Group of 6 - Which Resort

[jediagh]

Hi all,

My last trip yo Disney was in 2012 with a then family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids under age 6). It was quiet easy to pick and choose a resort as 2 beds, 1 bath was plenty for us. Fast forward 5 years and so much has changed in my personal life.

I am now trying to plan a trip for SEP 2018 (8 days, 7 nights) but this type for a group of 6. 2 adults, 4 kids [age 15, 13, 9 and 6] and I am overwhelemed by it at this point.

I can't seem to find any rooms that will sleep that many without breaking the bank. Plus we really need 2 bathrooms for this trip becuase 1 is just never enough. LOL

Should I look into perhaps getting 2 rooms? Do any of the properties have rooms that connect? I'm not to keen on doing the budget resorts would prefer the moderdate or deluexe. I'm trying to stay within a budget of $7K at most. We would be driving from Chicago so it's already going to be around $1400 for gas/hotel/food for the 4 days of roadtime travel (2 going; 2 coming).

So I have around 5.6K to play with for the resort iteself.
Any ideas? Suggestions?

 

[Tink_83]

I'm staying slightly off site at the Whyndam bonnet creek and it looks amazing (haven't stayed there yet)... we are getting a 2 bed 2 bath room with a kitchen and living area. We will have a car though. Also we are getting our room from vrbo so basically getting the timeshare option that someone has and isn't using. We found this to be more affordable then 2 value rooms for our stay.

 

[kboo]

You might also want to look into renting DVC points, either privately through an owner, or through a points rental agency (where you will pay more and wait longer, but do less legwork). You would need to get a 2 bedroom, but you'd definitely have at least 2 baths, a full kitchen and a washer and dryer, which might also save you some $.

 

[HopperFan]

For two bathrooms starting at the bottom is -
- 2 value rooms (but not guaranteed to connect)
- ASMu Family Suite
- AoA Family Suite

One bathroom -
- Ft Wilderness Campground

I would look offsite as well. We love the 2 bedrooms at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and enjoyed our stays at Sheraton Vistana Resort just off property. If looking to more a hotel, look at StayBridge Suites (2 bedroom with kitchen and included breakfast) fairly newly renovated.

 

[mjkacmom]

We rented points for a 2 bedroom villa at the Beach Club, it ended up costing about the same as two connecting rooms at a moderate resort (but much nicer and roomier). We are a family of 7.

 

[jvz82]

We're a family of 6, looking into Wyndham Bonnet Creek or Windsor Hills for our next trip. Honestly, I LOVE staying on-site but it's hard to justify every time. Our options are just so limited with 6 people. I've also been considering the cabins at FW or a suite at one of the values, but then we can't afford to stay as long. The off-site options look pretty awesome for way less money. We also drive so we have access to a car.

I think a lot of it depends on what kind of a trip you want to have.

 

[bukappadelta]

The Art of Animation Resort has Family Suites that sleep 6 and have 2 bathrooms. Have fun planning!!!

 

[DizneyLizzy]

We got two connecting room at Caribbean Beach last Sept for a group of 6. I've also had connecting rooms at Pop. It was almost exactly the same price as a 1 bedroom villa rental at Saratoga Springs, but 1 bedroom at SS would have only had 1 bathroom. You're never guaranteed to get connecting rooms, but I've gotten it both times I've requested it. Both times were booked by an authorized Disney travel agent who also put in the request, so maybe that helped?

Have a great trip!

 

[mom25kiddos]

We are a family of 7 and have stayed on and off site-we prefer off site. We just need the space and amenities. We are doing a split stay this time at wyndham bonnet creek and Marriott grande vista. Both sleep up to 8 and have kitchens, two bathrooms etc. Last time we stayed at GF and it was lovely, but space was tough. I was sick for a few days and spent a couple nights out on the balcony trying to make sure I didn't wake anyone up coughing. There was just no where to go.

 

[Dakota731]

We did six at the all stars family suite and it was perfect. We really wanted the two bathrooms and we prefer a separate bedroom for my husband and I. And the price wasn't bad.

 

[brockash]

Hi all,

My last trip yo Disney was in 2012 with a then family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids under age 6). It was quiet easy to pick and choose a resort as 2 beds, 1 bath was plenty for us. Fast forward 5 years and so much has changed in my personal life.

I am now trying to plan a trip for SEP 2018 (8 days, 7 nights) but this type for a group of 6. 2 adults, 4 kids [age 15, 13, 9 and 6] and I am overwhelemed by it at this point.

