First time staying on site... need HELP

[uofibonehead]

Hello fellow Disney lovers, I need your help! I'm taking my wife and two kids to Disney November 2014 shortly before Thanksgiving. My in-laws are also joining us, making our

Grandma, Grandpa (60s), Uncle (30s), Mom, Dad (30s), Son 6 and Daughter 3 1/2

We started by trying to decide between POFQ and CBR, then discovered the WL gave us access to the ferry to MK which was a huge plus.

Then it moved into well why don't we pay a little more and get a Villa at the WL and all stay in the same unit? Now everyone's saying Hey, Villas at Bay Lake are available and barely any more than the Villas at Wilderness!!!

I have two little kids who have been to Disney (MK only) twice for 1 day each trip previously. We expect we'll be at MK more than any other park and we're getting PH as well, possibly the Christmas party tickets too. Here's the package price for MY family only (not in laws)... which is the best bet for our money? We're nervous about only using buses at POFQ or CBR and either Villas give us either the Ferry or monorail which we think would be HUGE pluses. Would love your thoughts:

POFQ or CBR 5 nights, 5 day pass with PH: $2,340
Hotel rooms at WL, same package $3,360
Villa at WL, same package: $3,870
BLT, same package: $4,000

Is it worth these big uptick in prices to have better access to monorail or the ferry? Your opinions would be SO helpful. Please let me know!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

If it were me, I'd stick with having 2 rooms just so you can have your own space rather than sharing a villa.

But my own family drives me nuts sometimes so I wouldn't want to be in the same space with the grandparents and I would never, ever cook on vacation so wouldn't need a kitchen.

So I would choose between POFQ and WL hotel rooms. I love WL - enough that I'd choose that over POFQ if I could afford it. The pool area is nicer, the shopping at the resort is nicer, there are 2 TS restaurants at WL.

And I loved the boat from WL to MK.

Have fun deciding!

 

[shadeauxe]

What size are the villas?

I own points at Bay Lake, so I am highly biased, but we love being able to walk to the Magic Kingdom. I think it is more convenient than any of the other hotels in the MK area.

Of the two moderates, I like Port Orleans better.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

We love WL and have found it to be our "home" at WDW. We had a trip with my parents and our family of three and really enjoyed having two regular hotel rooms. That allowed everybody to have their space, and we were fortunate enough to get connecting rooms so we could open them up when everybody wanted time together. I really don't think a Villa would have been better or even as good for our situation, and they are somewhat farther from everything else at WL. We love how close everything is at WL and how it is all under one roof, even from the Villas.

As far as comparing to BLT, that becomes a more personal decision based on whether you want to feel and be closer to the action, or have the seclusion (and some extra travel time) that WL offers. Being able to walk inside to the monorail is a neat feature of CR/BLT, and if you are going to be in a villa anyway the price isn't that much more, but overall the resort feels busier and more in the center of the action than WL will, which some prefer and others do not. Walking to MK from CR is nice, but it is a decent distance and does take about 8 minutes.

Our vote would be regular hotel rooms at WL, but either way, have a great trip.

 

[uofibonehead]

Re: the size?

They are both 2 bedroom villas, I didn't see square footage listed. A total of 4 beds in each villa including a pull out sofa.

 

[Andrea817]

If it were me and it was financially possible to upgrade from POFQ I would probably do the Wilderness Lodge room. I personally would want to have a little bit of space from the whole group and would prefer to have our own room as opposed to sharing a villa. Since you would be spending most time at the MK, the ferry would be a nice extra instead of just bus transportation. Of course BLT is gorgeous and the ability to walk to the park (or take the monorail) would be wonderful, but it just doesn't appeal to me enough to be willing to pay that kind of price to sleep and shower. But that is all a matter of opinion, preference, and of course finances. We don't spend very much time at the resort so that plays a huge factor in the decision making process for us.

