Before getting in to deep w/ DVC...

[Karenj2]

... I guess I ought to ask a basic question, first. (Actually, maybe a few questions...)

I'm thinking about organizing a vacation for DH's and my extended families to celebrate our 10th anniversary in 2007, and I have a feeling some of the more "cost concious" folks will balk at the idea of spending a week at the Disney Resorts. To (hopefully) save money I was thinking of the DVC, so that we could save money on meals, however, with the possibility of 23 people going, is it even possible to get that many villas? (The family dynamics are enough that each sibling/spouse/kid combo should probably get their own place, just to keep everyone sane.)

Here's my original post on the Resort Forums: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=932646

Also, when is it possible to start posting questions about renting a DVC, since we're not doing this 'til 2007?

Thanks for any help I can get (I must be crazy to try to do this!)

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Do you know when you will be going in 2007? The time of year you travel will make a big difference if you have members in your party that may be more cost conscious. You can also cut down on the number of points required for the reservation by staying Sun-Thurs and avoiding the weekends. If you are willing to give Old Key West a try, you will have a better chance of obtaining the number of villas you need due to the size of the resort and the lower point requirements (especially if you need a Grand Villa that sleeps 12).

It would probably be a good idea for you to post something on the Rent/Trade Board 12 mos. in advance so the DVC owners that respond have time to call and specifically request the units you need. You can use the DVC Point Chart at the top of this page to get an idea of how many points you will need. Good luck with your planning!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I posted a lengthy reply on your other post.

 

[RobDoc]

... You can use the DVC Point Chart at the top of this page to get an idea of how many points you will need. It may change slightly as the '07 chart is not out yet, but it shouldn't be anything drastic. ...

The 2007 point charts for DVC Resorts are already available and are included in the "DVC Point Charts" link at the top of the board.

Enjoy!

 

[manning]

What's that old song? "They're coming to take me away. To the funny farm ha ha."

You may have a "mission impossible" on your hands.

But why not, if you want to do it!! :

 

[spiceycat]

yes it is - you would need three 2-bedrooms - sleeps 8

or 6 studios sleep 8. now DVC will not guaranteed that these will be close together.

I would get one 2-bedroom and 4 studios. You would need the bigger 2-bedroom for family meets.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would do 2 GVs so that if some folks cancel, you would not have a hassle with canceling rented rooms.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

The 2007 point charts for DVC Resorts are already available and are included in the "DVC Point Charts" link at the top of the board.

Enjoy!

Thanks Doc! I didn't realize the info. was available and have deleted that statement from my post.

 

[CarolMN]

Personally, I think if you are planning to make all the arrangements for 23 people, we will eventually see you post a thread titled something like -

"No good deed goes unpunished!"

"Help! The in-laws (it's always the in-laws, LOL) cancelled at the last minute"!

"ARRGGGH! I'm re doing PS for the 47th time! Why can't they make up their minds?"

"John & Jane don't want to xxxxxxxx, but eveyone else says yyyyyyy. What should I do?"


etc.

My advice is to let them all make their own arrangments - You can rent for your family and meet them whenever. 23 people is too many to do anything together anyway - except maybe have a meal.

Best wishes -

 

[Pa@okw95]

There are a lot of variables in this situation that make it very difficult to pull off. It would be difficult enough for a member to pull this off assuming they have enough points at their home resort. There are plenty of condo like places off campus that you can rent for a week. You might want to try the cabins at WDW Wilderness. With this many people WDW has a special service to help you also. I just don't see this happening through DVC, sorry, but you can always try. It could lead to one big mess. Putting DVC aside the thought of lining up 23 people to go to WDW would be daunting enough. Good luck

 

[disney junky]

My advice is to let them all make their own arrangments - You can rent for your family and meet them whenever. 23 people is too many to do anything together anyway - except maybe have a meal.

Best wishes -

Did a RCCL cruise in 2004 for 23 people. Told them all, here are the dates, here is the person to call, hope to see you there. If not, have a nice day. No hassles. Various parties had various levels of staterooms. They made their own decisions. Good luck, but I agree with CarolMN. You may save money but pleasing 23 people will make you emotionally much poorer...

 

[disney junky]

There are a lot of variables in this situation that make it very difficult to pull off. It would be difficult enough for a member to pull this off assuming they have enough points at their home resort. There are plenty of condo like places off campus that you can rent for a week. You might want to try the cabins at WDW Wilderness. With this many people WDW has a special service to help you also. I just don't see this happening through DVC, sorry, but you can always try. It could lead to one big mess. Putting DVC aside the thought of lining up 23 people to go to WDW would be daunting enough. Good luck

Good thoughts...offsite might be much easier

 

[disney junky]

There are homes for rent not too far...4BR+ homes with pools and all the amenities to go with them. Quite reasonable, but you have to provide your own transportation and lose some of the magic..EMH, etc.

