How much more did you enjoy a one bedroom than a studio???

[princess angel]

DH and I have never stayed in a onebedroom, it's just the 2 of us, and we wouldn't use the kitchen, cause there's no way we're cooking on vacation!!! :)

But we love the way they look, and we love the bedroom and jacuzzi, do you think it would be worth all the extra points for us to stay in a one bedroom?

We are a couple who really takes advantage of the resort we're staying in, that's why we always stay in a deluxe or home away from home, we like comfort, and the extra amenities, also we really use the balcony a lot! We are not one of those people who say that the room is just to sleep in, we like really nice rooms, and to spoil ourselves!!! :)

do you think we would enjoy the one bedroom enough to make it worth it? I was thinking of doing this maybe next year, we'll probably go for a week in May (stay in a studio) and then we're thinking of going for thanksgiving for about 11 nights, then is when I would want the one bedroom, preferably at BWV, unless BCV are open by then.

What do you think??? :)

Laura :)
30 days til WDW!!! yipeeeee :)

4/97 - offsite (Hyatt)
6/98 - GF (honeymoon)
12/99 - Grand Floridian
9/00 - Grand Floridian
1/01 - Grand Floridian
4/01 - AKL, BWV & Poly
7/01 - Yacht Club
9/01 - BWV or OKW
1/02 - running Disney's 26 mile marathon!!

[DisMN]

Well if you did the studio you STILL have access to the resort jacuzzi.....near the quiet pool I believe.

So far the studio size room suits us fine as we don't do much cooking on vacation either.

[minnie mouse]

I too have only stayed in a studio. And I was wondering the very same question.

Because the one bedroom is twice the points that a studio is.

And the most we ever do is maybe eat breakfast in our room and a studio is fine for that.

In a way I'm almost afraid to stay in a one bedroom that I would get spoiled by the extra room. So I guess for now and until I add on points to my contract, I will be happy just to be at Disney.

[MdmMim]

When I travel by myself, I stay in a studio. When my DH joins me, a 1-bedroom is what I prefer. I enjoy having the space. DH wakes up way before me, and this way, he can go into the kitchen/living room area while I stay asleep. He can putter around (make coffee, etc.) ;) until I get up. I love having all that space, plus the washer/dryer and kitchen.
I must warn you, though--you WILL get spoiled if you go for the larger accommodations! :)

[spiceycat]

love the whirlpool tub. but I also like the separate showder, the bigger tv with vcr, the king size bed, in okw the porches connect with the livingroom, I think that BW has 2 separate porches. I do cook on vacation, I don't like to eat out, so I do use the kitchen. Also the washer and dryer (as has been mentioned) add to the deluxe feel.

[jmatzen0106]

We have enjoyed the following ritual since 1993.

First 7 nights ( from Sunday to Saturday ) we stay in the studio, and knock ourselves out at the parks, sightseeing, etc.

The next 5 nights we thorougly enjoy the 1BR, OKW, and a more leisurely pace.

[jennybobenny]

Our first trip as DVC members was in a BWV studio. We were amazed with the room and the resort and couldn't wait to bring the rest of our family. Last Fall I booked another studio for my husband's and my 10th anniversary trip this coming June. A few months later, my family, including my parents, went to WDW and stayed in a 2 bedroom. I loved it! I can't tell you how convenient it was to have a washer and dryer right in the room. It rained a few times during our trip but we had the luxury of throwing a few items (sneakers, for example) into the dryer and being able to wear them an hour later. The king size bed was a wonderful to us (we have a queen at home) and the walk-in shower was icing on the cake. We didn't cook at all during our stay, but we stocked the fridge with bottled water, soda and snacks for the kids. We also used the toaster and microwave more than a few times and took advantage of the coffee machine every morning.

Needless to say I got home and called Member Services to change our studio to a 1 bedroom. I went back and forth on it a few times but the 1-bedroom won out. It took a few calls but eventually I got lucky and there was an opening. I'd be excited regardless of which type of room we're staying in, but knowing we're in a 1-bedroom just makes the whole trip that much more special.

Good luck deciding. :)

http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/castle_moonlight.jpg
<font face="Class Garmnd BT"><font color="ff69b4"><big>Jennybºoº benny</big></font>
<font color="9400d3">~~DVC Member~~
Onsite: Poly '76, Contemp '98, BWV '99, CBR '00, BWV '00, CBR '01
Offsite: '74 '80 '82 '88
Next trip: BWV~June '01, ASM/BWV~Nov '01</font>
<a href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/jsmith12/jillian&kylecharacterpage.html">Jillian & Kyle's Disney Character Website</a></font>

[mickey7861]

I like having an actual living room to sit and watch tv that is seperate from the beds. I have friends in Orlando and when we meet to do something I like to have room for them to snack and chat without having to sit on beds. Once you stay in a one bedroom those studios really look tiny.

