Family of 7 staying onsite help?

[LilMamiBella]

We are a family of 7. We want to go around June/July 2015. We have stayed on and offsite but Dh says he wants to be onsite because of the convience and the dining plan. I'm looking for the cheapest way to stay there. I have tried looking at the dw website and tried to do 2 rooms at asmo but it said it wasn't available for the standard room. The ages of the kids will be 16,13,8,5, and 4.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

The cheapest way will be to book 2 rooms at a Value, like ASMo. You might have better luck calling rather than trying to book online; booking 2 rooms online will require 2 separate reservations. Keep in mind that you'll probably have to book it so that you have you and your husband in separate rooms, one with 3 kids and one with 2. You can request connecting rooms and since you have more kids than adults, they will try to accommodate you, but it is just a request. Then when you get there, you can figure out who to put in each room.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We are a family of 7. We want to go around June/July 2015. We have stayed on and offsite but Dh says he wants to be onsite because of the convience and the dining plan. I'm looking for the cheapest way to stay there. I have tried looking at the dw website and tried to do 2 rooms at asmo but it said it wasn't available for the standard room. The ages of the kids will be 16,13,8,5, and 4.

I agree--cheapest is booking 2 value rooms. Call it in.

Also a possibility, renting an RV and staying at Fort Wilderness.

Or--rent DVC points for a 2 bedroom. For that, booking at the 11 month mark ensures greatest opportunity for getting your desired DVC. Dining plan can be purchased without a ticket package, but it is done through the owner.

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

Convenience of a DP, why not put what the DP would cost on a Disney gift card(s) - I guarantee you'll save money and eat just as well. There are discounts available on G Cs; whether you stay on or off site I'd go with gift cards to prepay for your meals, seven is a large group, it'll be expensive to stay on site, all we do is sleep and get ready in our room.

 

[LilMamiBella]

Just wondering if the Disney yes program would work with this?

 

[TravelMommy]

There were 7 of us, (one in a pack n play at the time)was convenient and we stayed before our DVC reservation, I enjoyed Pop and loved the bus service. We thought Pop had the most "resort like" feel of all the values. We also loved their food court and pools. Are you able to go during a "free dining" promotion?? I know a lot of people like the convenience of the DDP. We have been doing the Disney gift cards for years and have saved a lot of $$$. Have a great trip!

 

[HeatherC]

Another suggestion...you could stay at Bonnet Creek Resort....its onsite, just not Disney owned. We are renting a three bedroom villa with full kitchen, washer and dryer, two bathrooms over April Spring Break for $125 a night including all taxes.

This would give you tons more room for a ton less money.

You could then just pay out of pocket for food...or figure out how much you would need (all the menus and prices are online) and put that amount on a Visa gift card....that way your food is prepaid and convenient for DH.

Bonnet Creek is a beautiful resort...much nicer than any Disney Values. There are multiple pools with lazy rivers, slides, pirate ship, free mini golf, kids activities, etc. Plus you can watch the fireworks from your balcony each night.

We are renting a minivan for ten days for $350. Even with the car rental and $15 parking fee at Disney, we still save a TON over two rooms at a Disney owned hotel. Plus...no buses to wait on and you just leave when you want...which is priceless when traveling with tired little ones.

Just an idea to consider.

We rented from an owner on myresortnetwork.com if you are interested.

Have a wonderful time planning!!

 

[LuvOrlando]

I would just book one room at the value and keep calling back all the time until a second one opens up, I bet eventually it will open up. As long as it's room only & not part of a package you can always get your money back if nothing shows up. If it does open up just have them link the reservations then, I booked 2 rooms at Caribbean Beach & although they couldn't offer a 'guarantee", which is, I suspect just policy, they did end up giving us connecting rooms because, lets face it, who in their right mind wants a bunch of teens roaming around WITHOUT adults supervising them.

