I'd hop on yourfirstvisit.com and check out the floor plans and photo tours for each (small versions here):
We stayed in a Poly studio a couple of years ago (and LOVED it). The main differences as I remember them are:
1 -
Fold-out sofa vs. second queen bed: Since we're a family of four and the kids were just a little too big to enjoy the Murphy bed in the DVC studio, two of us had to sleep on the fold-out. It wasn't bad as fold-outs go, but a bed is always better in my opinion. This was the only downside of a studio for us. We were impressed to find, however, that even with the sofa unfolded, there was ample room to walk around it -- this is rarely the case with DVC studios at other resorts. In fact, even if you use both the Murphy bed and fold-out sofa at the same time, there's plenty of room to walk between everything.
2 -
1.75 baths vs. 1 bath: The second bathroom in the Poly studio (with a fancy oversized shower and sink) was a huge plus for us, since we were all getting ready at the same time every morning and our teen-ish kids are starting to value their privacy. In a standard room, you'd still get double sinks in the bathroom, however, with sufficient elbow room for multiple people to get ready at the same time.
3 -
Kitchenette vs. coffeemaker and fridge only: We eat breakfast in the room every morning, so we use the heck out of the studio kitchenette, which offers a fridge, drip coffeemaker, microwave, toaster, extra sink, additional dishes, and a small amount of prep space. In a standard room, you'll have a small coffeemaker and mini-fridge only.
4 -
Furniture differences: In a studio, you have the sofa (unless folded out), 2 comfy chairs, a round dining/work table, and a coffee table with storage inside. In a standard room, you've got the daybed, one comfy chair, and a desk/chair. If you're looking for clothing storage, you'll have a dresser and closet in a standard room, and in a studio, you'll have the closet, a drawer under the bed, and the trunk-style coffee table (or, if you live out of packing cubes as we do, there's tons of space under the vanities in each of the two studio bathrooms where clothing can be stored, as well). Whether one of these configurations works better for you than the other depends on your packing style, and how you intend to use the room.
5 -
Balcony/Patio: DH and I like to sit outside to enjoy our morning coffee, and with a studio, you have a guaranteed balcony or patio. We absolutely loved ours: we had a standard view, but our room overlooked some beautiful greenery and a scenic walking path. A balcony is still a possibility with a standard room, however -- if you're assigned a room without one, you can always ask the CM at check-in if one is available.
*Note: since you say the price is similar for both, OP, I assume you'd be paying cash if you went with a DVC studio. If, however, you were staying there on points (whether owned or rented), another difference would be that you wouldn't get daily housekeeping, just trash-and-towel service (unless you paid extra, in which case you can get daily housekeeping even on points). This doesn't really impact my family as we pick up after ourselves pretty well and don't mind [sloppily] making our own beds, but to some families, the lack of regular housekeeping is a downside to staying in a DVC studio on points.
Also, note that standard rooms are generally 50 SF smaller than the studios, although the sleeping area is, I think, slightly larger in a standard room (the extra footage in the studio being absorbed - and then some - by the extra bathroom space).
