Favorite Studio for family of 5?

[Psymonds]

how in the world can people sleep 5 to a studio? we tried a poly studio, a couple yrs ago, it was so bad they comped our tickets when we got home and complained. 2 bathrooms in a studio take up way to much room. Trying to think of a studio with 2 queens a sleeper chair or room for a cot, and enough room to move around and put clothes. MAYBE Old Key west? look at the older places, they had more sq feet. I haven't been to RIV or GF, not my cuppa, but have been in a studio in all others, boardwalk and boulder would work too I think.

They have a pull out couch and a pull down twin, plus the queen. Traditionally we are a Disneyland family and don't go back to the hotel mid day, but I know we might need more downtime for a longer trip. We probably want easy breakfast facilities but will not be near the room for lunch or dinner.

 

[LPnerd]

I find even the living area much more open than say BCV, but I am not sure if that is just my imagination or not. The second bathroom though is actually what makes PVB functional for my family of 4. My husband can shower in one while I get my daughters ready in the other. Everyone is ready to go for rope drop when we stay there !

Another plus is the balconies are much larger at PVB - we find we use them a lot more than when we stay at BCV which have two tiny chairs crammed in.

Rope Drop??? No thanks, LOL much to early for us on vacation. and maybe that's the difference. On vacation we are never in a hurry. we used to pick the park with evening hours, I think that is supposed to come back in Oct.?
My son tells me the sleeper chair is in handicap rooms at OKW, Vero , and maybe boardwalk. I had forgotten that.

 

[kboo]

We've liked the studios at VGF and RIV - both have the split bath layout with 2 showers, which feels like a more efficient use of the space. second bed at Poly, VGF and RIV are all queens, but only RIV (so far) has the murphy bed for the second queen, which is a game changer - super comfortable.

 

[Psymonds]

but only RIV (so far) has the murphy bed for the second queen, which is a game changer - super comfortable.

I think the wife is between the Poly and RIV. I need to read up on transportation from RIV.

 

[Timandalicia]

Looking ahead almost 2 years and doing some pie in the sky thinking. We can't swing a larger room, and tend not to need more than a studio, but we need to sleep 5.

Which is your favorite studio that sleeps 5?

Beach Club

 

[Stargazer65]

I need to read up on transportation from RIV.

Skyliner to DHS and Epcot (and AA, POP, CBR). Buses elsewhere. I think the only place you can walk to is CBR.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Instead of studio at poly or RIV that sleep 5 why not change to 1 bed standard view at SSR or A kv. Points are not much more than poly or RIV studio

 

[Drewsdad]

Bay Lake towers 1 bedroom. Slept 5 comfortably, 2 full baths, kitchen and washer and dryer. Can walk to MK and Disney transportation was great to the rest

 

[Stargazer65]

Instead of studio at poly or RIV that sleep 5 why not change to 1 bed standard view at SSR or A kv. Points are not much more than poly or RIV studio

Or OKW...

I was thinking the same thing. It is a little bit more points though, I'm not sure exactly how much they are trying to save.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

I think the wife is between the Poly and RIV. I need to read up on transportation from RIV.

RIV has the skyliner which will take you to Epcot and HS. How old are your kids? if they are younger and you will be mostly at MK I would opt for Poly or VGF, if older and going mostly to Epcot or HS then I would opt for RIV. Skyliner goes down a lot, but they have buses to replace. If your kids are older, I would not rule out AK standard view, SSR standard view or OKW all in the 1 bedroom. You will all be much more comfortable, have a full kitchen, washer and dryer in the unit. It has a master bedroom with king bed, and separate living area with queen pull down murphy (SSR) and a pull down bed under the tv. SSR was just renovated. AK standard view sleeps 5 and has a pull out sofa (queen) and twin pull out chair. The points are not much more than the studio rooms at RIV or Poly. Also to get a standard view at RIV or Poly you will need to book in 11 month window, which will substantially increase your cost per point, at RIV you will have to book the preferred view in the 11 month window too - not sure about Poly in the preferred booking category - but most likely you will have to book in 11 month window to secure - versus SSR you could book in 7 month window - once you factor that, your price would probably be the same or less for SSR standard view 1 bedroom - that would be my choice.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

I think the wife is between the Poly and RIV. I need to read up on transportation from RIV.

We love both and own at both. The Poly does technically have the biggest studio on property, but that first bathroom is gigantic!! I much prefer the RIV’s layout as the “living area” is more spacious. The split bath is near perfect (and almost the exact same as VGF’s)… and having the Murphy bed makes RIV a no-contest winner in this category! Hopefully that changes soon, but for now- it’s hands down the best on property for 5 people.

