First timer with questions about resort choice

[Scottyatp]

Will be going to disney with some buddies from college (late 20's) and trying to find the best place for a group of 5 (one couple , the rest single guys). We thought about the cabins so we could all hang out together and be away from families and such, but then saw the one room had most of the beds (which is where we would have put the couple).

1)Is there a better place that would house us all without the couple feeling out of place? If not, is there a resort where we could get adjoining rooms but have a common space.

2)There are some deals on housing that start in the middle of the time we are there. How does Disney handle this?

Thanks in advance for any help and looking forward to our trip there!

 

[minnie mum]

Two connecting rooms would be just that. No common room. What you are describing is a villa. You could get a 2 bedroom DVC villa that would also have a living room and full kitchen. You can book directly thru Disney ($$$$$), or often less expensively by renting points thru an owner or agency. You can find details on one of the DVC forums.

 

[Babsy]

I expect that staying in a resort with rooms near each other would be your best bet. Without knowing budget, I would suggest staying at POP Century or an All Star Resort (AS sports?) with three rooms. I would request rooms near each other and link the reservations.
Another possibility (pricier) would be two rooms at a deluxe resort such as WL or the AKL. If you get a room with bunk beds, that room would accommodate three guys. The other room would be fine for the couple.

Of course, you could also look at a moderate resort OR the Swan/Dolphin for good prices and value. However, you would need three rooms here for the beds to accommodate everyone.

AoA has suites that have a bedroom separate from sleeping areas that might work. You would need to look at the pull down/out beds to see if the three single guys would be comfortable. Also consider if you would like the over the top animated cartoon theming.

Good luck!

 

[terri33inne]

How long are you going for? Do you plan to do parks open to close, or head back to the resort during the day?

If you can afford it I would think the treehouse villa's would be a great choice...The couple can have their own room, but there is a common living area & kitchen. Your other options were mentioned by Minnie mum above... get a DVC villa, either through Disney direct, or renting points.

If you plan on being at the parks most of the time I would get 2 adjoining rooms at a value or moderate, and not worry about a common area.

 

[spiceycat]

1-bedroom has a king bed in the master, at OKW, AKV and BLT - in the living area is a queen sleeper sofa and a chair bed.

At AKV and BLT there is 2 bathrooms - at OKW there is only the master bathroom.

don't really think you need a 2-bedroom - unless you want 1 or 2 real beds. (some 2-bedrooms have 2 queen beds (dedicated) - while others have a queen bed and a double sleeper (lock-out)

 

[Scottyatp]

@minimum:I had never heard of this DVC rental, will check out that forum! Thanks!

@Babsy: Will look at the AKL and WL. Never thought about the swan and dophin (it has a strange classification and didn't show up on all the lists). Thanks!

@terri33inne. We are going for about 7 days (give or take) and probably plan most of the time at parks, most evenings (after ADR and outside EMH evenings) in the suite. I'll check out these treehouses (i assume that's in WL?)

@spiceycat

Since we're splitting it, budget is fine anywhere from 250-500 per night (ish, can go over some) a night (sorry I didn't put that in there before). One of our group mentioned the cabins at fort wilderness? How are they?

Thank you so much for the help thus far! Exited about going!

 

[JennyDrake]

I expect that staying in a resort with rooms near each other would be your best bet. Without knowing budget, I would suggest staying at POP Century or an All Star Resort (AS sports?) with three rooms. I would request rooms near each other and link the reservations.

DITTO!

The cabins only have one bathroom.......

 

[spiceycat]

stayed in the cabins only once - Mother hated it. While I enjoyed it - the other guests were friendly and then the bus drivers could make joke - now they must be more serious.

it was a fun place then. that say not a party atmosphere - mostly families rent them. you might like the epcot resorts better - they are within walking distance to BW - which does have a night life.

oh your budget if you decide on DVC - then definitely go with a DVC rental from a member or a broker (broker will charge you more generally) - for off season 1-bedroom standard at BLT is $632 per night value season. generally these will also have a discount but not all the time.

standard views because there are so few - are really hard to get.

you can probably get BWV - no real 2-bedrooms - so you would get a king in the master, queen and double sleeper sofa in the 2nd bedroom, and queen sleeper sofa in the living room. a little cheaper than BLT 2-bedroom - paying rack rate.

