Grand Floridian DVC Resort Studio vs Deluxe Studio: A COMPLETE Room Comparison

[@tgvarney18]

After researching it a ton (including watching a lot of your videos) my wife and I just bought into Grand Floridian, specifically getting a favorite week at the lake view of the resort studios. We're looking forward to our first trip in November. I understand why established DVC members may miss the kitchenette, but for us its something we can live without. One thing I wanted to point out is the resort studios also have that under the bed room for storing things and it looks like a foldable stroller would probably fit under there (although I could be wrong about the size of it). Thanks for the video and your thoughts. Personally, a one bedroom vs two resort studios would depend on who I was going with and how much time I would be spending in my room with them. That 1BR dining area is really nice and a great space for playing cards or something similar in the off time, but on the other hand I've heard the murphy bed isn't quite as thick and nice as a full bed and if I was going with my parents (who could benefit from that full bed) it would definitely be tempting.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Oh wow! Congratulations! 🎉🍾 Welcome home!

[@georgemartinez9693]

Thanks for the information we are booked for 4th of July week in a resort studio standard view can’t wait to check it out. A bit bummed out that there is no microwave but we do have a few character meals those days at artist point and Cinderella’s castle. We are mostly using it as a place to crash after visiting MK. Then finishing the rest of our vacation at Beach Club.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Sounds perfect! You’ll be among the first few guests experience these rooms!

[@nicoletwisk5122]

They added microwaves now.

[@brandylmcquillen5361]

Just booked my first welcome home visit to grand Flo resort studio lagoon view. So excited. Just me and my bestie going this trip in September

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Sounds perfect, especially with the two queen beds. I did a trip with my best friend a few years ago, and it was SO MUCH FUN! I hope you have a wonderful time! 😄

[@mickeysmyspiritanimal223]

Yay! It’s Jen! I have anxiously awaited for this video and for your true opinion of the units! 😜🥳

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I’m so glad it was the info you were looking for! 👋😎

[@dianawarburton7807]

Thanks for the breakdown Jen. We had a trip planned to stay in a Savannah View Studio at Jambo House for October 30-November 4 and we changed our plans to stay at a new Grand Floridian Resort Studio standard view. We are very excited. We don't own there ( we own Polynesian, BLT and Animal Kingdom) and this will be our first stay at The Grand Floridian. I agree that most standard views will have a very nice view so the points worked for us. Maybe we will see you in Disney World sometime. We are from Rhode Island and usually visit 2-3 times a year. Your videos are very helpful and full of very useful information.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

That sounds like a wonderful trip! Be sure to let me know how you like the resort studio. Best wishes! 👋

[@katherinedeliberatefare]

Thanks, Jen! We took the plunge and bought GF today! Will keep you posted on booking hopefully tomorrow. :) We love the GF one bed villas so much - the full kitchen is amazing and the bathrooms are superb. That walk in closet is 10/10 and I know you are often concerned about where to store luggage. Pro tip - the first floor has a one bed that is a standard view yet includes partial fireworks view and partial lagoon water pageant view!!! We have only stayed at GF one bed villas and once on hotel side. Therefore, I cannot speak to the new resort rooms for your upcoming stay. I will say I am hopeful to book our upcoming trip in a new resort standard view room. The finishes look so classically fresh! - Katherine PS thanks for all of your help in informing us about DVC. Made the decision to join so much smoother.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Congratulations! Welcome home! 👏🍾

[@CarouselofDouglas]

My call is the 1 Bedroom. Kitchen plus privacy!

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I do like that separate bedroom, especially with kids. Thanks for watching!

[@ktpaladino]

This is really helpful. I didn’t realize until today that deluxe studios and resort studios were different things. I was trying to figure out the difference when I stumbled upon this video. Thank you for the thorough explanation!

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I'm so glad to help! Thank you for watching! 😎

[@lroberts689]

This video answered so many questions I had! Thank you so much for posting.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Thanks so much for that feedback! Best of luck with your DVC research.

[@angelaterranova1577]

Thx, great comparison video! Hoping to book resort studio at 7 months out for my D and I! 🤞🤞

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Availability is looking pretty good right now. Best of luck to you! 🤞

[@joe8747]

Great video!! Every question I would have, you answered.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I'm so glad that you found it to be helpful. Best wishes!

[@ginafriebel2568]

The main reason we own DVC is for the kitchen/kitchenette. I have no interest in a hotel room. If I were you, hands down keep the one bedroom!

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Hey, thanks for your input! 👍

[@levimachado]

Would you have specific recomendations of rooms for standard studios on both categories (resort and deluxe)

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

For the main DVC building, I prefer rooms facing toward the main GF building and higher floors. I haven’t stayed in the resort studios yet, but ideally more of a pool view would be ideal, I think.