As a backup make another reservation at a plan B hotel off site, as long as they also have a generous cancellation policy you will give yourself time to make sure you get a good fit. Just make a note on your calendar to make sure you cancel one or the other in the spring so you don't forget & throw away $

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I agree--cheapest is booking 2 value rooms. Call it in.

Also a possibility, renting an RV and staying at Fort Wilderness.

Or--rent DVC points for a 2 bedroom. For that, booking at the 11 month mark ensures greatest opportunity for getting your desired DVC. Dining plan can be purchased without a ticket package, but it is done through the owner.

I agree about looking into renting DVC points. We have done it several times now. You get all the benefits of staying onsite but with a condo you feel more together than just a connecting door. Parents also get their own bedroom with king bed and Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. Even if you'd rather not cook meals or do laundry while on vacation, it's nice to have a full size fridge and table to sit at for a quick bowl of cereal. It saves a lot of money and can still do deluxe with the cost of 2 deluxe rooms.

 

[Marionnette]

I agree--cheapest is booking 2 value rooms. Call it in.

Also a possibility, renting an RV and staying at Fort Wilderness.

Or--rent DVC points for a 2 bedroom. For that, booking at the 11 month mark ensures greatest opportunity for getting your desired DVC. Dining plan can be purchased without a ticket package, but it is done through the owner.

I agree about looking into renting DVC points. We have done it several times now. You get all the benefits of staying onsite but with a condo you feel more together than just a connecting door. Parents also get their own bedroom with king bed and Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. Even if you'd rather not cook meals or do laundry while on vacation, it's nice to have a full size fridge and table to sit at for a quick bowl of cereal. It saves a lot of money and can still do deluxe with the cost of 2 deluxe rooms.

I disagree.

Renting a DVC 2-bedroom villa can be wonderful, but it is not going to be cheaper than booking two Value Resort rooms. If the OP is looking for the cheapest way for her family to stay onsite (short of pitching a tent in FW), the two Value Resort rooms will be the cheapest option.

And Bonnet Creek is an excellent compromise as long as the OP understands that, while the resorts do lie within the Walt Disney Resort borders, it is not a Disney Resort and it doesn't have the same benefits of staying in a Disney Resort (EMH, DME, charging back to the room, package deliver, etc). As long as the OP is aware of these differences, Bonnet Creek can be a nice alternative choice.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sorry I missed the part about OP looking for the cheapest way. I never said DVC would be cheaper than values. FWIW I said it would be cheaper than getting 2 deluxe rooms.
For cheapest way I still agree with Lisa then to rent an RV and stay at FW.
Crunch the numbers and see what works best.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I disagree.

Renting a DVC 2-bedroom villa can be wonderful, but it is not going to be cheaper than booking two Value Resort rooms. If the OP is looking for the cheapest way for her family to stay onsite (short of pitching a tent in FW), the two Value Resort rooms will be the cheapest option.

And Bonnet Creek is an excellent compromise as long as the OP understands that, while the resorts do lie within the Walt Disney Resort borders, it is not a Disney Resort and it doesn't have the same benefits of staying in a Disney Resort (EMH, DME, charging back to the room, package deliver, etc). As long as the OP is aware of these differences, Bonnet Creek can be a nice alternative choice.

If you reread my post, I said nothing about DVC being "cheaper". Is said values were. Camping was another option and DVC is yet a third option. But they are indeed options that are cheaper than a cash reservation going the regular route finding one hotel room to accommodate 7 people. They would be stuck with suite options where available or DVC rack rate.

 

[LilMamiBella]

Dumb question: If we stay at a dvc are we still able to be on the dining plan, no right?

 

[Marionnette]

Dumb question: If we stay at a dvc are we still able to be on the dining plan, no right?

If you're staying in a DVC Resort on points, then you can purchase the dining plan but you cannot get *free* dining. You must pay the owner that you are renting from and then they will add the dining plan to your stay.