I can't seem to find any rooms that will sleep that many without breaking the bank. Plus we really need 2 bathrooms for this trip becuase 1 is just never enough. LOL

Should I look into perhaps getting 2 rooms? Do any of the properties have rooms that connect? I'm not to keen on doing the budget resorts would prefer the moderdate or deluexe. I'm trying to stay within a budget of $7K at most. We would be driving from Chicago so it's already going to be around $1400 for gas/hotel/food for the 4 days of roadtime travel (2 going; 2 coming).

So I have around 5.6K to play with for the resort iteself.
Any ideas? Suggestions?

I'd do 2 values with connecting rooms.

 

[DisTravels]

I am now trying to plan a trip for SEP 2018 (8 days, 7 nights) but this type for a group of 6. 2 adults, 4 kids [age 15, 13, 9 and 6] and I am overwhelemed by it at this point.

I can't seem to find any rooms that will sleep that many without breaking the bank. Plus we really need 2 bathrooms for this trip becuase 1 is just never enough. LOL
So I have around 5.6K to play with for the resort iteself.
Any ideas? Suggestions?

There are several threads about staying at a non-Disney property (Whyndam bonnet creek, Marriott timeshares, etc) There are pro's and cons to being on-site and off site. With 8 days, it's likely you're going to places other than Disney, so it's something else to consider.

 

[HopperFan]

I'd do 2 values with connecting rooms.

But connecting is not guaranteed so OP would have to be prepared and okay to deal with that.

Luckily she has time and can look at all her options.

 

[Kerriowl]

You could do a cabin at Fort Wilderness. It would only have one bathroom, but you could ask for a cabin near a comfort station. Those are the buildings that have bathrooms, showers, and washer/dryers for those that are camping. If someone was willing to go there to shower, it would solve the one bathroom problem. Plus, you do have the extra sink in the kitchen area so hand washing and tooth brushing can occur there.

 

[brockash]

But connecting is not guaranteed so OP would have to be prepared and okay to deal with that.

Luckily she has time and can look at all her options.

Yes, not guaranteed, however we've asked for connecting rooms every year for the last 15 years and have always gotten it, so while it's not guaranteed, it's very likely.

 

[disneyfan128]

I love the Art of Animation Family Suites! Disney is always offering room discounts; a lot of the time the discount is about 25% off.

 

[Sarahboo]

We are a family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids aged 17, 14, 13, 9 at the time of the trip). We had the same struggle!

We wanted to stay on site, and since we're doing 14 nights, we couldn't justify the expense of a deluxe resort. We also knew we wanted free dining because of the amount of savings it provided, so we didn't rent DVC points. If we were not planning on the free dining promotion, I think we would have rented DVC.

We went back and forth between All-Star Music, Art of Animation, and 2 connecting rooms at Pop!.

While posters above say you're not guaranteed connecting rooms, I've been informed by multiple CMs and my travel agent that if it's 2 rooms with only 2 adults, and minor immediate family children all on the same reservation, you will be guaranteed a connection. If there's a third adult, there is no guarantee. I haven't made my trip yet to confirm our success with this "guarantee".

Ultimately this is how we decided:

1. Art of Animation - While this was my first choice, it would have been about $1300 more for our length of stay. That was too much money for me to justify.

2. All-Star Music - This was slightly more expensive than Pop! It wasn't much of a difference so I didn't let price make the decision. However, with that many people, I worried about how we would successfully move about the room if one kid was still asleep since all of the beds for the kids would be pullouts. I also don't love the theming but theming wasn't the most important factor to me.

3. Pop! - That kind of led us here. It's the least expensive, but still gives us a good amount of room. They should be fully refurbished by the time of your trip too!

 

[BobbyDukes]

Try renting DVC points from theDVCrentalStore.com and look for Saratoga Springs or Old Key West two bedroom villa that sleeps up to ten people.
You can save a little money by cooking breakfast every morning in your room and having a few groceries on hand.
I am currently scheduled for Nov 12-19 in the Old key west two bedroom villa with a total of 9 of us.
The DVC rental store is great and super at communicating with what you need.
Too lay it out for you for my family we paid $3124 for the room, it may seem a lot but as you may know what the price of buying two separate rooms is.
Think about it!!! All DVC properties are availible too.

 

[VillainFavs]

So you said you have about $5,600 to play with. Does that include tickets, resort and food? Tickets for the 6 people, 7 days, no park hopping, is going to be around $2,500 right there. Just staying at an All Star Music suite is going to be over $2,000. That leaves you about $1,000 for food for all 6 of you for a week. If you're doing table service, that will go quick!

Of course, this isn't allowing for any discounts. That will be a major factor.

But two rooms at a moderate/deluxe or renting points is probably going to be out of range for the budget you're looking at.