Going With Family-Staying at Different Resorts

[mirlow]

Has anyone gone with family or even close friends and not stayed at the same hotel? How was it? My brother and his family are going to WDW for the first time in April. They don't want to spend over $200 a night. I thought the WL would be great for them(that is if they would ever get some codes out for that time period ) The problem is the WL is too small for our family. We could get two rooms, but I was thinking about staying at the Polynesian or the GF. I even thought about paying the extra $$ for them to stay at the Polynesian? That would be about the same cost as getting two standard view rooms at the WL (with a code and if they availability!)
I thought we would see each other quite a bit at the parks and going to dinner and so on. It would give them more of their alone time. Then again some of our best trips are going with other people and hanging out at the resort together?
BTW I get along with my brother and his family, so that wouldn't be an issue.
I would like to how it worked or didn't work out from those of you in a similar situation.

 

[bjsmico]

I have done it at it worked great! We were at FW and our friends were at CBR. Another time were at AS and my brother was at Marriott DTD. Not a problem. We just picked my brother up in the morningsa. And with our friends we just picked a meeting spot at each park.I have ALWAYS had a car when we go so getting to and from resorts or parks has never benn a problem.

 

[spiceycat]

go rent a 2-bedroom at VWL from a DVC member - it can hold 8 - then everyone can be together.

but yes I have been at OKW and my brother at the polyn and it worked quite well.

 

[TerriBelle]

We have done both - stayed with a large group at the same resort and also two different resorts and both worked fine.

January '04 we went with a family that we are friends with. They stayed at POR and we stayed at the BWV because we had DVC. I thought it might be difficult but with cell phones and a little planning it worked great. We made PS for at least one meal a day before going. This way we knew that we would meet up. Most days we met somewhere in the moring and spent the whole time together. A few days we split up after lunch. Having separate resorts worked out fine because it forced the kids to get a break from each other. THey all got along great, but I think that most people do need some break from each other.

 

[mirlow]

go rent a 2-bedroom at VWL from a DVC member - it can hold 8 - then everyone can be together.

That was my first option, but I don't think there is availability at the VWL that week.

 

[spiceycat]

give me your dates and I will check - I can't rent you points then - but I can see if there is availability.

 

[Jen D]

How many are in your family? 5? Maybe you could do AKL instead-- your brother's family could do a standard room and your family could do a deluxe room.

 

[mirlow]

spiceycat our dates are April 17th-24th.

Jen D- We thought about the AKL, but we are going there for 4 days before my brother gets to WDW. We like to do concierge since we have to get a deluxe room. I didn't want to do concierge while they were in a standard room. My SIL wanted to be closer to the MK because her kids are 2 and 4 and they take naps.

 

[vsimeone]

My family was at WDW from 12/23 - 1/1. There were 7 of us. My family (4) stayed at POP and my parents (2) and my brother (1) stayed at two different off site hotels. We used the heck out of our 7 cell phones staying in contact with each other and my parents and brother spent a lot of time with us at POP but we had a great time! We did quite a few separate things but we always met at some point during the day and for at least one meal a day. We didn't have any problems at all! I think the VWL sounds like fun if you could all stay together but if it doesn't work out - don't worry - you'll all have a great time!

 

[fam4jc]

I think it would be real easy for you to be at the Poly or GF while they are at the WL. They can hop on the boat to MK then monorail over to you or vis a versa. It is really, very nice of you to offer to pay the difference so they can stay in the same resort! I think it would be much more fun to spend that money on doing fun things together like renting boats, eating a great character meal together etc. But if you really want to be in the same resort, then make it happen! I like going on vacation with my brother's family and we always have a great time. Share in the responsiblities of the kids, so we each get a "night out", split up younger & older kids with adults so everyone gets to do their age range, etc. My brother has paid for me many times when we were very poor and now I can actually pay our own way and spring for his dinner once in a while! Whatever you decide, I know it will be great fun.

