Wasted space in villas?

[WDWorld2003]

Does anyone else feel there is a lot of wasted space in the villas? We love using our DVC and like the extra space it allows our family but feel they could have dedicated more space to the living room/kitchen instead of the following areas (at least at BWV - 2 bdrm)....

Front hall closet and entry area in 1 bdrm part - we did not use closet at all.... used the large closet off of the bathroom to store all luggage.

Bathroom in 1 bedroom area - area where toilet and shower are is so large you can dance in there ... would have liked have this space in living room or kitchen instead.

Jacuzzi - I'm sure some love this... however, it doesn't do much for us... especially from a privacy issue. You have to lock the bedroom door but as far as I know cannot lock the bathroom door going out to the vanity/tub area. It just seems a lot of space was given to the jacuzzi but we only used it once during our week stay.

Again, we love the villas but just wonder why so much space was dedicated to certain areas and wonder what others think after staying in the villas?

 

[CarolMN]

Does anyone else feel there is a lot of wasted space in the villas? We love using our DVC and like the extra space it allows our family but feel they could have dedicated more space to the living room/kitchen instead of the following areas (at least at BWV - 2 bdrm)....

Front hall closet and entry area in 1 bdrm part - we did not use closet at all.... used the large closet off of the bathroom to store all luggage.

We use that closet to store coats, jackets, as well as items that we may want to take to the parks each day. I suppose we could store them in the closet off the bathroom instead - it is certainly large enough, though not as convenient. When we travel with stroller children, we store the stroller in the entryway and appreciate the larger area.

Bathroom in 1 bedroom area - area where toilet and shower are is so large you can dance in there ... would have liked have this space in living room or kitchen instead.

Jacuzzi - I'm sure some love this... however, it doesn't do much for us... especially from a privacy issue. You have to lock the bedroom door but as far as I know cannot lock the bathroom door going out to the vanity/tub area. It just seems a lot of space was given to the jacuzzi but we only used it once during our week stay.

Again, we love the villas but just wonder why so much space was dedicated to certain areas and wonder what others think after staying in the villas?

IMHO, the 1 bedroom units were really designed for couples or at most, families with 1 or 2 young children. In those cases, there really aren't any privacy issues.

We think the kitchen and living area is large enough, although I wouldn't mind a larger dining table for those occasions when we have more traveling companions and book a 2 bedroom.

Best wishes -

 

[WolfpackFan]

We got back last week from HH where we stayed in a 2BR for the first time. We loved the layout. The living and dining area was plenty big for us. Sure the master bath is large, but heck we like the luxourious feel of having the jacuzzi. Makes us feel like we're really someplace special.

 

[spiceycat]

if the larger size rooms of OKW were at the BWV - the best of both worlds.

the smaller room serve a surpose for DVC - allows them to put more villa in the same space.

most of the competition has a big bathroom. I love the Jacuzzi - take away the monster shower.....or at least make it smaller.

after walking all day in the parks when I stay in a 1-bedroom I need the Jacuzzi....

 

[HookdonWDW]

Mess with my shower and prepare to die

I love that shower , and look forward to it during our stay.

I also like the jaccuzzi and the closet.

 

[WDWorld2003]

I love the shower, too! Just felt the room where the shower and toilet/sink are is VERY large for what is in the room - lots of dead space (maybe our bathroom was larger than others or shower smaller than others?). Also, like the jacuzzi but almost felt like that could of fit in that large bathroom.

We thought the living area was small compared to the space devoted to the bathroom. When all four of us sat in the living room (usually 2 on couch, 1 in easy chair) it would have been nice to have another area for an easy chair instead of sitting at the dining table chair.

We did visit OKW and loved the size of their living room/kitchen area. It seemed to be more in proportion to the rest of the space. Really, we do love BWV just wondered what others thought of the space.....

 

[dallastxcpa]

You know it seems like if they knocked out the wall between the kitchen and the entry way and repositioned the refrigerator that alot of the villas would have a more open feel and would feel bigger.

Also, for the next DVC how about vaulted ceilings for the top floor. Ohhh! Ahhh!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Well, I think in the non-OKW villas, they should have put a bit more room and thought into the arrangement of the dressing /bathroom area of the studio portion of the 2 bedrooms. Just a mess of doors that seem to be in the way.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Mess with my shower and prepare to die

I love that shower , and look forward to it during our stay.

I also like the jaccuzzi and the closet.

We feel the same way about the shower and jacuzzi. We don't use the jacuzzi often, but like to have it available. We were at SSR in one bedroom lockoff and were looking for the front entry closet. It wasn't there because that's where the access to the studio/lock off was. We really missed it because that's where we always stash the luggage, coats, beach stuff, cooler, etc. We've never had a large closet in the bathroom (SSR, BCV, VWL) so to make that any smaller would be impossible. When you don't use the pack and play, it takes up space (but I could move it to the front entry closet if it existed.

