Would you rather spend 2 weeks in a studio or 1 week in a 1 BR?

[invalid_char]

We have 2 very small children. We can currently only afford to buy 250 points at BCV. We would like to visit WDW for one week in April and one week in October. In order to do this we would need to stay in a studio.

Both the studio and 1 BR sleep 4 and have 1 bathroom, but the 1 BR costs nearly twice the number of points.l

We don't care about the extra amenities (we don't really do laundry or cooking on vacation and we have a jacuzzi at home); my concern would be if 4 people can live comfortably within the size of the studios (which I presume will be about the same size as BWV).

I would be interested in hearing from other families with 2 young children who have managed comfortably in a studio, if there are any out there! If the verdict is that we really should stay in a 1BR in order to not get on each others' nerves, then I guess I will have to accept that and forfeit the extra week. :(

Because my kids are so young (2 1/2 and newborn) I don't think there will be any privacy concerns on their part for a while (of course while they are still this tiny we would get a studio anyway... I'm thinking a few years out)

Also, can anyone comment on how easy it is to childproof the room upon arrival. Will DVC do this for you upon request?

[vernon]

While the kids are young, I don't think you'll have any problems in a studio ( not sure I understand the "childproof the room" concept???)

When they get older in order to make your points go further in a one bedroom you could look at
1)borrowing points from one year to give yourself longer every other year
2) shorterbreaks :(
3) Stay in a studio one break and a one bed the other.
4) Stay off site for a couple of night, have 5 days in a one bed
5)Have two DVC breaks one year and just one the next year.

Personally I'd go for #4 If you travel down on a Saturday anyway check into a motel on the way to WDW and start your vacation for "real" when you check into DVC on the Sunday. Any park tickets (UMP are valid from you're day of check in, even if you don't get your room until 4.00) are good from your day of check in


I have 250 points and have found that amount to be enough if you make them work a bit, if you take a break every 3 or 4 years and bank those points, using them up a little at a time it might give you enough to vacation as you'd like. For example starting this year use your 250 points and borrow 70 from next year, next year use the 180 you have left and borrow 120 from the next year, the next year either take a break or use $$ for rooms and bank the 130 you have left. The year after that you use that banked 130 plus 170 from that use year and bank the remaining 80. The next year you have 320 to use and the year after that you're back to just 250 again. ( I know that was long winded but it's as short as I could make it , while keeping it uncomplicated)

[ohiominnie]

I think for now you'd be ok with the studio. But if you truly are going to stay in a studio for two weeks you WILL want to do laundry. There are free laundry facilities that you can use for that purpose. It is nice having them in the rooms so you can throw in a load, then go to a park and not worry about it...but for the extra points in your situation you'll just have to get creative (do laundry while you are relaxing at the pool or something)
You also may get sick of eating out 3 meals a day for 2 weeks, so you'll probably find you'll want to stock your kitchenette with cereal, milk, maybe some sandwich fixings, microwave meals. I've heard people even have taken crock pots and electric griddles!!

As for childproofing. There isn't much danger to get into in those villas. There are no knicknacks. The only poisons would be under the kitchen sink (and you could move those up) The doors have high latches on them, so they couldn't escape. I'd think bringing along 20 outlet covers wouldn't hurt, but mostly the outlets are behind furniture.

Hope this helps.

[chris1gill]

I'm not sure of the points required, but what if one week you checked in Sunday to Friday & then the second vacation you checked in Sunday to Friday or Saturday depending on the points... We have 250 points but we use them at either OKW or BWV standard view 1 bedrooms, so the points are lower, we usually get 12 nights a year in the off season.... but we do stay over the weekend... which of course requires double the points.. if you tried to avoid at least one Friday, you might be able to do both vacations in a 1 bedroom...

As for now, I think you will be absolutely fine in a studio... but another 3 or 4 years, you'll really want to move up to the 1 bedroom....

[invalid_char]

Excellent advice from everyone! That is what I was thinking a studio for the next few years... then a 1 BR.

Thanks for pointing out the areas that need to be child-proofed. That will save time.

It's nice to know that other people have managed so many days on 250 points.

Who knows... maybe we'll be in a position to do an add-on by the time we need the 1 BR. Wouldn't that be sweet!

Thanks again everyone

[dizneeluvr]

We just spent a week in a studio last week with a 3 and 7 year old...it was perfect for us! We spend so little time in the room that it is really hard to justify coughing up the 96 point difference to go to a 1 bedroom during January at VWL. Since the room was pretty much for sleeping, we had ample space. The microwave in the room was nice for popping popcorn as a treat to watch the EWP on the lagoon.

