Beds vs sofabeds in DVC rooms

[plumsiren]

Then maybe this isn't the best idea for you. In addition to Chuck's suggestion, there are lots of offsite condos and hotels as well that have plenty of beds for a reasonable cost.

I would never in a million years stay off-site! I was 11 last time I was at WDW, and I'll be 30 for this trip. After waiting that long you can bet I want to be fully immersed in all things Disney!

I would say that the regular on-site hotels have 'plenty of beds for a reasonable cost'. After some of the responses I've gotten on this board, I don't feel especially welcome trying to make renting DVC work for us.

 

[Lynne M]

No one's trying to give you a hard time , they're just explaining why the room configurations at the DVC resorts were designed as they were. After all, Disney has little choice but to appeal to the tastes and preferences of the people who will buy shares in the resorts. That's their target market, that's where they make their money.

That doesn't mean that they're trying to exclude you as a renter, and it certainly doesn't mean that we're trying to exclude you. There are many renters that the DVC room configs just won't work for, and there are as many that like the room layouts so much that they buy DVC while they're on their rental vacation. It's just a matter of what suits each family.

 

[crisi]

I would never in a million years stay off-site! I was 11 last time I was at WDW, and I'll be 30 for this trip. After waiting that long you can bet I want to be fully immersed in all things Disney!

I would say that the regular on-site hotels have 'plenty of beds for a reasonable cost'. After some of the responses I've gotten on this board, I don't feel especially welcome trying to make renting DVC work for us.

Frankly, you are missing a lot to not consider it. There are really nice hotels offsite, and the savings can buy you dinner at the California Grill for Wishes, or a character meal - either which I'd take over Mickey on the shampoo bottle and a wake up call from Stitch. (Mickey isn't even on the shampoo bottle any longer).

 

[MsTessP]

I believe that the posters here have only been trying to be helpful with their suggestions for you. As you respond, we are just now getting more of a picture of your situation. Here's what I'm guessing:

1. You have not been back to WDW in 20 years, and you are really trying to make this a very "magical" vacation. We all totally understand and agree with that, and I'm sure we all hope that this trip will end up exceeding all your expectations, no matter where you end up staying.

2. You ended up telling us later that there was no way you would consider staying offsite. Sure, some people feel like this, but there was no way anyone knew how YOU felt before you posted this. Many people are very happy with accomodations offsite, including renting entire homes with pools located not far from Disney property which, in many cases, cost less to rent than onsite Disney properties. In my opinion, people were not being "snarky" when they suggested this - they were genuinely trying to help.

3. Again, the suggestion to stay at Art of Animation or a similar property appeared to me to make good sense from what you were posting, and was not meant as any kind of put down.

4. We did not sense in your original post that there was a pressing need to conserve money. Obviously, everyone wants to get a good deal on their accomodations. However, you seem to be implying that in order to have enough funds to rent a 2 bedroom, you (and most people) would need to wait another 20 years. Disney is a very exponsive vacation, no doubt about it. However, there is a wide range of accomodations for a wide range of prices. Renting a DVC villa is only one option. On a scale of most expensive accomodations (Grand Floridian conciege level) to least expensive (regular All-Stars Resort room), I would guess that the cost of renting a 2 bedroom DVC villa (renting being less money than reserving direct from Disney) would land just about three-quarters of the way up the scale. I think it is safe to say that hundreds of people every week spend more money on accomodations than the cost of renting a 2 bedroom villa. However, other families spend way less, and I bet many of them have absolutely wonderful vacations.

5. I just have to say that if I were looking for more room (and more "real" beds), I would definitely choose OKW. Our favorite resorts are BWV and OKW. We own at BWV, but that is because it is harder to get BWV at certain times of the year, while we are generally able to get OKW. However, if for some reason we were only able to stay at OKW for the next 30 years, I would have no problem with that!

6. As far as sofabeds are concerned, the new pullout sofa at BWV has received great reviews from my family - no bar and decently thick mattress.

I hope you have a great vacation, no matter where you stay. Please report back here and let us know.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I would never in a million years stay off-site! I was 11 last time I was at WDW, and I'll be 30 for this trip. After waiting that long you can bet I want to be fully immersed in all things Disney!

I would say that the regular on-site hotels have 'plenty of beds for a reasonable cost'. After some of the responses I've gotten on this board, I don't feel especially welcome trying to make renting DVC work for us.

How many people are you traveling with?

