best home resort for family of 6?

[LMHB]

We are new to this and considering a DVC purchase, either new or a resale. We have a family of 6...one member is currently a toddler, but of course in future years will need her own bed. It seems that most resorts sleep 4 in 1 bedrooms, and 8 in 2 bedrooms. We would like to house all of us in the cheapest manner. We have stayed at AKL in a 1br villa, sleeping 5 and then the baby in a pack n play, which was perfect at the time. Hate to pay for a full 2br sleeping 8 when we only have 6, any suggestions? We would be happy to put all children in the same room, would rather save money than have spaciousness. Also, looking for a suggestion for a good number of points to get - my guess is somewhere between 200 - 300, we often go in April for 9 days. Just the WDW resorts. Thank you!

 

[spleen]

Once the toddler gets above the age of 3, I'm not sure how well the DVC units will work for you as a family if a 2 BR is not an option. With a family of 6, you will exceed maximum occupancy in any other type of unit besides a 2 BR/treehouse/GV. Maybe going with 2 studios instead? That would certainly be cheaper than a 2 BR though you'd lose the kitchen and the in-room laundry. Of course, there's no guarantee that the 2 studios would be anywhere near each other at the resort though you can certainly request that and I'm sure the CMs will do their best to accomodate you. Otherwise, the choice of which home resort would be a personal choice depending on what resort appealed to you the most since there'd be no advantage in terms of occupancy.

 

[DisDad07]

IMHO Ak and OKW are the best resorts for point value. In both of these resorts you can get 2 Studio's for less points then a 2 bedroom and you will have 2 beds per room. At OKW a 1 br, you have 2 beds and you could do as we have done,( bring a air mattress) the kids took turns untill now> We get 2 Studio's because they are to big to sleep on the floor. At least the kids think so. As for points, I would say you are in the ball park with 200-300 points. We had 260 at Ak and have added on with 210 at OKW. Good Luck

 

[Deb & Bill]

The AKV Value two bedrooms are probably the least points of all the two bedroom villas at WDW. With a family of six, you would be required to book a two bedroom villa. However, all the AKV Value villas are in Jambo House and are lockoffs (meaning the second bedroom has a double sleeper sofa and a queen sized bed - plus a kitchenette and another exit to the corridor). They are limited and number and would require booking at 11 months out.

After that it looks like OKW would be the least number of points for a two bedroom villa. The problem with two studios is that the adults would always have to split up for the stay. The children could not stay alone in the studio. And there is no guarantee that they will be close to each other, in the same building or on the same floor. They will never connect to each other. The AKV studio will never have two beds in it, only the sleeper sofa and bed combination I noted above. OKW studios will have two queen beds in the studio.

Otherwise, forget about DVC and just book one of the family suites at the All Stars for cash.

 

[spleen]

Deb's right - booking one of the family suites for cash at the All Stars may be your best bet instead of DVC.

 

[Lynne M]

We are new to this and considering a DVC purchase, either new or a resale. We have a family of 6...one member is currently a toddler, but of course in future years will need her own bed. It seems that most resorts sleep 4 in 1 bedrooms, and 8 in 2 bedrooms. We would like to house all of us in the cheapest manner. We have stayed at AKL in a 1br villa, sleeping 5 and then the baby in a pack n play, which was perfect at the time. Hate to pay for a full 2br sleeping 8 when we only have 6, any suggestions? We would be happy to put all children in the same room, would rather save money than have spaciousness. Also, looking for a suggestion for a good number of points to get - my guess is somewhere between 200 - 300, we often go in April for 9 days. Just the WDW resorts. Thank you!

You're going to have no choice but to book a two bedroom once the toddler turns three - you'll be over the fire code mandated maximum occupancy for any 1 bedroom villas, and DVC will not book groups over the maximum occupancy limit.

At any rate, DVC is very far from the cheapest way to house 6 people. Other, much less expensive options would be family suites at ASMu now, at AoA when it opens, or a cabin at Fort Wilderness. You might also want to consider other timeshares in the Orlando area, many of which can be bought at resale for a few dollars.

 

[Dean]

We are new to this and considering a DVC purchase, either new or a resale. We have a family of 6...one member is currently a toddler, but of course in future years will need her own bed. It seems that most resorts sleep 4 in 1 bedrooms, and 8 in 2 bedrooms. We would like to house all of us in the cheapest manner. We have stayed at AKL in a 1br villa, sleeping 5 and then the baby in a pack n play, which was perfect at the time. Hate to pay for a full 2br sleeping 8 when we only have 6, any suggestions? We would be happy to put all children in the same room, would rather save money than have spaciousness. Also, looking for a suggestion for a good number of points to get - my guess is somewhere between 200 - 300, we often go in April for 9 days. Just the WDW resorts. Thank you!

You'll soon need a 2 BR. 1 BR units are really more comfortable for 3-4 and as noted, you'll exceed their occupancy relatively soon. The cheapest option for your situation will be OKW or AKV value long term with AKV 1 BR standard (Kidani) being the cheapest short term option. BWV standard won't be far behind. The best purchase value is likely SSR though though you can still try to use the points at the cheaper options I mentioned.

 

[mikron]

OKW, 2 bedroom 400 feet bigger then any other 2 bedroom in all other resorts.

 

[staceymay00]

We own at OKW - family of five. We book 2BRs even though OKW sleeps five in a 1BR. We love the extra space and not having anyone on a pullout in the living room. We like having the second bathroom in the 2BR.

We love many things about OKW, one of them being that the points required for 2BRs are similar to 1BR points at other resorts. For that reason, you may want to look at OKW since you will soon have no choice but to book a 2BR. BWV and AKV have standard view 2BRs that are in line with OKW 2BRs and more of a bargain, as well. BLT and AKV have 3 bathrooms in the 2BRs, which is probably nice to have with four kids as they get older.

