week in a BLT studio or not...and we're just a family 3. I am waiting for it to open & see some trip reports...

OP - if you're on a budget for your points and prefer not to borrow I'd probably just try to switch to a diff. resort. THAT ALONE would save you a bunch of points. You didn't specify when or what type (view) you were renting but you could do a 1 bedroom value at AKV for only 52 more pts. for a week than a std. view studio at BLT in the Magic season.... We may try it sometime, but I don't think the BLT studios are very practical for more than 2 people.

 

[Muhlenberg]

There is another factor to consider...where to put your luggage. Or, where TWO TEENAGE GIRLS are gonna put their luggage. You'd definitely have to fold up the sofa during the day. There is NO WAY you could operate with that out.

I, too, think they didn't do a very good job with the studio. In the planner book, they don't even show a stand-alone studio...they show a dedicated 2 BR.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

ok, this is just me...

I think the issue with teenage girls in a BLT studio will be hair and makeup. They will need to have the entire space of the vanity/kitchenette for themselves. They may allow you enough time in front of the mirror to quickly comb your hair and brush your teeth.

If you do not plan to prepare any food in the studio, then it will be fine. It will be a little cramped, but teenage girls are kind of small, and can make it work if need be.

I would not try to do much if any food preparation in the same space for a variety of reasons. By all means, if you had planned to bring the waffle iron or the hot plate, please consider staying elsewhere.

 

[denegate]

ok, this is just me...

I think the issue with teenage girls in a BLT studio will be hair and makeup. They will need to have the entire space of the vanity/kitchenette for themselves. They may allow you enough time in front of the mirror to quickly comb your hair and brush your teeth.

If you do not plan to prepare any food in the studio, then it will be fine. It will be a little cramped, but teenage girls are kind of small, and can make it work if need be.

I would not try to do much if any food preparation in the same space for a variety of reasons. By all means, if you had planned to bring the waffle iron or the hot plate, please consider staying elsewhere.

Hot plate and waffle iron??

 

[jamstew]

I personally love the BLT studios--enough so that I'm adding on enough points for a couple of nights there to supplement my other resort stays--but only for one or two people (preferably one). I like where the bathroom sink is since it gives you so much more counter space.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

There is another factor to consider...where to put your luggage. Or, where TWO TEENAGE GIRLS are gonna put their luggage. You'd definitely have to fold up the sofa during the day. There is NO WAY you could operate with that out.

I, too, think they didn't do a very good job with the studio. In the planner book, they don't even show a stand-alone studio...they show a dedicated 2 BR.

You don't have to worry about teenage girls and luggage in florida. Last time we were there most teenagers were wearing NEARLY NOTHING. . That's easy to pack. Mostly naked monday, Bikini tuesday, tube top and short shorts wednesday, lather rinse repeat. Add flip flops.

I like the sink separate from the toilet .

 

[bunny]

You don't have to worry about teenage girls and luggage in florida. Last time we were there most teenagers were wearing NEARLY NOTHING. . That's easy to pack. Mostly naked monday, Bikini tuesday, tube top and short shorts wednesday, lather rinse repeat. Add flip flops. .

If I had the same body now as I had when I was a teenager, I would be wearing those kinds of clothes too. Darn kids and middle age. Now I have to wear short sleeves and capris.

 

[gkrykewy]

We were booked in a studio at BLT in August. We just canceled it last week and extended our stay in the one bedroom at VWL. While we really wanted to try BLT, we just could bear the thought of being in that tiny room with our 2 and 5 year olds! We just went away to Maine last weekend and stayed in a regular hotel room, and let's just say it did not go well. DVC has spoiled us! We need a 1 bedroom at the least!!
I do see a BLT add on in our future, but only when I can afford to buy enough points to get us in a one bedroom!

Gah, what dates in August?!? We're waitlisted for Aug 15-19 in a BLT lake view studio. Hasn't come through yet.

OP, I strongly urge you to cancel your BLT reservation --- particularly if it overlaps Aug 15-19th

 

[spiceycat]

the studio for a family of 4 are small.

in your case would go for a 1-bedroom at AKV or BLT - why - there 1-bedroom has 2 bathrooms.

with 2 teen girls think having 2 bathrooms is very important.

for the laundry mat at SSR - they are near the quiet pool. For the main pool it is close to community hall.

don't know where the laundry mat will be at BLT.