Just for fun, showing how crappy 1 bed value is in DVC

[CraigInPA]

I'm grumpy when I sleep in a bed smaller than a king (I'm 6'5" tall). If they put a king in a studio, I could probably live with that.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Have you guys checked out the DVC vs Rack Rate comparison on DVCROFR.com….

 

[airjay75]

Have you guys checked out the DVC vs Rack Rate comparison on DVCROFR.com….

I have, but just went again and notice that you can input your rack rate discount on there too. Silly me, wasting my time doing my own calculations .

 

[muppets3d]

Studios are underpriced in the DVC system as a general rule. But it's far too late to do anything about it.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Studios are underpriced in the DVC system as a general rule. But it's far too late to do anything about it.

As of right now for many people that one bedroom availability can be a benefit if they have sleep around points that can be used at the original resorts.

However, I do wonder if we look out into the future if all of these newly restricted resale points materially impacts the system.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Have you guys checked out the DVC vs Rack Rate comparison on DVCROFR.com….

Last I checked which wasn’t recent it was outdated. I will check again.

I just end up doing mine manually since I’m usually always doing CA and Hawaii at the same time which are hard to find on any site for rack rate. Also clicking add to cart and seeing that huge total is a high for me

 

[VGCgroupie]

Love the calculations.

Now you have me running my own calculations with my planned RIV stay this summer for 8 nights in 1 BR resort view. Interestingly, none of the discounts appear to be available for stays over 7 nights. If I shorten it to 7-nights, I could book 7-nights in either a 1 BR Preferred View or a Studio Preferred View, but no resort view rooms are available (and 2 BRs are not available in either view category).

1 BR, Preferred View - Rack Rate
40% AP Discount - $5,329
30% Discount - $6,217
Points cost - 356
Points Value 40% - $14.97
Points Value 30% - $17.46

Studio, Preferred View - Rack Rate
40% AP Discount - $3,860
30% Discount - $4,503
Points cost - 157
Points Value 40% - $24.59
Points Value 30% - $28.68

Of course, a resort view for both of those categories will cost you less points - 276 for the 1 BR and 125 for the Studio. And, I probably wouldn't have an AP if I was not already a DVC member (and if I did, it would have to be the more expensive Incredipass). So, if I take those 30% discount rates above and apply them to the points required for resort view rooms, then I get points value of $22.53 for 1 BR and $36.02 for the Studio.

So many different ways to analyze this. But, without a doubt, you don't get anywhere near as much value from using points for 1 BRs. Still, I'm not staying in a studio, especially for 8 nights! LOL. I'm sure I'll get to a 2 BR sooner rather than later, though.

I don’t typically factor in AP discounts since as you said I would never have an AP if I wasn’t DVC. I will do Visa and normal Disney discounts.

$14 is so low . I think my totals tend to be on the higher side because we travel when it’s expensive. My BLT is Feb. VDH is Feb. BWV is April. RIV is April. Aulani is Aug

 

[VGCgroupie]

I showed my husband, his words..

“Wow, we aren’t staying in a studio”

 

[peder]

They know what theyre doing. Studio sucks, 2 bedrooms theyre gunna spend more points, so let's screw the middle class!

I think this is the opposite here.... it means that on the cash side, Disney is unable to raise their prices on 1-bedrooms, so they end up being a relatively poor value from a DVC points perspective. The lack of a 2nd bathroom (even a half bath) in most of the 1 bedroom units as well as the inconsistent availability of the murphy beds is probably a factor in lower demand for the 1 bedrooms? I think most people think: why pay more for a 1-bed that has the same bathroom situation and the same number of sleeping space?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I think this is the opposite here.... it means that on the cash side, Disney is unable to raise their prices on 1-bedrooms, so they end up being a relatively poor value from a DVC points perspective. The lack of a 2nd bathroom (even a half bath) in most of the 1 bedroom units as well as the inconsistent availability of the murphy beds is probably a factor in lower demand for the 1 bedrooms? I think most people think: why pay more for a 1-bed that has the same bathroom situation and the same number of sleeping space?

