DVC rooms compared to hotel rooms

[Judique]

I agree with what everyone has posted here. Particilarly about 1 bedrooms and up being extra special.



They do refurbish DVC rooms as often, or more often, as other WDW resort rooms. The difference is, that with full kitchens in the room, you will get food stains on carpet and furniture from people eating meals in the room. Also DVC members who go to WDW often, are likely to spend more time in their room than regular WDW guests, causing more wear and tear. (I hope we DVC members are not just messy )

I agree about more food stains because of the kitchen. But, for some reason, I've only gotten worn rooms at BCV! Every other DVC resort - very good condition. BCV - stains on the floor and sofa and nicked up furniture.

 

[DizWacko]

DVC studios are not nicer than standard deluxe rooms. The Deluxe rooms are generally larger (excluding OKW) .. have nicer appointments (linens, furniture, and the like), 2 queen beds or a king bed, and have generally nicer views, and of course housekeeping daily, and a much wider range of choices of resorts to stay at.

The only thing that I can see the DVC studio has over a Deluxe room is the microwave, and lets get real, how many of us eat microwaved food while on vacation?? Maybe once or twice?

THe 1 bedroom and larger are the only way to comparably favor DVC over deluxe rooms at DIsney.

The DVC advantages over non-DVC stays is strictly a matter of saving money. Do you want to save money (if you frequent Disney alot)? If the answer is yes, buy into DVC. There is nothing a DVC owner can do that a cash-paying guest cant do (you can also pay cash to stay at DVC resorts), other than save money.

 

[Sammie]

One thing is the same for the DVC rooms and Disney Deluxe hotels - uncomfortable beds, and no fitted sheets. My only complaint with DVC and Disney hotels. But, I am a bed snob.

I agree about the fitted sheets, but the beds at SSR, Grand Floridian and the Polynesian are wonderful.

 

[Judique]

DVC studios are not nicer than standard deluxe rooms. The Deluxe rooms are generally larger (excluding OKW) .. have nicer appointments (linens, furniture, and the like), 2 queen beds or a king bed, and have generally nicer views, and of course housekeeping daily, and a much wider range of choices of resorts to stay at.

The only thing that I can see the DVC studio has over a Deluxe room is the microwave, and lets get real, how many of us eat microwaved food while on vacation?? Maybe once or twice?

THe 1 bedroom and larger are the only way to comparably favor DVC over deluxe rooms at DIsney.

The DVC advantages over non-DVC stays is strictly a matter of saving money. Do you want to save money (if you frequent Disney alot)? If the answer is yes, buy into DVC. There is nothing a DVC owner can do that a cash-paying guest cant do (you can also pay cash to stay at DVC resorts), other than save money.

I think DVC studios ARE nicer then many deluxe rooms. I like that they have the studio kitchenette, which makes having coffee or snacks much neater and tidier - I hate a room with a coffeemaker in the bathroom or on the dresser! Most studios have balconies, while many deluxes do not, or have standing room only such as at the Beach Club. DVC studios have the option of housekeeping and many of us like the fact that housekeeping doesn't come that often....you have much more privacy.

I love the studio setup with a sleeper sofa - so much more civilized for sitting and talking then having to sit on someone's bed.

I've had the same cheap sheets in the deluxe resorts. I think both should be upgraded with fitted sheets at least.

The theming in both are all Disney. The furniture quality - not much difference imho.

There is one thing a DVC member can do - that is book a room on points. Cash paying guests are pretty limited in this respect. They can't always get what is available to a member. And, they can save money while doing it.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, comparing a DVC studio to a regular hotel room, since that is the closest "apples to apples" comparison, the biggest difference is that a DVC studio has a kitchenette. I also think that the DVC studio may be bigger than most of the regular hotel rooms, except maybe some particular rooms in some of the deluxes.

The 1, 2 & 3 BR DVC units are much bigger than the regular hotel rooms, in general. I know each of the deluxes has some special suites that may be comparable, but the "average" traveller isn't going to be paying $2000/night for a suite at the Beach Club. But the average traveller could potentially afford a 2BR villa at a DVC if they are a member.

As far as themeing and decoration, they are pretty similar. The DVC units keep to their theme very nicely.

 

[Disney Doll]

I agree about more food stains because of the kitchen. But, for some reason, I've only gotten worn rooms at BCV! Every other DVC resort - very good condition. BCV - stains on the floor and sofa and nicked up furniture.

My guess is that BCV gets a lot more "traffic" due to its location.

