best rooms for extended family vacay

[donan1212]

Last August, my parents took myself, my two daughters, and my sister on the trip of a lifetime to Disney. We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite at the Copper Creek villas and it was AMAZING.

Even though it was a "once in a lifetime trip".... we can't help daydreaming about planning another trip!

For this one, we would want to budget better and each "family" would be paying their own way.

I would be fine with staying at a value resort, but my Mom is adamant that she doesn't want to do that. I've suggested us staying at separate resorts, but she really wants us all to stay together. Last time, my parents took the king bed, my kids shared a queen, and my sister and I shared a queen. It was nice to have the extra room in the suite (living room, etc.) since we were all packed in for a week and didn't drive each other crazy!

What are suggestions and price points for a party of 6 staying in Disney?

I had thought about possibly renting DVC points to stay in a 2 bedroom villa again and/or get a room discount instead of getting the dining plan (which we did last time - free dining), and take advantage of the kitchen and eat out sparingly.

Or we could get two separate room at a moderate hotel? My sister and I would be sharing a room, so we would split the cost.

Right now we don't know when we would go, we are just trying to price it out to see if it would be something we could feasibly save up for.

 

[starry_solo]

Oops, you already said you didn't know when you wanted to go.

I suggest at least two rooms. If it's 6 of you, 4 of you in one room and your parents in a separate room. If you want the dining plan, consider the deluxe dining plan for your parents (the one that gives you three table service meals a day) and see if you can share it amongst the 6 of you (you get refillable mugs, alcoholic beverages, appetizer, entree, and dessert). So, 6 of you could likely share them as long as you don't do buffets.

 

[e_yerger]

I would suggest Coronado Springs. You & sister can stay in the regular rooms, and your parents count stay in the tower. The GDT rooms are much more luxe feeling.

 

[Marionnette]

Last August, my parents took myself, my two daughters, and my sister on the trip of a lifetime to Disney. We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite at the Copper Creek villas and it was AMAZING.

Even though it was a "once in a lifetime trip".... we can't help daydreaming about planning another trip!

For this one, we would want to budget better and each "family" would be paying their own way.

I would be fine with staying at a value resort, but my Mom is adamant that she doesn't want to do that. I've suggested us staying at separate resorts, but she really wants us all to stay together. Last time, my parents took the king bed, my kids shared a queen, and my sister and I shared a queen. It was nice to have the extra room in the suite (living room, etc.) since we were all packed in for a week and didn't drive each other crazy!

What are suggestions and price points for a party of 6 staying in Disney?

I had thought about possibly renting DVC points to stay in a 2 bedroom villa again and/or get a room discount instead of getting the dining plan (which we did last time - free dining), and take advantage of the kitchen and eat out sparingly.

Or we could get two separate room at a moderate hotel? My sister and I would be sharing a room, so we would split the cost.

Right now we don't know when we would go, we are just trying to price it out to see if it would be something we could feasibly save up for.

A Family Suite at AoA or ASMu might work for your family. Two rooms - a bedroom with queen bed and a living area with fold out full-size sofa, twin sleeper chair and an ottoman that opens to a twin bed. A kitchenette with microwave. Two bathrooms. It won't be the same as being in a 2BR villa. It will be a tight fit. But it will fit your family and it is relatively affordable.

If you want to rent DVC points for another stay in a villa, please make sure that you are aware of the pitfalls of renting. Especially if you choose to go thru a broker instead of dealing directly with an owner. A lot of people are not happy with the way that brokers are dealing with resort closures during the pandemic.

 

[Marthasor]

Last August, my parents took myself, my two daughters, and my sister on the trip of a lifetime to Disney. We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite at the Copper Creek villas and it was AMAZING.

Even though it was a "once in a lifetime trip".... we can't help daydreaming about planning another trip!

For this one, we would want to budget better and each "family" would be paying their own way.

I would be fine with staying at a value resort, but my Mom is adamant that she doesn't want to do that. I've suggested us staying at separate resorts, but she really wants us all to stay together. Last time, my parents took the king bed, my kids shared a queen, and my sister and I shared a queen. It was nice to have the extra room in the suite (living room, etc.) since we were all packed in for a week and didn't drive each other crazy!

What are suggestions and price points for a party of 6 staying in Disney?

I had thought about possibly renting DVC points to stay in a 2 bedroom villa again and/or get a room discount instead of getting the dining plan (which we did last time - free dining), and take advantage of the kitchen and eat out sparingly.

Or we could get two separate room at a moderate hotel? My sister and I would be sharing a room, so we would split the cost.

Right now we don't know when we would go, we are just trying to price it out to see if it would be something we could feasibly save up for.

