Okay, more questions...

[Jerdoctor]

So, I'm in the process of deciding on renting points for SSR or WL. Thinking about going for the 1 bedroom, and read that the other ones may be a better deal. Its a family or 4(kids are 8 and 6), so could I get by with a studio?

I guess what I'm getting at here is, what makes renting points so much of a better deal(other than the price)? And, should I explore the other options as far as DVC places go? I'm booked at CSR for 8 nights now, and really want a deluxe at a great price.

Pardon my stupid questions, but it seems like when I get it all figured out, more decisions have to be made!

 

[I Love DVC]

So, I'm in the process of deciding on renting points for SSR or WL. Thinking about going for the 1 bedroom, and read that the other ones may be a better deal. Its a family or 4(kids are 8 and 6), so could I get by with a studio?

I guess what I'm getting at here is, what makes renting points so much of a better deal(other than the price)? And, should I explore the other options as far as DVC places go? I'm booked at CSR for 8 nights now, and really want a deluxe at a great price.

Pardon my stupid questions, but it seems like when I get it all figured out, more decisions have to be made!

I've never rented points, so I can't help you there. I also haven't been "home" yet, but I've been doing a lot of research.

I think that for a family of four, a studio might be kind of a tight squeeze. However, if the four of you are used to staying in 1 room altogether, it might not be a problem. I'm not sure if your children are the same sex....if they are, sleeping together shouldn't be a problem. If not, I would recommend getting a 1-bedroom. Parents in the master bed, Child 1 in the sofa bed, Child 2 on a air mattress on the floor. For size, OKW is the best 1-bedroom. Ideally - if everyone wants a different bed - go for the 2-bedroom. However, that uses a lot more points up.

I'm a little confused about where you want to stay.... Are you planning on switching resorts? You said you are already booked for CSR. (Never been there, but CBR was nice and they pretty much have the same layout.)

If you want to rent points to stay in a deluxe resort (which I'm not sure you can do....), I think you might be better off j/ paying cash. DVC points work best when you are staying in a DVC resort.

Since you are renting points, I'm assuming you're not a DVC member. However, my advice is to stay in a DVC resort. Even in deluxe resorts - I think - you don't have microwaves and other amenities found in a studio.

Hope this helps....Hope it didn't confuse you too much!

 

[Jerdoctor]

I'm a little confused about where you want to stay.... Are you planning on switching resorts? You said you are already booked for CSR. (Never been there, but CBR was nice and they pretty much have the same layout.)

I have it reserved as a "backup" for now until I figure out what to actually do. I go to Vegas at least 10 times a year and it has never been this hard to plan a vacation!

Thanks for your advice so far... Is there all the "Magic" at the DVC resorts like the others? And is OKW a pretty cool resort? I haven't researched that one too much...

 

[1000th happy haunt]

OKW is very laid back and relaxed. They have a lot of activities going on at the pool and community center, like making magnets, sandcastle building, umbrella decorating, pool parties, etc. Good activities for a restful afternoon away from the parks.

Like the rest of the Disney resorts, the DVC resorts all have their own unique personality. So it really depends on what kind of magic you're looking for.

Here's an OKW fact sheet and slide show.

 

[starbox]

A studio is larger than a typical hotel room, so if you were planning to stay in one room at CSR it ought to be fine but I don't know how much cheaper it will be to rent for a studio than to stay in a mod resort. It's a bigger savings to rent vs. pay rack rates to stay in a 1bd. keep in mind that with a DVC studio you won't get maid service daily.

 

[JimMIA]

So, I'm in the process of deciding on renting points for SSR or WL. Thinking about going for the 1 bedroom, and read that the other ones may be a better deal. Its a family or 4(kids are 8 and 6), so could I get by with a studio?

Can you get by? Sure. You'll be more comfortable in a DVC studio than you will be in a room at CSR.

Is a studio the best accommodation for you? That depends. If all you are going to do is sleep in the room, a studio would be fine, but I'd go with OKW because you'll have two queen beds instead of a bed and sleeper sofa.

If you're going to spend a lot of time in the room, however, you'd probably be more comfortable in a one-bedroom, with its extra space, full kitchen, living room and balcony, jacuzzi bathtub, full washer and dryer, etc.

And, should I explore the other options as far as DVC places go? I'm booked at CSR for 8 nights now, and really want a deluxe at a great price.

Yes, look at them all.

There are five to choose from -- three attached to deluxe hotels (VWL, BCV, and BWV) and two larger stand-alone resorts (SSR and OKW). BCV and BWV are between Epcot and MGM and share boat service with each other and those theme parks. SSR and OKW are near Downtown Disney and share boat service between the two resorts and DTD. VWL is obviously the closest to MK, but all five resorts are pretty convenient to anywhere at WDW. If you are driving and plan on driving to the theme parks (as we do), you may find OKW or SSR more convenient because your car is parked right outside your door. If you plan on spending most of your time at Epcot and/or MGM, obviously BCV and BWV offer easy access to both parks.

If you click on the links above from 1000th happy haunt, you'll see additional links on the left margin of the page which give you info and photos of ALL of the DVC properties, and that's really the best way to compare them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Only OKW has two queen beds in a studio. All the others at WDW have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. All one bedrooms have a king sized bed and a queen sized sleeper sofa.

If you want to try the Magic of DVC, you need to stay in a one bedrrom at least. The studio, even with the microwave and undercounter refrigeratir, is too much like a hotel room for me. Granted, a pretty nice hotel room, but still just one room.

My washer and dryer is just one thing I love about the one bedroom. I take fewer clothes and go home with clean clothes.