First timer ?s

[lotofhats]

Greetings! We are planning our first WDW trip for later this year, and need advice. It will be me, MDW, an our 6 children (ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2). Thoughts and advice on when, packages, where to stay, etc. We like to stay as low maintenance as possible, meaning on site might be better, because the logistics of moving this horde around are tough! We'll spend a bit more to make life easier....Thanks!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Looks like you have a lot of planning to do. First I suggest you continue to read these boards for really great advice. Then check out the tons of WDW info on allearsnet.com.
Finally, check out mousesaver.com for possible discounts.
You may want to consider booking your stay through one of the Disney "specialists" that you will see mentioned here. We used WDWVacations.com that we found via mousesaver.com. They saved us around $800.00 last year. They continually look for discounts they can apply to your reservation. They also made all our priority seatings for us. Saves a lot of time and hassle. Best of all, it is FREE!!!!!
Good luck with your planning. Ask any questions you may have. We are all here to help each other.

 

[pyrxtc]

Well, first of all WELCOME! This board has been a great help to me in my planning on my first trip, although lots of things have changed recently that I had counted on. So I am pretty much starting over on my budget.

I have rented DVC points so that my brood (Myself, DH, DD 11, DD 8, DS 4, DS 2, MIL, and DBabysitter 15) can be close to the parks (we are renting at the Boartdwalk Villa's). We started out with just a studio but more people are coming so we are trying to rent another studio (they never connect) since my MIL can stay in a room with some children. it has come out to a pretty decent price and includes a kithenette. The best you'll get at most resorts is two connecting rooms.

For you I would reccomend renting points for a 2 bedroom unit. It would have a bedroom with a queen bed and sleeper sofa, a second bedroom with a king bed, and a living area with a sleeper sofa, full kitchen and television in all rooms. You could make meals in the room and have a refrigerator for all the milk you'll need. The rooms have enough privacy that you could put the younger ones down for a nap or earlier bedtime and still ahve a place for the other kids to play or watch tv. When they are all in bed, you could be alone with your DH in your room or the living room and not have to worry about waking the child next to you.

Depending on what resort you stay at, you would be looking a price ranges from
Old Key West - $1,760
Wilderness Lodge Villa's - $2,210
Boarwalk Villa's - $1,780
Beach Club Villas - $2,210

The prices will vary slightly depending on what season you want. I used the week of Oct 2 (Sunday) checking out Oct 8 (Sat). You didn't say when in the year you wanted to go. That would be your first decision. The Beach Club and Boardwalk will put you minutes away fm two of the parks and buses to the rest of the world. The other resorts will put you on buses to all of the world. I chose the Boardwalk for the proximity for the two parks. I understand trying to get everyone to go at the same time is a big deal. It takes us forever just to get all our kids in the car to go somewhere so we stay home a lot. Renting points is definately worth looking into.

I would also get tickets that don't expire becasue with a family so large, no one can guarantee that someone will have some problem that you will make it to the parks every day. Forget about the dining plan becasue the younger kids wil never eat what you pay for their plan. Look at AAA, the last ad I saw was still offering park hopper tickets until 5/5/05.

Good Luck!! ANy more questions, feel free to ask!

 

[lotofhats]

What do the terms "rent points" and "rented DVC points" mean? How does one accomplish this?

Thanks!

 

[pyrxtc]

What do the terms "rent points" and "rented DVC points" mean? How does one accomplish this?

Thanks!

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29

Above is a link to the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) forum. It is like timeshare but they own points instead of a week in a month. (I wish I could afford it!! ) It gives you a cheaper way to stay onsite with a kitchen and laundry for more people. There is a post about frequently asked question, if you read that you'll understand a little more.