would we be comfortable in a studio?

[TandCmum]

considering renting points for a studio for myself, DH and our two kids who will be 5 and 3 when we go. I know a one bed would be ideal but as we are going for 21 nights it is beyond our budget. We were considering spending our holiday at a moderate resort, so I can't see that there would be much difference, other than that we would be at a deluxe resort, and have a kitchenette so we could at least fix breakfast easily and some light snacks.

we're not going until september 2007 so i would be prepared to book 11 months before, and i'd be hoping to do a split stay between SSR and BCV.

Do most people who rent points out accept say 25% deposit upon confirmation and then the rest say 12 weeks before departure?

many thanks

Suzanne
xxx

 

[pklein09]

I think it might depend on how much time you plan on spending in the room. DH and I stayed in a studio in SSR in June (we normally stay in 2BR when our 4 kids come with us). I thought it was well appointed and a decent size. Be aware that the bed your kids will be on is a pull-out sofa. Because they're so young, I don't think this will be a problem. The refrigerator and microwave will be very convenient.

I must admit, I'm envious that you can go for 21 days!!! Have a wonderful time!!!!

 

[AJKMOM]

I think that OKW is the only place that has 2 beds in the studio. The rest are one bed and one pull out sofa.

 

[JimMIA]

You will want to stay at OKW for two reasons -- lower points than other resorts, and two beds in the studio. You'll also find the OKW studio somewhat larger than most hotel rooms.

In addition to the better accommodations, you will also get free laundry facilities...which can be important on such a long stay. The washers and dryers look like coin operated, but you just push the slide in without money. They ARE free -- you're not stealing anything!

What you will miss (or not) is daily housekeeping service. You'll get towel and trash every 4 days, but not daily service. (To me that's a very small price to pay for all the other benefits) You can request full housekeeping any day you want for an extra fee -- I believe $25 in a studio.

Have a great trip!

 

[TandCmum]

I'm not too bo0thered that the kids will have to sleep on a pull out sofa, after all if we had a one bed it would still be a sofa they slept on wouldn't it?, and if we were to stay moderate then we would only have two doubles anyway.

Is it only OKW that has free laundry, as i must admit this is a big plus for me, i spent a fortune on laundry this year, having 2 small kids and travelling form the UK meant i did laundry 5 times at a cost of $8 each time.

I wouldn';t miss the housekeeping either, can't say that is a big thing for me, i can soon make the beds and wipe round the bathroom.

Suzanne
xxx

 

[bobbiwoz]

All of the DVC resorts have free laundry for the DVC units, so that alone shouldn't "make" your decision. You provide the laundry soap/dryer sheets whatever at all of them.

At OKW and SSR the laundry rooms are close to the pools, so I think it may be more convenient when you can be swimming, enjoying yourselves as you wait for the laundry to get finished.

Bobbi

 

[DisFlan]

I think you might like an OKW studio for the larger balcony, too. It's almost like another room with a table and chairs - and a ceiling fan. The easy access to outdoors is nice for the kids, too. They can feed bread crumbs, crackers, etc. to ducks and rabbits. The playgrounds are nice, too. There are sidewalks just about everywhere, and the landscaping is lovely. With 21 days, you'll have plenty of time to explore and use all the amenities.

DisFlan

 

[berly1657]

We have been DVC'rs for 4 years and always get a studio to save on points and then make it a longer vacation or multiple vacations. (except our Vero Beach next spring we are splurging on a 1 bedroom or when we go with friends we get an OKW 2 bedroom) We have a 10 yr and 7 yr old and we have no problems with space. We are not in our rooms very much with a 10 day stay being our average stay.

Being gone for 21 days I would think you would at least want a fridge, toaster and microwave. I believe all the DVC resorts also have grills located on the grounds. The free washing machines are great!