We’ve maxed out several different resorts’ studios with 5 people, but when you’re focusing on park-heavy days, it’s totally doable. Having that balcony definitely helps

We love the Skyliner! It will not shut down every time it rains- only when there is lightning… and a whole lot else shuts down then too (boats, rides, etc)!! The buses are- well, buses. Some great days, and some where you wish you’d called for an Uber/Lyft 20 minutes ago

 

[Minniesgal]

5 of you stayed in one those tiny polly's studios? where did you put your clothes? maybe they remodeled??? I'm having a hard time understanding we spent one night with four of us and swore NEVER again! LOL The resort is beautiful, I hope they did fix the problem.

Totally agree we did 3 in a studio at Poly then again at VGC never ever again

 

[justadreamaway77]

VGF studios also sleep 5 and have a split bathroom. We have to wait and see on the new building. Poly should have the new Murphy bed during this refurbishment. BRV will have been through a refurbishment and have the Murphy bed, BCV and BWV will probably be the only 2 without the Murphy bed, but lots love the location.

It will be interesting to see how studios go after Poly and BRV have murphy beds. A lot of people hate the pull out couches but really have no other options right now besides RIV and SSR. Once Poly and BRV have the murphy beds, I wonder if comfort of sleeping will trump location preference that BCV and BWV have.....especially since POLY and BRV have the MK location.

 

[LPnerd]

We love both and own at both. The Poly does technically have the biggest studio on property, but that first bathroom is gigantic!! I much prefer the RIV’s layout as the “living area” is more spacious. The split bath is near perfect (and almost the exact same as VGF’s)… and having the Murphy bed makes RIV a no-contest winner in this category! Hopefully that changes soon, but for now- it’s hands down the best on property for 5 people.

We’ve maxed out several different resorts’ studios with 5 people, but when you’re focusing on park-heavy days, it’s totally doable. Having that balcony definitely helps

We love the Skyliner! It will not shut down every time it rains- only when there is lightning… and a whole lot else shuts down then too (boats, rides, etc)!! The buses are- well, buses. Some great days, and some where you wish you’d called for an Uber/Lyft 20 minutes ago

every now and then we get what is called a sun shower, rain, suns out no lightening. that happens maybe 3-4 times a summer. there is no way to predict lightening, and it only takes one, so if storms are rolling in, that skyliner is going down. FL. remember is the lightening capital of the world.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

every now and then we get what is called a sun shower, rain, suns out no lightening. that happens maybe 3-4 times a summer. there is no way to predict lightening, and it only takes one, so if storms are rolling in, that skyliner is going down. FL. remember is the lightening capital of the world.

Totally true, but when people just give a “the Skyliner shuts down frequently” blanket statement, I think there needs to be context. We’ve stayed at Riviera multiple times since it opened- during the months of Jan, Mar, May, June, Oct/Nov, and Dec. It rained at least once on every single one of those trips, and continued operating… except in June. In June, it shut down once every single day (during the late aft/early eve pop-up storms), and it’s bc of lightning (and resumes operations as soon enough time has passed from said lightning… even if it’s still raining). During that same trip there were a few times just the Epcot line was closed due to maintenance issues, so that was extra bad luck for those staying at Riviera then. My point is, someone walking away from that trip may say the Skyliner can’t be counted on… but that really was an exception, not the rule (when considering the entire year). I do wish it was 100% fail-proof, but it’s not… and I personally still find it to be more reliable than, say, the monorail

Moral of the story- if you’re staying at RIV, and you know a t-storm is headed your way- either leave the parks before it gets there, or wait it out in the stores, bc you won’t be going anywhere on Disney transportation ( /)… unless it’s a bus!

 

[kboo]

RIV has the skyliner which will take you to Epcot and HS. How old are your kids? if they are younger and you will be mostly at MK I would opt for Poly or VGF, if older and going mostly to Epcot or HS then I would opt for RIV. Skyliner goes down a lot, but they have buses to replace. If your kids are older, I would not rule out AK standard view, SSR standard view or OKW all in the 1 bedroom. You will all be much more comfortable, have a full kitchen, washer and dryer in the unit. It has a master bedroom with king bed, and separate living area with queen pull down murphy (SSR) and a pull down bed under the tv. SSR was just renovated. AK standard view sleeps 5 and has a pull out sofa (queen) and twin pull out chair. The points are not much more than the studio rooms at RIV or Poly. Also to get a standard view at RIV or Poly you will need to book in 11 month window, which will substantially increase your cost per point, at RIV you will have to book the preferred view in the 11 month window too - not sure about Poly in the preferred booking category - but most likely you will have to book in 11 month window to secure - versus SSR you could book in 7 month window - once you factor that, your price would probably be the same or less for SSR standard view 1 bedroom - that would be my choice.

