family size where to stay

[goingroundthebend]

have come over from the main boards.Am after some help am looking to come next summer July 2012 be myself and 4 children ,at the time there be 18,15,9 and 7 with my youngest being in a wheelchair though does not need inside a roomso would not need disabled room.

be coming for 2 weeks

know im way ahead ofmyself but due to costs want to ideas of price now so soon as realeased dates can go pay my deposit

I was told all star suites but these came in at Your Walt Disney World holiday itinerary is displayed belowDisney's All-Star Music Resort
2 Adults, 3 Children
PriceTotal Price £2,688.00

thats without the price of tickets or flights .Anyone any better ideas or am i just better booking a villa and car hire though would rather advoid having car if i can

 

[scojos]

you could consider a 2 bed at saratoga spring or old key west, if you like i can post some pictures of ours from over the summer, and i know many stayed at okw and have photos.
if you need a w/c i think a car would make a massive difference, buses wernt brill and i used a w/c on a few days due to a back issue....
SSR is an amazing resort although you might want a villa...more space..private pool etc.
if you stay onsite and dont have a car i would recommend getting the ddp, it will be easier time wise but also help with budgeting.
enjoy

 

[goingroundthebend]

thank you

sorry showing my novice status here whats ddp?

And thinking if do stay of site would go for villa with own pool option so they can all jump in and leave me drinking coffee in peace

Am thinking if do villa if flights not much more might stay 3 weeks then do 2 weeks park tickets and the other week what ever we fancy.

Do any of the villa places have transport options to parks ?or will it defintley be a car job

 

[buzz for boys]

Hi and welcome x

I cant help with the Onsite part of your question as we have only ever stayed one night on site and had a less that positive experience with disney transport.

However I can say as a mum to 4 boys we love the space and freedom a villa gives us.
There have been downstairs rooms in all the villas we have been in. I have to say it will require you hiring a car but over a 3 week stay you will reap the benefits of being able to go anywhere you like at any time you like.
If you are nervous about driving a car I can honestly tell you that it is so much easier to drive over there than here - they drive slower - no roundabouts and everything is so brilliantly signposted.

We used www.caronthedrive.com this means you get taken to your villa from the airport and then the car is on the drive ! The chauffeur shows you all teh controls and was brilliant at putting me at my ease for that first trip out on the road !!! At the end of your stay you are driven back to the airport.

hope that helps and im sure others will be along soon to help with the onsite options.

 

[skelfbsfb]

If you really want to stay onsite why dont you rent DVC points this may work out cheaper, it will also save you the cost of car if you dont want to drive.

 

[goingroundthebend]

thank you and i better apolgise now probably be loads and load sof questions over the next few months .Have always wanted to go and some things happeend that made me realise cant keep putting it of .Mind few more years could do with just the little two

hmm think i need to lok at what Dvc points are

But am liking the idea of .caronthedrive.com thank you .This is such aheadache going take me the next 6 months to decide whats best option so once dates released can book direct

Can i ask how early you booked your trips and after someone pointed out July be rather busy with 4th of July holidays am thinking move it back to last week of August forst 2 weeks of september time

 

[Dimplenose]

We rented two interconnecting regular rooms at All Star Music as this was cheaper than the suites.

We didn't get the kitchenette facilities but we did get 2 double beds in each room - so no-one had to be on a sofa bed.

 

[skelfbsfb]

What dates are you going. Like OP said you could book 2 studio rooms, this will also allow you some extra space so that you are not all cramped together.

 

[dixonsontour]

I'd get a price for a 2 bed at old key west or saratoga springs from disney uk.

If you go during free dining perid then all your food will be included.

The price may seem high but when you consider it includes all food and no need for a hire car it can be a great deal if you are mainly doing disney.


If you are considering 2 hotel rooms Just check rules re children occupying a room alone - i've seen some hotels have min age 21.

 

[goingroundthebend]

If you go during free dining perid then all your food will be included.

With two teens that can eat their own body weight in food not bad idea and truth think I rather have the main meals paid in advance so once there am not having to budget for it

And yes never thought about that know had problems in the uk when tried to book two rooms but have to be least 18 but then they say sorry cant have 5 in a room arghh

 

[Rohais]

have come over from the main boards.Am after some help am looking to come next summer July 2012 be myself and 4 children ,at the time there be 18,15,9 and 7 with my youngest being in a wheelchair though does not need inside a roomso would not need disabled room.

be coming for 2 weeks

know im way ahead ofmyself but due to costs want to ideas of price now so soon as realeased dates can go pay my deposit

I was told all star suites but these came in at Your Walt Disney World holiday itinerary is displayed belowDisney's All-Star Music Resort
2 Adults, 3 Children
PriceTotal Price £2,688.00

thats without the price of tickets or flights .Anyone any better ideas or am i just better booking a villa and car hire though would rather advoid having car if i can

Welcome!

There are so many different ways to holiday in Walt Disney World, everyone seems to have their own method and preference

There seem to be those who are completely off-siters, those who are completely on-siters and those who float in between

Personally, I love staying on-site, at a Disney resort. My favourite is the moderate, Port Orleans French Quarter.

I love the convenience of not having to drive and just being able to hop on a bus for free. A lot of people have issues with the amount of time a bus can take but I personally haven't had any issues and think that driving a car can add on time (and extra expense). But again, everyone has their own preferences.

Another advantage of staying onsite is the Extra Magic Hours, where a park is either open for an hour earlier, or for three hours later, just for Disney resort quests. My first trip, we stayed in the Magic Kingdom until 2am...even though we had to be up for 6am for our flight home!

