help choosing between BLT and Poly

[drdrowsy]

We are a family of 4 (DS4 and DD7) + 2 grandparents looking to borrow points for a stay in late Jan/early Feb 2017. We'd like to stay on the monorail line (previous stays at WL and ASM have taught us the importance of being close to at least MK, which we'll be at most often). We'd love to get a 2BR, but financially that seems out of the question, so we've settled on either 2 lake view studios at BLT or 2 standard studios at Poly.
My major concern with BLT is the size of the room-- the 4 of us stayed in a bunk bed room at WL on a previous trip and found it to be quite a squeeze. I'm not sure that the children will be well enough behaved to share a bed, so that means a parent may end up in the pullout. BUT! I can't get over the idea of walking to MK (and even more importantly, walking back to the hotel at the end of the day). Poly rooms seem much bigger and have the extra murphy bed which i think the kids might actually really like. But the downside is getting to the theme parks from the hotel and back (especially with periodic closures of monorail). Any opinions/help would be appreciated!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The studios at BLT are tiny.

I would suggest trying for Poly. Poly you can also request adjoining rooms, as well.

Getting to theme parks from Poly is not difficult or more burdensome than BLT; it's actually faster to Epcot from Poly than from BLT, and very similar timing for HS and AK. With the monorail closed, the boat from MK to Poly is very nice.

 

[rlovew]

With our 2 children I won't stay in a studio anymore but having stayed in the BLT studios with just 2 of us it was comfortable but I would not have wanted to use the pullout or have had more people in the room. The big question will be if you can get the rooms you want at this time. You are looking at soon being at the 7 month window and if you are not booking at the beginning of that time9assuming you can't get home resort priority) you might find both of your choices are closed out.

 

[AJA]

As the previous poster said, make sure you get your request in before the 7 month window. Lake view at BLT is usually the last to go as far as availability (not the cheapest and not a park view) but for a February trip you want to make sure you beat the crowd for early spring break time.

 

[drdrowsy]

thanks for the responses. I had a friend who is a DVC member look into our dates at BLT (his home resort) and i know that, as of right now at least, our dates are open for the lake view there, not sure about Poly though. with dates 1/25-2/3 we should be missing marathon/MLK/Presidents weekend/spring break crowds. I was going to try to have one of the big websites book for us on the 7 month mark (saves considerable amount of $$, probably $500 or so, over booking now) Do you think that's not a great idea to wait?

 

[addiln]

I have never stayed at Poly but the studios at BLT are tiny. We are 2 adults and it felt kind of cramped in for us. I would like to see how many points a 1 bedroom and 1 studio with a standard view would be pointswise. If it is not a crazy amount extra you may want to look at that. Or even a 2 bedroom standard view.

 

[drdrowsy]

the 1BR is about 2x the points of a studio, the 2BR is about 2.5-3x the points of a studio. 1 1BR won't work becuase we have 6 people. It's about $500 more for the standard 2BR than 2x studio lake (i know there are no standard studios available at BLT) that's not a crazy amount extra i guess, but having been to WDW many times in the past, i know that these little not crazy amounts end up adding up to a lot at the end of the vacation

 

[Quellman]

the 1BR is about 2x the points of a studio, the 2BR is about 2.5-3x the points of a studio. 1 1BR won't work becuase we have 6 people. It's about $500 more for the standard 2BR than 2x studio lake (i know there are no standard studios available at BLT) that's not a crazy amount extra i guess, but having been to WDW many times in the past, i know that these little not crazy amounts end up adding up to a lot at the end of the vacation

Especially if you aren't going to take advantage of the accommodation upgrades, like laundry in room, and a full kitchen.
If you can get connecting Studios, maybe one of the kids can sleep in your parents room. Then it would be 3 and 3 giving everyone a little extra space.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Especially if you aren't going to take advantage of the accommodation upgrades, like laundry in room, and a full kitchen.
If you can get connecting Studios, maybe one of the kids can sleep in your parents room. Then it would be 3 and 3 giving everyone a little extra space.

Having the extra space is less critical at Poly, though. At BLT, there are no connecting studios.

 

[drdrowsy]

really liking the idea of the connecting studios at the poly (i assume this is one of those requests that may or may not be honored). I asked my friend to check for me and i know that there are rooms available there for my dates. So the question is: will they still be available in 25 days at the 7 month mark, or do i bite the bullet and pay the extra $600 for the sure thing now.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

really liking the idea of the connecting studios at the poly (i assume this is one of those requests that may or may not be honored). I asked my friend to check for me and i know that there are rooms available there for my dates. So the question is: will they still be available in 25 days at the 7 month mark, or do i bite the bullet and pay the extra $600 for the sure thing now.

There are no known instances where the connecting studio request at Poly has been denied for two studios reserved together in the same category

 

[Quellman]

Having the extra space is less critical at Poly, though. At BLT, there are no connecting studios.

That is true, but @drdrowsy mentioned the kids may not sleep well together, so having the connecting space would allow them to have their own bed areas and free up the space from the pull down bed under the television.

 

[oceanmarina]

Having stayed at both, Bay Lake Towers would be my vote. The convenience can't be beat - it's a short walk to the Magic Kingdom. So nice not to have to take a bus or monorail when the park closes. We had a 1 bedroom villa there and loved it. Washer / drier in the room and plenty of room for our 2 kids. We loved the Bay Lake path to MK, it's not a bad walk at all - and we go in August when it's HOT!

 

[DisneyMomChristine]

Just my 2 cents...we stayed in a Poly studio recently with our 2 girls, 5 and 7. It was an awesome room, but that pull out sofa takes up a lot of room PLUS you then have the cushions scattered about. It was a tight squeeze. Loved the room, wouldn't do it again, though. Standard rooms for us from now on...