Do we really need a GV?

[tjcj]

We are in the middle of planning for a Jun 09 family trip. As of right now we have 17 people coming (7 kids and 10 adults).

So my question is to this: do we spend the points to get a GV (for the 1st 12 people in the party) or stick with a 2brm idea. Right now my options are this:
SSR GV and 1, 2brm
SSR GV and 2, studios
SSR 3 2brms
SSR 2 2brms and 2 studios

So is the GV worth the points considering most of the trip will spent doing the parks? Will we feel crowed using the 2brm/studio idea?

 

[Mtnman44]

Personally, if this were me, I'd try for 3 2BRs at OKW. This is due to the size and the real beds in the second BR as well as the much lower point cost.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd get my own lodging and tell the others what they need to do to get theirs. Get ready for some last minute changes to your reservation. If you are charging people for the lodging, get the money now and don't refund if they back out too late to do anything with your points.

 

[Muushka]

I'd get my own lodging and tell the others what they need to do to get theirs. Get ready for some last minute changes to your reservation. If you are charging people for the lodging, get the money now and don't refund if they back out too late to do anything with your points.

 

[DVCTiff]

We stayed in a GV and it was totally worth it, but there was no way that two couples were going to share a bedroom (with two queens in it, the beds not the guests ) so the max capacity for us was one couple plus kids in each room and two people on the fold out - so ten really. Depends on what the kiddie configuration is.

 

[Mtnman44]

Yes, this is the best suggestion.

I'd get my own lodging and tell the others what they need to do to get theirs. Get ready for some last minute changes to your reservation. If you are charging people for the lodging, get the money now and don't refund if they back out too late to do anything with your points.

 

[brittsmum1998]

I'd get my own lodging and tell the others what they need to do to get theirs. Get ready for some last minute changes to your reservation. If you are charging people for the lodging, get the money now and don't refund if they back out too late to do anything with your points.

oh yeah otherwise you will regret it

 

[kikiq]

We are in the middle of planning for a Jun 09 family trip. As of right now we have 17 people coming (7 kids and 10 adults).

So my question is to this: do we spend the points to get a GV (for the 1st 12 people in the party) or stick with a 2brm idea. Right now my options are this:
SSR GV and 1, 2brm
SSR GV and 2, studios
SSR 3 2brms
SSR 2 2brms and 2 studios

So is the GV worth the points considering most of the trip will spent doing the parks? Will we feel crowed using the 2brm/studio idea?

My questions to you are: 1) Are the 17 people all family or a mix of family and friends 2) How many families are there? 3) Are the points all yours? After reading Dis for almost a year and planning a family trip with 10/12 people, I decided that a GV was not the way to go. I went with 1 2 bdrm/studio , then if one of my brothers and family bail, or if both bail, I just cancel one ressie and my family will go anyway.

The advantage of going with the 2bdrm/studio idea is that families can have their own space and if someone has a meltdown, they can go back to their own place.

 

[tjcj]

My questions to you are: 1) Are the 17 people all family or a mix of family and friends 2) How many families are there? 3) Are the points all yours? After reading Dis for almost a year and planning a family trip with 10/12 people, I decided that a GV was not the way to go. I went with 1 2 bdrm/studio , then if one of my brothers and family bail, or if both bail, I just cancel one ressie and my family will go anyway.

The advantage of going with the 2bdrm/studio idea is that families can have their own space and if someone has a meltdown, they can go back to their own place.

Yes everyone is family on this trip, we have a total of 5 familes in the mix. And yes it's all my points.

I am tending to agree with you the 2brm and studio ideas giving me options if folks bail on me and also to give folks their own space. Thanks!!!

 

[dvcbrad]

Having stayed in 2BR's and GV's, I would highly recommend getting the GV and put the remaining members of the party in studios. Here's why ... the GV has significantly more room to get a group together. I'm guessing that at some point(s) you will want to get all, or most, of your group together at somewhere other than a restaurant or a park. The family and dining rooms of the GVs will be able to give you that opportunity without feeling jammed in. I personally don't see any way to be able to do that in any of the 2BR's. If the get-together type thing is not an issue, then I'd suggest getting whatever works out cheapest points-wise.

Good luck

 

[macosx]

I'd go with the GV + 2BR as the simplest way to consolidate everyone and have plenty of space. It's probably the most points, but not by much.

