The Great Studio Debate

[Mom B]

Studios work great for just the 2 of us, now that the kids are grown. If we'd had DVC when our kids were the ages of yours, it would have been fine too. But since I reallly like having the couch to watch TV and our kids never minded sleeping on the floor, the hideabed might go totally unused even then. We've never been that fussy about sleeping accomodations, since usually when we traveled we were in tents sleeping on the ground. So ANYTHING at Disney would be a big step up from that! Of course when we expanded to 4 kids and had 2 teenagers and 2 grade schoolers, we needed more space...but we managed well with a Jr. Suite at Wilderness Lodge (2 queens and a pullout)...and 3 of the 4 kids slept on the floor anyway! We probably would have been LOST in a 2 bedroom. BUT we don't mind "splurging" on a 1 or 2 BR these days once in a while either!

 

[janni518]

OK - first off let me say that I think that every one's situation is different and that what works for one certainly may not work for another. DVC is great because they offer different options to meet practically any one's tastes/needs and the flexibility to chose to select accommodations around those tastes/needs. With that said, I personally don't understand the shock and terror that many people express when others talk about plans or decision to utilize the studios. We are a family of 4 (DH, me and 2 wild and energetic boys, 6 & 8) and we do just fine in a studio. We travel to Disney World to spend time enjoying what the whole Disney World complex has to offer. Sure we like our breaks but we don't need hundreds of square feet to enjoy a little down time. Maybe it comes from the fact that we don't have a huge house (~1,500 sf and by choice not necessity) and are accustomed to actually sharing a great deal of our regular living space that contributes to the fact that studios don't bother us. We don't ever see ourselves as being a family who utilizes the kitchen aspect of the the non-studio units much as we have been pretty efficient in coming up with healthy and quick meals around just the appliances available in the studio (for those meals we don't eat out.) We will continue to most likely stay in studios with 1 BR mixed in here and there. We like to stretch our points and and sacrifice some sf to get more time overall in WDW. We think the studios overall give us more bang for our buck!


So, I am curious to hear others thoughts on The Great Studio Debate? Why do you think studios do or don't work for you?

I was surprised when I first joined to read negative posts about the rooms. This April will be our first DVC trip and yeah, it'd be great to have extra room but it's not all that important at this time.

Our younger kids are the ones who come with us. My kids are teens! Our previous experience has been in a regular resort room so why wouldn't we be okay with a studio? Our kids don't mind sharing a bed if it means they get to go to Disney every year. (Luckily, my kids actually like each other and get along fine, maybe because the girl is older, lol)

We aren't looking to spend a lot of time in our room, but if we had to I think we'd be okay. We manage to go camping and on other trips without an problems.

Of course as we are able we'd like to add on but right now we are just happy to be DVC members.


So, that's my situation, your results may vary.

 

[alldiz]

The main reason that studios don't work for us is that we fight over the TV. I watch the "Disney propoganda" channels all the time, while DH is adicted to sports (when he's not playing golf). A 1 BR has 2 TVs. But that's just us. I say, if you want a studio, "Different strokes for different folks" (showing my age here).

All I watch is stacey and DVC channel

I think a studio is great....hey it's why I bought DVC...I personally just felt sooo spoiled in the 1BR that I use my points for that....and pay DVC discount in a studio for the weekend. DVC certainly did not save me any money because I would NEVER pay 1BR rates. But now it feels so good to be able to travel in that manner
Kerri

 

[Lexxiefern]

We mostly do one bedrooms, but we still do the occasional studio trip (and DH hates it!!). I like 1 bedrooms because of the washer/dryer, the 2 tv's - DH is always watching sports at night and I want to watch my shows. The tub is nice, but the DH and kids use it more than I do. I love having a full kitchen even if we don't use it too much. I usually bake cookies and we always keep lots of stuff in the fridge. I guess mostly it is a way of splurging to really make us feel like we are on vacation.

That said, I still enjoy my studio trips too. I have one booked for October. It was done mainly to conserve points, so I could get an extra weekend trip in. But the studios are nicer than regular hotel rooms, IMO, because you have the kitchenette area.

 

[daisyduck123]

Studios are fine for my family of 4 (DH, me, DD14, & DS10)...I don't know, maybe we're in the minority...but we don't mind being with our kids 24/7. That's what we're on vacation for!! To get away from home & just enjoy being together. Besides, we're NEVER in our room except for sleeping.

Sure our studio gets messy, but our rooms at home get messy too. We're just used to it!!

(and by staying in a studio, we get to go to WDW twice as often! )

 

[acejka]

I started in a studio, but with 2 weeks to go, I changed to a 1 bedroom. I like my sitting area to be seperate from my sleeping area, I wanted the washer/dryer in unit so I don't have to deal with going to the laundry rooms, I wanted the whirlpool tub and most of all I wanted the full kitchen.