I have always had good experiences with all the DVC rooms we have had. I do agree that the relaxed style of DVC vacationing lends itself to spending more time in the room, since you know if you own points that you are going to be back, so you don't feel quite so much of a need to "commando" tour. That does mean more wear and tear on the rooms. Kitchens mean food stains. No daily housekeeping means that some stuff is let go until the renter leaves, so if there is a food stain on the carpet, for example, it may stay there for 4 days, and by the time Housekeeping gets to it, it is good and set.

As far as the decorating being liek an economy condo...well, I don't get that statement, but to each his own I guess. There are some nice touches in the rooms, IMHO. Of course, the decor has to be glued down, but that's not the DVC's fault, that's the fault of renters who decide that they like that decorative little milk jug, so they'll just take it.

 

[J and R's mom]

The only thing that I can see the DVC studio has over a Deluxe room is the microwave, and lets get real, how many of us eat microwaved food while on vacation?? Maybe once or twice?

DD (2.5) and I just returned from a 3-night mother/daughter trip at BWV. It was my first time to stay in a DVC studio. Having spent most of my WDW trips prior to joining DVC in deluxe rooms, I can say, without reservation, that the studio is MUCH more accomodating than the regular deluxe rooms in which I've stayed. Here's why:

1) The kitchenette was REALLY nice to have. It is a separate area with a separate sink (which is wonderful...no more using the bathroom sink to wash/rinse dishes or dispose of liquids). The refrigerator--although not a full size fridge as in the 1 br and larger units--is bigger than the one that comes in the deluxe rooms. You have more room to store items and it comes with a small freezer space for those frozen items that some of us do eat (i.e., ice cream bars, pizza rolls, frozen burritos, etc.). But in addition to the coffee maker and microwave (which I find VERY handy on vacation), there is also a toaster and dishes and can opener and a few other kitchen items.

2) I also appreciate the fact that there is a sofa bed. As Judique posted earlier, it's nice to be able to sit on a couch instead of a bed. It also opens up the space and makes the room feel roomier. DD and I moved the table and two chairs over to the center of the open space-- in front of the balcony doors--and would eat breakfast and snacks there while looking out onto the boardwalk. It's not something I've been able to do in a regular deluxe room yet.

3) Even staying in a studio, I still had access to free washers and dryers at the hotel.

As I stated in my earlier post, after having experienced a DVC room, it'd be very difficult for me to justify spending my DVC points or my cash on a regular deluxe room ever again. I'm not saying that I never would, but it would be a difficult choice.

 

[DizWacko]

OK your opinions are fair enough, but I would say the following in our situation:

Eating frozen pizza and frozen burritos isnt something we do while on vacation. The whole kitchenette area for us is completely useless, different needs for different folks.

Some like the sleeper sofa, but most people would agree its a sorry excuse for a sleeping accomodation. I would agree it makes the room "appear" as though its bigger, but most DVC studios are "in fact" smaller than deluxe rooms (esp. on the monorail line and Epcot resorts). For a family of 2, I would say the DVC studio is cool, anything more forget it (unless its OKW)

The prime views from balcony's are not at the DVC resorts with VERY few exceptions... the money charged and gotten by Disney confirms this.

Again, DVC is about saving money (prepaying for vacations), telling people anything different is misleading them.

 

[Judique]

OK your opinions are fair enough, but I would say the following in our situation:

Eating frozen pizza and frozen burritos isnt something we do while on vacation. The whole kitchenette area for us is completely useless, different needs for different folks.

Some like the sleeper sofa, but most people would agree its a sorry excuse for a sleeping accomodation. I would agree it makes the room "appear" as though its bigger, but most DVC studios are "in fact" smaller than deluxe rooms (esp. on the monorail line and Epcot resorts). For a family of 2, I would say the DVC studio is cool, anything more forget it (unless its OKW)

The prime views from balcony's are not at the DVC resorts with VERY few exceptions... the money charged and gotten by Disney confirms this.

Again, DVC is about saving money (prepaying for vacations), telling people anything different is misleading them.

I think some of the absolute best views are from the balconies at DVC resorts - many of the beautiful Boardwalk Views that we see posted are taken from the BWV's balconies. The Downtown Disney views from SSR are beautiful. Vero Beach has wonderful ocean views and there is nothing more idyllic then a marsh view at Hilton Head. When Disney charges cash for a DVC room, the rate is the 'same' for a standard room at BC or YC or BWI as it is at BWV or BCV for a studio. As you move up in space and amenities, so do the rates.

DVC is definitely a prepaid vacation plan. I don't think anyone is trying to mislead about that. It is a points based timeshare. Some can save money by buying in. Some of us end up spending more.

