Booking 1-Bedrooms vs. Studios

[ray3127]

We are relative DVC newbies but have jumped in with a few contracts since last fall. We've done a ton of research, and through dozens of spreadsheets we decided on what seemed to be a solid number of overall points. Our thought was that we would be fine in studios, though we built in some wiggle room for 1-bedrooms every now and then.

However, as we've made our first reservations, and I actually had to "spend" the points, I could not bring myself to book a 1-bedroom. It was much easier to book 1-BR's on my spreadsheet ... My logic has been "I'd rather spend 7 or 8 nights than 4 or 5 nights", or, "we can squeeze in an extra weekend trip if we don't spend the points on a 1-BR here."

My wife and I have two children--5 and 1. At this stage, I am sure we have plenty of space in a studio. I've read on here that many of you prefer 1-BRs as the kids get a little older, but I'm curious if any have felt like the larger rooms, while nice, just aren't worth it (assuming studio availability, of course).

If we decided we were "1-BR people", we would need to buy more points *someday*. We really have enough for now, but I'm always thinking about the long-term. I know the answer is to try it out and make a long-term decision after experiencing different room types. But I'm still curious how DISers have thought through this, if anybody else struggles with 'spending' their points on a larger room for the same number of people, and what their experience has taught them.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

DW likes have the in-room washer so we're a 1BR family. Happy wife, happy life.

 

[Chuck S]

I usually do a one bedroom if I'm going to OKW, even for solo trips. But because of the point cost, on the rare occasion I go to a different resort, I usually get a studio. And the older you get, the better those 1 bedrooms will look.

But those of us that purchased early in DVC generally have more points.

 

[PrincessDuck]

We have owned DVC for 12 years now and have never booked a studio. When we bought in my kids were the same age as yours and we did one bedrooms or two bedrooms if we had family (grandparents) joining us. I bought into DVC for the kitchen and the washer and dryer. Now, saying that, we do have a 2 bedroom and 2 studios booked for an upcoming trip with grandparents and sister plus family. It gives my teens a bed and everyone their own space if needed. We will still have a full kitchen and washer and dryer.

 

[gatordoc]

We’re just the two of us, no kids, and we always book 1-BRs. Renting one years ago is what really hooked us on purchasing DVC, and all our add-ons were done with that in mind. We just really love the extra space compared to a studio/regular hotel room, and like having the full kitchen and in-room washer/dryer when we need it. DVC has been a cost-effective way for us to stay in those accommodations over the years.

 

[davper]

When my wife I bought in back 2015, I knew I wanted to stay in 1-Bedrooms. I also knew that I wanted to go every other year per contract. So my contracts gave me enough points every 2 years to do just that.
I prefer the 1-br because of the kitchen and my wife goes to bed earlier than I do. I also hate watching TV in bed. I like to sit upright. The living room allows me to do just that without disturbing the wife.

The only time I don't stay in a 1-br is when I go for the food and wine festival. WE go to epcot every fay for food and I hang out there when my wife goes to bed. So a 1-br is impractical in that case.

 

[Brett Wyman]

We rent 1-bedrooms for almost all of our trip but I'd quickly switch to a studio if it meant losing 3 nights there!

We actually have a stay at VGC coming up and we got a studio this time and Im already really regretting it.

 

[bwvBound]

We actually have a stay at VGC coming up and we got a studio this time and Im already really regretting it.

Awww, totally understand! I was heartbroken last month on opening the door to our unit at Kidani and hearing my husband, "What? You booked a studio? I didn't know that. Why didn't you tell me??" Oh, my ... I let him down. Sigh.

(Yes, of course I had informed him of the Studio. This was "squeezing in another trip" and using borrowed points. We were trying to conserve. But did he hear me???? Yeah, not so much. Sigh, again.)

 

[cvjw]

More than 2 people in a studio isn’t a vacation for our family. We don’t enjoy being so cramped on vacation. We usually book a 2 bedroom for our family of 4 - we also book 2 staterooms on Disney cruises for our family

 

[cedricandsophie]

My husband and I never book less than a one bedroom even if it’s just the two of us. The extra room, the laundry room, the kitchen is way too important to us. We have plenty of points so it’s not An issue. I don’t think we have ever stayed in a studio. But when my daughter and her friend come with us on a cruise we get just one room.

 

[quandrea]

Ever since we had our first child, we book accommodation with a separate living and bedroom. I’d rather stay home if we all had to share a room. There are five of us now. We usually book one bedrooms. The kids go to bed in the living room, we spend the evening in the bedroom. I love cooking on holiday and there is nothing better than coffee and cookies (baked by me!) on our balcony. They washer and dryer let’s us travel light.

For very short stays, I’m okay in a studio if it’s just me and the kids.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

We’re a studio family. More days makes me happier.

 

[ray3127]

We’re a studio family. More days makes me happier.

