Studioor one bedroom?

[Boardwalk_bride]

Hi All,

Second time posting in this forum in two days - wondering what your experiences are in travelling with a toddler (ours will be turning 3 on our visit) in a studio vs one bedroom? I haven't been to WDW in four years, and somehow forgot about the competitive DVC rental process, and found there are not many one bedrooms left. I can't afford rack rate for most one bedrooms, except for AoA.

I am currently deciding between:

1. 8 nights at AoA Family Suite
2. 3 nights in WL villa studio (whatever it is called) and 5 in AKL-K (1 bedroom suite)
3. Contemporary studio (booked via WDW site)

Right now I cannot imagine our toddler going to sleep in the same room as us if we are still awake. I hear they change a lot be 3, but I'm not sure I want to risk it.

Any suggestions?

 

[mrsswat]

My grandson will fall asleep ok but.......if he wakes and sees other people in the same room he wants UP No matter what time it is or if the other people are sleeping lol. If there's no one else with him and its earlier than his usual wake up time he will just chill quietly or even fall back asleep. Every child is different. And parents have to go with the flow - the child's flow usually lol. Good luck!

 

[sponica]

I would do anything with a balcony. I feel like the suite at AoA is deluxe pricing but not deluxe amenities.

When we brought my daughter at 20 months, we just stuck her in the Pack & Play and had the P&P in the sink/dressing area of POFQ, that worked then. She'll be MUCH bigger next summer (she'll be almost 4) but we're rolling the dice that she'll be zonked and as long as it's dark in the room she'll fall asleep....if discounts make a deluxe with a balcony something we can manage we'll book that. I feel the balcony would provide some separation at bedtime.

 

[wendlle]

If you can afford a 1BR then do it, if you can't then a studio will be fine.
We travel with a now 3 year old and 10 month old, we can't afford a 1BR and manage in a Studio BUT if I could afford it, I'd get that 1BR in a heartbeat.
I hate going to bed at 8pm.
In saying that the 3year old stays up late on vacation, it's the baby that can't. So your situation is a little different with just the one kiddo.

 

[SG131]

I would pick the contemporary studio I think. I think the contemporary balcony would give you enough separation and be a nice bonus. Plus it's so convenient to MK. It's been years, but one particular trip to a different amusement park, thought the toddler would be wiped but was up half the night until she was sure we were going to sleep too! But when we were camping and could relax just outside the tent that worked great. My second choice would be AOA. I definitely would not pick option 2 with a toddler. If you get there and find out you need to go back to the room for an afternoon nap or your kid is a mess, you will have one day where you are out of luck because you are switching resorts and can't get into your new room yet.

 

[marchingstar]

I would pick AoA.

My reasons:
- like you, I think my kid would not sleep if we were in the same room. Especially since there’s no way we could go to sleep at the same time (mine is younger, and he goes to sleep at 7:30)
- I personally don’t think it would work for me to use a balcony as my evening space. There’s just not much room out there, plus depending on the room you might not have a ton of privacy
- I would not do a split stay with a toddler. I love split stays without kids and I could imagine it being fun with older kids, but with a toddler I find it *much* easier to unpack and stay put
- I could see a toddler having an absolute blast at the resort, especially the main pool. And it feels like one with a kind of expiry date (it might not be as fun with older kids).

To me, traveling with a toddler means lots of time in the hotel room. It’s worth picking a resort where your whole group can be as comfortable as possible.

 

[thingwithwings]

OS was almost three when we went last time, and he wouldn't go to sleep unless everyone else in the room was asleep. If you're wanting to stay up any later than your kiddo, I'd definitely suggest AoA, just to give you a little space that's separate from him so he can crash and you can veg.

The big thing I always keep in mind is that vacation makes my kids regress a lot. They might go to bed super easy at home, might be able to sleep through a marching band storming through their room, but on vacation, they'll be bouncing off the walls until 4 a.m. and wake up if a fly sneezes two rooms over (I exaggerate... a little). Plan for how your kid sleeps when he's younger so that you won't wind up expecting more of him when you're there than he's able to give, being overtired and overexcited.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Thanks all! I'm thinking, based on a vacation we just had and wished we had two bedrooms, we will have to go with a one bedroom. When I called to rent DVC points none I wanted had any availability so I'll call back and ask for a scan of all of them, and if not, AoA will win. I have no problem staying at a value with the exception of the food (being vegetarian I want more choices) but with the skyliner up I'm hoping there is easier access to restaurants.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks all! I'm thinking, based on a vacation we just had and wished we had two bedrooms, we will have to go with a one bedroom. When I called to rent DVC points none I wanted had any availability so I'll call back and ask for a scan of all of them, and if not, AoA will win. I have no problem staying at a value with the exception of the food (being vegetarian I want more choices) but with the skyliner up I'm hoping there is easier access to restaurants.

