How long in a Studio w/out going stir crazy??

[slk537]

We have always stayed in 1BR+ sizes up until our last trip - we spent two nights in a studio at SSR at the beginning of our trip and loved it. Then 4 nights at the Poly at the end and were fine (other than missing our DVC)...there are three of us: DH, DW (me) and DS5.

We are planning a trip in April/May and are looking at two weeks. Has anyone done this without starting to feel like the room is really, really small? We're considering switching resorts at the halfway point to shake things up. We don't mind moving mid trip.

Experiences?? Thoughts?

 

[thelobstershanty]

Well.....as someone that started going to WDW at FW in a trailer........
I think you will be fine! We have graduated to bigger and better WDW resorts over the years, but our days in a trailer at FW--will always be special.
For 2 adults and a small child, you will be fine! There will be plenty of room for the 3 of you in a studio. I have stayed in a studio with 3 single adults for a week and we had a blast.
The only drawback is you will not be able to have a separate indoor area for the adults after the child goes to bed. BUT you will have the balcony--which is very pleasant.
Have a great trip!

 

[LVSWL]

Wow, two weeks will be wonderful! The nicest part about having a one-bedroom is being able to let the little one go to sleep or watch tv while you watch something on your tv or take a nice long bath in the big tub. I also enjoy being able to catch up on laundry in the one bedroom, which would be a real advantage on a two week trip. If it were me, I would probably go one week in the studio and then move to the one bedroom to spread out and do laundry. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[PamOKW]

I've gone just shy of two weeks in an OKW studio with 3 adults (me & my parents). Not a problem ---

Of course a bigger unit has lots of advantages but we were happy to have that long a stay at Christmas.

 

[lizziepooh]

DH and I have spent one week in a studio but I think two weeks would be pushing it even for us. We are used to the one bedroom and I would miss the washer and dryer, full kitchen and the extra space to spead out. Maybe you could split your stay as someone else suggested - one week in the studio then the second week in a one bedroom.

 

[starbox]

I think it all depends on how much time you spend in your room. Do you just use it as a place to sleep and shower, or do you "move in"?

 

[mom2rb]

We are spending 9 days in a studio in June. There will be four of us. I think it will be ok. The good news is that we are buying more points at AKL so this will be our last long trip in a studio.

 

[MdmMim]

Two years ago, I spent 34 nights in a studio. I will say that for a lot of the time, I was solo, but DH did spend a week with me. For us, it worked out fine, and I have plans to continue lengthy stays in a studio. It depends on your need for personal space.

Have a good trip whatever your choice!

 

[patsal]

When DD and DS were under 10 we all stayed in a studio quite comfortably for as long as 14 nights, once the kids got older, taller and needed to have some "away form everyone" space the 1BR became the rule with weekends in a studio sometimes to save enough points so we could get in an extra trip! If you can manage a few days in any regular hotel room, a DVC studio should be fine for your family.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We are a family of 4 and have stayed 2 weeks in a studio and in a 1 bedroom. We prefer the 1 bedroom, but for 2 weeks over Christmas, even with as many points as we have, we will stay in a studio.

You have to be a little more organized, but we have enjoyed our trips very much and I love the balcony.

Cant wait for our trip next month, 1 week at BCV and 1 week at SSR

 

[FLYNZ4]

We have not stayed in a DVC studio yet... but pre-DVC, we used to stay at the Beach Club hotel most of the time... which is roughly the same as a studio. Our record was all 5 of us for 21 days.

After we started staying in non-DVC condos for most of our other travel... we decided that we just didn't fit in Disney hotel rooms anymore, so we bought DVC.

Our general rule is as follows:

- Studio: not yet... and no real preference to use a studio... but we would use it if necessary.

- 1BR: This is our preference for just my wife and I. With one of our girls... we can still be OK in the 1BR... but we dislike the clutter in the living room.

- 2BR: With both girls... then we want a 2BR.

- Grand Villa: Not yet... maybe when the girls are married and want to bring their families.

We will adjust our plans +/- depending on how many points we have... or unit availability... but the description above is our preference.

/Jim

 

[Lexxiefern]

If you look at it like you get to stay at WDW longer and don't go in dwelling on everything you are used to in a 1 bedroom, I think you will be fine. I know too that now that we do the dining plan I use the kitchen alot less I don't know if you will be using the dining plan or not.

On my last trip I tried to add on last minute and couldn't. So we added 3 nights at CSR (which of course is no where as nice as a DVC studio) and I just tried to enjoy being at CSR. Now DH is another story. All he did was piss and moan about not being in a 1 bedroom He is so spoiled! How does your DH feel about it?