I know a lot of people want to forget about cooking while on vacation, but I prefer it. We like coming back to the room in the evenings and making our own fresh healthy meals. We were going to do the dining plan and eat our selves crazy but I thought it would be better to stick to our normal routine.

We aren't opposed to staying in a studio by any means and we wanted to stretch our points, but we feel the one bedroom is a better fit for us.

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

Fresh off experience in both accomodations less than a week ago, here's my spin:

In the 1BR, my 1 yo went to sleep about 8, so we put him down in the master BR. Then 4 yo would go to sleep around 9, put her down in the master as well. Then DW and I would watch TV until about 10 or 11. In the studio, we all basically went to sleep at the same time (waking up as well at the same time). In the mornings, I'm the earliest riser, so in the 1BR I could get my morning going without disturbing the rest of the family. In the studio, I'd either have to leave the room or take my son out to let DW and DD rest. That was fine...but sooooo unneccesary in the 1BR.

In-room laundry is SOOOOO convenient!!! So easy on the packing and less time out of the trip with the machines in the room.

We do not use the full kitchen besides the fridge and microwave...but we actually can sit as a family at a table and have a meal without the crowdedness of a food court/fast food eatery just like at home. We did enjoy this.

In summary, we really like feeling like we are "at home" with WDW outside our door. The space and convenience the 1BR lends itself to over the studio works for us.

Whoever out there likes studios, enjoy them. Those of us that like 1BR's will enjoy them. Those 2BR folks (scared to convert just yet) and GV folks enjoy your homes as well.

All is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Brian Noble]

With that said, I personally don't understand the shock and terror that many people express when others talk about plans or decision to utilize the studios.

My kids are just a year or two older. And, I love them, I really do. But, I would genuinely resent having to pretend to be asleep at 8:30 until they managed to nod off. If it came down to it, I'd rather (gasp!) stay offsite than spend a week in a studio with the four of us.

Then again, we normally booked multi-room suites with kitchens before we got into timeshare---you know, a Residence Inn or Homewood Suites, that sort of thing. Our first "family trip" was in such a place, when my oldest was a toddler and my wife pregnant with the other, and we've done it that way ever since. We've never been folks to stay in a single hotel room.

If it were just the two of us, without the kids, we could stay in studios, but I like the extra space and amenities.

 

[Granny]

With that said, I personally don't understand the shock and terror that many people express when others talk about plans or decision to utilize the studios.

We must not read the same threads. I've never seen anyone slammed for choosing to stay in a studio. I've seen people waxing eloquent about the benefits of a 1BR or larger, but I can't say I've seen anything resembling "shock & terror" when someone indicates they are staying in a studio.

For the record, we normally stay in a 2BR villa for the four of us. But I can't imagine anyone really expressing concern if someone else chooses to stay in a studio. That's just weird.

 

[robinb]

We are a family of 3 and a studio works just fine for us. OF COURSE we would rather have a 1BR but at twice the number of points we rarely spurge on it.

 

[HayGan]

We must not read the same threads. I've never seen anyone slammed for choosing to stay in a studio. I've seen people waxing eloquent about the benefits of a 1BR or larger, but I can't say I've seen anything resembling "shock & terror" when someone indicates they are staying in a studio.
For the record, we normally stay in a 2BR villa for the four of us. But I can't imagine anyone really expressing concern if someone else chooses to stay in a studio. That's just weird.

I never said anyone was slammed for using a studio. But we both have been around long enough to admit that there are plenty of people around here who are less than thrilled with studios irregardless of their party size and often point out the downfalls (in their opinion) of the studios.

Here is just one recent example of a thread with people's shock that on staying in a studio http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1941379 (note: I'm not talking about the discussion of the OPs difficulty rather the comments throughout referencing the studio and its occupancy.) Personally, I think that the indicates shock.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't have a debate. I don't need a one-bedroom and I never reserve one. The studio is more than enough.

I am cutting way down on WDW trips as of 2009 and if I get to the point where I need to use a lot of points or they will expire, I might go for a one-bedroom.

 

[PinkTink63]

OK - first off let me say that I think that every one's situation is different and that what works for one certainly may not work for another. DVC is great because they offer different options to meet practically any one's tastes/needs and the flexibility to chose to select accommodations around those tastes/needs. With that said, I personally don't understand the shock and terror that many people express when others talk about plans or decision to utilize the studios. We are a family of 4 (DH, me and 2 wild and energetic boys, 6 & 8) and we do just fine in a studio. We travel to Disney World to spend time enjoying what the whole Disney World complex has to offer. Sure we like our breaks but we don't need hundreds of square feet to enjoy a little down time. Maybe it comes from the fact that we don't have a huge house (~1,500 sf and by choice not necessity) and are accustomed to actually sharing a great deal of our regular living space that contributes to the fact that studios don't bother us. We don't ever see ourselves as being a family who utilizes the kitchen aspect of the the non-studio units much as we have been pretty efficient in coming up with healthy and quick meals around just the appliances available in the studio (for those meals we don't eat out.) We will continue to most likely stay in studios with 1 BR mixed in here and there. We like to stretch our points and and sacrifice some sf to get more time overall in WDW. We think the studios overall give us more bang for our buck!


