Families of 4? Do you like to get a studio or one bedroom?

[Dina]

I know this is a personal preference. We're trying to decide whether to get a one bedroom or a studio in fall of '07. We'll have a 7yo and a 4yo. A one bedroom is nice, but it might also be nice to bank the extra points for more trips. Just wondering what other people's experiences are? Sorry, I'm nosy-- and I need to study, so its my way of procrastinating.

[Patty3]

We always get a 2 bedroom unit, but my children are older. I would go with the 1 bedroom unit.

[nono]

Dina,

We're a family of 3 and get a 1 br for anything longer than a 2 night stay. I like my elbow room! :goodvibes

[NARM Forever]

I know this is a personal preference. We're trying to decide whether to get a one bedroom or a studio in fall of '07. We'll have a 7yo and a 4yo. A one bedroom is nice, but it might also be nice to bank the extra points for more trips. Just wondering what other people's experiences are? Sorry, I'm nosy-- and I need to study, so its my way of procrastinating.
We have lots in common. I too am studying and procrastinating. Chemistry isn't my fav subject!! I also have kids of similar ages.

We only have 150 points so I'm scared that if we take a 1 bed that I'll always be disappointed afterwards with the studio. We're driving down in March, if its not very successful, we will always need to fly. We will then need to take full weeks to make it worth it and the studio is all the points we will be able to afford. Unless we want to go every 2 years - yeah right!

Happy procrastinating :thumbsup2

[tjkraz]

One Bedroom. We didn't buy into DVC just to stay in a standard room for a cheaper price--we bought DVC because we wanted the luxury of a 1B at a more reasonable cost.

[Lora]

After this coming trip, I'll be able to say we've done it all. When we started, we stayed in a studio for 1/2 of our trip and a 1BR for the other half (9-12 nights total). Then we started staying in a 1BR during the week and switching to a studio on the weekend (if we stayed at WDW - sometimes we leave to visit relatives). We've also gotten 2BR's to share with grandparents, etc. but we just used the 1BR portion. Dh has decided we've stayed in a studio enough - he wants to book 1BR's now all of the time. However, this coming trip, we have a 2BR most of the time because we were expecting to have company that decided not to come. Now we'll have the whole 2BR to ourselves (not that I didn't try to share it with just about everyone I know!!). DD's are turning 11 and 9 on this trip, I don't think the 2BR would have been necessary for just the four of us at this point, but the extra bathroom will be nice.

Now, to finally answer your question...see if you can do what we did with a split stay - only if you're there long enough to make it worthwhile. You may find that you're happy to have a studio for a few nights to save some points...or, you may end up spoiled like the rest of us and only want the 1BR in the future! ;)

[NARM Forever]

One Bedroom. We didn't buy into DVC just to stay in a standard room for a cheaper price--we bought DVC because we wanted the luxury of a 1B at a more reasonable cost.

Ouch! I'll think of you when I'm checking into my "Standard" room :)

[RumpleMom]

Start out with the studio for your stays, as your children get older you will want more room. After a few commando park trips, many DVCers find they are ready to slow down and enjoy a larger room and the resort amenities.

Ignore all of this advice, if DH snores, get the larger room. :rotfl:

Our kids were thrilled to have a separate sleeping area.

[BillPA]

Have you ever stayed at Disney in a mod room? Was it okay for your family? If so, a studio will be a nice step up. More space, 356 - 390 sq ft depending on the resort vs. 312 - 340 sq ft. Plus you have a mini kitchen, ref, microwave, coffee maker, toaster... You will have a queen bed and a double size sofa bed (2 Queens at OKW). vs. 2 doubles at at mod.

How about a deluxe room? AKL and WL both run 340 sq. ft in a standard room, just a bit smaller that a studio. The others, BC, YC,... run from 380- 420 sq ft. as large or larger than most studios.

If either of these have worked okay for you I would try a studio and see how that works. You are correct, once you stay in a 1BR it is difficult to go back to a studio, or even the best of the deluxe rooms.

Good luck with you decision, and have a great trip.
:wave2: :wave2:

[ClarabelleCow]

we have 260 points, 2 bedroom always with 4 of us if more than 2 nights also, unfortunately, for Feb trip, I could only get a 1 bedroom, have a 7 year old and a 14 year old, , they don't mind the couch, but I have waitlisted for the 2 bedroom, figure thats what the points are for, so use them, and if we decide to do another trip, just borrow more points if needed!! Always better to borrow than bank!

[WDWorld2003]

I think with the ages of your children you could do either. When my kids were young I always liked being in the same room as they were on vacation as they seemed to wake more often in unfamiliar surroundings.

However, a 1 bdrm. does have the extra TV, washer/dryer, full size appliances, queen sleeper, separate bathroom areas, large tub, and a king bed which leaves room for a kid if they bed hop.

Maybe you could split your stay between a studio and 1 bdrm. (start with the studio :)).

