Is it me or are Resort Rooms better than DVC?

[gecko2021]

I am researching buying DVC, all the things (resale, direct, add-on hybrid etc. etc) but, as I research the resorts and look at room tours there seems to be a distinct difference between the resort rooms and the DVC rooms? It seems to me the DVC rooms are smaller? Or am I missing something altogether (entirely possible, passed the overthinking threshold a while ago). Thanks for any insight...

 

[DLgal]

Yeah, the DVC rooms are not as nice as the resort rooms, in general. Outliers seem to be VGF and RIV.

They may have more amenities, but they are a notch down in quality.

 

[ocdb8r1]

My view is that they start at the same quality, but the DVC refresh cycle is longer than that for resort rooms. This, combined with what is likely a higher occupancy rate for DVC rooms (which means a bit more wear and tear), leads to a slightly lower quality feel, especially towards the end of the refresh cycles.

 

[OKW Lover]

I research the resorts and look at room tours there seems to be a distinct difference between the resort rooms and the DVC rooms? It seems to me the DVC rooms are smaller? Or am I missing something altogether

Yes, you are missing something altogether. Even if you compare a DVC studio with a resort room you'll find the size to be approximately the same. But the DVC studio will include a microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, toaster, and a few extra amenities.

Beyond that, you can also got 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom DVC units that are almost like living in your house/apartment. They have a living room, full kitchen, and a master bedroom.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think it important to note that you really can only compare a studio to most resort rooms. Many owners buy DVC to not book studios.

When looking at studios, it is important to know that while overall square footage is the same, space use varies. Poly studios are a great example - size is similar but the extra shower and kitchenette take up a lot of that space. BLT studios are smaller and have the kitchenette eating space. Etc.

It depends why you are buying.

 

[mlayton14]

Yes , in most cases deluxe cash rooms are a bit nicer than DVC studios

 

[DVCsloth]

Don't think there is too much difference except for the kitchenette and daily mouse keeping.

 

[Sandisw]

I guess I never paid that much attention but we think they are just as nice.

 

[iona]

I think it also depends on what you want. As two adults we’d much rather have a bed and a sofa (like in most DVC studios) than two beds (like in a resort room).

 

[E2ME2]

I think it also depends on what you want. As two adults we’d much rather have a bed and a sofa (like in most DVC studios) than two beds (like in a resort room).

Yes - this is us also! We recently toured the new VGF rooms, and the 2-Queen Beds is not appealing to us. We much prefer the 1-Bed, 1-Sofa configuration, especially those that have the new Murphy-Bed-Sofas.

 

[DVCsloth]

Yes - this is us also! We recently toured the new VGF rooms, and the 2-Queen Beds is not appealing to us. We much prefer the 1-Bed, 1-Sofa configuration, especially those that have the new Murphy-Bed-Sofas.

Yes, that is true. Most of the times in a studio I prefer having the sofa. Although we like the studio at OKW with 2 beds and the Kitchette. VGF1 AND Riviera studios are awesome. IMO

 

[MsChristy12]

We prefer king bed if we have a choice. That's why we bought more points so we can always stay in 1-bedroom

 

[jo-jo]

I think it also depends on what you want. As two adults we’d much rather have a bed and a sofa (like in most DVC studios) than two beds (like in a resort room).

That's one of the reasons we looked to start with many years ago. Also back in the day value resorts didn't have fridge or coffee makers, (not sure what they have now). I was the one to hike the 8 miles to a food court.

So we went from value to studios. Seemed like a big jump to us. Now maybe GF to a studio is a whole other story.

 

[crisi]

We bought DVC to stay in multi room units - put the kids in a separate bedroom, cook up some eggs in the morning, throw in a load of laundry at bedtime. If I were buying DVC for studios, I wouldn't buy. You can save some money, but I definitely don't think they are as nice - although frankly, Disney hotel rooms are marginal, which means lower quality of the DVC end can really be felt.

Rooms get worn faster due to extraordinarily high usage. Plus the usage patterns tend to be a little different (cooking in rooms, pulling in and out sofa/murphy beds, moving furniture) Since we pay for renovations, the refresh is longer. And the cancellation and availability issues are a much bigger deal on the DVC side. However, since I bought my points back in 2002, I'm staying now for the cost of dues, so its a good value for us.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

IMO, regular resort rooms seem to be built to a higher quality. Not only furnishings, but the entire structure.

As much as I adore the original VWL, I’ll never forgot the first time I opened the slider. It was so “light & cheap” as compared to the Lodge rooms.

 

[Nursemanit]

You can not make a generalization

Poly has better DVC rooms than the resorts - Larger and balconies on the second floor.
VGF has resort studios which are hotel rooms so they are equal.

I agree BC and BW are a step down but I think CC is better than WL Studios.

Some do not like the Murphy bed or lack of King bed but that is not a measure of quality. I do wish they would have put a King Studio option at one of the resorts with a smaller couch.

 

[Nursemanit]

As much as I adore the original VWL, I’ll never forgot the first time I opened the slider. It was so “light & cheap” as compared to the Lodge rooms.

"light" is a positive quality in a sliding door - as opposed to Poly where they are heavy and hard to open.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

"light" is a positive quality in a sliding door - as opposed to Poly where they are heavy and hard to open.

In this case light equals cheap.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

You can not make a generalization

Poly has better DVC rooms than the resorts - Larger and balconies on the second floor.
VGF has resort studios which are hotel rooms so they are equal.

I agree BC and BW are a step down but I think CC is better than WL Studios.

Some do not like the Murphy bed or lack of King bed but that is not a measure of quality. I do wish they would have put a King Studio option at one of the resorts with a smaller couch.

Aren’t Poly rooms identical in size since they’re conversions? How could they possibly be different?

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

DVC rooms are smaller at most resorts that have both. That’s simply a fact.

Another fact is that a huge percentage of the room measurements you find online, even at reputable websites, are wrong, or are based on the smallest or largest rooms. A lot of resorts like (but not limited to) BCV, VGF, CCV, and BLT have some substantial discrepancies in their room sizes within a category. But for 3 of those four resorts, the most common room size is smaller than the standard hotel size room (CCV is the same).