BLT studio vs AKV studio

[Tarheel girl 1975]

We're thinking abut renting some points to add a few days to our stay next time we go. It will be DH and I and our two kids who will be 6 and 4 by the time we go. We're having a hard time deciding on where we should stay. Will the studio at BLT be too cramped? How is transportation from AKV? Any other input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[minnieandfamily]

Hi,
We just returned from a split stay at BLT and AKL. We didn't stay in a studio - we stayed in a 1 BR - however, I would highly recommend BLT. Since you have two young children, I can't tell you how convenient it was to be able to walk over to the Magic Kingdom and not have to worry about driving/parking, taking a bus or other transportation. No crowds, no waiting for transportation, no traffic, no hassles! We loved it! It's also great to have the monorail easily accessible to visit the Poly & Grand Floridian. We personally preferred the look & feel of the decor at BLT too (which surprised me, because I thought I would like the AKL more) but that aside, the conveniences I just described sold it for me! Great views of the fireworks at MK as well (there are plenty of places to view even if you don't book an MK view) Good luck

Edited to add: AKV is in a more isolated area so it takes awhile to get everywhere, except Animal Kingdom. You have to factor in time to wait for the bus and then the ride to wherever you are going. That was hard for us to swallow, esp. after we just stayed at BLT which was so much more convenient as far as location and transportation.

 

[twinkletoes919]

Is there a difference in the 1 bedroom studio and a 1 bedroom standard room.We ar a family of 5 and i was wondering about the space of the room. Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would also go with Bay Lake Tower because of their overall location, walkway to the Magic Kingdom and Resort Monorail access from the Contemporary.

 

[ohiotinkfan]

Studio rooms usually have only 1 double/queen bed and a pull out with mini micro and ref. while a regular standard room (non-villas) would have 2 douuble/queen beds and a ref.
A 1 bedroom villa room has a king bed, a pull out sofa and pull out oversized chair, and a full kitchen with a washer/dryer.

 

[csaribay]

We're thinking abut renting some points to add a few days to our stay next time we go. It will be DH and I and our two kids who will be 6 and 4 by the time we go. We're having a hard time deciding on where we should stay. Will the studio at BLT be too cramped? How is transportation from AKV? Any other input would be greatly appreciated.

Any thought behind booking a normal room at the Contemporary? Considering most studios at Bay Lake Tower are Bay Lake View @ $410 a night (value season), you could have a much larger Bay Lake View room with two real beds + a day bed in the Contemporary Tower for $400 a night, a net savings of $10/nightly.

The studio's only real benefit would be a guarantee microwave and access to Bay Cove Pool, neither of which I would hold over space and location that the Contemporary Tower would otherwise provide.

Is there a difference in the 1 bedroom studio and a 1 bedroom standard room.We ar a family of 5 and i was wondering about the space of the room. Thanks!

I mentioned this in the other thread you started, but again, studios and one bedrooms are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. A studio is similar to a standard hotel room, but with studios, you lose one real bed for a sofa bed and as compared to the Contemporary Tower (standard hotel rooms) these rooms are significantly smaller. A one bedroom is essentially a moderately sized condo unit, with two full bathrooms, a master bedroom with a king bed, full size kitchen + two convertible sofa beds in the living space.

Approximate sizes:

Contemporary Standard Hotel Room: 440 square feet.
Bay Lake Tower Studios: 340 square feet.
Bay Lake Tower One Bedrooms: 830 square feet.

I see you've referenced the term "standard" at Bay Lake Tower, which only refers to the type of view. In the case of Bay Lake Tower, this basically means the lower floors - not necessarily bad views, just low ones (possibly parking space/courtyard/Bay Lake views).

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Any thought behind booking a normal room at the Contemporary? Considering most studios at Bay Lake Tower are Bay Lake View @ $410 a night (value season), you could have a much larger Bay Lake View room with two real beds + a day bed in the Contemporary Tower for $400 a night, a net savings of $10/nightly.

The studio's only real benefit would be a guarantee microwave and access to Bay Cove Pool, neither of which I would hold over space and location that the Contemporary Tower would otherwise provide.



I mentioned this in the other thread you started, but again, studios and one bedrooms are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. A studio is similar to a standard hotel room, but with studios, you lose one real bed for a sofa bed and as compared to the Contemporary Tower (standard hotel rooms) these rooms are significantly smaller. A one bedroom is essentially a moderately sized condo unit, with two full bathrooms, a master bedroom with a king bed, full size kitchen + two convertible sofa beds in the living space.

Approximate sizes:

Contemporary Standard Hotel Room: 440 square feet.
Bay Lake Tower Studios: 340 square feet.
Bay Lake Tower One Bedrooms: 830 square feet.

I see you've referenced the term "standard" at Bay Lake Tower, which only refers to the type of view. In the case of Bay Lake Tower, this basically means the lower floors - not necessarily bad views, just low ones (possibly parking space/courtyard/Bay Lake views).

I've thought about it. One of the reasons we are thinking of trying BLT is because I thought I might save a little by renting points vs paying cash. We are also thinking about buying into DVC someday and this would give some idea of what it would be like. Staying at BLT would be more expensive and the studios there are much smaller than AKV, but we would have a great location. I love the theming at AKV, the savanna view would rock, but the resort is farther away.

 

[Deb & Bill]

A studio (except for OKW) has one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. They sleep four plus one under the age of three. The BLT studio is the smallest studio of all, too small for anything other than two persons (or maybe two adults with one infant). The OKW studio has two queen beds.

If you have five in your family, one will have to be under the age of three when you check in to stay in a studio. And even when they do allow four persons, they are smaller.