Studio vs 1bdrm - floor plans?

[cobbler]

Ok, finally figured out this whole buying into DVC thing

So we are a family of 4 so I would most likely do a studio or 1bdrm when we travel.

Does anyone have any links or anything that kind of shows a floor plan or can describe to me the difference between the two.

I think I understand that a 1bdrm has the 1 bedroom and a kitchen type area and living room that has a couch that folds out yes??

And is a studio just like a standard 2 double bed in the same room. I am familiar with staying at moderates so anyway you can describe to me in contrast with them I will understand

Thanks for any help

 

[PamOKW]

At OKW a studio has 2 queen size beds and a small balcony off the room. You also have a "kitchnette" with a small frig, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker. The other DVCs have the same amenities but they have a queen size bed and a sleeper sofa.

The difference between a studio and a one-bedroom is night and day in terms of the step-up in luxury. You have a kitchen, in-room laundry and a spa tub...among other features. You also have a large television and DVD in the living room and a second TV in the master bedroom. The master bedroom has a king size bed and the living room has a queen size sleeper sofa. You get a much larger patio/balcony.

That's a quick start on the differences.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Ok, finally figured out this whole buying into DVC thing

So we are a family of 4 so I would most likely do a studio or 1bdrm when we travel.

Does anyone have any links or anything that kind of shows a floor plan or can describe to me the difference between the two.

I think I understand that a 1bdrm has the 1 bedroom and a kitchen type area and living room that has a couch that folds out yes??

And is a studio just like a standard 2 double bed in the same room. I am familiar with staying at moderates so anyway you can describe to me in contrast with them I will understand

Here is some info from the DVC member site on a studio and a 1BR at Saratoga Springs. Links to the room layouts are at the bottom of the page.

Studio (sleeps up to 4) 355 square ft.

Kitchenette with microwave, mini-refrigerator, wet bar and coffee maker
Queen-size bed
Double-size sleeper sofa
TV
Private porch or balcony

One-Bedroom Vacation Home (sleeps up to 4) 714 sq ft

Master suite with king-size bed and whirlpool tub
Queen-size sleeper sofa in living room
TV & DVD player
Fully equipped kitchen
Stacked washer/dryer
Private porch or balcony

Room LayoutSSR 1BR (Link)

Room Layout SSR Studio:(Link)

HBC

 

[cobbler]

Thanks for the links, they are a big difference!!! Could you also post a link to the 2bdrom and 3bdrms as well. I have now piqued hubbys curiousity!!

Thanks again

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Thanks for the links, they are a big difference!!! Could you also post a link to the 2bdrom and 3bdrms as well. I have now piqued hubbys curiousity!!

Here they are:

SSR 2BR Layout 1075 sq ft: (Link)
SSR 3BR (Grand Villa) Layout 2113 sq ft: (Link)

Remember these are for Saratoga Springs only. Most of the others are similar but size wise, OKW is much larger for the 1,2 and 3 BR villas.

HBC

 

[cobbler]

Holy cow!! Thanks so much for the links that is exactly what I was looking for. I think studio might do us ok for now but when the boys get bigger the 1bdrm would definatly be handy.

Now the tough part is to decide how many points to buy

One more question please:

I know you can use your points at your non home resort and can only book 7 months in advance. But can you use your points to go to other hotels, say the Grand Flordian or the Poly? Or is that one of those things if you wanted to stay there you book it and pay like normal?

Thanks you again so much! HUGE help!!!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

One more question please:

I know you can use your points at your non home resort and can only book 7 months in advance. But can you use your points to go to other hotels, say the Grand Flordian or the Poly? Or is that one of those things if you wanted to stay there you book it and pay like normal?

You can use them at most of the resorts, including the GF but it is not a wise use of points. It takes too many and the number of points it takes increases each year for the hotels. With DVC, the number of points is set in stone so the number of points this year for a night in a studio is the same as it will be 10 years from now. That can't be said for the number of points to stay at the GF.

For example for a Garden view room at the GF it is 43 points this year, Sun-Thursday night. At SSR during a mid level season it is only 31 points for a 2BR villa. The 43 will be more next year but the 31 will always stay the same.

Good luck in your DVC quest.

HBC

 

[DebbieB]

You can use your points to stay at non-DVC rooms like GF and Poly but for a standard room you are going to pay more than a DVC 2 bedroom. It's OK for a short birthday or anniversary trip but I wouldn't do it for a family vacation. Once you get used to a DVC 1 bedroom or larger, it's hard to go back to a standard room. A friend of mine recently stayed at YC on points and her 10 year old walked in and said "where's the kitchen?".

 

[Harley-Mouse]

Just back are there DVD in studios or not. my room didn't have one not that we missed it just a thought.

 

[DebbieB]

Just back are there DVD in studios or not. my room didn't have one not that we missed it just a thought.

No, only 1 bedroom and larger.

 

[PamOKW]

The studios at Vero (and I think HH) do have the DVDs but none of the units at WDW have them.

 

[tjkraz]

You probably already know that DVC rooms on Friday and Saturday night are upward of twice the point cost of a Sunday - Thursday stay. Many members that still need their Deluxe resort "fix" will pay cash to stay elsewhere for a couple of nights on the weekend and then move to the DVC resort on Sunday.

I'm not a big fan of split resort stays myself, but there are others who love resort hopping. Disney will move your luggage for you, so it's fairly painless in that regard. The biggest downsides I see are that you will be without a room from about 11am to 4pm on the day of the move, you'll have to pack your stuff a couple of times, and you will have to physically check-in twice.

