First DVC stay: Best option for group of 8?

[ElizabethCB]

We are planning our first DVC trip for next January, over MLK weekend. We have a 2BR booked at Boulder Ridge, our home resort. I'm getting a little nervous about the sleeping and eating arrangements, though...help!

We are a family of 4, kids aged 6 and 12. My sister's family is also coming, kids aged 6 and 4.

Initially I thought they could stay in the room with the 2 queens, my husband and I would be in the master, and our two kids on the living room sofa.

But I'm thinking the idea of kids sleeping in the living room isn't a great idea, because:
- the 3 younger kids go to bed early and wake up early
- the adults will want to hang out a little later in the living room
- the 12 year old can stay up late too...but then would want to sleep in. If the little kids are up, his sleep is shot.

My sister and her family have never been to Disney and we finally convinced them to join us. I really want the trip to be fantastic for everybody. It's important for us to be able to hang out together in common space and eat together, so I don't want to do studios.

Are we in the right spot? Should we consider a 2BR lockoff instead, so we could put the 3 younger kids in the studio, one on the murphy bed?

Should we consider a 3BR somewhere else? If so, where? I feel like this could be a waste of points, but want us all to be comfortable...

We plan to go to parks for the mornings each day: 1 day in each park and 2 in Magic Kingdom. A great pool is essential -- all the kids are major swimmers, no matter the weather.

Help!

 

[spiceycat]

maybe you should consider letting the kids fall asleep in the second bedroom - then move your child when everyone is ready for bed. not sure about BR 0 but the others have in the living room - one queen sleeper sofa and a double size sleeper chair - let your 12 year old have the sleeper chair.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Have you looked at the 3bd villas at SSR?

 

[crazywig]

I'd keep what you have, just put your 6yr old in your king bed and move when you want to go to sleep. We did this all the time when our two were small and we only booked 1 bedrooms. Although I would never give up my king, putting your kids in there and you take the sleeper is also an option.

 

[ElizabethCB]

I like the idea of moving the 6 year old out to the living room when we go to sleep...hadn't thought of that.

I'm still struggling with the 12 year old. Maybe I could bring an inflatable mattress for him to sleep in the master? Which will probably get my 6 year old upset because he would then be sleeping alone in the living room...

 

[DenLo]

I would stick with the dedicated 2BR. Otherwise you will always be worried about the kids sneaking out the hallway door of the studio portion of a lockoff.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

The Treehouses may work for you. Three bedrooms (2 with a queen each, 1 with bunk beds, a queen sleeper sofa & a sleeper chair in the living area) for about the same # of points of as a 2BR @ CCV. Only downside would be slower transportation to the parks if you didn't have a car. We stayed there with 4 adults & 4 kids (10,8,2,1/2) and loved it.

 

[ElizabethCB]

The Treehouses may work for you. Three bedrooms (2 with a queen each, 1 with bunk beds, a queen sleeper sofa & a sleeper chair in the living area) for about the same # of points of as a 2BR @ CCV. Only downside would be slower transportation to the parks if you didn't have a car. We stayed there with 4 adults & 4 kids (10,8,2,1/2) and loved it.

I really like the idea, but the layout still leaves me with 2 kids in the living room. I have never seen Saratoga. Is it up to the level of resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A GV at VGF would meet the sleeping criteria but definitely require a LOT more points. There is a sleeper sofa in the TV "room" creating what is essentially a 4th bedroom. BLT and Kidani GVs have a sleeper sofa out in the area between the two upstairs bedrooms that might also be a solution. The youngest three in 1 bedroom and your Dsis and DBil in the second bedroom. Your 12 yo could also sleep with them or on the sleeper that is between the two rooms or something similar.

Otherwise the lockoff would give you an option with your sisters family plus your youngest sleeping in the 5 sleeping spots in the studio side and the 12 yo could either do an air mattress with you or sleep in the living area and perhaps move into the master when everyone else gets up.

Or - just know its going to be a bit mixed up for sleeping but that's part of the fun!

