BLT Studio

[Bigeasy]

Planning our first DVC trip and looking forward to BLT.

I have read the studio is quite small, has anyone ventured it with two adults and two (4 & 7) children?

We stayed at the AKL last time, before DVC, and the room seemed small but it was fine for what was needed.

Just trying to stretch the points a few extra days without getting the one bedroom.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[TiaMaria]

A BLT studio is A LOT smaller than AK. It is a very pretty room - but very, very small.

I stayed in one with an 11 and 12 year old and it was misery. The teeny tiny closet was already filled up with a vacume cleaner, pak-n-play and a safe - and I believe an ironing board, but I'm not sure about that. There were several deep drawers in the dresser/TV cabinet and a few shallow shelves behind a cabinet in the TV cabinet.

You cannot sit at the little table with the chairs facing it unless you are a small child - the chairs must be at a right angle to the table.

The pullout was comfortable, but had to be closed up except for sleeping, as you could not move around the room otherwise. There are no bedside tables with drawers - just two "planks" sticking out from either side of the headboard. Barely any room for an adult to make the bed.

The bathroom vanity is opposite of the kitchenette counter. This is a very narrow space. The vanity mirror is a rectangular one above the bathroom part of the vanity. I'm not sure how tall your kids are, but if they need the mirror and are small - you may need to lift them up or find them something to stand on. This space is at a 90 degree angle from the entry hallway. The toilet/bathtub room is very large.

Depending on the length of your stay - you might be more comfortable in the 1 bedroom - especially since you will get the extra full bathroom with it.

 

[chini1091]

I think you'll be ok just going by your childrens ages, but for how many nights before you'll be wishing you had the one bedroom. If your kids were 2 or 3 yrs older I would recommend the one bedroom.

 

[mdsd8700]

We haven't actually stayed there, but have been to the display unit at the Woodfield Mall, in Schaumburg IL which they say is an exact copy of the DVC units at BLT. It is very small. If you are only staying for a few days then I think you will be fine. Anything longer than that, you certainly can make it work if you are trying to stretch the points, you'll just have to adjust a bit for the space. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Hasil72]

We stayed last November with our 10 and 6 year old and I have to say if you plan on staying more than 2 or 3 nights, get the 1 BR. The studio is VERY small with an odd layout. Plus I'm sure you've read about the bathroom door issue.

Have a great vacation!

 

[OhioDVC]

It seems a little small because it is broken up with the kitchen, but it is still the size of an average hotel room

 

[DenLo]

Plus I'm sure you've read about the bathroom door issue.

You'll have the sliding bathroom door with gap and no lock even in the 1 and 2 bedrooms. I liked the suggestion of using a rubber door stopper as a lock.

When we stayed in a studio in March (only two adults). I really looked closely at the gap and decided someone would have to stand there with their eye up to gap to see anything. And if anyone does that you have a pretty big privacy issue that has nothing to do with the sliding door.

I think the mirror in the vanity area is more of a problem for children under 4 feet. I don't know what they were thinking when they chose that frame and then hung it with the widest part on the bottom.

To make room in the closet, we put the pack 'n play on the shelf at the top of the closet and moved the vacuum cleaner so part of it rolled under the safe.
They really placed the safe in a bad spot so that it takes up most of one side of the closet.

We stored our luggage in the area next to the door to the 1 BR. Even our cooler fit there and there would have been room for a stroller as well and it didn't affect the walkway to the front door.

 

[LisaRN97]

We stayed last year in a studio with our two girls. They were almost 5 and 3.5 at the time for 3 nights. For us, it was fine. We didn't spend much time in the room so it wasn't really a big deal....it is the size of an average hotel room as the pp mentioned. Couldn't beat the 45 points total for the three nights

 

[Muhlenberg]

You'll have the sliding bathroom door with gap and no lock even in the 1 and 2 bedrooms. I liked the suggestion of using a rubber door stopper as a lock.

