Advice Needed

[ZFamily5]

Hi all!

Beginning thinking about a trip for the summer of 2018 and needed some resort advice.

The details:

• 10 people (four parents, six "children", although the children are all Disney adults... ages 22, 21, 20, 18, 17 and 14)
• Several of the "children" are extremely tall boys (6'6, 6'4), so I'm not sure if they would be able to sleep comfortably on a pullout sofa.

Unsure on whether we should go with cabins at FW (transportation not very convenient) or several rooms somewhere else. Location is relatively important but cost is important as well so any advice you can give would be much appreciated.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I would try to rent into a Grand Villa. While some will end up on pull-outs, they are full length pull-outs. Any room that sleeps 5 on the resort side has at least one fold-down, and most of those are NOT full length.

If cost is a concern, I'd try for a GV at Old Key West, which is the cheapest of the GVs.

 

[robinb]

If you're looking to save money, then off-site would be the way to go with your crew. Maybe Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 3 bedroom? Or a 4-bedroom pool home. You'd also save on feeding those hungry six foot boys breakfast at home v/s eating out all the time.

I think the cabins only sleep 6, so you'd have to rent 2 of them.

A cost effective option would also be to rent DVC points somewhere. 3 studios or a 2-bedroom and a studio would fit your family. Grand villas are awesome, but very expensive.

ETA: You could take the studio and the kids could all pile into the 2BR.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Well if you want 1 place... I'd rent a house, cause on property...$$$
I've planned reunion type gathering for us... I think we topped out at about 16/17 and we all booked seperate rooms ( POR, AKL)
Both were great though different experiences.
Best of luck planning... get those charts ready!!!!

 

[lovin'fl]

You could rent two DVC villas...2BR per fam of 5. We are a fam of 5 and when all of us go we get a 2BR. OKW and now BCV dedicated have 2 queen beds in the second bedroom. You could also do the OKW grand villa or Saratoga Springs Teahouse villa. Can rent from David's... look it up.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You could also do the OKW grand villa or Saratoga Springs Teahouse villa.

I wouldn't recommend a Treehouse Villa for two key reasons:

1. The bunk beds there ARE shorter than "normal" beds.
2. They only sleep 9.

The reason I suggested an OKW GV is because they are, point-wise, the cheapest of the GV by a lot, and the GV is cheaper than 2 2BR or a 2BR+1BR at OKW most seasons. A 2BR+studio ends up slightly cheaper than the GV, but a little bit of a nuisance over being together.

At other resorts, it depends on room mix how much of a premium one pays for the GV. That said, in several cases I would argue the premium to be worth it, especially with a large family gathering. I'm particularly thinking of the Jambo House Grand Villas with the pool table.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

With transportation being important to you, I'd definitely not stay off property. With that many people, I'd definitely want the convenience of Disney transportation. As others have mentioned, a grand villa would fit your family well. With cost being a problem, I would highly recommend renting points instead of booking directly through Disney. We have had great success with David's Vacation Rentals (https://www.dvcrequest.com/) and have found their rates to be very reasonable. You can go on their site, put in your dates, it the cost of every single property comes us. Oh, and the price you are quoted is 100% turn-key so you know exactly what you will be spending. Plus, you can request your top three resort requests which helps you make sure you are getting what you want without spending too much. Of course, there are other sites that you can use for renting points, as well.

 

[robinb]

With transportation being important to you, I'd definitely not stay off property. With that many people, I'd definitely want the convenience of Disney transportation. As others have mentioned, a grand villa would fit your family well. With cost being a problem, I would highly recommend renting points instead of booking directly through Disney. We have had great success with David's Vacation Rentals (https://www.dvcrequest.com/) and have found their rates to be very reasonable. You can go on their site, put in your dates, it the cost of every single property comes us. Oh, and the price you are quoted is 100% turn-key so you know exactly what you will be spending. Plus, you can request your top three resort requests which helps you make sure you are getting what you want without spending too much. Of course, there are other sites that you can use for renting points, as well.

An OKW Grand Villa is $7155 for a week in the summer from David's (I picked 7/16/17-7/23/17). I found a FIVE bedroom pool house 10-15 minutes away costs about $1500 (all-in, taxes, etc) for the same week. The OP can take a lot of Uber rides for the $5500 she'd save staying offsite.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

An OKW Grand Villa is $7155 for a week in the summer from David's (I picked 7/16/17-7/23/17). I found a FIVE bedroom pool house 10-15 minutes away costs about $1500 (all-in, taxes, etc) for the same week. The OP can take a lot of Uber rides for the $5500 she'd save staying offsite.

