More days or better accommodations?

[jamstew]

Because flights are so expensive and so are the park hoppers for the first 6 days or so, it seems just silly to not stay longer.

That's my thought, too. I'd rather go twice a year and stay 9-11 days each time than three times a year for 6-7 days. I also find longer trips much more relaxing.

 

[bob_and_mary]

We are in the midst of our first vacation using points. Yesterday we just moved from a studio at OKW to a 1 bedroom until at Boardwalk. We are a family of 4 (2 teenage daughters). We thought the studio was great - until we walked into the one bedroom. For us, I would not want to do anything smaller that a 1 bedroom unless it is for a very short trip. (We decided that sonce we bought more points while down here, we make a quick trip over a long weekend in January for DD birthday.)

 

[mom2rb]

Once I made my family switch to a studio for the week-end. It was to save points so that we could squeeze one more trip in. DH came home, bought me more points and made me promise to never do that again.

He has told me that even when the kids are gone, we will still get a one bedroom.

 

[Sheribo]

We like to go twice a year. Over spring break, we stay in a 1-bedroom at SSR but do NOT do the parks. The parks are too busy and there is so much to do at SSR, DTD and the other resorts. We eat all our meals in the room so need the full kitchen.

When we go in November, we spend most of our time at the parks and eat only breakfast in the room. Last November we had a studio at BCV and actually spent very little time in the room.

 

[Disneypirate85]

We always stay in studio's. We go twice a year so extends points but we just banked 67 points after our 2nd visit this year so its not just that either. We love just spending time with the kids. In a studio we are all right there hang out and just talk. No cell phones no internet just talk....most of our Disney time is parks and pool anyway but when in the resort we get a chance to catch up with them and them with us. And talk about laughing my goodness we get to laughing so hard it hurts, we love our children very much but being with them away from home is diffrent they become like long lost friends too.....as they grow i am very proud of them but also sad that these times with them are fading faster and faster so ya Studio's for us......Shawn

 

[DenLo]

We're BLT newbies, so have not stayed at a DVC resort. In the past, we have usually stayed at a moderate resort so we can stay more days. We did have one exception to this, when in April 1996 we stayed at Beach Club and although we really enjoyed Storm along Bay we were very sad when we had to return home after only five days. Our memory of the room consists of the lack of a view (parking lot and the roof of the porte-cochere) and long, long walk from the elevator to our room and nice soap and shampoo with Mickey on them! That's it.

So I would expect we'll stay in studios for the two of us and once we get our BLT fix, we'll move on to resorts that have more reasonable points per night.

So I'd vote for a smaller room with a longer stay.

 

[starbox]

We're longer stay folks. I've stayed in 2-bedrooms w/other timeshares and a 1-bedroom w/DVC. Just got back from a week in a 2-bedroom cottage at Vero Beach.

I am not commando - BUT - we just don't spend time in the room. It's just not our thing. We don't watch TV. I'd prefer to eat out. Even today at home, as we were out of the house by noon and stayed out till after 7pm. Went to the art museum, got Gelato, walked around an open air market. I'm just not a homebody and can not begin to fathom doing more than sleeping and showering in a room at a Disney resort.

So - we've always ended up feeling like the space in a room larger than a studio was wasted on us (although I did like having a washer and dryer in the room).

Love being in the resort, love being at the pool, love the community hall and recreation activities, love sitting on a balcony with a view.

DH and I don't need a king bed - don't have one at home. The kids are big enough to go do things at the resort on their own - so we have private time when we want it. We all like each other.

 

[DenLo]

I can understand wanting a washer and dryer in the room for the convenience and it makes doing laundry slightly quicker. But come on--the laundry room is right there in the building. We don't stay at the laundry room but again we don't leave the resort either while we're doing laundry.

So I just can't justify a washer/dryer as justification for a larger room than a studio. More days-----yes----yes---yes!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I can understand wanting a washer and dryer in the room for the convenience and it makes doing laundry slightly quicker. But come on--the laundry room is right there in the building. We don't stay at the laundry room but again we don't leave the resort either while we're doing laundry.

So I just can't justify a washer/dryer as justification for a larger room than a studio. More days-----yes----yes---yes!

When there are only a couple of washers and dryers (like two and four) for all the studio guests, everyone wants to use them at the same time. And you must remove your wet clothing from the washer as soon as it is done, plus your dry stuff from the dryer as soon as it is done. Otherwise, you are being a selfish oaf towards the other guests.

But when I have a w/d in my villa, I can put some dirty clothes in the washer when we head for the parks and put them in the dryer when we get back from the parks. Or put something in the washer or dryer right before bedtime. Can't do that with the shared ones.

If you are staying in a studio at OKW or SSR, the w/d aren't right in the building. You have to go to the pool. If the weather is bad, it's no fun.

 

[Snow Shoe]

We have alwaya prefured the better accomadations to length of stay. For us the resort/room is just as important as visiting the parks or dining. The king bed and the his/her bathroom arrangments work perfectly for us. I realize that for many, the room is just a place to lay your head at night. This was one reason why we choose to buy into DVC. Plus we like having a full kitchen, and the washer-dryer for our use when we want to use them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have alwaya prefured the better accomadations to length of stay. For us the resort/room is just as important as visiting the parks or dining. The king bed and the his/her bathroom arrangments work perfectly for us. I realize that for many, the room is just a place to lay your head at night. This was one reason why we choose to buy into DVC. Plus we like having a full kitchen, and the washer-dryer for our use when we want to use them.