Have you considered going a shorter period of time and then renting points for an OKW 1 bedroom? OKW 1 bedroom is a good size apartment. The master bedroom in itself would be a huge hotel room. And then you have a full size kitchen, diswasher, full size dryer and washing machine in a laundry room, located inside your apartment...

 

[paults]

would we be comfortable in a studio?

considering renting points for a studio for myself, DH and our two kids who will be 5 and 3 when we go. I know a one bed would be ideal but as we are going for 21 nights it is beyond our budget. We were considering spending our holiday at a moderate resort, so I can't see that there would be much difference, other than that we would be at a deluxe resort, and have a kitchenette so we could at least fix breakfast easily and some light snacks.

Hi Suzanne,I think you should be ok in a studio and I would split my stay just to break it up. 21 days in 1 room is a lot.
If you rent you and whoever you rent from can make your own contract.

with this breakdown : 21 nts at BCV = 312 pts (going price $ 10 a pt)=$3120
21 nts at SSR = 285 pts-----------------------------=$2850

split stay -11 nts @BCV and 10 nts SSR----------------------= $3120

With your children so young and if you go to Disney at least once a year why not think of joining DVC. With the money you would use for this trip (rental)you could put down a good deposit.
That's what we did in 2002. Would have cost us around $2000 to stay at BWI for a short trip . We decided to buy DVC at BWV and now we stay there on most of our trips. We also have stayed at SSR,VWL,OKW and in May we will be at BCV and the rooms are all ready pd for every year.

 

[TandCmum]

I would love to join DVC but we would be unable to get credit at this time, maybe in a few years. I also fear i may have to get DH to actually stay there and expereince the DVC before getting him to say yes, he doesn't part with his money easily.

I will certainly have a look at OKW, we stayed at POFQ this year and loved it, we loved the boat to DTD, where we spent a lot of our nights, we will have a rental car so getting about won't be a problem, the real draw for me to BCV is SAB. I guess we could do 9 nights in a studio at BCV and 12 nights in a 1 bed at OKW, i guess we will have to see how are savings are when we get to next summer.

Thankyou everyone for your advice

Suzanne
xxx

 

[murcor]

We prefer the studio with the pull out sofa as compared to 2 queen beds. DH and I find it more comfortable to sit around on the sofa in the day or evening as compared to the edge of the bed. The kids can fall asleep in the bed and move them over later....and if you all go to bed at the same time....my kids think its awesome to get to sleep on the sleeper sofa!

The free washer & dryer are a huge bonus. The microwave & mini fridge would be an asset to fix breakfast easily and some light snacks.....kids love to eat small portions more often.

We like the zero entry pool at SSR for our kids.

Have fun planning

Angela

 

[TandCmum]

as renters of points would we be able to get the Dining plan that has just become available?

Suzanne
xxx

 

[OurDogCisco]

considering renting points for a studio for myself, DH and our two kids who will be 5 and 3 when we go. I know a one bed would be ideal but as we are going for 21 nights it is beyond our budget. We were considering spending our holiday at a moderate resort, so I can't see that there would be much difference, other than that we would be at a deluxe resort, and have a kitchenette so we could at least fix breakfast easily and some light snacks.

The only thing I would consider is your sleeping habits. Does your 3 year old still nap or will your 3 year old be 5 by time you go? Do you all go to bed and get up at the same time?

I don't know about you but my family would kill each other if we had to spend 21 days in the same room. But I know other families don't have problems with this. So I really thinks it depends on your family as well.

 

[DisFlan]

The DVC dining plan has just been announced and it isn't fully fleshed out yet, but if you stay on points (rented or otherwise) I'd imagine you'd be able to get it.

DisFlan

 

[JimMIA]

I would love to join DVC but we would be unable to get credit at this time, maybe in a few years. I also fear i may have to get DH to actually stay there and expereince the DVC before getting him to say yes, he doesn't part with his money easily.

