1 Bedroom vs Studio. Is it worth it?

[scott.campbell]

First of all we have one son who is 4 years old. So the travelling party is three.

We own points at the BW and at VB, we have always stayed in either studios or the inn rooms. I've read in numerous threads about how great the 1bedroom units are and how people would not go back to the studios.

Having never stayed in a 1 bedroom unit, I was looking for your opinions as to whether it is worth the point difference, when a studio is sufficient?

 

[DVCJman]

I would say that for the trip you are taking that a one-bedroom would be my choice. You get a kitchen, washer-dryer, a whirlpool/hottub, and you get a private area for you and your wife with the master bedroom.

 

[KNWVIKING]

We have always stayed in studios. To us,the room is for sleeping & showering, not for spending a vacation in. We like to STREEETCH our points as far as they will go. But we are empty nesters so there is no privacy issues. The washer/dryer would be nice, but I'll trade the points for the one trip we make to the laundry room. Other then morning toast or bagels we don't cook so the full kitchen would go to waste. Maybe someday we'll stay in a 1 bdrm and get hooked on them, but for th time being,studios are great. Especially the HUGE ones at OKW.

 

[darner]

I'd suggest the 1-bedroom over the studio...

Just the extra room may soothe a few nerves after some days at the park... with 2 TVs the little one can watch a Disney movie while the grownups rest peacefully or watch something else on their own TV...

The larger tub and larger bathroom facilities are also nice ammendities and the in-room washer / dryer comes in handy.

I'd say the 1-bedroom is truely a Home-away-from-Home! and a worthy choice...

it's our choice (we try for trips 12-15 months apart, so we have the points to use on the larger unit).

(...unless you are conservative on the points and have plans for multiple trips in a year...)

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Unless it's just the 2 of us and we're doing the Dinsey Dining Plan, we will never get a studio. Actually though, we won't get a 1BR either (except in a pinch) - always a 2BR unit from here on out, so that doesn't help you much.

It really comes down to whether or not you value the extra space and the kitchen along with the washer/dryer in the room. If you are cool with having a washer/dryer available at poolside, and don't care about the space and kitchen, then a studio may well be the way to go - i t certainly is the cheapest option point-wise, and can really stretch your vacation value.

Anymore, for us the room is not just for sleeping/showering; ever since the golden handcuffs came off we find we aren't spending as much time at the parks, and are spending more family time together; whether that being renting a boat at OKW, or just playing board games in the room, or any of another number of options. Sure, the parks are still an aspect of the trip, but not the be-all and end-all of the vacation experience.

I would say that if this is your first trip to WDW, than a studio would probably work great for you, unless you really want to feel spoiled with the space, etc. Besides, after you experience a 1BR or larger, it's tough to go back to a studio.

 

[EROS]

We're BWV members and have one child, a 4 year old. We have always chosen to stay in a studio, primarily to conserve points. We do little cooking during our visits and really use the room only to "crash". I can forsee the day when we'll move up to the 1-bedroom for privacy reasons and/or bringing one of our son's friends along for the trip.

 

[scott.campbell]

I'll be there in July so I'll make a point of requesting to see a 1 bedroom unit. This is not our first visit and we tend to chill at the pool for a few days. The idea certainlly appeals of a separate bedroom for when DS is a bit older.

My main reason for the point value comparision was that I travel from Scotland, so we visit for 2 weeks at a time. I work shifts which have set holiday periods, which are always between the end of June and the end of August. So it's expensive for flights as well as the points rating.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I vote for the 1 bedroom too, but my experience is at OKW and not BWV. I can see if you have to travel in the summer and come as far as you do that conserving points is important if you don't have enough points for a 1 bedroom. I also think it would be a MOST enjoyable trip if you are staying for that length of time to have more space and the washer/dryer in the room.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: i can understand why you'd stick with a studio while you have a little one. as posted earlier, the ability to get a bit of privacy or be able to watch tv is very appealing as well. you may want to check out a 1 br model on your next vacation; or you can splurge and stay in a 1br villa for a few days at the end of your trip.

 

[eva]

Even when it is just the two of us we opt for the 1-bedroom. I guess we are spoiled. I love the jacuzzi tub, the washer/dryer, and all the space. We really need the 1-bedroom though because I am a very early riser. It would drive me crazy if I couldn't watch tv or read in the mornings. That's why we always reserve a room big enough that no one has to sleep on the sofa bed.

 

[TheWho]

I'm staying in a standard view 1 bedroom July 7 thru July 14. Write me an e-mail and I'd be happy to meet you and your family and show you guys the standard view 1 bedroom. I also try to use my points as efficiently as possible since I only have 180 pts per year. In July, the 1 bedroom preferred vs. studio is 270 pts. compared to 222 pts for the week, quite a savings. ( I have two kids, 6 & 2). To save points last year, I stayed in the standard 1 bedroom for only 6 nights (missed a Sat. nite at begining of trip) and booked a room at the AKL. (which turns out to be a good excuse to try another resort, AKL was awesome!!) I'm arriving earlier again this year and going to try another deluxe. (I hear the Poly has a great pool)

The best part of the 1 bedroom is the washer/dryer.
good luck

 

[imgoingtodisney]

We bought 170 points at VWL. DS (currently 9.5yrs), DH and I usually stay in 1 hotel room when we vacation. This past Oct MIL was with us and we stayed in 1 room, main courtyard view, at the WL. However DH & I think in the future DS will not want to stay in the same room with us. This will give us some more flexibility.