Just think what you can do with those points if you go the studio route as long as possible. We have 270 points, and by my calculations we can do 2 weeks in a studio during Jan or Sept of any year and still have enough for a week in HH in March in a studio. How cool is that?

Laura

[DisneyHumbug]

And who knows - in the future your kids might be like mine - they'd rather spend time in a stuio than a 1 bedroom just to be at Disney longer!!!

[PKS44]

Not sure if you have considered all your options, but is it absolutely necessary that you be at BCV? 250 pts could be bought on a resale from OKW for a lot less or you could buy 300 OKW pts or you could stay at OKW with your BCV pts to make them go farther...Just a few other thoughts to help you make your dream come true!

[fkj2]

Staying off-site the day of arrival would be my suggestion as well. If you arrive late in the day and it's a Friday or Saturday, you spend too many points to stay at the DVC. We do Priceline for the first night. Just think of the points you'd save there, it might be enough to get you into that one bedroom the next time you go.

[minnie mouse]

I have two young girls 2 and 4 and we have stayed in a studio the last two years.

And I think the space was just fine for now. I did my laundry early in the morning since I am an early riser anyway and my family is not. And the only meal we ate in our room was breakfast, so the space was fine.
But this year we are staying in a one bedroom for the first time and I am looking forward to it. I sure we will be spoiled by the extra space and I afraid I will never want to go back to a studio.

But I just added on more points at Hilton Head so hopefully I will be able to stay in a one bedroom every year if I can get in at Boardwalk within the seven month window.

[lodgelady]

We have a 9 and 5 year old and could only swing 150 points, so for now it is a studio. Here are some issues to consider with little ones:

Bedtime is early and you don't want to hide in the bathroom while you are trying to get your kids to drop off: our solution when our kids were younger was to bring along sleep tents. They loved them, and it was so much easier to get them to feel cozy and sleepy...then we could enjoy a book and a drink without having to slink around.

Don't forget the one or two romantic nights by utilizing the kids clubs...(you can even sneak back up to the room after dinner before going back to pick them up;) )

Besides those two things we think a studio is the best choice with little ones who want to be near you at night in a new setting anyway. My kids love it!

[Dean]

250 points is a pretty big chunk for a family of 4 with 2 young kids. I'd think you'd have no problem with that. Options to save points would be to stay 5 or 6 days, stay off site some trips, the studio as you mention, come 2 weeks some years and one other years.

I'd certainly consider buying resale. I don't think a studio will be OK long term but for a few years it might. As you get to the point where you coming back to the room, hanging out by the pool and relaxing, you may want more space and amenities.

[MulanMom]

Okay, here I go again with an opinion that seems to be in the minority.;) We have two small children now 4.5 and 2.5. We've been to WDW plenty of times and have always stayed in a 1BR, even with a point allotment of 210, increasing to 260, a year. With the little ones, you don't have to worry about going to WDW "in-season" and can save a lot on points going in the off-season.

We always enjoyed the space of a 1BR, particularly at OKW. With the children being so young, we found we couldn't spend a whole lot of time in the parks, and staying in a 1 BR was like staying in a home. Hubby and I could watch TV, sit outside on the balcony, etc. while the kids napped or slept in the other room. We would try to save points by staying in another motel room either the weekend before or after our DVC week.

I always thought a studio may be more appropriate when the kids were older and more time would be spent outside of the room.

Just my .02!:D

Sharon

[Cinderella]

Hi, One bedrooms are lovely but, studios would be perfectly adequate for you. Really, it all depends on your circumstances, how often you want to go and how long you can actually stay for which is why it is such a good system.

I haven't used many of my points yet but, I intend to try a number of different things. Next year, I am hoping to do 4 nights in a studio at Boardwalk Villas, go to the Beach for three nights, then back to WLV one bedroom for five nights, so I would be avoiding using weekend points.

We only have 150 points but, this is adequate for us now with banking and borrowing. You could work it so that sometimes you are in a studio and sometimes in a one bedroom. We love the one bedrooms but, we do cook in the room.

By the way, Old Key West is lovely and it costs less points to stay there.

[Lisa F]

I disagree with anyone who says that the ONLY way to do DVC is in a 1br unit or larger, and that once you have done the bigger unit you can NEVER go back.

