Max Occupancy in DVC Resorts

[Wishing for GCV!]

I'm going to agree with the majority here and say go with the 1br. A studio for a family of four is really going to be pushing it, and even if it had two queen beds I might say do it. You will be happy you spent those extra points on those nights when the kids want to go to bed and you want to stay up and read a good book or do someting like that.

 

[Granny]

I'm not a good person to ask. We get a 2BR for the four of us! We stared with a 1BR but even the 1BR seemed tight since we couldn't use the living room/kitchen area without disturbing the kids.

With the ages of your children, I'd have to vote for the 1BR. But really, how I like to travel is irrelevant. The question is...what is important to YOU?

 

[BroganMc]

Here's an experiment for ya. Lock the four of you in one room in your house with only a bed and bathroom and 1 TV for a weekend. If you haven't wanted to kill each other over (1) what channel to watch/TV volume, (2) who's snoring, or (3) you stepped on my hand/stop touching me/Mom! He/she's bothering me... then go for it.

 

[eeyoresmom]

LOL.... Thanks everyone. I would split the stay but unfortunately we are staying from Sat to the Tue. With the weekend at the end of the trip, I would definately have to book a studio for the lesser points. That would mean going from a 1 bedroom to a studio, and I don't think that would be a good idea.

 

[jarestel]

It's an interesting question because I don't think there's a definitive answer other than "it depends". Does anyone (young or old) require naps? A 1-BR is great for sleepy time while others relax in the living area.

How much time will actually be spent in the room? If the days are pretty much consumed by park & pool time, there's only a few hours at night to hold a tentative peace together.

If the concern is that the children will get on one another's nerves, a 1-BR only solves that problem if one child and one adult sleep in the master BR and the other child and adult sleep on the pullout. Otherwise, the kids are going to be together practically all of the time anyway.

On the other hand, if Mom & Dad are the ones who need a "time out" away from the wee ones, you can't beat the 1-BR as a nice refuge away from the shortcomings of loved ones.

Is there likely to be daily/nightly arguments over what to watch on the TV? If so, a 1-BR has an extra television and could be just what the doctor ordered for eliminating one potential source of disagreements.

But as I said, it really depends. You know your crew best and if separation is the key to retaining sanity on a family vacation, definitely get the 1-BR. On the other hand, if everyone is fairly easy going and you want to save the points, a studio will work.

From a personal standpoint I can attest that simply having a 1-BR doesn't guarantee everyone will sport zip-a-dee-doo-dah smiles 24/7 any more than a studio will signal the end of civilization for a vacationing family. A 1-BR is certainly more comfortable, but a studio is less expensive. Both considerations are perfectly valid.

Good luck & have a great trip!

 

[elijahpep]

We have 2 kids the in the same age group of the OP. We always do a 1BR Sun-Thur and
pay cash for the weekend nights to save points. Remember there is a discount for paying cash, if that is an option.
As far as the kids, we bring an mattress bed for our DD10 and things work our lovely. She sets it up in the front room. It was one of the best purchases we have made for her as far as vacations go.

I hope your family enjoys a lot of Pixie Dust on your trip to the Happiest Place on Earth! Sounds like you'll have a great trip!

~DW

 

[Lady V]

Call me crazy but we have always stayed in a studio for me, my mom, and my two kids. This past Jan we stayed in a 2 bedroom because there were 7 of us. Well, I missed being in the same room!! Me and my fiance are going to SS in March so we have a studio, and this summer me, my mom, and my two kids are going in a studio because I like to have everyone around!! I know-crazy, right??

 

[tomandrobin]

Before DVC and timeshares for us, we were in a hotel room. We never had a problem with that, it was tight, but that is how it was. Then along came timeshares and DVC. We could not imagine spending a week or more all in one room. In fact, we like having the extra space that if we have to stay in a hotel we get two rooms so we can spread out.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Unless you are staying at OKW which has 2 queen sized beds, I'd go for the 1 bedroom so at least the kids will have a queen pull out sofa instead of a full size one. You could try to save points by downgrading to a studio for the weekend, but for 10 days, I'd likely prefer the 1 bedroom. I just like to have privacy I guess. We are one of those who will book a 2 bedroom for 3-4 people, so probably have a different slant on this issue.

