Family Suites @ All Star Music

[Lizardbeth61]

. . . and not part of DVC either. Just read on Mousesavers.com that Disney is opening up 192 family suites soon. They have a queen bed and I believe three additional single beds (I think it's a twin convertible chair, a twin convertible ottoman and a twin bed?) plus a kitchen. I think it's great and about time Disney figured that people would rather travel with the comforts of home.

However, the rack rate is outrageously low (Between $109.00 during value season and $260.00 at holidays) so it may in some ways devalue our DVC. I don't really care about that as much as I do something else about it.

I've been flamed here for saying this, but I hate having to use enough points for a two bedroom in order for my son and daughter to each have a bed. Sleeper sofas aren't as comfortable, the siblings aren't very good about sharing and soon it won't be appropriate for them to share. A two bedroom is overkill when you consider how much we AREN'T in our room anyway. So, I've always wanted two queens in the bedroom and the sleeper sofa in the living room.

That makes some sense in terms of accomodations. Studio would sleep 4, 1-bedroom would sleep 6 max or 4 comfortably and finally the 2 bedroom sleeps 8. You know, there's a step up with each size.

Apparently now Disney does see a need for multiple single beds. I just wish they'd at least put a single sleeper chair in our living rooms . . . and obviously I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Still I won't give up my DVC. We love it, but I just wish it worked better for a family of four who's children are of the opposite sex.

 

[littlestar]

Hey, I think that price is $169 during value season, not $109.

 

[Alexander]

I think that is great for those who like to stay at the value resorts. There are many families that crowd their four or five family members into those tiny rooms because that is what they can afford, or want to pay for their room.

It may sound snobby, but I can't stand them. They are way too crowded, the lobby, the pools, the food court. There are sooooo many kids around. Now, I love kids, have my own and teach, but there are sooooo many kids there. I'll keep my DVC rooms.

 

[Sherri]

Lizardbeth, I couldn't agree with you more.
We are going in July and are going with two studios. It is cheaper then the points for a two bedroom. When the kids were younger it was not an issue for them to stay together, but now at 13 and 14 (girl/boy) I would never put them together. When we travel other places and all stay in one hotel room we are always able to get a rollout bed/cot brought in which works out just fine. But we don't have that option with Disney and have been forced to lug the air mattress with us. This year we decided no air mattress lets just get two studios, certainly not ideal by any means but atleast enough room for everyone to sleep comfortably.
I would love it if there would be a family suite option available to us.

 

[gppnj]

I've been flamed here for saying this, but I hate having to use enough points for a two bedroom in order for my son and daughter to each have a bed. Sleeper sofas aren't as comfortable, the siblings aren't very good about sharing and soon it won't be appropriate for them to share. A two bedroom is overkill when you consider how much we AREN'T in our room anyway. So, I've always wanted two queens in the bedroom and the sleeper sofa in the living room.

I understand what you're saying. I'm planning a trip for May/June 2006, and I'll be traveling with two friends. I don't want any of us to have to share a bed or sleep on a sofa bed, so I've got to get a two-bedroom unit. It seems like a waste of points to get a two-bedroom villa when there are only three of us in the room, but that's the way it is. I knew that it was this way before I bought, and I still bought, so I've got to deal with it.

 

[magicmouse2]

I think its great that Disney have built these suites. Somewhere to stay on a weekend when the points are too high for a 2 bedroom. I like having breakfast in the room and having the mini kitchenette is great. I wouldnt want to stay there for more than a few days with the kids though. Id rather they slept in a proper bed than a sleper sofa now they re a bit bigger. I like the docr of the rooms too. Nice and bright.

 

[paults]

Sherri

But we don't have that option with Disney and have been forced to lug the air mattress with us. This year we decided no air mattress lets just get two studios, certainly not ideal by any means but atleast enough room for everyone to sleep comfortably.

not to start an argument here but who forced you to take a air mattress. ( if you meant Disney) I'm sorry but when we all bought into DVC we knew how it worked. DVC has options to use for more people. I understand a 2 bed is more pts but that's how it works. We go in Oct all the time and I would love to get 2 bedrooms or GV but don't. I just reserve 5 studios for less pts.

