More space or more vacations?

[Minnie824]

Just wondering how everyone uses their points. Reading some of the trips reports I see that people go to disney 3, or 4 times a year but stay in a studio. We're a family of four and tend to do one big trip, but stay in a 2 bedroom because we LOVE the extra space. Do you have a preference?

 

[rentayenta]

More space and longer trips.

 

[Sandisw]

For us, it will depend on who is going. We, right now, will be doing our one summer trip each year. The goal is to also squeeze in a long weekend every other year until we retire in about 9 years and then go from there (should have more points by then too!!!)

For right now, we figure we can do a studio for part of the trip and a 1 bedroom for the remainder of the time.

But, depending on who might want to go, we might do it differently. Next summer, my DD (who is heading off to college in the fall) may want to come with us with a few friends. If that is the case, then we will probably a 2 studios for the entire trip as it is less in points then doing the 2 bedroom unit.

 

[Granny]

We book a 2BR when it's the four of us and for the last couple of trips with DW & I only, we book a 1BR.

For us DVC was about upgrading accommodations and vacation experience in an affordable way (as opposed to saving money).

The extra room is great. And with that extra room comes our favorite villa amenity...in-room washer/dryer.

 

[Candy Orlando]

We always book a one bedroom because it feels like home with a kitchen and laundry room. We love the larger outdoor space overlooking a golfcourse and fountain. We go three times a year for a week.

 

[DebbieB]

We book a 2BR when it's the four of us and for the last couple of trips with DW & I only, we book a 1BR.

For us DVC was about upgrading accommodations and vacation experience in an affordable way (as opposed to saving money).

The extra room is great. And with that extra room comes our favorite villa amenity...in-room washer/dryer.

I agree - I bought DVC for the luxury of a 1 bedroom. I would not have bought to get a studio, I would have stayed with regular rooms.

 

[DenLo]

We don't have children, but do take extended family members with us. We rent studios for the two of us, but when a third adult goes with us, we get a 1 BR. Now we might extend our stay at studios before and/or after the reservation made for the 1 BR. But if we rent very many larger units that would limit our length of stay and the number of times we go to WDW. We know that in 2013 we are planning a family gathering that will limit our number of trips for a couple years. And hopefully we'll be able to handle going through withdrawal.

We never go for less than one week. Short stays just remind us too much of the pre-DVC days where we rushed in and did the parks commando style and rushed home exhausted.

Can you tell I voted "It Depends"?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I've stayed in studios maybe just 3 or 4 times inthe last 30 stays, for last minute, 2 day trips but I wouldn't/couldn't stay in them for long periods. We travel with 4 to 6 guests and I want everyone to be comfortable. I also love having a kitchen (yes, I love to cook, even more so on vacation) and I don't like going home with dirty clothes so the laundry room is a must, therefore our accomodations are always 2brs.

I bought DVC for comfort and space to hang out, it's not all about the theme parks at this point, the resort is just as important!

 

[Alexander]

We do both...If we have the points, we'll book a 1 bedroom, if we don't have enough, we'll book a studio. We'd rather have a studio than no trip at all.

 

[starbox]

More vacation!!

I don't watch television, I don't enjoy cooking, and I don't nap. The kids are old enough to go off on their own, so DH and I get plenty of adult time. There is nothing I need or want in a one bedroom or larger.

 

[gkrykewy]

We opt for long stays in studios. No kids yet, so studios are fine for just the two of us.

 

[Metsoskil]

Our off-site TS is a 3 BR. We usually tack on 4-5 on-site days w/ our DVC every year in a studio. We don't care about the extra space for those days, we're just happy to be on-site.

We've also started to use our points for long-weekend trips for just DW and I. No need for a 1BR as we're not cooking or washing clothes on those trips.

So I guess it's "more often" for us.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

More space for us. Typically a 1 bdrm these days for DW & me. We like having the kitchen and can't afford (good) restaurant food too often. Often times DW or I will get up, or go to bed, earlier than the other and it is nice having the bedroom being separate so as not to disturb the other.

 

[Brian Noble]

I would rather stay offsite in a condo or other timeshare unit than in a studio with the four of us.

 

[nickspace]

As a family of 5 with two teens space is important. We also have limited time to go on vacations but as those variables change we will shift to smaller units and longer stays.

 

[dianeschlicht]

For two of us, we'll book a 1 bedroom and sometimes a studio for an extra night. If we have 3 or more people, we book a 2 bedroom. I don't want to require people to sleep on a pull out.

Next January we will have a total of 6 (3 couples) and we are staying in an OKW Grand Villa.

It's a long ways from Minnesota to Florida, so we usually only go 2 and sometimes 3 times a year. Our norm is to have two 10 night trips, but the GV for next January means we will instead have two 7 night trips. No biggie.

 

[katied]

Per kids, I would go for more vacations. Now, traveling with little ones, I go for more space. It's a lot of work to get packed up and down there, plus, with little ones, there's more competition for where we travel (we need to take trips to CA and CT to visit family, and so it impacts how often we can get to FL). So, I'd rather book a 1 bedroom vs. a studio. A 2 bedroom doesn't make sense for us now, but may down the road (with DS the oldest at 3, and DD still sleeping in the room with us, not worth the points).

 

[LisaS]

We go less often and stay longer each trip and stay in a 1BR. This helps us save on airfare. With all the walking we do at WDW, I really appreciate having a jacuzzi tub. The washer and dryer allows us to pack light, especially helpful when we go in December or January and have to plan for a wide temperature range. We eat breakfast in the room nearly every day and fix a few other simple meals during our stay so we appreciate having a kitchen with real dishes and cutlery.

The exception is AKV Concierge. I'm happy to stay in a studio there. We can use the lounge as a living room and have our breakfast there too (on real plates with real cutlery). And since one of the 1BRs does not have a tub, I would be annoyed if I spent the points for a 1BR and didn't get a tub!

 

[BeesKnees]

It wouldn't be worth being members if we had to stay in the studio accomodations. That is opinion only.

 

[staceymay00]

I voted more space. We bought DVC to stay on site with a kitchen and a washer and dryer. Even if we never actually cook in the villa, it is wonderful having a full refrigerator for snacks and beverages. Also, I prefer to do a couple loads of laundry during our trip then get home and spend time catching up on laundry along with unpacking.