Anyone ever stay in a GV w/family and wished they hadn't?

[JMLBrats]

We're debating about staying in a GV w/family this summer or opting for a 1 bedroom for us (family of 5) and getting a two bedroom for the rest of the family-my dad, his girlfriend and her granddaughter and my uncle. I love them dearly, but they are a little hard to deal w/24/7 so I'm wondering what kind of experiences other people in similar situations have found. At OKW which is most likely where we're thinking of staying w/ them, the points difference is very small, so that's not so much a concern. (and yes, we're a family of 5, but one is a baby)

We walked through the GV model at SSR, but have never been in one of the ones at OKW-do they have the separate entrances for the upstairs like the ones at SSR do? Are there any other differences that we should be aware of?

Thanks!

 

[Ksp]

Good question; we've been thinking about getting a GV plus a studio (we would have about 14 all together), so we'd need the other room.
I haven't done the math as far as points if we were to split up into 2 two bedroom units --
will we end up regretting not being able to "get away" from the group?

 

[castleri]

They do not have a separate upstairs entrance. The GV at OKW is bigger than at SSR. If you know you don't care to be with these people 24/7 your plan for a 1 BR and 2BR makes sense. Also if they decide not to go you will be able to cancel one room and still have the other. Good luck with you final decision and hope you have a good tripi.

 

[MdmMim]

If they're a "little hard to deal with 24/7," I would not get a GV.

We had a group of 12, and I reserved a 2-bedroom plus 4 studios (spread out over 2 different resorts, too! BW and BC). We had several strong personalities, and we needed our space. There were a few times during the week that I was so glad that we had the separate rooms.

A GV is not in my future!

Good luck with your trip!

 

[JMLBrats]

They do not have a separate upstairs entrance. The GV at OKW is bigger than at SSR. If you know you don't care to be with these people 24/7 your plan for a 1 BR and 2BR makes sense. Also if they decide not to go you will be able to cancel one room and still have the other. Good luck with you final decision and hope you have a good tripi.

Good Point! Yeah, we are leaning more and more towards the separate rooms...

 

[mikesmom]

A few years ago we had a family trip and got one 2 bdrm and 2 studios. We were glad we did! The down time was good for all of us and we had the 2 bdrm handy for pizza meals, etc. WDW is pretty intense for all day touring - some alone time in a restful area at the end of the day is good for all concerned

 

[jdvm]

Well, I wouldn't say we wish we hadn't but it was hard to sleep hearing those points ticking so loudly....actually it was GREAT.
John

 

[Boardwalker]

Maybe I am the only one with a difficult family, but I found it works out better to break up the group into neat family divisions.
It also cost me less points to have two or three smaller rooms than the Grand Villa, and it allowed us a bit of down time.
In reality, we all could gather in a two bedroom before we headed out. We always ate big meals out, so occupancy really didn't matter. We spent so little time in the rooms... the smaller rooms made it more comfortable.
My point is, room people where they would be the most comfortable.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I think that the main issue I've seen with booking GVs with family is getting the family to not back out of the vacation, thereby the member losing the points.

It's a really nice thought and DH and I have thought of doing this ourselves. But we just don't trust our family to not back out in the end. That'd be a BIG villa for just 4 of us!!!

 

[Starr W.]

Maybe I am the only one with a difficult family, but I found it works out better to break up the group into neat family divisions.
It also cost me less points to have two or three smaller rooms than the Grand Villa, and it allowed us a bit of down time.
In reality, we all could gather in a two bedroom before we headed out. We always ate big meals out, so occupancy really didn't matter. We spent so little time in the rooms... the smaller rooms made it more comfortable.
My point is, room people where they would be the most comfortable.

No you are not the only one. Plus doing the math, you come up ahead getting in our case a 2br & studio than the GV. Plus everyone needs the downtime, which I think is even more important at WDW than at home.

