Studio vs 1BR

[RenaeBush]

I will be renting points for the first time after years of purchasing through a travel agent. I have stayed in standard rooms at the Poly, CBR and GF and really want to stay at the BCV.

I have a party of 4: 2 adults, 2 children (4 and 6) and can't decide if I should stay in a studio - where we will fit but snuggly??? - or a 1BR - and have a lot of extra space?? We spend most of our days at the park and some swimming.

Once I decide on the room time I can rent the points - any thoughts???

Thanks

 

[vicki_c]

To me, as an owner, the real advantage of DVC is the larger accomodations.
But as a renter, I think the biggest advantage may just be the cost savings over booking with Disney. So I'm a little torn in your case.

We have stayed in studios with our 2 kids (8 and 11 now) at SSR and AKV. It was fine -- although I did feel cramped with all our stuff at AKV last trip - I think I'm getting spoiled. We have also stayed in 1 and 2 BRs -- they are SO much nicer!

I think what would tip me towards the 1 BR for you is the washer/dryer and full kitchen. You just can't beat that. So I guess I do have an answer.

Go for the 1 BR!

 

[wdwnut]

Even if you don't use the kitchen to cook, it is wonderful to relax and enjoy coffee and breakfast in the mornings. It's also great to have snacks and drinks at night. The adults can also spend some alone time after the kids go to bed watching TV and sitting out on the balcony. As previously posted, the washer and dryer make it easy to pack less and take home clean clothes.

 

[LSchrow]

if you can affoord it, go for the 1bdrm. we will only do studios if there are 1-2 people (also, it helps us get 2-3 trips in every year).
the one bdrms have a king bed in its own room, huge shower, jacuzzi, living room with very comfy pullout sofa, two tvs, full kitchen, washer and dryer. four ppl of any size is just too cramped in a studio, imho - the 1 bdrm will give you lots of room (as well as probably save money on meals).

 

[Deb & Bill]

Studios are just glorified hotel rooms, but they only have one real bed (except for OKW which has two queen sized beds) and a sleeper sofa. If you want to stay in a hotel room, stay in one like you have been staying in. If you want to enjoy the benefits of DVC, stay in a one bedroom villa at least.

 

[Anal Annie]

We love BCV...DS12 especially loved SAB. We spent a lot of down time there last summer. We're only a family of 3 but we always use studios. There are several reasons for this. One, we can get more trips per year because they only use a fraction of the points, 2nd, we don't spend that much time in the unit, 3rd DS wants a "real" bed. Well, even with the 1 bedroom he'd end up on a sleep sofa. So there is no advantage for us to blow points on this size unit. (And I am NOT going to cook or do laundry on vacation.) The exception to the sofabed thing would be to stay at OKW which has 2 queen beds BUT we don't like OKW. Just the other day even DS recalled that trip as our worst vacation ever! So. I say save your money & do a studio. They still have a nice kitchenette with a small frig, microwave, toaster & coffee pot - advantages you do not get in a regular hotel room.

 

[vicki_c]

We love BCV...DS12 especially loved SAB. We spent a lot of down time there last summer. We're only a family of 3 but we always use studios. There are several reasons for this. One, we can get more trips per year because they only use a fraction of the points, 2nd, we don't spend that much time in the unit, 3rd DS wants a "real" bed. Well, even with the 1 bedroom he'd end up on a sleep sofa. So there is no advantage for us to blow points on this size unit. (And I am NOT going to cook or do laundry on vacation.) The exception to the sofabed thing would be to stay at OKW which has 2 queen beds BUT we don't like OKW. Just the other day even DS recalled that trip as our worst vacation ever! So. I say save your money & do a studio. They still have a nice kitchenette with a small frig, microwave, toaster & coffee pot - advantages you do not get in a regular hotel room.

Hijack to Annie - enjoy your Spring Break trip! We will (sniff, sniff) be home here in MD.

 

[spiceycat]

happen to love studios.

they are nice. but then single person and if I do take anyone - it is generally one other person.

so can't see the 1-bedroom for 2 people or less.

that say with a family of four - you might need the space. then again you are used to hotel rooms. studios are bigger (except BLT) than hotel rooms.

so if you are going with renting points to save money. Would go with a studio.
on the other hand if you are trying out DVC to see if you want to buy - then definitely a 1-bedroom at least.

 

[DenLo]

The real advantage to a one bedroom is twofold:

1. The adults can have some privacy with their own bedroom.

2. You'll have a washer and dryer in the room. So you won't have to worry about not bringing enough clothes. Or you can do a quick load after the little one spills jelly or fruit punch down the front of his/her clothes.

Some would say you could also save money by having a kitchen and eating some meals in. But I'm not much for cooking on vacation. But I do like the idea of milk and cereal or bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and you can have that even in a studio.

 

[dmoore22]

We love BCV...DS12 especially loved SAB. We spent a lot of down time there last summer. We're only a family of 3 but we always use studios. There are several reasons for this. One, we can get more trips per year because they only use a fraction of the points, 2nd, we don't spend that much time in the unit, 3rd DS wants a "real" bed. Well, even with the 1 bedroom he'd end up on a sleep sofa. So there is no advantage for us to blow points on this size unit. (And I am NOT going to cook or do laundry on vacation.) The exception to the sofabed thing would be to stay at OKW which has 2 queen beds BUT we don't like OKW. Just the other day even DS recalled that trip as our worst vacation ever! So. I say save your money & do a studio. They still have a nice kitchenette with a small frig, microwave, toaster & coffee pot - advantages you do not get in a regular hotel room.

