2 studios or a 2BR..help me convince my husband

[PEANUT1]

HI all!!!

My hubby and I decided to take my parents next year for a trip to the world We decided to provide accomodations and meals and they would find a way to get there and get park tickets.

My dilemma is that my hubby wants to do 2 studios where I want to do a 2Br. There will be 6 people total. 4 in my family (me hubby and our girls ages 4 and 7) and my parents.

The small prob is that we don't have a ton of points. I will have to pay for about 30 or so points to be able to do the 2br..I have enough for the studios.My parents really can't help with this cost..so its up to us.

What would you do??? and if you'd pick the 2br...what can I tell my husband to convince him??

 

[Bojo]

I would tell him that if we have a 2BR then the girls could have a seperate bed (on the LR pullout) and the two of you would have some "alone" time (either in the master BR, or the attached studio).

 

[nolanboys]

I would tell them that it would allow you to put the kids to bed and have some grown up time. Also, if your parents will watch the kids for an evening so you can go out, the 2 bdrm allows your parents to go to bed if you and your DH are out late. Full kitchen and laundry are a huge plus as well. We've taken our in-laws twice and the 2 bdrm works out well.

 

[drusba]

2Br gives you living room, washer dryer, kitchen and just a lot more room than 2 studios. We would never choose two studios over a 2BR (unless those guests were my in-laws, no just kidding). However, total point considerations obviously come into play. You also have to consider the residual effect -- those who have only done studios and then reserve and stay in a 1BR or 2BR for the first time very often find that they can never bring themselves to stay in a studio again.

 

[Chuck S]

Having the kitchen and in room laundry service with 6 people is a big plus for comfort and convenience.

But, you don't say how long of a trip you are planning. For 4 or 5 days, studios would also work well, and give your parents the ability to come and go as they please, as well as allowing them to make coffee or get a snack from the fridge without waking anyone else.

For a longer stay, I'd do my best to book a 2 br. The longer the stay, the more you'll appreciate the additional elbow room.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

A 2-BR is heavenly! Of course, this is what I book with just my DH and 2 DS's. The only time I stay in a studio now is if it's just my DH and me.

As far as having enough points, you said you would have to pay for about 30 or so points. Are you referring to the one-time use points? If so, you can purchase 24 at the most.

One other option is to book the 2 studios for a couple of nights, then move into the 2 BR. Of course, you have to be ok with moving. If you are, play around with the numbers and see if you can get it for the number of points you currently have.

 

[searlproudbottom]

We took my parents back in 2007 and stayed in a 2 br at the BCV. We Have two DD's as well and at the time they were 13 and 10. The 2 bedroom was ideal for us for a number of reasons.

1. Alone Time (-;
2. The girls could freely roam between the Grandparents room.
3. The full kitchen. ( you can save on food to offset the room price.
4. Alone Time (-;
5. The living room.
6. The washer and dryer. This is a biggie, this means the less you have to pack and the less your DH needs to carry. (O my akin back).
7. Did I Mention Alone time (-;

Searl

 

[PEANUT1]

A 2-BR is heavenly! Of course, this is what I book with just my DH and 2 DS's. The only time I stay in a studio now is if it's just my DH and me.

As far as having enough points, you said you would have to pay for about 30 or so points. Are you referring to the one-time use points? If so, you can purchase 24 at the most.

One other option is to book the 2 studios for a couple of nights, then move into the 2 BR. Of course, you have to be ok with moving. If you are, play around with the numbers and see if you can get it for the number of points you currently have.

Thanks everone for the advice!! This is totally what I am thinking. It will be for 6 nights 7 days.

It really depends on what resorts are available in terms of how many points I need. For example, if I could get a standard view at BW at 7 months (unlikely), I won't need any points... I only need 8 to stay in some 2 BR's but up to 30 to stay in another (BLT Lake View)...depends on what views and all are available at 7 months for next November. I haven't decided if I should try to do the one time use points or buy points to transfer from another member. I guess I better decide before hand.....

 

[OKWNutt]

30 one-time points = $450.
With 6 people and having a full-kitchen you can easly save that much money by doing a meal a day (Breakfast?) and snacks in a 2bd room.
Make sure you consider the "cheaper" resorts such as OKW.

 

[Chuck S]

One time use points can only be purchased at the 7 month window. If you are trying to book during your home resort priority period, you'd need to get a transfer from another member, and it would have to be for your home resort.