[DVC Chris]

I have stayed at the BWV 1 BR as a cash guest a few years ago. If you like to enjoy your room (and it sounds like you do), the 1 BR is the way to go. It offers LOTS of room for 2 people. The bathroom is wonderful and that jucuzzi really makes a difference. Even if you don't plan to cook, I think having a kitchen is still nice... You can save a few $$$'s and stock the refrig with soda, snacks, etc....

It is also nice having a couch and big TV to watch in the Living Room in the morning or evening before/after a great day at the parks, etc...

WL, 9/00
Treehouse Villa, 9/98
BWV, 12/95
Treehouse Villa, 7/94
Polynesian 93
Yacht Club 92
Royal Plaza 92
GF/ CBR 91
Hilton/ CBR 90
GF 89
Off Site: 88

[princess angel]

thanks everyone! is it any harder to get a onebedroom than a studio at 7 months out for thanksgiving! yikes! what do you think my chances are of getting at BWV???

thanks! Laura :)

4/97 - offsite (Hyatt)
6/98 - GF (honeymoon)
12/99 - Grand Floridian
9/00 - Grand Floridian
1/01 - Grand Floridian
4/01 - AKL, BWV & Poly
7/01 - Yacht Club
9/01 - BWV or OKW
1/02 - running Disney's 26 mile marathon!!

[PamOKW]

Heed MdmMim's warning. Once you have gone into the one-bedroom it is very difficult to go back! :D :D

[This message was edited by PamOKW on 03-28-01 at 05:40 PM.]

[Margie J]

I often book one-bedrooms even on solo trips. Decadent, I know but it's my vacation.

I find it much easier to relax in a one-bedroom. Maybe it's the size of the place. The whirlpool helps too. The master bedroom is comfortable, even if you just want to lounge around. It's so convenient to have my own W/D too. I do love to cook and use the kitchen often.

Once you stay in a beautiful one-bedroom unit, the Studios will feel cramped (especially at OKW).

Spend a few extra points. It's well worth it!

[Lisa F]

but we've stayed in studios, 1br's and 2br's and we have never had a problem going back to a studio once we've been in the larger unit. The DVC rooms are just so beautiful that it doesn't much matter to me which I am in.

Actually, if it just my husband and myself, I feel kind of like I am swimming in a 1br (that might be because 2 years ago we moved from a 4br house to a 1090 sq ft apartment and the apt is now our point of reference). The studio actually feels like an ideal size for just the two of us.

It is really nice to use the 1br sometimes though (twice that we've used it was because we had points to burn) but on the next trip when we've stayed in a studio, we never feel like it's too small.

The original question was "is a one bedroom worth it" though and I think they are worth every point you spend on them! It's just usually we'd rather have more time at WDW for the same points if possible.

Lisa

"You employ stone, wood, and concrete, and with these materials you build house and palaces. That is construction. Ingenuity is at work. But suddenly, you touch my heart, you do me good. I am happy and I say 'This is beautiful.' That is architecture. Art enters in."
-Le Corbusier

[shelbyjosh]

A whole, whole bunch. Unless it is a last resort, we will not get a studio. Only a 1 br.!!

Michelle
DVC 2000
WDW...Been There, Done That, Going Back!

[dan and scott]

Both are fantasmic!!!
The studio is great if you have a short stay 5-7 days --a lot better than a average disney hotel room.--you still can save $$$ by getting snacks and breakfast items for your stay!!!!

The 1 bedroom is like having a castle!!!--the full kitchen and I just love not having to bring so much luggage with us being able to wash right in the room!!! ---although you still can use the free washer/dryers for the DVC members(for the studios) on the 1st floor of BW.--just more convienient in the 1 bedroom. I also absolutely love the beautiful shower stall--ok so I love the way they decorated it with the pretty tiles.

Either choice you make has to be better than a regular disney hotel room!!

Scott

http://disneyclipart.simplenet.com/Parks/DisneyWorld/Other/vacclub01a.gif

[drusba]

As to getting a 1BR with the 7 month window, apparently everything at BWV has been somewhat difficult to get lately with the 7 month window. Nevertheless, as far as bookings go, studios are the first to book up, followed by 1BR's and then 2BR's. We consider the 1BR to be far superior to a studio because we like space and because we bought into BWV so we could be assured of never having to again stay in a regular sized hotel room.

[RAD]

We've always stayed in a 1BR or 2BR unit. We purchased into DVC so we could get the extra space of the non studio rooms, which from our point of view are basically a regular room with a small fridge and microwave, we could get that at a motel outside the park.

As earlier posters said having a seperate living area, so you're not sitting in a bed, is a real plus. Having the washer/dryer is also nice, clean clothes always seem to fit easier in the suit case for the return trip then dirty. If you can swing the points, go for the 1BR, but be warned, you may never go back.

