Need help planning for a large family!

[ArmyWife2002]

Okay, here's the deal! We have been to DW 2 times, but its always been just 4 of us. This time around, we have another child and are adding 2 adults (my mom and older sister) to the trip. I'm very excited about this trip, but SO stressed! I know you guys are the best at this, so here's what I need.


Which resorts offer the best value for a party of 7, in your opinion? I've tried looking at all the hotels, but we've always stayed POP and are looking for something different this time. I know our trips a little ways off, but we are trying to budget for it now. I realize the information hasn't been released by disney for 2014 yet, but based on experiences of other large groups, I though I could get an idea!

Info you need:

4 adults and 3 children
We are military
Trip is June 21-29 2014
Resort doesn't matter (value, moderate or deluxe)
Prefer to stay on property and not off property

Thanks in advance!!

 

[rpcvpanama]

What about renting points for a DVC stay. You would need a 2 bedroom but that will give you a ton of space, washer/dryer and a full kitchen. The DVC resorts are all deluxe but the point values vary depending on the resort. To maintain your best option for getting the resort you want you would need to find a member with points (or go through a service) at about 11 months out. DVC members can book their home resort starting at 11 months.

 

[ArmyWife2002]

What about renting points for a DVC stay. You would need a 2 bedroom but that will give you a ton of space, washer/dryer and a full kitchen. The DVC resorts are all deluxe but the point values vary depending on the resort. To maintain your best option for getting the resort you want you would need to find a member with points (or go through a service) at about 11 months out. DVC members can book their home resort starting at 11 months.

I'm not familiar with how the DVC points work at all. I will research that. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[SusieBea]

What about renting points for a DVC stay. You would need a 2 bedroom but that will give you a ton of space, washer/dryer and a full kitchen. The DVC resorts are all deluxe but the point values vary depending on the resort. To maintain your best option for getting the resort you want you would need to find a member with points (or go through a service) at about 11 months out. DVC members can book their home resort starting at 11 months.

This is exactly what I would suggest. (I'm not attempting to rent out my points. We use them all. ) A 2 bedroom at OKW will give you a lot of space. I understand David's Rental is very reputable. (And I have no association w/ them at all.) Good luck.

 

[lovedonald]

We like to stay in connecting value or moderate rooms. We will have 8 on our next trip and reserved value rooms. It depends on the time of year you go and what your budget is. There are lots of good options. You can also do a family suite at music or AoA and get a value room. I not sure about dvc. I have never done that. Since we have a big family I am going to look into that on future trips. I wonder if it comes out cheaper or is more expensive than connecting value or moderate rooms. We are stuck always going at the busy times since we are in the education field. The values and moderates were always accommodating to our needs.

 

[DisGirl819]

We are a military family and are traveling as a family of six this time. I would recommend using the military discount on a two bedroom villa. That is what we are doing. If its the four of us we get a one bedroom villa.

 

[ArmyWife2002]

This is exactly what I would suggest. (I'm not attempting to rent out my points. We use them all. ) A 2 bedroom at OKW will give you a lot of space. I understand David's Rental is very reputable. (And I have no association w/ them at all.) Good luck.

Thank you for the recommendation of David's Rental! I will check them out!

 

[ArmyWife2002]

We like to stay in connecting value or moderate rooms. We will have 8 on our next trip and reserved value rooms. It depends on the time of year you go and what your budget is. There are lots of good options. You can also do a family suite at music or AoA and get a value room. I not sure about dvc. I have never done that. Since we have a big family I am going to look into that on future trips. I wonder if it comes out cheaper or is more expensive than connecting value or moderate rooms. We are stuck always going at the busy times since we are in the education field. The values and moderates were always accommodating to our needs.

I thought about this as well! I'm worried we won't get the connecting rooms, though and would really like to be together. We are celebrating my husbands retirement from the Army (20 years!!!). This is definitely on my list to look t though! Thanks!

 

[ArmyWife2002]

We are a military family and are traveling as a family of six this time. I would recommend using the military discount on a two bedroom villa. That is what we are doing. If its the four of us we get a one bedroom villa.

Are the villas considered deluxe? If I'm correct that's the 40% discount? I'm going to look t them right now! Thank you for helping!

