DVC rental with two families

[wxinms1]

Hi,

Am planning a trip to Disney in mid-December with my family of four and my sister's family of four - all of our kids are college age. We are looking at possibly staying at a DVC resort if we can work out renting points, and looks like both studios and 2 bedrooms are available at OKW and Saratoga Springs. Having never stayed at a DVC, my question is whether folks think we would be better off with each family getting a studio, or getting a 2BR and sharing. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks...

 

[OregonDisDad]

I’ve never stayed in a studio, but I expect a 2 BR would be more enjoyable. You’d have a full kitchen, and living room, in addition to a BR for each family (though one of the bedrooms would only have a king bed, so you would have to use the pullout sofa). Old Key West rooms are huge, so I’d suggest that resort (assuming you will have a car).

 

[starry_solo]

As long as you can secure $ from the other family (since DVC rentals are typically non refundable), I would go with a 2 bd. The common area is nice to hang out in.

However, 2 studios at OKW would provide 4 queen beds.... so I guess it depends on how many sleeping surfaces you would need.

 

[OregonDisDad]

As long as you can secure $ from the other family (since DVC rentals are typically non refundable), I would go with a 2 bd. The common area is nice to hang out in.

However, 2 studios at OKW would provide 4 queen beds.... so I guess it depends on how many sleeping surfaces you would need.

Right. 2BR would have 1 king bed, 2 queen beds, and a double sofa bed. It may also have a chair that folds out to a single bed. So, the 2BR should sleep 8 (maybe 9). You can see the layout on the DVC website.

 

[OregonDisDad]

Here is the 2BR floor plan. It does sleep 9 (with a pullout sofa bed and a pull out chair bed). There also is another couch that I know my college kids would be fine sleeping on.

 

[Heather07438]

OKW rooms are huge in comparison to other 2 BRs which is nice to not feel cramped. And like Oregon above said, you can also use the second sofa for sleep. If the 4 cousins wanted to crash together, they could. Then the parents can decide which prefer the king or 2 beds. I have a DH with crazy legs at night so we wouldn’t mind giving up the main BR with the king.

 

[Heather07438]

Am I seeing that right though... neither bathroom can be accessed from outside the bedrooms? iirc you can request a room in buildings higher than #30 and those have another entrance to the main bath thru the laundry area.

 

[mjkacmom]

We had a 2 bedroom and studio at the BC for our family of 7 and my parents, the 2 bedroom was very roomy, the studio was tiny.

 

[LovesTimone]

Here is the 2BR floor plan. It does sleep 9 (with a pullout sofa bed and a pull out chair bed). There also is another couch that I know my college kids would be fine sleeping on.View attachment 574182

I would go with the 2 bedroom... Not sure how you are traveling. Our friends bring a blow up mattress's instead of using the pull outs they just stand them up in the morning, she said they stick them in one of the closet... fold up the sheets... She said it is much easier and more comfortable for their college aged kids... just throwing this out there... Have a great time...

 

[Donna M]

That second couch is a love seat size, not too comfortable to sleep in for a week, or even the whole night. OKW is the way to go. The two sleeping surfaces in the living room work well for two adult sized people.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi,

Am planning a trip to Disney in mid-December with my family of four and my sister's family of four - all of our kids are college age. We are looking at possibly staying at a DVC resort if we can work out renting points, and looks like both studios and 2 bedrooms are available at OKW and Saratoga Springs. Having never stayed at a DVC, my question is whether folks think we would be better off with each family getting a studio, or getting a 2BR and sharing. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks...

SSR will probably be finished with renovations by December. If it makes a difference to you, SSR villas will have a new sleep sofa that is more like a Murphy bed than the traditional sleeper sofa. That means a real mattress for whoever has to sleep on it. OKW still has the old-style sleeper sofa.

Otherwise, OKW wins with the extra space, huge balcony, and full-size washer & dryer in the villa.