 

[plumsiren]

No one's trying to give you a hard time , they're just explaining why the room configurations at the DVC resorts were designed as they were. After all, Disney has little choice but to appeal to the tastes and preferences of the people who will buy shares in the resorts. That's their target market, that's where they make their money.

That doesn't mean that they're trying to exclude you as a renter, and it certainly doesn't mean that we're trying to exclude you. There are many renters that the DVC room configs just won't work for, and there are as many that like the room layouts so much that they buy DVC while they're on their rental vacation. It's just a matter of what suits each family.

Oh I totally understand! I just started off lamenting being an adult child in a family who would get the short end of the stick where any sleeping arrangements were concerned. I understand why the studios are the way they are, I just *wish* it were different.

 

[plumsiren]

I believe that the posters here have only been trying to be helpful with their suggestions for you. As you respond, we are just now getting more of a picture of your situation. Here's what I'm guessing:

1. You have not been back to WDW in 20 years, and you are really trying to make this a very "magical" vacation. We all totally understand and agree with that, and I'm sure we all hope that this trip will end up exceeding all your expectations, no matter where you end up staying.

2. You ended up telling us later that there was no way you would consider staying offsite. Sure, some people feel like this, but there was no way anyone knew how YOU felt before you posted this. Many people are very happy with accomodations offsite, including renting entire homes with pools located not far from Disney property which, in many cases, cost less to rent than onsite Disney properties. In my opinion, people were not being "snarky" when they suggested this - they were genuinely trying to help.

3. Again, the suggestion to stay at Art of Animation or a similar property appeared to me to make good sense from what you were posting, and was not meant as any kind of put down.

4. We did not sense in your original post that there was a pressing need to conserve money. Obviously, everyone wants to get a good deal on their accomodations. However, you seem to be implying that in order to have enough funds to rent a 2 bedroom, you (and most people) would need to wait another 20 years. Disney is a very exponsive vacation, no doubt about it. However, there is a wide range of accomodations for a wide range of prices. Renting a DVC villa is only one option. On a scale of most expensive accomodations (Grand Floridian conciege level) to least expensive (regular All-Stars Resort room), I would guess that the cost of renting a 2 bedroom DVC villa (renting being less money than reserving direct from Disney) would land just about three-quarters of the way up the scale. I think it is safe to say that hundreds of people every week spend more money on accomodations than the cost of renting a 2 bedroom villa. However, other families spend way less, and I bet many of them have absolutely wonderful vacations.

5. I just have to say that if I were looking for more room (and more "real" beds), I would definitely choose OKW. Our favorite resorts are BWV and OKW. We own at BWV, but that is because it is harder to get BWV at certain times of the year, while we are generally able to get OKW. However, if for some reason we were only able to stay at OKW for the next 30 years, I would have no problem with that!

6. As far as sofabeds are concerned, the new pullout sofa at BWV has received great reviews from my family - no bar and decently thick mattress.

I hope you have a great vacation, no matter where you stay. Please report back here and let us know.

How many people are you traveling with?

Thanks everyone. Sorry for the hostility; I was just trying to make a joke about being the 'kid' stuck on the lousy fold-out and I think it was taken the wrong way, and I was getting irritated.

Anyway, our 'group' is myself and my parents. I'm 28 but live at home and am fully dependent on them because I'm unable to work.

My parents are 65. Dad's in a good way overall (but 6'4 and not looking forward to having his legs crushed on rides!). Mom has a lot of issues and will likely spend much of the time in the room. For touring we'll probably rent her an ECV. I'm physically fine, though, ugh, sciatica!

I have to confess I'm pretty much obsessed with the Disney resorts. I've studied them like crazy. I realize that, for the cost, staying off site would make a lot more sense, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe if we went every 2 or 3 years we could do some stays off-site, but for the first time in (it'll be by then) 18 or 19 years? I'm pretty much set on staying on-property.

My grandmother passed away last year, so we'll have some extra money once her house is sold. That makes cost not as much of a factor, but a factor nonetheless. After doing some math based on current room rates and possible discounts that I hope will line up with our travel dates, I think WL (~$200/n in value season w/RO discount) would be at the top of our budget. I calculated DVC studios based on renting points at anywhere from $12-14 pp, which makes most of them within budget as well. Since the actual bed is my hangup, the 1BR is pointless for us, and even the cheapest 2BR is too expensive.

Assuming all the aforementioned price factors, in the running based on our basic needs and my taste would be: CSR, POR, AKL, WL, and studios in almost all DVC properties. (We'd need two rooms in Values, CBR was where we stayed last time, and the hanging head things in the POFQ food court freak me out. )

ETA: there's also the (remote) possibility that my BFF, her hubby and 2 DDs will be visiting with us. Should that work out, it would obviously present a whole nother set of challenges.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Yeah, I'm sure the ones who prefer the bed/sofa configuration are the ones that get to sleep in the actual bed!