Oh and, as others have already mentioned, there is the Disney Dining Plan. If you book for a certain time period, you can get a plan for free (depending on which category of resort you stay at) for every member of your group. But there is also the option of paying for it. We've upgraded from the free quick service dining plan you receive from staying at a moderate, to the regular dining plan. Its cost us only £325, for 2 adults, to eat 18 table service meals each, 18 counter service meals each and 18 snacks each. From the calculations I've made, the equivalent in paying OOP would cost well over £1,000. Bargain, in my eyes!

I love the fact that, as you mentioned, your food is effectively paid for before you even leave your house. There is also a flexibility of which restaurants you go to because you don't have to worry about how much it would cost. The only thing you would have to fork out for whilst there is any extras + tip.

However, the dining plan can be less of a bargain if you're going when free dining isn't offered. The date you go on holiday could be something to definately consider. Ive found July to be very hot and very very busy. If you still need the school holiday period, I fully recommend late August as a great time to go. Also, for 2011, free dining is being offered.

With regards to the rule about being 21 or over, it seems to differ from hotel to hotel/company to company so I think your best bet would be to call Disney and query it with them. If you didn't want to get a 2-bedroom at a Disney Vacation Club resort, you could always request interconnecting rooms and put the 18 year old down as the head for the second room. I know they're not 100% strict on the 21 or over rule, as they get a lot of spring break, school etc bookings.

Whatever you decide, it'll be perfect just because you're in Disney with your children, I'm sure

so good luck and happy planning!

 

[goingroundthebend]

im now extremley excited and just wish could afford to go this year but need some serious saving time .Have worked out just how much need to save and yes noticed september gives free dining plan options so think be going with that

Am going to be saving like mad and checking everything out so soon as i can book for next year can walk into travel agents or do online and say heres my deposit plus bit more .Then ill need someone to hold my feet down otherwise think will float away and how do i keep it from my kids for this long
hmm yes can see us staying up extra late to but hey its a once in a lifetime holiday she says already thinking about when could afford to do it again .Though less kids so gets cheaper

 

[Constant]

thank you and i better apolgise now probably be loads and load sof questions over the next few months .Have always wanted to go and some things happeend that made me realise cant keep putting it of .Mind few more years could do with just the little two

hmm think i need to lok at what Dvc points are

But am liking the idea of .caronthedrive.com thank you .This is such aheadache going take me the next 6 months to decide whats best option so once dates released can book direct

Can i ask how early you booked your trips and after someone pointed out July be rather busy with 4th of July holidays am thinking move it back to last week of August forst 2 weeks of september time

Another vote from us for late August early Sept which is when we like to go. Always find that most Brits don't miss the first week of school (not opening that can of worms though ) the weather has always been kind to us we did it this year and once on the first day we bought the capes it stopped and we made it through the rest of the holiday without needing to use them at all. Most of the US schools are back as well and a lot of rides become walk ons. Also flight costs get much better also for a Sept return the last couple of years.

We always have stayed off site before joining DVC (Disney Vacation Club) as we like staying onsite but still want to have a kitchen and bigger rooms etc. We have stayed in a few now but like Animal Kingdom Kidani as we have that slightly out of it but still in Disney feel but not everyone's cup of tea. The 1 bed villas there can sleep 5, have a full kitchen 2 baths etc. Renting DVC points from members are about $10-13 a point which could be up to about $5000 for 2 weeks. Have a look at http://www.dvcrequest.com a board sponsor on the DVC forum here.

Even onsite we always hire a car as Disney buses are great to and from the parks but we like the mini golf off 192 and if you want to just get around in your own time I like the freedom. Driving in Orlando is 100% easier than almost anywhere in the UK in my opinion. The parking spaces are huge and easy to park in so no worries.

Don't know if you have ever listened to the podcast? they often talk well of some partner resorts they have which have great resort pools and other facilities at some great prices for 2 bed apartments etc. Dreams Sheraton

We have always enjoyed staying on and offsite and have loved every trip each time like a different holiday. Don't get bogged down with all the options otherwise your head will spin for months! Find something which fits your party and taste and then don't second guess your choice too much! Easier said than done though!

 

[goingroundthebend]

well my parents are coming and step dad drives so we are going to go offsite just becuase so many of us and we want to do discovery cove as well as seaworld and would need a car anyway and with sons wheelchair thin k be easier to get him around .

so now we know we want a villa and with a pool is a must now going to compare if we do 14 days or 21 days which allows plenty of downtime and chance to do other things so gives me lots of time to plan things and to ask lots of questions

Am fortunate as checked with schools and they have all given permission for the children to be out up to 28 days due to faimly circumstances they except this is going to be a very special holiday

Am now extremley excited but September 2012 seems a long way of

 

[Pegasus928]

Once you start looking for a villa you will find that the choice is absolutely staggering. We have been quite a few times now and have always chosen to stay off site in a villa as that is what suits us best.
A good place I can recommend - as we have rented a few villas from there - is THIS SITE
All of the villas on there are privately owned, so you know what you will get when you book (unlike a lot of the travel companies that allocate on arrival). And most of them are based in the UK which makes organising everything so much easier.
When looking for a villa there are a list of things that we look for, and as there are so many good villas out there you should never have to compromise. These are: south facing pool that is not overloooked or surrounded by a wall or fence (it's nice to have a view when chilling in the jaccuzzi), free international phone calls, free wi-fi and games room. Finally the layout of the villa will depend on who is coming with us. Some are one floor, others 2. If there is someone who may struggle with the stairs then make sure you have bedrooms downstairs.
Any other questions then just jump in and ask. There is a lot of experience on these boards, and they are all only too happy to share it in order to make your holiday as perfect as can be

 

[Dimplenose]

If you are considering 2 hotel rooms Just check rules re children occupying a room alone - i've seen some hotels have min age 21.

I don't think you have that problems if you have connecting rooms.