Can I get your help?

[dredick]

Long story, bare with me.

My dilemma: We plan on taking my youngest son and his friend to Disney for his HS graduation gift. Our plan is to book one room at Wilderness Lodge, 2 park day tickets, and dinning plan (we always get the plan bc my husband is more relaxed pre-paying) We did the same for my older son and his friend when he graduated. We are middle class, and we do not have a lot of funds. We always count on income tax to pay for the majority of our vacations. Anyway....

I would LOVE for my older son to come with us. The younger went with us on my olders trip, and I love to have the family together. My older son is in college and he is attached at the hip to his long time girlfriend. This is potentially moving us to a 6 adult trip! Personally, I can't afford that, but this mom is going to try!

Finally...MY QUESTION!
What is the most economically way to pay for 6 adults, 2 day passes, dinning plan, resort? Book Art of Animation? Book 2 value or mod rooms? Cabins? I basically need the best resort for my finances.

Sorry for the long story and thank you for any help!!

 

[Westcoastwild]

The girlfriend would be nonissue for me. Don't take her. Who is going to share a room with her, other than her boyfriend? Because you're (probably) talking about 3 value rooms not two.

Do you drive or fly? I'd stay at Fort Wilderness if camping is a possibility and use that as an excuse to stay and extra couple of days. Or rent a large camper to have delivered to a campsite? And then skip the dining plan. I think the cabins are really cool but I definitely don't think they're economical.


I think the issue I see is that you say "most economical" but really you're talking about what's convenient. I don't think the dining plan is ever really economical.

 

[TheInvernessie]

Don't bother with the girlfriend. She's an extra. However if she's willing to pay her way...talk to her about it.

 

[Michblue]

When I was 17 my boyfriends mother (now my mother in law) wanted to go to Disney with her son. He was attached at the hip to me, so she took me along too. It was amazing. My family had no money for trips like that. So it was a huge treat for me. We had a great time. I say if you can swing it, go for it. It sounds like he won't go without girlfriend, understandable, so I would bring her.

My first thought was two rooms at Pop. You could share with son, girlfriend, and give graduate and friend connecting room. Or give couple second room and bunk with younger soon and friend. My fifteen yo would gladly share a full size bed with his best friend. But they are skinny boys who do a lot of sleepovers and are used to that.

I have planned a lot of group trips and two values always beats family suite or moderated. That said I have never priced cabins as comparison. I did run numbers for cabin once for my brothers family of 6. It's seemed very reasonable. But I was not comparing numbers at the time.

My husband is also much more relaxed with dining plan. I understand exactly what you mean by that.

We aren't there yet but I see your post as where my family is heading. Family trips grow to include significant others. Kind of sad, kind of fun. Best wishes, good luck.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I see where you are coming from wanting to bring the older son and his gf, but if the older son already got a deluxe for his grad, it seems a little unfair that his brother would only get a value/mod just so that older son's gf can come. Maybe book the WL for you, DH, and younger son/friend, and then a room at a value for older son and gf if you really need to bring her? They'd probably like the privacy anyway and could meet up at the parks. Otherwise, maybe renting points and getting 2 villas could work, or one suite.

 

[dredick]

When I was 17 my boyfriends mother (now my mother in law) wanted to go to Disney with her son. He was attached at the hip to me, so she took me along too. It was amazing. My family had no money for trips like that. So it was a huge treat for me. We had a great time. I say if you can swing it, go for it. It sounds like he won't go without girlfriend, understandable, so I would bring her.

My first thought was two rooms at Pop. You could share with son, girlfriend, and give graduate and friend connecting room. Or give couple second room and bunk with younger soon and friend. My fifteen yo would gladly share a full size bed with his best friend. But they are skinny boys who do a lot of sleepovers and are used to that.

I have planned a lot of group trips and two values always beats family suite or moderated. That said I have never priced cabins as comparison. I did run numbers for cabin once for my brothers family of 6. It's seemed very reasonable. But I was not comparing numbers at the time.

My husband is also much more relaxed with dining plan. I understand exactly what you mean by that.
he olders
We aren't there yet but I see your post as where my family is heading. Family trips grow to include significant others. Kind of sad, kind of fun. Best wishes, good luck.

Thank you!! This was exactly the kind of info I was looking for! We did two mods for the olders trip. We would share with my son and GF this trip if they go. WE do not need 3 rooms and, even though dining is not the most economical, it is how we do disney.

 

[dredick]

I see where you are coming from wanting to bring the older son and his gf, but if the older son already got a deluxe for his grad, it seems a little unfair that his brother would only get a value/mod just so that older son's gf can come. Maybe book the WL for you, DH, and younger son/friend, and then a room at a value for older son and gf if you really need to bring her? They'd probably like the privacy anyway and could meet up at the parks. Otherwise, maybe renting points and getting 2 villas could work, or one suite.

oh, I can see where you get that. What I meant was, we paid for my older sons friend to go with us as his graduation trip, not that we stayed at a deluxe when we went for his graduation trip. Sorry for the confusion. We are currently looking and sharing a deluxe for younger son so he could get a deluxe IF it's a party of 4. Older son got joining room at moderate and younger son went with us and shared our room. So, to be fair, younger son got to crash older sons graduation trip....I'm trying my best to keep this fair.

 

[Michblue]

Thank you!! This was exactly the kind of info I was looking for! We did two mods for the olders trip. We would share with my son and GF this trip if they go. WE do not need 3 rooms and, even though dining is not the most economical, it is how we do disney.

You're welcome.

Another thing, my MIL says that high school trip was the best investment she ever made. As a result we have taken her on Disney trips with us and her grandchildren 4 times!

 

[Pkltm]

I would go value or mod, however I would expect that the GF would chip in.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

oh, I can see where you get that. What I meant was, we paid for my older sons friend to go with us as his graduation trip, not that we stayed at a deluxe when we went for his graduation trip. Sorry for the confusion. We are currently looking and sharing a deluxe for younger son so he could get a deluxe IF it's a party of 4. Older son got joining room at moderate and younger son went with us and shared our room. So, to be fair, younger son got to crash older sons graduation trip....I'm trying my best to keep this fair.

OOOH. Well, that changes things. Then I'd totally be fine doing the moderate/value route for younger son and his friend so that everyone can come along.

Your cheapest options would likely be two of the cheapest rooms at an all star, followed by a suite at an all star, followed by a cabin. With teen/college boys you will probably be hitting the parks a lot anyway.

 

[Westcoastwild]

oh, I can see where you get that. What I meant was, we paid for my older sons friend to go with us as his graduation trip, not that we stayed at a deluxe when we went for his graduation trip. Sorry for the confusion. We are currently looking and sharing a deluxe for younger son so he could get a deluxe IF it's a party of 4. Older son got joining room at moderate and younger son went with us and shared our room. So, to be fair, younger son got to crash older sons graduation trip....I'm trying my best to keep this fair.

Oooh makes more sense now. (I had also admittedly missed the "long time" part with the girlfriend). If she likes you guys, and you all like her, then I'd take her as well. Just builds bad feelings if you don't and the dynamics are different if it's a long term stable relationship. I don't know if I'd make her chip in. It's your younger son's trip and I'm assuming she (and everyone else) is just along for the ride.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The cheapest option will be two rooms at a value or the family suite at AsMu. The two value rooms will give you 4 double beds and two bathrooms. The family suite will give you 1 queen bed, 1 double sleeper sofa, a pull-out chair and a pull-out ottoman.