Did you buy into DVC thinking you would only stay in studios?

[J. Iminy]

For us, the whole purpose of going DVC was to "prepay" for larger rooms, which, for us, were a necessity. We have three kids already and are planning on at least one more (God permitting). We can't stand small confines with younger children because it means we have to be quiet (i.e., just stare/whisper at each other) once its bedtime for the youngest around 8pm or so. With 2BRs, we have more flexibility to spread out and just hang out at night after the youngest ones are down.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I always thought we would book whatever we needed. So far the only grand villas we have used or needed have been Vero's Beach Cottages.

We are senior citizens who do like to use 1 bedrooms a bit more than we thought we would in 2003, when we first bought.

 

[bwvBound]

Oh, yes-when we bought in 2002, we thought a studio would be plenty for just the 2 of us. Then a couple of years later we had a few extra points and decided to "splurge" just that once with a 1 BR. What is it they say-once you try a 1 BR you'll never go back. Sure was true for us.

I think that was what happened to us with our Worldmark timeshare before we added DVC. We carried that lesson across systems (from WM to DVC).

 

[finchy3]

Initialy the plan was to stay in a studio but our 1st trip was a 1 BR, the only way we would stay in a studio going forward is if the kids weren't with us.
1BR are perfect for us at the moment.

 

[AirGoofy]

We bought into the DVC back in 2000. Our idea when purchasing was to stay in a 1 or 2 BR unit all of the time. As a family of 4 staying in a studio kind of defeats the purpose of staying at a DVC resort.

When its me and my DW we stay in a 1 BR with our Kids 2 BR

My wife and stayed in a studio at VB and hated it.

What did you think when you bought?

Yes, we bought in 2008 with the exact intent of staying in studios. We had stayed at two of the All Stars, Pop, upgrade to CBR, and then decided to purchase as we enjoyed WDW vacations so much. Now, our dds are 14 & 12. We've tried the 1 BR before, but i didn't like it as it was way more points, and not even a 2nd bathroom.

 

[Jennasis]

We are a childless couple in our 40's and bought in with the intention of only staying in Studios. And we have been happy with that.

 

[msp2mco]

We purchased with the intention of staying in 1- or 2-BR. Even if it is just the two of us, we will most likely get a 1-BR. We like having a kitchen, laundry and a separate living area.

 

[CarolynFH]

We purchased with the intention of staying in 1- or 2-BR. Even if it is just the two of us, we will most likely get a 1-BR. We like having a kitchen, laundry and a separate living area.

Same here. DH & I would rather eat hot breakfast in the room, pack fewer clothes and go home with 'em clean!

 

[gmboy95]

I bought in with a one bedroom completely in mind.....we got to stay in one in 1999 and we immediately bought in for 300 at VWL with the express purpose of it being enough to stay in a 1 bedroom for a week....since that time we have added another 140 points at OKW where we stay all the time, and we have stayed mostly in a 1 bedroom, but also have quite a few trips in studios and 2 bedrooms sprinkled in....but originally it was that 1 bedroom that attracted us

 

[lovin'fl]

Late to the party but we initially, in 2006, bought for a 1BR. We had 3 young kids and had 2 trips to WDW under our belts and felt that cramming all of us in 1 small POR room with a trundle bed (or whatever it was called, the little bed that pulled out from under one of the beds) was not super comfortable. And our kids were getting older. So we bought solely for the condo layout with a door to the master bedroom. We did a 1BR for a while but then the young kids turned into teenagers, big grumpy teenagers who bickered so we upgraded to a 2BR for a while. Now the teens are all going off to college so we are back to doing 1BRs to save points. Every now and then, when low on points, we do a studio if it's 2-4 of us (we have a studio coming up for F&W and 2 of the 3 teens will be with us). I would have never bought DVC if the plan was to always get a studio. I just would have continued to book moderates and would not go as often.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Same here. DH & I would rather eat hot breakfast in the room, pack fewer clothes and go home with 'em clean!

Yes, that's one nice part of a 1 BR for me. I always do laundry just before we go home. It's such a treat to get home and not have laundry to do.

