Is it hard to book the studios that sleep 5 if you don't own there?

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Looking at the possibility of a resale OKW or SSR contract, but eventually we will need 3 sleeping spaces as our opposite gender kids get older and can't share a bed. I know Riviera is out, due to resale restrictions, but what about the other studios that sleep 5? Do you need to own there to book there? Primarily looking at travel in October or taking a 3-day weekend in September or November, due to restrictive school attendance policies after my child starts school next year. I know these are some of the most popular times for DVC travel.

 

[kanerf]

No, but studios often book out before the 7 month mark. It is much easier to find 1 bedrooms and larger at 7 months.

 

[Bayoumomof3]

we own at SSR and have had success booking 5 person studios at Poly, BLT will sometimes have lake view available, BWV sometimes has Garden/Pool view. Forget about BC, VGF. Lol may be able to get BRV. It depends on the time of year also. As a family of 5, certain times of the year are pretty cheap in points for the 1- BR villas.

 

[TinkB278]

we own at SSR and have had success booking 5 person studios at Poly, BLT will sometimes have lake view available, BWV sometimes has Garden/Pool view. Forget about BC, VGF. Lol may be able to get BRV. It depends on the time of year also. As a family of 5, certain times of the year are pretty cheap in points for the 1- BR villas.

But as of right now BLT studios only sleep 4.

 

[Bayoumomof3]

Oh yeah Right!

 

[erionm]

Poly has the largest single Studio booking category out of all of the DVC Resorts with 288 Standard View Studios which have a stated occupancy of 5.

 

[Bayoumomof3]

We are staying there for the first time in June! Cant wait! Another plus is they’ve been renovated with the Murphy beds!

 

[RoseGold]

Poly sleeps 5, but those peak times can still be tough.

My Poly waitlist filled for marathon weekend. I would give you a more confident answer, but you are booking at the most popular times, and this just might not work.

I'd just get a resale Poly contract. I think it's a great value anyway. But I wouldn't do anything until direct VGF pricing is out, probably within weeks. That might even be on the table, also sleeps 5.

https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/blog/best-economical-dvc-resorts-to-purchase-fall-2021/

 

[Lorana]

Looking at the possibility of a resale OKW or SSR contract, but eventually we will need 3 sleeping spaces as our opposite gender kids get older and can't share a bed. I know Riviera is out, due to resale restrictions, but what about the other studios that sleep 5? Do you need to own there to book there? Primarily looking at travel in October or taking a 3-day weekend in September or November, due to restrictive school attendance policies after my child starts school next year. I know these are some of the most popular times for DVC travel.

Looking at that timeframe, you’ll be able to get Poly most likely, but the others may be hard - September is definitely more likely than October to get BRV, BCV, BWV, VGF, RIV however.

If you have enough points for a 1BR that’s likely a better option. Also as the kids get older, you might really appreciate the extra space and room separation! I know we do!

 

[Marionnette]

Looking at the possibility of a resale OKW or SSR contract, but eventually we will need 3 sleeping spaces as our opposite gender kids get older and can't share a bed. I know Riviera is out, due to resale restrictions, but what about the other studios that sleep 5? Do you need to own there to book there? Primarily looking at travel in October or taking a 3-day weekend in September or November, due to restrictive school attendance policies after my child starts school next year. I know these are some of the most popular times for DVC travel.

Given your anticipated travel times and the need for 3 sleeping surfaces in the future, I would recommend buying at one of the resorts that has studios that sleep 5. You will only open yourself up to frustration trying to book at 7 months during Fall Frenzy.

 

[CarolMN]

Given your anticipated travel times and the need for 3 sleeping surfaces in the future, I would recommend buying at one of the resorts that has studios that sleep 5. You will only open yourself up to frustration trying to book at 7 months during Fall Frenzy.

@Wendysofftoneverland - I couldn't agree more with Marionette's post. Any savings from buying the less expensive resort will soon be forgotten if you aren't able to stay where you want to be!

 

[Lorana]

Given your anticipated travel times and the need for 3 sleeping surfaces in the future, I would recommend buying at one of the resorts that has studios that sleep 5. You will only open yourself up to frustration trying to book at 7 months during Fall Frenzy.

@Wendysofftoneverland - I couldn't agree more with Marionette's post. Any savings from buying the less expensive resort will soon be forgotten if you aren't able to stay where you want to be!

