4 Adults,6 kids-ADVICE PLEASE!

[deegack]

Yes my count was indeed off. I counted 9 people--and availability would certainly be a huge issue this close to the date, but you never know when people get desperate to unload soon to expire points-- which is 168 points for 4 nights using a broker site calculator at 13.00 per point. But they have 10 and I don't know if the wee-est of ones count or not. If they do, then you are most certainly right because they would need 384 points for the sleeps 12 grand villa. One other thing I didn't think about was camping at the camp ground. I don't like to camp so I always forget about this. Could they maybe do that?

The youngest is three, so all kids "count" in terms of room occupancy. DVC and renting DVC points is great when you plan several months in advance, but they are not so great for the spur of the moment last minute trip which is what this is.

OP I just don't see how it can be done given the budget limitations of family number 2

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I would also look into staying in the 2 bedroom/2bath villas at Wyndham's Bonnet Creek. Read up on it on the Orlando Hotels and Attractions Board. Go to www.vacationupgrades.com and contact Ken Price to see if there is availability and what his price would be. There is a discount for reservations made less than a month out. He is a very nice man and would do whatever he could for you (we have rented with him 3 times). Are you flying? If so, you would need to get a shuttle to the resort, but BC does offer free transporation to all of the theme parks. It isn't continuous like Disney's on-site service, but it more frequent than the other off-site properties. Good luck, as other have said, $1500 for the other family just isn't realistic.

 

[cnorth]

Ok, I'll bite. If you comined your vacation $, you would have $3500 total

This place is available, can fit 10 people, and even at the highest price, is $1149 including tax http://www.vrbo.com/19736

Family 1- 4 day park hoppers for 3 adults from UT= $897.86

Family 2- military 4 day park hopper for 7 people = $966 (disclaimer- I really know very little about these since we aren't military, but it seems you can do this)

Parking $15/day x 4 days = $60

so... 1149 + 897.86 + 966 + 60 =3072.86

If you eat meals at the house and/or bring sack lunches, you could do it I think. I hope I didn't forget anything, but if I did, I'm sure someone could point it out. Hope it works out for you.

 

[arihillfarm]

And yes, we're going to help them out.

Family 2 is military---is there a discount available?

If you can adjust your trip by one day (because there's no availability at SOG on the 17th), book two rooms at Shades of Green. Each room is the same size as a Disney Deluxe resort room and has a sleeper sofa. Each room also sleeps 5, so if you can take in two of their kids on the sleeper sofa, that saves you both a lot of money. Have your friend make 2 reservations at Shades of Green; one for May 18 & 19 at regular price and another for May 20 & 21 to get the spring room special which includes one meal per day for one kid per adult in the room, so 4 of the 6 kids would eat one meal free those two days.

Alternatively, the AFVC is having their $299 sale right now which gets you a week in a timeshare condo for $338 with taxes. I checked and there are still a couple 2 bedrooms available and many 1 bedrooms (which your family of 3 would fit in perfectly) over your dates. You don't have to stay the whole time and your friend can book more than one condo at this military rate. This might work if you can adjust the dates by a day or two one way or the other to fit within the check-in/out dates. www.afvclub.com

Military tickets are $138 for 4 day hoppers; buy them at SOG to avoid paying tax, which is $107 on 6 tickets. They will only be able to buy 6 at one time, BUT if you are helping each other out, use their 6 military tickets for the adults and two kids older than 9 and buy the tickets that you'll pay gate price for, for the remaining Disney adults (those over 9) and the under 9 kids, saving you a few bucks. Just because the military tickets have park hopping, doesn't mean the other 4 tickets you buy need to be hoppers unless you plan to park hop. Not buying the hopping option on the other 4 tickets will save you another $220 or so.

Here's what I'm coming up with if you pool your money:

SOG 4 nights, 2 rooms- $888
6 Military tix- $828
1 adult, 3 child 4 day base tix- $935
4 days parking x 2 cars- $120
$2771

OR
Swap SOG for two condos through the AFVC and your total drops to $2559 and you'd have full kitchens each to prepare meals, a big money saver! That leaves $25 a day per person for food. Very doable with some of those being kids, especially if you only eat one CS meal a day in the parks and pack the rest. Fix a big (and cheap!) big breakfast in the condo before hitting the parks.