 

[Mtnman44]

I would vote 2BR at either OKW or AKV value. We are a family of five and prefer the 2BR. We don't really feel that we are "wasting" the extra capacity since that is essentially the pull out sleeper sofa. We much prefer to keep the living room in couch configuration anyway. This makes using the villa much more enjoyable and who wants to sleep on the pull out anyway?

If you stick to OKW or AKV values, you can reduce the points cost quite a bit. Note that the treehouse villas at SSR are the same points cost as a two bedroom. If you like the theme/area/style, then these represent perphaps one of the best DVC deals around. Three full bedrooms is hard to beat.

 

[Husurdady]

We are new to this and considering a DVC purchase, either new or a resale. We have a family of 6...one member is currently a toddler, but of course in future years will need her own bed. It seems that most resorts sleep 4 in 1 bedrooms, and 8 in 2 bedrooms. We would like to house all of us in the cheapest manner. We have stayed at AKL in a 1br villa, sleeping 5 and then the baby in a pack n play, which was perfect at the time. Hate to pay for a full 2br sleeping 8 when we only have 6, any suggestions? We would be happy to put all children in the same room, would rather save money than have spaciousness. Also, looking for a suggestion for a good number of points to get - my guess is somewhere between 200 - 300, we often go in April for 9 days. Just the WDW resorts. Thank you!

Been there, done that.......my suggestion to you, don't go there and do that.
Buy only 50pts. that's all, rent the rest from someone,by transfering the rented pts. to your 50pt account and go in APRIL.
Using OKW for 2012,for those 250pts you did not buy....for example;you have saved $16,302.50 [maint.@ $5.21 p.p. ,cost of pts.@ $60.00 p p resale]
So ask yourself......do I want to put all that money in DVC or my kids 429.
In the not too distant future that is the direction we are headed.......look for the big sale off [570 pts,6 contracts]. My slogan.......own only 50 DVC pts.........rent[by-way-of-transfer] the rest. GOOD LUCK-2-U

 

[Deb & Bill]

Been there, done that.......my suggestion to you, don't go there and do that.
Buy only 50pts. that's all, rent the rest from someone, transfer the pts. to your 50pt account and go in APRIL.
Using OKW for 2012,for those 250pts you did not buy....for example;you have saved $16,302.50 [maint.@ $5.21 p.p. ,cost of pts.@ $60.00 p p resale]
So ask yourself......do I want to put all that money in DVC or my kids 429.
In the not too distant future that is the direction we are headed.......look for the big sale off [570 pts,6 contracts]. My slogan.......own only 50 DVC pts.........rent the rest. GOOD LUCK-2-U

You need to use different terminology. Instead of renting points to supplement your 50 point purchase, you want a transfer so you control the points. Members are more likely to transfer a larger number of points than a smaller number of points since you can only transfer once per year per membership number.

 

[Husurdady]

You need to use different terminology. Instead of renting points to supplement your 50 point purchase, you want a transfer so you control the points. Members are more likely to transfer a larger number of points than a smaller number of points since you can only transfer once per year per membership number.

Thanks DEB, Did you sell off your pts yet? I know you once said you and Bill "where stopping the maddness", and where selling shortly.........we will all miss you.

 

[LMHB]

Thanks for all of the good ideas! We definitely still have research to do, but very interested in OKW at this time. Thank you!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks DEB, Did you sell off your pts yet? I know you once said you and Bill "where stopping the maddness", and where selling shortly.........we will all miss you.

Just a third of them for now.

 

[Husurdady]

Just a third of them for now.

How many did you guys have in the beginning?
DW wants to use some of our pts. for a Hawaii DVC vacation,in the next year or so, other than that, we cruise more than staying at OKW. In April/May we will be on the MAGIC and DREAM for 8 nights and OKW just 6 nights.
Deb , have you and Bill ever done a DVC members cruise?

 

[Deb & Bill]

How many did you guys have in the beginning?
DW wants to use some of our pts. for a Hawaii DVC vacation,in the next year or so, other than that, we cruise more than staying at OKW. In April/May we will be on the MAGIC and DREAM for 8 nights and OKW just 6 nights.
Deb , have you and Bill ever done a DVC members cruise?

No member cruise, but we did do a four night DCL cruise. It was okay for a one time thing, but I'm not crazy about cruising because of the confinement and too many people. Plus I get seasick like crazy.

We started with 175 OKW points, added 50 OKW points, 75 OKW points, 100 VWL points, 100 BCV points. Sold 75 OKW and 100 BCV points about five years ago. We really have no desire to go to Hawaii. Much rather go to Canada or Montana.

 

[Brian Noble]

Deb's right - booking one of the family suites for cash at the All Stars may be your best bet instead of DVC.

This is exactly what I was thinking too. If money is the bottom line, those are hard to beat vs. a DVC 2BR unit---and once your youngest turns three, a 2BR will be your only DVC option.

 

[crisi]

This is exactly what I was thinking too. If money is the bottom line, those are hard to beat vs. a DVC 2BR unit---and once your youngest turns three, a 2BR will be your only DVC option.

Dare I suggest offsite as a option. It not unlikely to get more room for a large family for less money offsite. Even after paying for parking

 

[zavandor]

Dare I suggest offsite as a option. It not unlikely to get more room for a large family for less money offsite. Even after paying for parking

I strongly agree. I don't think that a value resort is worth the extra money. I'm looking into DVC not to save money against a Value, but to be able to afford my vacations in a deluxe resort.
If I'll not buy some DVC points I'll probably always stay offsite.