I would vote for the Wilderness Lodge room

 

[uofibonehead]

We had a trip with my parents and our family of three and really enjoyed having two regular hotel rooms. That allowed everybody to have their space, and we were fortunate enough to get connecting rooms so we could open them up when everybody wanted time together.

I had no idea the WL had the option for connecting rooms... you guys are doing a really good job of selling WL to me!

Any other thoughts?

 

[hedberg1661]

Wow...alright so for the price difference I would say BLT or the Villa at WL. However, I agree with a pp that space from the family would be nice. I understand your busing/transportation concerns at the other locations.

I have stayed at BLT the past two July's...to be honest the proximity to MK is wonderful. If the kiddos get tired you just throw them in a stroller and 5 minutes out the door you are back at the resort. Also, being on the monorail line is a nice feature for both the kids and the in-laws who may not want to walk if they can help it.

Having hyped up BLT I must warn you. The rooms I have had staying with a DVC family have been in need of some minor fixes (lamp shades, carpet issues, etc.) nothing major (leaks, AC, Heat, etc.). I personally loved being connected to the CR , having our own pool, great fireworks view on top of the bldg. May be worth it for you to try this.

WL is a really nice resort as well. I have visited but never stayed. I love the theme, the boat is a nice feature, however other transportation would require a bus. This sounds like a nice option as well.

Either of these options look nice and for the price difference you can't go wrong. I would check room pics and go from there. Good luck!

 

[morethananyonex]

Don't you love how planning Disney trips starts off with a nice budget friendly option and then you keep changing and changing your mind and suddenly you're in a 2 bedroom at BLT? I think it's happened to us every trip.

To answer your question, if you can afford it I would go for the 2 bedroom villa at BLT. Since you have young kids and will be at the MK most, the ability to walk there is absolutely worth the difference in price from VWL to BLT (in my opinion). When we go we tend to spend more for location, we have stayed at the moderates and while they are still nice resorts, nothing beats the ability to walk into a park. If you can comfortably afford to do so, go with BLT. When you're a 10 minute walk away from MK you won't regret it!

 

[KonaKaiTom]

My suggestion, based on having down it both ways, stay in separate rooms. There is something non-magical that happens, no matter how well you all get along, when you go to Disney and are in each other's faces 24/7. Everyone has different expectations, people feel disappointed they didn't do what they wanted to do. It is so much easier to be able to unwind by yourselves at the end of the day.

Tom

 

[dansdad]

My suggestion, based on having down it both ways, stay in separate rooms. There is something non-magical that happens, no matter how well you all get along, when you go to Disney and are in each other's faces 24/7. Everyone has different expectations, people feel disappointed they didn't do what they wanted to do. It is so much easier to be able to unwind by yourselves at the end of the day.

Tom

Completely agree with this.

 

[uofibonehead]

Well... my in-laws have swooped in and rescued us by partially funding the upgrade...

BAY LAKE TOWERS HERE WE COME!!!!! thank you everyone for the advice!!

 

[morethananyonex]

My suggestion, based on having down it both ways, stay in separate rooms. There is something non-magical that happens, no matter how well you all get along, when you go to Disney and are in each other's faces 24/7. Everyone has different expectations, people feel disappointed they didn't do what they wanted to do. It is so much easier to be able to unwind by yourselves at the end of the day.

Tom

That's just not always true.

Some families are capable of staying together in a room just fine, especially if it's a 2 bedroom villa. The BLT one will have 3 bathrooms, 2 separate hotel room like bedrooms, and a living/kitchen area with more sleeping space. There is no need to be in each other's faces 24/7, even when sharing a villa.

OP, you know your family. If you think everyone will be fine sharing the space then go for it. What works for some doesn't work for others and vice versa.

 

[morethananyonex]

Well... my in-laws have swooped in and rescued us by partially funding the upgrade...

BAY LAKE TOWERS HERE WE COME!!!!! thank you everyone for the advice!!