I will certainly have a look at OKW, we stayed at POFQ this year and loved it, we loved the boat to DTD, where we spent a lot of our nights,

Both OKW and SSR are considerably closer to DTD than POFQ, and both also have boat service. You can actually walk to DTD from both resorts, although I've heard the walk from OKW is unlit and not recommended at night.

I guess we could do 9 nights in a studio at BCV and 12 nights in a 1 bed at OKW, i guess we will have to see how are savings are when we get to next summer.

If a 1 BR at OKW doesn't hook DH, I don't know what will! Or, if the budget gets in the way, do studios at both places.

I like the idea of splitting your stay, especially since you're staying so long. Doing that would really give you almost two vacations in one, with different feels and themes.

 

[JimMIA]

as renters of points would we be able to get the Dining plan that has just become available?

Suzanne
xxx

I think we are all assuming renters would also be eligible. I don't see how it makes any difference to Disney -- anything that gets you in their F&B outlets is good for them.

However, you'd have to take a long look at the cost of the meal plan. As I understand it, you have to buy the meal plan for the entire duration of your stay for each member of your party. That's big bucks on a 21 day stay.

Another option is the DDE. You'll obviously be getting Annual Passes, and as an AP holder, you can get the DDE for $50. You only need one, because it's good for 10 people at a time, and it gives you 20% off ALL food and beverage at most Disney food outlets.

That 20%, incidentally, also applies to alcoholic beverages. None of the other food plans/discounts cover alcohol. That may not be a big deal to you, but it is to some folks.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

I couldn't imagine 21 days in a studio anywhere with 2 kids!!! I would start saving big time, do your first nights at OKW in a studio, much larger units, then switch to any of the other DVC's and do a 1 bedroom. You can call CRO and they can give you a price from them, then see what you can do renting points. Another thought, have you thought of the Cabins at the campground, they have full kitchens, just no washer or dryer, you could do the first 10 days there, then switch over to a 1 bedroom at BCV, I bet it still wouldn't be much more.

If you are considering DVC, but have bad credit, they are pretty lenient with credit. Plus if you are a member, you can purchase the AP's, which is probaly what you will need, and save close to 300-400 dollars with the DVC discount. That would put extra money in your pocket to put toward the room.

 

[TandCmum]

The only thing I would consider is your sleeping habits. Does your 3 year old still nap or will your 3 year old be 5 by time you go? Do you all go to bed and get up at the same time?

I don't know about you but my family would kill each other if we had to spend 21 days in the same room. But I know other families don't have problems with this. So I really thinks it depends on your family as well.

We weren't sure we would manage in one room when we went this year for 16 nights, but we surprisingly did, our kids were nearly 2 and nearly 4 this year, when we go again they will be almost 4 and almost 6, if the youngest needed a nap, one of us would sit in the room and the other would take the eldest to the pool or the playground, this was usually my hubby has he likes to have a nap too...LOL. The kids generally just went to bed when we did. If they hadn't have been so good i don't think we would even be considering staying in a studio again. I think i will look to having a one bed for at least part of the stay though if finances allow.

Suzanne
xxx

 

[TandCmum]

we wouldn't necessarily need AP's as we have special passes for UK guests only, we pay £175 for 21 days premium tickets with hopping and water parks (approx $300). I had an AP this year though and ad the DDE card which saved us loads.

I'm thinking we need to save a little more and try and get a one bed for some of the stay, but working it out it still works out cheaper than 21 nights in a standard room at the BC, for better accomodation.

Suzanne
xxx

 

[EricaLovesMickey]

My dh, and twin 14yr old dds stayed in a studio at SSR for 8 nights. It was not bad at all. We do spend a few evenings in the room watching movies, reading etc. but didn't open the bed until bedtime so it seemed fine. Most important...use the drawers and keep things picked up! Each person had their "space" to store things. I really don't think it will be a problem. Most "regular" vacationers stay in something the same size or smaller. We like to have enough points to allow for more trips.