 

[Karenj2]

yes it is - you would need three 2-bedrooms - sleeps 8 or 6 studios sleep 8. now DVC will not guaranteed that these will be close together.
I would get one 2-bedroom and 4 studios. You would need the bigger 2-bedroom for family meets.

yeah, I'm beginning to think that we'd only actually need ONE place with a kitchen, and the rest of the people could just get regular rooms at a resort... After all, for the most part you don't need a kitchen for breakfast, and the one big meal that we'd do together will probably be dinner, and you only need one kitchen for that!

Yes, I AM insane! I will try to keep the "Help, my family is driving me CRAZY" posts to a minimum... Actually, to be perfectly honest, I'd REALLY like to go with just *my* side of the family, but I like my in-laws too, and if they come (as long as I set some ground rules; I'm not their travel agent, dammit!...) then I think we could have some fun. Besides, they're my DH's family, so I GOTTA love them. right?

Anyway, so far MIL, FIL, BIL, his wife & her 2 kids would like to come. No one else has responded... But I've got at least a year to figure this out... I just like planning a Disney Trip!!

Thanks for your help, folks! I'm sure I'll be back on!

 

[cobbler]

Just a word of advice too, make sure you get their deposit and such up front. I tried to do a family reunion (at the request of my dh) for his side of the family. Spent 200 in mailings and phone calls and printed up nice little things for them. Got a lot of responses and when it was time for the deposit to be due (in March of this year) not one person sent me the money. I told hubby I had already spent 200 and lots of time into this I am not hounding them, they knew when the money was due. So when next year comes around and its the time were were going to go I better not hear one word from anyone about when or how come we aren't going.

Besides I already made plans for our vacation next year and it isn't during the time that we would have had the reunion.

 

[lizziepooh]

Just wanted to mention that the 2 bedroom units only have dishes, flatware, glasses etc. for 8 people. If you are feeding and cooking for 23, you would need extra stuff. Grand villas should have service for 12.

 

[manning]

Just wanted to mention that the 2 bedroom units only have dishes, flatware, glasses etc. for 8 people. If you are feeding and cooking for 23, you would need extra stuff. Grand villas should have service for 12.

Pretend you are on a cruise have early and late seatings.

 

[crisi]

Not only that, but the rooms aren't really large enough for 23 people to be in the same unit. Maybe in an OKW grand Villa, but certainly not in any other resorts one or two bedrooms. The stoves are the "apartment sized" stoves. Tables seat four tightly, another two at the counter, and another two or three on the couch. You seem to have visions of a family dinner in the villa, and I don't think that will work. Maybe a crowded cocktail party.

 

[dizplanner]

If you want to do any gatherings of everyone, an OKW grand villa is about the only place that is even possibly big enough. For Sun through Thur nights in the summer (5 nights) , a OKW Grand villa would be 255 points, $2550-$2805 assuming $10-11 a point(225 points in early June or late August). You could put three of the families in here, four if one of the couples is willing to sleep on the sleeper sofa. (one couple or couple and baby in the master bedroom, one family in the room with 2 Q and one family in the room with 2 D). You then need 3 to 4 studios for the rest of the people. (2 Q in OKW studios) A studio is 55 points for the five nights or $550-$605 (50 points in early June or late Aug). In comparison, a value for the same time period is $555 ($475 AAA discount). They have 2 Double beds, no refrig or microwave or balcony that the OKW Studios would have.

Now if you want to include Friday or Saturday nights, DVC becomes alot more expensive while resorts stay the same cost.

Renting a house off site will be the cheapest. But you do have to include rental car costs and if every family does not have their own car, you lose the flexibility of spliting up and going back to the resort at different times like you could do with Disney transportation.

 

[manning]

If you want to do any gatherings of everyone, an OKW grand villa is about the only place that is even possibly big enough. For Sun through Thur nights in the summer (5 nights) , a OKW Grand villa would be 255 points, $2550-$2805 assuming $10-11 a point(225 points in early June or late August). You could put three of the families in here, four if one of the couples is willing to sleep on the sleeper sofa. (one couple or couple and baby in the master bedroom, one family in the room with 2 Q and one family in the room with 2 D). You then need 3 to 4 studios for the rest of the people. (2 Q in OKW studios) A studio is 55 points for the five nights or $550-$605 (50 points in early June or late Aug). In comparison, a value for the same time period is $555 ($475 AAA discount). They have 2 Double beds, no refrig or microwave or balcony that the OKW Studios would have.

Now if you want to include Friday or Saturday nights, DVC becomes alot more expensive while resorts stay the same cost.

Renting a house off site will be the cheapest. But you do have to include rental car costs and if every family does not have their own car, you lose the flexibility of spliting up and going back to the resort at different times like you could do with Disney transportation.

This is getting to sound like the days when they use to stuff college campuses into a Volks Wagon.