Critique my plan? 2 bedroom for 9 people

[gert]

On our trip, we'll be:
6 adults over 30
1 20 year old boy who isn't picky about his sleeping comfort
2 girls (8 year old & an 11 year old who will glued at the hip)

So that's 9. We're going to be traveling the 2nd or 3rd week of July 2013 (my boyfriend's high school football coaching schedule is dictating this).

I don't enough points for a GV (even with banked & borrowed), and I'm not totally against renting points to make up the difference. I'm hoping I can avoid it.

Here's what I'm thinking:

At 11 months out, I'll book a 2 bedroom at our home resort (BWV). Online it says they'll sleep 9 (but you must bring bedding for one). Our plan is to bring sleeping bags for the two girls and have them alternate with the 20 year old if they get tired of "camping."

At 7 months out, my order of preference for switching is:
1) 2 bedroom BLT (extra sleeping spot & extra bathroom & close proximity to MK) - room type doesn't matter, prefer a Standard for point savings but I'll go with a LV or MK view if necessary)
2) 2 bedroom at Kidani (prefer point savings, but I can go Savannah view)
3) Treehouse Villa - probably won't even be available at 7 months, but it's on my list anyway. The space would be nice, my stepdad likes to grill. We won't have cars, though, so not happy with remoteness of it.

I could probably also try for a GV at OKW, renting the extra points I need, but it probably wouldn't be available and having never stayed at OKW, I'm not sure I'd like it. The reason we own at BWV is because we like being within walking distance.

Thoughts? I know I'm probably crazy for thinking a Treehouse Villa would even be an option, but is BLT a pipe dream, too? I'm hoping after 2012 is over and BLT is less "new" for people it might be easier to get in.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

Kidani and BLT have grills as well. They aren't in proximity of the rooms but they are on the grounds.

They both would be great because of the extra bathrooms. Did they state you can put 9 in those rooms? I know Kidani has the king in the master, 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom, the queen sofa bed and the pull out chair. Thats the dedicated room. The others have one queen and a sofa in the 2nd bedroom. Never stayed in a 2BR Dedicated at Bay Lake so I am not sure if there are two beds in the 2nd bedroom. Bay Lake has the pull out chair too.

 

[gert]

Kidani and BLT have grills as well. They aren't in proximity of the rooms but they are on the grounds.

They both would be great because of the extra bathrooms. Did they state you can put 9 in those rooms? I know Kidani has the king in the master, 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom, the queen sofa bed and the pull out chair. Thats the dedicated room. The others have one queen and a sofa in the 2nd bedroom. Never stayed in a 2BR Dedicated at Bay Lake so I am not sure if there are two beds in the 2nd bedroom. Bay Lake has the pull out chair too.

Thank you! They definitely say 9 on the website. I also like the room layouts a bit better, seems like with the pull-outs fully extended there would be more room to move around compared to BWV.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

It is better. The kids were fighting over the pull out chair. They are comfortable too as well as the couch.

 

[Alexander]

With that many adults, I really think a GV at OKW would be your best bet. OKW is amazing. The villas are already larger than most others, so the space would be a huge plus. Trust me, you would love OKW!

Rather than renting points, why don't you have someone do a transfer directly into your account? You would retain control of the reservation and sometimes a transfer is cheaper than renting. Just remember you can only do one transfer either in or out per year.

Without a car, I don't know if I'd do the THV. They are pretty far out.

I agree with the PP that Kidani also has the extra bathroom and sleeping for 9. BLT would also work because of the extras. I would think that only 2 bathrooms for 7 adults would be kind of difficult.

Any chance you could swing a 2 bedroom and a studio? Don't know how those points are, but is it less than a GV?

 

[tigergrad]

We stayed in a 2 bdrm at Kidani in July of 2010. 6 adults, 2 14 yr old big teenage boys, and in infant. We had plenty of room. This is our new favorite resort. We had a savanna view wich was awesome in the morning.

 

[cvjw]

I would try for BLT or Kidani Village at the 7 month mark. They both have the extra bathroom and sleeper chair in the 2 bedroom villas. We have stayed in both the dedicated and lock-off 2 bedroom at Kidani, and in the dedicated 2 bedroom at BLT. We had 7 people in both of those 2 bedroom villas, and I will be honest, it was tight - I can't imagine putting 2 more people in that room. We booked both resorts at the 7 month mark (exact), and have had no problem reserving those villas for multiple trips.

If I could swing it, I would try for the OKW grand villa. We are taking another family of 4 with us next year, for a total of 8, and we are getting the grand villa. It is just too much togetherness for us with all 8 people in a 2 bedroom.

 

[Disneypapa]

I have done a 2 BR at Kidani with six (6) adults, two teenagers and an eight year old. The extra bath was great and we had plenty of room.

I have also done OKW 2 BR with the same group, which also worked.

Good luck.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm sorry but your trip sounds like total misery to me in a two bedroom villa. You're talking about seven adults and two kids. There is no way you will get an OKW GV at seven months out for July. A two bedroom villa, no matter where is going to seem crowded to the max. At BWV, you'll only get eight bath towels. You'll need to provide the extra yourself or pay for extra. And you'll only have two bathrooms, one rather smallish in the second bedroom.

It almost sounds like three studios or a one bedroom and two studios would work so much better. You'll get a little space from each other, three bathrooms, real beds (no sleeping bags).