 

[Trio]

The whole concept of DVC is to stay in nicer places that feel more like a home.

Get the one bedroom unit.

 

[mikesmom]

- The 1 bedroom will let you get some breakfast into your crew in the mornings . Even with the dining plan that could be important.
- The kitchen will let you keep ice cream bars, water, fruit, etc.
- The washer/dryer will let you bring a whole lot less clothes. That could be considerable for a 10 day stay.

Besides, in our family if I had to tell DH that we would all be together in a studio with no privacy for 10 days, I know who would be getting crabby

 

[castleri]

LOL.... Thanks everyone. I would split the stay but unfortunately we are staying from Sat to the Tue. With the weekend at the end of the trip, I would definately have to book a studio for the lesser points. That would mean going from a 1 bedroom to a studio, and I don't think that would be a good idea.

I would try for a 1BR at OKW for the first 5 nights and then switch to a studio for the last 4 at a different resort. I know some people think switching is too much trouble but it might make the switch to the smaller unit easier especially if you moved to BCV with SAB or AKV if it will be open when you go as a draw.

We did 4 in a 2BR 12/24/06, 2 in an offsite hotel 12/29-12/31 and 3 in a studio 12/31-1/4/07. The savings in points by staying offsite enabled us to add 2 days to the trip that we had not originally planned on- they were the weekend days and thus saved a bunch of points. We also did the things we wanted to do that were not park days. I did find 3 in a studio to be the maximum I would consider and even that would have to be from the need to save points for another trip, add extra days or something.

Good luck with your decision and hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Castlri...OP here ,Did you mind that much moving? I have always liked to switch resorts after a few days, even if I'm staying at a place I really like. We do spend a lot of time at the resort(but the only time we are in the rooms are mornings) Right now I have a BCV studio booked for 2 nights, then 7 nights at OKW in a 1 bedroom.( paying cash for the weekend) But like I said in the original post, my frugal side keeps tapping me on the shoulder "700.00 dollars for 2 nights at OKW would pay for DH abd DS's AP's" I don't know why, the money has been saved for exactly that ( must be the yankee in me ) Anyway, I am still considering a studio or room at POR for the weekend and that would be 4 resorts in 10 days.

 

[starbox]

We always stay in a studio. I'm sure if I tried a 1 bedroom, I would not want to go back - but for now, I figure that what I don't know doesn't hurt me. We did stay in a 2bd once and thought it ended up being lots of wasted space.

Our kids are 8 and 10. Honestly, I would not want and dont feel that I need "space" from them. A big part of our vacations right now is simply being together. We typically spend almost all our waking time outside of the room - we like to hit the parks at opening and stroll around DTD at night. The kids also get along really, really well - they are best friends - so that helps.

As far as the "clutter" - I simply unpack as soon as we arrive and then put all used and dirty clothes back in the suitcases in the closet. We do fold up the couch and quickly make the bed before we leave. Personally, I'd rather have more nights than a larger unit.

I think the size of the unit depends alot on your personality and how you like to spend your downtime. Even at home, we typically don't just hang around the house on weekends and nobody really goes off and shuts their door for the afternoon. We're usually out and about and together. I realize this may change as the kids become teenagers, but I'm hoping to enjoy them wanting to spend time with each other and with us for as long as possible. If it were just my husband and I on vacation, I'd get a 1 bedroom for the romance and relaxation of just hanging out - but with two elementary age kids - romance and relaxation are not the focus of current vacation plans.

 

[Lesley]

We split a studio/1br stay when we were a family of 4- first in a studio then the 1br. That did work out very well. I suggest playing around with your options until you find a way you can do the studio first, even if it means moving to a 1br for just the last 2-3 nights.

We found the washer and dryer to be the deciding factor. I got tired of dragging myself down to the guest laundry in my pajamas at midnight halfway through our trip to move our laundry from the washer to the dryer.....only to do it again half an hour later and find my clothes still wet. Nevermind if you're staying on the second floor at the BWV you feel like a real idiot walking past the lobby in your pajamas.

