Best place to stay with 6 people...

[srr1933]

We'll be visiting Disney the 1st week of Feb. Of course, that is not set in stone if that may not be a good time to visit. We'll have 3 adults and 3 kids, ages 12,9, and 3. Do I have to include the 3yo in the headcount if he sleeps with me and the hubby?

I think we are going to take advantage of the cast member discount if it works out to be less than the current pin I have which is 30-35% off deluxe or moderate. My aunt is retired from Disney and I'm not sure 100% of the amount of discount.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Sandy

 

[rlovew]

You have 6 people for a hotel count- once a child turns 3 they count for hotel count, are required to get a dining plan if you get them, and needs a ticket. Once you are at 6 people I believe your choices are a 2 bedroom suite with DVC, Fort Wilderness Cabins, or 2 rooms at any of the resorts.

 

[srr1933]

What is a DVC? I found the Coronado Springs junior suites that would work. Any thoughts on that?

Sandy

 

[Tpiejg]

I believe AoA suites hold 6 people too.

 

[DisneyGal24]

A family suite at All-star Music would work. DVC (Disney Vacation Club) is basically the timeshare portion of some Disney Deluxe hotels (AKL, VWL, VGF, OKW, SSR, BLT, BCV, BWV). You can pay cash to stay or rent points from a DVC owner.

 

[hakepb]

What is a DVC? I found the Coronado Springs junior suites that would work. Any thoughts on that?

Sandy

Disney Vacation Club. (Its Disney's timeshares). Also seen on Disney's site as Deluxe Villas.

A 2BR is basically the size of 3 large hotel with a Master bedroom suite (with jacuzzi tub). A full kitchen /dining/Living room (with a queen pullout couch) plus washer/dryer and a 2nd bedroom that either 2 queen beds, or a studio with a queen bed and a full pullout couch.

There are villas at OKW WL, BW. BC, SSR, CR and soon GF

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

What is a DVC? I found the Coronado Springs junior suites that would work. Any thoughts on that?

Sandy

DVC = Disney Vacation Club resorts, of which there are quite a few. The "junior suites" at Coronado are quite pricey and often are not included in the discounts.

A 2-BR DVC suite would sleep 8 (or 9 at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Bay Lake Tower) and would include a full kitchen and washer/dryer. The junior suites at Coronado would not. It's more like an executive suite, with a bedroom and separate living room for meetings.

 

[srr1933]

So what would a 2 bedroom DVC run in Feb. Are they really expensive? Honestly, I don't see how anyone with a big family can afford to stay on property in anything other than a value. I have been pricing out rooms and getting $900-1300 a night in some of the nicer places. I know that's without a discount but a night at AKL would still run around $600 a night with 35% off. Any tips on getting the best pricing?

Sandy

 

[plutospalforever]

Hi! I totally understand your position. We are a family of 6 and our most affordable options are: 2 connecting rooms at an All Star or Pop, All Star Music family suite, or AoA family suite. We spend most of our time in the parks and really only use the resort for a place to sleep, so something more expensive would just be a waste in our case. Good Luck!!! And have a magical vacation!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[hakepb]

So what would a 2 bedroom DVC run in Feb. Are they really expensive? Honestly, I don't see how anyone with a big family can afford to stay on property in anything other than a value. I have been pricing out rooms and getting $900-1300 a night in some of the nicer places. I know that's without a discount but a night at AKL would still run around $600 a night with 35% off. Any tips on getting the best pricing?

Sandy

Here's a points chart for AKV:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/AK-Points.htm#aklvillas2013

An owner would need to use 317 points to reserve a week at the beginning of Feb for a week (all DVC reservations are by the day) in a savanna view 2BR in Kidani..which would get you 3 full bathrooms, a King bed in the master, 2Queens in the 2nd bedroom (if dedicated is booked), and a queen pullout sofa and a twin pullout chair.

Depending on your rental rate usually ($12-14/point (there may be an occasional $10-11/point rental) that would be in the $3800-4400 range or $540+ /night (hotel tax included). And there are cheaper standard view rooms.

OKW is a better "bang for the point" and only takes 269 points for the same week. Starting around $3200/ week or $460/night (average. F&S are higher, Su-Th are a bit lower). OKW rooms are bigger (1333 sq FT vs 565sqft for an AoA suite), and still have the bonus sleeper chair, but only have 2 bathrooms.

For rentals, there is a DVC Rent/Trade board here, or you can use a broker service like sponsors David's DVC rentals (http://www.dvcrequest.com/) or the Timeshare Store rentals.

FYI, because owners own all availability (98% occupancy) you generally need to book farther in advance. 11mo for popular DVC times and 7 mo out for slightly less popular times.
(And DVC owners are a bit different, early December is the most popular time of the year for many owners because of low points and Christmas decorations)

 

[hakepb]

So what would a 2 bedroom DVC run in Feb. Are they really expensive? Honestly, I don't see how anyone with a big family can afford to stay on property in anything other than a value. I have been pricing out rooms and getting $900-1300 a night in some of the nicer places. I know that's without a discount but a night at AKL would still run around $600 a night with 35% off. Any tips on getting the best pricing?

