Why does Grand Floridian usually have decent availability?

[disneylandtour]

The studios, particularly the resort studios in Big Pine, tend to go fairly fast.

 

[Mouseforward]

The studios, particularly the resort studios in Big Pine, tend to go fairly fast.

They correctly predicted that 2 queen rooms were lacking in the DVC inventory.

 

[Patmcpsu]

They correctly predicted that 2 queen rooms were lacking in the DVC inventory.

I agree; the "Deluxe Studios" try too hard to cram in as many features as possible. If I'm booking a room for four people, I want two proper beds - hotels have understood this for a long time. "Resort Studios" use this tried-and-true, less-is-more approach.

The 1BR stay I referenced in my original post made me come to this realization:

• Deluxe Studios are designed for 2 people, with provisions to cram in a 3rd/4th if you really want.
• 1 Bedrooms are designed for 4-5 people. And yes, I understand that Guests #3-5 are still sleeping on pull-outs.

 

[Mouseforward]

I agree; the "Deluxe Studios" try too hard to cram in as many features as possible. If I'm booking a room for four people, I want two proper beds - hotels have understood this for a long time. "Resort Studios" use this tried-and-true, less-is-more approach.

The 1BR stay I referenced in my original post made me come to this realization:

• Deluxe Studios are designed for 2 people, with provisions to cram in a 3rd/4th if you really want.
• 1 Bedrooms are designed for 4-5 people. And yes, I understand that Guests #3-5 are still sleeping on pull-outs.

Exactly , as someone who travels solo , the second queen bed just gets in the way. But I am not the target audience of DVC.

While a minority, a meaningful share of married couples also prefer two queen beds.

The issue is , DVC decided in places like BW to squeeze in a 5th to studios which has created other issues especially when the 1BR only sleeps 4.

To me only Poly, RIV pull off the 5 person Deluxe studio.

 

[PolyRob]

I was blown away by the 1BR and would make that my default room there. But as the consensus seems to be that room can be booked with SAP, which will be my strategy going forward.

It's my favorite one-bedroom even though it only has one bathroom. It's spacious and beautifully appointed.

Availability is spottier in the fall/December when the holiday decorations are in full force. Even the one-bedrooms. That's the reason I own VGF.

Part of me is tempted to buy SAP or a more budget friendly monorail resort like BLT and then try to swap to VGF in a larger accommodation in the spring, but then I think what if I end up needing MORE VGF points in the fall

 

[Blondientor]

Yeah, 1BRs at VGF are kind of the hidden gem right now. Most people burn fewer points on studios, so those vanish fast. Makes sense you found solid availability—it’s just not the “point-efficient” choice.

 

[Cyberc1978]

The studios, particularly the resort studios in Big Pine, tend to go fairly fast.

I was under the impression that the Deluxe studios went the fastest as they have the kitchenet and real fridge and the resort studios do not.

 

[muppets3d]

I was under the impression that the Deluxe studios went the fastest as they have the kitchenet and real fridge and the resort studios do not.

Both are often very spotty if not gone by the 7 month window - at least, the resort views of each. I'm not sure which goes first during the owner's priority window, my guess is probably the deluxe studios chiefly because there are fewer of them.

Having stayed in both I like the VGF building better but the BPK studios are overall better rooms.

 

[Moonspinner]

We never get into GFV

 

[Cyberc1978]

We never get into GFV

because you can't due to lack of availability or because you dont want to?

 

[Moonspinner]

because you can't due to lack of availability or because you dont want to?

Every time we look it is booked. We have stayed there before, but only once at as dvc. That time we managed to grab two nights at the new studios. I’m just saying that I get why people own there.

 

[tidefan]

Both are often very spotty if not gone by the 7 month window - at least, the resort views of each. I'm not sure which goes first during the owner's priority window, my guess is probably the deluxe studios chiefly because there are fewer of them.

Having stayed in both I like the VGF building better but the BPK studios are overall better rooms.

I am not a fan of the BPK rooms at all. They really missed an opportunity with these and unfortunately set the precedent that DVC was going to turn some of its inventory into just regular old hotel rooms. Since they are just regular old hotel rooms, it would have been nice to make some of them with King beds, like the hotel side, but they didn't do that, so now you have the extra bed in the way, which for us, makes the layout less than ideal (though I can understand if you want to shove more than 3 in a room and all you do is sleep there).