I have stayed in everything but a grand villa, but I have to say that I have never had a problem staying in a studio after staying in a 2br unit. Personally, I think that deluxe hotel rooms at WDW are wonderful and luxurious and the studios at DVC takes everything that is good about those hotel rooms (size, amenities, comfort) and adds a few more conveniences like a fridge and microwave. We love studios, we love 1br's and we love 2br's. We consider the 1 and 2 br's splurges, though, and not the norm right now, but that's because there are just two of us and the studio fits our needs right now perfectly. It sounds like, from what you've said, that it might be the same for you.

Generally I vote for quality over quantity. In this case, you can have both! Staying in the studio will give you more days, but those extra days will also help the QUALITY of your vacation as you won't be rushing around trying to fit things in in half the time because you know you have 2 weeks there this year.

Good luck in whatever decision you make! Either way you'll have a great time!

Lisa

[mickey7861]

For my family it depends where we are staying. At OKW we get alot of use out of the 1 bdr. We eat in for breakfast and lunch, have friends over, tend to hang out at the unit more. When we're at VWL (or BWV) we don't spend much time in the room. Maybe because they are more like luxury hotels and they have so many food & activity choices there. We had a 1 bdr at VWL last summer and while I loved the themeing there we really didn't get the use out of the room like we did at OKW the week before. We ate breakfast in each day but after that we were out, only used the jaccuzzi once there too. This year we're doing a studio at VWL and BWV. We're going with a group of friends that love to eat out so I know we won't be eating in much. If you do decide on a 1bdr. try OKW. The points are less and you get so much more space, lots of room for kids to run around.

[Lyndarella]

It's interesting how different the responses are! I've read tonight that some people spend very little time in their rooms, and others spend $200 a week on groceries!

Just wait til your kids are teen-agers! 4 or 5 nights of family time with mom and dad will be all they can take, and you will ALL be glad to have a maximum amount of space! It will all average out...;)

[Lisa F]

That's the great thing about DVC and what ultimately convinced us to buy in. Right now we go very frequently and a studio is perfect. When we eventually have kids and they start school, we will go much less frequently and probably only during school breaks. With the amount of points we own we can do both! Frequent trips in a smaller unit now, fewer trips in a larger unit later!

Lisa

[DVCajun]

Two weeks! What's to discuss!?

[invalid_char]

This is all such great advice! I especially like lodgelady's idea of sneaking back to the room!

My preference would be to stay in a studio as long as possible. The difference in points between staying in a studio for a week and staying in a 1 BR for a week is really enormous! I'm hoping that by the time, if ever, that we need to move to a 1 BR my kids will be old enough to WANT to do things outside the park, like Discovery Cove or Universal. Then we could stay off park doing those things on the weekend and come back to WDW during the week.

Another thing I have heard about the BC is that Fairy Godmothers will come and take the children to Beaches and Cream for burgers and ice cream, a nice alternative if your kids are not yet old enough to go to the kids' club. This would also give parents some alone time. Has anyone tried Fairy Godmothers? I've heard they have a good reputations.

[MulanMom]

Just want to clarify something in my previous post. I didn't mean to imply that one should "only" stay in a 1 br. I stated since we had children, we have only stayed in a 1 br. We've been members since 1993, many of them childless years, and have stayed in a variety of accommodations depending on who vacationed with us, how we could maximize our points, etc. I was only referring to what we have done. If there was an implication that everyone else should subscribe to the same point of view, then I apologize for that.

To each his/her own! Vive la difference!;)

Sharon

[Lisa F]

Hey Sharon,

I think you are replying to my post so I just wanted to tell you, no need to clarify! Your post was crystal clear that you were just sharing what works for you!

There have been many posts in the few years that I have been reading this board that say that you are not experiencing DVC if you don't get a 1br or higher and I was more generally responding to that attitude than anyone one specific post in this thread.

Lisa

[MulanMom]

Lisa F,

I thought that may be the case as I've heard that in the past as well. But with online communication being strictly limited to writing, I didn't know for sure if there was something in my post that implied that and wanted to clear it up if it did!;)

Sharon

[dvcer97]

I have stayed from a studio all the way to a grandvilla, and i must say with my kids which is 11 and 1 1/2yrd plus a huby who likes to relax in the room and does not like to eat out I haved always booked 1brd or higher when he comes. I have stayed in a studio at okw with out him and after 2 days I felt cramped but that is just me. I like the fact that I can cook if I want to do laundry when I need to without babysitting it. I stayed in a studio for 1 night and then moved to a 1brd for the rest of my vacation and I must say I prefer a 1brd. If you don'tt care about cooking then I say go for a studio.

jackie

Jackie

[sueg]

I think that the variety of these answers emphasizes the flexibility of DVC. We bought OKW in Jan., 1993. As long term members, our needs have changed. We are totally spoiled by DVC. We don't like staying in a studio, and we are amazed at how we feel when we stay at any non-DVC resorts. Our two DSs now beg for a 2 BD & by avoiding weekend pts., we usually accomodate them. Our trips are more relaxed, w/ less emphasis on the parks. So having really comfortable space at the resort counts for more. Could we stay in a 1 BD? Of course we could. But we opt for 2 BD. It works for us.