It's the old 6 of one, half dozen of another. As far as using the studio I'd recommend OKW for the space, two queen size beds and a convenient kitchenette. OKW is so much better since Anal Annie left. I thought she'd never leave. It turned out to be our best vacation yet! I'm not too catty -- am I?

The real advantage to a one bedroom is twofold:

1. The adults can have some privacy with their own bedroom.

2. You'll have a washer and dryer in the room. So you won't have to worry about not bringing enough clothes. Or you can do a quick load after the little one spills jelly or fruit punch down the front of his/her clothes.Some would say you could also save money by having a kitchen and eating some meals in. But I'm not much for cooking on vacation. But I do like the idea of milk and cereal or bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and you can have that even in a studio.

I couldn't express it any better myself.

 

[rpk1951]

I would try the studio first. On a future stay the one bedroom. If you start with the one bedroom, you may spoil yourself and not go back.

 

[daisyduck123]

(And I am NOT going to cook or do laundry on vacation.)

I am SO WITH YOU ON THIS one.

I have never, and will never, cook on vacation (we are DIE-HARD Dining Plan devotees) & I think I've done laundry three times.

If we did cook in the villa, then someone would have to clean it up...NO WAY .

We don't even use the mini-fridge in our studio....except for when it has DH's beer in it.

 

[DebbieB]

Studios are just glorified hotel rooms, but they only have one real bed (except for OKW which has two queen sized beds) and a sleeper sofa. If you want to stay in a hotel room, stay in one like you have been staying in. If you want to enjoy the benefits of DVC, stay in a one bedroom villa at least.

I agree, I bought DVC for the luxury of a 1 bedroom. If I was happy with a studio, I wouldn't have bought, I'd just stay in a regular room. I do occasionally stay in a studio to stretch points, especially on solo trips, but I miss the 1 bedroom. My late mom used to call it "our apartment".

 

[dis-happy]

The real advantage to a one bedroom is twofold:

1. The adults can have some privacy with their own bedroom.

2. You'll have a washer and dryer in the room. So you won't have to worry about not bringing enough clothes. Or you can do a quick load after the little one spills jelly or fruit punch down the front of his/her clothes.

Some would say you could also save money by having a kitchen and eating some meals in. But I'm not much for cooking on vacation. But I do like the idea of milk and cereal or bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and you can have that even in a studio.

3. Nothing beats that big giant jacuzzi tub at the end of the day.


If your budget can handle it, I'd go for the 1 b/r in a heartbeat!

 

[sweetdana]

Family of dd5 and we do 1 -bedroom. If you can afford a 1 bed room .. Do IT!.

It is truely vacationing.. but be warned, it will be tough to go back to a studio.

 

[JaxDisneyFans]

If it's more than DH & I going, we always get a 1-bedroom or larger. 1 to 2 nights is also the max DH & I will do in a studio. After that we start to crave the space and privacy of a separate bedroom from the living space. We bought DVC for the advantage of increased space for the same number of trips (3 to 4)we were already making per year.

 

[toniosmom]

My DS5 and I have not yet tried a studio -- we've done a 1BR for just us and a 2BR when we had extended family with us. We love having the full kitchen and the giant jacuzzi tub, not to mention the in-room laundry. We eat almost all meals in the villa (my son isn't very restaurant-friendly). I love that when he falls asleep early, he can sleep in the BR while I relax in the LR. Having said that, we are going to try a studio during Spring Break next year at BCV. Thanks to fellow DIS-ers, I have a lot of microwave food ideas and we also have many quick dining options in the BCV area to choose from. I'm going to miss the laundry, but we can live with it. Doing laundry in the room is no big deal, but having to go to a laundry room is not something I want to do on vacation.

I think you are best going for a 1BR. You won't be sorry.

Whatever you decide, you will have a wonderful vacation.

 

[BlakeNJ]

If you are going through the trouble of renting points, go for the 1br. The space is what DVC is all about. Sure, you can cook a meal or two, but it's so nice to have a living room area to give everyone a little space. There is nothing worse that coming back to a room and feeling like you are living on top of one another.

 

[castleri]

I see that you have stayed at the high end places so if you are looking to keep the cost within what you are used to then look up the points for the time you want to stay and compare with what you want to spend figuring $10-12 a point. The 1BR will most likely be double what a studio is. I love 1BR units but it depends on what my trip will be like. If it is going to be parks from opening to closing, or other activities that will keep us away from the resort for most of the time I don't bother to spend the extra points. If it is parks for part of the day and pool time part of the day and the pace is slower where we actually linger over breakfast and there is someone in the group who wants to be back to the villa earlier than others then I say a 1 BR if the way to go. With younger children along it is wonderful to have the extra space in the evening to relax when they are in bed. Depending on when you want to travel you need to find a BCV owner sooner rather than later as it is one of the first to book up solid for cerain periods. Also be sure to check out the sticky on the rent/trade board to be sure you understand the ins and outs of renting points. If you were considering OKW (my favorite) I would say go for the 1BR no matter what -

Hope you have a great trip no matter what you decide.