When we stayed in a studio in March (only two adults). I really looked closely at the gap and decided someone would have to stand there with their eye up to gap to see anything. And if anyone does that you have a pretty big privacy issue that has nothing to do with the sliding door.

I think the mirror in the vanity area is more of a problem for children under 4 feet. I don't know what they were thinking when they chose that frame and then hung it with the widest part on the bottom.

To make room in the closet, we put the pack 'n play on the shelf at the top of the closet and moved the vacuum cleaner so part of it rolled under the safe.
They really placed the safe in a bad spot so that it takes up most of one side of the closet.

We stored our luggage in the area next to the door to the 1 BR. Even our cooler fit there and there would have been room for a stroller as well and it didn't affect the walkway to the front door.

That's EXACTLY what I did.

We had 3 adults in the room for 5 nights, and I found the room layout to be "awkward" at best. I probably will not stay in a studio there again unless it's just 2 adults.

I was really turned off by the studio.

 

[mousefan1972]

We just spent 4 nights in a studio at BLT last month with our 4 and 6 year old kids. It was most certainly a tight fit. For 4 nights or less, I would deal with the small studio to save points. For 5 nights or longer, I would have to go with the 1 BR. Just too cramped.

 

[skelooch]

Having stayed in a studio there in Feb, 2 adults, my conclusion is
ones company, two's a crowd, three or four is insanity.

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Having stayed in a studio there in Feb, 2 adults, my conclusion is
ones company, two's a crowd, three or four is insanity.

Ugh!! Tried to book a 1 bdrm at the BLT for next May...to no avail. Had to book a studio....and now you've got me worried it'll be too snug, even tho it's just me and DH!! Oh well, it's a good thing he's my CuddleBug!!

 

[Sandisw]

Stayed last summer with 4 of us. My kids were older--20, 16, and 13 at the time and we did it for 2 nights.

We managed but would not do it for an extended time with that many people. I think with your young children, you will be fine and if you are used to staying in a hotel room, you have as much room as that.

As others have mentioned, we placed our suitcases near the lock off door and they were easily out of the way and did not interfere.

Have a great trip!!

 

[cseca]

I agree that more than 2 people would be a bit trying in that room. We had 2 adults and an infant and it was rougher than our usual DVC stay. In the future I will try never to do a studio at BLT again if we have more than 2 people.

Honestly I'm not sure if it's the size, layout or both. But the place felt so cramped for the 3 of us.

2 adults in there is ok tho.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

Ugh!! Tried to book a 1 bdrm at the BLT for next May...to no avail. Had to book a studio....and now you've got me worried it'll be too snug, even tho it's just me and DH!! Oh well, it's a good thing he's my CuddleBug!!

Worry not! the BLT studio is the PERFECT size for just a couple. There will be plenty of room for both of you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think they put most of the room into the tub/toilet room. Just to get that sliding door to work. There isn't even a night stand between the queen sized bed and the sleeper sofa. Just a small extension of the queen headboard. So when the sleeper sofa is open, there is only a very small gap between it and the bed. And a smaller gap still between the sleeper sofa and the window.

If I were you, I'd use those points at a different resort - OKW, VWL, AKV - anywhere with a larger studio if that's all you can get this time.

 

[Bigeasy]

Everyone thank you very much for your input. The studio does seem small but we did well during our last visit at AKL so we shall see.

Very happy to have choices!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I hear they are going to give BLT members a big key to open up the room at night. Kind of like sardines in a can.

 

[TiaMaria]

Everyone thank you very much for your input. The studio does seem small but we did well during our last visit at AKL so we shall see.

Very happy to have choices!

Again - AKL is MUCH bigger.....be forewarned.

I hope it works out for the very best for you and your family!

 

[MrsBlovesDisney]

Worry not! the BLT studio is the PERFECT size for just a couple. There will be plenty of room for both of you.