Awesome!! Have fun! Remember to keep an eye out for any possible discounts for November.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

That's just not always true.

Some families are capable of staying together in a room just fine, especially if it's a 2 bedroom villa. The BLT one will have 3 bathrooms, 2 separate hotel room like bedrooms, and a living/kitchen area with more sleeping space. There is no need to be in each other's faces 24/7, even when sharing a villa.

OP, you know your family. If you think everyone will be fine sharing the space then go for it. What works for some doesn't work for others and vice versa.

Nothing is ever "ALWAYS" true -- We stayed in Old Key West so I am very aware of the villa layout - my experience was the mood of sullen teenagers that didn't get to do what they wanted to do would permeate every room. The past three trips to Disney we were only 2-3 of us, and we all commented on how many "grumpy" families were there and it seemed the constant complaint was grown ups grumping at their kids about how much it cost and they didn't want to hear their whinning about not being on whatever ride. We agreed that the only time we were less than magical in our trips was when we had 9 of us all in one villa.

Tom

 

[margaret07013]

If I were you - I would go with WL or CR and no preference to which one. Why? with your kids and your parents you will need the easiest access to MK. the boat from WL or 5 min walk from CR are priceless when you visit MK.

 

[Lyndarella]

If you are talking about regular hotel rooms, would you get just 2? The grandparents get 1, DH & DW & 2 kids get 1, and where does the uncle sleep? In a 2 BR villa, the grandparents could have the master, the family of 4 get the two beds in the other bedroom, and the uncle sleeps on the pull-out sofa.

There is also a difference in having a kitchen or not. Even if you don't want to cook, you can have light meals and leftovers in your kitchen. (Things that require more than a fridge.) In regular hotel rooms you will be spending A LOT more on food.

I would go with either of the villas.

 

[smiths02]

That's just not always true.

Some families are capable of staying together in a room just fine, especially if it's a 2 bedroom villa. The BLT one will have 3 bathrooms, 2 separate hotel room like bedrooms, and a living/kitchen area with more sleeping space. There is no need to be in each other's faces 24/7, even when sharing a villa.

OP, you know your family. If you think everyone will be fine sharing the space then go for it. What works for some doesn't work for others and vice versa.

My in-laws, my DH, me, and my nearly 3 year old DS shared a standard savanna view room at AKL for a week. It was a wonderful vacation! No problems. So it can be done.

 

[Hopefully]

Nothing is ever "ALWAYS" true -- We stayed in Old Key West so I am very aware of the villa layout - my experience was the mood of sullen teenagers that didn't get to do what they wanted to do would permeate every room. The past three trips to Disney we were only 2-3 of us, and we all commented on how many "grumpy" families were there and it seemed the constant complaint was grown ups grumping at their kids about how much it cost and they didn't want to hear their whinning about not being on whatever ride. We agreed that the only time we were less than magical in our trips was when we had 9 of us all in one villa.

Tom

OP doesn't have sullen teenagers, but rather 2 young children and their grandparents.

OP I think you have made a fabulous choice!!!!
Having the king bed and whirlpool tub is wonderful. With a washer and dryer you can pack less, which is important when you have little ones.
Have you considered a grocery delivery service like wegoshop.com.
When we stay at BCV's I always get a delivery. I believe I have saved the delivery fee on just the savings of bottled water in the parks.
I do not "Cook" meals on vacation, but we have our breakfast in the room while we get ready in the AM, and we have cold drinks and snacks for when we return. With your little ones, you may be back afternoon for naps.
We order: juice, coffee, fruit, cereal, breakfast pasteries, water, soda, beer, wine, cheese and crackers and other snack items.
Enjoy the BLT Villas. I think it is the perfect choice for your family.

 

[uofibonehead]

I'll have to check out the wegoshop option... wasn't aware of it. We're hoping Disney offers the free dining plan for the timeframe we're going, which they have the last three years.