Best studios?

[MarBee]

Hello!
I was hoping to purchase DVC simply because it would guarantee me a trip each year. DH is not with me. We stayed on friends' points at an AK Kidani studio last year. I was hoping to convince DH with that trip; however, we were fairly disappointed with the room. It was small and cramped with the sofa bed out. We both felt our stay at Pop and POFQ was better. My DVC dreams were flushed down the toilet.

However, someone explained to me that AK has a rep for having the worst studios. I'm thinking of trying to book again in hopes that we will be sold and have to buy in.

So who has the best studios on property?

(For the record, we just want a clean, comfy, cold room with great transportation. It will sleep us and our two kids.)

 

[BillPA]

You may need to plan on a larger unit, most studios, while marketed as for 4 or 5, to us it's okay for 2. The Poly has the most sq footage, but the extra space is an odd extra bath... a shower, a sink but not a toilet. Usable space is below par with most other studios, except BLT which is just too small, for any more than 2.

 

[MarBee]

You may need to plan on a larger unit, most studios, while marketed as for 4 or 5, to us it's okay for 2. The Poly has the most sq footage, but the extra space is an odd extra bath... a shower, a sink but not a toilet. Usable space is below par with most other studios, except BLT which is just too small, for any more than 2.

Thanks! It just seems like a waste to me because we will never use the kitchen. (One of the things I love about vacation is NOT having to cook.)

That's why I was hoping there were better studios out there than what we experienced at Kidani.

 

[LisaDKG]

I agree - I wish they would consider building some 1 bedrooms without a kitchen. The kitchenette in a studio is more than enough as we never cook on holidays. I would purchase more points in a heartbeat for my family of 4 if they built ALL 1 bedroom villas WITH an extra toilet - and even more if they put 2 queens in the master like at OKW - of course I know they want you to have to buy enough points for a 2 bedroom if everyone having a bed is most desirable but how is the average family of 4 walking around with that many points under their belts?

 

[bobbiwoz]

The Poly studios and the Grand Floridian studios work better for us because there's a shower stall as well as a bath tub, and the " throne" is with the bathtub. I prefer those studios because I prefer a shower stall. Copper Creek also has the option of a shower stall in a studio.

OKW studios have 2 queen beds.

I like the kitchenette because instant oatmeal and coffee are breakfast necessities for me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The AKV studios are NOT the worst so that won't work for a selling point. The decor is different but otherwise they are pretty much the same as the majority of DVC studios unless you happened to be in a Value which is smaller.

OKW has 2 real beds and may be more up your alley. It's more like the moderates although the amenities of the DVC rooms do take up some space. Keep in mind the DVC rooms have balconies which the Mods and Values don't although that may not be an important amenity either.

Otherwise PVB has the largest studios and a nicer bathroom layout.. They were converted fom Poly hotel rooms where were some of the largest on property.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Studios will always feel a bit cramped, even the largest ones, when the sofa bed is pulled out. Old Key West is the only studio with two queen beds. All others have a queen and sofa bed; some have one additional pull-down single murphy bed.

Animal Kingdom is all recently refurbished, and makes reasonable use of the studio space. They are nowhere close to the worst (let alone shabbiest; DVC resorts often go long stretches between refurbishments).

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Here's a link to pictures of an OKW studio on DVCNews. You would find pictures of other studios although probably none with the sleeper sofa opened up. http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resorts/old-key-west/maps-a-photos-11821

If we stay in studios and are using the sleeper we often close it up for the day and only open it to sleep on.

 

[MarBee]

Studios will always feel a bit cramped, even the largest ones, when the sofa bed is pulled out. Old Key West is the only studio with two queen beds. All others have a queen and sofa bed; some have one additional pull-down single murphy bed.

Animal Kingdom is all recently refurbished, and makes reasonable use of the studio space. They are nowhere close to the worst (let alone shabbiest; DVC resorts often go long stretches between refurbishments).

So there are studios whose space is more cramped than Kidani? We had to push the table out of the way to open the bed and then couldn't use the table.

The bathrooms were huge and the room was beautiful. I just couldn't believe how narrow it was.