Riviera owner here:
We have stayed at RIV a few times now, with kids 4-6 and 8-10 and it is their 2nd favorite resort (behind VGF) and probably our (the parents) favorite. While MK is my kids' favorite park, the others are not far behind. HS in particular has upped its game and our DD2 is now tall enough for everything except RNRC. MK is probably the adults' least favorite park, so we do the MK days we need to, and still spend a lot of time at the other parks. (It helps that both kids are "scared" of PotC and HM and don't have much desire to do Space M!)

RIV standard view is one of the best not-well-kept secrets for RIV owners! Yes, you'll see some parking lot, but also will see MK fireworks and EP ball from most standard rooms. Preferred view is doable at 7mo. The murphy beds are super comfortable and I prefer the VGF/RIV studio bathroom layout as a more efficient use of floor space.

We recently stayed in AKV 1br and then moved to a RIV studio - although each stay was only 2-3 nights, we found that we all preferred the RIV studio - there was more shower space (and sink space for the kids, who couldn't reach the kitchen sink), and of course the bed at RIV (queen murphy) felt like a real bed. Bus between MK/AKV was kind of a disaster. Made MK/AK park hopping difficult.

I think the wife is between the Poly and RIV. I need to read up on transportation from RIV.

While Skyliner goes down when there's thunder in the area, there are pretty reliable buses to make up for that (or uber). When it's running, it's certainly faster and more pleasant than the monorail. When we have taken the RIV bus to MK, it's been fine and not delayed, and busing back to the resort is typical as well. Not great but also not awful.

As between RIV and Poly, I lean RIV - the poly point charts for studios aren't so different from RIV, but at RIV you have the option of the tower studio for adults only stays and a 1br as well. If you're super set on MK (I would not be, having graduated from MK-focused trips in only a few short years) you could consider BLT for the 1br std, which is a good points value, but still costs more than a studio. (BLT is another home resort that we very much enjoy, but it doesn't have the flair and pizzazz of some of the other resorts. It's like it comes in 2nd place for us on almost every factor we think important, without major drawbacks. The only issue (and this is probably a deal breaker for your family) is that the v small studios only sleep 4. DH and I have stayed in a BLT studio just the 2 of us, and we'd take it for the 4 of us vs not going to WDW at all, but we'd pretty much take any studio over that studio.

 

[LPnerd]

Totally true, but when people just give a “the Skyliner shuts down frequently” blanket statement, I think there needs to be context. We’ve stayed at Riviera multiple times since it opened- during the months of Jan, Mar, May, June, Oct/Nov, and Dec. It rained at least once on every single one of those trips, and continued operating… except in June. In June, it shut down once every single day (during the late aft/early eve pop-up storms), and it’s bc of lightning (and resumes operations as soon enough time has passed from said lightning… even if it’s still raining). During that same trip there were a few times just the Epcot line was closed due to maintenance issues, so that was extra bad luck for those staying at Riviera then. My point is, someone walking away from that trip may say the Skyliner can’t be counted on… but that really was an exception, not the rule (when considering the entire year). I do wish it was 100% fail-proof, but it’s not… and I personally still find it to be more reliable than, say, the monorail

Moral of the story- if you’re staying at RIV, and you know a t-storm is headed your way- either leave the parks before it gets there, or wait it out in the stores, bc you won’t be going anywhere on Disney transportation ( /)… unless it’s a bus!

you're right, in Jan. feb and sometimes Mar. lightening is not so bad. but if there is a storm headed that way within a certain timespan( I want to say 15 min. but it's been a while since I asked) But having said that, I would count on that thing being down at least twice a week no matter what time a year. Until the storm passes.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Rope Drop??? No thanks, LOL much to early for us on vacation. and maybe that's the difference. On vacation we are never in a hurry. we used to pick the park with evening hours, I think that is supposed to come back in Oct.?
My son tells me the sleeper chair is in handicap rooms at OKW, Vero , and maybe boardwalk. I had forgotten that.

No sleeper chair in any of these studios, not even the handicap ones. One bedroom at VB and OKW, yes. Not at BWV. No sleeper chair there.

 

[princessophiali]

We did Poly with 10 yo, 5 yo, my mom, husband and myself. Other than me and DH having no privacy at all, the room was fine for us and we loved having the two bathrooms. We are staying at RR (studio) in November for the first time, and I am hoping it'll be a good fit for us. I have waitlisted a 1 BR though (fingers crossed).

 

[Psymonds]

We did Poly with 10 yo, 5 yo, my mom, husband and myself. Other than me and DH having no privacy at all, the room was fine for us and we loved having the two bathrooms. We are staying at RR (studio) in November for the first time, and I am hoping it'll be a good fit for us. I have waitlisted a 1 BR though (fingers crossed).

Unfortunately for us coming from the west coast, we're going to be staying long enough that the difference between a studio and 1BR in price basically kills the trip. I have come to grips with the fact that we probably won't have much privacy.