I would price things out once rates are released for your dates. If you are splitting rooms three-ways (you, your sister, your parents), a 2-bedroom villa (especially if you can get a discount) may not be terribly pricey. Also, villas at other resorts (BCV, OKW and SSR), tend to price out less than CCV. BRV may even price out less. If you think you may only want two rooms, maybe even consider two studios at a DVC resort. You would still, then, at least get a kitchenette in each of those rooms. If you want to go with a mod, I would take a look at the PO resorts and CBR. If you want to stay deluxe, I would price out 2 rooms at WL, AKL, CR garden wing, BC/YC and BWI.

 

[donan1212]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm liking the two rooms at Coronodo springs idea. I had originally wanted to do an AOA suite for our first trip, but my other (adult) family members were not into it unfortunately. I would love to do Pop Century and save money, but everyone else is spoiled now since we got to stay at such a nice place last time! I have to say... being able to do laundry in our suite was super nice.

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm liking the two rooms at Coronodo springs idea. I had originally wanted to do an AOA suite for our first trip, but my other (adult) family members were not into it unfortunately. I would love to do Pop Century and save money, but everyone else is spoiled now since we got to stay at such a nice place last time! I have to say... being able to do laundry in our suite was super nice.

DVC villas will spoil you. Once you’ve stayed in one, it’s hard to go back to a regular hotel room. That’s why I own at 3 DVC resorts.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I agree with Marionnette about dVC rentals. Toss out any recommendations before March 22, 2020 and only read the ones since then. Avoid FB because the owners of some of the broker sites is removing negative comments. You might try the DIS Rent/Trade Board on the DVC Boards.

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

Regarding renting points to get a 2BR at a DVC property, it is definitely a cheaper option to rent 2 studios than a 2BR. Any DVC rental charges about $20 a point, so if you rent 2 studios at say 19 points each, it'll save you some money over a 2BR. For example, at Bay Lake Tower, 2 studios is 38 points, where a 2BR is 48 points, so $200 less per night. You lose the nice common area and full kitchen, but you can ask for rooms to be connecting and while this isn't guaranteed, they will place you close to each other at least.

 

[Marionnette]

Regarding renting points to get a 2BR at a DVC property, it is definitely a cheaper option to rent 2 studios than a 2BR. Any DVC rental charges about $20 a point, so if you rent 2 studios at say 19 points each, it'll save you some money over a 2BR. For example, at Bay Lake Tower, 2 studios is 38 points, where a 2BR is 48 points, so $200 less per night. You lose the nice common area and full kitchen, but you can ask for rooms to be connecting and while this isn't guaranteed, they will place you close to each other at least.

The only place that DVC has connecting studios is the Poly. All other studios are either dedicated (i.e. they don’t connect to another room) or they are part of a lockoff (i.e. they connect to a 1BR villa but the connecting doors can be locked from each side).

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

The only place that DVC has connecting studios is the Poly. All other studios are either dedicated (i.e. they don’t connect to another room) or they are part of a lockoff (i.e. they connect to a 1BR villa but the connecting doors can be locked from each side).

I stand corrected! Either way, you can always request rooms next to each other and they will usually accommodate you as best as they can. Sometimes there are a few rooms in between, or you are across the hall from the other party, but they will keep you close to each other if you indicate when you make the reservation that that's what you'd like to do.

 

[disney144]

I’ve never done this, so hopefully others can comment. Would a room at Riviera for your mom and a room at CBR for your family work? Aren’t they very close to each other?

 

[Marionnette]

I’ve never done this, so hopefully others can comment. Would a room at Riviera for your mom and a room at CBR for your family work? Aren’t they very close to each other?

Technically, they are separate resorts with separate check in areas, maybe even separate DME buses. Family members might not be able to share pool time together because only resorts guests are supposed to be able to use the pools at their own resorts. Other than that, there would be nothing to prevent the family from dining together, either in the grandparents’ villa, the CBR food court or one of the Riviera restaurants.

 

[buzznina]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm liking the two rooms at Coronodo springs idea. I had originally wanted to do an AOA suite for our first trip, but my other (adult) family members were not into it unfortunately. I would love to do Pop Century and save money, but everyone else is spoiled now since we got to stay at such a nice place last time! I have to say... being able to do laundry in our suite was super nice.