Sandy

Hi! I totally understand your position. We are a family of 6 and our most affordable options are: 2 connecting rooms at an All Star or Pop, All Star Music family suite, or AoA family suite. We spend most of our time in the parks and really only use the resort for a place to sleep, so something more expensive would just be a waste in our case. Good Luck!!! And have a magical vacation!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I completely understand. I'm not sure i would pay extra to rent a 1BR villa most trips, but having a private balcony, washer/dryer and a whirlpool tub among other items are very nice perks

 

[tink15823]

Here's a points chart for AKV:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/AK-Points.htm#aklvillas2013

An owner would need to use 317 points to reserve a week at the beginning of Feb for a week (all DVC reservations are by the day) in a savanna view 2BR in Kidani..which would get you 3 full bathrooms, a King bed in the master, 2Queens in the 2nd bedroom (if dedicated is booked), and a queen pullout sofa and a twin pullout chair.

Depending on your rental rate usually ($12-14/point (there may be an occasional $10-11/point rental) that would be in the $3800-4400 range or $540+ /night (hotel tax included). And there are cheaper standard view rooms.

OKW is a better "bang for the point" and only takes 269 points for the same week. Starting around $3200/ week or $460/night (average. F&S are higher, Su-Th are a bit lower). OKW rooms are bigger (1333 sq FT!), and still have the bonus sleeper chair, but only have 2 bathrooms.

For rentals, there is a DVC Rent/Trade board here, or you can use a broker service like sponsors David's DVC rentals (http://www.dvcrequest.com/) or the Timeshare Store rentals.

FYI, because owners own all availability (98% occupancy) you generally need to book farther in advance. 11mo for popular DVC times and 7 mo out for slightly less popular times.
(And DVC owners are a bit different, early December is the most popular time of the year for many owners because of low points and Christmas decorations)

So I have a few questions we would love to rent for 12 people 12/12/2014 - 12/21/14 One can we rent for that many days and two could we add dinning ?
Do you pay all at the time of booking ?

 

[hakepb]

I don't have any problem using all of my points, so I'm not a renter

Yes, you can rent as many nights as you have (the system might make it a new reservation after 2 months or so) points to use. One night or 2 weeks is no problem. (Although there are not a ton of owners with enough points for a grand villa for that long )

Yes, the QSDDP, DDP, or DxDDP can be added to any DVC points reservation. There is no ticket requirement to make a package. (In fact tickets must be purchased seperately) the DDP must be paid in full when it is added to the reservation, and can be added up to 48 hours before checkin. Currently, DVC reservations do not pay a seasonal surcharge for DDP. The only "ifs" are, the DVC owner must initiate the call to add the DDP, and all room occupants must buy the DDP for the entire reservation (even if 1 family leaves a few days early)

Payment is up to the renter. Some may do half when the reservation is made and half a little later, others may want more or all at reservation time. The owner controls the reservation..this is why some like using David's. He pays the owner half when the reservation is made, and pays the owner the other half at check-in day.

FYI, as a timeshare, you do not get daily mousekeeping. On that stay you would get a full cleaning on the 16th and "Trash and towel" service on the 20th. Additional mousekeeping can be purchased if needed. Personally I kinda like not having to have the potential of someone knocking on my door every day

 

[Deb & Bill]

So I have a few questions we would love to rent for 12 people 12/12/2014 - 12/21/14 One can we rent for that many days and two could we add dinning ?
Do you pay all at the time of booking ?

Your problem would be finding a single member with enough points to book that stay for you at 11 months out. If your group is composed of multiple families (more than two adults), individual rooms might work out better than a Grand Villa.

 

[megan10310]

Yes you can likely rent for that many days. No you can't add dining with dvc rentals.

 

[megan10310]

Yes you can likely rent for that many days. No you can't add dining with dvc rentals.

Sorry! I see that I was incorrect. <insert sheepish smiley>

 

[cart-mom]

One option I never see anyone suggest for a group of 6 is the treehouses at ssr. Not in my budget but with a castmember discount it might be in yours if you are already looking at 2be villas. It's tops in my list when I hit the lottery along with a Disney cruise. They sleep 8 I think and have full kitchen and washer and dryer. What's not to love?

 

[hakepb]

One option I never see anyone suggest for a group of 6 is the treehouses at ssr. Not in my budget but with a castmember discount it might be in yours if you are already looking at 2be villas. It's tops in my list when I hit the lottery along with a Disney cruise. They sleep 8 I think and have full kitchen and washer and dryer. What's not to love?

They are now a bit more points than 2BR units at SSR, but you do get 3 actual bedrooms (sleeps 9 + 1 infant under 3) plus the living room pullout, an a huuuuge deck with a grill. I do think the master bed is only a queen and/or no jacuzzi tub, and there are bunk beds in one of the rooms (may or may not work for all groups) an you only get 1 parking spot by the THV. (Other cars need to park at SSR)

 

[smiths02]

So what would a 2 bedroom DVC run in Feb. Are they really expensive? Honestly, I don't see how anyone with a big family can afford to stay on property in anything other than a value. I have been pricing out rooms and getting $900-1300 a night in some of the nicer places. I know that's without a discount but a night at AKL would still run around $600 a night with 35% off. Any tips on getting the best pricing?

Sandy

Have you looked at 2 regular rooms and request that they are adjoining?

 

[Missytara]

Have you looked at 2 regular rooms and request that they are adjoining?

You most like mean "connecting"; adjoining means they are next to each other. Connecting means they have a door between them.