New Owner, First Rez: (2) studio? (1) 2BR?!?!

[madchatter]

What would you do in our situation?:

1. First reservation, probably home resort of SSR although we might do BWV if it happens to work out

2. 6 people: Our family with DD13 and DS10, MIL and FIL

3. Enough points for either but could mean small sacrifice the next year if we go 2BR

4. Trip March 3-10, 2018

5. Will not end up cooking much or doing much laundry. It may take us a couple of DVC trips to really get into that groove. We are moderate/deluxe WDW people and haven't had that experience/ ability before.

If we end up at SSR, I'm more inclined to go 2BR since I don't think the studio double couch is a very good situation for my two kids.

Most predictions show we can probably get into a pool view Studio at BWV at 7 months. If so we'd be able to have the Murphy bed for my 10 year old. That's more ideal for flower and garden which they plan to frequent.

Is it way more comfortable in a 2BR? Worth the extra points? I like the idea of a common area but my kids will be sleeping in there.

I could get two studios at OKW also and have 2 queens. That would sleep ok. But if we go there, I'd almost like to do the huge 2BR they have.

So many choices!! I'm torn. What guidance would you give? What do I not know to ask that I'll wish o would've thought of?

Thanks for the great discussion on these boards. It's been a life saver (and money saver).

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

2BR -- you can still congregate before the kids go to bed so you have the dining room set up, the breakfast bar, and of course the couch/chair. The patios are good options if you get a 1st floor, balconies less so. While the studios are nice, they are - IMHO - hard for more than 3 people for that long a period of time. There's no place to get away from anyone and take a timeout.
SSR is lovely and a great respite after the chaos of the parks; good on Ste pools, food, etc. OKW is nice too but I found it to spread out to walk around easily.

 

[disneynutz]

4 adults and 2 older children, a 2 bedroom is what we would do.

Bill

 

[jekjones1558]

Another vote for 2 bedrooms, but then we are not studio people. I feel like studios are almost the same as a hotel room and it is the bigger accommodations that make DVC special. The OKW 2 bedrooms are way bigger than any other resort and there will probably be availability at 7 months. The sleeper chair there would be a plus. The problem with the lock-off 2 bedrooms at BWV and SSR is that the fold down bed would be in the studio part of the room so either that child would be sleeping with the in-laws or you would need to have the in-laws take the master bedroom.

 

[juncker]

2 Bedroom would be my choice. There's no guarantee that both studios would be close to each other. OKW is huge. Besides, once you're in a 2 BR, it no longer feels like a hotel room. That should be experienced by a first time owner.

 

[crisi]

Remember you'll only get two real beds in a BWV two bedroom. They are all lockoffs - with the second bedroom having a bed and a pullout and the murphy, the living room having a pullout, and the master having a king.

I'd go with two bedrooms - and I'd think about changing your trips to accommodate having a washer/dryer in the room and access to a stove. Breakfast in the room works really well for us - as does popping a load in each evening and throwing it into the dryer when we get back.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The nice thing about DVC is the flexibility. The tough thing about DVC is the flexibility! The longer you own the more you figure out what really works best for your groups so in general at least it gets easier.

For SSR or OKW I'd do the 2BR - I and most of my family like to have shared accommodations so we can see each other as most of us do not live close to each other. Even if we did though we'd likely do the shared - it's nice to have the living area to congregate in, the washer/dryer and the kitchen as we often have breakfast in the room when we are at WDW.

BWV would be the one location that 2 studios would come onto my radar just for the sleeping arrangements. I don't have a great love of putting people on the sofa beds but hesitate less for the murphy beds and the single chair sleeper as the reports of these seem pretty good. But even in a 2BR there one of the kids could have the murphy in the second bedroom and the other on the double sleeper in the bedroom or the queen sleeper in the living room.

 

[Dean]

A 2 BR either way but realize you may end up with 2 real beds and 2 pull outs either way.

 

[jekjones1558]

A 2 BR either way but realize you may end up with 2 real beds and 2 pull outs either way.

OKW and SSR both have the option of 2 BR dedicated rooms which would offer 2 queen size beds in the 2nd bedroom as well as the king bed in the master and queen size sofa bed in the living room. OKW also has the sleeper chair in the living room.

 

[Dean]

OKW and SSR both have the option of 2 BR dedicated rooms which would offer 2 queen size beds in the 2nd bedroom as well as the king bed in the master and queen size sofa bed in the living room. OKW also has the sleeper chair in the living room.

Yes but the dedicated rooms will likely go first and I suspect they're looking at standard view, that's why I said they may end up with 2 beds and two pull outs.

