Which DVC Resort has the best 1-bedroom

[Aussie RJ]

Thanks! I’m hoping to stay at Aulani one day and appreciate this idea for a room request!

It's nice if you have young kids. That is, put the kids to bed and watch the Luau from your balcony...

 

[MinnieSueB]

Oh yeah that reminds me, shout out to renovated rooms at Saratoga Springs for the real 2nd (murphy style) bed. When my kids are teenagers/young adults I expect we will stay at SSR with some frequency for that reason if they don't roll those out to other resorts in the interim.

We just stayed in a renovated SSR and it was great!!!! LOVED it!

 

[CastAStone]

Not one of us "one Bedroom lovers" have mentioned the kitchen

I’m not sure there’s a meaningful difference.

The tables do vary though; we found the one at Kidani useless with our party of 6 (as a 2BR). Some of the newer resorts have a more useful table design, I know at least VGF and Riviera do. Old Key West has a better design as well, although with seating for 4, but the patio has another table for 4.

 

[CastAStone]

So to summarize the thread:
to AKV-KV, BLT, VGC for 2 bathrooms
to SSR (soon), RVA for the real 2nd bed
to SSR, AKV-KV, OKW, BLT for the chair bed
to RVA, VGF for the pull down single bed
to OKW for being large and cheap
to OKW for its massive patio
to OKW and HHI for no elevators

Anyone want to stick up for BWV, BCV, or AKV-Jambo?

 

[Lorana]

AKV-Jambo

If you can get them:
Value 1BR for super cheap on points
Concierge 1BR, though expensive on points, includes concierge lounge.
Both Kidani and Jambo offer Savanna views. Being able to sit on your balcony and watch African animals roam about is a huge plus.

For me, BC 1BR is a win because of Stormalong Bay and easy walk to Epcot. This means lots of choices for dining!

BW 1BR has easy walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

BRV and CCV were left off, and while if you’re asking me for the best 1BR, I still say Kidani, the WL lodge is beautiful, I love the boat ride to MK, and if you’re going over the holidays, it is the perfect Christmas feel.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Our #1 favorite DVC 1BR is VGC. BLT and AKV - Kidani are next. All of them have 2 bathrooms.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So to summarize the thread:
to AKV-KV, BLT, VGC for 2 bathrooms
to SSR (soon), RVA for the real 2nd bed
to SSR, AKV-KV, OKW, BLT for the chair bed
to RVA, VGF for the pull down single bed
to OKW for being large and cheap
to OKW for its massive patio
to OKW and HHI for no elevators

Anyone want to stick up for BWV, BCV, or AKV-Jambo?

lol - I am actually a fan of AKV-Jambo 1BR's. I don't feel the need to have a bathroom only for the master and it's a good layout that allows anyone in the living area to feel completely comfortable using it. I also very much like the kitchen layout with the island and of course the fact there's a sleeper chair as well as sleeper sofa so if there's 4 people there's at least 3 beds to choose from.

BWV, BCV and BRV provide opportunity to imagine who came up with the idea to put more doors in 2 rooms than ever has been done before.

 

[CarolynFH]

BWV, BCV and BRV provide opportunity to imagine who came up with the idea to put more doors in 2 rooms than ever has been done before.

You are so right!

 

[ForWhomTheMouseTolls]

Definitely Poly!

 

[CastAStone]

Just one more note on 1BRs - they are by far the worst value of the 3 major room types when compared to what Disney sells the same rooms for cash for. Depending when you travel, it might make all the sense in the world, but it might make none at all.

For example, Beach Club Villas on weekends in July is $763 after tax, or 40 points.

Disney wants $235 for those points, and there's 21 years left on them, so each point costs $11.19/year. Add the $7.06 in dues and you're at $18.25/point. $18.25*40=$730. At that rate you will break even in year 20 of the 21 years left. Not a good deal. Studios break even in year 13 with those same dates (still not a particularly good deal but better than the 1BRs)

 

[Aussie RJ]

Just one more note on 1BRs - they are by far the worst value of the 3 major room types when compared to what Disney sells the same rooms for cash for. Depending when you travel, it might make all the sense in the world, but it might make none at all.

For example, Beach Club Villas on weekends in July is $763 after tax, or 40 points.

