Some advice from those who have stayed in studios & 1BR villas

[quirty30]

Here's the deal - we are going on a 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy next June. I'd like to book some nights at AMV Jambo CL to unwind afterwards. My 2 kids and I have ALWAYS stayed in 1 BR viilas, but we rarely use the kitchen for more than making popcorn in the microwave or storing a few snacks. I realized I could book 4 nights in a studio as opposed to 2 in a 1BR, and still save a few points. Do you think we'd be content, or will we really miss the extra space? Especially given that we'll have been sharing a cruise cabin (a 6B with veranda) for the week prior, I'm kind of thinking that we might appreciate being able to spread out. But 4 nights as opposed to 2 is awfully tempting.

For the record, DS will be 14 and DD11. DD and I would have to share the queen bed. In the past, she's always taken the chair bed and loves it. DS gets the sleeper sofa.

What would you do?

 

[Brian Noble]

I do not consider sharing a single hotel room with my two children to be "vacation". YMMV.

 

[OKW Lover]

The biggest issue might be morning/night. If you need to put the children to bed early, but want to stay up yourself for a while, that's easy in a 1BR because of the separate rooms.

 

[arthur06]

Is it just the 3 of you? Cause that may change my vote.

 

[Alexander]

OP's post indicates 3 people, kids are 11 and 14, so unlikely that they will go to bed early. I would take the studio if you have the time to spend 4 nights. We are a family of 4, kids currently 5 and 12 and we often stay in a studio to stretch our points further. Yes, a 1 bedroom is nicer because it is larger, has the W/D, two TV's, etc, but if it means staying longer or taking more trips, we've opted for studios many times over the years.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

If it meant 4 days at Disney instead of 2, I'd go for the studio! If you're staying two days no matter what, I'd get the 1 bedroom. DH and I always get a 1 or 2 bedroom for the space, extra TVs and kitchen. Though we eat many of our meals out, we do use the kitchen a good bit. Though we haven't stayed in a studio with our DVC membership, we have stayed on Dis property in a studio and found ourselves missing the villas.

Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[quirty30]

Yes, just the 3 of us. Our first trip to Disney back in 2009, right before I bought DVC, we stayed in a deluxe room at BC. It was a very nice, spacious hotel room, and we did fine. DD tends to turn in earlier than DS & I, but she pretty much falls asleep as soon as she stops moving. DS & I are able to stay up later and watch TV and she sleeps right through it.

Since that trip, we've always been in a 1 BR, primarily because, for the most part, it gives us each our own bed (a good number of our stays have been at BLT & AKV.) As they get older, that's a real issue. It's really not a privacy thing. I got over having any privacy a LONG time ago.

I'm so torn....I wish I could book this stay AFTER we check out a moderate over Labor Day Weekend and I get a real feel for how well we handle a regular hotel room. Decisions, decisions.............

 

[Deb & Bill]

One idea - you will have the washer and dryer in your villa with a one bedroom. After seven nights at sea, you'll probably have lots of laundry to do. It's much easier doing it in your villa than in a laundry room where you may have to wait for a washer or dryer.

 

[disneyfreak2127]

I would think about a studio at OKW. 2 Queen beds and they are a little bigger than the average studio. This will put you close to DTD for food options. More days in WDW is a no-brainer for me! I <3 the Mouse!

 

[Sandisw]

I would go with the 1 bedroom and cut the days short. I know, can you believe I am saying spend less time at WDW?

But, having spent 7 days on the cruise and being DVC members, you will be back again. Plus, 4 days does mean extra costs in terms of tickets (unless you have AP's), Disney food, etc. I think you will look forward to the space, the jacuzzi tub, and as already mentioned, the laundry.

Good luck!

 

[CarolMN]

I noticed you posted Jambo CL, so assume you are talking about Concierge accommodations.

If it were me, I'd skip concierge and go with a 1 bedroom in another category or even another resort. You'd probably be able to get 3 nights in a 1 bedroom if you gave up the concierge.

OTOH, if you needed a place to relax away from the room, the lounge would be available as well as all the interesting nooks and crannies around Jambo.

