Are all studios the same? Where can I get floor plans?

[disneytraveler96]

Are the studios at all the DVC resorts the same (specially kitchenette-wise)? Do all have: a small fridge, a microwave and a coffee maker? Do they all have same square footage?

The old disneyworld.com website used to have floor plans for the resort rooms and villas, but the new site doesn't. Does anyone know if I can get them elsewhere?

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

Check out the DVC member site.

 

[stacy6552]

the OKW studios have more square footage and two queen beds, while the rest are smaller with one bed and one sleeper sofa. VB has some sutdios like those at OKW and some like the rest.

 

[disneytraveler96]

I'm not a member (yet?) so I don't have access to the DVC member site.

 

[stacy6552]

you can visit disneyvacationclub.com and see the resorts there. You used to be able to see floor plans of all the resorts at disneyworld.com, but I havent tried since they changed the website.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

OKW all have two queen size beds, and a very small kitchenette area, and a HUGE bathroom.

The other resorts mostly have one queen bed and one queen sleeper sofa and a nicer, larger kitchenette and a vanity outside a smaller bathroom with just the tub and commode in it.

We prefer OKW when my son travels with us, but when it is just hubby and I, we prefer BCV to have the sofa to sit on and a nicer kitchenette area. Have the sofa instead of another bed gives you more floor space even though the room is actually smaller than at OKW.

 

[disneytraveler96]

Now I'm even more discouraged to become a DVC member

According to the floor plans, the studios are not much different than a regular Moderate room. With the main difference being that 3rd and 4th guests will sleep more uncomfortable at the studio (in a sofa bed, except in OKW) than in a standard moderate room, heck they'd be more comfortable in a standard all-stars room (sleeping in a queen bed).

Of course you do get the small fridge, the microwave and the coffee maker, a porch and what seems to be a bigger bathroom , but I don't know. I think I expected more from them. Maybe they are bigger, but I just can't notice it on those floor plans.

Does anyone have any specific sq. footage for these studios vs. rooms at Moderates?

 

[DebbieB]

All Star/PC 260 (double beds, not queen)
CSR 314 (double beds)
CBR 340 (double beds)
BWV studio 359 (queen bed, double sleeper)
OKW studio 376 (2 queens)

info from: allearsnet.com, pictures there

The real beauty of DVC is the 1 bedrooms and higher. Stay in one of those and you'll be knocked out. BWV - 712 square feet, OKW - 1,016 square feet (huge!)

 

[Dean]

No question the studios are lacking over what could be provided. Still, they are a cut above the moderates and worlds above the all stars. No one choice will fit each situation though. For example, some of the moderates sleep 5 in a trundle bed, no way you'll get that at DVC. Good luck.

 

[MiaSRN62]

No question the studios are lacking over what could be provided. Still, they are a cut above the moderates and worlds above the all stars.

I agree with this statement, but the studios aren't much point-wise and they make for a nice option if you have a quick or a lower budget trip planned. In other words, if you really want to make your DVC points stretch, book the studios. I think when the kids grow up and move out my husband and I might be using the studios more often. Right now, it's 1 and mostly 2 bedroom villas for us. We love all the extra space with the kids.
Check out this site to get some more info on all the DVC resorts and lots of pics too :
http://allearsnet.com/acc/faq_hot.htm
Scroll down to "Home away from home" resorts. Hope this helps a little.

 

[disneytraveler96]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
I agree with this statement, but the studios aren't much point-wise and they make for a nice option if you have a quick or a lower budget trip planned.

That's exactly what I thought. Problem is, however, that apparently as a DVC member it's virtually impossible to book a room at a DVC resort with less than a months notice. I was looking for this versatility, because I usually make a couple of short-notice (2 or 3 weeks) short length (3 or 4 night) trips per year. But I won't be able to use DVC for "quick trips".

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by disneytraveler96
That's exactly what I thought. Problem is, however, that apparently as a DVC member it's virtually impossible to book a room at a DVC resort with less than a months notice. I was looking for this versatility, because I usually make a couple of short-notice (2 or 3 weeks) short length (3 or 4 night) trips per year. But I won't be able to use DVC for "quick trips".

DVC is not a good choice for short notice trips, period. Sure some will be successful but there are just too many risks.

As to the value of DVC, if one does S-F, the price can around $80-140 per night assuming $10 pp and avoiding premier time. And that includes taxes. The lowest price I've seen lately for a moderate is $84 per night plus tax.

 

[jaysue]

Sounds like you should stick with the Moderates and try and get discounts where possible

thanks
jaysue

 

[disneytraveler96]

Originally posted by Dean
As to the value of DVC, if one does S-F, the price can around $80-140 per night assuming $10 pp and avoiding premier time. And that includes taxes. The lowest price I've seen lately for a moderate is $84 per night plus tax.