[@CarbonDLS]

Great info in this video. We have booked 10 nights at a resort studio and I'm amazed to have an opportunity to stay at the Grand Floridian as our home resort is AKV. Really excited to experience it all!

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

10 nights at Grand Floridian sounds wonderful! Yes, it really is a unique opportunity to get these resort studios right now. I'm so glad you took advantage of it. Have a wonderful trip!

[@lauramiller289]

I adore the new rooms so much and would absolutely be happy to stay there. I would actually consider buying at VGF just because of those new rooms!

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

They really are pretty! 😍

[@jcbnyc2009]

TPV for our anniversary or take Poly LV. For all we know it will be hard to get down the road. Lovely rooms, but not liking the missing items.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

That should be an amazing stay! Happy Anniversary! 🍾

[@nycp1969]

Jen--This is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in the new phase of the GF. So much availability right now. I don't get it. Are people buying points but not booking? Are current owners buying more points but are already booked out for a year? What explains this surfeit of availability? I thought Disney keeps the inventory for themselves and releases it to DVC as it sells, so the availability would be commensurate with ownership. If this is sustainable, I think we're in for a new era of DVC love. And if the Poly tower is the same association and this process repeats itself, it will be a real bonanza for us all. I have a resort studio booked for early December and I am considering another for this summer. I think the resort studios are beautiful and vie with Riviera for the most beautiful. The colors are very elegant. I can't imagine why the deluxe reno is going in such a different direction. It looks like the decor that SSR used to have before its acclaimed refurb. It's...strange. I'll miss the toaster, but I think some split stays at Riv and the resort studios will be my go to experience. Very posh!

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

My understanding is that reason for the increased availability is that they just declared (released? Declared? I’m not sure the correct term) a whole bunch of these rooms into the inventory but many of the points that are associated with them have not been sold yet. This leaves rooms available without owners to book them yet. THIS is where the existing owners get to grab them! I remember the same thing happening with Riviera. Thanks for watching, as always! 👋😎

[@kevinayres6553]

Very nice breakdown of the two room types. Didn’t really take into account the space at the entrance to the room for wheelchair storage. We use a foldable electric wheelchair for our son. We booked in December, fingers crossed.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I hope you have a wonderful stay! Thanks for watching.

[@QUEENLOLATV]

Your kids are pretty lucky. I literally tried to do at least breakfast and dinner even when I'm in the studio.. it's easy to order Walmart plus and get Frozen entrees and ready-made salads. I have been as so bold as to get an electric skillet (stealth )pan and cook a whole meal. But that's what I've had like 10 days Days.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

It depends on the type of trip we're doing. If we have other people with us, we typically buy most meals. But if it's just us and our kids, we try to keep costs down by eating breakfast in the room.

[@katcrow9988]

TEAM 2 QUEEN BEDS! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Totally understandable! 👍

[@marcomigliaro2283]

Great Video! Super helpful in understanding everything around these new units! We did buy more points at GF, we were some of the first to jump on them as the price was amazing. We are super excited for these new studios at GF as it is just me and my wife and we almost always stay in a studio and as you mention not a lot of them at GF before they added these. The new room layout we love and having a second bed is nice as sometime we bring my mother-in-law and it is nice to have a true second bed. We have it book for end of October for a quick weekend trip and looking forward to finally staying in the new rooms. There are definitely plus and minuses for both rooms and location and I think it will depends on the trip and what you are looking at doing while you are these and how many people you are traveling with! but the best part will be more studios to book from, as a lot of our trips are last minute, we usually check offend and grab what we can.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Yes, I think DVC is starting to realize that a lot of members are looking for studios. Thanks so much for watching and congrats on your GF add-on!

[@DearestMina]

Does the resort studio showers have a hand held shower head??

[@duaneschwarzbauer1649]

I am staying in a resort studio right now. I have a lagoon view but no deck. I have an extra couch next to the window. I hate the beverage cooler and I like having a walk in shower. I do own points here so I will be booking at the original DVC building.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

That's really helpful feedback. I know that there are some variations in room configuration. I've seen photos of the room type that you got. Some people seem to really like it, but I've heard others complain about the view being more limited. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. Best wishes!

[@kriscunningham3251]

So there are some lagoon resort studios that have no walkout balconies?

[@ryanmeyer8061]

Jen - Thanks for all your videos! I have been on the fence about DVC, but finally decided to take the plunge. My 125 Poly resale contract just got sent to Disney for ROFR review. Wish me luck! Thanks for helping me learn about DVC. 😁 BTW, I am also a music teacher. 😁🎶

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Congrats on your contract! I'll keep my fingers crossed that it passes ROFR! That's awesome that you teach music as well. What content area/grade levels do you teach? I'm middle school band.

