1BR Villas?

[Brian Noble]

You might revisit that once Disney comes out with any of the prevailing discounts for that period, as that's a more realistic comparison.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

They are. After doing the math, if we stay in a savanna view studio for a week in December of 2027 we may “break even” depending on discount given for rack rate. We may be in the red just a little bit, but it will be close.

We are planning February 2028 and can’t see 2027 yet, but makes me feel good that one trip will have us pretty close to what we paid for our contract and 2 years of dues.

If you can get a 1-bedroom value. It's not too many more points than savanna studio. The laundry is just so nice, you can pack way less stuff.

 

[intamin]

If you can get a 1-bedroom value. It's not too many more points than savanna studio. The laundry is just so nice, you can pack way less stuff.

This is my game plan for my AKV points. I don't mind the room being a little smaller, I'd rather save the points and keep the laundry and kitchen.

 

[Genie+]

We purchased DVC totally with studios in mind. We rented studios many times in the 5 years prior, and booked them the first several years we owned DVC. The value is/was really strong there. By comparison 1BRs did not seem anywhere near as good of a value when comparing against rack rates or considering occupancy.

Guess what I have booked this year?

5 nights in VGF 1BR

5 nights in VGC 1BR

A few things changed our mind:

Visiting repeatedly at deluxe resorts changed us from being park commandos.

We started spending more leisure time in our resorts and rooms.

The comfort of our room began to matter more.

We tried a couple trips booking 2 studios for 3-4 people and it felt worth the point cost.

Made an easy jump to 1BR for functionality of kitchen, LR, laundry, and room to spread out.

After we booked those, we started tracking cash discounts and availability. That really surprised me! There’s no way we could do these without DVC.

For VGC it cost us 173 pts. The bulk we used our low dues VGF, 1 BWV point and 24 bogo OTUPs. Including TVM, we paid about $500/nt. I can’t even find a discounted studio for that price, never mind a 1BR. My parking is included. I’ll take any room but we have a shot at theme park view. This situation made me understand why VGC resale is so high $pp.

For VGF not quite as good. Cash availability on 1BR is still pretty tight but nowhere as hard as VGC. They are charging $1,600 for our dates, and the best discounts still leave it over $1k/nt - if you can even find your dates. With DVC it is costing us about $700/nt in April. This was a splurge to include my son who has an expensive Season 6 birthday The great thing about DVC is we can balance this cost out by doing a Jan or early May BW std 1BR next time - for HALF the points! Try booking a suite at Swolphin for $350/nt including tax, resort fee and parking lol. Won’t happen. I’m surprised DVC is still winning for the 1BR category!

 

[cruisehopeful]

Yeah, I think most of us who book a one bedroom aren't necessarily trying to save money/points. When I did parks all day, studios, heck any hotel rooms, were fine. I spend time kicking back in the room now. The one bedroom makes all the difference, even when it's only my husband and myself. He can take a nap and I can be really loud in the other room. We do still book studios as well, but I often don't mind paying a lot more for the one bedroom.

 

[bookbabe626]

It just occurred to me that studios are what retail would call a Loss Leader. DVC is luring people into a DVC purchase with the value of the studios in hopes that those purchasers will upgrade to bigger villas as time passes, and thus buy more points in the future. I am sure DVC knows that studios are a great deal, and it’s intentional.

 

[pzw90]

It just occurred to me that studios are what retail would call a Loss Leader. DVC is luring people into a DVC purchase with the value of the studios in hopes that those purchasers will upgrade to bigger villas as time passes, and thus buy more points in the future. I am sure DVC knows that studios are a great deal, and it’s intentional.

Studios - the rotisserie chicken of DVC

 

[intamin]

Studios - the rotisserie chicken of DVC

Came for the rotisserie chicken, walked out with the big screen and spent 5x as much as I had originally intended . This is actually the perfect metaphor for DVC

 

[kilik64]

There's just some things that value is not just measured in dollars and cents, 1BR is one of them.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

There's just some things that value is not just measured in dollars and cents, 1BR is one of them.

Absolutely! I might get a tee-shirt with that on it (after I shorten it a bit, of course!)!

 

[tjkraz]

For that same time period, a week in a savanna view studio is 116 points and 235 points in a savanna view 1BR villa.

What am I missing?

You're missing the fact that if I don't want to sleep in the same room as my kids for a week...and want the kitchen...and want the washer/dryer...and want space to unwind while my wife naps, a studio isn't going to cut it.

Everyone draws the line somewhere different. There are people paying for Pop Century or the Drury who think you're crazy for staying in a DVC studio. Personally, I gladly spend more points for a DVC 1B than a Studio, even if it means fewer nights at WDW. Been doing it for 20+ years now.

 

[MeridaMonkey]

For my family of three, it’s 1-bedroom villas all the way. The extra space (and the separation of spaces), the amenities (kitchen, washer/dryer) and ease of booking (especially at the 7 month mark) make the increased point cost well worth it…

Sure, my family of 3 could easily fit into a studio (and have done) but we just don’t enjoy the room nearly as much, and losing out on the enjoyment of the space just isn’t worth the points saved…

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

Would they let us look at a 1BR villa if we wanted to while there?

We are staying at SSR in a 2BR villa in December. Guess it’s basically the same thing minus the 2 queen bed room?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Would they let us look at a 1BR villa if we wanted to while there?

Like switch your reservation? Im confused.

We are staying at SSR in a 2BR villa in December. Guess it’s basically the same thing minus the 2 queen bed room?

You'd have to look at the layouts. https://*******.com/dvc-information...-resorts/disneys-saratoga-springs-resort-spa/ My fave room layout site is blocked. DVC also has them just a hassle to find.

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

Like switch your reservation? Im confused.

No, like just check one out. For instance, do they have tours of the DVC rooms?

 

[Brian Noble]

Layouts are also easy to find here:

https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/saratoga-springs/ssr-guest-room-inventory

And yes, the 1BR is essentially the 2BR without the 2nd BR. But they will be happy to show you one on a sales tour.

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

Layouts are also easy to find here:

https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/saratoga-springs/ssr-guest-room-inventory

And yes, the 1BR is essentially the 2BR without the 2nd BR. But they will be happy to show you one on a sales tour.

Thank you Brian!

 

[muppets3d]

No, like just check one out. For instance, do they have tours of the DVC rooms?

Just close the door to the second bedroom area and you have a 1 bedroom.

 

[VGCgroupie]

No, like just check one out. For instance, do they have tours of the DVC rooms?

Oh Im not 100% sure but Im sure someone will chime in. I am pretty sure they do have rooms tours at SSR, I was actually on my way there to tour whatever they had. I stopped and it was a whole experience (not a good one) and I got back on the bus.

Also I think they have a kiosk at Hollywood Studios and they will drive you over to SSR for tours.

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

Just close the door to the second bedroom area and you have a 1 bedroom.

Right, think I’d rather see it at AKV but this would work.