 

[disland7]

We have 5 young kids (DS8, DS6, DS4, DD2, DD6 months). We bought in because we have too many people to fit in one hotel room anymore. So a 2 bedroom with laundry and kitchen is so much more of a value than buying 2 hotel rooms. Plus we can still invite a few people to stay with us. We do stay with 8-9 people and enjoy it very much. Building memories with my kids is my favorite thing. My DH and I are staying in a studio in AUL this summer though.

 

[AdamsMum]

I hope that 8 in a 1 BR was a typo, or you are a major rule breaker. Shame on you

You're right, it was 8 in a 2, 4 in a 1. The 8 in a 2 was too tight. My brother and his family in the studio section, my 2 teenagers in the living room one on an air mattress. Had to keep stepping over them, brother had to go out to the hallway and come back in the other door to get to the kitchen. We survived, but I wouldn't do it again.

 

[AdamsMum]

They did say "note to self---never do that again". That means they understand it was a bad idea. They don't need a "shame on you".


My dad once thought that two 6'4" males (my brothers), 6'2" dad, 5'11" stepmom, me (short but not a small person at that time), and 6 year old DS could and should share ONE 2Q room at a Ramada. There was barely enough room for the 4 of them, let alone once DS and I were included! Sometimes people think they can squeeze in. (I snuck away and rented a room for me and my son...dad was very angry with me because he thought we should all share, but oh well!)

Too funny, what would 8 in a 1 bedroom look like. I think I'd rather not go.

 

[Baklava]

Given that the average cost for my family to fly from Western Canada to DL is $1200-1500 and $1500-2500 to fly to WDW, longer stays are more important to us than additional space.

Given that we would be staying in an ordinary hotel room were it nor for DVC, we're perfectly fine staying in a studio and knew that when we bought in. That being said, now that my daughter is 12 1/2 and almost 5'5", pull out sofas/murphy beds are getting less comfortable for her every trip, but she'll just have to tough it out.

I'm not fussed about not having in-room laundry (I'm ok hanging out by the laundry room with a good book for a couple of hours one day, while my wife and daughter are at the pool or after they go to sleep), and the bar fridge is more than sufficient for us to stock up on yogurts and juice (and a granola bar) for breakfast during our stay, so no need for a full kitchen.

This is us. Our plan was based on staying almost entirely in studios. A studio in a deluxe instead of a hotel room at a moderate is enough of a "high life" for us for most trips. We *did* book a 2 BR at VGC this year because we'll be staying less time than we would in Florida and we're using the "signing bonus" points for a splurge. In room laundry is a bigger temptation for us than a kitchen. None of us is cooking or doing dishes on vacation, but the ability to do a quick load in room is awfully nice.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Nope. Plan was 1BR's or other size villas as needed depending on the group we might or might not invite. Although at VGC studios were the intention and have been booked unless they weren't available.

However, we do stay studios at times - even though that wasn't the intention.

 

[WDWLODGE]

We bought into DVC with the idea that we would mostly stay in a studio. We are a family of 4(DD 14 & DS 7) and so far so good. I do not see us outgrowing a studio anytime soon, especially with the new 5 per studio layout. Like some others have said we do not spend very much time in our room. We are either in the park, pool or out on the resort grounds. We also have zero intentions of ever cooking or doing laundry while on vacation.

 

[gluestickgirl]

Yep. When we're there with our kids, or room time is spent sleeping or getting ready. We'd rather be out in the parks our enjoying the resort. My husband and I spend more time relaxing in the room when it's just us - and the studio works perfectly for that as well. =) We don't cook, and work any laundry that needs to happen around pool breaks.

 

[Dawn68PA]

When we first bought in, we bought enough points to stay in a studio at GF (the most expensive at the time) 3 times a year. That way we knew we would be covered anywhere we went. Our first trip as owners we stayed in a studio (there's only 2 of us). This was bad. We travel with my daughter and her husband and stay in a 2 BR sometimes. Going from all that space to a studio was, weird. After 2 years we are now revamping by selling our smaller SSR contract and buying a larger BWV contract (we own at OKW as well) so we can have a 1BR every time we travel and stay at a different location in the world.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

We bought enough for 1 or 2 bedroom. Now my daughter and I mostly are the ones traveling, so the points go a very long way since we usually book a studio.