All this talk about not using points on weekends has me wondering...

[bounceytigger]

So...I'm a newbie to DVC, and am now wondering something. Do most people with children stay in 1 or 2-BR villas? Or are there families out there that utilize the Studio and the "point-cheapness" of it?

I just bought into DVC, and bought 160 points. (Would have LOVED to buy more, but this is what we could swing! Someday I can hopefully convince DH to want to buy more!) Anyhow, my rationale was that if I DIDN"T buy into DVC, my family and I would probably always be staying in one resort room (versus 2 rooms) on our WDW visits--even if we have 2 kids at some point. So therefore a Studio should still be plenty of space for us....and 160 points seems to be plenty to travel to WDW on yearly, as long as we stay in a Studio.

So I'm wondering, have most people found that Studios become too crowded when there are 1 or 2 kids in the picture? (Right now we have a DS, age 2.) Is this why so many people seem to be staying at other WDW resorts, or off-site hotels, or paying cash for their weekend time...to allow them to stay in a 1 or 2-Bedroom the rest of the week?

I suppose I am looking for some reassurance that Studios can get the job done! Incidentally, we're not ones to stay inside all day long...if we're not at a Park, we'd probably be at DD, or at the pools.

TIA for any and all insight!!

-Sarah

 

[disynut]

For us, it wasn't that we felt cramped in a studio, it was just that we tried out a one bedroom and never wanted to go back to a studio! Actually, we are staying in a studio in 10 days(but who's counting?) for a short trip, but if it were a longer trip we'd definitely opt for the one bedroom. We love the kitchen and especially the washer/dryer. We are also a family with one child(but have another on the way!). I don't guess I answered your question but I think there are others who have shared that they like the one bedroom for the washer/dryer and full kitchen as well.

 

[Drcell01]

Your decision should also be based upon use of a kitchen or not. If you plan on using the kitchen area then by all means reserve a 1 bdrm. If you only plan to have breakfast in the room (bagles, toast, juice, cereal, etc.) then you can manage with a studio (as we do).

We are a family of three. DW, DD(13), and myself. We do just fine in a studio as the only meal we have in the room is a quick breakfast. The studio has a small refridgerator, toaster, coffee maker.

There is more than enough space in the studio for 3 of us.

 

[lurontravel]

We have two children (boys, 2 and a half and 4 and a half yrs old), and stay mostly in studios b/c we like to conserve our points for very frequent trips (we live a couple of hours drive south), and we stopped taking long w/e that start on Friday, and started taking advantage of quieter w/e that extend through the beginning of the next week to conserve points. We don't worry about Sat. night stays, though (using the premium points doesn't stop us from staying there on Sat). We get a two bedroom at OKW when we bring my parents there, however, if staying elsewhere and bringing my parents, we just get two studios. Reason being, The kitchens and dining tables aren't big enough for the 6 of us at dinner (we've tried it) so why waste the points on them??? We just let the boys eat at the coffee table, and bring in the chairs from the balcony for mom and dad, and get cozy together. It gives my parents a little bit more privacy, and lets them sleep a little later in the am. I wouldn't mind doing Friday nights at DVC, but it is just as easy, if not easier, for my husband to take off a Monday, and the parks are less crowded then too.
No, we don't feel at all cramped in the studios with four. We do bring our electric skillet and a sometimes a George Foreman no matter what size accom. we get b/c I prefer it. I also try to pre-cook spaghetti at home, as well as make tuna/egg salad for lunches, so there is only one dinner we cook while there. We always cook a full breakfast in our electric skillet. At this stage in my family's life, it's much more relaxing to eat in.

PS Congratulations on expecting!!!

 

[erikthewise]

When we bought I somehow had the idea that we would use studios (we have two boys now 10 and 7). But when we bought it was already past 7 months, so we were put on a waiting list. To increase our chances I asked for either a studio or a 1BR. The 1BR came up first, and we've never looked back! While we could make do with a studio if we had to, we're stuck on 1BRs!

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by Drcell01
Your decision should also be based upon use of a kitchen or not.

For us, the washer/dryer in the 1BR is more the appeal. And the separation of the kids from Mom & Dad!

