1 Bdr or studio? no kids

[sissy_42]

I recently purchased 180 points at AKV and I have not stayed at any DVC property yet. I have a savanna view studio at Kidani booked for this Oct. With this trip I/we will be deciding if the savanna view is important/good enough to get again. My guess is no since there are so many other places in the resort to see the animals from, but for our first trip to WDW together I wanted something special, and the trip is DBF's birthday present Well I am looking ahead to 2011 and would like to stay in a 1 Bdr but not sure it is worth all the extra points. A six night stay in a 1 Brd savanna is 177 points! My whole years worth! The budgeter in me is screaming inside (I could do two weeks in a standard view for that ) , the overworked part of me would love to soak in the jacuzzi tub with a glass of wine after a long day in the parks. After all that is what a vacation is about and the reason I bought in the first place! Also we will not be eating in the room aside from maybe an easy break fast and snacks and going to a laundry room is not that big of a deal, I usually over pack anyhow!
So what do you do? Just wondering what other DVCers without kids or who have taken trips with out their children do. I'm now thinking about maybe four days in a studio, three in a 1Brd for the 2011 trip to "test" out a 1 bdr. I'm afraid if I do a 1 Bdr I wont want to go back to a studio even tho it is just the two of us!

Edit to add: We can always, and I want to, stay at other resorts. I just think we will love AKV and as it is my home resort and I have the 11 month booking window, I will be booking AKV first and hoping for another resort at seven months if and when we want to stay at another resort.

 

[jekjones1558]

We stayed in studios when we first purchased (no kids at home) so we could save points. Then we tried a 1 bedroom and decided to add on. We don't cook, so the kitchen is not the issue. We like having a separate living room and bedroom and we like the better bathroom set-up. We also prefer having the laundry in our room. I think that your plan for a split stay is a great way to test the waters. Good luck!

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

We have yet to at a DVC resort but we for now are planning a kid free trip and will be using a 1br villa for our home resort. We always wanted a hot tub in our resort. With a 1br it's in the bathroom now. We also will get good use of the fridge. And with having the "laundry mat" in the room, it makes it for less clothes to take while on vacation and driving/flying home with "CLEAN" clothes.

DH and I are planners (well he is) and we've enjoyed 7+ day long vacations in the past. Now with DVC this might change. We have taken trips with and WITHOUT the kids and look forward to now inviting other family members.

As for the extra cost for a savannah view room we will find out this Dec when we go to AKV. You just need to decied what is more important. You will be on vacation to RELAX after having to deal with the kids and work

You could also split your stay with a studio and a 1br.

 

[BigEeyore]

We have kids, and I can tell you that if we ever take a kid-free trip we will stay in a studio! The studios are bigger than regular hotel rooms, the mini-kitchen suffices just fine to have easy breakfast in the morning. Save your points and stay studios if it is just two adults. BUT - the savannah view is totally worth the extra points IMHO. Being able to sit on your balcony, sipping coffee or a glass of wine, watching those animals is something really special.
Welcome to DVC!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We usually travel with just the two of us, and we don't like to use studios. We didn't buy DVC to stay in a glorified hotel room. We LOVE the 1 bedroom villas. We do sometimes stay in a studio for one night at the beginning or end of a trip, but I don't like giving up the Jacuzzi, full kitchen, and laundry in the room. It's also just nice to have seperate spaces for sleeping and relaxing.

FYI, be sure to request a savannah view close to the lobby if you are at Kidani. There are several areas on the ends of Kidani that have very few animals that actually get to them for viewing.

 

[Brian Noble]

For just the two of us, we *could* get by in a studio if we needed to. But, really, a studio is a glorified hotel room, with a sofa rather than a second bed. It's not so bad, really, but it's not super-comfortable.

We don't "cook" on vacation either, but we do have breakfast in, and often have snacks etc. in as well. Having a "real" table, real dishes, and the extra facilties for minimal prep is very useful.

Having the in-unit washer/dryer is also extremely convenient. It allows you to pack lightly, and to not worry about whether you have the mix of clothes just right. You can throw a load in on your way out the door in the morning and just leave it be until you get back.

Finally, having separate spaces makes it possible for the night owl (or morning person) to do their thing without waking the sleeping partner.

It is certainly a bit of an extravagance. You don't really *need* any of these things. So, you have to decide what you'd rather do. But, our one no-kids trip was in a 1BR at OKW, and it was just remarkably relaxing and pleasant.

 

[vicki_c]

I wouldn't mind a studio for 2 at all. It's nice that you have extra floor space because of the sofa bed vs. another bed - makes it seem more like a little apartment.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

My DH and I splurged on our 1st DVC stay: 10 nights in a BW view 1 bedroom during F&W. And we have stayed very happily in a studio ever since! We like the studio better than any other hotel room at WDW due to the kitchenette, so for us it is an upgrade. -- Suzanne

 

[UGAFan0829]

My DH and I did the same thing as the PP--decided to splurge on our first DVC stay and went with a 1BR at the BoardWalk. The room was really nice, and there was a ton of room. I too was excited about the jacuzzi tub, but never even used it. When we went back just last month, we decided to go with a Studio at SSR in order to save points. And I have to admit, we really didn't miss the 1BR at all. The studio was perfect for us, and unless we have someone else traveling with us, we will probably continue to stay in a Studio from now on!

