As you have mentioned use the blueprint and prepare your own study materials and spend more time doing a lab. You can find links to various resource for the VCAP exam in the internet and their exam experience. Below link which you can use a reference for your studying which has link for various useful resource.
http://thesaffageek.co.uk/vsphere-5-study-resources/vcap5-dca-dcd/
If you can sit for VMware vSphere: Optimize and Scale [V5.1] course as this will help to prepare for the VCAP exam as well
Good luck