 

[brittsmum1998]

We have a dd who is 3 also. Last May we stayed at the VWL in a studio (just the 3 of us) and found by Tuesday we were going crazy. She wasn't sleeping well. She (we ) all could've used some "down" time. She was a "cranky" 3 yr old due to lack of naps/sleeping. We finally said the heck w/ it and moved from a studio to a one bdrm in the middle of vacation. The pt differential killed us but worse was the "cranky" vacation we were having. Rest of the trip was great once she got some good sleep. She is the type that likes to "relax" every so often and when she can't, she becomes ROSEMARY'S baby and not ours We came home and promptly did an add on at BWV's . It became expensively clear that we needed more pts and would not be spending any time in a studio until DD is married.

 

[jbthi]

We've never stayed in a 1 BR. When it's just my husband and I we stay in a studio. We've taken the kids and grandkids a few times and then we stay in a 2 BR. I really miss the washer/dryer but that's all. We aren't big eaters so we can eat breakfast in the studio and we usually have deli meats. I look forward to eating out once a day.

We've stayed at VB, BWV and OKW in a studio. In two weeks we will be a VWL. For a studio, hands down winner is BWV in a dedicated studio. For a 2 BR, OKW was enormous.

 

[DaveH]

We are empty nesters and we stayed home for the first time the last week of Nov. Due to a last minute cancelation by my step daughter we went from 2 studios to a 1br not to loose points. We stayed 1 night in a studio at OWK and was nice. We did 4 nights in a 1BR at VWL and the room was nice. What the 1 br will give you is a seperate room if needed for a nap, and the adults can be in the other room with teir down time. The 1BR at OKW we did the last night was huge compared to the VWL and less points. In the OKW I could see where your DD could play on the floor and not take up the whole room. I think it depends on how much time and how hard is it for everyone to get enough down time needed. You know howw well your DD travels and how you travel with her. In the 1BR there are more opitions on cooking and such. A studio has a mini frig in it the 1 BR a full. We only have 150 points a year and we want to stretch the points also. As an adult I found the OKW more relaxing for down time. The VWL is more of a hotel feel be it a very nice hotel. That is a very personal choose. I hope this long post helps. Have a great trip and let us know how it went.

 

[Peggy Sue]

Our first DVC experience was in a 2 bedroom at OKW...we've never been able to convince ourselves to stay in a studio since then!! If it's just the 2 of us, we reserve a 1 bedroom, for 4 we reserve a 2 bedroom. We added on points twice so we could reserve the 1 and 2 bedroom units and be able to reserve weekend nights too! We love checking in at the beginning of our trip and not worrying about moving out to avoid weekend points etc.

The one bedroom units are awesome. We lnever feel as if we are living in a hotel room. They are so comfortable! We are no longer park commandos, so we do spend more time in our room. Getting up in the morning and eating breakfast in a room complete with a dining room table is great! We don't cook much either, but it's great having the kitchen for the few things that we do use it for.

On our recent December trip, we brought along a few of our favorite Christmas movie video's and spent two of our 12 nights there in our room..we made a quick dinner and watched a movie. We pack A LOT LESS because of the washer and dryer. It's so convenient to toss the clothes in the washer every day. They're located right next to the bath room, so it's no problem at all to do laundry now and then!

We just like the space....If one of us wants to retire early or get up early the other has the entire living/dining area to do as they please without disturbing the other.

That's the beauty of DVC...Wonderful choices that make us all happy!!

 

[vacationman]

Here is my two cents worth: If staying at WDW and planning to be out in the parks most of the time - go with the studio. Using twice as many points when the size of your party does not call for larger accomodations seems like a waste. However with a young child, there are some factors which you have to consider which may make the one bedroom a better deal: (1) Young kids can't go all day at the parks (unless you want to be one of those parents who makes life hell for everyone by insisting that you get "your money's worth"; (2) It is nice when your child takes a nap in the room that you have a separate room to do other activities; (3) If you have a long stay and do not want to haul too much luggage with you, the Washer/dryer may come in handy (personally, except for drying out bathing suits, I have never needed the W/D); If you are at VB of HH for any amount of time over 3-4 days, you probably will spend much more time in your room (between pool/beach vists, etc.) and will enjoy the space.

 

[robinb]

Scot:

I love both the 1 BR and the Studios. My husband insists on staying in a 1 BR, but I convinced him to save some points on our next trip by staying in a Studio at VWL. Since he was perfectly happy when we stayed at ASSp in November, I think he'll be fine with the Studio.

You say that you want to conserve points because you're on Holiday for 2 weeks. Would you mind moving during your stay? The way that we conserve points is to not stay at DVC resorts on the expnsive Friday and Saturday nights. We'll either stay onsite at one of the All Star resorts or we'll use Priceline to stay off-site for cheap (under $30 US for a nice hotel). A Standard View Studio costs 111 points for a week, but only 55 points for Su-F. A SV 1 BR costs 222 points, but only 120 points for Su-F. If you're willing to stay in a regular hotel for Fridays and Saturdays then you can really cut your points costs a lot.

Robin's BWV 1BR Photos

 

[scott.campbell]

Thank you all for the comments, I will definently view a 1 bdrm in July.

The point saving posted regarding staying offsite at weekends was interesting, although I'd need to think hard as to whether the upheaval would be worth it.

I hope to see some of you on one of my visits home.

 

[ncligs]

I would recomend the 1BR. The "home away from home" feel is worth the "extra points", if you can manage it. We are not "Park Commando's" anymore either. We love to relax with friends and family, go out to dinner,love the master BR privacy,etc. Either way you can't go wrong.