I also value the extra shower and the kitchenette in the original VGF building. IMHO, the Deluxe Studios tend to be gone way before the Resort Studios. There are less of them, however, so trying to figure out demand from the consumer side is difficult.

 

[muppets3d]

I am not a fan of the BPK rooms at all. They really missed an opportunity with these and unfortunately set the precedent that DVC was going to turn some of its inventory into just regular old hotel rooms. Since they are just regular old hotel rooms, it would have been nice to make some of them with King beds, like the hotel side, but they didn't do that, so now you have the extra bed in the way, which for us, makes the layout less than ideal (though I can understand if you want to shove more than 3 in a room and all you do is sleep there).

I also value the extra shower and the kitchenette in the original VGF building. IMHO, the Deluxe Studios tend to be gone way before the Resort Studios. There are less of them, however, so trying to figure out demand from the consumer side is difficult.

I would love a King bed in a Studio, but I guess DVC feels that more members would rather have more sleeping surfaces than they would a King bed in a deluxe studio.

Honestly if they built a tower studio with a King bed (not a murphy, a full-time bed) I think it would do very well, provided it had seating surfaces as well.

 

[Cyberc1978]

I am not a fan of the BPK rooms at all. They really missed an opportunity with these and unfortunately set the precedent that DVC was going to turn some of its inventory into just regular old hotel rooms. Since they are just regular old hotel rooms, it would have been nice to make some of them with King beds, like the hotel side, but they didn't do that, so now you have the extra bed in the way, which for us, makes the layout less than ideal (though I can understand if you want to shove more than 3 in a room and all you do is sleep there).

I also value the extra shower and the kitchenette in the original VGF building. IMHO, the Deluxe Studios tend to be gone way before the Resort Studios. There are less of them, however, so trying to figure out demand from the consumer side is difficult.

I would love a King bed in a Studio, but I guess DVC feels that more members would rather have more sleeping surfaces than they would a King bed in a deluxe studio.

Honestly if they built a tower studio with a King bed (not a murphy, a full-time bed) I think it would do very well, provided it had seating surfaces as well.

Also if they provided a king bed in some units they would most likely have to add another booking category too - just to avoid everyone asking for 2 queens or 1 king.

 

[muppets3d]

Also if they provided a king bed in some units they would most likely have to add another booking category too - just to avoid everyone asking for 2 queens or 1 king.

Sort of like at Copper Creek where some Studios have just a shower, some have a tub. They are separate booking categories even though the points are the same.

 

[VGCgroupie]

It looks booked often to me, this year it could be more open availability due to the lobby renovations. But aside from that there are many reasons some don't stay there, fancy isnt everyones cup of tea and the point chart is also high.

 

[Cyberc1978]

It looks booked often to me, this year it could be more open availability due to the lobby renovations. But aside from that there are many reasons some don't stay there, fancy isnt everyones cup of tea and the point chart is also high.

We are looking to go next December and would need the GV or 2br - my wife adores the theming and we haven’t stayed there during Christmas time. I’m more into BWV so maybe we will do a split stay.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We are looking to go next December and would need the GV or 2br - my wife adores the theming and we haven’t stayed there during Christmas time. I’m more into BWV so maybe we will do a split stay.

Since no Gingerbread house this year it could be easier to get a reservation in Dec than other years. I could be very wrong though since I have no experience booking VGF.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Since no Gingerbread house this year it could be easier to get a reservation in Dec than other years. I could be very wrong though since I have no experience booking VGF.

You might be right - personally I don’t care and if I wanted to go, a gingerbread house or not wouldn’t be impacting my decision.

 

[Moonspinner]

Since no Gingerbread house this year it could be easier to get a reservation in Dec than other years. I could be very wrong though since I have no experience booking VGF.

You might be right - personally I don’t care and if I wanted to go, a gingerbread house or not wouldn’t be impacting my decision.

I think it is probably true that many are not staying there because of construction/lack of gingerbread at Christmas, but honestly it’s probably a great year to stay there because you will have less people from outside coming to visit.