I appreciate everybody's feedback, though I was starting to wonder who in the world books studios, and why 1-bedrooms are the last to book up if everybody seems to prefer them. Glad to hear from a studio family as well.

I almost mentioned cruises--we don't mind sharing one cabin, at least at their current ages. And I guess my general thought is that so far in life we've only really stayed in 'regular' hotel rooms, so maybe I don't know what we're missing? Kitchen is a non-factor, though I'm sure we would appreciate the space ... But for double the points? I'm not there yet, but it's nice to hear from those that do it routinely. Very helpful feedback, thank you.

 

[bwvBound]

And I guess my general thought is that so far in life we've only really stayed in 'regular' hotel rooms, so maybe I don't know what we're missing? Kitchen is a non-factor, though I'm sure we would appreciate the space ... But for double the points? I'm not there yet, but it's nice to hear from those that do it routinely. Very helpful feedback, thank you.

Maybe one's preference depends on their past history. If you are approaching DVC from "regular hotels" then studios are pretty much the same thing. If, however, you are coming from other timeshare ... you are more inclined to enjoy the larger units at DVC. We had other timeshare before DVC ... we wanted the 1BR for the space, the jetted tub, the kitchen and the laundry.

 

[Bing Showei]

Until you actually stay with your family in a 1BR, it’s all academic. Just like going from the spreadsheets to a real-points bookings was jarring, imagining a 1BR stay and actually spreading out after a long day at the park is just as jarring.

My advice? Stick with the studio as long as you can, if your family is happy there. Ignorance is not only bliss, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

Maybe one's preference depends on their past history. If you are approaching DVC from "regular hotels" then studios are pretty much the same thing. If, however, you are coming from other timeshare ... you are more inclined to enjoy the larger units at DVC. We had other timeshare before DVC ... we wanted the 1BR for the space, the jetted tub, the kitchen and the laundry.

This ^^

We book 2 studios / hotel rooms now that our kids are "grown". I can see us doing a 2 bedroom for awhile as once you're spending the points on 2 studios, the extra for a 2 bedroom doesn't seem so awful and we would have 3 sleeping areas vs 2. Have no interest in a 1 bedroom. We wouldn't use the kitchen or laundry and the sleeping arrangements just don't make sense for our group.

Eventually, the "kids" may get married, have kids, etc. We will want 3 studios. The grand villas will be out of our price range except maybe at OKW or in a THV.

 

[Duchie]

We're a family of 5, so we started out in 2 bedrooms (this was back before many of the 1-bedrooms slept 5). So right from the start we were spoiled by the extra space, the kitchen and laundry, and the king-sized bed in the master. But that's at OKW, our home resort, so points were never an issue. When we've branched out to try other resorts, if the 1-bedroom sleeps 5 we'll do that to save on points. Sure it's a little more cramped, but we're at Disney so somehow we don't seem to mind as much LOL.

 

[msjprincess]

We do both, depending on the length of the stay. For short stays I don't mind studios. Before we owned DVC we always stayed in one regular hotel room. So it's basically the same thing. Two summers ago we did 5 nights in a Poly studio and then 5 nights in a one bedroom at BCV. My teens all preferred the room at the Polynesian.

 

[wnielsen1]

I enjoy the availability, space, kitchen and washer/dryer of the 1 bedrooms. As Bing states above, hold out as long as you can - once you switch to 1 bedrooms, it is VERY difficult to go back to studios.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

My wife and I have two children--5 and 1. At this stage, I am sure we have plenty of space in a studio. I've read on here that many of you prefer 1-BRs as the kids get a little older, but I'm curious if any have felt like the larger rooms, while nice, just aren't worth it (assuming studio availability, of course).

We are a family of 4 with a just turned 2 year old and a 5 year old. We bought DVC bc specifically we like staying in one bedrooms with our young kids for 4 reasons:

1) Separate sleeping spaces for napping/early to bed kids
2) Full kitchen (we feed our kids a lot in the villa bc they just don't eat enough to justify buying them meals in the parks)
3) In-unit washer dryer (I never did laundry on any vacation ever until I had kids, but I find this so helpful with little ones)
4) Extra square footage bc we tend to spend more time in the villa taking breaks now that we have kids

We feel like (and we could be very wrong about this) when our kids are older we won't need the one bedroom anymore and can start staying in studios again. We figure that while separate sleeping spaces might always be nice, once our kids are a few years older, they won't be napping, so we won't NEED the separate space during the day, and we also won't neeeeed the full kitchen and washer dryer as much as we do now. My family of 4 always traveled together in one hotel room...but we didn't really start traveling until my sister and I were 7 and 4, whereas we started traveling with my own children from the time each was about three months old. Also once our kids are much older and involved in activities, there will always be the possibility of one parent taking one kid at a time, or something like that. But right now, when we are always all traveling together, and bringing the occasional grandparent or aunt/uncle, and with a lot more baggage, both literally and figuratively, the one bedrooms are ideal for families with small kids.