Good luck! It can be done. My budget for this upcoming trip is just under $2000 for 7 nights for 2 adults, one child and an infant and includes everything; 4 day military tickets, 2 bed. condo (Wyndham Cypress Palms for $338-AFVC), 2500 miles worth of gas in my 15 mpg SUV, all meals including one CS a day and two TS meals for the week, parking, groceries, meals on the drive down and back and even includes the $200 I'll pay someone to farm-sit while we're gone.

-Astrid

 

[java]

One outside of the box choice- there is someone on the camping forum that rents an RV at Fort Wilderness. It looked very nice to me when we were thinking of doing a cheap quick trip. It was very reasonable and onsite. You couldn't all fit in there - but that rv plus a cabin would be very inexpensive.

 

[Jedana]

Are you from Florida? You didn't include travel, which is why I'm asking.

They have the Wild for 3 pass for FL residents. $99 for 3 days, plus add the 4th for $30. You can buy them until 5/21, have to be used by 5/24. No park hopper, but you can add the park hopper option for about $30 more

 

[scrapquitler]

Ok, I'll bite. If you comined your vacation $, you would have $3500 total

This place is available, can fit 10 people, and even at the highest price, is $1149 including tax http://www.vrbo.com/19736

Family 1- 4 day park hoppers for 3 adults from UT= $897.86

Family 2- military 4 day park hopper for 7 people = $966 (disclaimer- I really know very little about these since we aren't military, but it seems you can do this)

Parking $15/day x 4 days = $60

so... 1149 + 897.86 + 966 + 60 =3072.86

If you eat meals at the house and/or bring sack lunches, you could do it I think. I hope I didn't forget anything, but if I did, I'm sure someone could point it out. Hope it works out for you.

You need to add more money for parking. I'm fairly certain 10 people aren't fitting in one vehicle (though I suppose it's possible that the family of 6 owns a 15 passenger vehicle).

 

[cnorth]

You need to add more money for parking. I'm fairly certain 10 people aren't fitting in one vehicle (though I suppose it's possible that the family of 6 owns a 15 passenger vehicle).

You're right. Thank you! That's why I shouldn't try to figure these things out when I've been up for 20 hours!

That would bring the total to $3132.86. Still doable. I don't know about your travel costs, but if you eat at the rental house groceries should be about what they would be at home, so that shouldn't count

 

[gillenkl]

One outside of the box choice- there is someone on the camping forum that rents an RV at Fort Wilderness. It looked very nice to me when we were thinking of doing a cheap quick trip. It was very reasonable and onsite. You couldn't all fit in there - but that rv plus a cabin would be very inexpensive.

It's www.campatthefort.com and they do have a unit that sleeps 9; $135 a night. They setup the site for you and provide some supplies.

 

[Donnainnj]

It's www.campatthefort.com and they do have a unit that sleeps 9; $135 a night. They setup the site for you and provide some supplies.

Just an FYI Looks like that $135 does not include the WDW fee for the site... I am not sure how much that would add on per night. (wow just looked and I think it is about $89 per night can that be right?)
Donna

 

[starry_solo]

How about Wyndham Bonnet Creek 3 bd deluxe villa - doesn't that sleep 10 people? You're "on property" but you'd have to pay for parking if you plan to drive - if you get 2 of the tickets from AAA, do you get free parking?

 

[Marionnette]

It's www.campatthefort.com and they do have a unit that sleeps 9; $135 a night. They setup the site for you and provide some supplies.

It appears that particular RV is unavailable for the OP's entire stay. The other units are too small for both families. Perhaps tent camping is an adventurous option? The campground allows up to 10 people on a campsite and the tent sites are only $67-$70 per night. Not sure if you can erect more than one tent on a campsite, though.

 

[gillenkl]

Just an FYI Looks like that $135 does not include the WDW fee for the site... I am not sure how much that would add on per night. (wow just looked and I think it is about $89 per night can that be right?)
Donna

Correct, you would need a fullhookup campsite. Yes, if OP is going this month it's $86 for weekday and $89 a day on the weekend.

So 5/17 - 5/23 you're looking at around $587 for the site and $810 for the rental unit plus tax $61 -- total $1457 to sleep 9-10 people.

 

[dclfun]

Great idea..they could *possibly find a last minute deal with an owner trying to fill an empty house for the week.

Renting DVC is very different than renting a house. Someone with points to spare will likely have sold them a week prior to a stay or will not be able to find availability. The second family needs a larger villa which will cost more points than their budget will allow. Someone with a home to rent who hasn't got a renter might be able to book them though at a good price and accommodate everyone.