 

[DVC Grammy]

We now reserve individual studios for any of our guests (family/friends) after one trip in which we had all of our kids and their kids together. It was great being together, but our different "clocks" turned out to be a problem. For instance some of us like to go to EMH in the mornings, and some prefer nights. (No matter how quiet we all tried to be, inevitably somebody awoke.) With each of us in our own space, we choose a meeting place, usually around lunchtime. This way, no one's sleep gets disrupted, mornings or nights.
Everyone's family is different........this is our way of getting a win/win WDW family vacation!

 

[jekjones1558]

Okay. Now you have changed by mind. I am in the process of doing day-by-day reservations at 11 months for 2 GV. I am going to change to a GV, a 1 bedroom and a 2 bedroom. It will be more points, but in case someone in the group has a last minute issue (like being too pregnant!), I can cancel. We can keep all of the families with kids in the GV and the rest of us can have our own space (and undisturbed sleep). I have gone back and forth on this, but it seems pretty clear right now what I need to do.

 

[JMLBrats]

Okay. Now you have changed by mind. I am in the process of doing day-by-day reservations at 11 months for 2 GV. I am going to change to a GV, a 1 bedroom and a 2 bedroom. It will be more points, but in case someone in the group has a last minute issue (like being too pregnant!), I can cancel. We can keep all of the families with kids in the GV and the rest of us can have our own space (and undisturbed sleep). I have gone back and forth on this, but it seems pretty clear right now what I need to do.

Glad to help out... We've also decided to do the 1 bedroom and the 2 bedroom instead of a GV for sure. Why add more stress than necessary to what's suppossed to be a fun vacation? Plus these are my kids at Disney (and everyday actually)... so they'd probably stress out my dad too after a couple of days!

 

[tiffany123]

I guess I'll post just to be different. We stayed with a group of 11 last June in an OKW GV. There was myself, DH, 2 daughters (one of whom was 7 months pregnant), 2 sons-in-law and 5 small grand children---between the ages of 6 and 2. We were there 7 nights and had a terrific time with no problems whatsoever. One of the biggest pluses for us was that our kids could go out at night and we could babysit the grandkids but yet be able to relax for the evening and not worry about moving to another unit in the wee hours of the morning. Several nights we were sound asleep when the last of our guests came "home".

Now our family is very close and we do a lot of activities together. The cousins play well with each other and are used to spending time together.
I realize this plan won't work for all but we plan to secure a GV again as soon as our newest granddaughter gets a little older.

 

[Sammie]

I guess I'll post just to be different. We stayed with a group of 11 last June in an OKW GV. There was myself, DH, 2 daughters (one of whom was 7 months pregnant), 2 sons-in-law and 5 small grand children---between the ages of 6 and 2. We were there 7 nights and had a terrific time with no problems whatsoever. One of the biggest pluses for us was that our kids could go out at night and we could babysit the grandkids but yet be able to relax for the evening and not worry about moving to another unit in the wee hours of the morning. Several nights we were sound asleep when the last of our guests came "home".

Now our family is very close and we do a lot of activities together. The cousins play well with each other and are used to spending time together.
I realize this plan won't work for all but we plan to secure a GV again as soon as our newest granddaughter gets a little older.

I could see where this would work great, you have your children and grand children and that makes a difference.

The OP has an uncle, Dad and girlfriend (and her granddaughter). With that mix I would seperate.

 

[JMLBrats]

I could see where this would work great, you have your children and grand children and that makes a difference.

The OP has an uncle, Dad and girlfriend (and her granddaughter). With that mix I would seperate.

Exactly true. I hope when I'm a grandmother some day we are able to do that!- I guess I'll just have to wait 20-or 30 years or so....

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have done it successfuly twice, but even with our easy to deal with family, there will always be a few "issues". We really didn't have many though. We were very organized about what would happen though too. If you have any fears, seperate accommodations are best. In fact, we just changed our mind about what we are going to do for THanksgiving next year, but for different reasons than Jekjones did. We were going to do a GV to house the folks coming for DS's wedding, but now we are going to probably do a 1 bedroom plus a 2 bedroom instead.