BLT Studio, Having Second Thoughts

[queenie82]

Sigh...I don't know what you people expect to do in the room. I go to Disney to GO to Disney. Not spend hours in the room doing other than sleeping and watching a couple tv shows. As long as the room has comfortable beds, is clean and has a bathroom I'm happy. Throw in a kitchenette and I'm extra happy. I think the Location is priceless which makes me tolerate it being smaller than other studios...which I also find completely adequate for 4 adults.
Maybe the fact I just came back from a European trip where swinging a rat let alone a cat in a room would be detrimental....I'm TOTALLY fine with the studio. We have learned the fine fine art of rearranging furniture and finding locations for luggage.
I think the sink out of the bathroom is great and I think you should live with it and ENJOY the location! I know I will be enjoying my 3 nights......especially as I can spend all the money I save on the Deluxe Dining plan

And yes I am a girl...and yes I was a teenage girl not so long ago...
I know I wouldn't have seen as much of the world (including 4 of the castles) that I have if I splurged on bigger rooms over location all the time.
JMHO
(puts soap box away)

 

[Muhlenberg]

Everyone travels differently, and everyone vacations differently. When I take my elderly parents, we need to spend rest time in the room, so for us, that is important...don't want to kill them on vacation. When we were there in January, my 22 yo DD took a MEDIUM sized suitcase for 5 nights...and in it was 5 pairs of shoes (cause she didn't know which ones she wanted ) plus HER hairdryer, a flattening iron PLUS clothes. Me? I had a small carry-on size. Then the 'rents had THEIR medium sized suitcase. Let me just say that the 4 of us would NOT fit in one of the BLT studios...and wouldn't have made for a very pleasant vacation.

You should decide for yourself what works best for YOU in YOUR situation.

 

[jeffl]

I have not seen the BLT studios in person, but I am curious to how they compare to a Cat 6 stateroom on the Wonder or Magic (they have almost identical square footage)? As a family of 4 with 4 suitcases and 3 backpacks, we did amazingly well in our shipboard stateroom. Maybe that is the attitude to have in a BLT studio... it is like being on a ship on land

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have not seen the BLT studios in person, but I am curious to how they compare to a Cat 6 stateroom on the Wonder or Magic (they have almost identical square footage)? As a family of 4 with 4 suitcases and 3 backpacks, we did amazingly well in our shipboard stateroom. Maybe that is the attitude to have in a BLT studio... it is like being on a ship on land

In that case, they should remove the kitchenette. None of those in a Cat 6 stateroom. When you are on the cruise, you basically only sleep and change clothes in your stateroom. You live all over the ship. When I'm in a villa, I live in the villa.

 

[randhsdad]

I think you will get out of the trip what you expect of the trip. 4 people in a studio will be tight but you got a great location. If you all get along and work together (most teens not happening) I would bet on a wonderfull experience and the family budget will thank you! Then you have next year to try it bigger if the budget permits. The part that sold me on DVC was the ability to not stress about the budget as much while still getting Disney. my $.02. Enjoy your time as a family in the magic.

 

[TSMIII]

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.

In answer to the question bolded above, here are the SFs for the various Studio villas which I've gleaned from both official and unofficial sources including posts here on the Dis and elsewhere, guide books, DVC literature, web sites, and the DVC member site (which BTW is where the BLT Studio SF comes from)....YMMV:

AKV - Jambo 365 sf
AKV - Jambo Value 316 sf
AKV - Kidani 366 sf
BLT 339 sf
BCV 365 sf
BWV 359 sf
HHI 455 sf
OKW 390 sf
SSR 355 sf
VB 375 sf
VGC 379 sf
VWL 356 sf

So BLT, while larger than AKV Value, is smaller than every other Studio if these figures are accurate, or close to being so.

 

[queenie82]

Everyone travels differently, and everyone vacations differently. When I take my elderly parents, we need to spend rest time in the room, so for us, that is important...don't want to kill them on vacation. When we were there in January, my 22 yo DD took a MEDIUM sized suitcase for 5 nights...and in it was 5 pairs of shoes (cause she didn't know which ones she wanted ) plus HER hairdryer, a flattening iron PLUS clothes. Me? I had a small carry-on size. Then the 'rents had THEIR medium sized suitcase. Let me just say that the 4 of us would NOT fit in one of the BLT studios...and wouldn't have made for a very pleasant vacation.

You should decide for yourself what works best for YOU in YOUR situation.

We are traveling with 2 large suitcases EACH.
4 adults plus 8 large suitcases in total. We are staying a week in AKV value (which is even smaller), a few in BLT and a few in BWV. We WILL make it work and it WILL work.

I totally understand it is to each their own which is why I felt it important to make the point I did. A studio IS workable for 4 adults and luggage if you are willing to put in the effort to enjoy the saved the money. Money doesn't grow on trees.
And regarding Teenagers and tantrums and their 'need' for extra space. Unless they are paying for their portion...or the extra points value required for the upgrade I would say to them either live with it or you don't get to go.

Re grandparents...THIS I do understand as this is a totally different kettle of fish to me. That is a need rather than a want from whinging teenagers who don't need to sleep and rest regularly. When we travelled with my grandmother (although not to disney) we got a studio and 1 bedroom lockoff 2 bedroom one time and next door one bedrooms another so she had her own ensuite.