[KNWVIKING]

If I wanted to spend my vacation in a nice room with all the bells and whistles,I could stay home. We want to maximize our points for time at OKW. The whirl pool tub looks cool but I don't know if I'd really spend much time in it.We enjoy the hot tubs at the pool locations,like talking with other guest,comparing notes,etc,etc. The fridge & microwave is fine for what we eat in the room-we're on vacation,we don't want to be cooking meals. I would like to have an option of a kingsize bed with a sofa rather then two queens but it's still not worth twice the points.

[Caskbill]

I use the Caskbill scale.....

On my scale a studio at OKW ranks 3.5, a 1/BR ranks 10.0, a 2-BR ranks 15.0, and a GV ranks 25. Of course this is my scale based on solely how I've enjoyed these types of units during various stays. Others' scales may vary.

Today (March = Magic Season), a studio (S-Th) is 11 points/night so 11/3.5 = cost of 3.14 points per satisfaction point. Or the inverse, a Caskbill value rating of 31.8

Today a 1/BR is 22 points/night so 22/10 = cost of 2.2 points per satisfaction point. Or the inverse, a Caskbill value rating of 45.5

Of course this is just for fun, but it would actually give you a feel for the <u>value</u> you get for your points spent. For example a 1/BR at OKW Adventure season rates 62.5 while the same unit Premiere season rates 30.0. Of course, it's difficult to factor in the other intrinsic pluses that offsets the higher costs of points: EG WDW at Christmas time! Wow!

Caskbill :D

[Peggy Sue]

Our first DVC trip was with family in a 2 bedroom at OKW. We loved it so much, we have only stayed in the 1 or 2 bedroom units. The villas are so large and comfy. We too enjoy spending time at the resort and enjoy our villa. It is great to have a dining room table to sit at for breakfast, or just to write out a post card. The living room is a great place to sit and read, converse, watch TV .. what ever..they great part is you don't have to sit on a bed! The bathroom is HUGE! We love the tub and shower! The washer/dryer are great too...we have learned to pack a lot less, because we can just toss it in the laundry every night.

We believe they are worth the points! We've added on twice since our initial 1997 purchase so we could continue to stay in the 1 bedroom (or larger) units and afford the weekend points too!

Have a wonderful day!

[genealle]

As much as I really like the 1BR, I hate spending the extra points, but the 1BR is realy luxurious. Plus you don't have to pack as much clothing since you have the washer/dryer. Like an earlier poster mentioned, the whirlpool is great to relax in after a day long hike. The 1BR is a nice added touch to an already fantastic vacation. My son likes the added benefit of the VCR to watch TOT and other Disney films to keep the spirit alive.

[Niagara2]

We have been members of DVC since 1996 and we were visiting another area and when we walked into a very nice hotel room my 6 year old looked aghast and asked me where in the world the kitchen was and the couch and tables amd porch. He walked into bathroom and saw a tub...this 4 star hotel was a joke to this little six year old who has stayed in a one or two bedroom and grand villas for th4e last 4 years since the age of two!!! I love the bigger units and have no desire for a studio. They are home away from homes. We put our personal belongings in the same spot each trip. We have cruised on alot less space but we truly LOVE the space and feel of the bigger u nits.

[dianeschlicht]

We stayed in a studio when we were investigating OKW as a purchase. We loved it that trip. The first trip as members, we stayed in a 1 BR, and have never returned to a studio since!!! We think the king bed, whirlpool, big shower, and laundry are well worth the extra points, not to mention the large balcony and kitchen. I can't even imagine staying in a studio again unless it was to get a last minute extra trip in on a few points.

Disneydiane http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/vltdisney/mickey36.gif http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/images/official_logos/keywest.gif

[Lisa F]

It seems like a lot of people bought into DVC initially because of the 1br unit.

We, on the other hand, initially bought into DVC based on the studio and maximizing our points. We quickly realized that, with my current schedule (doing a Master's degree and working 16-20 hours a day, 7 days a week sometimes) that we needed frequent vacations and were planning trips to WDW 3-4 times a year. We knew we needed more points to do this (after renting once) and around that time we really sat down and tried to figure out how many points we'd need for the future as well.

We expect to be dropping our WDW trips down to only a week or maybe two out of the year once I get a job that has normal hours, but not quite so much vacation all together. When we have our first child, THEN we will be going up to a 1br. As soon as child #1 is old enough to need a bed, we will be moving to a 2br and, hopefully not looking back. So, we decided pretty much on enough points to get us one week out of the year in a 2 bedroom unit, accomodating school schedules.

I know this doesn't really help much on the original question, but I just love hearing the rationale behind why people really bought into DVC and how they see themselves using their points. If DVC hadn't been so flexible we would probably not have bought into it because our needs are going to be changing so drastically over the next several years.