 

[gert]

I'm sorry but your trip sounds like total misery to me in a two bedroom villa. You're talking about seven adults and two kids. There is no way you will get an OKW GV at seven months out for July. A two bedroom villa, no matter where is going to seem crowded to the max. At BWV, you'll only get eight bath towels. You'll need to provide the extra yourself or pay for extra. And you'll only have two bathrooms, one rather smallish in the second bedroom.

It almost sounds like three studios or a one bedroom and two studios would work so much better. You'll get a little space from each other, three bathrooms, real beds (no sleeping bags).

Oh, duh. 1 bedroom & 2 studios - I hadn't thought of that, thanks!

 

[runmommyrun]

We are sleeping 7 in a dedicated 2-BR at BLT this October. (5 adults, 2 kids -- ages 7 & 9). There is enough sleeping room. But it will seem congested in the living room in the evening. But we don't anticipate spending that much time in the room, so hoping it will be ok.

We have done 8 in a 2-BR lock off, but that was two families, with 2 kids each. That worked fine, as it was a lock off and the other family essentially had a studio with the ability to use the living room/full kitchen when we were awake.

I think the important thing is to look at who is going and would they mind sharing a room with each other. That may help you decide which configuration is the best. And the third bathroom is a big help for that many people.

 

[robinb]

Oh, duh. 1 bedroom & 2 studios - I hadn't thought of that, thanks!

That's what I would suggest as well. Or maybe even a 2BR plus a studio if you have the points. We did 1 2BR and 2 studios for a family trip and gave the 2 studios extra keys to our 2BR so they could come in when they pleased to use the kitchen and the laundry.

I did a 2BR at BWV once with 4 adults and 3 kids and it was cramped! We did a GV at OKW with the same group and it was heaven. Of course, the GV was bigger than either one of our houses .

 

[Shamus]

Oh, duh. 1 bedroom & 2 studios - I hadn't thought of that, thanks!

OK ---- What am I missing?


Is it not less points to reserve a two bedroom and a single studio as opposed to a one bedroom and 2 studios?



Unless you need rooms keyed separately or the two bedroom is unavailable I don't understand why you would go with the latter.

 

[robinb]

OK ---- What am I missing?


Is it not less points to reserve a two bedroom and a single studio as opposed to a one bedroom and 2 studios?

Yes, you are right! A 2BR and a studio are fewer points than a 1BR and 2 studios. Of course, 3 studios (sleeps 12) are cheaper still, bit that may not work with the OP's family make up.

 

[gk90]

We've done 5 adults and 4 kids in a Kidani 2 BR. It's doable, not crazy if you all get along well and are considerate of each others' needs. The 3 bathrooms were a big plus.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

We've done the Kidani 2br with 5 adults and 3 kids. The 3rd bathroom is a a blessing but the living space is is tiny. There isn't room enough to sit, let alone eat with 8 or 9.

For 9 I would do OKW in a heartbeat, a lot more room to navigate.

 

[k3chantal]

I am concerned about the amount of adults you have in your party for you all to comfortably fit in a two bedroom. We just got back from AKL and stayed in a two bedroom savanna view with 9. But we had four adults and 5 children. Each 'room' had 3 people. We put my husband and I and youngest (2) in the master bedroom, the 3 kids (12,10, and 9) in the living room, and my friend and her husband and toddler in the other bedroom. We all had plenty of room but I do remember thinking that I wouldn't want to be an adult sleeping in the 'bed' chair or the sofa bed. The kids were happily fine there but as an adult I want more privacy.

If you can stretch the points and get a GV I think you all will be much happier.

 

[ElizabethG]

I would go for the 2-bdrm plus studio at BWV. That wouldn't cost many more points than a LV 2-bdrm at BLT. The standard views will be gone at 7-months. We are staying in a lock-off standard 2-bdrm at BLT this year (4 adults, 2 kids). I called at the 11-month mark, first thing in the morning. The dedicated bedrooms were all gone, but lock-off was available.

 

[kamik86]

We did a 2 bedroom kidani with 6 adults, two older teens (16 and 17 I believe) and a 9 year old.

Things to consider:
Are the adults couples? It works better if most are.
Then couple 1 (owner of points) gets the master bed
couples 2 and 3 get the other beds in the second bedroom
the two girls that are attached at the hip get the larger pullout
20 year old guy gets the pull out chair.

Now it didn't seem super crowded to me... Was MUCH better then the drive down and say overnight on the way... but then again I was the point owner so we had the huge bed with our own bathroom (I mean we let others use it getting ready but for the most part it was just us in that whole section).

 

[Deb & Bill]

We did a 2 bedroom kidani with 6 adults, two older teens (16 and 17 I believe) and a 9 year old.

Things to consider:
Are the adults couples? It works better if most are.
Then couple 1 (owner of points) gets the master bed
couples 2 and 3 get the other beds in the second bedroom
the two girls that are attached at the hip get the larger pullout
20 year old guy gets the pull out chair.

Now it didn't seem super crowded to me... Was MUCH better then the drive down and say overnight on the way... but then again I was the point owner so we had the huge bed with our own bathroom (I mean we let others use it getting ready but for the most part it was just us in that whole section).

Except there is no pullout chair at BWV.

I suggested two studios and a one bedroom instead of a two bedroom and a studio because I was thinking someone would feel slighted because they got the studio instead of being with the rest of the family. But with two studios, they are equal.