Disney wants $235 for those points, and there's 21 years left on them, so each point costs $11.19/year. Add the $7.06 in dues and you're at $18.25/point. $18.25*40=$730. At that rate you will break even in year 20 of the 21 years left. Not a good deal. Studios break even in year 13 with those same dates (still not a particularly good deal but better than the 1BRs)

Resale looks a bit different. I'm looking at BWV, I don't know why I just love it. I think there's still value in the BWV Standard view One Bedroom. Most of the time, you need to be an owner to book the standard room category. I've got the price per point to about $12.66 including dues. I travel in September or January, puts it at roughly $300 per night. I say thats great value when you can make it work.

 

[CastAStone]

Resale looks a bit different. I'm looking at BWV, I don't know why I just love it. I think there's still value in the BWV Standard view One Bedroom. Most of the time, you need to be an owner to book the standard room category. I've got the price per point to about $12.66 including dues. I travel in September or January, puts it at roughly $300 per night. I say thats great value when you can make it work.

Yup. Like I said lotta value to be had depending on what you buy, what you pay, and when you travel. Just wanted to toss out there that the math is hardest to make work on the 1BRs, and it’s not particularly close. They’re typically about 2x the points and 1.4x the cash of studios.

The most “maximal” value of DVC is to buy resale SSR points and use them for OKW studios on weekdays in the more expensive seasons. Everything else is less of a “deal”, including 1BRs, but that doesn’t mean those options are not right for a lot of people (my family wants to do 1BRs as our primary room type!)

 

[Aussie RJ]

They’re typically about 2x the points and 1.4x the cash of studios.

Completely agree but we all look at value differently. I prefer to say a room with a kitchen, private laundry, plenty of space and walking distance to 2 parks is more than worth $300 per night. Last time I stayed at POR I paid 270ex tax. I’ve used my SSR points at VGC but geez it’s a walk to book and definitely no guarantee. However back on your point it was definitely huge value.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

best one bedroom has to go to BLT and AKV for the extra bathroom

 

[DaveNan]

Definitely Poly!

Agreed, but they are just sooooo hard to book. I have never found availability on them. It is even tougher than AKV-J-Value and Club rooms, and I have booked both of those.

 

[Skywalker3]

We only stay at 1 Bedrooms, except if we just feel we want to stay at Poly (have twice.) or adding other family members, and then we'll get a 2 bedroom. We own at BWV. Can't beat the location for us. Walking to 2 parks. However, for actual1 bedroom layout, the extra bathrooms at AKL Kidani and BLT make those 2 locations the best for the actual space. As much as I love the BWV area, I think we might have to move up to 2 bedrooms soon, since that one bathroom is just not idea. Kidani is great, love the AKL resort, but location is far out there. BLT is great for location, but amt of points per night a lot higher. We did a quick stay at OKW several years back, and those rooms were bigger, more spacious, but we personally didn't like the resort/location/bus system. We did buy where we want to stay, but we've also had very little trouble getting 1 bedrooms at other resorts, not standard views. We actually a lot harder time getting standard 2 bedrooms at BWV even at 11 months out, due to they're only having lock offs. We just did 2 trips last year at BWV, 1 bedroom, and have another one in Oct (hopefully), then Nov have AKL Kidani and SSR> been awhile since we've been to SSR. Haven't yet stayed at BRV/CCR or BCV. Good luck with the research/decision!!!

 

[Brian Noble]

Not one of us "one Bedroom lovers" have mentioned the kitchen

That’s another reason I’m not fond of the 1 and 2 BRs in the 2nd gen resorts. Shy on storage space, no ice makers in the not-full-size fridge, etc. But I can still make do in one of them.

 

[Brian Noble]

Just wanted to toss out there that the math is hardest to make work on the 1BRs, and it’s not particularly close. They’re typically about 2x the points and 1.4x the cash of studios.

True. On the other hand a DVC studio is basically a hotel room, and that’s not how we prefer to travel.

 

[bookwormde]

Not one of us "one Bedroom lovers" have mentioned the kitchen

I am sure there will be push back but I like the kitchen in OKW, it feels much more roomy and connected in the way it flows

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That’s another reason I’m not fond of the 1 and 2 BRs in the 2nd gen resorts. Shy on storage space, no ice makers in the not-full-size fridge, etc. But I can still make do in one of them.

Not positive what you're referring to as second gen resorts but VGF has ice makers. Myself I'm fine with ice trays that I fill but then I don't use much ice.