1st trip to WDW ever! Help Me!!

[becca74]

We are taking our family and our close family friend to WDW for the 1st time!! Our kids are 12,9,5,2. So there will be 7 of us. OK here is my problem...
To stay in a WDW resort we would have too many people for 1 room that I can see, we would need 2 rooms. And the down side is no privacy! I can not find in WDW a condo type place for 7 people...looking for small kitchen and seperate bedrooms. I would love a 2 bedroom suite type thing.
Or we could stay outside of the park and rent a condo close to Disney. But I don't want to listen to a "timeshare" speal. I would need to rent a van, and would prepare most of our food.
Is the "dining" package thing really worth it if staying in park? I really have no idea what to do. Can anyone help? We are on a budget and this will probably be our only time to go. It is a miracle that we can go at all!!! Please help this overwhelmed WDW virgin w/ 4 kids!!!!!
Thanks!

 

[shellynn24]

Have you looked into renting DVC points for your stay? We have DVc and love the Villas. Let me know your dates and I could help you figure out how many points you'd be looking at and then you could try to price the rental amount of the DVC rent/trade board. The bonus is as a DVC guest you would be able to add the DDP to your reservation, which I think is a great benefit. If you would like more info, send me a PM because I ALWAYS forget what threads I have sub'd to and might not check back again

 

[pweyl36]

How about renting a house,lots of room ,pool,laundry,and you could cook what ever meals you want. And most of the time alot cheaper than staying in disney.

 

[hopesmommy]

If you stay on property, you will not need a van/car. WDW has transportation from the airport to the resorts and from the resorts to the parks. This will save on money also by not needing to pay for parking or gas.

I love the dining plan, but we only have DD that is 6. My DH and I like to sit to eat at least one meal and DD loved the characters. Since this is probaby your only trip, I would do the dining plan and schedule as many character meals as you can.

The family suites would fit your family and have a kitchenette and are at the VALUE resort (right now I can't remember if it is ASMu or ASMo). You can have a grocery store deliver items for breakfasts and snacks/drinks which will be cheaper than buying them from WDW.

Depending on the time of year, DO NOT do the park hopper tickets. During the slow season, you don't need them and it will save money. With little ones, one park is plenty anyway. My DSis took her DSs (12 and 10) and they never used the hoppers and they were there last year during spring break.

I hope this helps!

 

[dementia412]

If I'm counting right, you are only a family of six as far as Disney rooms are concerned because a child under 3 doesn't count. That means you can do the Family suite mentioned above or the Fort Wilderness cabins.

 

[Aliceacc]

At Disney, anyone 10 and over is an adult on the meal plan. So you have 4 adults, 2 kids and a freebie (under 3). The meal plan would cost you $180 per day. I think that's probably a huge bargain, since it includes a sit down meal, a fast food meal, and a snack.

It's only available if you stay on site, so consider that family suite or the Fort Wilderness Cabin. (The Family Suites are at All Star Music.)

 

[TexasTodds]

Another "bonus" for the family suites would be that you will not be charged for the extra adult in the room (not sure if Wilderness cabins does or not). I guess the biggest question is would the family friend be willing to sleep on the foldout chair in the Living room with most of your kids? I guess I am assuming the the 2 year old will sleep in a pack-n-play in the bedroom with you (or I've heard some put them in the kitchen area?), and then the family friend in the chair in the living room, with your 12 and 9 year old on the sofa and 5 year old on the ottoman?

 

[becca74]

Is there alot of room for all of us in a family suite? I just don't want all of us crammed in. Our family friend has horrible back problems..so I am not sure what to do there.
Food is the other BIG question. Do you all think it is worth it to get the dining plan too?
Would staying in the park and getting the dining plan be better than renting off site, renting a van, paying for food and parking? We hope to stay 6 nights if possible. I don't know if I want to go to the parks everyday though..thinking a day off here and there just to relax might be better.
So, I guess I will check out the family suite in the value resorts and go from there..thanks for all your help! Keep them coming...
P.S. We have never been on a airplane as a family before either! AGHHH!

 

[pweyl36]

Is there alot of room for all of us in a family suite? I just don't want all of us crammed in. Our family friend has horrible back problems..so I am not sure what to do there.
Food is the other BIG question. Do you all think it is worth it to get the dining plan too?
Would staying in the park and getting the dining plan be better than renting off site, renting a van, paying for food and parking? We hope to stay 6 nights if possible. I don't know if I want to go to the parks everyday though..thinking a day off here and there just to relax might be better.
So, I guess I will check out the family suite in the value resorts and go from there..thanks for all your help! Keep them coming...
P.S. We have never been on a airplane as a family before either! AGHHH!

In my opinion Its cheaper to stay off site,every one could get there own room. My sisters and I will be renting a 6 bdrm ,4full baths,pool and spa for $885 for 7 days and we are 5mins from disney and yes we still feel the magic.

 

[adell557]

In my opinion Its cheaper to stay off site,every one could get there own room. My sisters and I will be renting a 6 bdrm ,4full baths,pool and spa for $885 for 7 days and we are 5mins from disney and yes we still feel the magic.

The only thing here I have to say that was not convenient for us was if you need to go back to your offsite place during the day. With a little one that needs a nap during the day it is a pain in the neck to have to hop on the monorail to TTC to Car to place staying and back, you use a lot of travel time.

Also have to pay 11 dollars for parking every day.

Also, Prak hoppers are a must if you are going to dine in one park and play in another which we like to do.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Keep in mind that your rental car will not be cheap because you have to rent a large vehicle.

 

[LadyShea]

We stay at the Quality Suites Royal Park (my dad has almost unlimited free nights due to his job). They have two bedroom, 2 bath suites with a sleeper sofa in the living room, a kitchen, free shuttle service to the parks, and a free hot and cold breakfast buffet.

Works well for us. Our next trip we are 8 people.

 

[mikewdw]

we are big fans of the dining plan. it just makes the vacation easier. so does staying onsite. i know that you can get things cheaper by staying off site and cooking in your room. but is that what you go on vacation for? we have only been once with more than our family (went with me, DW, DD, and friends and their son). the advantage for dining plan is that you can get a sit down meal everyday, with little ones i would plan a character meal every sit down meal. think of your kids eating with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc. every day! also the buffet food is really good. the counter service meal is good also and could be split to stretch out the meals if your kids arent big eaters. the snack a day is also included. so each day everyone can get a Mickey ice cream, or coke, or popcorn, etc. staying onsite means using Disney transportation for everything there. also the extra magic hours gives you more time in the parks. if it is your first trip i think these features make your trip easier and more enjoyable. just weigh the costs versus the ease of staying onsite and the perks with that. i, my own opinion, would always stay onsite if any way possible, and do the dining plan.
have a great time whatever you choose.