Where are your favorite DVC studios?

[es45]

We are researching small resales in order to enjoy DVC sooner than later. We haven't stayed at enough resorts to know yet where we want to buy; we are planning a trip in a few months to check out specific resorts. One thing is for certain, with a small resale, we'll need to stay in studios initially.

Our family is two adults and two children (ages 6 and 8). I've researched the resort amenities but can't get a good idea about the comfort of the studios for a family of four. For us, large isn't necessarily best, rather, a good mix of size, layout, and theming make for a relaxing room stay.

Which resorts have your favorite studios?

 

[Deb & Bill]

For a family your size, you definitely won't want to stay at BLT. That is the smallest studio of all the DVC villas. Really only suitable for two persons.

OKW is the best of the studios because it has two real queen sized beds and the bathroom is all in one room (the sinks, toilet, tub). And they are the largest studio at WDW.

The rest are basically a queen sized bed and a double sleeper sofa with the bathroom sink outside the tub/toilet room.

But the real benefit to DVC is the one bedroom villas.

 

[es45]

Thanks, Deb & Bill, you are correct that we won't like BLT. That is the only DVC studio that we've seen and we could tell that it wouldn't work for us.

 

[Louiepipbgeeco]

For a family your size, you definitely won't want to stay at BLT. That is the smallest studio of all the DVC villas. Really only suitable for two persons.

OKW is the best of the studios because it has two real queen sized beds and the bathroom is all in one room (the sinks, toilet, tub). And they are the largest studio at WDW.

The rest are basically a queen sized bed and a double sleeper sofa with the bathroom sink outside the tub/toilet room.

But the real benefit to DVC is the one bedroom villas.

Are there no studios yet with the sleeper chair?

 

[DenLo]

No none of the studios have a sleeper chair. The OKW studios are the largest and they have two queen beds in the studio.

The smallest studio is a value studio at AKV - Jambo House. It's about three feet shorter than the regular studios at AKV. But as you can see below, the BLT studios are not much bigger and because of the way the kitchenette and vanity are configured the bedroom area lost even more space.

Here's the square footage for all of the studios.

AKV Kidani - 366
Jambo - 365
Value - 316
BCV - 365
BLT - 329
BWV - 359
OKW - 390
SSR - 344
VWL - 356

 

[backyardponder]

For a family your size, you definitely won't want to stay at BLT. That is the smallest studio of all the DVC villas. Really only suitable for two persons.

OKW is the best of the studios because it has two real queen sized beds and the bathroom is all in one room (the sinks, toilet, tub). And they are the largest studio at WDW.

The rest are basically a queen sized bed and a double sleeper sofa with the bathroom sink outside the tub/toilet room.

But the real benefit to DVC is the one bedroom villas.

Since we stay in studios frequently, I can't agree that the "real benefit" is a 1BR. It depends on your own preferences and circumstances.

Since you are starting off small, you want to make sure you can get the most for your points. BWV with standard views and OKW are some of your best values with respect to number of points used.

 

[momhmmx2]

In terms of size of room I love OKW's studios.. I also really enjoy the resort too! I love the relaxed atmosphere and listening to Jimmy Buffet when getting on the bus to return to the resort

 

[DMKEDM]

We've (2 adults...me and my law school student DS) stayed in studios at BWV, BCV, SSR, OKW and AKV...while there are reasons for preferring one resort over another than have nothing to do w/studio size/layout, basing the decision just on the studio itself, hands-down our favorite is SSR...

One primary reason is that SSR studios have a rack w/hooks for jackets/coats at the front door...I had no idea how much I liked that til I didn't have one (none of the other resorts have it)...it's particularly useful when it's rainy and you have a damp poncho or jacket to hang...not good to put a damp garment in the closet; bathroom hanging space is limited (ours tends to fill up w/wet bathing suits!); and there's no good place in the studio itself to hang anything...

Otherwise, as other posters have noted, if you have someone who won't like the pull-out sofa bed (DS has no problem w/it, nor do I), OKV is not only bigger, it gives you two "real beds"...

Bottom line is we love them all, but my favorite is at SSR...

 

[joandegennaro]

Our family is two adults and two children (ages 6 and 8). I've researched the resort amenities but can't get a good idea about the comfort of the studios for a family of four.