Many of the upscale suites in the regular hotels include kitchenettes and kitchens - probably because the people who stay there occasionally like to have frozen pizzas and burritos <g>.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I guess if you like feeling like you're at home on vacation than the DVC resorts are nicer than the Deluxe accomodations. Don't get me wrong, I didn't find anything wrong with the 2 bedroom we stayed at at VWL last April, but I'm one who prefers hotel rooms over condos, across the board. I simply don't feel like I'm on vacation with a washer and dryer and full kitchen in the room. But that's why my mom and stepdad bought in, and I will not. Obviously the one and two bedrooms will give you more space; they're bigger than a hotel room. I can vouch for the uncomfortableness of the sofa bed in VWL, and I'm sure that's similar at the other DVC resorts. I am NOT bashing DVC. I'm simply saying that to me having the chores of home detracts from a vacation, and therefore makes it less "nice"

 

[bcvillastwo]

There is a mini debate going on, on this thread about room size. I just got done Googling all of the room sizes of all of the WDW deluxe resorts that I know of and the room sizes of all the WDW on site DVC's. Here are my results. Just so everyone knows I am no saying these room sizes are absolutely accurate as I have already disclosed my source. So, everything portrayed here may not be 100% accurate. However, the results do show that some deluxe's are in fact larger than the DVC studio's. However, it also shows that some DVC studio's are larger than the WDW deluxes.

Deluxe Resort VS DVC Studios
Standard Rooms

Grand Floridian 440 sq. ft. Old Key West 390 sq ft.

Contemporary 422 Beach Club Villas 376

Polynesian 409 Saratoga Springs Resort 376

Yacht Club 380 Wilderness Lodge Villas 365

Beach Club 380 Boardwalk Villas 359

Animal Kingdom 344

Wilderness Lodge 340

 

[J and R's mom]

Thanks, bcvillastwo. Here are some more stats from the 2005 Unofficial Guide (pp.113-114).

What surprises me about the 2005 UG stats is that the BWV studio is larger than OKW. Can that be right?

Deluxe Resorts
GF--440
CR--394
POLY--391
BWI--385
BC--381
YC--381
WL--344
AKL--344

DVC Studios
BWV--412
OKW--376
VWL--356
BCV--356
SSR--355

 

[Chuck S]

Thanks, bcvillastwo. Here are some more stats from the 2005 Unofficial Guide (pp.113-114).

What surprises me about the 2005 UG stats is that the BWV studio is larger than OKW. Can that be right?

No, that is incorrect. OKW rooms are the largest in the DVC system

 

[unixadm]

To get back to the original question:

Are the DVC rooms much nicer than the hotel rooms at the WDW resort properties?

It really depends on what is meant by nicer. As others have said, the Studio sizes aren't much different in size from a Deluxe (and some are smaller that some deluxes), but it does include a kitchenette.

Once you start looking at 1, 2 or 3 BR villas, there really is no comparison.

It depends on what you want.

If you are looking for a single room Hotel Resort that is really luxurious, cushy, etc....than the deluxe rooms are more in line of what you are looking for.

If you want a "home away from home" place to stay, then DVC resorts are more in line of what you would be looking for.

We love DVC resorts because:

1. Separate Bedroom....A VERY important thing for us. My wife and I are on vacation with the kids....we want our OWN time and our OWN sleeping quarters. Prior to DVC, we stayed at Residence Inn's, or other suite type hotels for this very reason.

2. Full Kitchens....First, my wife loves to cook (and I love to eat...great combo!) Funny thing is that so far, she has only cooked dinners a couple of nights in the villas. We've just been too busy in the parks with DS5 and DS3...and now with the meal plan, that will be even less! The kitchen is still really great for Breakfast before going to the park, snacks, packing lunches, etc. Over time, I am sure that we will tour the parks less, and spend more time at the resorts....at that point I know we will use the kitchen much more.

3. Washer/Dryer - some people say they don't want that on vacation....but let me tell you, it is a huge time saver. First, with young kids, they spill all kinds of messes on their clothes. It's great to be able to toss a load of laundry in after they've spilled an Ice Cream Sundae on their pants! While I'm getting the kids ready for their baths, my wife throws a load in. By the time the kids go to bed, we put it in the dryer. If we stay up we fold it, otherwise, it gets folded the next day. No problem. We end up with very few dirty clothes to take home with us, meaning less work when our vacation is over. It also means that we can bring less clothes with us.

4. DVD player with TV....A very nice feature....it's great for getting the kids to settle down after a fun day, or keeping them busy while we get ready for dinner, etc.
5. Homey, welcomeing feeling.....I don't know how to describe it....but I don't feel like I am at a hotel.....it's homey, and welcoming....I don't like feeling like I am in an hotel, and this doesn't feel that way.

None of the DVC resorts I've seen are luxurious like a Ritz-Carlton....I don't want them to be.....but for those who like the luxurious style like that, then the DVC resorts might be lacking what they want.

 

[byoung]

I also agree with Chuck.