 

[gilesmt]

Your absolute best bet if you don't care which resort would be a suite at shades of green, they have three suites, I think o e is for 6 people and o e is for 8 and one is for up to 14. You did not say how young the youngest is so maybe the 6 or 8. The suites have kitchens and queen beds, and sofa beds. The price for the 6 and 8 is $250 or $275. I am sure this will be even cheaper than any resort rooms, and it may be cheaper than renting points for a family that large, because the price is it, no taxes, no resort fees, nothing added. You would have to book it as close to the year out as possible, so June 22, 2013 I would book the hotel room, you do have to pay one night upfront, but then the room will be held for you for a whole year, and if you cancel you do have to do it before the 30 day out mark to get you money back. I can say, the resort is beautiful and by next year both pools should be redone, I am told they will have a slide in the Mickey pool by next year. The resort does not have the Mickey bedspreads or the light fixtures, but I find it a very nice peaceful resort, plus how much time do you spend in your room. The kitchen have full size refrig, stoves, micros, you can order food from garden grocers and save money on snacks and breakfast if you wish. He food at evergreens near the pool is great and cheap, by Disney standards. Some say the food in the restaurants is not great, but we find breakfast is good and cheap, and dinner, is buffet, could be better but it was okay. They have buses, but for us we walk the 5 minutes over to the poly and catch the monorail there, we find the walk so easy, it was no further and I think actually shorter to walk from SoG to poly than it was to walk from the mansion at POR to the bus stop. Staying at SoG also make it easier to get the military discounted tickets, the stars and strips are great since they are length of stay and are cheap, they might have the salute tickets but won't know until sept, and if all else feels you can get discounted myw tickets, you can now preorder them and pick them up at the front desk, we just did this and it was easy and got an email that the tickets will be ready at check in on Wednesday.

With shades of green you get buses around the world, you get extra magic hours and you getto be right inside Disney. You do miss the free ride from the airport, but to us it is worth the extra $100 because we get to stop at the grocery store, and we still save a lot of money. You get to use poly monorail so you are right next to the action. You get free parking at mk main parking but you do have to pay for parking at the other parks, you get free at mk main parking only because you are behind the toll booth, so you can go and park at and take ttc if you want, we always just walk there, it takes 5 minutes.

 

[ArmyWife2002]

Your absolute best bet if you don't care which resort would be a suite at shades of green, they have three suites, I think o e is for 6 people and o e is for 8 and one is for up to 14. You did not say how young the youngest is so maybe the 6 or 8. The suites have kitchens and queen beds, and sofa beds. The price for the 6 and 8 is $250 or $275. I am sure this will be even cheaper than any resort rooms, and it may be cheaper than renting points for a family that large, because the price is it, no taxes, no resort fees, nothing added. You would have to book it as close to the year out as possible, so June 22, 2013 I would book the hotel room, you do have to pay one night upfront, but then the room will be held for you for a whole year, and if you cancel you do have to do it before the 30 day out mark to get you money back. I can say, the resort is beautiful and by next year both pools should be redone, I am told they will have a slide in the Mickey pool by next year. The resort does not have the Mickey bedspreads or the light fixtures, but I find it a very nice peaceful resort, plus how much time do you spend in your room. The kitchen have full size refrig, stoves, micros, you can order food from garden grocers and save money on snacks and breakfast if you wish. He food at evergreens near the pool is great and cheap, by Disney standards. Some say the food in the restaurants is not great, but we find breakfast is good and cheap, and dinner, is buffet, could be better but it was okay. They have buses, but for us we walk the 5 minutes over to the poly and catch the monorail there, we find the walk so easy, it was no further and I think actually shorter to walk from SoG to poly than it was to walk from the mansion at POR to the bus stop. Staying at SoG also make it easier to get the military discounted tickets, the stars and strips are great since they are length of stay and are cheap, they might have the salute tickets but won't know until sept, and if all else feels you can get discounted myw tickets, you can now preorder them and pick them up at the front desk, we just did this and it was easy and got an email that the tickets will be ready at check in on Wednesday.

Wow! I can't believe I forgot about SOG! We have never stayed there, always POP because we were a family of 4. Youngest will be 3 this time around and her first visit! (Wow, has it been3 years since I've been to my beloved second home?)

Anyway, thank you so much for reminding me of this military perk! Going to add it to my list to check out today!

Thank you everyone! You've all given me so many great options and I can't wait to see which one pans out for us! I'll be sure to let you all know!