 

[PamOKW]

If you click along the left-hand side of this link, you'll find photos of all the different accomodations. That may help give you a feel for the difference.

Photos

 

[Jamesbyr]

I think they are gradually, slowly converting VCRs to DVDs but I don't know what the policy is. If you bring a portable player, it's pretty easy to connect it into the back of the TV. Bring the wire.

About room configurations, in the DVC, a studio sleeps four, and a one-bedroom sleeps four. A two bedroom is essentially a one-bedroom with a studio attached through a connecting door. Watch out for those couches.

As far as point allocation, they did promise us that the point distribution would never change, but they do move the "seasons" around to make sure school vacations always fall in a higher rate period. That should mean that other weeks become cheaper. I haven't done an historical analysis of this pattern.
One thing I noticed this year was that in the past, weekend nights (Friday, Saturday) cost twice as many points as the other five nights. This year, it seemed that weekend nights cost triple the other days. But that should mean that the weeknights are that much cheaper. After booking five weeknight days for this April I seem to have points left over: I must check this out, and probably repost it on the DVC boards.

 

[disneylover]

Do you have links for the layouts for bcv or bwv, 2 br and grand villas?
Thank you

 

[tjkraz]

Watch out for those couches.

The sofabeds at Saratoga Springs are a new design and are much more comfortable than the old-style "bar in the back" units we all grew up with.

As far as point allocation, they did promise us that the point distribution would never change, but they do move the "seasons" around to make sure school vacations always fall in a higher rate period. That should mean that other weeks become cheaper. I haven't done an historical analysis of this pattern.

The total points at a resort cannot change. They do retain the right to adjust the point schedules for different classes of rooms / seasons, but if one category is ever increased, there must be an offsetting decrease elsewhere to keep the total points in equilibrium.

The only dates that change each year are the Easter week and the days around Thanksgiving.

One thing I noticed this year was that in the past, weekend nights (Friday, Saturday) cost twice as many points as the other five nights. This year, it seemed that weekend nights cost triple the other days. But that should mean that the weeknights are that much cheaper.

Not true, unless perhaps influenced by the movement of Easter week around the calendar from one year to the next.

The last change to the point tables took place back in 1996 when OKW was the only DVC resort. Barring any future reorganization, January 1st will always be Adventure season, and a Studio room will always be 8 points per night (20 if it falls on a Friday or Saturday.)

That's one of the real benefits to DVC--while member dues will increase a bit each year, the point values simply cannot go up. 150 points will buy you the same vacation time in 2005 as it will in 2040 (again, barring any reorganization of the points.)

 

[tjkraz]

Do you have links for the layouts for bcv or bwv, 2 br and grand villas?
Thank you

The Studio, 1B and 2B units at BCV, BWV, VWL and SSR are all but identical. You can just refer to the floor plans for SSR linked above.

BCV does not have any Grand Villas. BWV does have 7 Grand Villas, but I can't help you with a map for that one. Maybe someone else can...

 

[cobbler]

Wow, thanks so much everyone for your help.

I figured I could buy 165 points and stay 3 times a year doing the Sun-Thurs. I think I would go for SS right now because of the extended expiration date. Granted I will be 77 when they expire but I can will them to my son if necessary.

I figure the breakeven point is 4 years if I do a one bdrm a year and just over 4 years at a studio.

Does anyone know about Disney financing? I have heard 10% for Disney. So lets say that I buy 165 points at 89/point. That = $14685. Does this mean that in order to finance that Disney will receive an additional $1469 or is that interest compounded?

Thanks everyone for the huge help!!!

 

[tjkraz]

cobbler:

Breakeven can be difficult to discuss. If you compare to Rack Rates at the Deluxe resorts, yes, you will probably break-even on the initial purchase somewhere less than 8 years.

But in your case, it looks like you've historically stayed at the Value or Moderate resorts. Here's your reality check: If you're comparing the cost of a DVC stay to a Moderate resort, you'll probably find that it takes you several decades to break-even, with most of the dollars being paid on the front end (initial purchase.) If you try to compare with a Value resort, you'll never save money.

That said, the DVC accommodations are much better than the Value or Moderate resorts. So, you're most definitely getting some benefit from the upgrade.

But don't forget to consider that you aren't currently making 3 trips per year. Increasing your frequency means greater transportation, ticket, food and souvenir costs.

The current costs of SSR points is $95 each. If you buy before the end of February, you'll save $10 per point, taking the cost down to $85. You'll have to provide a cash (or credit card) down payment of about $1500. You can then finance the balance over as many as 10 years. Current interest rate is 9.75%.

Your monthly payments will be about $165 per month for the next 10 years, plus annual dues. Dues on those points would currently run another $52 per month.

So, you'd be paying about $217 per month for the next 10 years (understanding that dues will be adjusted annually.) Once the note is paid off, you are left just to pay the dues through 2054.

The good news is that interest on the note is usually tax-deductable as a second home mortgage deduction. The bad news is that you'll pay about $7000 in interest over the lifetime.

There is no pre-payment penalty, so you can always pay off early if possible. You can probably get an interest rate in the 5% neighborhood if you can swing a home equity loan. Just be careful of using a credit card as the interest will not be tax-deductible.

Hope that helps.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Do you have links for the layouts for bcv or bwv, 2 br and grand villas?

Here is the BWV but you won't see too much difference between SSR 2BR and BWV 2BR as TJK already stated.

BWV GV: 2142 square feet (Link)

BWV 2BR: 1071 square feet (Link)

HBC