DVC Studios--will we be cramped?

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I'm looking into the idea of renting points and staying in a DVC studio. With 2 adults and 2 kids we would have to use use the pull out sofa. Will this make the room feel too crowded. It's not in our budget to book a deluxe resort otherwise, so our other choice will be staying at a value or moderate? Any advice?

 

[sandieb]

I would think you would be cramped. However, it is helpful to have the small kitchen area with toaster, coffeemaker, fridge, and microwave. Could you rent enough points for a 1 bedrooom?

 

[cel_disney]

I dont think you would be cramped if you were considering value as an alternate..I wouldnt suggest BLT for you though as that WOULD be cramped..

Also - if you stay at OKW, you'd have 2 queen beds and they are super spacious...

 

[lsenquiz]

I think it depends on the age of your children. If they are small then I do not think you would be cramped. In fact I prefer a studio to a regular room with two beds because when you fold the couch up in the morning the room will feel bigger than a value or moderate. I have stayed at all three and I would take the studio(again unless my kids were older teenagers).

Our first choice when renting DVC points(we have been doing it for over 10 years) is BWV standard view.

 

[goofy4tink]

Far from cramped. If you would be happy in a value or moderate, then you'll be fine in a studio. When you're sleeping, it doesn't matter how much walking around room there is, does it? When you get up in the morning, just fold up the sofa bed. That's what we do. It's all very easy and takes about 20 seconds, start to finish.
You have a better vanity area, you have the kitchenette to use...all big pluses to me.

 

[rlovew]

If you want something with more room choose OKW which has 2 queen beds in the studio and lots of room. As a PP mentioned I wouldn't choose BLT but and of the other studios aren't too cramped once you fold up the bed in the morning.

 

[pigletto]

Far from cramped. If you would be happy in a value or moderate, then you'll be fine in a studio. When you're sleeping, it doesn't matter how much walking around room there is, does it? When you get up in the morning, just fold up the sofa bed. That's what we do. It's all very easy and takes about 20 seconds, start to finish.
You have a better vanity area, you have the kitchenette to use...all big pluses to me.

Completely agree with this and that was our reasoning in booking a studio. I think it's important to remember that when people say it's "too cramped" that these are people who usually stay in one or two bedroom villas with DVC so the comparison is different.
For those of us who have been happily staying value or moderate.. these rooms are larger. It all depends on what you are used to.
Like you, we have mostly stayed in mods (with the exception of the Poly). I take it with a grain of salt when people say "Too Cramped for four!" when so many families of four do just fine in Values and Mods.

You can find the square footage of the studios online, as well as see pictures to make your decision. As others have mentioned the BLT studio and the AKV Value studios looked tight for my family of four as they are the smallest.

ETA) Here's a link to the post I was looking at... Webmaster Doc lists the square footage of the studios in the second post
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2373659

 

[ProudMommyof2]

We have done it twice and will again in August. My kids will not sleep together so we also bring a twin air mattress and everything fits fine. I love the studios because you can close up the couch during the day for more sitting and moving around space. We put the air mattress between the wall and Queen bed during the day. The kitchenette is perfect, you have a microwave, fridge and extra sink. I would never use a stove in a 1 bedroom.
I think renting points for a studio is a great way to stay Deluxe without paying Deluxe $. 1 bedrooms are usually twice the points/price. We are renting at AKV-Jambo standard view for 3 nights this August (1st 3 nights at the Poly as part of our sweepstakes win ) for 13 points per night at $10 a point-no taxes. You can't stay at a mod resort for $130 a night!

 

[dzorn]

If you would normally stay at one room in a value or mod then I doubt you would feel cramped. During the day if you fold up the couch it will actually feel like more room.

Denise in MI

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Thanks guys. We definitely would not consider BLT because I don't like the layout of the studio there and I think that one probably would be tight. My kids are 5 and 7, so they're not big and Disney is one of the few places that they can share a bed, because they're so tired they always fall asleep right away. We thought about OKW, but we like to use Disney transportation and hardly ever use our car once we're at Disney and I'm worried that OKW is too big for that.

 

[peemagg]

Don't worry about having to use your car. You won't have to. There is internal buses that just run inside the resort to get to where you are going. You can also jump on a park bus, (if you know where it's next stop is) and ride it to where you are wanting to go if it is going there before heading to the parks.

