Studio ? for family of four

[disney-super-mom]

Hi everyone. I hope you all remember me. My family and I almost bought into DVC last fall, but after a lot of thought and research we decided to wait for now on a purchase, mainly because we live in WA state. Hopefully someday Disney will have a DVC resort at Disneyland, where we can vacation much more often, rather than fly all the way to Orlando everytime.

With all that said, we WANT to fly to Orlando for our next Disney trip. We've never been to DW before, and would like to make our first trip around the week before Thanksgiving (if anything is still available). We could also go in January, but we wanted to go when it was still warm enough for our boys to enjoy swimming and sliding at a resort pool.

I was wondering about the studio accomodation for a family of four (Me, DH, DS 7, and DS 3). Our boys have no problem sleeping together at their young ages, and they love everything from park rides to swimming until their lips are blue. Also, they're young enough that sleeping on a sofa bed won't bother them (as long as it's not too lumpy with coils).

What DVC resort would you suggest we stay at?
Would a studio at OKW be more comfortable (are they bigger), or would we be better off somewhere that has more action and activities (especially if we take a day off from the parks and hang around the resort)?

All the DVC resorts sound wonderful to us, so we need your expert advice. Thanks everyone!

 

[disneystick]

OKW bigger studios...more laid back. BCV has the best rated swimming pool area...Storm along bay, pirate ship slide, sand bottom 3 acres swimming area. BW has a big pool too with a hugh clown slide. Both are great since they have lots more other activities to do if not going to parks. Wildness has horseback riding, fishing. Check out Disney website to show pictures of all. Best wishes.

 

[starbox]

We were used to staying in resort hotel rooms, so studio accommodations don't bother us - especially at WDW where my kids want to spend every moment out of the room!

OKW and SSR will put you near DTD - with two boys they will probably really like the Lego store with its play areas and the Rainforest Cafe. We've always loved just walking there in the evenings since it is open late. SSR has a zero depth entry pool and little water squirt play area which may make it preferable to OKW for the 3 year old.

BCV and BWV have cool pools and put you very close to Epcot and MGM - but your boys are young and will probably prefer MK and AK at this stage. The BWV pool scares some kids because of the clown and the water slide is BIG. BCV has some nice play areas for little kids.

 

[almousefan]

We just got back from our first trip home. It was a complete last minute trip. I called on Monday to see what they had available and we got a Studio at BWV. It was very nice there. MY DS(18) and DN (19) went with me and my sis. The guys slept on the sofa pullout and didn't complain too much. So, I think for smaller children the pullout in the studio would be fine. They had the pool with the clown side. My sis and I stayed at the quiet pool though and loved it.

Best wishes on making plans for a great trip to WDW!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Anyone else have resort words of wisdom for us?

It's so hard for us to choose.

We like the idea of staying at BCV or BWV because of the spectacular pools and because there's just so much to do around these resorts, especially the boardwalk area with all the games and such.

We like the idea of staying at the WLV because, well...it's just so darned BEAUTIFUL! I'm mean, even the pictures make us go "WOW!".

We're not sure if SSR or OKW would be good choices for us since we won't have a car. However, we think these resorts look beautiful as well, and they're close to DTD. Plus, SSR is shiny and new, and it seems you can't go wrong with a stay at OKW.

Of course, quite frankly we'd be happy at any of these resorts! But, if we get to choose, what would be the best "First Time At Disneyworld" resort for our family?

 

[helenabear]

I was about to post and give my good and bad thoughts on the resorts and then I read your last post.

I think you really should go for VWL. You really look like you want to stay there... so I say do it! I am sure you will love it!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Your children are probably too young to get the real benefit of the Boardwalk, but thery are a good age for some of the other perks mentioned at some of the other resorts. BCV will have a wonderful pool experience for both of them, as will OKW and SSR. OKW has a lot of activities at the HH for children the ages of yours that the other resorts don't have. SSR and OKW will have easy access to DTD with Lego land and lots of fun play fountains for the kids. VWL is a great theme and closest to MK, and with kids the age of yours, I suspect that is where you will spend a lot of your time.

 

[jmurphy625]

We always get the studio (2) to save points...the younger boys sleep on the sofa (except last time when my just mom & I took them-we each slept with one of the kids) I can tell you the sofa bed at BCV is not very comfy (though the kids didn't mind it). We really don't mind the studios.

I did hear OKW studios are a little larger.

I would pick a resort closest to the area you think you'll be the most. Surprsingly, when we went to WL in 2000 and 2002 my kids loved MGM and I would have loved to stroll over from BW.

BC was great this time because the boys were really into the World Showcase and wanted to decorate the masks & had them stamped in every country. We walked over twice each day. And the pool is great!

What about splitting your stay between two resorts?

