Advantages of Villas over Studios-Large Groups

[bwbuddy5]

I noticed in one reply to the thread at http://www.disboards.com/threads/large-party-grand-villa.3548826/
that some with large parties prefer studios over villas for extra privacy. That leads me to a few questions:

1) What are the main advantages of villas over studios - do you really use the kitchen that much? Is the villa worth the extra points?
2) If you've used several villas or studios for large parties instead of a grand villa, did you find you had difficulty getting together as a group?
3) Do grand villas ever create "privacy" issues for your large group?

 

[LoveMickey]

We stayed in the Treehouses once pre cruise. Just 2 nights. You have to be prepared for everyone wanting to do things differently. Some wanted to cook out, since the grill is right by the treehouse. Some Did not. Some wanted to tour parks early, some not. If you're prepared, and eveyone else is prepared, to do things separately and not have a problem with this, it would be ok. Otherwise expect some issues to arise.

 

[disneynutz]

All DVC rooms are considered villas, GV's are up to the user. Some families cook, others don't, some get along others say they do but don't behind closed doors. It is all personal preference.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Would you invite the people to stay with you in your house? We would so the larger villas work out fine. If you wouldn't, then studios might be better.

 

[clm10308]

The biggest advantage to have something larger than a studio is the washer and dryer in the unit. Studios do not have a washer/dryer, but if you are only there for a few days that would not matter much.

 

[Anal Annie]

We would personally prefer the privacy if given a choice. A weekend visit, even with close family is one thing. A whole WEEK together would get on everyone's nerves I think. Too many different habits & schedules. It's just my DH and I at home now that our one & only DS is off to college so we have a pretty quiet lifestyle. I can't stand being around a lot of noise & people talking all at once & everything that goes with large gatherings for more than a few hours. It's fine for a holiday meal or something but then I'm done. My nerves get frazzled. I want my space.

Another plus is that studios are cheaper. At SSR for example you could get 5 studios for less points than 1 Grand Villa. 5 studios have the potential to sleep 20 people whereas a GV sleeps 12.

 

[drusba]

We recently did a GV for a week at Kidani for a large group (10), all family members (including three grand children). We do not have any issue of family not wanting to be together for the week. The GV offers many advantages. You get three bedrooms, a master downstairs and two fairly large ones upstairs. Each bedroom has a bathroom dedicated to it. Moreover, you get a fourth bathroom downstairs near the front door. You have the pull out couch in the living room and then another one at the alcove at the top of the stairway There are actually six TV's, one in each bedroom, one in the living room one, one in that alcove at the top of the stairs, and one in the master bathroom. The dining room simply extends from the living room so you have a very large space for family getting together. The kitchen area is large. There is a lot of closet and shelf space (bedrooms, near front door, part of bathroom near the front door, part of master bathroom, in hallway upstairs). The living room has no ceiling except the roof above the second floor, and the living room windows stretch from floor to near the roof (the glass balcony doors have windows above them). You have the washer/dryer. You have one very long balcony downstairs and one for each bedroom upstairs. Total space is about 2200 sq ft. This is much better than getting three studios that total half that size or even a 2BR and a studio (which we have also done for the same size group). If I could afford the GV for every family trip, I'd be in it, but reality dictates that it is something that can be done only once in a while.

 

[bwbuddy5]

We recently did a GV for a week at Kidani for a large group (10), all family members (including three grand children). We do not have any issue of family not wanting to be together for the week. The GV offers many advantages. You get three bedrooms, a master downstairs and two fairly large ones upstairs. Each bedroom has a bathroom dedicated to it. Moreover, you get a fourth bathroom downstairs near the front door. You have the pull out couch in the living room and then another one at the alcove at the top of the stairway There are actually six TV's, one in each bedroom, one in the living room one, one in that alcove at the top of the stairs, and one in the master bathroom. The dining room simply extends from the living room so you have a very large space for family getting together. The kitchen area is large. There is a lot of closet and shelf space (bedrooms, near front door, part of bathroom near the front door, part of master bathroom, in hallway upstairs). The living room has no ceiling except the roof above the second floor, and the living room windows stretch from floor to near the roof (the glass balcony doors have windows above them). You have the washer/dryer. You have one very long balcony downstairs and one for each bedroom upstairs. Total space is about 2200 sq ft. This is much better than getting three studios that total half that size or even a 2BR and a studio (which we have also done for the same size group). If I could afford the GV for every family trip, I'd be in it, but reality dictates that it is something that can be done only once in a while.

Glad it works for your family, drusba, our extended family vacations somewhere at least every other year, usually rent 3BR condos or houses, and we always get along great.

I'm curious. Has your group also stayed at the GV at Jambo? If so, did you like Kidani more than Jambo? How did they compare to other GV's for your family?

And, if it helps, I'm 58, DW is 55, other members in the party are 30, 30, 28, 26, 26, 26, 3 (granddaughter).

 

[drusba]

Glad it works for your family, drusba, our extended family vacations somewhere at least every other year, usually rent 3BR condos or houses, and we always get along great.