 

[simpilotswife]

Personally I don't think that it is going to be the same as a DVC villa. While a value is alright for a weekend, the sound of the flushing toilets from the other rooms would bother me after a week.

 

[unixadm]

I have to agree with simpilotswife...it won't be anything near what a villa is. It won't devalue our DVC at all.

Ok it will sleep more people...but it won't have the separate bedrooms, full kitchens, DVD players, jacuzzi's, etc. that are exclusive to the villas.

Staying at a villa is a different experience from staying in a hotel. Those who like villas will not want to spend a week in a value resort even if it is bigger.

These may work out pretty good.....for us, we usually do Sunday-Friday in a villa. We will do a value or moderate for the Saturday night before going to the villa. This might be a nicer alternative.

 

[Lizardbeth61]

arrangements when I bought and frankly even then it was a sore spot . . . but one of the few. It's really just my wish list. Like I said in the OP, I love DVC, but I do wish we had a more convenient sleeping arrangement. Again as I said, a 2-bedroom just seems like overkill.

Still, you don't see me putting my DVC up for sale . . . but please give me a convertible sleeper chair????

Okay, I leave in 2 days for the Cruise and DVC so I'm gonna think happy thoughts now!

 

[vascubaguy]

arrangements when I bought and frankly even then it was a sore spot . . . but one of the few. It's really just my wish list. Like I said in the OP, I love DVC, but I do wish we had a more convenient sleeping arrangement. Again as I said, a 2-bedroom just seems like overkill.

Still, you don't see me putting my DVC up for sale . . . but please give me a convertible sleeper chair????

Okay, I leave in 2 days for the Cruise and DVC so I'm gonna think happy thoughts now!

Have you submitted a suggestion to DVC with your thoughts? Perhaps they would consider switching to sleeper chairs when they start having to replace the existing ones.

 

[Daitcher]

Family suites at a VALUE resort devalueing our DVC! That really is a good one. Quite frankly only the guests staying at value resorts will even know about this. People that stay at deluxe resorts don't even consider the value resorts an option. No slides, food courts, no gyms or spa, no room service = NO THANK YOU. Thanks for the laughs and the info.


DAVE

 

[Daitcher]

arrangements when I bought and frankly even then it was a sore spot . . . but one of the few. It's really just my wish list. Like I said in the OP, I love DVC, but I do wish we had a more convenient sleeping arrangement. Again as I said, a 2-bedroom just seems like overkill.

Still, you don't see me putting my DVC up for sale . . . but please give me a convertible sleeper chair????

Okay, I leave in 2 days for the Cruise and DVC so I'm gonna think happy thoughts now!

lizardbeth61,


Don't apologize or fear the flames because of what you posted. You are entitled to your opinion. I agree totally with you by the way. A one bedroom should have better sleeping arrangements. I've felt al along the sleeping arrangements could be better. I'm not complaining, we book 2 bedrooms for the most part for the 3 of us. Sometimes we "slum" it in a one bedroom. I do see your points here. I'm the king of getting flamed, but guess what I continue to call it like I see it, even if it isn't always popular.


DAVE

 

[Lizardbeth61]

What an intersting assortment of responses. Frankly, I'm surprised. I sort of thought this whole thread would bring a huge debate on the "devaluation" of our "investment," but as a true hotel snob, that was the smallest of my worries.

Thanks Dave. You flamed me . . . sort of . . . in one post and stroked me in the next! Not sure where to go with that! LOL.

Anyway, I am a hotel snob . . . the nicer the better so the closest I've been to one of the value resorts is Dixie Landings in the days it was called Dixie Landings, so I didn't know that there was such a large discrepancy. Seems a lot of folks who own DVC do try to be economical so I thought it would be seen as competition. Glad it isn't!

Good idea vascubaguy! I'll try . . .