Nope! I love the WDW sofabeds. I have been on two girls-weekend trips and both times I let my friend have the actual bed. I slept on the sofabed for five nights each time and had no issues whatsoever.

The sofabeds are very comfortable and equal, IMO, the comfort of the actual beds. You won't have any trouble getting a good night's sleep.

(FWIW, I have also slept on the sofa chairs in AKV, BLT and Vero and all were as comfortable as the sofabeds.)

 

[plumsiren]

Nope! I love the WDW sofabeds. I have been on two girls-weekend trips and both times I let my friend have the actual bed. I slept on the sofabed for five nights each time and had no issues whatsoever.

The sofabeds are very comfortable and equal, IMO, the comfort of the actual beds. You won't have any trouble getting a good night's sleep.

(FWIW, I have also slept on the sofa chairs in AKV, BLT and Vero and all were as comfortable as the sofabeds.)

That makes me really excited! Where did you stay when you slept on the sofabeds?

 

[DisneyDiana]

The sofabeds at AKV are fine. I bring a memory foam mattress topper as a carry on which makes it feel as comfy as a regular bed.

 

[MouseMomx2]

That makes me really excited! Where did you stay when you slept on the sofabeds?

I have slept on the sofa beds at AKV, BLT, WLV, BWV, OKW and Vero...but they really are all just about the same.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have slept on the sofa beds at AKV, BLT, WLV, BWV, OKW and Vero...but they really are all just about the same.

BWV and BCV are different from the others and more comfortable.

 

[pouncingpluto]

Unfortunately, I can't remember specifics, because we tend to stay in one-bedrooms. But on the occasions we've been in studios, I voluntarily sleep on the sofa bed. We don't sleep well together in anything smaller than a king, and I like the DVC sofa beds -- I find them very comfortable.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks everyone. Sorry for the hostility; I was just trying to make a joke about being the 'kid' stuck on the lousy fold-out and I think it was taken the wrong way, and I was getting irritated.

Anyway, our 'group' is myself and my parents. I'm 28 but live at home and am fully dependent on them because I'm unable to work.

My parents are 65. Dad's in a good way overall (but 6'4 and not looking forward to having his legs crushed on rides!). Mom has a lot of issues and will likely spend much of the time in the room. For touring we'll probably rent her an ECV. I'm physically fine, though, ugh, sciatica!

I have to confess I'm pretty much obsessed with the Disney resorts. I've studied them like crazy. I realize that, for the cost, staying off site would make a lot more sense, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Maybe if we went every 2 or 3 years we could do some stays off-site, but for the first time in (it'll be by then) 18 or 19 years? I'm pretty much set on staying on-property.

My grandmother passed away last year, so we'll have some extra money once her house is sold. That makes cost not as much of a factor, but a factor nonetheless. After doing some math based on current room rates and possible discounts that I hope will line up with our travel dates, I think WL (~$200/n in value season w/RO discount) would be at the top of our budget. I calculated DVC studios based on renting points at anywhere from $12-14 pp, which makes most of them within budget as well. Since the actual bed is my hangup, the 1BR is pointless for us, and even the cheapest 2BR is too expensive.

Assuming all the aforementioned price factors, in the running based on our basic needs and my taste would be: CSR, POR, AKL, WL, and studios in almost all DVC properties. (We'd need two rooms in Values, CBR was where we stayed last time, and the hanging head things in the POFQ food court freak me out. )

ETA: there's also the (remote) possibility that my BFF, her hubby and 2 DDs will be visiting with us. Should that work out, it would obviously present a whole nother set of challenges.

Given "the rest of the story" here, I think you would be exactly the type of parties who would benefit most from renting a DVC point stay. For example: If you travel during Jan. or Sept., you can stay in a 1 bedroom villa that includes a king bed in the master, a queen pull out sofa in the living room plus a very comfy pull out chair there as well. That villa would also have a full kitchen and laundry room and large living room and huge outdoor porch with an extra dining table and chairs on it. The points for a WEEK in that would be 157 at OKW. If you divide that by 7, it means it is roughly 22 + points per day. At $12 a point rental fee, you are talking about $1884 for the whole week. Down grade that to a studio at OKW, and your total will be under a thousand for the whole week ($912) and you will have two real queen sized beds.