 

[Scottyatp]

@Babsy: What do you mean by 'I would request rooms near each other and link the reservations.'

 

[VAfamily1998]

@minimum:I had never heard of this DVC rental, will check out that forum! Thanks!

@Babsy: Will look at the AKL and WL. Never thought about the swan and dophin (it has a strange classification and didn't show up on all the lists). Thanks!

@terri33inne. We are going for about 7 days (give or take) and probably plan most of the time at parks, most evenings (after ADR and outside EMH evenings) in the suite. I'll check out these treehouses (i assume that's in WL?)

@spiceycat

Since we're splitting it, budget is fine anywhere from 250-500 per night (ish, can go over some) a night (sorry I didn't put that in there before). One of our group mentioned the cabins at fort wilderness? How are they?

Thank you so much for the help thus far! Exited about going!

The cabins have a common area (kitchen/living room) with a full size murphy bed, then a bedroom with a full size bed and bunkbeds. If all you single guys are pretty small, you could have the bedroom and let the couple (assuming they are also rather small) have the murphy bed in the living room. If you are all about six feet tall...I dont' think you'd find it very comfortable.

Edited to add: The Treehouse villas are in the Saratoga Springs resort, so close to Downtown Disney, which could be very convenient for a group like yours of young singles

 

[cedricandsophie]

I think a bunch of young people would be happiest at Boardwalk. Lots to do at night. ESPN club. And close to Epcot and Hollywood studios. A studio for two guys and a one bedroom for the couple and other guy would work great. Or a two bedroom for all.

 

[Babsy]

@Babsy: What do you mean by 'I would request rooms near each other and link the reservations.'

You call CRO and ask them to "link the reservations". That way any CM dealing with your reservations will see that you are all travelling together as one party in separate rooms. If they pull up one reservation to look at it, they will automatically see the other reservations as well.

 

[KangaFan]

Not sure if you're set on staying on property, but you can get a lot of space and even a private pool staying a mile or two outside Disney's gate by renting a home or condo. www.vrbo.com has tons of rentals

 

[DINKsAtDisney]

We go to Disney once per year with two other couples (none of us have kids) and the best format for what you want is probably Bonnet Creek. It's on Disney property. We rented a unit through VRBO that had 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. For 6 days it was really affordable and was a baller presidential suite with a huge balcony, gorgeous kitchen, and a comfy family room!

Total price was about $1600 for 5 nights.

You do give up Disney transportation with this option but with everyone splitting cabs we didn't miss it.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

Since we're splitting it, budget is fine anywhere from 250-500 per night (ish, can go over some) a night (sorry I didn't put that in there before). One of our group mentioned the cabins at fort wilderness? How are they?

Is that budget per person/per night, or per room? The tree house villas at Saratoga Springs Resort are large, and would very comfortably fit your group, plus some. There's also the other Disney Deluxe Villas throughout WDW. They have 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units. These are in the higher price range, but you could all be in one villa.

 

[maramarrie]

I didn't read all the responses closely, but a 1BR villa at some resorts will sleep 5 and it may be a good option for you. I know at AKL the 1BR sleeps 5 with a king bed in the bedroom, a sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair in the living room. Boardwalk is a great suggestion for a resort for a bunch of young people, as pp said; but I'm not familiar with the bed setup in their villas. There are also family suites at Art of Animation which sleep 5-6 in mostly separate beds. I think there is a bedroom, plus a murphy bed and sleeper sofa in the living area.

Edited: I noticed 2 baths mentioned in a previous comment - AKL only has two bathrooms in villas at Kidani Village (three baths with a 2BR villa). The Jambo House villas are smaller and have one bath.

 

[Scottyatp]

Thank you very much for the time and suggestions; I didn't even know some of these things existed! I'll definitely check out the offsite options as well.