Borrow Points for BLT or Pay Cash for AoA Family Suite?

[Road_Dog]

Trying to decide between paying cash for a value stay or borrowing DVC points and wanted to see what others would do.

We are planning a 5 night trip in early October 2026 for my son's 3rd birthday. Party will be 4 adults and 2 kids (ages 4 and newly 3).

Right now we are booked in a Cars Family Suite at Art of Animation for about $3,400.

However, we are DVC members and technically could borrow points to stay in a 1 bedroom instead. For example, I found availability at Bay Lake Tower for 165 points for the same length stay (I would borrow my entire 150 points from my October 2027 use year and buy 15 OTU).

A couple things making the decision tricky:

• My son turns 3 right before the trip, which technically makes us a party of 6. That normally disqualifies most 1BR villas unless we said he was still 2.
• I generally try to avoid borrowing points because I like keeping future use years flexible.
• The kids are at a great age for the Art of Animation theming, especially the Cars suite.
• BLT would give us the MK walking distance and the typical 1BR perks like laundry and kitchen. We'll probably go to MK at least twice over the 5-nights, so proximity would be nice, but the Skyliner is great in the other direction.
• I actually feel the 1-bedroom sleeping arrangements are a downgrade from the AoA family suites, since one adult would be stuck on that twin Murphy, and one adult would likely sleep in the King with the two kids.

So the real question is:

Would you pay $3,400 for the AoA family suite and save the points for a future trip, or borrow points now and stay deluxe? Also, I'm not oppose to renting DVC points but I hate that they are non-refundable.

Curious how others approach "gap year" trips when their points are already tied up in other vacations.

 

[CarolynFH]

I’d keep the AoA suite. Four adults and 2 kids in a 1BR sounds way too crowded to me, even before you laid out the sleeping arrangements. Doesn’t sound like much of a vacation for those two adults who are either crammed into the single Murphy (at BWV, BCV, and BRV, not sure about BLT, that bed is smaller than a twin) or sharing with two kids. We’ve never been shy about borrowing points, but in your case I think the cash outlay is justified. If you could afford a 2BR, ok, but I’d say no to a 1BR for sure.

 

[Road_Dog]

I’d keep the AoA suite. Four adults and 2 kids in a 1BR sounds way too crowded to me, even before you laid out the sleeping arrangements. Doesn’t sound like much of a vacation for those two adults who are either crammed into the single Murphy (at BWV, BCV, and BRV, not sure about BLT, that bed is smaller than a twin) or sharing with two kids. We’ve never been shy about borrowing points, but in your case I think the cash outlay is justified. If you could afford a 2BR, ok, but I’d say no to a 1BR for sure.

You make a good point I didn’t think about. It would be one thing if I already had 150 points and needed to borrow 150 more to go from a 1-bed to a 2-bed. But to borrow 150 points (and buy OTU points) just to be cramped in a 1-bedroom is tough.

 

[Nabas]

$3400 for 5 nights? $680 per night to stay in a "Value"?

My experience is that little kids love the Value Resorts, so enjoy the Values before the kids develop champagne tastes.

Based on what you described so far, I'd go with 2 Value Resort rooms at an All Star, and save $250 per night (i.e. $1250).

Coincidentally, we recently stayed at an All Star, a BLT one-bedroom, and a Cabin at Fort Wilderness.

You could consider a one-bedroom at Kidani. It has 2 bathrooms and is 145 points.

The BLT one-bedroom has two bathrooms, is really big, and so convenient to the MK!





A Cabin at Fort Wilderness is only 110 points and officially sleeps 6, but definitely is smaller:

 

[Road_Dog]

$3400 for 5 nights? $680 per night to stay in a "Value"?

My experience is that little kids love the Value Resorts, so enjoy the Values before the kids develop champagne tastes.

Based on what you described so far, I'd go with 2 Value Resort rooms at an All Star, and save $250 per night (i.e. $1250).

Coincidentally, we recently stayed at an All Star, a BLT one-bedroom, and a Cabin at Fort Wilderness.

You could consider a one-bedroom at Kidani. It has 2 bathrooms and is 145 points.

The BLT one-bedroom has two bathrooms, is really big, and so convenient to the MK!

A Cabin at Fort Wilderness is only 110 points and officially sleeps 6, but definitely is smaller:

Price does seem steep for a value but it’s a family suite that sleeps 6 rather than a studio. We paid only $220/night for a POP Studio back in November. Two studios is an option for sure, but the lack of a guaranteed connection is worrisome to me enough to fork over extra for a family suite. The All Star Music does have a cheaper family suite that actually has 3 queens rather than a pullout and a Murphy, but is overall smaller than the AoA family suites and doesn’t have the skyliner.

We’re going to Poly in 2 weeks so my kids are already getting champagne tastes!

BLT was on my radar solely for the MK proximity. I think we’ll stay at AK eventually but I’d want a Savannah view and I think I’d prefer Jambo for our first visit. I’ll save that for a future trip. And I personally am a fan of the Cabins, the kids would love the bunk beds, but I think I’d want them to be maybe 2 years older to be comfortable flying them around on the golf cart. It’s definitely a great value and on my bucket list!

 

[Sandisw]

If you weren’t having to borrow all, I might say do that but given it would take all your points plus another $300, I’d say stay with AOA.

Plus, there is a very good chance they will come out with a room discount which would reduce the cost if they did!

 

[Road_Dog]

If you weren’t having to borrow all, I might say do that but given it would take all your points plus another $300, I’d say stay with AOA.

Plus, there is a very good chance they will come out with a room discount which would reduce the cost if they did!

I think you’re right! The cast member on the phone told me to call back after my Poly trip about a bounce back rate, plus we are AP and should expect some fall price discounts at some point.

 

[JMOR80]

Have you looked at a point transfer. There are regularly points available at $18 so for 165 you would save $430.

 

[CarolynFH]

I think you’re right! The cast member on the phone told me to call back after my Poly trip about a bounce back rate, plus we are AP and should expect some fall price discounts at some point.

This is definitely the way to go. If you’re not familiar with Disney’s bounceback offers, here’s a helpful thread - https://www.disboards.com/threads/b...-through-dec-2026-updated-11-13-2025.3680214/. You can call while at Poly and must call within 7 days of checkout, so don’t dilly dally.

 

[Sandisw]

I think you’re right! The cast member on the phone told me to call back after my Poly trip about a bounce back rate, plus we are AP and should expect some fall price discounts at some point.

Last year, AP discounts for Fall came out end of March to early April!

So, it might be soon!!!

 

[happyuser2025]

If you have the points available I would go with BLT every time. The location and monorail access alone make it worth it, and the room quality is a significant step up from AoA. Borrowing points is fine as long as you are comfortable with the commitment for next year.