When are you planning on going to WDW? Any time before February is going to be hard to book.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

When are you planning on going to WDW? Any time before February is going to be hard to book.

We are going in January. The company I used said AKV and WL are both free.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are going in January. The company I used said AKV and WL are both free.

Jambo or Kidani and Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek? Jambo and Copper Creek probably are gone already unless you are only going for a few nights.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Is Saratoga Springs filled? If not, I would definitely look into that. The 1BRs are cheaper than WL and AKV 1BRs. You're also a short boat, walk, or bus ride to Disney Springs which I really enjoyed as a vegetarian, plus each of the QS at the resort have a veg option (I think one is pizza and the other is a veggie burger. The options were different when we went).

AOA suited are nice and beautifully themed, but seem so expensive to me for a value resort. Not having a hot tub or a slide are deal breakers for me, but with going in Jan, it may be too cold for swimming. I think WL or AKV would be nice with a little one, but I'm not sure I'd want to deal with a split stay.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Is Saratoga Springs filled? If not, I would definitely look into that. The 1BRs are cheaper than WL and AKV 1BRs. You're also a short boat, walk, or bus ride to Disney Springs which I really enjoyed as a vegetarian, plus each of the QS at the resort have a veg option (I think one is pizza and the other is a veggie burger. The options were different when we went).

AOA suited are nice and beautifully themed, but seem so expensive to me for a value resort. Not having a hot tub or a slide are deal breakers for me, but with going in Jan, it may be too cold for swimming. I think WL or AKV would be nice with a little one, but I'm not sure I'd want to deal with a split stay.

I've given up on AoA. I stayed at Pop first time I went with hubbie (before we were married and early 20s) and it was fun but ever since we have only done a deluxe.

I wasn't considering SSR as it looks really big and paying for a preferred room makes it the same as Boulder. Is it really that huge? Keeping in mind I'll have a 2 turning 3 y/o. My husband and I are runners - so walking isn't too bad for us!

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Jambo or Kidani and Boulder Ridge or Copper Creek? Jambo and Copper Creek probably are gone already unless you are only going for a few nights.

Kidani Savanna view and Boulder are left. I need to make a decision asap! The place I use to rent from opens in 35 mins. Ahh!

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I've given up on AoA. I stayed at Pop first time I went with hubbie (before we were married and early 20s) and it was fun but ever since we have only done a deluxe.

I wasn't considering SSR as it looks really big and paying for a preferred room makes it the same as Boulder. Is it really that huge? Keeping in mind I'll have a 2 turning 3 y/o. My husband and I are runners - so walking isn't too bad for us!

We went with an almost 2 year old and a 7 yo, and stayed in a standard room in Grandstand in. It's the closest standard area to the main hub of the resort and was less than a 5 minute walk to the main QS, gift shop, resort check-in and MDE pick up , and boat ramp to Disney Springs. There is a bus stop in each section and you can take the buses to different parts of the resort if you wish. The closest bus stop was less than a 5 min walk from our room. There was also a small quiet pool with kids fountains, bar, and drink refill station. Honestly, while the resort is large, our room location was no more of a walk to anything than any other resort I've been to on property.

Staying in Paddock (another standard section) wouldn't be too bad with little ones either. It would be maybe a 10 min walk (or 2 bus stops) away from the main hub of the resort, but also has its own feature pool with slide, separate kids water play area, and quick service and drink refill station.

 

[cps17]

Studio.

Your kid will be so tired that they’ll fall asleep instantly OR do that crazy “over tired and won’t fall asleep to save their life” thing.....in either case, the room won’t matter. So save the money.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Thanks everyone. We decided to go ahead and book the one bedroom (at Kidani). DVC didn't have any studios left (where I wanted) and the 1 bedroom through points ends up being around the same price as booking a studio through WDW, even with assuming a discount.

 

[daisy2013]

I think you will like Kidani. There is a great splash area for kids (if it warm enough). I would ask for a room on the zebra trail side (close to Jambo). We had a great view of zebra and giraffes in the morning and a quick walk to the bus stop or jambo house.