The point jump from a studio to a 1 bed is high. The point jump from a 1 bed to a 2 bed isnt very high. Even if you take cash costs out of the equation 1 beds are very a poor value (point wise) when you compare them to studios or 2 beds

 

[LoveToDisney]

Love everyone complaining about the horrible point value for 1BRs. That helps me find availability for our visits since we LOVE staying in 1BRs. I have no desire to stay in a beefed up hotel room (studio). I prefer a villa with full kitchen/WD/living room even when it’s just the 2 of us. And the king bed, too!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Love everyone complaining about the horrible point value for 1BRs. That helps me find availability for our visits since we LOVE staying in 1BRs. I have no desire to stay in a beefed up hotel room (studio). I prefer a villa with full kitchen/WD/living room even when it’s just the 2 of us. And the king bed, too!

Yes those who book 1 beds love our 1 beds and its nice that they are easy to get. This wasn't a complaint as you are seeing it.

 

[Genie+]

It’s worth keeping the bounceback offers in mind. As great as the current AP 40% summer discount is at WDW, bouncebacks offer that same kind of deep discount over a wide selection of inventory all year round.

And it’s never been easier! Now there’s a button on WDW site, so you can peruse the inventory during your stay or up to 1 week after you checkout. Just make sure you are logged in.

We wanted one more night for our April ‘26 family trip and I had already spent all of our DVC points. DH and I took a short trip together Oct ‘25, and from that I was able to book a bounceback BW View 1BR villa for the first night of our April trip. On the bounceback it was $720 including tax. Which may sound expensive until you realize it is a Saturday night in April and every avenue is costly.

This BW 1BR would cost 43pts with DVC, which works out to under $17pp Not to mention I was able to book at 5 months out and can get a refund up to 8 days out.

There is still an AP spring discount currently going, but it does not compete with bounceback pricing. They do not have the BW view option, but have the same price category Pool/Garden villa and it is $875 that night including tax. BCV 1BR also has the full ‘Spring 25% discount’ and is still over $900/nt. Which also might sound expensive until you realize that $900/nt pricing still only works out to $21.50pp on the DVC point chart.

Now I’m wondering what price I could’ve gotten our April 19-24 VGF 1BR on the bounceback lol.

 

[zackiedawg]

I honestly never looked at, considered, or calculated points value of the different sized DVCs. I bought enough points to be able to stay for a certain number of days a year back when family was often in the mix - staying mostly in a mix of 2-bedrooms when with family or studios if I went solo, and the occasional 1-bedroom. Now, there aren't as much family anymore, so my trips are either solo or with 1-2 friends. Studios in general are not as fun with friends as I prize my own sleeping privacy as I've gotten older - so I always stuck to 1-bedrooms when going with friends. And without the family trips and 2-bedroom bookings, I have plenty of points, so much so that I don't bother with the studios anymore even when I go solo. Nice to have the 1-bedroom for the full kitchen, and availability on 1-bedrooms is definitely better and easier than studios. I think the last time I stayed in a studio was 2017? It's been all 1-bedrooms 4 times a year.

 

[Brian Noble]

For me, owning DVC is not something I am doing for its value. If I wanted to minimize the cost of my DVC stays, I would keep exchanging my no-name timeshare week. I've had good success in securing DVC exchanges during my preferred travel dates. Doing that would keep my total costs for a week in a 1BR well below any DVC owner's cost in dues for that same week, even if the points were free.

And, I don't know if you've noticed, but the points are not free.

I became an owner because I wanted more discretion over where I was staying, I had the money to do it, and my kids had been successfully launched so I didn't need to keep the same reserves on hand.

If I am going to do that, I am going to stay in the units I want, and those do not include studios. Villas are a qualitatively different vacation experience, and I put a lot of value on the villa experience.

 

[tx911]

It’s worth keeping the bounceback offers in mind. As great as the current AP 40% summer discount is at WDW, bouncebacks offer that same kind of deep discount over a wide selection of inventory all year round.

And it’s never been easier! Now there’s a button on WDW site, so you can peruse the inventory during your stay or up to 1 week after you checkout. Just make sure you are logged in.