 

[wxinms1]

Thanks for all the great, quick feedback everyone! Your feedback is supporting what my instinct was based on my research, the 2BR at OKW seems like the best option. But glad to hear it from people who have actually stayed there!!

 

[wxinms1]

SSR will probably be finished with renovations by December. If it makes a difference to you, SSR villas will have a new sleep sofa that is more like a Murphy bed than the traditional sleeper sofa. That means a real mattress for whoever has to sleep on it. OKW still has the old-style sleeper sofa.

Otherwise, OKW wins with the extra space, huge balcony, and full-size washer & dryer in the villa.

Thanks, it is cool that they are going with a more Murphy bed solution. My first apartment was a studio with a Murphy bed and it really was a nice setup, not sure why more studios don't use that option.

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks, it is cool that they are going with a more Murphy bed solution. My first apartment was a studio with a Murphy bed and it really was a nice setup, not sure why more studios don't use that option.

I think that traditional sofa beds will be replaced with these newer beds as hard goods refurbs are done. OKW studios didn't get them because they already had 2 real beds in them. And the 1BR and 2BR villas didn't get them at OKW because there are no solid walls where they can be installed. OKW has a lot of windows!

 

[Blondie58]

Hi,

Am planning a trip to Disney in mid-December with my family of four and my sister's family of four - all of our kids are college age. We are looking at possibly staying at a DVC resort if we can work out renting points, and looks like both studios and 2 bedrooms are available at OKW and Saratoga Springs. Having never stayed at a DVC, my question is whether folks think we would be better off with each family getting a studio, or getting a 2BR and sharing. Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks...

Personal opinion: We often travel as two couples and love the two nedroom set-up. Four people can shower at once as you have two tub/shower combos and two dedicated showers, you have a washer and dryer, a full kitchen and living area with a third tv and additional places to sleep which gives more privacy. Also the cloasets are excellent size with a place to put luggage and be less disorganized and crowded. Most generally we eat breakfast in, have one meal out and snack for the other meal. A full kitchen is nice.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I agree with the other posters above that the amenities in a 2 bedroom are definitely better (laundry, kitchen). Just want to add that the upside of two studios is privacy and time apart from the other family. No matter how much I love my travel companions, I need space and time to decompress. Or if the people I’m travelling with aren’t good cooks but think they are and want to show appreciation on the trip ...
Obviously depends on your personal preferences
Edited to add: or night owls vs early birds and light sleepers!

 

[westie55]

I agree with the other posters above that the amenities in a 2 bedroom are definitely better (laundry, kitchen). Just want to add that the upside of two studios is privacy and time apart from the other family. No matter how much I love my travel companions, I need space and time to decompress. Or if the people I’m travelling with aren’t good cooks but think they are and want to show appreciation on the trip ...
Obviously depends on your personal preferences
Edited to add: or night owls vs early birds and light sleepers!

This would be my only concern with the two bedroom. I like to have my own private space. Have you traveled with this family before? You are related so it is probably doable, but just something to consider.

 

[OregonDisDad]

Personal opinion: We often travel as two couples and love the two nedroom set-up. Four people can shower at once as you have two tub/shower combos and two dedicated showers, you have a washer and dryer, a full kitchen and living area with a third tv and additional places to sleep which gives more privacy. Also the cloasets are excellent size with a place to put luggage and be less disorganized and crowded. Most generally we eat breakfast in, have one meal out and snack for the other meal. A full kitchen is nice.

I believe OKW 2BR only has 1 tub/shower combo, 1 dedicated shower, and 1 soaker tub, so two can shower at once, and one could use the soaker tub. With 8 people, there likely will be a line for each of the showers, but there are additional bathroom sinks outside the rooms with the showers, which we find super helpful.

 

[wxinms1]

This would be my only concern with the two bedroom. I like to have my own private space. Have you traveled with this family before? You are related so it is probably doable, but just something to consider.

We have traveled with them before so I think it's doable. But we haven't done it recently and I think we're all a little concerned about that, LOL, so we will obviously discuss.

 

[Belle83]

I would want the 2BR for the washer/dryer