If you're going to book at the 7 months window, I would agree to consider OKW, those rooms have been freshly rehabbed, and are the largest onsite.

 

[PEANUT1]

One time use points can only be purchased at the 7 month window. If you are trying to book during your home resort priority period, you'd need to get a transfer from another member, and it would have to be for your home resort.

If you're going to book at the 7 months window, I would agree to consider OKW, those rooms have been freshly rehabbed, and are the largerst onsite.

that is a great idea..then I wouldn't need extra points...thanks. Honestly, I never considered it, because I like to be near Epcot.

It will be at 7 months. We will try to book for November (the week before Thanksgiving) We went this year and the crowds, weather and magic were perfect!!!

 

[PEANUT1]

30 one-time points = $450.
With 6 people and having a full-kitchen you can easly save that much money by doing a meal a day (Breakfast?) and snacks in a 2bd room.
Make sure you consider the "cheaper" resorts such as OKW.

Yes...I am going to consider OKW...hubby has wanted to stay there for a while.

 

[jekjones1558]

Some resorts have both dedicated and lock-off 2 bedrooms. In your case I think a lock-off is preferable. Your parents could close the door and have their own private studio with frig and sofa while your family had some private time as well. I really believe that family vacations work best when folks are not together 24/7.

 

[vaughan100]

I would go for the 2 bedroom if you can. We took our family of 5 and my parents last year. We stayed at a dedicated 2 bdr in BLT. It was wonderfull. There was plenty of space. We had a full kitchen, we would sit around the table and talk every morning and evening. If my parents wanted privacy they would just close the door to their bedroom. We had a full laundry room with the washer/dryer going every day. My husband and I had plenty of privacy in our own room too. The kids slept on the pull out couch and sleeper chair in the living room area. There was lots of socializing space and also lots of private space. With studios it would be more like 2 adjoining hotel rooms.

 

[PEANUT1]

I was just checking out OKW and it looks really nice...I think it would work well for us. I could even use the second bedroom for my family of 4..since it has 2 beds and my parents could have the master...as long as hubby is ok with this..then again, the King bed and huge bathroom does look really nice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We took my husband's parents with us on our first DVC trip. We had an OKW two bedroom villa. They really enjoyed the second bedroom to themselves. The three of us (our son was five) spread out between the king bed and the sleeper sofa.

You'll save money on dining with the full kitchen. You can just hang out at OKW as well - the porch is huge on the two bedroom.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was just checking out OKW and it looks really nice...I think it would work well for us. I could even use the second bedroom for my family of 4..since it has 2 beds and my parents could have the master...as long as hubby is ok with this..then again, the King bed and huge bathroom does look really nice.

No, no, no, no, no. Keep the master bedroom for yourself. Let your parents enjoy the second bedroom. They will love it. And the girls can sleep in the living room. Or you can move them to the living room when everyone wants to go to bed and they have gone to bed in the king bed.

 

[spiceycat]

different - if your family gets along great - then a 2-bedroom is great.

however if your family does not get along - then it is better to go for the 2 studios. even been know to be in separate dvc resorts.

the extra costs for the meals -guess you are getting the dinning plan - whose paycheck is the cost for these extras coming from?

are you willing to do the same thing for his family?

now my brother is closer to in laws than us - but think he is exceptional. even they only took her parents to Disney once - using my DVC points.

 

[kmccl]

We took our 4 kids and my parents to Disney last summer. We booked Kidani at about 5 or 6 months out. It worked out great. Had a standard view 2 Bedroom lockoff. My parents had their own door to the hallway and the kitchenette and as much privacy as they wanted. It was very cheap point wise(around 240?). I would highly recommend this. Did I mention the extra bathroom. That was a nice feature. One night we put the kids to bed, grandparents went to bed and we went out. Another nice advantage to going with the two bedroom. Good luck!

 

[twooley2]

I have two sisters We thought about treating my sister and her husband since last yr we went with my other sister but it seems so complicated. We want to do the DLX dining plan and this would mean we would have to downgrade our plan to treat them and pay for it as they can not afford it. What is your opinion of doing this? I just cant decide if its worth it or if we should forgo the idea altogether. I would feel bad if they cooked in the villa while we were out eatting on the DLX plan and with the regular we do not think its enough but we really like to eat too. I would do the 2 bedroom but maybe the studio would give you seperate time away from them