Planning a trip for 24-36 looking into staying offsite

BelleandMeridaoftheball · Jun 28, 2016

I want to know what would be the best way of going about this. We can do three six bedrooms or one 10 bedroom and one 8 bedroom. Also reunion, Bonnet creek or Emerald island?

Gr8t Fan · Jun 28, 2016

BelleandMeridaoftheball said:
I want to know what would be the best way of going about this. We can do three six bedrooms or one 10 bedroom and one 8 bedroom. Also reunion, Bonnet creek or Emerald island?

Bonnet Creek would be my choice because of its proximity to the parks, but the largest units they have are 4 bedrooms. Are you going to the Disney parks during your visit?

BelleandMeridaoftheball · Jun 28, 2016

We're going to Disney and Universal. 10 days at Disney 3 at universal.

writerguyfl · Jun 28, 2016

It might be more work than you want, but most hotels consider groups to be 10 rooms or more. If you want a more traditional hotel (with on-site restaurants and daily housekeeping), you could look into a group room block. For that, call an individual hotel during normal business hours and ask for the Sales Department. Be sure to check their rates for your dates using their website. They should be able to beat that price if you are looking for 10-20 guest rooms for your length-of-stay.

Alternately, you can go to one of the major hotel groups website and visit the groups/meetings area. Most sites will allow you to create a RFP (request for proposal). You enter your basic information and the site will either give you a price or allow you to submit your request. The proposal gets sent to local hotels who will contact you with prices. A block of 10-20 rooms for a stay of 13-14 nights is a desirable booking for most hotels. So, you'll probably get several offers.

Keep in mind: Submitting a RFP means that the sales people from these hotels will contact you. If you don't want a bunch of emails/calls, do not submit the RFP.

Links to groups/meetings pages:

Hilton Hotels (Hilton, DoubleTree, Hampton Inn, plus others): http://www3.hilton.com/en/events/meetings/checkavailability.html
Marriott Hotels (Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, plus others): http://www.marriott.com/meeting-event-hotels/meeting-planning.mi
InterContinental (InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, plus others): https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/global/support/meetings#scmisc=nav_meetings_6c
Starwood Hotels (Westin, Sheraton, Four Points, plus others): http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefe...spgpro&categoryId=brand.mp.overview#InnerPage

BelleandMeridaoftheball · Jun 28, 2016

Thank you.

Ashley Martin · Jun 28, 2016

http://www.wdwgoodneighborhotels.com/

I would check this out too.. Good neighbor hotels are hotels not owned by Disney or on Disney property but come recommended and can be worked into a Disney Vacation package and offer transportation to and from the parks (so you dont need a rental)

sympatico · Jun 29, 2016

There's a new section to Reunion called Encore Club. They have up to 11 br homes. They have a nice new waterpark for only the guests staying at Encore. It's on the north end of Reunion closer to Windsor Hills.

glassslippergirl · Jun 29, 2016

Have you thought about getting a good travel agent to coordinate a group like that?

BelleandMeridaoftheball · Jun 29, 2016

I have .

glassslippergirl · Jun 29, 2016

You have thought about it, or you already have one? I just couldn't imagine coordinating a trip for that many myself. I think at least contacting a few couldn't hurt, maybe some experienced with coordinating corporate or school groups. Theoretically, they would have the expertise to find you the best housing situation at the best rate. You're going to be in whatever place you choose for two weeks, so you want it to be the right fit for your group. Otherwise, believe me, YOU'LL hear about it. I think Dis is at least in part sponsored by a travel company-- maybe someone here could help you with a referral if you're interested.

BelleandMeridaoftheball · Jun 29, 2016

I have thought about it. Need to find a good one.

spiceycat · Jul 1, 2016

would consider the group rate for a Disney hotel - taking that many people back and forth to the parks - will be a BIG problem otherwise.
On one of my trips a little boy got lost from his group and was taken to the city hall where he waited for someone to get him. So if you go with offsite make sure you go with the buddy system and have each child with 2 buddies (at least).

BelleandMeridaoftheball · Jul 1, 2016

No children. If we do have one it will be a baby and in a stroller most of the time.

brownhaired_girl · Jul 18, 2016

It looks like you are looking at a total of 18 bedrooms. I would definitely look at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. It's close so if some want to go back to rooms Uber is easy or the shuttle is an option. Transportation is huge for such a large group to allow independence. There are large grilling/picnic areas available for evening get togethers. It is nice to share some meals together or take turns cooking.

PlutoPony · Jul 20, 2016

Agree with spiceycat - transportation to and from parks could be a bigger deal than actually finding accommodations. If people are OK driving and piling into rental cars - like 6-10 of them - you should be ok, just make sure your accommodations have adequate parking for a good number of vehicles. But staying on-site at both WDW and Universal could save you a lot of hassle (and cost) with transportation to and from parks. You could contract with Mears for a bus to move the group from Universal to Disney hotels (or vice versa) and to or from the airport to Universal hotels. Use Disney's Magical Express (free) to move between the airport and the WDW resorts. My guess is Mears is probably a good value for transfer between Universal and Disney resorts and Universal and the airport, but may well be cost prohibitive for daily transport for a group of this size going to and from off site accommodations and the parks.

happymommy · Jul 20, 2016

Yes, I agree that transportation with that large of a group may make staying at even a value resort much more appealing. You would have airport transportation, and all the transportation for the Disney portion covered. I would call Disney and see if you can get a group rate, or check with a GOOD Disney travel agent.

You could do Uber rides to and from Universal, or move to one of the Universal area hotels that provide free shuttles for that portion of the trip then. They have "good neighbor" type hotels for Universal that offer room and ticket packages with shuttles, so moving to one may make sense for that portion of the vacation.

With a group that large, it honestly makes sense to stay on site if possible.

Not sure how your sleeping arrangements are going to be, like one couple per room if you went the hotel route? Also do you have everyone's budget?

spiceycat · Jul 20, 2016

swan and dolphin are not on site - but have some nice rates at times

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-resorts/swan-dolphin/

their is a sales agency person with the Dis - I think it is still Dreams unlimited?

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/reservations/index.htm

brownhaired_girl · Jul 22, 2016

I may have gotten very spoiled with the timeshares, but I can't imagine spending 2 weeks at a value resort without a kitchen, washer/dryer and nicer pool environment than the value resorts have to offer.

greenclan67 · Jul 23, 2016

We really like Orange Lake resort. You can get 2 & 3 bdrm units. But the nice thing about the 2 bdrms if you book through an Elite owner, you can get everyone in a row with the backyards all connecting or in a cul de sac with all of them together. They sleep 6 in beds and 2 on fold out.

Planning a trip for 24-36 looking into staying offsite

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