If you are staying in a DVC Resort that you booked through Disney, then you can add the dining plan as a part of a package. You can also get *free* dining if your resort stay qualifies.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Also you dont't have to buy tickets through Disney in order to buy the dining plan. If you buy from Undercover Tourist or USSSA you can still buy the dining plan.
http://store.usssa.com/Products/121-disney-world-theme-park-tickets.aspx

 

[MichaelaF]

I'm pretty sure the ACTUAL cheapest thing you can do would be to rent a pop-up camper and stay at Fort Wilderness. June/July is high season, so you will be paying more to go then than, say, September. (Also, you're not going to get free dining in June/July like you might in September.) So since you can't get free dining then anyway (which is never offered at the Fort), the Fort would be cheaper than two value rooms, with the benefit of a short boat ride to the MK. (And all the benefits and character of the Fort, which I love. And I think there so much for kids to love at the Fort that the values can't offer.)

For example, you can rent a pop-up camper which sleeps 8+ for $69 a night. Rack rates are $71 a night in the high season you'll be there, or $81 on the weekends. So that would cost $140 a night (before taxes) on a weeknight, or $150 a night. (By contrast, the rack rates for Pop at that time of year are $143 or $167 (wknite/wkend), so $286 a night for two (again, before tax). You may need to pay a bit extra per person over 4 ppl I think, but it wouldn't be that much. The rental places will set up everything for you, include everything you'll need (kitchenware, linens, outdoor seating, sometimes an extra grill and outdoor lighting and decor, etc), and will come get it after you leave.

Obviously, it's not as spacious, and you'd be using the comfort stations instead of having two bathrooms, but it's definitely cheaper. You could also rent a larger camper (travel trailer or bigger) that can sleep more, with more comfort, but you'll be paying around $214 a night min (based on a week) after the rental and site costs (before tax and extra ppl).

Also just to keep in mind - the dining plan is almost NEVER cheaper than paying out of pocket for food. I love the DDP, and I enjoy the convenience of it - I like not having to think about my food budget on vacation - but it's definitely not the cheapest way to go.

(Let me know if you want to know some RV rental places, I can tell you who I based my pricing off of.)

 

[KKB]

Also you dont't have to buy tickets through Disney in order to buy the dining plan. If you buy from Undercover Tourist or USSSA you can still buy the dining plan.
http://store.usssa.com/Products/121-disney-world-theme-park-tickets.aspx

Don't you have to be a guest at a Disney resort to buy the dining plan?
The link you give doesn't show the dining plan...

 

[Marionnette]

If you reread my post, I said nothing about DVC being "cheaper". Is said values were. Camping was another option and DVC is yet a third option. But they are indeed options that are cheaper than a cash reservation going the regular route finding one hotel room to accommodate 7 people. They would be stuck with suite options where available or DVC rack rate.

The OP asked for the cheapest way for her family to stay (if you bother to reread her post). Staying in a DVC 2-bedroom on points isn't exactly the cheapest way to stay at Disney.

Or maybe you weren't really answering the OP's question, but were just offering ideas on the least expensive way to stay at each level of resort?

 

[Marionnette]

Don't you have to be a guest at a Disney resort to buy the dining plan?
The link you give doesn't show the dining plan...

The PP's link was for tickets from a 3rd party.

You do need to be staying in a Disney Resort to get the dining plan but you do not have to purchase your tickets from Disney in order to do it. Disney has a "ticketless dining package". It's not available online. You have to call CRO and ask for it. If you get a ticketless package, you can purchase the dining plan and then buy your tickets elsewhere.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Don't you have to be a guest at a Disney resort to buy the dining plan?
The link you give doesn't show the dining plan...

Yes. DVC is a Disney resort. Normally when booking direct throuh Disney you must book as a package in order to get the dining plan, free dining or not. Package= room + tickets. Then you're paying top dollar for tickets.
The link is to a site recommended by many here on the disboards for buying discounted park tickets. Compare prices.