I'm curious. Has your group also stayed at the GV at Jambo? If so, did you like Kidani more than Jambo? How did they compare to other GV's for your family?

And, if it helps, I'm 58, DW is 55, other members in the party are 30, 30, 28, 26, 26, 26, 3 (granddaughter).

We did Jambo about 2 1/2 years ago for nine. I previously preferred the single story GV's at Jambo, including because of the huge balconies, but we could not get Jambo this past September because we were reserving too late for it. We actually had Jambo for third week of October but then had to change to Sep about 6 1/2 months out due to a work schedule issue for one of my daughters and only Kidani was open. This was our first stay at a Kidani GV and I was quite impressed with the room and am now rethinking whether the next time we do a GV we again do the two story at Kidani -- being able to park near the room, having that alcove bed area, and the living room with the high windows are real plusses and Kidani has more closet and shelf space; also granchildren are now all over three and we do not have to worry about crawling babies or toddlers on the stairs.

 

[bwbuddy5]

We did Jambo about 2 1/2 years ago for nine. I previously preferred the single story GV's at Jambo, including because of the huge balconies, but we could not get Jambo this past September because we were reserving too late for it. We actually had Jambo for third week of October but then had to change to Sep about 6 1/2 months out due to a work schedule issue for one of my daughters and only Kidani was open. This was our first stay at a Kidani GV and I was quite impressed with the room and am now rethinking whether the next time we do a GV we again do the two story at Kidani -- being able to park near the room, having that alcove bed area, and the living room with the high windows are real plusses and Kidani has more closet and shelf space; also granchildren are now all over three and we do not have to worry about crawling babies or toddlers on the stairs.

Good stuff. We probably won't be driving, but your details did make me think: was it inconvenient going to the Jambo restaurants while staying at Kidani? Did the young ones of your party enjoy the pool area more at Kidani?

 

[drusba]

Good stuff. We probably won't be driving, but your details did make me think: was it inconvenient going to the Jambo restaurants while staying at Kidani? Did the young ones of your party enjoy the pool area more at Kidani?

The two almost four year olds and the five year old (all girls; I have daughters and grandaughters, no sons or grandsons) all thought the Kidani water play area was great and it is impressive just to look at. Moreover, for us grandparents, the Kidani pool bar has numerous tables covered by the bar's large overhang roof, making it an ideal place to sit and have one of those great frozen drinks you wouldn't be caught dead with at home. We are quite partial to Kidani's Sanaa as a restaurant but also made the trip to Jambo for Boma (another favorite). Some (younger adults) walked and some of us took the shuttle which generally runs back and forth throughout the day, front door to front door; no real problem but takes a little time. We no longer do Jiko (it has, over the last five years, done several increases that have priced it out of our budget), and we don't go from Kidani to Jambo just to do Mara. As for the car, we had only one for the group, did not use it for going to parks, including because we feel the AKL buses are pretty good and the kids think they are part of the adventure, but did use it for grocery store runs (always more than we ever plan on) and going to the golf courses.

 

[BillPA]

If you pick a GV or several studios, be sure all those expected to go will really show up.
I have seen many posts where at the last minute people cancelled, leaving the member stuck. One post had 4 in a grand villa. Lots of wasted points, or many in holding.

 

[rentayenta]

I noticed in one reply to the thread at http://www.disboards.com/threads/large-party-grand-villa.3548826/
that some with large parties prefer studios over villas for extra privacy. That leads me to a few questions:

1) What are the main advantages of villas over studios - do you really use the kitchen that much? Is the villa worth the extra points?
2) If you've used several villas or studios for large parties instead of a grand villa, did you find you had difficulty getting together as a group?
3) Do grand villas ever create "privacy" issues for your large group?

We have stayed at the GCV GV and also in the THV. We really use the kitchen that much but it depends on each group. We shared a two bedroom (lock off) with another family and the lock off really wasn't necessary. Plus you get laundry in the larger villas.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Eight of us (4 adults, 4 kids) stayed in a Treehouse for a week. Really used the kitchen/dining area esp. at breakfast and the washer/dryer. All family and got along great but we do anyway at home.

 

[crisi]

We've never done studios. We've done two two bedrooms rather than a Grand Villa because too much together time is not healthy for everyone (notably, my brother in law and nephews are insufferable for extended periods). We still had washers and dryers (two of them) and two kitchens. Which also meant two coffee makers (and room for two) for different preferences in coffee. Two refrigerators with two different kinds of food for kids because we raise ours differently, rooms that settled down at different times (my sister's kids are much younger than mine), etc.

 

[CandleontheWater]

My extend family travels together frequently: parents (in their 60s), three kids and spouses (in their 30s) and a handful of grandchildren. We've done everything from all studios to Grand Villas and the breakdown that works best for us is one two bedroom (the grandparents and grandkids stay there) and then 3 studios for the kids and spouses. Its nice to have the two bedroom because we can all gather together there and make breakfast (and also use the W/D), but each kid/spouse has their own space. We are lucky that the grandparents love to take the all the kids, and the kids all love staying together with the grandparents!