 

[eva]

Having stayed in 2BR's and GV's, I would highly recommend getting the GV and put the remaining members of the party in studios. Here's why ... the GV has significantly more room to get a group together. I'm guessing that at some point(s) you will want to get all, or most, of your group together at somewhere other than a restaurant or a park. The family and dining rooms of the GVs will be able to give you that opportunity without feeling jammed in. I personally don't see any way to be able to do that in any of the 2BR's. If the get-together type thing is not an issue, then I'd suggest getting whatever works out cheapest points-wise.

Good luck

I agree with this. The GV has a lot more room in the living room and dining room for that many people to meet in.

 

[BroganMc]

But you totally underestimate the power of the pool/BBQ area!

My last family get together (16 people including 3 families of 8 adults and 8 kids) was at another resort. We got two 2-bedroom units and one studio. The previous two gatherings I arranged merely had us configuring our trip dates and everyone getting their own 2-bedroom units. Either way it was stressful for me.

All times we did this, we found areas of the resort to congregate. Usually by the pool and BBQ (for family cookouts). It was a lot easier to feed this group outside where we could simply hose down the mess the kids made.

Now I'm contemplating a 17 person gathering for next year. That's 8 adults and 9 children. For the sake of my points and giving everyone a place to retreat too, I'm planning on getting two 2-bedroom units and a studio. I'd go for three 2-bedrooms but I simply don't have the points.

I figure between the resort amenities and what we'd like to do together in the parks, we can easily meet outside the rooms. Of course, with my family, we've been know to all cram into a two-bedroom to watch a movie. Usually the kids just opt to have sleepovers in each other's units.

I'd love to do a GV, but in truth unless I really wanted to use that dining room, it just ain't worth it to me.

 

[ccw]

I have not stayed at a GV anywhere but at OKW and was delighted to find that it had a FOURTH bathroom! No tub but a decent sized bathroom including a nice shower... on the main level. I was stunned by how big the GV living/dining area was and, assuming some folks would hang out in the kitchen and some might be on the deck, an OKW GV could certainly handle a gathering of 17 people assembling from their respective villas/studios for cocktails or even a casual meal.

 

[macosx]

But you totally underestimate the power of the pool/BBQ area!

My last family get together (16 people including 3 families of 8 adults and 8 kids) was at another resort. We got two 2-bedroom units and one studio. The previous two gatherings I arranged merely had us configuring our trip dates and everyone getting their own 2-bedroom units. Either way it was stressful for me.

All times we did this, we found areas of the resort to congregate. Usually by the pool and BBQ (for family cookouts). It was a lot easier to feed this group outside where we could simply hose down the mess the kids made.

Now I'm contemplating a 17 person gathering for next year. That's 8 adults and 9 children. For the sake of my points and giving everyone a place to retreat too, I'm planning on getting two 2-bedroom units and a studio. I'd go for three 2-bedrooms but I simply don't have the points.

I figure between the resort amenities and what we'd like to do together in the parks, we can easily meet outside the rooms. Of course, with my family, we've been know to all cram into a two-bedroom to watch a movie. Usually the kids just opt to have sleepovers in each other's units.

I'd love to do a GV, but in truth unless I really wanted to use that dining room, it just ain't worth it to me.

Excellent point about the BBQ and other areas!

I was under the impression that the GVs would wind up costing more, and in generally, probably do by a little, but I made some comparisons at OKW and was surprised to find that GVs options aren't the most expensive, it's the 3 2BR thats quite a bit more and if I remember correctly, there was another configuration without a GV that cost more as well. If it's a choice between GV+2 studios or 2 2BR+studio, check the actual points and don't let cost be a factor, especially if it's not.

If everyone is committed in going, I don't see why not go for the GV and larger units. If the group is undecided, then splitting it up into smaller units makes it more flexible for cancellations.

 

[crisi]

There are two things:

The cancellation issue, outlined above.

The quality time together issue - the positive is outlined above - a GV gives a decent space for the group to gather. The negative is that whoever is staying in the GV gets to share their space. Multiple families in a space for a week worth of vacation can get grating, depending on the personalities involved. Consider carefully how crazy your sister in law Susan drives your mother. How Tom still hasn't learned to put a dish in the sink. And that Bob and Teri are both LOUD and like to stay up until 11:00 at night. Now if your relatives are all perfect (or at least tolerant of each others flaws), you'll have a great time. I lack that patience with my own family.