 

[CarolMN]

Are you thinking about Thanksgiving 2006? If so, you may not have much of a choice. That's a popular time for DVC members to visit and there are already waitlists for many of the days surrounding Thanksgiving. IIRC, there have been posts sayding Thanksgiving night is completely booked at all the DVC resorts.

That said, it never hurts to try. Assume you plan to rent points, so you'll need to get serious very soon. January will be considerably easier to book at this point.

Good luck -

 

[Corinne]

Our home resort is VWL, and although we stayed there a few times prior to becoming members, we have not stayed there since becoming members! Our first choice is BCV, but we have stayed a number of times at the BW. I just love the Epcot resort area, but I do love the WL. In all honesty, I don't think you can possibly go wrong with any of those 3 resorts, but, November at The Lodge is awesome!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Are you thinking about Thanksgiving 2006? If so, you may not have much of a choice. That's a popular time for DVC members to visit and there are already waitlists for many of the days surrounding Thanksgiving. IIRC, there have been posts sayding Thanksgiving night is completely booked at all the DVC resorts.

That said, it never hurts to try. Assume you plan to rent points, so you'll need to get serious very soon. January will be considerably easier to book at this point.

Good luck -

Well, we would like to book a room for the week "before" Thanksgiving, checking in on the 12th and checking out on the 18th. I figured it would already be very tight booking wise, and we may have no choice in what resort we can get.

Thanks for the luck. I think we'll need it!

(Our backup plan is to go to Disneyland instead and stay at the Paradise Pier, which is wide open for reservations right now, but gosh darn it, we've been to DL so many times already that we'd like to experience someplace new and exciting. Of course that's for us parents. Our kids don't care as long as it's Disney, which is ALWAYS exciting for them regardless.

 

[byoung]

You will have no problem staying at any DVC resort. Have a great vacation.

 

[6IrishDisneyKids]

Given your boys' ages and that this is your first trip to DW, I would definitely try to stay at VWL! Your boys will probably want to go to MK the most, and it is a short but fun boat trip away. The hotel itself is breath-taking...really impressive! We stayed there for the first time last December, and it really was fantastic (and we go to DIsney a lot - I always love it, but I was especially thrilled with the theming, the grounds...just beautiful!) And the boys will love the restaurant there! They have a nice pool, too. Yes, Storm-along-bay is "the bomb" but what your boys don't know won't hurt them! They will think VWL is incredible!

Just one thing to think about, though...since you come from the Pacific Northwest, you might want something "different". VWL is probably much "closer to home" for you than most of its other guests in many ways. If you want something "exotic" (different!), you really might want to stay somewhere else...but if not, full steam ahead for VWL! Let us know what you decide!

 

[Jillpie]

If your boys love pools, pick BCV. It is an incredible complex. You can spend the whole day there and not get bored. The slide is enormous and you will LOVE it. It is a beautiful boat ride to MGM and a short walk to Epcot. Can't beat the location. BCV is awesome!!!!!!!

 

[mello]

Hi everyone. I hope you all remember me. My family and I almost bought into DVC last fall, but after a lot of thought and research we decided to wait for now on a purchase, mainly because we live in WA state. Hopefully someday Disney will have a DVC resort at Disneyland, where we can vacation much more often, rather than fly all the way to Orlando everytime.

With all that said, we WANT to fly to Orlando for our next Disney trip. We've never been to DW before, and would like to make our first trip around the week before Thanksgiving (if anything is still available). We could also go in January, but we wanted to go when it was still warm enough for our boys to enjoy swimming and sliding at a resort pool.

I was wondering about the studio accomodation for a family of four (Me, DH, DS 7, and DS 3). Our boys have no problem sleeping together at their young ages, and they love everything from park rides to swimming until their lips are blue. Also, they're young enough that sleeping on a sofa bed won't bother them (as long as it's not too lumpy with coils).

What DVC resort would you suggest we stay at?
Would a studio at OKW be more comfortable (are they bigger), or would we be better off somewhere that has more action and activities (especially if we take a day off from the parks and hang around the resort)?

All the DVC resorts sound wonderful to us, so we need your expert advice. Thanks everyone!

Hi! We're in WA State too. We've always been Disneyland folks as well. We took our first trip to WDW last Sept, bought DVC, and now we're addicted lol. I think if you're used to normal hotel rooms, a studio will be absolutely fine for a family of 4. As far as resort choice - VWL is just beautiful, but we decided it was too much like home - or at least too much like the Canadian Rockies which we see a lot (they even have real Ponderosa Pines everywhere!) for us to feel like we're in Florida on vacation. Our favorite resorts are SSR for its relaxed, gardeny feel and proximity to DTD, and BCV for its location and pool of course. BWV is also really nice with a great location and fun pool. We haven't stayed at OKW, but the pool there looks really fun too. That doesn't help you narrow down too much, but for your circumstance, I'd probably try for BCV or BWV since they're centrally located, which is nice for a first trip especially. Have a great trip!!!