[EricaLovesMickey]

We are a family of four. We have (petite) twin girls who are 15. We have done both the one bedroom and the studio. We figure the girls are on a pull out sofa no matter what. It just depends on the amount of points we want to spend. We're not in the room much and when we are it's usually at night, we're exhausted, and we are crashing, and reading or watching tv.

[bobbiwoz]

We raised our sons prior to DVC and at the end of that time, we always went with the FW cabins. I really like the extra room, privacy. If DVC had been around, we would have used 1 bedrooms.

However, I think having the balcony/patio makes a studio much nicer than a regular resort room and it does give you a place to get away. So, I would try the studio and make my decision based on that stay.

Bobbi :sunny:

[SnowWitch]

It really depends on your vacation habits. When we first bought into DVC, if it were just myself and the 2 boys we would rent a studio because our main goal was to commando tour. After the boys got into their teen years we rented one bedrooms with the exception being VB where we always try to get a 2 bedroom. We started spending more time at the resort and enjoying the pool and other amentities. We still would go to the park almost every day but for only 4-6 hours. Now we are a family of 5 about to be a family of 6 so we will be 2 bedroom mandatory from here on out.

The DH and I enjoy the big bath tub. The boys enjoy what we have come to call the "man suite" or the second bedroom to most. Although we don't use the stove while at Disney, we like having the full size frig and dish washer. (We do heat up leftovers) I may be in the miniority on this one but I love having the washer/dryer, it is such a great feeling to get home and unpack clean clothes and not have to do 2 weeks worth of laundry. I always hated using the community laundry rooms on vacation.

[disneydenisel]

We like the space, so we like the 2-bedroom villas. Our kids are 4 and 7. If BCV had 3 bedrooms, we'd get one of those :) !

When we go to our timeshare on Maui, we have 1450 square feet (2 bedrooms, 2 baths). We love it. The more room, the better. The DVC 2 bedrooms seem small to us!! It's a personal preference, obviously! We like space!

[disney gadabout]

We are a family of 3 and always go for the one bedroom. When my son takes a friend we then opt for the 2 bedroom. We bought DVC for the space and privacy a hotel room doesn't give us.

[N&B'smom]

We're a family of 4, myself, DH and two kids ages 7 and 3. We got a 1 bedroom. I think we'll just always get one of these, much more room. Our last trip a hurricane hit and we had to stay in our room so we were VERY glad to have more room plus the full kitchen. :thumbsup2

Shelby

[jdvm]

We're big one (or two) bedroom people but I completely understand that you need to watch your points. To every thing there is a season.
John

[KristiKelly]

We are now a family of 5, DS9, DD6 & DD14 mo. We get a 1 BR but I think we still would if we were a family of 4. We purchased before I was ever preg. w/ #3 for the 1 BR. We like being able to pack less and wash a load of laundry at our leisure and having a kitchen is a big plus. We don't do any cooking but it's nice to have the room

[JimC]

We wouldn't get a studio for the two of us. We get the one bedroom for the two of us and a two bedroom if there are one or two more.

[gianna2006]

We are also a family of four (kids are 7 and 4) and we always opt for at least the one bedroom. Vacation time needs to be for the family as a whole, but also some special time is needed for just mom and dad. I love putting the kids to bed on the sleeper, closing the door, and being able to watch what I want on TV :happytv: and spend some quality time with my husband :hug: without having to worry about disturbing the kids. We've done Disney many times, though, and try not to commando the whole trip (hard as it still is!). We tend to spend a few evenings in and enjoy the resort and the room. If time does not allow for this and you will be spending most of your time in the parks and coming home exhausted - then the studio is just fine!!!

[JandD Mom]

Hi,

For our family of 4 with two third-graders, we always opt for at least a 1 bedroom. We like the kitchen and washer/dryer. On our next trip, another family of 4 with 2 small kids is joining us, so we got a 2 bedroom (they will take the studio).

The exception is that we are coming down a day early, so we are going to take the studio for 1 night.

We bought DVC for the ability to have the amenities I listed above, plus a little privacy for mom and dad! For DH and I, if we wanted to share a room with our kids, we would not have bought DVC -- we would just have stayed at different resorts. I personally prefer the deluxe rooms (2 beds) to the BW studios. I know OKW studios have 2 beds, but we haven't had the opportunity to stay there yet!

[Granny]

Another family of four here that books 2BR units.

We started with 1BR's when the children were younger. Now DD's are teenagers and we need the extra bathroom that a 2BR provides! :)

[starbox]

I am the lone crazy in the bunch. :3dglasses We have a family of 4 and use a studio. Kids are DD(almost)8 and DS10. We stayed in a 2bd once and did not use the space. We were literally NEVER in the room - except to sleep and shower. :confused3 (I did do laundry). It's not that we were at the parks 24/7 - but in our spare time we went to the pool, or played mini-golf, or drove to celebration and walked around. It just never appealed to me to use vacation time to sit in a resort room and watch tv or a movie :happytv: - or - worse - to cook. I want to get out and go! :thumbsup2

Since a 1bd has the same sleeping arrangements as a studio (i.e. 2 people on a fold-out couch), it does not appeal to me as a use of points. I'd rather go twice as much than have a bigger room to sleep in. BUT - we are also some of those loony attachment parent-types. DD never even owned a crib - she just slept in our bed till she was 4. :rolleyes1

When the kids both become teenagers we may have to re think the studio, but for now, it suits us.

