Need help deciding on DVC studio!

[Vicki511]

This will be our first time renting DVC. We have stayed on property previously but my husband finds the value rooms to be too small. For the price of a Moderate, I figured lets go with DVC.

My heart is set on a Poly studio which I was 100% ready to book, buuuut...we just found out kiddio #2 is on the way and will be approx. 7 months when we go.

So now I am wanting to be financially responsible, but get the best room we can for our needs. We will have 2 adults, a 7 month old, and an 8 year old. Any suggestions on the best DVC studio to book? Will the Poly be worth the additional $1000? Or should we go with a Value Studio at AKL?

I have three months to decide before we can book, so I need help TIA!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would save the $1000 and go with the AKL studio. AKL is gorgeous and there is so much to do there! Think of all the extra things you could do with $1000!

 

[Anthony1971]

Any DVC room will fit your needs... it is a matter of what resort you want to stay at and how much you want to spend.. You will use the pack and play for the 8 month old you can request a crib if they have it you will get it but there is no need at that age as they are both the same size.. you can and we have just used the crib mattress in the pack and play.. HOWEVER the rooms you speak if are VERY hard to come by and you need to be prepared to pay and not cancel at less than the 11 month mark as you will loose your money otherwise be open to where you stay... most will work with you to change a date but there will be no refunds...
All DVC resorts are nice and what I like you may not... if you are caught up in the I must stay at a monorail resort then you have 3 choices... if you spend a lot of time at Disney springs then Saratoga fits your needs better... if you want to see animals than AK... but don't be disappointed if you do not pay for the view and you do not get one as this will likely be the case....
Narrow down your choices and check out the DVC boards you will get better info on the resort and rooms.
Most likely you will not get a value studio at AKL as there are only 8 if my memory is correct--4 with a somewhat savannah view and 4 with a somewhat pool view and what you get is what you get that is how DVC works. P.S. we have owned for 15 years got some great views and 1 or 2 not so great views most were just views.

 

[Marionnette]

This will be our first time renting DVC. We have stayed on property previously but my husband finds the value rooms to be too small. For the price of a Moderate, I figured lets go with DVC.

My heart is set on a Poly studio which I was 100% ready to book, buuuut...we just found out kiddio #2 is on the way and will be approx. 7 months when we go.

So now I am wanting to be financially responsible, but get the best room we can for our needs. We will have 2 adults, a 7 month old, and an 8 year old. Any suggestions on the best DVC studio to book? Will the Poly be worth the additional $1000? Or should we go with a Value Studio at AKL?

I have three months to decide before we can book, so I need help TIA!

I would not count on getting a Value studio at AKV. There are very few of them and they book up quickly, sometimes they are even claimed before an owner's booking window opens. In addition, the studio is small. Opening the sofa bed for the 8 year old and having a pack n play set up for the baby is not going to work well. The room is very crowded with the sofa open.

Three months from now, you're talking about renting for late October or early November. DVC owners refer to that time as Fall Frenzy. Everyone and their dog tries to book DVC studios for the time period between mid-September to late-January. In all honesty, I would try for one of the larger resorts with a low point requirement. OKW would work well for you. The studios are large and have 2 queen beds. Plenty of space for the pack n play. And they will have been recently renovated. If you want to be fiscally responsible, yet have a good chance at securing a studio during Fall Frenzy, this would be my recommendation.

 

[Lynne M]

The odds of your getting a value studio are very much against you. There are only a few of them, they're extremely popular with members, and unless you're working with a member who's willing to get on the phone the minute the lines open on the first day they can book, you're not going to get one. And even then, you may not.

I'd go for OKW, also. It's a lovely resort, very relaxing, and since it's so large you have a much better shot at finding availability. With four in your party and a need for a pack n play, I personally wouldn't consider any other studio than OKW. All other studios at WDW have a queen bed and a sleeper sofa, and there's going to be barely any room to move with the sofa bed open and the pack n play set up. You'd find it less comfortable than a value in terms of space, I think.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with the others. There is virtually no chance of a Value studio, so you need to take that out of the equation.
Other than OKW all studios are going to be uncomfortably crowded with the sleeper sofa open and a pack n play set up.
Personally, for this trip I would be booking a regular hotel room, not trying to rent a DVC studio.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

If you wanted to rent a DVC studio, then I would suggest getting one of the one's that can have 5 guests with a Murphy bed. That would give you more room and you wouldn't have to use the pull out sofa.

 

[EdmondD]

My heart is set on a Poly studio which I was 100% ready to book, buuuut...we just found out kiddio #2 is on the way and will be approx. 7 months when we go.

Congrats on the new addition!

FWIW, after having a second child we really didn't become financially responsible when it comes to WDW trips.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For the kind of timeframe you're discussing, don't price using AKV-Value, BWV Standard or BLT Standard. It's not realistic.

The spread between Poly and units you can realistically get is generally less than what you're looking at with AKV Value. But since you are unlikely to get AKV Value, it's not a real consideration. Poly is a unit you can realistically get, as are OKW, SSR, AKV Standard or Savannah at Kidani, and BRV Studio.

If you want a cheaper option than Poly, I'd look strongly at the Boulder Ridge studio. Your elder child uses the Murphy bed, and you wouldn't need to unfold the sofa.

 

[Vicki511]

For the kind of timeframe you're discussing, don't price using AKV-Value, BWV Standard or BLT Standard. It's not realistic.

The spread between Poly and units you can realistically get is generally less than what you're looking at with AKV Value. But since you are unlikely to get AKV Value, it's not a real consideration. Poly is a unit you can realistically get, as are OKW, SSR, AKV Standard or Savannah at Kidani, and BRV Studio.

If you want a cheaper option than Poly, I'd look strongly at the Boulder Ridge studio. Your elder child uses the Murphy bed, and you wouldn't need to unfold the sofa.

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for! I am pretty sure I am going to go with Poly in the end. It' smy bucket list resort so I know if I don't pick it I will constantly regret it. The use of the monorail with a baby, the extra bathroom, and the pool/splash pad outweigh the savings for me. My husband on the other hand

 

[Vicki511]

Congrats on the new addition!

FWIW, after having a second child we really didn't become financially responsible when it comes to WDW trips.

Haha, my husband is so against going and feels it should be pushed back. We promised my daughter the Halloween Party so I refuse to say no. I promised him I would have the trip paid for before baby comes along so he can't complain.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for! I am pretty sure I am going to go with Poly in the end. It' smy bucket list resort so I know if I don't pick it I will constantly regret it. The use of the monorail with a baby, the extra bathroom, and the pool/splash pad outweigh the savings for me. My husband on the other hand

This is also why I said BRV would be the best consideration if you really need to save the money. Good splash pad, and a boat to MK. The boat is somewhat more reliable than the monorail.

FWIW, Poly isn't an extra bathroom. It's a separate shower. Still only one loo.

 

[Roxyfire]

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for! I am pretty sure I am going to go with Poly in the end. It' smy bucket list resort so I know if I don't pick it I will constantly regret it. The use of the monorail with a baby, the extra bathroom, and the pool/splash pad outweigh the savings for me. My husband on the other hand

Be careful because you might get spoiled with the Poly studio! A Boulder Ridge studio might be a nice compromise as it's a lower point cost, super close to MK, has a nice pool and splash area and a pulldown bed for your older child. Being able to ride the boat back to the resort after the Halloween party would be really a nice way to end the night too.

edit: lol looks like someone beat me to it but one more vote for BRV.