6 adults, 4 children ... accommodation suggestions?

[PhilipC]

Hi

I'm planning ahead (a few years!) to a big family holiday, which will be the first one with our grandchildren involved. It isn't quite clear when we'll be going yet but the grandchildren will be in one of the following age groups:

• 9 and 7
• 10 and 8
• 11 and 9

So, the party will be 2 grandparents then two sets of (2 x parents, 1 x son, 1 x daughter) with the son being the older child in both families.

Previously, it has been the six adults on holiday together and we've had a hotel room each. I'm trying to think about the best accommodation options that would incorporate the grandchildren and work best for the group for a space/bed allocation perspective and also a cost perspective. At the moment, I haven't set a budget so I'm open to all suggestions and I may then start to constrain the options based on what I think we can afford.

So … suites, villas, rooms with beds … I'm open to everything. We are *not* DVC Members, but it is my understanding that the general public can book DVC properties? I'm asking that because I'm wondering if the DVC properties (which seem to tend to accommodate families better than hotel rooms) might be a better choice. What would the downsides be?

If you've organised a similar holiday, I'd be particularly interested to hear what accommodations you picked and how it worked for you. I'm not sure how well the son and daughter would get on if they had to share a bed … although the first time my wife & I went to Orlando with her sons, we split them up - one slept with me and one slept with her - but I'm not sure if the "new" parents would want to do that … so rooms with three beds might be better than rooms with two beds, if the children don't want to share.

Thank you for your help.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

The easy answer is 3 hotel rooms in any of the onsite hotels. You could request adjoining or connecting rooms, but of course that's not a guarantee.
I'm not familiar with suites, villas, etc. I'm sure someone else will chime in on those.

Would you consider offsite? If so, my suggestion would be Windsor Hills. You can rent a 6 bedroom house with private pool for about $2000/week. That way the whole family could stay together (if that's something you want).

 

[mbgrace]

I would definitely do one room per family, for a total of three rooms. The bunk bed rooms at Wilderness Lodge come to mind first as a possible way for each child to have their own “bed”.

Also, any moderate or deluxe room that sleeps 5 should allow each child to have his/her own bed, although one would be a daybed or pull down bed.

 

[PhilipC]

Would you consider offsite? If so, my suggestion would be Windsor Hills. You can rent a 6 bedroom house with private pool for about $2000/week. That way the whole family could stay together (if that's something you want).

Thanks for that suggestion. I'll certainly factor that in … it would need to be offset against the cost of hiring a car for the duration, gas and parking at the parks but it certainly seems to have some advantages

 

[Lynne M]

The only on-property space that would hold all those people in one space would be a 3-bedroom Grand Villa at a DVC resort. They're difficult to book, and are extremely expensive, in the ballpark of $1500/night. They can be rented by non-members, but it's pretty rare to see one available for a cash booking. They tend to get snapped up for members pretty quickly. Renting from a member can be difficult, because it's not easy to find a single owner who has enough points to book a GV. You'd be renting from multiple people, with multiple reservations, and that gets messy.

If you're willing to consider going offsite, a rental home would probably work out really well for your group.

If you do want to stay on-site, renting two 1-bedroom villas might work, or even a 2-bedroom and a 1-bedroom, or a 2-bedroom and a studio. None of those options will be inexpensive, but it would give you a condo-type setting with a living room and a kitchen/dining area where everyone could gather.

 

[Ksquared]

I've done multiple family trips and we've stayed a different locations for each. One year we rented a house with a private pool. Really enjoyed that. We had lots of rooms to spread out, we ate onsite and also cooked a few meals at the house. we've also rented a 4 bedroom suite at Bonnet Creek. Again, lots of room to spread out. Location is pretty great and lots to do at the resort when you want time away from the parks. We've also rented DVC and they do have larger rooms that can accomodate your party. If the kids don't all want to sleep together, there is a sofa bed and you could bring an extra air mattress as well to get the rooms to fit your particular family. Obviously, out of all 3, onsite is your most expensive option, even renting points from a DVC member. We've had great onsite and great offsite trips so it just depends on budget etc. You could also rent 3 studios in a DVC resort. Some of them sleep 5 now, so there's a bed, sofa bed and pull out making it a great choice. You can try to get connecting rooms if they have them. You could do a 2 bedroom and a studio even. Lots of ways to split it up, be close etc. but maybe not necessarily in same room

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You could also rent 3 studios in a DVC resort. Some of them sleep 5 now, so there's a bed, sofa bed and pull out making it a great choice. You can try to get connecting rooms if they have them.

The only DVC resort with connecting studios is Poly. Max of two studios connect. No other resort offers connecting studio units.

There are no 2BRs that connect with additional studios. The only room type that regularly connects to a studio in a DVC resort is a 1BR.

 

[rwdavis2]

Would you consider offsite? If so, my suggestion would be Windsor Hills. You can rent a 6 bedroom house with private pool for about $2000/week. That way the whole family could stay together (if that's something you want).

If I were going that large of a group I would do this ^^^^. Makes life easier even with parking fees and driving to/from the parks. With a washer/dryer you can pack fewer clothes and the kitchen is a great asset.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Sorry to say, as much as I advocate onsite, but you hassle factor with that many is going to be large at WDW. Offsite may an an awesome choice.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would book three rooms onsite. I understand the draw of more space however I like the ease that onsite transportation adds for larger groups.

 

[coast2coastmickey]

If you're dead set for on-site...honestly, 3 value rooms is probably your best bet for keeping costs reasonable.