That sounds like it will work fine and you will have a great time. Just to let you know, our family has stayed at all 3 levels and had just as great of a time at Pop, now that they have queen beds, as we do at deluxe. Extra bonus at POP and AOA is the Skyliner We just have such a hard time now justifying spending all that extra $$ on the resorts, especially deluxes. If you want to try and save some money, you could bring or order groceries to be delivered to your room. Breakfast items like cereal and milk, P&J ingredients, snacks and even lunch meat etc. and of course lots of bottled water For breakfast our family may do one day of cereal etc. and the next will be a resort breakfast, my DDs have to have Mickey head waffles. LOL Another tip, if wanting to maybe eat a couple of dinners back in your room, which our DDs never really wanted to do until one day, DW and I thought of getting them a "Disney desert" either on the way out of the park or when we got to the resort that they could have after eating. What a difference that made Also, if it was nice out you could take it and find a table outside in the resort, if you didn't want to sit in the room. Just doing this a 'few' days saves a lot of $.
Just throwing out a couple of ideas

 

[Erica Ladd]

I’d save up for another villa!!!

 

[donan1212]

Thanks, it's so hard to plan with multiple families! I think I want to stay at POP to save money... my Mom does NOT want to, but I don't think it would be too awful to stay at different resorts. We did split up a few times last trip so we could just do that since my parents don't want to stay at a value. I totally understand their view, but I have to pay for 3 people, so I need to be thrifty!

 

[Erica Ladd]

I’d make sure you can have your pool time and QS time together

 

[VandVsmama]

Thanks, it's so hard to plan with multiple families! I think I want to stay at POP to save money... my Mom does NOT want to, but I don't think it would be too awful to stay at different resorts. We did split up a few times last trip so we could just do that since my parents don't want to stay at a value. I totally understand their view, but I have to pay for 3 people, so I need to be thrifty!

Just be honest with your parents and tell them that staying in a Moderate or Deluxe is not in your budget. I think that 2 separate rooms is a good idea if a suite at a Moderate or Deluxe or DVC isn't possible. Your parents could consider staying at a Deluxe or DVC resort that is closer to the Value resort you stay in (POP, for example). Riviera would be a good choice for them to consider, for example, because that's basically a gondola ride away from POP.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Last August, my parents took myself, my two daughters, and my sister on the trip of a lifetime to Disney. We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite at the Copper Creek villas and it was AMAZING.

Even though it was a "once in a lifetime trip".... we can't help daydreaming about planning another trip!

For this one, we would want to budget better and each "family" would be paying their own way.

I would be fine with staying at a value resort, but my Mom is adamant that she doesn't want to do that. I've suggested us staying at separate resorts, but she really wants us all to stay together. Last time, my parents took the king bed, my kids shared a queen, and my sister and I shared a queen. It was nice to have the extra room in the suite (living room, etc.) since we were all packed in for a week and didn't drive each other crazy!

What are suggestions and price points for a party of 6 staying in Disney?

I had thought about possibly renting DVC points to stay in a 2 bedroom villa again and/or get a room discount instead of getting the dining plan (which we did last time - free dining), and take advantage of the kitchen and eat out sparingly.

Or we could get two separate room at a moderate hotel? My sister and I would be sharing a room, so we would split the cost.

Right now we don't know when we would go, we are just trying to price it out to see if it would be something we could feasibly save up for.

Thanks, it's so hard to plan with multiple families! I think I want to stay at POP to save money... my Mom does NOT want to, but I don't think it would be too awful to stay at different resorts. We did split up a few times last trip so we could just do that since my parents don't want to stay at a value. I totally understand their view, but I have to pay for 3 people, so I need to be thrifty!

So it sounds like your parents paid for the 2-bedroom at Copper Creek last time for all of you. Who is driving the "each family pays their way" decision - it sounds like it may be coming from you and not your parents.

Maybe you can pay the amount that you'd pay if you stayed at Pop, and your parents cover the difference between the Pop price and where your Mom wants to stay. That way, you'd be contributing your portion, but your Mom gets to stay at a Not Value resort and have you all in the same place.

Two rooms at a moderate may work; splitting a single moderate room with your sister would likely be around the same price (or cheaper) than a value room of your own, but it still is a downgrade from Copper Creek.

 

[beercity]

I love Pop and would not consider it "cheap". It is less expensive but still very nice, and still carries a lot of benefits for being an on-site resort. It is very well kept up, the design it great, location is pretty good for a value, and of course the Skyliner! Also the Pop food court is great, and the AoA food court across the river is great too. I am a Poly owner, and there are times where I have to seriously weigh the benefits of renting out my Poly points and spending the cash on a longer stay at Pop.

The only downside to Pop is that it is more likely to house kids groups. 15s, Football, Cheer, etc. The hotels are built sturdy but the running and shouting still is loud. My recommendation would be to go to your room, don't unpack anything, and sit for 5 minutes and listen. If you hear a lot of commotion, ask for a quieter room. We waited too long once to complain, they offered us a new room but we were unpacked and didnt feel like moving everything.