Families of 4? Do you like to get a studio or one bedroom?

[gianna2006]

We are also a family of four (kids are 7 and 4) and we always opt for at least the one bedroom. Vacation time needs to be for the family as a whole, but also some special time is needed for just mom and dad. I love putting the kids to bed on the sleeper, closing the door, and being able to watch what I want on TV and spend some quality time with my husband without having to worry about disturbing the kids. We've done Disney many times, though, and try not to commando the whole trip (hard as it still is!). We tend to spend a few evenings in and enjoy the resort and the room. If time does not allow for this and you will be spending most of your time in the parks and coming home exhausted - then the studio is just fine!!!

 

[JandD Mom]

Hi,

For our family of 4 with two third-graders, we always opt for at least a 1 bedroom. We like the kitchen and washer/dryer. On our next trip, another family of 4 with 2 small kids is joining us, so we got a 2 bedroom (they will take the studio).

The exception is that we are coming down a day early, so we are going to take the studio for 1 night.

We bought DVC for the ability to have the amenities I listed above, plus a little privacy for mom and dad! For DH and I, if we wanted to share a room with our kids, we would not have bought DVC -- we would just have stayed at different resorts. I personally prefer the deluxe rooms (2 beds) to the BW studios. I know OKW studios have 2 beds, but we haven't had the opportunity to stay there yet!

 

[Granny]

Another family of four here that books 2BR units.

We started with 1BR's when the children were younger. Now DD's are teenagers and we need the extra bathroom that a 2BR provides!

 

[starbox]

I am the lone crazy in the bunch. We have a family of 4 and use a studio. Kids are DD(almost)8 and DS10. We stayed in a 2bd once and did not use the space. We were literally NEVER in the room - except to sleep and shower. (I did do laundry). It's not that we were at the parks 24/7 - but in our spare time we went to the pool, or played mini-golf, or drove to celebration and walked around. It just never appealed to me to use vacation time to sit in a resort room and watch tv or a movie - or - worse - to cook. I want to get out and go!

Since a 1bd has the same sleeping arrangements as a studio (i.e. 2 people on a fold-out couch), it does not appeal to me as a use of points. I'd rather go twice as much than have a bigger room to sleep in. BUT - we are also some of those loony attachment parent-types. DD never even owned a crib - she just slept in our bed till she was 4.

When the kids both become teenagers we may have to re think the studio, but for now, it suits us.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We usually get a 1 bedroom for 2 of us and a always get a 2 bedroom if it is 3 or 4 of us. We will likely do a GV next year for 6 of us, because we would like to keep the kids in one bedroom and let each couple have their own.

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

Do your kids mind the sofa sleeper? This is a timely thread for us. We are planning a trip with my parents for Dec 07 and trying to decide if a 2 bdr will be enough room for all of us. Kids would be with us in room on sofa sleeper and my mom/dad would have the king bed. Do you think we will be too crowded? I we would still have more room than 2 standard rooms together, right?

 

[bobbiwoz]

"we would still have more room than 2 standard rooms together, right?"

Sure, a 2 bedroom is more room than 2 standard rooms. A 2 bedroom at OKW is marvelous for spreading out, including eating. The other 2 bedrooms are fine, but honestly, I think 6-8 people would have a hard time finding comfortable ways to eat a dinner. I know there are people who do it, and WVL is my favorite resort, but I gave up plans to have a dinner birthday meal for my family in the 2 bedroom there. Cake and Ice cream were enough with the space we had.

Bobbi

 

[ClarabelleCow]

yeah - i don't get the planners when they laid out the 2 bedrooms! we had a dedicated two bedroom at VWL, the 2nd bedroom was HUGE!!! you could have fit another twin bed or bunks in the closet/dressing area of that room! But the ktichen/living area was tiny! the room is supposed to fit 8, but seating at the table for 2 or maybe 4, but I think it was two, and then another two at the tiny counter!!! We brought the chairs in off the porch! OKW's 2 bedrooms are true "condo" living! SSR isn't bad, but OKW is the best if your gonna eat in or have a little get togther, we had DS's birthday and it was tough and there was only 6 of us at VWL!

 

[beachblanket]

Now that my daughter is getting into adolesence, we're going for 2Brs.

 

[Deb & Bill]

This family of three (one 13 yr old son) always gets the one bedroom. We had a one bedroom with three adults (brought the SIL along) and our son two years ago and it was crowded. We seldom stay in a studio.

 

[twinklebug]

I know this is a personal preference. We're trying to decide whether to get a one bedroom or a studio in fall of '07. We'll have a 7yo and a 4yo. A one bedroom is nice, but it might also be nice to bank the extra points for more trips. Just wondering what other people's experiences are? Sorry, I'm nosy-- and I need to study, so its my way of procrastinating.

OMG - 4 yo in Disney... You'll NEED a place to lock the I'm-too-tired tantrums away. For sanity sake, book a 1 br and buy more points... it's your vacation & it's Disney

 

[deedeetoo]

We are trying to decide the same thing right now. We have a dd8 and ds5. We have enough points next year for 2 wks in a studio or one week in a 1 BR. I know most people are saying 1BR but we are trying to decide if it is worth it.

On the plus side, we are not "spoiled" yet. We are used to regular hotel rooms. While we are deluxe people in WDW, we haven't been when we go elsewhere. In August we spent a week in VA in a Quality Inn with 2 double beds and no one complained. We keep going back and forth on whether we should enjoy our double points next year and splurge on the 1BR or whether that will spoil us and we'll never even consider doing the studio.

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

Family of 4 here, we always do the 1-bdr, the extra room is a bonus. the clincher for us was the full kitchen and the in room laundry, which allows us to pack lighter and save on th efood bill during longer trips.

 

[Dina]

Thanks everyone!!! I actually think we are going with the studio. Well, actually in Jan we have a 2br, but that's because we're brining my parents. But, after that we're gonna try the studio. Someone made the point of their kids waking up in unfamiliar surroundings-- that's the one thing that bothered me. My little one is still so young that I couldn't put him to sleep in the living room and go to sleep in a bedroom-- and if we put them in the bedroom, they'll still wake up and start walking around (last year we had connectors with MIL at ASMO, and my little one would wake up at night and would switch beds and rooms--it was always fun when we woke up and had to find him). Also I like the idea of banking points and bringing more family or taking more trips. Once I'm finished nursing school we're going to at least double our points -- probably more(by that time my youngest will be 9) at that point I think we'll get enough points for a 1 or 2br each trip. When they're older, I feel like we'll definitely need more privacy, right now we could have 4 bedrooms and we still won't get any privacy (we don't at home, they're always creeping in at night). Thanks so much, you all made so many great points-- lots to consider!! The only thing I wish is that you had a washer and dryer in the studio-- that's the one thing I would like to have.