Okay

I prefer the convenience of Disney transportation. You clearly prefer economical. I guess the OP can decide what he or she wants. Oh, and from June 4-10, an OKW Grand Villa is $5,385. I guess which week he/she goes will really make a difference.

 

[lovin'fl]

An OKW Grand Villa is $7155 for a week in the summer from David's (I picked 7/16/17-7/23/17). I found a FIVE bedroom pool house 10-15 minutes away costs about $1500 (all-in, taxes, etc) for the same week. The OP can take a lot of Uber rides for the $5500 she'd save staying offsite.

Holy cow! I own points and never rent them out and never need to rent extra so I haven't really paid much attention to renting. I have booked for SIL and charged her like $6pp. That wasn't bad for her. What is renting going for these days that a week in an OKW GV is $7155? Long way from $10pp that I last remember it being, I am guessing.

 

[lovin'fl]

My 4 nights over Memorial Day in 2 studios is about $2K.
The BCV studio I booked for MIL and FIL over Xmas holiday is $1935 for a week.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Holy cow! I own points and never rent them out and never need to rent extra so I haven't really paid much attention to renting. I have booked for SIL and charged her like $6pp. That wasn't bad for her. What is renting going for these days that a week in an OKW GV is $7155? Long way from $10pp that I last remember it being, I am guessing.

Typical via brokers is $14pp.

 

[lovin'fl]

Their, David's, order form says $15pp and then on another page they mention a $1pp premium for certain resorts, so maybe $16pp for those or $14 for others and $15 for premium, which are all the good ones.

 

[robinb]

Okay

I prefer the convenience of Disney transportation. You clearly prefer economical. I guess the OP can decide what he or she wants. Oh, and from June 4-10, an OKW Grand Villa is $5,385. I guess which week he/she goes will really make a difference.

A WEEK is $6420 (Jun 4 -11).

I own 300 DVC points so no, I don't prefer economical .

 

[robinb]

Holy cow! I own points and never rent them out and never need to rent extra so I haven't really paid much attention to renting. I have booked for SIL and charged her like $6pp. That wasn't bad for her. What is renting going for these days that a week in an OKW GV is $7155? Long way from $10pp that I last remember it being, I am guessing.

You can rent out your points from $13-$15 per point on your own. You can rent your points through David's for $11.30-$13 per point depending on the resort.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

OKW doesn't command a home resort premium via David's. So generally speaking, max price anyone should be paying for OKW points is $14. I usually see them going for $12-13 via private rental.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

A WEEK is $6420 (Jun 4 -11).

I own 300 DVC points so no, I don't prefer economical .

Well you said that you would Uber and stay off property to save money. For me, the convenience of on property is more important. That'a why I said you appeared to put economical over convenience. and, before anyone takes an issue with that, I don't think there is anything wrong with frugality being a priority over convenience or anything else.


I hated it when we stayed off property and don't see us doing that again. That definitely impacts my suggesting a grand villa or multiple hotel rooms on property over a resort or hotel off property.

 

[SharonZ]

Hi all!

Beginning thinking about a trip for the summer of 2018 and needed some resort advice.

The details:

• 10 people (four parents, six "children", although the children are all Disney adults... ages 22, 21, 20, 18, 17 and 14)
• Several of the "children" are extremely tall boys (6'6, 6'4), so I'm not sure if they would be able to sleep comfortably on a pullout sofa.

Unsure on whether we should go with cabins at FW (transportation not very convenient) or several rooms somewhere else. Location is relatively important but cost is important as well so any advice you can give would be much appreciated.

I think you need to figure out what the sleeping configuration would be, so you can determine who many rooms that you actually would need. It's also helpful to come up with a budget, not everyone in your group will be willing to pay the same amounts. I wouldn't start looking until I got a general idea of what they are willing to pay. What sounds like a good deal to stay onsite to you, may be a deal-breaker for others. People have the tendency to underestimate costs associated with Disney, especially when you add on tickets.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think you need to figure out what the sleeping configuration would be, so you can determine who many rooms that you actually would need. It's also helpful to come up with a budget, not everyone in your group will be willing to pay the same amounts. I wouldn't start looking until I got a general idea of what they are willing to pay. What sounds like a good deal to stay onsite to you, may be a deal-breaker for others. People have the tendency to underestimate costs associated with Disney, especially when you add on tickets.

Yes. If you have people who cannot share a bed, you are more limited in where everyone sleeps with larger places. You'd probably be better off reserving several smaller units instead of one large one.