Honestly, I'm surprised it took Disney so long to see the trend in travel . . . have you run into friends who don't understand DVC, but will rent a house in Orlando for the "great facilities" and drive back and forth to the parks? Drives me nuts, but at the price, you can't blame them since they don't have what we have.

 

[FreeTime]

I think that it is great that there is going to be AS suite rooms. However, the comment that was made about cramming 5 in an AS room to save money, I think will still happen. I don't see the people that are doing this paying the extra to stay in the suite. Just my $.02 about that.

As for the sleeping arrangements at DVC, I knew what I was getting when I bought in. I am happy with the arrangements. I have had to get a 2BR before for 3 adults and 2 babies so that the adults could have privacy. But I knew this before I bought also.

 

[Lisa F]

It sounds like they are making these suites by combining two standard value rooms into one suite. Saying that these suites devalue similar DVC accommodations is like saying that building the value resorts in the first place devalue deluxe resorts. After all, value resorts sleep the same number of people as deluxe resorts do in most cases... yet, it doesn't seem like they have a hard time getting people to pay a premium price for the deluxe resorts.

DVC is a deluxe experience. There is a reason that they are built attached to deluxe resorts and not moderate or values. They are bigger than the value suites (even the smallest DVC 1br is over 700 sq ft as opposed to 560 sq ft in the value suites... 27% larger for the newer resorts and 80% larger at OKW). DVC has more luxurious appointments and amenities (jacuzzi tub, washer and dryer in the unit, king bed vs. queen bed, real kitchen vs. kitchenette that will be more like in the DVC studios). The only thing these suites have over a DVC 1br is the 2 bathrooms and that is probably because they are existing and would be more expensive to rip out than to keep. DVC 1 bedrooms DO have private toilet rooms along with separate showers and tubs and two sink areas that allow multiple people to use the same bathroom at once much more easily though and I'd rather have the one large luxury bathroom than two measly ones any day. DVC also has much better proximity to the parks/downtown disney.

Saying that these new suites in any way devalue DVC is like saying pop century devalued the grand floridian. It's apples to oranges.

That said I would have no problem with exchanging one of the living room chairs for a twin sleeper chair and officially allowing 5 in a one bedroom (there, I said it... are those debates still going on? I've been away for a while!) I think that this would in no way take away from the luxurious feeling of the rooms (unlike some of the proposals to remove the king bed etc... the main reason we go for a 1 bedroom is because we have a king at home and want a king on vacation! that's what we bought and it would annoy me for it to change suddenly) while adding options for those with 3 small kids (or even 2 kids of the opposite sex). It sounds like a win-win idea to me!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I can see having room in an OKW one bedroom for a twin bed sleeper chair, but how are you going to open up this chair in the other resorts? There is hardly enough room to walk around the open sleeper sofa to get to the patio, let alone open up a twin sized bed.

 

[Lisa F]

I wonder how much room there will be to walk around when you have 3 twin beds open plus a kitchenette in the space where a single value room used to exist. I always thought of the fold out sofas as something that needed to be closed during the day for the room to actually function as a living room... I figured the same would be for a twin sleeper.

Here's how it would lay out. Sure, you've got to move that table to the opposite corner so there's a little furniture jockeying but I'm sure the people who use it spend as much time trying to find a place for that air mattress.

 

[Lizardbeth61]

That's my point. There is the room.

Are the debates still going on? Yes, futilely (sp?) perpetuated by me. LOL.

No, every now and then I just feel better when I vent this frustration over the King/sleeper sofa in the 1-bedroom. No one's gonna change anything for little 'ol me, but venting is great. The 1-bedroom is perfect for us . . . except for the kids having to share the sleeper sofa. And again, yes, I knew when I bought. It's just a minor annoyance for me.

By the way, LOVE the cats. We have three too and one loves to sit in the middle of my desk as yours are!

 

[Muushka]

We had overnight company once (2 adults, both women). One slept on the couch and the other spread the cushions out on the floor to make a bed (which I have done at people's houses when I find the sofa bed not so comfy). Does anyone else ever do this?