Climbing off my high horse... and "squeezing" my whole family into... (long)

[DVC Jen]

We always stay in a studio and our DDs are 11 and 15.

We have stayed in a one bedroom and it really was not an issue going to a studio after at all

 

[westjones]

We love our 150 points, and we find the studios are a GREAT option for us to be able to get in a lot of 5 day visits to WDW. We have tried the 1 and 2 bedrooms also, and of course loved them. But before DVC we always stayed in hotels and the studios are much nicer than the hotels we have stayed in before.

We just stayed in a studio at VWL and the laundry is right in the building, so we just started our laundry (the washers had timers and told you how long it would be) and so we just showed up a couple of minutes before the washer stopped and then put the clothes in the dryer, went back to our room and waited (and checked from time to time) on our clothes. We stayed in an Inn room at Vero Beach also, and did the same thing (the laundry was on the 4th floor in the Inn).

I was surprised how easy it was to get time to use the washer/dryers.

We are looking at getting a studio at SSR next summer, I hope the laundry is easy to access there as well.

DJ

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Thanks for all the input guys!

I was wavering for a while there... gonna miss my laundry... would you believe that I actually like to do laundry on vacation?

Just for the heck of it I called MS to find out how much paying cash for the weekends would be. $394 + 11.5% tax for a BWV one bedroom and $303 + tax for the studios. The price for the one bedroom is actually quite reasonable considering all that space.

I guess the high cost is worth it to some people who value their points at $10/point. Well, I value my points at more than $10 but I probably will never get to rent them out. However, it's not worth it to me to pay over the "actual calculated cost" of my points in order to save from using my points.

We're gonna stick to the plans for a studio for 12 nights in February 2005. Based on the experience, we will decide whether to stay in a studio in October as well. Worst case, I think we may just have enough to stay in a one bedroom in October, if I borrow everything from 12/05.

This whole experience has just made me appreciate the flexibility of DVC even more. Hopefully, I'll get to experience every combination of accommodations at every resort in the next 30+ years.

Thanks guys!

 

[AMcaptured]

We are a family of 3 and the first time we stayed in a 1 bedroom our daughter, then 11, asked us to please never book that type of room again because she didn't like the idea that if someone broke into the room in the middle of the night they would "get" her first (What can I say, she is a city kid and unfortunately we are lock obsessed). She is now 14 and every time I am booking our next stay I ask her if she wants a 1 bedroom and she declines. Its fine with me, I don't cook on vacation. Heck, I don't even really cook at home so why would I start on vacation...

We have had NO problem at all in the studio's at BCV or BWV's. We always stayed at the Yacht and Beach Club before buying at both locations and I love that I have a small frig and microwave now just so that every meal we have isn't wasted because neither my daughter or myself can finish it. Now half the time we don't even eat the leftovers we bring back to the room but its nice knowing its available to us if we so desire.

I think I would think differently about a 1 bedroom if it actually meant my daughter had a BED to sleep on instead of a pull out couch but regardless of which one we book, she is still on the pull out.Your children are young so I wouldn't think twice about it.

I am not a pack and unpack and then repack and unpack person myself. I bring so many toiletries and moving to me is a waste of time and energy so I wouldn't want to move either.

We generally stay 2 weeks in the summer and 1 week during Xmas break and even though we aren't park commando's, we don't fell cramped in the studio.

As for no VCR or DVD player in the room, who cares? Little one's can always find something to watch at the end of the day with all the Disney Channels and information channels they have in the room. I find myself watching it obsesively... Actually, its the Appliance Direct guy who I am most obsessed with...

What ever you decide, don't lament over it and torment yourself with self doubt and second guessing. Just make your decision and forget about it...Its vacation. Its time to relax and not to let the little things in life upset you....JMHO>>

Enjoy

Heidi

 

[castleri]

I don't like those big weekend points so do the room changing thing a lot. At Christmas we ended up in AKL three nights( 2 people), OKW GV 4 nights (5 people) and 2BR BCV 1 night (5 people). Yes I know someone who uses enough points for a GV at Christmas for 5 people shouldn't be concerned about weekend points - we originally had 9 people when the ressie was made and by the time they backed out it was too late to get a 2BR for Dec 28-31. We now do the changes at the beginning or end and pack luggage so that some of it is opened only after the change is made. It also gave us the chance to stay at AKL - they had a great annual pass rate last year. My son age 17 decided it was his favorite resort even though it was furthest from his favorite place -Disney Quest. We have also stayed off property other years and did the same thing with the luggage so we didn't have it all to pack or unpack. While OKW is my favorite resort for 1BR and above I would prefer one of the others if staying in a studio especially if it is only 2 or 3 people since you have the sofa for just sitting around and relaxing. We have a 2BR for sept OKW and I think we will have to do a little creative work for the 2 YO DGS as the packand play will be too small and he is too small to be so high off the floor in one of those "tall" beds. We have ressies at Cyress Pointe Grand Villas for the 1st three nights to avoid those weekends and do US and other offsite attractions before checking into OKW($297for the 3 nights-less than one night cash at OKW). This way we have the 2BR for 4 nights instead of a1 BR for the whole trip.
All said and done this is what is so great about DVC and what played a big part in my decision to buy in 1997 (OKW) and again in 2001(BCV) and 2003(SSR). Each of us can use our poiints in the way that best fits our wants, needs and point balance at any given time. Hope everyone has great trips and much enjoyment in the planning and anticipation. So many choices - too little vacation time.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Originally posted by AMcaptured
Actually, its the Appliance Direct guy who I am most obsessed with...

My DH has the Appliance Direct Guy on A LOT!!!! He thinks it's too funny. That guy seems to have his own channel.

 

[colleen costello]

Castleri, regarding your little grandson, I saw a cool kid-thingy recently. It was a cute set that was a small airbed with an attached sleeping bag cover. You blow it right up for the child; it looked very cute. Can't recall but we were at a JCPenney Home Store last weekend and I suspect I saw it there.

Also, they will bring bed rails for the beds if you ask. I always get them even thought my kids are a bit older. The beds at OKW are still quite high and I figure "better safe than sorry."

 

[Mickey527]

Originally posted by AMcaptured
Actually, its the Appliance Direct guy who I am most obsessed with...


This is too funny. I love to watch the Appliance Direct channel. The guy is funny to watch. I remember when they only had the woman. I like the funny guy much more.
But I live in CT and we have "Bob" of Bob's Discount furniture. Everyone here complains that he is annoying, but I find him funny too.

SleepyatDVC, did you check to see what the AP rates are for the studio? I paid $170 per night for a Friday and Sat. at OKW in a studio, much less than the quoted $304 per night rack rate. There is also a DVC member discount but I don't think it is as much as the AP rates. I know I will get flack for this, don't flame me, I am just a messenger.
I have read on the budget board that people will buy their child an AP and use that to get the AP rates. I personally don't have any young children so I have an adult AP so I don't partake in this method of saving, but some of us have to do what we have to do. Peggie