So, I am curious to hear others thoughts on The Great Studio Debate? Why do you think studios do or don't work for you?

Wow! you have 1500 sq. ft.! We only have 1425!

We're with you! The studios work fine for us. There is only 3 of us and we are all night owls! We have always been the ones closing the parks down, even when my son was 4 yrs. old! He never has been much of a napper! We all lay in bed and watch T.V. It never has been a problem.

It comes down to...would we rather spend 14-19 days at a DVC or about 8. It was considered for about 30 sec., but everyone decided on more days as opposed to more space!

 

[Granny]

I never said anyone was slammed for using a studio. But we both have been around long enough to admit that there are plenty of people around here who are less than thrilled with studios irregardless of their party size and often point out the downfalls (in their opinion) of the studios.

Here is just one recent example of a thread with people's shock that on staying in a studio http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1941379 (note: I'm not talking about the discussion of the OPs difficulty rather the comments throughout referencing the studio and its occupancy.) Personally, I think that the indicates shock.

Fair enough. I guess the words shock & terror just aren't what come to mind when I hear people giving opinions about studios..even negative ones. I guess it's the point of view. I've seen many comments from people saying that a 1BR is a "waste" of points compared to staying longer or more often in a studio.

To answer your original question, I have no idea why anyone would care if someone else books any type of villa. I mean really, what is there to get upset about?

 

[Pootle]

Here is just one recent example of a thread with people's shock that on staying in a studio http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1941379 (note: I'm not talking about the discussion of the OPs difficulty rather the comments throughout referencing the studio and its occupancy.) Personally, I think that the indicates shock.

When you first mentioned this, my mind also went to the thread you highlighted and I agree with you totally.

Fair enough. I guess the words shock & terror just aren't what come to mind when I hear people giving opinions about studios..even negative ones. .........

To answer your original question, I have no idea why anyone would care if someone else books any type of villa. I mean really, what is there to get upset about?

As in 'real' life, it's often not what it said, but how it is said. Sometimes posters manage to convey the feeling that a studio is not good enough for their family ........ and therefore your standards must be lower (as opposed to just different). Other posters manage to make the same points without it seeming like a put-down.

A (very) small point maybe, but I just wanted HayGan to know that someone else had a similar view.

 

[DisneydaveCT]

Our use of studio vs. something large depends upon who is traveling.

If the kids are with us, then we get a 1 or 2 BR over at OKW. But if it is just Lori and me, then we us we usually get a studio over at SSR. We like having the couch in the studio instead of the second bed. I know I saw a few posters make reference to having a second TV, but when we are at WDW we watch very little television.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

DW and I stay in studios all the time. We are both retired. We stay for a month at a time in Feb. SSR is better than OKW with one bed and a sofa. We do a lot of cooking in the studio. We bring along an electric frying pan and our own dishes for the month stay. Computers and a printer are brought along for DW part time job. It may seem like indoor camping, but we are at WDW, HHI, and VB. It is much better than a WI. winter. We do end up spending about 60 days a year in a DVC studio. We only bring all the cooking stuff when we drive down in Jan.-Feb.

We are the same way when we stay in studios!! I just bought an electric burner so I can cook in the studios! I have a small wire rack for dishes to dry. Special microwave plates, a small pan. Ha! My crock pot too! You would be surprised what kind of meals I can make in a studio!

 

[DVC Mike]

My DW and I prefer a 1-BR over a Studio. No big debate. Just a personal preference.

 

[WDWLVR]

DH and I have no kids and prefer a one bedroom to a studio. A number of reasons:

1) I love the separate bedroom and the king size bed. I tend to be a morning person while DH will stay up later and sleep longer. The separate bedroom gives us this option without disturbing the other and a king bed is what we have at home.

2) The washer/dryer in unit. I love going home with clean clothes.

3) The jetted tub. After a long day in the park I love a good soak.

We do stay at studios for very short trips (like the 2 days before our upcoming cruise) but to me it is worth the extra points for the one bedroom.

I agree that I think that is one of the best things about DVC - the ability for everyone to choose how they use their points.

 

[hakepb]

And it is a good thing that some prefer studios. If no one wanted to stay in a studio, they'd have to rent all 2BR lockoffs as 2BS's only, and could never rent out a 1BR only.