studio or 1 BDR with one (young) child, 150 points?

[Rash]

For those of you with a similar situation to ours (one child 4yo, 150 points), just wondering if you usually choose a studio to save points (or stay longer) or go with the one-bedroom for the convenience?

 

[Crissup]

Originally posted by Rash
For those of you with a similar situation to ours (one child 4yo, 150 points), just wondering if you usually choose a studio to save points (or stay longer) or go with the one-bedroom for the convenience?

Well, I added on last year so that this decision wouldn't be so difficult for me. I don't have small children, but I generally vacationed with my folks. We usually chose a studio to save on points. Yes, it was a bit cramped, but we dealt with it. CarolAnnC, however, feels that this ruins the feeling of the vacation for her. So, since we are now married, and since we are spending more and more time enjoying the resort since we've seen most everything in WDW at least once, the one bedroom would be a must. A studio would still be good for just the two of us.

It really comes down to how you feel about your room. If you like space in the morning when you wake up, or seperation while you're sleeping, then go for the one bedroom.

 

[westjones]

We also have only 150 points (and do not intend to add on). We have twin 10 year olds and we tend to get the studios to save points, but we have splurge for the one bedroom at OKW and once a 2 bedroom at HH.

If we want to spend a lot of nights in Orlando, we get a studio. If we are not going to be there long and we have the points then we will get a 1 bedroom (the ones at OKW are not bad on points and they are large).

DJ

 

[jarestel]

Like you, we started out with 150 points, and stayed in studios with our 2 grandchildren so we could squeeze in 2 trips a year. This always worked out fine for us until... we added on points and started staying in the 1 & 2-BR units. Now we find the convenience of the larger units too good to walk away from. Even when it's just my wife and I, we still stay in a 1-BR now.

 

[Pa@okw95]

The one bedroom is really designed for a couple in mind while the studio can sleep 4 or in your case 3. It is really an odd thing about DVC that the much larger one bedroom sleeps 2 while the smaller studio sleeps 4. The living room is not really a place to sleep anyone especially a small child who needs his sleep. I am very aware that there are people that use the sofa bed as a bed but for me I just never had nor will I.

 

[lisareniff]

But...... the full kitchen, washer & dryer and not having to go to sleep with the kids are very nice things and might be worth it for you. (they are for us!!)

 

[pumpkinboy]

Well, with preschoolers, it is really nice to have in-unit laundry in case of "accidents" (if you know what I mean). Even "big 4 yr olds" sometimes forget when they need to go if there are really exciting things like say, Disney characters or a parade going on, so it's nice to just be able to toss those into the wash until you're ready to deal (tho our 4 yr old DD has not had this problem). Our 6 yr DS has reflux problems making frequent laundry a must, with an added benefit of being able to pack less. DS is wheelchair bound so the extra space of a 1BR is a godsend for us; plus with the King bed in a separate Master bedroom we a get a little more of that nice "Mommy & Daddy time".

That being said, I do like stretching my points, and staying longer. At VB we have always taken Inn rooms with the four of us, and we've been quite comfortable, thank you very much.

 

[barb45]

We always go with just the 3 of us but my son is 14. We like the one bedroom because of the kitchen - saves tons of money. We eat breakfast and dinner at the villa and eat a cheap lunch at the parks. We also have drinks and snacks in the fridge. We always stay in the Inn Rooms at Vero too. We started with 150 points but just added on at SSR this year. We intended to use Studio's but we had booked 2 studio's to take my daughter and SIL the first trip and then they couldn't make it so we just changed to a one bedroom and loved it! I'm sure you would be comfortable in the studio but you just have to buy more meals out (unless you're really handy with a microwave and mini fridge).

 

[crbalb]

We have 150 points and are a family of 3 (DD4) We really like going for several days and also like to go at least 2 times a year. Therefore, yes -- we stay in a studio for a total of 11 nights a year,

We were also warned by friends who are also DVC members that once we stay in a 1BR, we will never want to go back to a studio. So, we have exercised restraint and will wait until our DD is a little older, thus needing more privacy/independence.

 

[Granny]

With your situation, I'd have to go with the studio. My guess is that a four year old wouldn't sleep as well away from home if Mom & Dad aren't close by.

Besides, when you do move up to a 1BR at some point in the future, you can recall the days when you "roughed it" in a DVC studio!

 

[tguy47]

We have 2 kids under 4 and 150 points.
Last time we stayed in a one-bedroom and regular hotel room.
Next time we're splitting our stay between a studio and a one-bedroom to stay longer. The points for a one-bedroom over the weekend are just ridiculous.
You could also spend your weekends in a hotel and stay for the 5 weekdays in a one-bedroom. Ending the trip in a one-bedroom is the key, with the laundry to keep packing donw and the jacuzzi to relax before going home.

 

[mbhoxsie]

We have two kids under 4, and have yet to stay in a Studio.. We almost always go with the 1BR at any DVC resort (even VB). With the 1BR's, our daughter usually ends up sleeping in the pack and play, where our DS usually shares the king bed with us... (He is 3yo, and is not comfortable with sleeping in the living room yet.)

You really have to weigh your priorities. Having a 1BR means you will have your own laundry and kitchen facilties. This saves us lots of $$$ and aggrivation in the long run... We usually pack only three or four days worth of clothes, and have to carry less through the airport with the kids... Also, we can get food for the kids and have breakfasts and dinners in the rooms without having to go out... It is just so much easier to hit the parks with the kids having a full breakfast of eggs, french toast, or etc... (We can then make due with snacks and fruit until dinnertime.)

There's a lot to be said though for having a longer stay by skimping on the points and staying at the studio though.. I'm sure the kids would probabily appreciate more time at Disney, and the fact that they share a seperate bed in the same room as their parents.

You could also spend your weekends in a hotel and stay for the 5 weekdays in a one-bedroom. Ending the trip in a one-bedroom is the key, with the laundry to keep packing donw and the jacuzzi to relax before going home.

I really like this idea!!

You get the best of both worlds... Spend Sunday - Thursday nights in a 1BR, and then transfer to one of the other resorts for Friday and Saturday night... If you are not adverse to switching resorts mid trip, this would be the optimal way to go...

 

[Rash]

Originally posted by Granny
With your situation, I'd have to go with the studio. My guess is that a four year old wouldn't sleep as well away from home if Mom & Dad aren't close by.

Actually we've already stayed in both a 1 bdr and a studio. We're fortunate that our daughter is very independent and did very well on the sofabed in the 1 BDR. She's also done well in the studio. That's why it's difficult for me to decide.

I agree it's hard to go back to a studio after staying in the 1 BDR. We really enjoyed the 1 BDR on our recent trip in March, but I'm not sure it was worth the exta points since we didn't cook more than one or two meals. We did use the washer/dryer, which was a big plus.

I was just curious how others felt in a similar situation. Thanks for all of your responses. I'm leaning toward th 1 BDR again for our Feb 2005 trip. I guess just having that option is the beauty of DVC!