I like the way OKW is set up the best. Tons of room, plenty of space to move about and store things. I can't wait for Friday.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Love the shower... the jacuzzi area seems unnecessarily large. But I haven't seen it very often...only the HHI one recently which is probably an intervening version between OKW and BWV. I have to agree that the bathroom area could have been designed to give more space to the master bedroom which would then allow you to give a bit of the master bed space to the living room. I'm sure there is a good reason for the design however...I just can't figure out what it is.

 

[bz8bls]

I agree with you WDWorld; we stayed in a 1B@SSR (our home resort) for five days with just myself, DH and 2yo grandson and the living room was okay for us, but we moved to OKW when my 2 daughters and their spouse/bf joined2 us for the remainder of the vacation. Staying in a 2br @ SSR with 6 adults and one toddler would have been too cramped IMO.

 

[lisareniff]

I don't know if I would call it wasted space but do feel the amount of space given to the Master Bedroom/Bath as compared to the kitchen/living room is too much. The Master bed and bath seemed very roomy while the dining area is crammed in the walking space to the living "room". I like the jacuzzi but would have chosen more space in the dining area over that. (but we have a hot tub at home!)

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I don't know if I would call it wasted space but do feel the amount of space given to the Master Bedroom/Bath as compared to the kitchen/living room is too much. The Master bed and bath seemed very roomy while the dining area is crammed in the walking space to the living "room".

You must be describing the BW/BC type arrangement. These are actually quite convenient, as you can reach from your jacuzzi into the kitchen for a drink or snack. Shoot, just go ahead and use the water afterwards to clean the dishes. How's that for efficient !

 

[DrTomorrow]

We stayed in our first 2BR at SSR last month (last year ::hee:: ) and pretty much liked things the way they were. Yes, the jacuzzi / vanity / shower area of the 1BR could take up a little less space, but - IMHO - at the expense of the luxurious feeling of having a little more room than you need. Perhaps it's just a matter of personal taste, but - as a couple - we spend a lot more time in the bedroom (relaxing, sleeping, TV watching, ) and bathroom (jacuzzi is fine after a long day on your feet, shower is roomy) than sitting in the kitchen / living room. Plus, we've got a kitchen and living room at home; a shower.for.two, a bubbling jacuzzi and bathroom space for both of us makes things feel a bit more vacation-y; more "magical".

 

[lauran cameron]

Mess with my shower and prepare to die

I love that shower , and look forward to it during our stay.

I also like the jaccuzzi and the closet.

oO0o0oo0 the jaccuzzi *sigh of relief* how you ease my tired feet

I personally love the size. I'm from a family of four and since we're such WDW vets. we enjoy bringing other people to stay with us and most of the time we need all the space we can get, even with just us four with all the hustle and bustle in the AM getting ready! It makes me feel like I'm at home

 

[Lesley]

Okay, I'll add my personal wish to the list....

I want the jacuzzi tub to be closed off from the bedroom so that when we get a 2br and my parents stay with us my mom will feel comfortable using it....because I really don't want to give up my king bed so that mom can enjoy the tub! Also, if I give them the master that means I can't use the tub without barging in.

Hmmmm....maybe we just need jacuzzi tubs in the studios too...LOL We really don't need 2 kitchens for the 7 of us so using two 1br's would be wasteful (and we don't have enough points!)

 

[lauran cameron]

OH MY GOODNESS!!! This is off on a tangent but I just though of this...has anyone else noticed that there is no door separating the master bedroom from the bathroom portion of the OKW villas? The part with the jacuzzi and sink. I never did until our last trip when someone wanted a private bath.

 

[jmminarik]

We find the rooms at OKW to be perfectly sized and the layout works for us. We do feel squished in the "new" designs and don't like the tiny kitchens, tiny dining 'spot' nor the small living room. Large showers mean the luxury of having one's back scrubbed and one's hair (or what's left of it) washed, large baths mean room to move around, large/open kitchens mean I'm not the only one able to cook. To me, the only wasted space is all them long hallways.

The privacy issue was never an issue for us. I guess growing up in a "small" row home and living at the shore during the summers with 2 parents, 4 aunts and uncles and a dozen or so cousins I'm just naturally prepared to handle these things. :

-Joe

 

[goofyforlife]

We've only stayed at the studios so far....(SSR,WL, and BW)

But I think Disney missed the boat on provided enough space for storage (i.e. clothes)

Last May there were 4 of us in at SSR (2 adults,2 kids). We were there for 5 days. We had clothes piled up acroos the top of the entertainment center because there just wasn't any other place to put them.

If the could just put a smalll shelving unit (in the closet, or next to the ent. center as a built in)...that would be great....

 

[barb45]

I'd rather have a second toilet then that oversized closet off the bathroom in a 1 bedroom. When you have 4 people competing for the bathroom that seems like wasted space to me. I'm sure they could fit another toilet into the jacuzzi bathroom by making that closet a bit smaller.