[@ryanmeyer8061]

@@TheMagicInTheMusic Thank you! I visited the Polynesian with my family last month, and we loved it so much. Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed! I teach high school and middle school orchestra and choir. Keeps me very busy during the year, but I’m about to start summer break. I hope you had a good school year.

[@atropos0754]

I would have to decide…, A, walk to magic kingdom. Or B, Have a kitchenette . Depends if I’m solo (choose A) Travel with friends or family (choose B)

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Excellent point. 👍

[@mikehickox9755]

Love your videos.. but one thing that’s a bit distracting is the background music. When you talking about the rooms.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Thank you for watching.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Will you be booking a resort studio or a deluxe studio in the future? Find more info about DVC here: kzbin.info/aero/PL1oGx7aOVSWonZw9QaL-JIFJt3BF6Voc0

[@roserose45]

I recently had to choose a room for our Spring 2023 stay and went the resort studio. The microwave and toaster are a deal breaker for our family for sure. Might sound like a small detail, but priceless 💰 saver for our family.

[@nicoletwisk5122]

@@roserose45 I hope you booked a Deluxe Studio not a resort studio then. But the resort studios now have a microwave.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

@@nicoletwisk5122, I heard that they were going to be added. Thanks for confirming that. 👍

[@ktpaladino]

The new resort studios make the deluxe studios look so….blah. The edge here goes to the resort studios for their amazingly fresh decor and theming, and that second queen bed! 🛏 😴

[@shellycalhoun7194]

Which do you think is better Polynesian or the grand Floridian?

[@TMRN2020]

I’m debating between this too!! We stayed at the GF Mary Poppins studio..although gorgeous 😍I think with us bringing a toddler and baby that the Poly’s room space is utilized better w/o the second bed there. If it’s just a couples thing I’d definitely do GF! We need the carpet for a soft baby space, larger fridge (the GF is just a “cooler” fridge not a mini fridge like the poly), full sink and the 2 bathrooms, table and chairs, pull down bed, easy access to Epcot monorail!

[@tanyasharadamba1264]

Do both of them have the smaller tubs?

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

They both have standard size tub/shower enclosures. The deluxe studio has a separate shower in addition to the tub/shower.

[@Icharis]

Btw that beverage cooler is not cold enough to keep things like yogurts or milk

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Yeah, I have heard that. Definitely takes away a lot of the utility of a beverage cooler. I’m not too thrilled about it.

[@SharonHarringtonFL]

My family is considering buying a DVC at the Grand Floridian. Are there any unsuspecting fees or anything that can creep up on us?

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I would say that the main things are the maintenance fees and the fact that when you have easy access to book Disney trips, you tend to spend more there (going more frequently, staying longer, etc.) For us that was a good thing because it forced us to take time off and focus on our family/friends more, but it could be a negative if your budget is tight. Other than the maintenance fees, there are no other ongoing expenses specific to a DVC contract. Thanks so much for watching. 😃

[@davyannajones]

Did they renovate suites?

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

The regular DVC rooms have had a refurbishment in the past year, but the new resort studios are in the Big Pine Key building. They were renovated from hotel rooms into new DVC resort studios.

[@TC-wx3ln]

I heard a rumour some of the bathrooms in the new resort studio do have walk in showers. Can anybody clear this up? Is that true?

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I wish I had an answer for you. I don’t think we will know until they open in a few more weeks.

[@TC-wx3ln]

Got a lagoon view booked for February. Hoping some have the walk in showers so I can at least request one.

[@kriscunningham3251]

Big dilemma which would you stay at The Resort Studios at Grand Floridian or The Riviera preferred room?

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

I would personally choose Riviera because Epcot and Hollywood Studios are our favorite parks. But if you spend more time at Magic Kingdom (as many guests do), Grand Floridian might make more sense. We usually do both - we love to do split stays!

[@kriscunningham3251]

@@TheMagicInTheMusic great advice we would only be going to magic kingdom for 2 half days for Tron and happily ever after. How would we get from the Riviera to the Magic Kingdom?

[@deblocascio9943]

The beverage coolers are NOT cold enough for a gallon of milk. The coldest it gets is 41. Dairy should be between 34 and 38. The DVC guides themselves say it can keep drinks cool but no milk because it doesn’t get cold enough. Please correct the info in the video. No one wants to risk food poisoning ever, but especially not on a Disney vacation.

[@TheMagicInTheMusic]

Thank you for the info. I can’t change a video after it’s been published BUT you’ve given good info here in the comments. That info was not shared with me when I toured the room.