Yikes! How does anyone stay in a studio long term?

[pmaurer74]

there are 4 of us and we are fine with studios, however we are staying in a 2 bedroom in December and that may be the end of the studios... we will see.

 

[CarolynFH]

People all over property are staying in one room. You guys are spoiled lol

We bought DVC so we COULD be spoiled!

 

[Mage of Disney]

My mom got us a studio because it's what she could get with her points. It's her and her two teenage daughters (aka her, my older sister, and me). Luckily, we'll all be adults by then, so we won't always be crammed in the studio.

Best advice? Grin and bear it.

 

[edk35]

It depends upon the resort. OKW studios are quit roomy and have 2 real queen size beds.
.

We like the OKW Studios for that very reason. 4 in a studio is horrible for teens/young 20's. We book 2 studios now if our adult kids go.

 

[Minniesgal]

People all over property are staying in one room. You guys are spoiled lol

Not having to share 1 room is the whole point of buying DVC

 

[Kaigler]

Not having to share 1 room is the whole point of buying DVC

That's not the whole point for us. I guess that's the nice thing about DVC. It allows you the space if you feel you need it.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

For my family, a room is a place to sleep, shower and various other "s" activities (shaving and shoe shining ;-)).

Given the cost for us to fly to California or Florida, we're more than happy to have more time in a smaller room, rather than less time in a larger room. That being said, there's only three of us and our daughter is 12, so space isn't a huge issue, and neither is a sofabed. If we didn't have DVC, we'd be in a standard hotel room anyway, so we certainly don't feel like we're sacrificing anything.

 

[happymommy]

This thread was interesting to me! We're owners at the Marriott Ko Olina (right next to Aulani), and usually use our two bedroom villa for two weeks every other summer. Last trip, I said as we were leaving that it's so far (we come from Maryland) that I want to do the lock-off where we can split up the villa. Just this week I booked for next year mid June to mid July. First two weeks, just my DD and I will go over and have the studio. Then the boys will come over and we'll have the one bedroom (luckily they provide free rollaway beds, and the one bedroom has a separate sitting room that fits the rollaway - we've done this every trip).

While I'm excited to have four weeks on Oahu, my DD and I plan on making dinner most nights. We have gas grills to use, so can make stuff grilled and salads, sandwiches, and other easy stuff. It's just so much more relaxing than eating out every day. We know a lot of good local places to do carry-out as well. At Disney, I don't cook much (last trip I ordered so much from Garden Grocer that a lot was a waste, since at Disney we'd rather be out and about, BTW we were in a one bedroom at AKV Kidani). At the beach, though, we're so much more relaxed and some days won't leave the resort at all (there is so much in the way of activities at the MKO).

I know more than the two of us would get cramped, plus my DH works while we're there so would need a space to use his computer other than the balcony sometimes. But for just us two, we can share the king bed and have the sitting area still to relax and watch movies (MKO has free movie rentals which is nice).

 

[Dream big]

I find this thread very interesting. This summer will be our second trip to Disney with children. We are a family of 5 (kids ages 5,6&7). I have found it VERY frustrating that the hotel rooms can not accommodate 5. Last summer we stayed at AK and it only worked because my in laws came so we booked one kid in their room. We had no issue with all three kids sleeping in the bed together. This year we are staying at POR because it's one of the few hotels that allow 5. We just bought our first DVC contract so that we have more options that sleep 5 in upcoming years. When the kids are little, a studio will be great. As they get older I am excited for the option to have separate rooms.

 

[gracelrm]

So how are the studios at Kidani? Are they about the average size of most other studios? We have a 2BR and 3 studios booked at Kidani. The original plan was for 2 2BR units for all of us, but we changed so each family would have a little more privacy, however, after reading this thread, I worry that the families with four might be crammed in to their rooms.

 

[TinkFan74]

This summer my teen daughter, her three friends, and myself will be staying in a BWV studio for 12 nights. I know it will be tight, but I would rather go for a longer period of time and stay in a villa rather than cut our length of stay in half to stay in a 1 bedroom. I would love to buy more points, but I am a single mother who is about to put my daughter through university, so my priorities at this time do not involve purchasing more points. I think their are a lot of families like mine who can justify buying enough points to get a studio, but bigger suites are financially out of reach; I think DVC added the small Murphy bed in the studios to accommodate families like this.

 

[nolanboys]

We just got back from 2 nights at the Poly in connecting studios followed by 7 nights in a 2 bdrm at BWV. Our four boys stayed in one room. I noticed some serious design flaws when you have that many people. There is just too much furniture. Between the extra chairs, couch cushions, coffee table, and the pull down bed, which my youngest loved, there was literally no room to walk or access the patio door. I think the studios are fabulous for 2 people, and maybe 3, but I found them too small for 4 or more. That may also be due to the fact that I have 4 teenage boys who are slobs and don't want to put the bed away because they like an afternoon nap

 

[Deb & Bill]

Welp, looks like we're the crazy ones! We're doing 3 nights in a DVC Poly studio and there's 3 adults and 2 kids.. Plan is two adults in the regular bed, one adult with the smallest kid on the sofa bed, and one kid on the hidden bed thing. My husband and I served in the military and can literally sleep in any condition.. But this thread has me thinking maybe we should rent some more points to get an adjoining room for the others. We won't be in the room much and we're pretty great at organizing, so I think we'll be fine. But next trip will be off season in a 1 bedroom somewhere else. I'll look into renting points if anyone has any points available in July

What are you considering as off season?

 

[DisneyEater]

When it's just the 4 of us, we pretty much always stay in a studio. I'd rather use the extra points for another trip or rent them out to help pay for the trip.

 

[Tiki Sean]

When it's just the 4 of us, we pretty much always stay in a studio. I'd rather use the extra points for another trip or rent them out to help pay for the trip.

That is exactly my thinking as well. My wife would much prefer more space and I don't blame her one bit. It is nice having a 1 bedroom.

 

[HannaBelle]

Even traveling as "a couple" we tend to book a 1BR over a studio. I really like having the living room (I'm a morning bird; DH is a night owl), the full kitchen, etc. Extra space makes for a much more pleasant time together!

This is us. I am up a couple of hours before him and he is up a couple of hours after I have passed out. We are spoiled by DVC/timeshare and it is not nearly as nice as having a bedroom or 2 when traveling with the "kids" mine are 23 & 18.

 

[Laderer]

What are you considering as off season?

From looking at the DVC points calendar, I assumed off season was the same as "Adventure Season". Jan 1—31 Sep 1—30 Dec 1—14 all have the lowest points. Perhaps I shouldn't have said off season?

 

[Minniesgal]

From looking at the DVC points calendar, I assumed off season was the same as "Adventure Season". Jan 1—31 Sep 1—30 Dec 1—14 all have the lowest points. Perhaps I shouldn't have said off season?

Not a low season, early December, September and early January are all peak times for DVC

 

[Deb & Bill]

The first week of Dec is the hardest time of the year to book at seven months out. You need to book your home resort at 11 months out and try to change it at seven months out. Low point requirements usually mean hopping times for DVC, book your stay and use fewer points.

 

[Laderer]

Just got back from an AMAZING trip! The DVC studios are absolutely stunning and perfect. There were 5 of us and we had plenty of room. The two bathrooms were possibly the best feature. Our room looked out over the Oasis pool and I'm definitely going to miss that. My husband and I slept on the pullout sofa which was surprisingly comfortable! The mattress is nice and thick and squishy, no metal springs or anything! Also plenty of space to put bags. I wouldn't change a thing, im so happy it's our home resort! I'm still on my Disney high if you can't tell LOL