Have fun deciding.

 

[quirty30]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

We really do have our hearts set on Jambo CL. We just finished our 9 night WDW stay with 2 nights there and it was a perfect way to end the week. We have no intentions of going to any of the parks, just want to chill & relax a few days before heading home. I have 100 AKV points that I bought just so we can have a weekend there every year. So, I can either stretch those points and stay in a studio for 4 nights or stick with our usual 2 nights in a 1 bedroom.

I think Deb & Bill's post really helped me decide - one of the things I mentioned to my kids after we got home this past Monday was how nice it was to have our suitcases full of clean clothes and not have tons of laundry to do. And I actually prefer to do laundry in DVC villas rather than home. I have lower back problems and love that stacked washer & dryer...so much easier than all the bending I have to do at home to get things out of the dryer.

It also hit me that we will likely be somewhat jaded with food after a week on a cruise ship. I think 2 days of CL offerings, combined with dinner one night at Sanaa and one night at Jiko will be perfect. Mix in some pool time and time to get that laundry done; I'm sure I'll have enough time leftover to relax a little.

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[spiceycat]

well glad you were happy.

would have gone with OKW studios. but I am definitely cheap.

all the dvc units have access to landry mats that are free.

the only for Jambo house is on the 5th floor - swimming pool side

 

[kylmac]

I agree with Deb-get the 1 bedroom especially after the cruise-you know what it's like getting your laundry done on the cruise! I would love to do laundry at the 1 bedroom and have the extra space to move around. We saved points 2 years ago and went from a 1 bedroom at BLT to a studio-felt so cramped with just the 4 of us. The studio at AKL was so small-it felt like the cruise! The little kitchenette was nice however.
Good luck and have fun!
Elizabeth

 

[rmcildw2m]

I tend to agree with members voting for a studio , one at okw would be perfect and you can still cook your popcorn too .

 

[TinkHappy]

OP's post indicates 3 people, kids are 11 and 14, so unlikely that they will go to bed early. I would take the studio if you have the time to spend 4 nights. We are a family of 4, kids currently 5 and 12 and we often stay in a studio to stretch our points further. Yes, a 1 bedroom is nicer because it is larger, has the W/D, two TV's, etc, but if it means staying longer or taking more trips, we've opted for studios many times over the years.

I agree, if it means a longer stay!!

We are a family of 4 (DH 6'4", DD15 5'11", DD16 5'10" and me 5' 5"), we have stayed in 2bdrms, 1bdrms, and studios. While we all prefer the 2bdrm. We have no problem staying in a 1bdrm or even a studio. We stayed for a week at HHI in a studio and it was no problem. If we needed some space, we went out on the balcony, down to the pool or took a walk.

The DCL rooms are not huge, so a studio shouldn't be an issue.

I say stay, stay, stay!! Really, how much time will you actually spend in your room? Try it and if you don't like it, don't do it again. If it were me, I know I would rather stay a few days longer than be in a bigger room.

 

[quirty30]

Well, ultimately, my employer gets the final say. They are STRONGLY discouraging vacations of longer than a week. But I can combine 2 personal days with 5 vacation days, which gives me 1 night at the Hyatt pre-cruise; 7 nights on the cruise; and finally, those 2 nights at AKV CL to relax and spread out and do laundry. Since we weren't looking for any park time, I think this will suit us quite nicely. Thanks everyone for your input - I'll be calling MS tomorrow morning to make our reservations at the 11 month mark!

 

[Checkers]

I think you made the right decision since you are not going to the parks. Have fun! I know what you mean about coming home with a suitcase full of clean clothes.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Let us know if you get what you want!

 

[quirty30]

Let us know if you get what you want!

Thanks for the pixie dust - it worked! Got my 1BR CL for 2 nights at Jambo. Very excited. Now I'm toying with adding one more night and borrowing points from 2013....as it stands now, we would be leaving to go home on DS's birthday. How can I not let him celebrate his birthday at WDW???

Edited to add: called MS back and added that 3rd night - was the last 1BR available. I couldn't bear making DS spend most of his birthday on buses and airplanes!