This is honestly the reason we started with BRV when we bought DVC initially instead of CCV. We love the Wilderness Lodge but with two teenage boys, we needed the studio that slept 5 so that we had sleeping surfaces for everyone.

 

[Her Dotness]

But I wouldn't do anything until direct VGF pricing is out, probably within weeks. That might even be on the table, also sleeps 5.

Unless I've missed it, there may not be specifics yet on whether there'll be a daybed or just what for a third bed in the Big Pine Key hotel rooms soon to be "resort studios." Those won't have the pull-down bed below the tv like the current VGF deluxe studios have, I don't believe. So, while the resort studios may sleep 5, how they do that could be problematic. Those daybeds aren't that comfy, if that's what they are.

The current deluxe studios have the advantage of two baths, but I think 5 people somewhat past toddler stage would be cramped in those with the pull-down bed in use.

Besides, direct VGF prices will be in outer space once the resort studios are in the mix, I'm betting. And, no telling how much that could affect VGF resale contracts.

Buy where you'll most want to stay is the best advice ever, IMO. Too much chance you can't get what you need at 7 months.

ETA: Just a sec here--Are there 3 kids or only 2 of opposite genders?

If 2 opp-gender...you could bring an air mattress and bedding for it in the 4-person studios so the kids each have their own bed if that won't cause fights. I've seen people say that's what they do in the 4-person studios when kids don't want to share a bed with a parent. Some said they had a kid who preferred the air mattress to a bed anyway, or they tossed a coin for who got the queen bed.

So, you don't actually need a studio for 5 unless there are 5 people.

 

[RoseGold]

Unless I've missed it, there may not be specifics yet on whether there'll be a daybed or just what for a third bed in the Big Pine Key hotel rooms soon to be "resort studios."

Even if you hate VGF and would never buy there, I'd still wait a few weeks for VGF pricing to do anything.

 

[The Jackal]

I would say if your going to need 5 sleeping spaces. Either buy at a place where studios sleep 5, or buy enough points at AKV, OKW or SSR for a 1 bedroom . I personally would buy PVB over the others, because BRV, BCV and BWV have less than 20 years left and price per point per year left are not good. RIV is nice, but it is not for us.

 

[Her Dotness]

Even if you hate VGF and would never buy there, I'd still wait a few weeks for VGF pricing to do anything.

I didn't sleep well last night so it'swithout ducking.

Do you mean wait until the buying frenzy of those wanting to get into DVC for VGF chills out? Or, am I not getting your meaning at all?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I'm cosigning @Marionnette. October and November studios at 7 months will be frustrating. The most available units at those times are OKW (sleeps 4), SSR (sleeps 4) and AKV Kidani Savannah (sleeps 4). The studios that sleep 5 are going to be waitlist.

If you're buying sufficient points to book 1BRs at SSR or OKW, the math changes a bit. If you're willing to do a shorter trip in a 1BR, but play waitlist roulette for a studio that sleeps 5 with limited expectation of getting one, and an attitude that you'll have a great time at SSR/OKW, that might work.

 

[RoseGold]

Do you mean wait until the buying frenzy of those wanting to get into DVC for VGF chills out? Or, am I not getting your meaning at all?

If VGF opens at $200-ish like many are predicting, then resale will have to adjust. The BLT promotion makes no sense to me, and it isn't clear to me at all what DVC is doing with pricing. If DVC undercuts itself, which is what pricing VGF near RIV would do, resale will adjust. It could mean very motivated resale sellers, and it could make the Blue Card points much more appealing.

Lots of uncertainty. I'd wait a couple weeks.

 

[gregskellington]

I think its a really questionable decision to buy anywhere the rooms won't work for you long term. Fall is crazy, if you get locked out of a studio that sleeps 5, what's your plan?

Buying Poly is great advice.

 

[Her Dotness]

If VGF opens at $200-ish like many are predicting, then resale will have to adjust. <snip>

Lots of uncertainty. I'd wait a couple weeks.

Okay, that's kind of what I thought you might mean. Thanks.

However, as others have suggested, and since OP is considering OKW or SSR resales anyway, I think the suggestion to go with either and enough points to book a 1br is probably the best even after things shake down with the new VGF addition in the mix.

That's why we bid on an OKW resale (noooooo ROFR!) to have enough points for a 1br there because we've barely enough anymore for a VGF studio annually at the new cheapest times. We're now in the clutches of the Too Few For Studio monster annually despite having 2 VGF contracts, thanks to DVC for switching points and making our favorite week out of reach next year.