 

[madchatter]

Yes but the dedicated rooms will likely go first and I suspect they're looking at standard view, that's why I said they may end up with 2 beds and two pull outs.

I could not really see a difference in the OKW dedicated and lock-off. Slightly different shape of studio side but otherwise the same. We will probably book SSR and then switch to OKW. Seems likely to get at 7 months but I guess always better to book ahead and change just to be sure.

 

[Dean]

I could not really see a difference in the OKW dedicated and lock-off. Slightly different shape of studio side but otherwise the same. We will probably book SSR and then switch to OKW. Seems likely to get at 7 months but I guess always better to book ahead and change just to be sure.

I'd only do so if you'll have a car.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I could not really see a difference in the OKW dedicated and lock-off. Slightly different shape of studio side but otherwise the same. We will probably book SSR and then switch to OKW. Seems likely to get at 7 months but I guess always better to book ahead and change just to be sure.

Since OKW has the 2 beds in the studios there is much less of a difference between dedicated and the lock-offs there than other resorts - just a bit in the configuration and if a lock-off the studio side would have the small kitchenette. Having SSR booked and then trying to switch to OKW is the safest way to go but it probably won't be too difficult to find opening at non-home resorts during early March.

 

[madchatter]

I am nervous about the size of OKW. It's attractive because of the enormous 2BR and we like the layout where the kids could sleep in the common area without sharing a bed. This seems rare.

But the proximity of BWV to flower and garden or the easier navigation of SSR could outweigh that.

It's a tough decision.

 

[bumbershoot]

2BR -- you can still congregate before the kids go to bed so you have the dining room set up, the breakfast bar, and of course the couch/chair.

Yep.

OKW all the way. Although we have stayed at many DVCs since 2009 the one we go back to when we have extended family is OKW. It's just huge, and the pullout sofa and pullout chair make it great for a mixed group of kids.

We always have a car (extended family definitely has a car b/c they drive in from Daytona) so there are no issues with that. Though on our most recent trip some of us went for a jog and realized that it actually doesn't feel as spread out as we thought.

 

[CarolMN]

If at all possible, I'd go with a 2 bedroom at the BWV. I'd bring an aero bed or similar for one of the children if they (or you) would rather not share the queen sleep sofa. The 2 bedroom gives you the washer/dryer in the unit and a full kitchen (even if you don't use it much, it's nice to have) as well as common space for the 6 of you. (Given the ages of your children, it's likely that you'll all want to sleep at the same time, so no need to make up the living room for sleeping until just before then). You even get 3 TVs, LOL. For those who want to visit EPCOT (F&G is beautiful time), the location is awesome.

Have fun - I have wonderful memories of our BWV stays with extended family in a 2 bedroom and hope you are on your way to the same.

 

[Dean]

I am nervous about the size of OKW. It's attractive because of the enormous 2BR and we like the layout where the kids could sleep in the common area without sharing a bed. This seems rare.

But the proximity of BWV to flower and garden or the easier navigation of SSR could outweigh that.

It's a tough decision.

I love OKW but it's size, getting around in the resorts and getting other locations is slightly more challenging than the others overall IMO. That's why I wouldn't do it with a car. It's also a little more difficult and less advantageous for pool and other activities. Overall it depends on budget and other plans though for SSR standard or BWV standard the budget isn't that much different though the possible sleeping arrangements are if you can get a dedicated 2 BR standard at SSR. The BWV standard will be the most difficult to get.

 

[madchatter]

I'm starting to think 2BR at SSR would be best. Best combo of sleeping arrangements and navigation without a car

BWV might also be ok but I'm not counting on availability. And if it is available I might do two studios there. I don't really want to go all the way to 350 points for the week.

I guess now we wait till 7 months and see.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Did you already book your home resort for those days so you at least have something if you can't change to a different resort at seven months out?

 

[madchatter]

Did you already book your home resort for those days so you at least have something if you can't change to a different resort at seven months out?

Actually we are still waiting for our points to load. Should be any day. I'll book home SSR immediately at that time. It'll be approximately 9.5 months before travel on 3/3/18. Hopefully I'll be able to lock up exactly what I want there which is probably a 2BR Standard with request for Grandstand.

Then when 7 months hits, we'll have to see if we can get other availability. I think our wish list would be this order:
1. BWV standard 2BR (unlikely?)
2. OKW 2BR Hospitality house (unlikely)

If neither of those is available then we'll decide whether to keep SSR or perhaps get (2) pool view (or whatever's available) studios at BWV. Which it seems relatively likely we can get from what I can find around here. I just don't want to go all the way up to a preferred view 2BR at BWV for 350 points. I think about 300 is where I want this trip to top out.