 

[Bricket]

oh my goodness @ all these super informative replies! Thank you so much!! I really appreciate all of you chiming in.

Well, turns out you're right, Family 2 just can't afford this trip, so they've bailed. Now it's just me, DH and our son.

We just had a baby and are feeling the need to take our son somewhere special (without the baby) for his birthday and what better place than Disney? I wish we could stay longer, but I do not have the time off at work to stay longer. We are not telling him what we are doing or where we are going. We are driving. We are going to "stretch the truth" a bit and tell him we are dropping his baby sister off with Nanna and then taking him clothes shopping (which he LOATHES)---we're going to give him a pillow and blanket and tell him to go to sleep. And hopefully when he wakes up, he'll be seeing palm trees! Yay, so excited!!


So now my question changes a bit (so sorry to be so much trouble)---do you think it's possible for us to swing a Pirate Room at Carribbean Beach Resort?

 

[Marionnette]

oh my goodness @ all these super informative replies! Thank you so much!! I really appreciate all of you chiming in.

Well, turns out you're right, Family 2 just can't afford this trip, so they've bailed. Now it's just me, DH and our son.

We just had a baby and are feeling the need to take our son somewhere special (without the baby) for his birthday and what better place than Disney? I wish we could stay longer, but I do not have the time off at work to stay longer. We are not telling him what we are doing or where we are going. We are driving. We are going to "stretch the truth" a bit and tell him we are dropping his baby sister off with Nanna and then taking him clothes shopping (which he LOATHES)---we're going to give him a pillow and blanket and tell him to go to sleep. And hopefully when he wakes up, he'll be seeing palm trees! Yay, so excited!!


So now my question changes a bit (so sorry to be so much trouble)---do you think it's possible for us to swing a Pirate Room at Carribbean Beach Resort?

Standard view Pirate rooms are available for your dates. Undiscounted price would be $855 according to the Disney World website. There might be AAA or AP discounts for those rooms but $855 is the maximum you would pay for the 3 of you.

Then add tickets. Three adult 5-day MYW base tickets from Undercover tourist, with Express 2-day delivery would run about $775 if you go thru the Mousesavers newsletter link. Tickets with fewer days cost the same and they just give you a "free" day. Don't even consider hopping or the WPF&M option.

That would leave you with $370 for gas, food and souvenirs. It's not a lot but it is doable if you're not driving too far. Pack a cooler to bring some foods with you and limit yourselves to counter-service meals. Just one table-service meal onsite would put a big hole in that budget.

 

[MomtoGKC]

I would go straight to Vacation Upgrades and contact Ken to see if there is availabilty at Bonnet Creek. http://vacationupgrades.com/pricing.html

You could get a 1 bedroom (DS sleep on pull out couch) for $475 for 4 nights or a 2 bedroom (you all have your own space - parents get to hang out and relax after DS goes to bed!!) for $555 for the 4 nights. Check out the Bonnet Creek thread on the Orlando board, it is so nice and I'm sure your son would love it. 5 pools, multiple water slides, ping pong, miniature golf... You would have a full kitchen so you could make dinners or breakfast in the room if you want, but it is so much cheaper than other hotels you will have money left in your budget to eat in the parks too.

Bonnet Creek thread with pictures:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2739937


Hotel - $555
Tickets - $775 (could be less if you get 4 days and hang out at the hotel one day)
Parking - $60

TOTAL - $1390 - tons of money left over for food & fun!

 

[momto2inKC]

Renting DVC is very different than renting a house. Someone with points to spare will likely have sold them a week prior to a stay or will not be able to find availability. The second family needs a larger villa which will cost more points than their budget will allow. Someone with a home to rent who hasn't got a renter might be able to book them though at a good price and accommodate everyone.

I know, which is why I said they might find an owner with a house they need to fill. Not DVC

 

[momto2inKC]

So now my question changes a bit (so sorry to be so much trouble)---do you think it's possible for us to swing a Pirate Room at Carribbean Beach Resort?

If you go to www.waltdisneyworld.com you can price it out and see what the different resorts/tickets would cost you

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Ticket prices for Family #2

1 Day Base for each person (including tax) $615

3 Day base for each person (including tax) $1,672

If military, since service member has six dependents they are eligible to purchase and activate seven tickets, so the cost would be $966 for the four-day hopper if purchased on a base or at Shades of Green, or $1,029 including tax if purchased at a ticket window.

And these are the costs for the tickets only.

They would still need two rooms, as well as food, transportation, souvenirs, etc.