 

[fam4jc]

By the way with the kids that young they will probably really like MGM also (playhouse Disney, great playlands, kid fun shows like little mermaid). Have you thought about a 2bd DVC at BeachClub or Boardwalk?

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We were thinking the same thing. July 2006 my mother is finally coming with us. She wants her own room, so as to not "be in the way". We stay at GF and I think even with our AP discount that would be more than she would want to spend. I was thinking of getting her a room at WL and then she could enjoy all the amenities of the GF (doesn't swim so she won't be "pool hopping" - LOL she'll be 78!) and still have a nice deluxe hotel to sleep in. Is this very inconvenient?

 

[HopperFan]

We've done it several times no problem apart....and have been together a few times. Apart we have done:
FW & off site, FW & AKL, POR & BC
Never had a problem, always knew the plan and where to meet and had our cell phones on us. I kinda like the few hours we had in the am, at pool or late evening on our own. We love the family and friends we were with, but it was our vacation time too and I like a few hours a day with my gang.

 

[FLORIDAFUNFAMILY]

With cell phones everywhere at disney is pretty close . Pick where your comfortable and let them decide where they'll be comfortable. If you want to stay together or even close those options are available the Dvc resorts are nice and have some large units available but can be a bit close for a vacation no matter how well you get along. You could do a studiio and a one bedroom. Either way I think you'll have a great time.

 

[cymomtx]

When we went in July there were two families. We stayed at two different resorts off property. But we had a lock-off at OKW. The lock-off was wonderful, each of us got parking passes so that we could park there. Then we used the room as a day room and kept lunch food and drinks there. When the kids got tired we could go and rest awhile. So even though we didn't "sleep" on property we had all the advantages of being on property.

 

[Sammie]

When we went in July there were two families. We stayed at two different resorts off property. But we had a lock-off at OKW. The lock-off was wonderful, each of us got parking passes so that we could park there. Then we used the room as a day room and kept lunch food and drinks there. When the kids got tired we could go and rest awhile. So even though we didn't "sleep" on property we had all the advantages of being on property.

I am confused, you had a room at Old Key West and you did not even use it to stay in. Why even book it?

 

[cymomtx]

I am confused, you had a room at Old Key West and you did not even use it to stay in. Why even book it?

We used it during the day. We had an II certificate we used to book the OKW room, we would of loved to stay on property, but this is all that was available.

It was wonderful, even though we slept off property we had all the advantages of staying on property (i.e. parking, package delivery, food preparation area, resting area).

 

[Sammie]

We used it during the day. We had an II certificate we used to book the OKW room, we would of loved to stay on property, but this is all that was available.

It was wonderful, even though we slept off property we had all the advantages of staying on property (i.e. parking, package delivery, food preparation area, resting area).

I am not trying to be dense, it comes naturally. You had a OKW room so you could have stayed there, I just am not seeing why you would use the room during the day, but not actually spend the night and stay the entire time. What am I missing?

 

[cymomtx]

Because there were 9 children and 10 adults how do you decide who stays in a lock-off room. There was not adequate sleep facilities for any one family. There was no kitchen to cook meals in. We had a deposited week that was going to expire if we did not use it, so why not make the best of it.

We would do it again in a heartbeat. If we could of gotten a 2BR at OKW it would of been a different story, but all we could confirm was a lock-off.

 

[Sammie]

Because there were 9 children and 10 adults how do you decide who stays in a lock-off room. There was not adequate sleep facilities for any one family. There was no kitchen to cook meals in. We had a deposited week that was going to expire if we did not use it, so why not make the best of it.

We would do it again in a heartbeat. If we could of gotten a 2BR at OKW it would of been a different story, but all we could confirm was a lock-off.

A studio only has occupany for 4 unless one is a infant. That only gives you 4 resort IDs. I don't see how this was a help to 19 people.

A 2 bedroom occupany is only 8 so that would not have helped you either. I guess I just don't see any advantage of having this studio when your party size was so large.

Even if you did not sleep there you still had to decide which 4 or possibly 5 used it during the day.