To answer the original question explicitly, though, I did really love the 1br as well but I guess given the choice between twice the size and twice the nights, I will have to choose twice the nights right now. :)


Lisa

"You employ stone, wood, and concrete, and with these materials you build house and palaces. That is construction. Ingenuity is at work. But suddenly, you touch my heart, you do me good. I am happy and I say 'This is beautiful.' That is architecture. Art enters in."
-Le Corbusier

[mikesmom]

I had to laugh about your child's remarks. I have been coming to WDW every 2 to 3 years since my son was 7 years old. Those first trips I was a single mom with a VERY tight budget and we usually stayed offsite in the cheapest digs I could find. As life improved and budget's got larger, rooms got a little better.

We stayed at 1 BDR at BWV this last summer for a supposed "once in a lifetime" (I'm long since remarried). We arrived and DS (now 17 and very teenager blase')walked in the room and said "Wow" turned around and looked at me and said "Uh oh, Mom, I think I'm going to get spoiled here."

He's sure he's ruined for the rest of his life, as are we all.Of course, we all got spoiled and bought into DVC.

[DizMare]

I asked my family (dh, ds 9 and dd 10) if they would prefer more time at Disney in a studio, or less time in a 1 bedroom, and the immediate unanimous shout was "1 bedroom!"

Surprised me, I can tell you, especially since the kids felt this way.

The one bedroom just makes such a pleasant atmosphere! Very relaxing not to be right on top of each other. And that patio at OKW...sigh. Wish I was there. :)

[sueg]

Every 5 yrs., for our anniversary, DH & I have an adults-only stay in WDW. Our home resort is OKW, but we wanted to do something different for these trips. 5 yrs. ago, we stayed at GF for $. Nice, but alittle disappointing. Maybe, OKW has us spoiled. This trip (in Oct.!) we were going to use pts and we were debating studio vs. 1 BD. for all of the reasons given in the previous posts. We are also debating OKW vs. BWV vs. WLV. We took an 11 mo. window ressie at OKW, but now we're looking at a 7mo. window ressie at either BWV (if we can get it) or at WLV. I've noticed that the preferred view at BWV is the same as WLV. But the difference in pts for studio vs. 1 BD gets alot more pronounced once we leave OKW. As h/w debates go, this is clearly the most pleasant debate there is, because no matter what we choose, we'll still be at WDW

[SharonS]

I have stayed in both a studio and a 1 bedroom at BWV. When we stayed in the 1 bedroom there were 3 of us and the extra room was great. The 1 bedroom was nice and we really enjoyed it.

Having said that, however, when it is just my Mom and I going, I wouldn't spend the extra points for the 1 bedroom. We really don't spend much time in the room, so it isn't really worth it.

In October, I am taking my cousin and her husband with us. Instead of getting a 1 bedroom, I opted for 2 studios for some added privacy.

[Peter Johnson]

It's just the two of us, DW and myself. The first few trips to OKW in '92 we stayed in a studio. In Dec '93 we stayed in a 1-br, and have never stayed in a studio again.

We hate the feeling of being cooped up in a motel room, so the 1-br lets us spread out and relax. The 1-br is also much brigher inside, due to all the windows. I'm also an early riser, so I can get up and go into the living room and not bother DW while she sleeps in.

Peter and Syl
DVC (OKW) '92, VB '95
Going to OKW May 19-30 and Dec 8-19 :)

[robinb]

My husband insists on staying in a 1BR or 2BR only. It's costly, but what the heck!

Personally, I would be just as happy in a Studio. The only thing I would miss is the private washer and dryer. Even then, going to the pool to do laundrty isn't all that bad.


-- Robin

[mattsdad]

one thing to say about a 1BR..Try it you'll like it!

[going2wdw]

We split our first DVC stay between a OKW studio & 1 bedroom. My DH wasn't thrilled with the studio and loved the 1 bedroom. His comment was "now this is a vacation home". When I got home I changed our next reservation to a 1 bedroom. He wasn't too sure about our DVC purchase but now he isn't complaining when I talk about more points. :D

Janette
WDW http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/family/daisy.gif
Offsite ? - 1976, Vistana - 1988
Vistana/Contemp - June 2000, OKW - Feb 2001
BWV - DIS Convention Nov 2001
Disneyland - 1998

[wdwoldtimer]

It's definitely worth it, for all the reasons cited above. I'll add that as far as the rooms themselves are concerned, I think the OKW 1-Bedrooms are nicer, bigger and more worth the points, depending on where your home resort is of course.

[Pa@okw95]

We only spend a couple of hours a day at the parks and maybe two more eating out. That is why I always rent a one or two bedroom. I spend a lot of time at the pool and in the room just resting. If you are the type that spends a lot of time out of the room then I would not rent one, but I can't go without it.