OKW and SSR both have this internal bus system in place.

 

[scootch]

We stay BLT studio, one adult two kids 9 and 11 and leave the pull out bed down the whole time. There is so much room outside the bathroom, so that is where we put our luggage. We are very comfortable and still enjoy the monorail and the feeling of being so close to MK.

 

[djp0630]

We rented points and stayed at BCV in a studio with a 4 year old and almost 2 year old. We even rented a crib and although not super spacious, we were fine. One thing we asked for was a larger balcony, so we stored our stroller out there and could go out there when the kids were asleep. BCV has different size balconies, I don't think all of them are like that. We fell in love with BCV!

 

[Disneygal27]

for 3 adults we always have more than enough space in studios, so i doubt you'll have a problem. if you're looking for a smaller resort feel, perhaps try BCV or BWV, not only are they compact and have good pools and entertainment areas, you have easy transit to 2 of 4 parks. i've never stayed in BCV (we did YC a few years ago, so i know the location) but BWV is our favorite. its the first on the bus loop between the Epcot resorts, and i've never thought it was a bad ride. plus, there is tons to do between the resorts, so if you have an early night/non-park time, you don't have to go far for activities.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I agree with everyone who has said that if your alternative is a Value or Moderate, then a DVC studio will be just fine!!

Obviously, there are larger and smaller studio rooms among the resorts but any of them will be nicer IMO than a Value and most will be nicer than a Moderate as well, especially given that you have an inside hallway and a balcony!

I wouldn't necessarily rule out BLT even though it's the smallest studio among the DVC properties. It's still larger than a value (300 sq ft vs 260 sq ft), but is slightly smaller than most Moderates which are 314 square ft except for CSR which is 340 sq ft.

Although you may lose a bit of space with BLT compared to a Mod, you gain a tremendous location for you and your kids. Hearing the ferry boats in the morning, watching the monorail and the buzz of being so close to MK. You can also take the monorail to Epcot. When returning to your room at night, you might catch the electical water pageant or see the MK fireworks. Being able to walk to MK is awesome and a huge timesaver! Plus, you generally have some type of covering when walking around the resort itself whereas the Values and Moderates are open to the elements when walking around the resort.

If space is your primarly concern, then OKW has the largest studios at 390 sq ft. I believe most of the others are around 360 sq ft give or take 10 sq ft. with the exception of Jambo House value studios which are about 316 sq ft.

Again, if comparing to a Value or Mod, you should love the DVC studios! They aren't quite as nice as some Deluxe rooms, but they are very nice rooms compared to a Value or Mod IMO.

Good luck deciding!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I wouldn't necessarily rule out BLT even though it's the smallest studio among the DVC properties. It's still larger than a value (300 sq ft vs 260 sq ft), but is slightly smaller than most Moderates which are 314 square ft except for CSR which is 340 sq ft....

The problem with the BLT studio is so much space is used for the kitchenette and the bathroom compared to a value room. So you actually have less space in the main sleeping area (plus you have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa) than you would in a value.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We stayed in a Studio just last month (first time staying as DVC members) and there are 4 of us....2 adults, a DD who was 9 at the time and a DD who is 8. We did not feel cramped whatsoever. Every morning we would fold up the couch which made the room bigger. If it is not in your budget to go deluxe, then a studio would be the next best thing IMHO

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We've stayed in studios at BWV and WL with our family of 4 ... much roomier than a room at Pop. We fold up the sofa bed during the day, so we have a little lounge area with couch and TV. Plus, you get the little kitchenette area with an extra sink ... no kitchenette at the values or moderates.

Like a previous poster mentioned, people who are "too cramped" in a studio are probably used to a one bedroom (or larger).

 

[mom of princessx2]

My kids are basicaly the same age as yours and we never feel cramped in a DVC studio. In fact we like it much better than a moderate room because of the sofa. It allows much more room during the waking hours and of course we don't even notice the room while sleeping .

 

[DisneyEater]

I think any studio will be fine (with a possible exception of BLT studios or AKV value studios) but OKW would be best. It is the largest studio and includes 2 queen beds instead of the sofa.