Studio/ 1 bedroom

[hapandpam]

We are thinking about buying DVC, but would start off with the minimum number of points. We have a family of 4- 2 adults and 2 daughters, 18 and 16. Would a studio be large enough for us? (We do just fine in a moderate.) We thought maybe a 1 bedroom would be better, but are concerned about the couch. How comfortable, or uncomfortable, is the pullout couch? This is a major concern of DD, who have slept on some bad ones. Thanks for all advice.

 

[RumpleMom]

I have personally slept on the pull out at SSR and it was very comfortable. There is no bar at all. We gave the king bed to our parents who are in their 80's.

Yes, a studio would work for the 4 of you, but we have found that having a one bedroom with the full kitchen, washer/dryer, 2 Tv's makes vacation so much better.

On trips with the kids, they are grateful to not hear Dad's snoring. It is also nice when not everyone is going to bed at the same time.

 

[DebbieB]

OKW is the only resort with 2 queen beds in the studio. Other resort studios are 1 queen/1 double sofabed. So either way, unless you stay at OKW, 2 will be on a sofabed.

I bought DVC initially for my mom and myself. We loved the 1 bedroom. It gave us room to spread out. If she wanted to go to bed early, she could, I could stay in the living room. I would not have bought DVC for the studio, not much different than a regular hotel.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have to agree, that unless you are planning on always staying at OKW, the studio will not be any better than a regular hotel room. At least at OKW you will have two queen beds instead of two double beds, but I wouldn't buy a timeshare to stay in a hotel room.

The other advantage of the 1 bedrooms are full kitchens, laundry facilities in the room, in room Jacuzzi and a queen sized pull out instead of a double size one. The pull outs at most of the DVC resorts are the new memory foam matresses, so in most cases they will be comfortable enough, but I'm guess at 18 and 16 your DD's aren't going to enjoy sleeping with each other a whole lot longer. Then of course, there is the REAL advantage of DVC....a 2 bedroom so you get two bathrooms! With 3 females in a unit, that is a BIG plus! Of course, once Kidani opens there will be 2 bathrooms in the 1 bedroom villas there.

 

[wdw1972]

If you're used to moderate rooms and are ok vacationing with the girls sleeping in your bedroom, then a studio will work fine. It's larger, and if you're at OKW you'll have 2 queen beds.

My preference would be a 1br though. The kids can tough it out on the sleep sofa, and the adults can have their privacy.

 

[SusieBea]

And, I have to tell you, once you've stayed in a 1 bdrm, you won't want to go back to a studio. It's just nice to have the 2nd TV and the extra space. Just a thought, but, depending on how you're travelling, you might consider packing an Aero bed (or some clone thereof) for the girls.

 

[robinb]

I have to agree, that unless you are planning on always staying at OKW, the studio will not be any better than a regular hotel room. At least at OKW you will have two queen beds instead of two double beds, but I wouldn't buy a timeshare to stay in a hotel room.

I happen to think there is a difference between a moderate and a DVC studio!

1. Studios are bigger than moderate hotel rooms.
2. Studios have a microwave and paper plates.
3. Studios have balconies.
4. The second bed in most studios (not OKW) folds up so you have more room to move around during the day.

I think if the OP is OK with a moderate, then she would probably be OK with a studio. If she's not, then she can always add on later!

 

[Claire L]

I happen to think there is a difference between a moderate and a DVC studio!

1. Studios are bigger than moderate hotel rooms.
2. Studios have a microwave and paper plates.
3. Studios have balconies.
4. The second bed in most studios (not OKW) folds up so you have more room to move around during the day.

I think if the OP is OK with a moderate, then she would probably be OK with a studio. If she's not, then she can always add on later!

Totally agree the studios at both AKV and SSR are alot more spacious than the rooms at POFQ. Love the balcony plus there is more room in the bathroom area ie not stuck at the back of the room with a curtain to pull across for privacy when the blinds are up!

Claire

 

[moredisneyplease]

And, I have to tell you, once you've stayed in a 1 bdrm, you won't want to go back to a studio.


I completely agree with this!!!

DVC should come with a warning:

WARNING: you will never be able to stay in a regular hotel room again once you experience our one bedroom accommodations.


Furthermore, I'm hoping to never have to stay in a 2 bedroom in fear that I'll have to buy more points in order to never have to "down grade" to a one bedroom again!!

 

[spiceycat]

I also happen to like studio!!!

they are fine - lots of families of four do studios.

if you are used to a moderate -

2 double beds - then one queen bed and a double sleeper sofa (unless you are at OKW - 2 queen beds) - will seem like heaven.

not to mention the under counter refrigerator (that you can adjust) plus microwave, toaster, coffee maket.

the balcony is nice! all DVC units have a laundry mat - in some part of the DVC section and best yet - it is free - just bring detergent and fabric softenor - you don't want to pay Disney prices.

at OKW and SSR it is at the pools - so swimming while doing your laundry.

at VWL and BWV - first floor - close by pools - but not like you can swim and do the laundry like OKW and SSR

BCV is on the 4th floor

AKV is on the 5th floor - near the lobby - standard (pool) area

 

[5 for WDW]

Our family of 5 was fine in a standard room in the Values and Mod's before we joined DVC and our daughter turned 3.

We stayed in a one bedroom at SSR for our first DVC stay last September and we loved it.

My husband and I stayed in a studio at OKW earlier this month and we missed the one bedroom. Even without the kids. It is 100% true, the one bedrooms really spoil you!!

But, I think you would be fine in a studio if you handle a standard room well. Just don't stay in a one bedroom until you are ready to switch over for good!

 

[DVCLiz]

We are thinking about buying DVC, but would start off with the minimum number of points. We have a family of 4- 2 adults and 2 daughters, 18 and 16. Would a studio be large enough for us? (We do just fine in a moderate.) We thought maybe a 1 bedroom would be better, but are concerned about the couch. How comfortable, or uncomfortable, is the pullout couch? This is a major concern of DD, who have slept on some bad ones. Thanks for all advice.

I have to say my daughters, 14 and 19, hate the pullout couches, no matter where we stay. They don't like to sleep together unless they are in a queen or king size bed, and they just don't ever seem to feel comfortable on a pullout.

I suggest as a possibility that you bank your DVC points so that you stay every other year in a larger unit. I will tell you that the epitome of deluxe is the 2 BR where everyone has their own bed and the living room/kitchen is just wonderrful. We never cook but we love the freezer for ice cream and like having cold drinks in the refrigerator whenever we want them. We LOVE the washer/dryer - we throw in a load before we leave for the day and dry them at night.

 

[hlyntunstl]

You may also want to consider the time of year you may go. I always travel in the summer (my best friend is a teacher) and again non-summer. For the summer trip, I always get a studio because most of the parks are open until at least 9pm or later so we are rarely in the room. Off season, the parks close earlier and we find ourselves in the rooms relatively early (can't do PI every night ) so it's great to have the 1BR so we're not on top of each other.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Four adults in a studio is just too crowded. If you plan to buy DVC to stay in nearly the same accomodations as before, you really need to take a look at the accomodations DVC offers. I wouldn't stay in anything smaller than a one bedroom villa with a family your size.

Just check out my signature. We are just a family of three and have only stayed in a studio two or three times since 1997. And we used to go two or three times a year. At a minimum, we get a one bedroom.

No matter how they dress it up, a studio is still just a hotel room. I'm in agreement with Diane on this one.