I'm sure a studio will do well for anyone who would otherwise stay in a regular resort room. But beware...once you stay in a 1BR, you'll find it hard to go back!!

 

[InstImpres]

We do a studio unless we bring guests. I prefer more trips in "smaller space". Keep in mind your smaller space is still bigger than a standard room and includes a wet bar.

I think one other consideration is how you spend your days. It sounds like you are on the go as we are. My sister is looking at 1 or 2 bedroom for a family of 4 as they are strict about bedtime (even in Disney). So a 1 bedroom, allows them to put the kids to bed but not have to go to sleep themselves, where in a studio, the tv or light with a sleeping child next to you isn't an option.

You'll be fine...that's what is great about DVC though, you can only change things from trip to trip.

Sandy

 

[OneMoreTry]

We pay for weekend nights to save points and not borrow. We don't buy more points because in a few years our older kids will go to college and we won't need a 2BR any more. Then we'd end up with more pts than we need.

Paying for weekends is the most efficient strategy for us, I believe.

 

[Richyams]

I didn't buy to stay in studios. In twelve years I have stayed in a studio once for two nights. To me, the whole idea of DVC is a 'home away from home', a studio don't fit that description. One room with the kids???? No, not happening.

 

[rocketriter]

You'll do OK in a studio as long as the kid(s) are young. That's when they pretty much need to sleep in the same room as you anyway when they're away from home. Later on, the 1-bedroom will look more and more appealing, especially as the teen years approach. And if they're of different sexes and they're both teenagers, then you don't want them sharing the same bed anymore either, and you're into a 2-bedroom.

You've got plenty of time to prepare for that, either by learning ways to travel when points are low or by gradually adding on to your existing points. Avoiding weekend travel can, for a while, be part of that strategy.

Ideally you'll get to the point where you don't sweat the cost of weekends. Instead of getting hung up on how much a Saturday night costs, you'll look at how little the whole week put together costs compared to a comparable number of room at a deluxe onsite resort.

 

[Richyams]

Instead of getting hung up on how much a Saturday night costs, you'll look at how little the whole week put together costs compared to a comparable number of room at a deluxe onsite resort.

Yes

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Granny
For us, the washer/dryer in the 1BR is more the appeal. And the separation of the kids from Mom & Dad!

I'm sure a studio will do well for anyone who would otherwise stay in a regular resort room. But beware...once you stay in a 1BR, you'll find it hard to go back!!

ITA about the w&d having more appeal. To be perfectly honest I couldn't care less if they took the full kitchens out of every DVC resort and just had the mini kitchenette like the studios have. The full kitchen is a complete waste of space on us. A refrigerator, microwave, sink and coffee maker are more than we need or use. Cook and use a kitchen on vacation---not in our vacation vocabulary! Thanks, but no thanks!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I also feel the washer/dryer is more important to us than the full kitchen. I can throw a load of clothes in right before we leave for the parks or very late at night when we return and not have to worry about leaving it or going to sleep. We probably utilize the full kitchen potential about 25% or less of our stay. Most times, I feel we could also be content with just the kitchenette.
Since you have 160 points to work with, judge what uses you will really utilize to the fullest from the DVC villa (w/d, kitchen, jacuzzi tub) and make your reservations accordingly. We have no problem staying in a studio for shorter trips (2-4 nights), but for anything longer, we prefer the 1 or 2 bedroom.

 

[carone0318]

We are a family of 4 (myself, dh, dd - 7.5, ds -3.) We stay in a studio all the time. I have a hard time parting with the points . We do just fine. We will use the "kitchen" for quick breakfasts only and eat meals out, but we choose to do this. I am on vacation and don't want to cook. We will also bring snacks to use in the microwave and fridge. For some a biggie, but we don't drink coffee either, so we don't have to worry about that too (counter space and size of pot, not sure if it is full size pot in studio.) We are not cramped. I do make our bed everyday and also put the couch back to being a couch in the morning, it gives a lot more space. The studio would feel small if you didn't fold the bed back up.

