1 Bedroom DVC for a family of 5?

[coachb]

I'm planing a DVC stay next Summer. It'll be me, DW, DS17, DD15 and DD8. I was always assuming I'd need a 2 BR. In searching these threads I saw where the 1 BR at OKW, BLT and AKL sleep 5. AKL and (I believe) BLT have 2 bathrooms. OKW 1 BR is over 1,000' feet. Is a 1 BR for my 5 realistic? I'll be staying on an RCI trade, so a 2 BR is likely (I've researched it thoroughly) but not a guarantee. Thoughts?

 

[Granny]

To have the BLT, AKV or OKW 1BR sleep 5 you would have your daughters sharing the sleeper sofa with your son on the sleeper chair. In a 2BR, you would have your daughters in the two beds in the second bedroom and the son out on the sleeper sofa (this would be at any DVC resort, not just the three mentioned).

Personally, I'd advise the 2BR. It just gives you a lot more elbow room and a "community" area once the sleeper sofa is folded up.

Also, the 1BR doesn't have the extra closet space you'd probably be wanting for your sons and daughters.

 

[delaneyc52]

I think it will be tight. I cannot speak to the resorts you are looking at....but I know in BWV although the one bedroom has two bathrooms one bath is the master with a tub and sinks....with a pass thru to the second bathroom with the shower and toilet. So while it looks like two bathrooms it's really one extended bathroom. Look at the layouts on allears.net or some other site to be sure of what you are signing up for. Also, I'm not sure all resorts have the pull out chair --- they all seem to have the pull out sofa. Others here on the boards will have more info on the resorts you mention.

 

[bbn1122]

We were in a 2bedroom BLT last April plenty of space. But to save points and since we lived it up with the 2 bed, we are staying in a 1 bedroom in 3 weeks at AKL. I have 3 boys so I figured they will be fighting over who gets
the chair, but we will be on the DReam after our stay at AKL.
If you are looking to save points, it looks like the AKL or BLT with 2 bathrooms can BLT....3 bathrooms.

Good luck with your decisions.

 

[dis-happy]

...

 

[BabsBunny]

We have two sons, 15 and 17. We did a 1 bedroom once, and because they like to sleep longer than we do, it was a pain in the butt. I wanted them to get up so that I could put away the sleeper, open the curtains and relax with our coffee, but they weren't feeling it.

The following year I gave them the option of a one bedroom savannah view or a 2 bedroom standard at AKV, and the 2 bedroom won hands down.

 

[Dean]

Also for an exchange, there's no guarantee they'll allow 5 even in the ones they allow members to have 5 in. While it's likely those resorts that can sleep 5 with the sleeper chair would be what you'd get, AKV does have rooms that don't sleep 5 and there's no way to target the rooms, only the resort. Plus you'd have to restrict yourself to those 3 resorts for 1 or 2 BR for any given exchange. I'd list 2 BR units and all resorts rather than just the resorts in a 1 BR that sleep 5. If you have a trade power at least 36, your chances are pretty good for something.

 

[whamma]

I don't know how the exchange system works but I can tell you that the one bedrooms at AKV Kidani are a decent size. There are two bathroom and the bathroom in the bedroom area is HUGE! Haven't stayed in a one bedroom at BLT yet--but I know they definitely sleep 5 and have 2 bathrooms but I think the square footage is smaller. We stayed in an OKW one bedroom last year--and they are huge. Plenty of room for the sleeper sofa and the pull out chair. Just one bathroom but the bathroom is divided--sink, shower & stool in one area (with a door) and another area with sink and whirlpool tub (but there isn't a door that closes it off from the bedroom).

 

[P-elmo]

We did OKW 1-BR with our 3 kids. They were 4,7, and 9, however. It was fine for us, but still not exactly roomy, even with smaller kids.

I think if you're going to do a 1-BR, it would be better if you can bring an inflatable mattress (or two). That's easier if you're driving, of course.

 

[photobob]

We five people I'd really recommend a 2 BDR unless kids are very young.

 

[jennypenny]

Also for an exchange, there's no guarantee they'll allow 5 even in the ones they allow members to have 5 in.

When you search on disney's website to rent through CRO, OKW etc. do come up if you list 5 in a room. We were looking into a weekend rental, and I was surprised to see that come up. We've rented before and I don't remember anything short of a 2bd coming up before. I have no idea about RCI's trading rules, but CRO lists those rooms with a 5 person limit now (not babies).

I'd get the OKW 1bd. You can get to the kitchen and balcony even when your teens are sleeping. And a full size w/d is useful with teens. The big table is also nice. BLT also has a slightly bigger 1bd and two balcony entrances. I'd get a 2bd for the other resorts. (we're a family of 5 with similar ages) I hate not being able to get to the balcony with my coffee in the morning.