I agree, Steve. A WDW vacation is a whole bunch more than just hitting the parks from sun up to sun up (early morning EMH). The resort is just as important, and we think the comfort is just as important.

 

[manning]

21 days in a one bedroom at OKW in Jan. Just the two of us.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We stay in studios mostly, but we get studios for each couple, or a single guest, so we do pay for comfort. We've given our DS a 2 bedroom for the 5 of them and DH and I took a studio when we didn't all get to WDW and I certainly didn't want to "kick" them out of the master bedroom for the two nights we would be there. All of us like having privacy and a place to gather. We had and will have 7 in the Beach Cottage. DH and I are very comfortable in a studio for our short trips of 3-5 nights.

Bobbi

 

[crisi]

I can understand wanting a washer and dryer in the room for the convenience and it makes doing laundry slightly quicker. But come on--the laundry room is right there in the building. We don't stay at the laundry room but again we don't leave the resort either while we're doing laundry.

So I just can't justify a washer/dryer as justification for a larger room than a studio. More days-----yes----yes---yes!

But I do laundry in the one/two bedrooms AND leave the resort. I throw in something in the morning, switch it in the evening, fold it the next morning while throwing in something else. So it isn't slightly quicker - its freeing up hours that I don't need to be at the resort. I can hang by the pool if I want to - or I can go to Epcot or spend the morning in the MK.

And I don't risk forgetting I have a load in, or someone digging through my underwear that isn't me or my husband.

I really didn't think the laundry or the kitchen would be much used by us - and we use both of them. Eggs in the morning and a load of laundry almost every day.

 

[Granny]

I can understand wanting a washer and dryer in the room for the convenience and it makes doing laundry slightly quicker. But come on--the laundry room is right there in the building. We don't stay at the laundry room but again we don't leave the resort either while we're doing laundry.

So I just can't justify a washer/dryer as justification for a larger room than a studio. More days-----yes----yes---yes!

I couldn't disagree more with your comments. Having the washer/dryer right in the villa is a HUGE benefit for us. One a typical 7 night stay, we'll probably do laundry 2 or 3 times. Why so often? First, because it's so convenient and easy. Second, because we know how easy it is to do laundry we pack much less clothing than we used to for our trips.

For us, DVC is about increasing comfort and relaxation during our vacations. I totally understand those who would prefer more nights in a studio vs a 1BR, especially if they don't plan on spending much time in the room. Having the 1BR increases the quality of our vacations. And in the end, that's what we bought DVC to accomplish.

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is a general topic I have struggled with all along, before and post DVC. When we first started going to WDW, more days won out. In pre-DVC days it was All Stars for more nights or a moderate or deluxe for fewer nights. Now that we own DVC it soon will be studio for more nights or 1 bdr for fewer.

What wins out with you? Better accommodations or longer stay?

I figure if I wanted to stay in a studio, I'd just forgo DVC and stay at the values or mods. Since the whole point was to have more luxury on vacation, I'd choose the 1 bedroom every time. We do occationally stay in a studio for a night, but never longer than that. When it's two of us, we stay in a 1 bedroom, and if it's 3 or more, we stay in a 2 bedroom.

 

[Hunclemarco]

When there are only a couple of washers and dryers (like two and four) for all the studio guests, everyone wants to use them at the same time. And you must remove your wet clothing from the washer as soon as it is done, plus your dry stuff from the dryer as soon as it is done. Otherwise, you are being a selfish oaf towards the other guests.

But when I have a w/d in my villa, I can put some dirty clothes in the washer when we head for the parks and put them in the dryer when we get back from the parks. Or put something in the washer or dryer right before bedtime. Can't do that with the shared ones.

If you are staying in a studio at OKW or SSR, the w/d aren't right in the building. You have to go to the pool. If the weather is bad, it's no fun.

We haven't stayed in a studio yet, but will be on future trips...

Is there a charge for using the Washers/Dryers?
Are there units at all resorts? (We'll be at SSR, BCV, AKV)
Are they available for use 24 hrs?
We plan on bringing our own detergent, but if we didn't, is there something available for purchase there?

Thanks in advance for your help and input.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We haven't stayed in a studio yet, but will be on future trips...

Is there a charge for using the Washers/Dryers?
Are there units at all resorts? (We'll be at SSR, BCV, AKV)
Are they available for use 24 hrs?
We plan on bringing our own detergent, but if we didn't, is there something available for purchase there?

Thanks in advance for your help and input.

No charge to members. You'll probably need your room ID to enter the laundry room.

SSR and OKW have multiple small laundry rooms located at the pool. All the hotel style DVC resorts usually have a single laundry room (but both Jambo House and Kidani Village should have a laundry room). You should be able to use them all hours of the day and night.
We always bring our own detergent, but they should have vending machines that sell the detergent. And the stores should also sell detergent.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

This year (our 1st as DVC members) we stayed in a 2br villa. Now can't imagine going and not having the full kitchen. (I don't cook--ever--however, this was nice when we came back from the parks late at night and the kids needed something to eat. I am sure the studios are nice, but our future trips are planned (as of now) for nothing less than a 1br villa. Also DD8 is more than ready to go home by day 7--the trip is very tiring for her, so for us better accomodations wins out.

 

[Hunclemarco]

No charge to members. You'll probably need your room ID to enter the laundry room.

SSR and OKW have multiple small laundry rooms located at the pool. All the hotel style DVC resorts usually have a single laundry room (but both Jambo House and Kidani Village should have a laundry room). You should be able to use them all hours of the day and night.
We always bring our own detergent, but they should have vending machines that sell the detergent. And the stores should also sell detergent.

Thank You for the information