I really don't think that a 1bdrm cuts it for our family either. I think when our kids are older, we will probably just jump to a 2bdrm. If you get a 1bdrm for the space and if you put your kids down for a nap or to sleep early and you want to stay up, then you lost the master bdrm, because the other bed is in the family room area. Also, for my kids they really don't want to be in a room all by themselves which they are not familiar with. When they are older (teens) they will want their own space and since I have one of ea, dd and ds, they will want separate beds and again a 1 bdrm will not cut it for us. So, I am perfectly fine enjoying my time in a studio until I have to break down and really bite the bullet and just get 2bdrms. A little side note, I do have enough points to get a 2bdrm, but choose not to when it is just the 4 of us.

 

[palmtreegirl]

[QUOTECook and use a kitchen on vacation---not in our vacation vocabulary! Thanks, but no thanks![/QUOTE]

We stay in studios now and don't even use the microwave.

 

[Kewz1]

We have two kids, ages 8 & 10. We sometimes stay in a studio to save points. I don't cook on vacation so having a kitchen is not that important to me. We do like to have a fridge for our sodas and that is supplied in the studio.

The extra space of a 1 bedroom is great but we don't find it necessary to have a good time.

We're a military family - we are extremely flexible and adaptable!

Kristen

 

[Disney Doll]

As other posters have said, a studio is certainly amply-sized to enjoy a vacation, especially if you don't spend a lot of time in the room. With small children, you probably won't, since you are at WDW, they'll want to be on the go. Plus, you probably don't want your child too far from you at night etc anyhow. As long as you are not thinking that you could cook a 3 course meal in the kitchenette, a studio should work fine, for quite a few years. It does lack a washer/dryer, but there are W/Ds by the pools, so you can do laundry while enjoying the pool area if need be.

I also agree that once you stay in a 1BR, the studio is hard to go back to.

I would begin to think about the years in the future, when your children may be older, and if they are of opposite sexes, you may need a 2BR, to have the option of 2 separate beds in the 2nd BR.

There are also "creative" ways to utilize points. When DH and I bought our 1st contract, it was a 200 point contract. We like to go to WDW a couple of times a year, and knew that 200 points wouldn't "cut it" if we stayed over the weekend, so what we did was pay cash for the first 2 or 3 nights, and then pay points. Sometimes we stayed at a different resort for the first 2 or 3 nights, and then moved to DVC. I didn't mind moving, because WDW bell services transfers your luggage for you, so it's actually pretty easy. I also kind of enjoyed seeing 2 different resorts...it made it seem like a longer vacation if we "lived" in 2 different "themes"...ie-Port Orleans FQ and OKW or Coronado Springs and the BCVs. What we would do is check in to a regular resort on Friday, stay there Friday, Saturday,and Sunday night, and move to the DVC resort on Monday and stay there Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday night, and leave WDW Friday . By doing this, we were always able to rent a 1BR, and have the benefit of the extra space, the W/D, the kitchen(which we don't use much...mostly breakfast and snacks), and the more "spread out" feeling. We also travel at the "off" times, so point values are better too. We also only had to pack enough for 3 or 4 days, because we knew that on Day 4 of our vacation, we'd have access to a W/D whenever we wanted.

That always worked out for us, and even with a fairly low # of points, we were always able to stay in at least a 1BR. The beauty of the DVC is that there are many ways to enjoy vacationing, in many different types of accomodations.

We still consider it one of the best purchases we ever made, so much so, that in 2002, we bought a 2nd contract!!!!!!!!!

 

[JVL1018]

We have 2 kids and always book 1 bedrooms-I need the washer/dryer..and the big fridge. LOL
My kids are 2 and 4 and we like to get them settled in and to sleep in a separate room way before we turn in for the night.

 

[bounceytigger]

Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like my family can be comfortable with the "studio" plan for the time-being....but I have a feeling I'll be purchasing more points down the road. Or else only going to WDW once every 2 years. (yikes! That might lead to serious withdrawal issues!!!)

 

[goofy4tink]

We bought planning on one trip a year, in a 1-bedroom. Well...this year (our first year!) that has changed to 2 trips in studios, borrowing some points from next year. But, after next year's visit to VB, we'll be back on track. Plan on staying staying at a non-DVC resort for Fri-Mon, and then Mon-Sat in a 1-bdrm at DVC. I really want to try all the resorts so this way I can, using those great AP rates and then end my stay in the lap of luxury!!