 

[castleri]

Castlri...OP here ,Did you mind that much moving? I have always liked to switch resorts after a few days, even if I'm staying at a place I really like. We do spend a lot of time at the resort(but the only time we are in the rooms are mornings) Right now I have a BCV studio booked for 2 nights, then 7 nights at OKW in a 1 bedroom.( paying cash for the weekend) But like I said in the original post, my frugal side keeps tapping me on the shoulder "700.00 dollars for 2 nights at OKW would pay for DH abd DS's AP's" I don't know why, the money has been saved for exactly that ( must be the yankee in me ) Anyway, I am still considering a studio or room at POR for the weekend and that would be 4 resorts in 10 days.

I did not mind moving at all. When we moved to the offsite hotel ($123 total for 2 nights) we packed what we needed in a smaller bag and that and what food we had to refrigerate is all we took into the room. We did not check into that room until after 4 on the Friday after spending the day at the pool at OKW following check out. On Saturday we went to TL and then did some shopping at DTD and Walmart on the way back to the other hotel. We were back at Disney Sunday morning early, checked in, left the luggage and returned the rental car before heading to the MK on NYE. That was my frugal side as the two nights I had booked at Disney (one in a value and one in a moderate) would have been $352. If I could have had the value for 2 nights I would have stayed onsite but the combination of low price and wanting to do a couple of things that were not Disney made the other hotel seem a better deal. Without a car it would have been more of a problem and I would have kept the rooms at Disney even though we would have then had 4 rooms for the trip. I had been very fortunate in the rate I got for the car for the 7 days and we needed it for the first few days for offsite shopping and the golfing my DD and her SO did. With a car I have found we just leave luggage in it until we can get into the room and often plan a non park day or water park for the day we transfer. On one trip when we moved to BCV we just spent the day at SAB until our room was ready. It is not an issue for me to change rooms but my DH does not feel the same way so I try not to do so when he is along. Only you can tell what your family will tolerate. By moving to the offsite hotel and using a studio instead of a 1 or 2 BR for NYE through 1/4 I was able to add two days to the trip and have 33 points to use before Aug1 as well as extra money that we used for a couple of meals we would not have done otherwise. Now I just have to be able to match airfare and dates that I can get a studio for DH and I in the next month or so to use those points.

 

[DVC Jen]

Only YOU know your family dynamics. It works for us - we are a family of 4 with two TEEN DDs and 99% of the time we are in one hotel room or when using DVC a studio.

This year we are doing 11 nights in a studio with our two teen DDs. We are getting an aerobed for the first time - primarily because my girls have outgrown having both of them in the pull-out and it will make everyone happier.

Some families can handle it - so me can't. We can and it allows us to stay longer - so we do it.

 

[Jeanine3kids]

I am a new member I have 150 at SSR. I have three children 5, 2, & 1 I know that you are allowed to have 4 people plus one child under 3. But what happens when the kids get older? Will I have to get a 2 bedroom? My guide said you are allowed 5 in a studio or 1 bedroom it's just that the resort will not give you a cot. Is this true or do I have to sneak one kid in and not give his name when making reservations and what about buying park tickets will I be able to buy them through member services then they will know I have 5 guests in the room instead of 3?

Thanks
Jeanine
1/05 POR/FC
10/06 CR

 

[Chuck S]

MS won't book 5 in a studio, unless one is under 3 yo. MS has been booking 5 of any age into one bedroom units. DVC will not provide extra towels or bed linens. There are no cots or rollaways at DVC resorts, so you will need to provide a sleeping bag or air mattress for child #3.

Additional towel packs (4 bath, Hand and washcloths) are $6, or additional Trash and Towel service days are $10.

Supposedly, the AKV one bedroom units WILL accommodate 5, officially, with a fold out single bed.

 

[bpmorley]

MS won't book 5 in a studio, unless one is under 3 yo.

Is this a new policy because they allowed us 5 in a studio last year and there were 4 adults and a 6 yo.