I hope the OP finds these differing opinions useful so they are able to make an informed decision on what is possible and deal with want vs need.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are traveling with 2 large suitcases EACH.
4 adults plus 8 large suitcases in total. We are staying a week in AKV value (which is even smaller), a few in BLT and a few in BWV. We WILL make it work and it WILL work....

I hope you do make it work because it sounds like total hell to me. Good luck.

 

[queenie82]

I hope you do make it work because it sounds like total hell to me. Good luck.

As I say...if you have been to Tokyo and Europe you can make anything work in even the most dismal looking situations because there is no other option We have stayed in amazing locations in small family run hotels/b&bs (which are so much nicer than big rip off hotels) and the staff look at us and our stuff in amazement but after project rearrange room we get it to fit and have a great time for great value.
I have always wanted to take a photo of the room as it comes as we have travelled but I never get a chance as project rearrange room happens as soon as we arrive anywhere...lol

But I digress...the point is if you are willing to try you can make anything work.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Ideally a 1 bedroom would be better than a studio but I don't see any reason why you couldn't make a studio work. IMHO.

 

[lenshanem]

In answer to the question bolded above, here are the SFs for the various Studio villas which I've gleaned from both official and unofficial sources including posts here on the Dis and elsewhere, guide books, DVC literature, web sites, and the DVC member site (which BTW is where the BLT Studio SF comes from)....YMMV:

AKV - Jambo 365 sf
AKV - Jambo Value 316 sf
AKV - Kidani 366 sf
BLT 339 sf
BCV 365 sf
BWV 359 sf
HHI 455 sf
OKW 390 sf
SSR 355 sf
VB 375 sf
VGC 379 sf
VWL 356 sf

So BLT, while larger than AKV Value, is smaller than every other Studio if these figures are accurate, or close to being so.

Just to compare - CBR is 340 and PC is 260!!!

 

[lizziepooh]

I'm just wondering, where would you actually store 8 large suitcases in the AKV value rooms? The pictures don't show much floor or storage space. Will large suitcases fit under the bed?

 

[buzz5985]

I'll be staying in BLT studio in November with 2 13 yo boys. We are only there for one night but I find when we stay in a studio you just have to be smarter about storage. There is very little drawer space, so I will throw some extra hangers in the bag, with some clothes pins. We will hang up our outfits for the days, etc. Just putting jammies and undies in the drawers. I'll call housekeeping to come remove the pack n play, and anything in the closet that I will not use that takes up space.

You will have a great time. Stay with your budget minded vacation, you will be glad you did in 2010.

Janis

 

[queenie82]

I'm just wondering, where would you actually store 8 large suitcases in the AKV value rooms? The pictures don't show much floor or storage space. Will large suitcases fit under the bed?

There is space all over the place.
Tables, next to TV's, in wardrobes, next to beds...

As I say it is all about rearranging all the loose furniture.
It looks very pretty but it doesn't need to stay like that!
You have to be creative...and seeing as we have stayed in smaller rooms I assure you it can be done.

Budgeting by Being creative = money saving, longer visits, a feeling that you CAN buy that extra souvenir, a feeling that you aren't wasting money on random empty space you aren't using for 2/3rds of the day

 

[katlamar]

Budgeting by Being creative = money saving, longer visits, a feeling that you CAN buy that extra souvenir, a feeling that you aren't wasting money on random empty space you aren't using for 2/3rds of the day

To queenie82- Love, love ,love your outlook on things!!!

My DH and 2 DD's are going in Jan for 10 nights...we're staying in a studio at BLT. I'm so excited & yes we have visited the models at Doorway to Dreams...we bought at BLT for the location.

To OP-do what you need to do, but I personally think you'll do just fine IMO.

 

[wdwfan1]

I would go with a studio or one bedroom at OKW. You will have a lot more room.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I bet your family will be fine and glad you saved your points for another trip.
Good luck and have a great time!

 

[jd99]

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

I'm glad someone posted the square footage because last Easter we stayed at SSR- a couple nights in a studio and a couple in a 2 BR (what luxury). And we went to see the model of BLT. I thought the BLT looked very similar to SSR studio and by looking at the SF, it is. The difference between locations makes it a no brainer for me. In fact, we just added on 150 pts at BLT so we can either do a studio every year or a 1 or 2 BR every other year with points to spare based on our vacation habits. With points at BCV and AKV, we are set in that we can do what we want when we want where we want. But overall seeing the model of BLT AND taking into account we'd probably be in a studio more often than not, we were sold on the spot for the add on.

 

[ssawka]

Size not with standing, I think the big issue for me is privacy. We are a family of 3 and DD is only 7. We were originally going to buy enough points to get a studio every year, but then given the BLT incentives decided to add enough for a 1 BR. Would we have fit in a studio? Yes, but I prefer to have the separate room so DW and I do not have to go to bed when DD does. (I'm looking forward to sipping wine on the balcony while DD is sound asleep in the other room.) We have also found that we are going to be eating more in the room than we originally expected, but that's a whole other story.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

There is another factor to consider...where to put your luggage. Or, where TWO TEENAGE GIRLS are gonna put their luggage. .

Excellent point, they were designed for optimum occupancy not comfort. There isn't much room to move around for 4 people, no matter what age they are, IMO!