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I really like the idea, but the layout still leaves me with 2 kids in the living room. I have never seen Saratoga. Is it up to the level of resorts like Wilderness Lodge, Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Lodge?

We had 3 kids (10, 8 & 2) in the bunk bed room using a small inflatable bed for the youngest. If your sister's kids & your 4 yr. old could use that room and the 12 yr. old could be in living room that may work.

We weren't at the main resort much except to eat a couple of quick service meals (food good, no issues) & use the pools (they're great!) and we walked over since we had a treehouse near the walking path to Grandstand (request that). We did shower in an un-occupied GV (thanks DVC!) when there was a water main issue at the treehouses one afternoon and the GV was really nice.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You'll have a nice balcony for the adults to hang out on at night. Keep the master for yourself. Put the inlaws in the second bedroom. Put the older kiddo in the sleeper sofa with your younger kiddo. Everything will work out fine. Remember, with a first trip with two little kids, you probably won't be sleeping in (neither will the 12 yr old). Plus the 12 yr old can hop into your bed if the kids are up earlier in the morning for a little extra sleep. You'll be up for sure.

 

[crisi]

You'll have a nice balcony for the adults to hang out on at night. Keep the master for yourself. Put the inlaws in the second bedroom. Put the older kiddo in the sleeper sofa with your younger kiddo. Everything will work out fine. Remember, with a first trip with two little kids, you probably won't be sleeping in (neither will the 12 yr old). Plus the 12 yr old can hop into your bed if the kids are up earlier in the morning for a little extra sleep. You'll be up for sure.

And you aren't likely to be up late either. We were generally in bed shortly after the kids.

 

[BillPA]

I would look at a GV at OKW. Not a lot more points but more than double the space. 3 bed rooms, 4 bath rooms, a dining table for 8+
Many don't care for OKW, but we find that after a day in the parks, it's great to have a nice quiet place to go relax.

 

[schoen]

I think a GV at SS or AKV would work well for you. You in the master, in-law couple in one room, 3 little kids in the other room, 12 yo on pullout upstairs. Or their whole family in one room, your two kids in the other room, you still in the master. The latter scenario would work at OKW too.

I would wonder about availability though? When my brothers and sisters were younger they slept on the floor on air mattresses all the time. Could that work in any way?

 

[Donna M]

I cast my vote for the GV at OKW since it seems you can swing the points required. You have the beds needed without using the living room. There will be four bathrooms. Everyone can sit at the table to eat at the same time, whereas the Boulder Ridge table seats four. The biggest advantage is the space in the OKW GV. The living room is much larger which will be appreciated with four little kids moving around like they do. The living room also has more seating, all the adults will be comfortable with extra seating for the kids too.

Check out the pictures of the two resorts to compare the layout and space. I wouldn't want to have four kids underfoot in that small space, especially since you mentioned you are considering a GV. You can wow them with the GV.

On our first trip, we stayed in a 2bd with our relatives, a total of 4 adults and 4 older kids. It worked fine, it was our first trip too, but since then we have stayed in the GVs, and they are so much nicer.

 

[Dean]

I'd do a 2 BR plus studio or a 3 BR in this situation.

 

[Halle]

Another vote for a GV at OKW.

 

[ElizabethCB]

Thank you all SO much for your input!

We are actually thinking the 3br is the way to go...gulp. So now I am trying to decide between CCV and AKL. CCV would be 100 points more...but it would be fun to stay in the new digs, plus it is adjacent to our home resort and close to the action in general. I don't like all the walking at AKL. But....the animals! Ack. Decisions...would love thoughts comparing these 2!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thank you all SO much for your input!

We are actually thinking the 3br is the way to go...gulp. So now I am trying to decide between CCV and AKL. CCV would be 100 points more...but it would be fun to stay in the new digs, plus it is adjacent to our home resort and close to the action in general. I don't like all the walking at AKL. But....the animals! Ack. Decisions...would love thoughts comparing these 2!

As of now only two GV have been declared into inventory at CCV.

 

[ElizabethCB]

As of now only two GV have been declared into inventory at CCV.

Good point! We may not have a choice.