I was hoping for better news to convince DH and me

 

[Geomom]

Most of the DVC studios are the same size as the Kidani ones. BLT studio is smaller. We often stay in studios with our kids--so the sofa bed is out. Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge at Wilderness, Beach Club, Saratoga, Grand Floridian, and Poly all sleep 5 in the villa--so there is yet another bed that can pull down and be in your way--the single murphy bed is usually right across from the queen bed. And yes, we have at times had that down too as my youngest enjoyed having her own little bed with the cute painting. Grand Floridian and Poly are bigger, but not the best use of that extra space. I haven't stayed at the Poly yet, but I thought that was supposed to have more space in the living area. Old Key West is the only one with the 2 queen beds.

Unfortunately if you want 'space', you'll want to go up to a 1 bedroom. When we travel with friends we get a 2 bedroom--they get the studio side, we get the 1 bedroom side (my kids sleep in the living room sofabed) and we have the door open during the daytime to share the kitchen/laundry area.

 

[MarBee]

Okay, it looks like I will have to find another way to convince DH that it's actually economical for us to go once a year to Disney rather than other vacation spots.

I am sure I will find a way though!

Thanks all for your input!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So there are studios whose space is more cramped than Kidani? We had to push the table out of the way to open the bed and then couldn't use the table.

The bathrooms were huge and the room was beautiful. I just couldn't believe how narrow it was.

I was hoping for better news to convince DH and me

This might help you out - from the Resource Center. The one for AKV - the largest(366 sq ft) is the space reported for Kidani. The smallest number there is the value studios at Jambo. At WDW the largest studio is PVB - the living area is larger than most but a good part of the additional square footage went into the extra shower/sink room. The second largest is OKW.

Reported room sizes for DVC resorts:

Old Key West

Studio: 390 sq. ft.
1 BR: 1005 sq. ft.
2 BR: 1410 sq. ft. (Photo Gallery)
GV: 2375 sq. ft.

Boardwalk Villas:

Studio: 359 sq. ft.
1 BR: 712 sq. ft. (Photo Gallery)
2 BR: 1071 sq. ft.
GV: 2142 sq. ft.

Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge:

Studio: 356 sq.ft.
1BR: 727 sq.ft.
2BR: 1083 sq.ft. (Photo Gallery)
GV: None

Beach Club Villas:

Studio: 356 sq.ft.
1BR: 719 sq.ft.
2BR: 1075 sq.ft. (Photo Gallery)
GV: None

Saratoga Springs Resort:

Studio: 355 sq.ft.
1BR: 714 sq.ft.
2BR: 1070 sq.ft.
GV: 2113 sq.ft.

Animal Kingdom Villas:

Studio: 316- 366 sq.ft.
1BR: 629-802 sq.ft.
2BR: 945 - 1173 sq.ft.
GV: 2201 sq.ft.

Bay Lake Towers:

Studio: 339 sq.ft.
1BR: 803 sq.ft.
2BR: 1152 sq.ft.
GV: 2044 sq.ft. (Photo Gallery)

The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort:

Studio: 374 sq. ft.
1BR: 844 sq. ft.
1BR: 1232 sq. ft.
GV: 2800 sq. ft.

Polynesian Villas & Bungalows:

Studio: 447 sq. ft.
Bungalows: 1093 sq. ft. (Photo Gallery)

Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge:

Studio: 345 sq. ft.
1BR: 761 sq. ft.
2BR: 1105 sq. ft.
Cascade Cabin: 1737 sq. ft.
GV: 3204 sq. ft.

 

[MarBee]

This might help you out - from the Resource Center. The one for AKV - the largest(366 sq ft) is the space reported for Kidani. The smallest number there is the value studios at Jambo. At WDW the largest studio is PVB - the living area is larger than most but a good part of the additional square footage went into the extra shower/sink room. The second largest is OKW.

Reported room sizes for DVC resorts:

Old Key West

Studio: 390 sq. ft.
1 BR: 1005 sq. ft.
2 BR: 1410 sq. ft. (Photo Gallery)
GV: 2375 sq. ft.

Boardwalk Villas:

Studio: 359 sq. ft.
1 BR: 712 sq. ft. (Photo Gallery)
2 BR: 1071 sq. ft.
GV: 2142 sq. ft.

Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge:

Studio: 356 sq.ft.
1BR: 727 sq.ft.
2BR: 1083 sq.ft. (Photo Gallery)
GV: None

Beach Club Villas:

Studio: 356 sq.ft.
1BR: 719 sq.ft.
2BR: 1075 sq.ft. (Photo Gallery)
GV: None

Saratoga Springs Resort:

Studio: 355 sq.ft.
1BR: 714 sq.ft.
2BR: 1070 sq.ft.
GV: 2113 sq.ft.

