$20,000 for 11 people to go to WDW?

[KimRaye]

Can it be done? I mean, I think it can be done but, can it be done RIGHT?

My father announced his retirement plans today and, the first thing he wants to do is take us ALL to WDW!!!! On $20,000. My first reaction was, YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! HELLO RETIREMENT!!!! My 2nd was, $20,000 isn't enough. But, in rethinking, I'm sure it can be, with the help of these boards, of course! Retirement is 2 years away but, OH what a great trip for me to plan!!!

We would have 6 adults and, hopefully by then, 5 kids. There's 4 grandkids now and, another one is planned. (NOT by me!)

My family and, my nephew, have been before but, for the rest it would be FIRST-TIMERS! Ohhhh, the thought gives me chills, to share WDW with my family! My nephew's time at WDW was limited even, to only AK I think so, he'd be seeing most of WDW as a first-timer also.

That was the GOOD part of today.

 

[DocRafiki]

How long are you going for? I've never spent $1800 to go to WDW; it would be easy for me. I've never been with a large group; I would think it would be cheaper per person if you did that and got a few suites.

 

[goodstarr]

It can be done! It just depends on what accomodations you will accept. A great bargain can be had by having everyone stay together in one of those 5-6 bedroom houses.

 

[janette]

I'm planning a trip for about 20 and won't have nearly that to spend! I'd love to have that budget. I am using my DVC points and that is going to be a huge help.

A Grand Villa at one of the DVC resorts would be perfect for your crowd. Check on renting points. Or talk Dad into buying a resale so you'd have plenty of trips to plan!

You'd probably want to do some of the Magical Gathering events, they are expensive but sound like so much fun.

I'm thinking of maybe a breakfast for us since that would be the less expensive option.

Have a great time planning!

 

[mom2boys]

You didn't mention how long you plan to stay & how you plan to get there - but still, it can be done. Once you know how long you will be there, I'd start figuring admission tickets and airfare. From there you can decide on the type of lodging & dining budget. Head on over to the budget board. What a great trip to plan! Enjoy!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I think it would be pretty easy myself, unless you were planning on for like a month, LOL. Sounds like a very liberal amount. You'll have fun planning, Kim. Tell Marie about it at Gino's.

 

[KimRaye]

Wow, thanks for the replies! I thought everyone was dreaming away ham, egg salad and chocolate bunnies by now.

I don't know the duration of the trip but, I would imagine a week or less.

Oh Janette, how nice would a resale be!? Renting points is a good idea tho!

goodstarr-a 5-6 bedroom house would NOT be a bad plan either! Lots of room for 4 families!

Doc, I was thinking along those lines also.

mom2boys, I think we'd be flying. Spirit Air runs out of O'Hare and, it was very reliable when I used them for DisConII. Also quite inexpensive, considering.

Thanks again!

 

[KimRaye]

I will definately tell Marie, Dan!!! I imagine I'll only be speaking of this for the next 2 years! LOL

 

[Zarr aka Joe]

How wonderful! Wow, planning that would certainly get my creative juices flowing!

One thing you could do - depending on when you'll have access to funds - would be to buy your park tickets now (once you figure out what you want to buy)as I'm sure pass prices will go up at least once if not twice before you go!

Happy planning!

 

[janette]

Look at it this way:

7 days in an OKW villa is 501 points - $5000
Resale for 230 points - Easy to use for 7 days at OKW - $15,640.00

You'll have spent 1/3 the price of a resale, you could do it with less points depending on the timing.

I would want to stay on property with that many, I've done it with a crowd off property and not having the Disney transport system at your disposal made it harder for everyone.

 

[Brer_Papa]

Sounds do-able...and also sounds like many happy hours of planning...

and with plenty of time to do lots of comparative type "shopping"....of how to get there...where to stay.......how long you'll stay...length of hopper passes...any other Disney activities on those days you don't go to a theme park...

enjoy it all...

 

[KimRaye]

Zarr aka Joe...that is an EXCELLENT idea!!! (can't believe I didn't think of this!)

Janette, I agree, I think on-property is the way to go for first-timers! I think it adds such a HUGE thing to the whole RESORT feeling! (Wow, when you price out the way you did, I may have to have a SERIOUS talk with my Dad!)

Ummm, Bill , thanks so much! I'm already enjoying this!!

 

[MosMom]

We took 11 people to DisneyWorld and stayed in the Beach Club on $12,000 so it can be done. Have fun planning!

 

[dianeschlicht]

My first thought was, that for $20,000 you should buy into DVC and bank and borrow points for 3 years to provide your family with a Grand Villa for 12 ( in case yet another grandchild comes along), and still have DVC to enjoy EVERY year of retirement! Since we have joined DVC, our annual trips only cost us our APs every other year, plus maintainance fees. We always plan on less than $2000 a year once the the original contract is paid. I would never again spend the $5000 per trip we used to spend to stay on site!

 

[clh2]

Did you consider a Disney Cruise??? I much prefer that than the parks!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

$20,000!!!!

My gosh, I barely make that in a year!!!!!!!

 

[AspiringCindy]

That was my thought too! That way, it is like a retirement gift that keeps on giving! A legacy!!!

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
My first thought was, that for $20,000 you should buy into DVC and bank and borrow points for 3 years to provide your family with a Grand Villa for 12 ( in case yet another grandchild comes along), and still have DVC to enjoy EVERY year of retirement! Since we have joined DVC, our annual trips only cost us our APs every other year, plus maintainance fees. We always plan on less than $2000 a year once the the original contract is paid. I would never again spend the $5000 per trip we used to spend to stay on site!

 

[Pamlur]

We had a group of ten (7 adults, 3 kids) last September; spent a week at BCV and didn't spend $20,000. We had: two, 2-bedroom villas and one, 1-bedroom villa, had dinner at a sit-down restaurant every night except the last one, and spent what we wanted to in the parks. I will admit that WDW having the Fairy Tale Package helped a LOT, but even without it we wouldn't have spent $20k.

 

[Kallison]

I would look into renting points from a DVCer on the board. If the trip is two years away I would think and hope that all the particpants can put aside a little money each month too to help out with expenses. Your Dad is very generous.

 

[Robinrs]

I went to Disney 6 times last year and didn't spend that much!

I have a friend going to Disney in May. He's bringing 7 adults and 4 children, one of which is a baby. They're renting a 6 bedroom house for $189 a night that's 5 mins from Disney.

Whatever you guys do, have fun!