We just stayed there over our Spring Break. We are a family of 4 but both my DD's 17 and 12 are as tall as adults. We found that we had plenty of room in an OKW studio, not once did we feel like we were tripping over each other. I had a short walk to the laundry facilities by the pool (the extra points for the convience of a 1 bedroom doesn't factor into what my family see's as the best value for our points) Breakfast and lunch in the studio was no problem, just cereal and toasted sandwiches. Went out for dinner in the parks, DTD or offsite. A car is a real asset. This stay was our first of many to come. We chose OKW to be our home resort just last week!

We didn't use the main pool in fact requested to be as far away as possible. Wasn't looking for things like the sand and water slides ect. The quiet pool and hot tub was just our speed. Love this resort and would recommend it to everyone except......I want it to stay Disney's Best Kept Secret

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

GCV is my favorite studio but I doubt you're asking about West coast.

BLT is my least favorite studio. It's fine for one person - maybe two. BCV/BWV/VWL and even AKV all are close enough to each other in design and size that I'd consider them interchangeable. Different color schemes and of course location comes into play but the rooms themselves are practically identical.

I haven't seen an SSR studio but would assume it's pretty much in the interchangeable as well. Amongst the most common design I place VWL and AKV as darker and more relaxing. BCV, BWV and SSR are brighter.

If I had 4 people then it would most likely be OKW.

 

[disney ny]

The information on these boards is so helpful. I never knew OKW had two real beds which would make a huge difference if it was 3 adults. I will keep that in mind for the future!!

 

[timandlesley]

I would definitely check out AKL. We LOVE the studio there, especially the "standard view" ones, you can save a ton of points by staying there and they have a great pool view (in the Jambo house). Theming of the resort is beautiful, your kids will love the kids activities and the pool. Stories by fireside at night, nightwatch vision goggles at night to see the animals in the savannah. Boma and Jiko are outstanding restaraunts, we just love it there. We loved Bay Lake Tower too, the studio was a BLT tight, but since you are considering a resale purchase I'd head towards AKL since BLT is so expensive to stay at compared to AKL.
Just my two cents.
Lesley

 

[es45]

Thanks for the great feedback; it is just what I was looking for.

Right now, I think we are going to do a split stay at AKV and SSR before we purchase. We'll have a car so distance from the parks isn't much of an issue and the girls don't mind sleeping together (at this age) so a studio is just right--for right now.

We can tour a room of a DVC resort if unoccupied, correct? We might look at the other resorts while we are there.

 

[Longhairbear]

Definitely the studios at VGC of all the resorts we have been to.

 

[Cee]

I would say OKW for the two beds and shear size. They are really spacious as studios go. Welcome home!

 

[jekjones1558]

Regarding OKW, the 2 beds versus a bed and a sofabed can be an advantage or not depending on your needs. The OP's kids are young, so the OKW bathroom would be great because it is large. But having the bathroom sink in the room with the toilet and tub at OKW makes it harder for multiple older kids or adults to get ready at the same time if privacy is an issue. In that case the sink outside the toilet/tub room (like the non-OKW studios) works better.

 

[dianeschlicht]

For us (only 2 of us when we stay in a studio or 1 bedroom), if I have to stay in a studio, I prefer the ones at Kidani. I like the arrangement of the bathroom there, and the seperation with the kitchenette. It just seems roomier to me. I HATE the many door arrangements in the studios other than OKW and AKV.

 

[spiceycat]

okw has 2 sinks - one inside the bathroom, the other outside the bathroom.

with your size family would go with OKW - those 2 queen beds make it worth it.

yea never at BLT - it is definitely too small for your family.

none of the studios have room for the chair bed. if you need another bed - get an air mattress. again OKW has room for a double (the ones only a twin)

loved the studios at OKW - my favorite is BLT because the standard ones are in my budget. and loved being able to walk to the MK. that is worth it for me.

next would be AKV, BWV, OKW, VWL, BCV, SSR

definitely love them all - the studios are great. but hey single person who travels solo. If I had a family might not like them as much.

 

[PHILCT]

OKW. 2 Queen Beds, way more comfortable than the pull out couch in the other studios.

And for the kids there are a lot of activities at the Community Hall right outside of the pool area at the Main Pool.

 

[MaryJ]

We have stayed in studios at BWV, AKV (Jambo House) OKW, and VWL. VWL is my favorite, hands down. The one thing that VWL has that none of the others had are drawers in the kitchen area. We do use the kitchen area for preparing breakfast and there never seems to be enough counter space for our grocery items. I use the drawers for bagels, pop-tarts, and other small snack items to get them off the shelves/counters.

When we took the tour of BLT I noticed that their studios also have drawers in the kitchen area, but as was previously stated, the studios there are mighty small!