[Lesley]

We have just been discussing this after our trip.....the 1br is really the best thing for us right now, but we will use studios from time to time also. The main factor that makes the 1br so much better for us is laundry. Mainly for me because I end up having to break up my vacation to take the time to get laundry done if I don't have it right there. There are other factors too....like getting "alone" time with my dh. Kids have to be over 3 and potty trained to use the kids clubs...one of mine isn't. And I'm not personally very comfortable with leaving a younger kid with strangers for the evening either.....my 7yo would be fine but I don't think I'd go for it younger than that (just my personal preference knowing my own kids, no flames implied....the kids club thing is a great idea). And of course...there's the bathroom. It is really nice to be able to take a bath without anyone barging in to use the toilet.

And then there's the last factor...my ds has food additive sensitivities. His reactions are behavioral...and can make a trip difficult. This last trip taught us that we need to prepare our own food a lot more if we're going to be away for a while.

I really don't think we could do 2 weeks in a studio.....but a few days here or there isn't a problem. We may stay just a bit longer than a week and use studios on weekends to save points...or stay elsewhere on cash so we can get our 1br for longer. As many have said...that's the wonderful flexibility of DVC. Someday when dh and I are alone for a trip 2 weeks in a studio would be no problem.....but we might be too spoiled by then!

[invalid_char]

Hi everyone,

Just to clarify, I did not mean we would stay 2 *consecutive* weeks in a studio... I meant two separate vacations of 1 week each. You are right... I could not share one room with everyone for 2 weeks straight... and the laundry would pile up... and going out every night to eat would get old.

I meant having the points to take two separate vacations :)

[DeeP]

To the orginal poster:
I think you will be fine in a studio for a week at a time with 2 young children. Plus this will give you 2 weeks of WDW vacation vs one week!
As others have said the flexibiltiy of DVC is what makes it so nice. I am in a totally different phase in my life since I am a single parent and my children are young adults. Most of my WDW trips are solo, or with just my DD. I throughly enjoy a studio when I am by myself or with just my DD. I have gotten a 1 BR when it is all 3 of us but when I am alone or with just DD anything bigger than a studio is not needed, and for me it's a waste of DVC points. A studio works great for me and I am able to really get ALOT of use out of my points. I do greatly prefer the studios at BWV, VWL and soon BCV because I like having the sofa vs the 2nd bed--it makes the room feel larger and more like a studio apt vs a motel room, but for a 1 BR, OKW can't be beat for size.

[Boardwalk Garry]

We just added on at WLV and still plan on using a studio with our 2 small children. While a 1BR would be nice, we like the idea of using a studio and going multiple times a year instead.

[disneychic]

I'd spend 2 weeks in a box at WDW! No question about it, I'd take the extra week every time.

[Granny]

Our previous family trips to WDW were spend on-site at WL resort, basic room. My DD's were 7 & 9 on the first trip and 9 & 11 on the last trip.

We did not have a refrigerator, a microwave or a coffee maker.

We had awesome trips.

Our next trip is in May and will be in a 1BR at VWL. We will be there for 9 nights, so the extra room will be welcome. But if I told my family we would be staying at WL resort, regular room again, they would say......."YEAH...when do we leave?"

I look forward to DVC accommodations and amenities. But the quality of my WDW vacation is not dependent on room accommodations.

To me, the 1BR and 2 BR set up is a luxury. If we have enough points to upsize, then great. If not, we will "settle" for the studio, which is still nicer than a hotel room.

[Geyser Gazer]

OK, heres my philosophy.
I think the one bedroom units are the worst value. They cost twice as much as a studio for the same occupancy and for less than 30% more points you can get a 2 bedroom with double the occupancy. We get a 2 bedroom and invite one set of parents at a time (built in baby sitters!) for some trips, studio for only ourselves on others. Again, with DVC its all whatever floats your water mouse.