That said, I 100% think you should go off site. You can get a house for less than $2k for a week, and even renting two cars plus adding gas plus parking ($40/day cost plus $22/day parking plus $5/day gas times 2 cars is $469 per week per car, so add $1k for transport), that gets you to about $3000 or less for everyone's lodging and transportation.

Values are about $150 per night after tax, so that's $150 times 3 rooms times 7 nights, so not much more at $3150.

If you can somehow score free dining during your dates, then on-site will win. If you don't want to stay at a value, then off-site will clearly win.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would book 3 rooms at whichever resort category that fits into your budget or try to book a Grand Villa. If you go the Grand Villa route, it will be cheaper to rent points, but you need to make sure you are fully aware of the terms and conditions as they reservation will be non-refundable. I have looked into renting points for Grand Villas before and SSR seemed to almost always be available. You might also want to consider booking a 2-bedroom villa plus a studio at one of the DVC resorts.

 

[sharadoc]

On the lower cost end, I would suggest All-Star Music with one Family Suite and two rooms, hopefully all near each other. The Family Suite will give you a room to all hang out in, there is a sofabed, chair bed and ottoman bed. Either one set of parents or the grandparents can take the bed, and then you can let the kids bunk in the living room, or maybe the girls with the grandparents, and each of the boys in the rooms with their parents. Or all the kids in the living room and the parents get some free time! The kitchenette in the Family Suite is great and separated from the main room with a fridge, microwave, coffee maker. You can easily have breakfast and get ready for the day together.

A 2 bedroom villa plus a studio is the next idea. OKW would be nice, it has a sofabed and chair bed in the living room so cousins girls or boys could room together, then the extra boy/girl in with the parents in the 2nd bedroom/other studio. The living room area at OKW is huge and once again gives you a nice gathering space for your group. If you choose the Turtle Pond area, there's a nice pool, snack bar/QS, and shuffleboard too! OKW is the only resort with 2 beds in the studio. All others have a sofabed.

Others have recommended offsite for the space, but with that number of families, you would need multiple rental cars plus have to accommodate schedules vs. using internal transportation and being free to go wherever you want.

I hate just having 2 beds in a room. We've only done it once, on a 3 day trip. Otherwise, we always choose something with a living room. It makes the vacation seem so much more relaxed.

 

[SharonZ]

Before you drive yourself nuts will all of the options, I would set some type of budget - keeping in mind that in a few years the costs will increase substantially. I agree with the others that the cheapest option would be 3 value hotel rooms. I'm also a big advocate of staying onsite, but in your case I would definitely look at offsite accommodations.

 

[Hopefully]

I am strongly in the camp of onsite for transportation reasons alone. With an offsite and rental car(s) you have to coordinate and agree on coming and going times. This can be difficult and a point of convention. One family wants to go early and leave early and the other family wants to sleep in a bit and stay out late etc. With Disney transportation at hand everyone can be accommodated without impacting others.
I would rent at least one 2 BR Villa and a studio Villa or a 2BR and an 1 BR. Having the full kitchen, if only for breakfast while you get ready and cold drinks and snacks will save you money. Having the washer and dryer in the unit allows you to pack less.
Good Luck with your decision.

 

[maxiesmom]

Sorry to say, as much as I advocate onsite, but you hassle factor with that many is going to be large at WDW. Offsite may an an awesome choice.

As long as you weigh the hassle it can be to try and split up. OP would need at least 2 cars, so double parking costs. And if someone wants to go back to the resort before the rest of the group, they have to pay for Uber or a taxi. On site a car is not needed. It is super simple to split up a bit. If some want to hit the parks right at open, and some want to sleep in, it can be done with no hassle at all!

 

[starry_solo]

Either three value rooms onsite (if you don't have a rental car, otherwise there's a $20/car fee now) or one house off-site with 3 rental cars. Depending on how long you are staying, you might consider getting an annual pass for one or two people so you can get free parking at the theme parks.

Ultimately, it depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[VAfamily1998]

If budget isn't a huge concern, I would do 3 rooms at either AKL or WL--whichever appeals to you most. For the two families, get bunk bed rooms so the kids can each have their own bed. For the grandparents, get whatever category room appeals to you most.

I wouldn't concern myself too much with connecting or adjoining rooms, especially if at WL, because each family will probably want some "space" at the end of each day anyway. You can just meet up in the lobby/common areas/restaurants each day.

If those options are out of the budget, I would consider an offsite house rental.

 

[BGinCali]

If budget isn't a huge concern, I would do 3 rooms at either AKL or WL--whichever appeals to you most. For the two families, get bunk bed rooms so the kids can each have their own bed. For the grandparents, get whatever category room appeals to you most.

I wouldn't concern myself too much with connecting or adjoining rooms, especially if at WL, because each family will probably want some "space" at the end of each day anyway. You can just meet up in the lobby/common areas/restaurants each day.

If those options are out of the budget, I would consider an offsite house rental.

I agree with this as well, if budget allows. Our family of 11 went in November & stayed at WL, 3 separate (but adjoining) rooms. Similar make-up family wise to yours - was nice having our own rooms to go back to each night.

 

[Farro]

Well, do you all need to be together all the time?

If not and you want to stay onsite, pick a hotel that fits your budget and get 3 rooms (that have a daybed if necessary). One for grandparents, and one for each family unit. If the kids don't want to share a bed they can take turns sleeping on the day bed. When my family group of 13 went, this is how we handled it.

Might be nice to get away from one another at the end of the day!