Actually, the lowest you can get for a moderate is $79 plus tax, but in my case I need to add $10.99 per night because I always rent a fridge when staying at a Moderate. Regardless, in practice when you do a short (4 night) trip, it's usually over the weekend. So with DVC you'd get two nights at $80 and two nights at $200, for an average of $140 per night at the OKW in the DVC adventure season, which much shorter than the Value season for all the other resorts. The same weekend at the BWV would average $170 per night. So if I decide to go ahead with DVC it won't be for savings vs. moderates either.

 

[spiceycat]

please say where you can get a moderate resort for $79 a night - that is an excellent rate - I generally go off-site for weekend nights - but if I can get a moderate for $79 including tax - I might chance my mind....

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by disneytraveler96
Actually, the lowest you can get for a moderate is $79 plus tax, but in my case I need to add $10.99 per night because I always rent a fridge when staying at a Moderate. Regardless, in practice when you do a short (4 night) trip, it's usually over the weekend. So with DVC you'd get two nights at $80 and two nights at $200, for an average of $140 per night at the OKW in the DVC adventure season, which much shorter than the Value season for all the other resorts. The same weekend at the BWV would average $170 per night. So if I decide to go ahead with DVC it won't be for savings vs. moderates either.

It's been a while since I've seen the $79 per night rate and if it was available I'd expect it to be only fo AP or FL residents or possibly to states that WDW targets (GA, TN, TX come to mind).

 

[disneytraveler96]

Originally posted by spiceycat
please say where you can get a moderate resort for $79 a night - that is an excellent rate - I generally go off-site for weekend nights - but if I can get a moderate for $79 including tax - I might chance my mind....

First of all, I should point out that these rates are without tax.

But, if you're really on a budget, you can even get into the All Stars for $49 a night (value season)!

In order to get these great rates you need to be an annual passholder, and you need a code which is published in the annual passholders newsletter. Usually this is not a problem, because if you're staying at a Moderate, you save at least $60/day, so it's worthwhile to become an Annual Passholder (about $395 incl. tax) even if you'll only be visiting WDW a few days in a one year period.

Only one person in your party needs to be the annual passholder, the rest of your party can have normal tickets. You need to have the discount codes in hand when you call CRO. But you don't have to be a passholder at the time you make your reservation, you just have to show your ticket at the time you check in at the hotel. So if you're not currently an annual passholder, just make the reservation and when you get there, before checking in, go and purchase your annual pass (you can do that in Downtown Disney) and then go check in at the hotel.

Current codes for the resorts are: BCE for the Value season and CUF for the peak season. In the value season the Moderates price is $133, the discounted rate is $79 for a 41% discount; in the peak season the Moderates price is $169, and the discounted rate is $104 for a 39% discount.

Furthermore by being an annual passholder you save between 10%-15% in most stores and restaurants, 10% in marina boat rentals, 10% at the Richard Petty experience, 30% off golf, 50% off miniature golf, 10% off the Grand Floridian spa, 15% off at the behind the scene tours in all theme parks, and also save 5%-7% in purchasing theme park tickets, so you will even save when purchasing the theme park tickets for the rest of your family, as well as 15% off Pleasure Island, Disney Quest and the water parks.

Additional benefits include priority seating and other privileges.

Last year I tried keeping count as to how much I was saving for having the annual pass, and lost count at over $1,350. In that trip alone I saved enough to purchase the annual pass for the next 4 years (the renewal is around $345, instead of the original $395).

 

[disneytraveler96]

Forgot to mention that you can keep track of the annual passholder discount codes at:

http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#ap

 

[MiaSRN62]

In order to get these great rates you need to be an annual passholder, and you need a code which is published in the annual passholders newsletter. Usually this is not a problem, because if you're staying at a Moderate, you save at least $60/day, so it's worthwhile to become an Annual Passholder

Just curious disneytravler96.....do u ever have trouble securing the AP discount rates when you take your last minute business trips ? I would think this might be just as difficult as securing a DVC reservation 2-3 weeks out ?

 

[disneytraveler96]

I've never made a DVC reservation before so I can't make a comparison, but from what I've read elsewhere, it seems it's much easier to get an AP rate reservation than it is to get a DVC reservation in short notice.

I've consistently been able to get 2-3 separate reservations (for similar dates) at AP rates with only 2-3 weeks notice (if you read the thread "Can you combine points?" here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=485915 you will see that sometimes I'm not 100% certain about my travel dates so I make 2 or 3 reservations with similar dates, and when the dates become certain, I cancel the ressies I won't need).

This shows that it isn't difficult to get AP rates in short notice, as long as it's Value or Regular season. I haven't been WDW in Peak or Holiday seasons in the last 4-5 years, so I wouldn't know what that's like.

My best experience would have to be in Dec 2002 where I was able to get 11 nights (from Dec 10 to Dec 21 or something similar) with only 1 weeks notice. My first choice resort was full at this rate, but both my second and third choices (all Moderates) had plenty rooms left (according to the CM at CRO).