Family of 5 - Which Resort to choose for a Studio?

[owen&rydersmom]

We will be renting DVC points for Mid Jan 2016. I know my options for a studio that sleeps 5 are Grand Floridian, Poly or Wilderness Lodge. I have 3 boys who will be 4, 10 & 13 at time of travel. Which resort would you recommend?

We stayed Club Level at AKL (non DVC) when we went last year. Not willing to spend the extra money for a 1 BR there or I would totally stay there again! We absolutely loved watching the animals from our balcony! It must have let us sleep 5 because of my youngest age at the time we traveled.

I appreciate and input

 

[erionm]

The rooms at BoardWalk Villas (BWV) and Beach Club Villas (BCV) are currently being refurbished. Once completed, the studios in these two resorts will also officially sleep 5.

 

[nalajms]

I'd go with Poly, it will give you the biggest room. VWL will be the cheapest but might be a tight fit.

VGF - might be too late, depending on which dates.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

When will the studios be done at the Boardwalk? Anyone know? Might could get a cheaper rate at the Poly if Disney releases a 30% off code on their resort rooms and then stack it with a Orbitz or Travelocity code.

 

[loritemp]

I just stayed in a refurb room at BWV. Those will easily sleep 5! And I know some folks complained the new rooms have lost the BW theme but we absolutely loved it!

 

[supersnoop]

We will be renting DVC points for Mid Jan 2016. I know my options for a studio that sleeps 5 are Grand Floridian, Poly or Wilderness Lodge. I have 3 boys who will be 4, 10 & 13 at time of travel. Which resort would you recommend?

We stayed Club Level at AKL (non DVC) when we went last year. Not willing to spend the extra money for a 1 BR there or I would totally stay there again! We absolutely loved watching the animals from our balcony! It must have let us sleep 5 because of my youngest age at the time we traveled.

Double check your pricing. A studio at GFV or Poly will set you back about the same as a one bedroom at Animal Kingdom. If cost is an issue, stick with Wilderness lodge.

 

[owen&rydersmom]

I couldn't do AKL without a savannah view...so a 1 br with a savannah view is what is too much for me. Id be fine paying for a studio and any of the 3 resorts.

 

[owen&rydersmom]

So all the studios at BWV now sleep 5?? That might be a good options! I'd love to do BCV but not sure if their studio refurbs will be done by the time we travel in January.

 

[owen&rydersmom]

Have you heard about when the refurb should be completed?

 

[deedisneydream97]

Have you heard about when the refurb should be completed?

Should be done by the end of the year at BWV. Don't know if they are behind schedule or not.

 

[supersnoop]

Should be done by the end of the year at BWV. Don't know if they are behind schedule or not.

Based on the massive release of availability recently, I think they're ahead of schedule.

 

[jshoemak]

We are also a family of 5 that is thinking of renting points for our May 2016 trip! So if we want to book BWV or BCV we will not be able to book until they change the occupancy to 5 for the studios? Could we book 4 people now and add an extra person later?

 

[skuttle]

We had a one bedroom at Kidani a few years ago (rented points). It was standard view, but I requested a a view of the Pembe Savannah near the pool. Our room was right on the edge of the savannah. The balcony was so huge, we had a great view of the savannah without paying for it. Sure, if you looked to the left we saw the pool buildings and also the fencing for the savannah, but we still saw tons of animals and I thought it was a great compromise!

The trip at Kidani my mom came with us and our youngest was 11 months old so there were 6 of us. THinking about staying in a studio for our next trip while the kids are still small.

 

[Lakegirl]

I just stayed in a refurb room at BWV. Those will easily sleep 5! And I know some folks complained the new rooms have lost the BW theme but we absolutely loved it!

How big are the pull down beds? Do you think it's as big as a cot?

 

[loritemp]

My husband laid down on it and fit and he is 6' tall! Not sure he would have been super comfy sleeping on there but my son (7 years old) was just fine!. I have pictures of them on it, I will see if I can put one up for you!

 

[Lakegirl]

My husband laid down on it and fit and he is 6' tall! Not sure he would have been super comfy sleeping on there but my son (7 years old) was just fine!. I have pictures of them on it, I will see if I can put one up for you!

Thank you so much. My son is 12 but he is 5' 8" tall. My daughter is 11 and they are at the age they don't sleep in the same bed, but a 2 bedroom is sooo many points.

 

[TLPL]

Oh I wish I can book these rooms now. My home resorts are AKL and GC so I have to wait till next month to be able to make reservation for my February trip. I have there will still be some 5 people studio left by then.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With the ages of your boys, I would skip the studio and get at least a one bedroom that sleeps five. Or even a two bedroom villa. It is going to be tight. Even in the Polynesian studio since they used at least 1/3 of the space for the bathroom. The bathroom in the old Polynesian rooms was much smaller and the living area was much bigger (before they converted them to DVC). We had five of us, with the oldest kiddo 11, youngest 4, in 1997 and it wasn't too bad.

 

[CarolMN]

With the ages of your boys, I would skip the studio and get at least a one bedroom that sleeps five. ......(snip)........

I agree. A 1 bedroom at AKV (not value category), BLT or OKW will be MUCH more comfortable for a family of 5. You'll have a king in the Master, a Queen sleep sofa in the living room and a twin-sized sleep chair (that the boys' will probably fight over, LOL) in the living room. At AKV & BLT, you will also get two full bathrooms, (the Master has a jacuzzi tub) two TVS and a fully equipped kitchen. Even if you don't plan to cook, you'll have the refrigerator for snacks and drinks. Those under counter units in the studios really don't hold much.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Agreeing with the above posters. Frankly, I'd recommend OKW. Their one bedrooms are the biggest, their point "costs" are relatively very low. Probably less to stay there than a club level studio at AKV. And you'll have more fun than any studio, I'm betting.