We wanted one more night for our April ‘26 family trip and I had already spent all of our DVC points. DH and I took a short trip together Oct ‘25, and from that I was able to book a bounceback BW View 1BR villa for the first night of our April trip. On the bounceback it was $720 including tax. Which may sound expensive until you realize it is a Saturday night in April and every avenue is costly.

This BW 1BR would cost 43pts with DVC, which works out to under $17pp Not to mention I was able to book at 5 months out and can get a refund up to 8 days out.

There is still an AP spring discount currently going, but it does not compete with bounceback pricing. They do not have the BW view option, but have the same price category Pool/Garden villa and it is $875 that night including tax. BCV 1BR also has the full ‘Spring 25% discount’ and is still over $900/nt. Which also might sound expensive until you realize that $900/nt pricing still only works out to $21.50pp on the DVC point chart.

Now I’m wondering what price I could’ve gotten our April 19-24 VGF 1BR on the bounceback lol.

This may be a dumb question, but do you get a bounce back offer even after a DVC stay?

 

[muppets3d]

As of right now for many people that one bedroom availability can be a benefit if they have sleep around points that can be used at the original resorts.

However, I do wonder if we look out into the future if all of these newly restricted resale points materially impacts the system.

It won't affect 11 month availability of course but 7 month availability may be more competitive than ever. Restricted owners will be sure to make their bookings within the priority window and they can't exchange out at 7 months so there will be less shuffling going on at the 7 month window.

 

[muppets3d]

This may be a dumb question, but do you get a bounce back offer even after a DVC stay?

You should be able to yes, we get access to all the benefits of any other onsite guest except for things like package discounts because our rooms are paid for with points, not cash. Of course your bounceback has to be paid with cash, not points.

 

[VGCgroupie]

It’s worth keeping the bounceback offers in mind. As great as the current AP 40% summer discount is at WDW, bouncebacks offer that same kind of deep discount over a wide selection of inventory all year round.

And it’s never been easier! Now there’s a button on WDW site, so you can peruse the inventory during your stay or up to 1 week after you checkout. Just make sure you are logged in.

We wanted one more night for our April ‘26 family trip and I had already spent all of our DVC points. DH and I took a short trip together Oct ‘25, and from that I was able to book a bounceback BW View 1BR villa for the first night of our April trip. On the bounceback it was $720 including tax. Which may sound expensive until you realize it is a Saturday night in April and every avenue is costly.

This BW 1BR would cost 43pts with DVC, which works out to under $17pp Not to mention I was able to book at 5 months out and can get a refund up to 8 days out.

There is still an AP spring discount currently going, but it does not compete with bounceback pricing. They do not have the BW view option, but have the same price category Pool/Garden villa and it is $875 that night including tax. BCV 1BR also has the full ‘Spring 25% discount’ and is still over $900/nt. Which also might sound expensive until you realize that $900/nt pricing still only works out to $21.50pp on the DVC point chart.

Now I’m wondering what price I could’ve gotten our April 19-24 VGF 1BR on the bounceback lol.

Ive never seen a bounce back offer in all my stays. Am I not looking in the right places?

 

[VGCgroupie]

I honestly never looked at, considered, or calculated points value of the different sized DVCs. I bought enough points to be able to stay for a certain number of days a year back when family was often in the mix - staying mostly in a mix of 2-bedrooms when with family or studios if I went solo, and the occasional 1-bedroom. Now, there aren't as much family anymore, so my trips are either solo or with 1-2 friends. Studios in general are not as fun with friends as I prize my own sleeping privacy as I've gotten older - so I always stuck to 1-bedrooms when going with friends. And without the family trips and 2-bedroom bookings, I have plenty of points, so much so that I don't bother with the studios anymore even when I go solo. Nice to have the 1-bedroom for the full kitchen, and availability on 1-bedrooms is definitely better and easier than studios. I think the last time I stayed in a studio was 2017? It's been all 1-bedrooms 4 times a year.

I calculate mainly because I keep track so I will know when I have broken even on the purchase of that contract. I could only justify DVC if it saved me money so I have to prove it to myself and DH.