 

[Dean]

When you search on disney's website to rent through CRO, OKW etc. do come up if you list 5 in a room. We were looking into a weekend rental, and I was surprised to see that come up. We've rented before and I don't remember anything short of a 2bd coming up before. I have no idea about RCI's trading rules, but CRO lists those rooms with a 5 person limit now (not babies).

I'd get the OKW 1bd. You can get to the kitchen and balcony even when your teens are sleeping. And a full size w/d is useful with teens. The big table is also nice. BLT also has a slightly bigger 1bd and two balcony entrances. I'd get a 2bd for the other resorts. (we're a family of 5 with similar ages) I hate not being able to get to the balcony with my coffee in the morning.

I know RCI lists those units as holding 4 and Disney lists them as exchanging for 4. I'm sure that RCI won't let you proceed if you tell them you have 5 for a 1 BR. The issue is whether DVC will allow you to put 5 in such a room if exchanged for 4. My guess is they will but you never know. I do know of resorts that have limited guests to the number of the unit they used to trade, even if the unit technically held more. Say they traded a sleep 2 studio for a sleep six 2 BR and they were limited to 2 only. I haven't heard of it in a while (since the TPU change) but I don't follow those things as closely as I used to. And given that the only room type at the resorts in question that would limit you to 4 would be the AKV value, I don't think there's any risk of not getting a sleep five 1 BR unit at applicable resorts. However, I feel the chances of getting a 2 BR at SSR and OKW are as good or better than a 1 BR at the resorts that sleep 5 thus I'd list all 2 BR rather than just those resorts and 1 BR units.

 

[laughinplace199]

We are a family of 5 and stayed in a 1BR at BLT. The kids were 10, 8, and 3 at the time. I thought it was fine. I definitely liked having 2 bathrooms, which OKW doesn't have in their 1 BR units.

The kids are now 12, 10, and 4. I wouldn't hesitate to stay in a 1 BR at AKV, BLT, or OKW, but we'll see if that changes as they get older.

 

[jennypenny]

I know RCI lists those units as holding 4 and Disney lists them as exchanging for 4.

Thanks for the info. I guess that's better for DVC owners. If the exchange is the same, why wouldn't you ask for a 2bd at OKW or SSR?

I was glad to see occupancy officially changed to 5 in some rooms. I wonder if it's a step toward enforcing occupancy in the 1bd units that don't have the sleeper chair (BCV, etc). Even though I've slept 5 in a 1bd many, many times (esp. at BCV) I would accept the change since they offer plenty of options now for families of 5.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the info. I guess that's better for DVC owners. If the exchange is the same, why wouldn't you ask for a 2bd at OKW or SSR?

I was glad to see occupancy officially changed to 5 in some rooms. I wonder if it's a step toward enforcing occupancy in the 1bd units that don't have the sleeper chair (BCV, etc). Even though I've slept 5 in a 1bd bedroom many, many times (esp. at BCV) I would accept the change since they offer plenty of options now for families of 5.

I think they should strictly enforce all occupancy and to me that means OKW also because I'm not sure they can officially change the 1 BR occupancy there for the units that don't have direct access to the bath.

 

[RLRDA]

I'm planing a DVC stay next Summer. It'll be me, DW, DS17, DD15 and DD8. I was always assuming I'd need a 2 BR. In searching these threads I saw where the 1 BR at OKW, BLT and AKL sleep 5. AKL and (I believe) BLT have 2 bathrooms. OKW 1 BR is over 1,000' feet. Is a 1 BR for my 5 realistic? I'll be staying on an RCI trade, so a 2 BR is likely (I've researched it thoroughly) but not a guarantee. Thoughts?

We've stayed at all of those resorts as a family of five and have never had an issue. We don't have a ton of points so I'd rather stay in a 2BR every few years or so when we take others along.

I see you have 2 DDs (we only have boys) so maybe AKV or BLT with the 2 bathrooms would work better since you have both genders. It would probably make getting ready to leave the villa much easier - just my first thought.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I would only do 5 in a 1 BR in one of the units that have 2 bathrooms. BLT and Kidani are the only ones, right?

(exception being very young kids, but even then, I think you would be WAY more comfortable with a 2nd bathroom, just my opinion)

 

[coachb]

Interesting suggestions. Sort of confirms what I was thinking. I have enough TPU's for a 2 br and will go that route initially. Was trying to figure out if a 1br would be an option if 2br availability was scarce. It shouldn't be an issue but it's nice to have options if the need arises.