 

[slk537]

If you look at it like you get to stay at WDW longer and don't go in dwelling on everything you are used to in a 1 bedroom, I think you will be fine. I know too that now that we do the dining plan I use the kitchen alot less I don't know if you will be using the dining plan or not.

On my last trip I tried to add on last minute and couldn't. So we added 3 nights at CSR (which of course is no where as nice as a DVC studio) and I just tried to enjoy being at CSR. Now DH is another story. All he did was piss and moan about not being in a 1 bedroom He is so spoiled! How does your DH feel about it?

We're definitely doing the DDP - loved it last time and look forward to it again. We did think of that...DH mentioned he would miss the large freezer for ice cream and such, but on the DDP I can't imagine we'll want more than space for soda and water and little such for breakfast. I was really surprised how much we liked the studio at SSR. I missed the large tub and full kitchen, but I think staying the extra week will be worth it. I have a month of personal growth leave next year so with my regular vacation I have plenty of time to be off. We do use the room to "veg" out in, but it's the rest of the resort that is the most important to us...we like a place to enjoy, not just stay.

It's funny what you said about staying at DSR. We spent 4 nights at the Poly last time and felt that we were spoiled by DVC that a hotel experience just didn't feel "right"

Thanks to everyone! We're really thinking about how it's better to be at WDW longer and give up the extra space. Unless we can trade into a DVC 1 or 2 br with our II timeshare....hmmmm........

 

[keishashadow]

Right about now 2 weeks @ WDW sounds positively dreamy, enjoy!

Do think there's a big difference between 3 & 4 people sharing space in a studio.

We do so enjoy DVC but, enjoyed the 1st class service @ the CR in Oct. too.

 

[byoung]

I'll stay in a studio all year as long as I can be in Disney.

 

[drakethib]

I think it all depends on how much time you spend in your room. Do you just use it as a place to sleep and shower, or do you "move in"?

I agree here.

I will say that I would much rather be in a Studio for 2 weeks then at a "regular" WDW room for the same time.

 

[disnutt]

I just think of a studio as a nice hotel room. I've gone other places and stayed in a regular hotel room that didn't even have a fridge or microwave and have been happy. As long as I don't focus on the knowledge that the 1 BR may be right next door I'd be OK.

 

[ReneeQ]

Here is my experience. I took my sister and 5 year old nephew to a Boardwalk Villas studio for 8 nights a few years ago. I requested and got the studio with the small daybed, which was perfect for my nephew to sleep on. So we never had to open up the sofabed. We had tons of room.

This past April the three of us stayed in a Beach Club Studio. The nephew is now 8. We had to pull out the sofabed for him every night. With it opened, we could barely get around it. The coffee table was jammed between the end of the sofabed and the table and chairs.

We weren't miserable, we did survive, I mean we're at Disney! But the Boardwalk studio was much more enjoyable. Now that my nephew is 9, I dont' know that he'd be comfortable on the daybed. We three are going again in Feb '07, and will be in a 1 BR for 7 nights.

Now when just my husband and I go, we always just get a studio, and are perfectly fine.

MY bottom line (yours may vary) is if I DON'T need to open the sofabed, I am fine in a studio. If I DO need to open the sofabed, we move up to a 1BR.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[JimMIA]

We just stayed in a studio (OKW) for the first time, and only for four nights. Our previous stays have all been 1 & 2-bedrooms. DD4-going-on-24 walked in the room, took one look around, and asked, "Where's the kitchen and the big TV?" But as soon as we told her there was no kitchen, she was over it. It worked out okay, although we really didn't have enough closet or drawer space to "move in."

We're doing a BCV studio in May '07 for 5 nights. That studio is slightly smaller than an OKW studio, but I'll have to actually stay in the unit to know whether the extra 30 sq ft makes any difference. It kinda depends on where the extra room is, and I suspect it's in the kitchenette/bathroom area. We'll see how that goes.

For us, I think 5 nights will be about the outer limit in a studio, and not something I'll want to do every trip. I know when we go skiing for a week, even a spacious hotel room starts to close in on us, despite the fact that the only thing we're doing there is sleep. (Of course, we have a LOT more stuff on a ski trip than a Disney trip.) At WDW, we DO enjoy spending some time in the villa.

OTOH, all of our trips are 3-5 days. If the BCV studio works out, we'll use a studio whenever we want to save points for a 2-bedroom trip later. Or when we want to try another resort without paying the 40% premium in points over our normal OKW points costs on a one-bedroom.