[dianeschlicht]

We usually get a 1 bedroom for 2 of us and a always get a 2 bedroom if it is 3 or 4 of us. We will likely do a GV next year for 6 of us, because we would like to keep the kids in one bedroom and let each couple have their own.

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

Do your kids mind the sofa sleeper? This is a timely thread for us. We are planning a trip with my parents for Dec 07 and trying to decide if a 2 bdr will be enough room for all of us. Kids would be with us in room on sofa sleeper and my mom/dad would have the king bed. Do you think we will be too crowded? I we would still have more room than 2 standard rooms together, right?

[bobbiwoz]

"we would still have more room than 2 standard rooms together, right?"

Sure, a 2 bedroom is more room than 2 standard rooms. A 2 bedroom at OKW is marvelous for spreading out, including eating. The other 2 bedrooms are fine, but honestly, I think 6-8 people would have a hard time finding comfortable ways to eat a dinner. I know there are people who do it, and WVL is my favorite resort, but I gave up plans to have a dinner birthday meal for my family in the 2 bedroom there. Cake and Ice cream were enough with the space we had.

Bobbi :)

[ClarabelleCow]

yeah - i don't get the planners when they laid out the 2 bedrooms! we had a dedicated two bedroom at VWL, the 2nd bedroom was HUGE!!! you could have fit another twin bed or bunks in the closet/dressing area of that room! But the ktichen/living area was tiny! the room is supposed to fit 8, but seating at the table for 2 or maybe 4, but I think it was two, and then another two at the tiny counter!!! We brought the chairs in off the porch! OKW's 2 bedrooms are true "condo" living! SSR isn't bad, but OKW is the best if your gonna eat in or have a little get togther, we had DS's birthday and it was tough and there was only 6 of us at VWL!

[beachblanket]

Now that my daughter is getting into adolesence, we're going for 2Brs.

[Deb & Bill]

This family of three (one 13 yr old son) always gets the one bedroom. We had a one bedroom with three adults (brought the SIL along) and our son two years ago and it was crowded. We seldom stay in a studio.

[twinklebug]

I know this is a personal preference. We're trying to decide whether to get a one bedroom or a studio in fall of '07. We'll have a 7yo and a 4yo. A one bedroom is nice, but it might also be nice to bank the extra points for more trips. Just wondering what other people's experiences are? Sorry, I'm nosy-- and I need to study, so its my way of procrastinating.
OMG - 4 yo in Disney... You'll NEED a place to lock the I'm-too-tired tantrums away. For sanity sake, book a 1 br and buy more points... it's your vacation & it's Disney :teeth:

[deedeetoo]

We are trying to decide the same thing right now. We have a dd8 and ds5. We have enough points next year for 2 wks in a studio or one week in a 1 BR. I know most people are saying 1BR but we are trying to decide if it is worth it.

On the plus side, we are not "spoiled" yet. We are used to regular hotel rooms. While we are deluxe people in WDW, we haven't been when we go elsewhere. In August we spent a week in VA in a Quality Inn with 2 double beds and no one complained. We keep going back and forth on whether we should enjoy our double points next year and splurge on the 1BR or whether that will spoil us and we'll never even consider doing the studio.

[Disney MAINEiac]

Family of 4 here, we always do the 1-bdr, the extra room is a bonus. the clincher for us was the full kitchen and the in room laundry, which allows us to pack lighter and save on th efood bill during longer trips.

[Dina]

Thanks everyone!!! I actually think we are going with the studio. Well, actually in Jan we have a 2br, but that's because we're brining my parents. But, after that we're gonna try the studio. Someone made the point of their kids waking up in unfamiliar surroundings-- that's the one thing that bothered me. My little one is still so young that I couldn't put him to sleep in the living room and go to sleep in a bedroom-- and if we put them in the bedroom, they'll still wake up and start walking around (last year we had connectors with MIL at ASMO, and my little one would wake up at night and would switch beds and rooms--it was always fun when we woke up and had to find him). Also I like the idea of banking points and bringing more family or taking more trips. Once I'm finished nursing school we're going to at least double our points -- probably more(by that time my youngest will be 9) at that point I think we'll get enough points for a 1 or 2br each trip. When they're older, I feel like we'll definitely need more privacy, right now we could have 4 bedrooms and we still won't get any privacy (we don't at home, they're always creeping in at night). Thanks so much, you all made so many great points-- lots to consider!! The only thing I wish is that you had a washer and dryer in the studio-- that's the one thing I would like to have.