 

[Vickis3js]

We went first in a 1bd savannah view with out 3 kids and we loved the view and the room. Well DH and I went back just the 2 of us and did a studio standard and we loved it as well. For us since we have to do a 1bd or larger with the kids we save our points and do a studio if its just going to be DH and I. I think even if there was only DH and I would rather do a studio and go twice a year.

Now I can say I did miss the jacuzzi the washer and dryer you can keep I do way too much laudry at hime no need to do more on vacation LOL.

 

[PatsMom]

When it is just me and my husband, we find that a studio is plenty. We never eat anything but snacks or a quick cereal/bagel type breakfast in the room so the kitchen in a one bedroom is entirely wasted. And the jacuzzi tub rarely used. I prefer the outside hot tubs.

When my daughter is with us, we find the studio a little crowded, especially if we don't bother to fold up the sofa bed in the daytime. With just my and DH, we never open the sofa bed!

 

[Ms. WDW]

Sorry; I stayed in a studio maybe two times and to be quite truthful, it was almost like a regular hotel room for me. Having the mini kitchen was definately a plus, but I felt cramped. So from that point on it's always been 1 BR's for us. I love having the freedom to go into the bedroom and take a nap and not have to displace anyone else maybe wanting to watch tv. Plus having the laundry right there is great. When I go solo I even stay in a 1BR. Really makes me feel "at home".

 

[tjkraz]

When my wife and I took our first trip I splurged on a 1B even though it was just the two of us. It was fun and we did make use of the accommodations (kitchen, jacuzzi tub, washer/dryer), but afterward I also wished I had the extra points back for another use.

Having done it I'd never splurge like that again for the two of us. A studio has more than enough room. Our adults-only trips are short (just 2-3 nights) so there really isn't a great need for those extra amenities. I probably wouldn't splurge on the view either. When I book Savanna view it's for the kids--neither of us adults get a thrill from the animals.

For a first trip it might be worth the splurge. But seriously consider whether those points can be better used in the future. You are undeniably giving something up when you spend more on the 1B.

 

[DenLo]

You have your ask yourself, are you a view person? If deep down you could care less what is out the window then why bother to get a SV villa? Before our first BLT stay early in March we would say things like, even if we have a great view the points are so high at BLT we'll probably just do standard view after this trip. Now that we've stayed there, we realized we are definitely view people. We often looked out of the window even if it was just to watch the monorail or the ferry boat going by. It was the same way for us when we stayed on a cash reservation in a regular hotel room at AKL last year. We like our views. We now know it is just as important for us to have a view as it is to have a nice villa.

Now unlike others on these boards extra large rooms don't seem as important to me. So if I wanted to save points at AKV, I'd consider a value 1BR at Jambo House and request a savanna view. The rooms are a few feet smaller and you don't get the second bathroom. Since your children are on the young side sharing a bathroom might be okay.

 

[sissy_42]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies! I'm glad I'm not alone in wanting to save points and get my monies worth! That is definitely an advantage since don't have children, being able to travel in the slow seasons. I know we can get about two weeks if I plan it just right, so I would feel like I was wasting so much if I only get six or seven nights a year. I don't like taking short trips, so I 'm gonna shoot for a split studio/1 Bdr stay next year. Gonna decide if the savanna view is worth it this trip. I just don't want a view of the parking lot, but I believe there are only a few villas with that kind of view? And the value room is a great idea I hadn't considered. I'm sure my first few trips will be about getting to know the resort and deciding what is best for us. Thanks again all!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies! I'm glad I'm not alone in wanting to save points and get my monies worth! That is definitely an advantage since don't have children, being able to travel in the slow seasons. I know we can get about two weeks if I plan it just right, so I would feel like I was wasting so much if I only get six or seven nights a year. I don't like taking short trips, so I 'm gonna shoot for a split studio/1 Bdr stay next year. Gonna decide if the savanna view is worth it this trip. I just don't want a view of the parking lot, but I believe there are only a few villas with that kind of view? And the value room is a great idea I hadn't considered. I'm sure my first few trips will be about getting to know the resort and deciding what is best for us. Thanks again all!

Sounds like you have a very minimal number of points, so in that case it's probably a good choice for you, but I would say you owe it to yourselves to take at least one trip in the "real" DVC accommodations. Maybe a special trip like an anniversary etc.

 

[dzorn]

Don't forget standard view 1 bedroom at jambo have a pool view if you really want to avoid parking lot view. We have not done savanah view yet would rather have a longer stay that a nicer view.

Denise in MI

 

[sissy_42]

Sounds like you have a very minimal number of points, so in that case it's probably a good choice for you, but I would say you owe it to yourselves to take at least one trip in the "real" DVC accommodations. Maybe a special trip like an anniversary etc.

I have 180 points, which I think is more than enough for a single person. I may add on eventually, but with no kids I don't have the need for more.

Don't forget standard view 1 bedroom at jambo have a pool view if you really want to avoid parking lot view. We have not done savanah view yet would rather have a longer stay that a nicer view.

Denise in MI

Thanks for the view info. I really don't want to look at a parking lot!

 

[Chellymouse]

WE don't have kids and our general rule is less than 6 nights, a studio is fine, a week or more, 1BR. The space is wonderful and the "extras" (king bed, jacuzzi) are much needed IMHO. Part of the reason we bought DVC was to have more room to relax and spread out. I don't care how neat anyone is, a week or more in a small space equals mess!

 

[Figment2]

I have 180 points, which I think is more than enough for a single person. I may add on eventually, but with no kids I don't have the need for more.

I'm single and have 380 points and if I could (afford it) would add on more in a heartbeat

Cyn