Animal Kingdom Villas:

Studio: 316- 366 sq.ft.
1BR: 629-802 sq.ft.
2BR: 945 - 1173 sq.ft.
GV: 2201 sq.ft.

Bay Lake Towers:

Studio: 339 sq.ft.
1BR: 803 sq.ft.
2BR: 1152 sq.ft.
GV: 2044 sq.ft. (Photo Gallery)

The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort:

Studio: 374 sq. ft.
1BR: 844 sq. ft.
1BR: 1232 sq. ft.
GV: 2800 sq. ft.

Polynesian Villas & Bungalows:

Studio: 447 sq. ft.
Bungalows: 1093 sq. ft. (Photo Gallery)

Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge:

Studio: 345 sq. ft.
1BR: 761 sq. ft.
2BR: 1105 sq. ft.
Cascade Cabin: 1737 sq. ft.
GV: 3204 sq. ft.

So helpful! Thanks!

 

[deide71]

I think you should really consider looking at 1 bedrooms. In particular the value 1 bedrooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge and the enormous 1 bedrooms at Old Key West. Even if the kitchen is a waste, the laundry in unit is very handy, and they are not too many more points than the studios on the monorail loop.

The studios at the Poly are larger than many others, but they don't feel that much larger as most of the extra space is used for the bathroom. That being said they are beautifully appointed and have a fantastic location.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For those families that fit, Value rooms are almost always less expensive than DVC, either buy-in (capital outlay + dues) or even rental, over about a 10 year cycle. The rooms are small but have two beds, and the amenities will be those of a Value resort, rather than a Deluxe. But if economy is a goal, DVC is not going to win there for a family of 4 willing to share a single room.

 

[drusba]

Frankly, if you had serious problems accepting the Kidani studios and your plan is to buy to get studios, then you should not consider buying. The Kidani studis are actually among the best of DVC. The VGF and OKW studios are somewhat larger but from your description of issues you found annoying, you are not going to like those either. The Poly studios are about 90 sq ft larger but most of that larger size is in the bathroom area rather than the sleeping area.

 

[crisi]

Frankly, if you had serious problems accepting the Kidani studios and your plan is to buy to get studios, then you should not consider buying. The Kidani studis are actually among the best of DVC. The VGF and OKW studios are somewhat larger but from your description of issues you found annoying, you are not going to like those either. The Poly studios are about 90 sq ft larger but most of that larger size is in the bathroom area rather than the sleeping area.

Plus the Poly studios are not exactly an economical choice. Buy in is pricey, and the cost per point for a night is higher than anything else. If you can't convince your husband that staying at a Value is economical, you won't be able to make the Poly work.

Have you considered offsite? If you drive or rent a car, there are lots of hotels and timeshares near Disney.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Frankly, if you had serious problems accepting the Kidani studios and your plan is to buy to get studios, then you should not consider buying. The Kidani studis are actually among the best of DVC. The VGF and OKW studios are somewhat larger but from your description of issues you found annoying, you are not going to like those either. The Poly studios are about 90 sq ft larger but most of that larger size is in the bathroom area rather than the sleeping area.

And VGF also goes towards the bathrooms. Getting to the side of the bed that is closest to the wall required turning sideways.

 

[alldiz]

My favorite studio by far is Poly. Room feels quite large. Can sleep 5 with the pull down murphy which is so cute. Extra bathroom space is awesome.
OKW like PP have said have 2 actual beds.

IMO if you were not happy in the AKV studio and are happy in the mod and value.
DVC might not be for you. It is expensive!
happy planning
Kerri

 

[MarBee]

Thanks all! DH thinks we should nix the multiple yearly trips and go elsewhere for a change. I was just hoping that if we had DVC then he would go without griping prior to (he LOVES it when there).
However, we just felt the rooms at every of the other hotels we have stayed at (even Pop) were better for us than when we stayed at Kidani in the cramped studio. I also would hate to pay for a one or two bedroom because it would just be wasteful for us.
Alas, it seems like DVC is not for us, and we will just continue to stay at the various on site hotels, and I will listen to DH grumble when I tell him that I've planned another trip