group of 9 suggestions

[dez1978]

Just starting to think this thru and looking for suggestions. We are looking to go over thanksgiving 2026. In the past there have been just 8 of us, so we've done 2 1 bdrm villas at RIV (where we own). This year, grandma will be coming along. So the group consists of my husband, me, our 2 boys (12&15 then), my husbands step sister, her husband and 2 boys (12&17) and her mom. We've always just done the 2 rooms so each family had their own space and it's worked out ok. I'm trying to find the most economical way for 9 people. I know worst case scenario, grandma could sleep on one of the small pull down beds. Or maybe their oldest can come in our room and grandma can have the queen pull down in their room. But I wasn't sure if another resort would be a better option with either a 3 bdrm villa or a 2 bdrm and a 1 bdrm. or just 2 1bdrms and a studio. We have 485 points (300 from the Dec 25 UY and 135 banked from this year). And we could borrow from the next year if we have to. We've only ever really stayed at RIV so I wasn't sure if there were better options out there. So thought I'd ask the experts for suggestions.

 

[Stargazer65]

I did nine once and it was fun. We were all in one of the treehouses. Different dynamic though. Grandma would be in a chair bed in the living room, and I doubt she would like that! Also the four boys might fight over who gets the spare room, and who sleeps in the living room. lol.

If you want private space, have you considered two 1 bedroom villas at SSR or OKW, and a studio at the same resort for grandma? Those resorts are really cheap on points and pretty easy to book.

FYI - we are staying at OKW for this Thanksgiving (2025) in a 2 bedroom, seven of us. If we had my son, his wife, and baby, I was going to book them a studio there. But they are not going this year, so no need.

 

[sndral]

Just starting to think this thru and looking for suggestions. We are looking to go over thanksgiving 2026. In the past there have been just 8 of us, so we've done 2 1 bdrm villas at RIV (where we own). This year, grandma will be coming along. So the group consists of my husband, me, our 2 boys (12&15 then), my husbands step sister, her husband and 2 boys (12&17) and her mom. We've always just done the 2 rooms so each family had their own space and it's worked out ok. I'm trying to find the most economical way for 9 people. I know worst case scenario, grandma could sleep on one of the small pull down beds. Or maybe their oldest can come in our room and grandma can have the queen pull down in their room. But I wasn't sure if another resort would be a better option with either a 3 bdrm villa or a 2 bdrm and a 1 bdrm. or just 2 1bdrms and a studio. We have 485 points (300 from the Dec 25 UY and 135 banked from this year). And we could borrow from the next year if we have to. We've only ever really stayed at RIV so I wasn't sure if there were better options out there. So thought I'd ask the experts for suggestions.

Ideally you’d book a 1 br. + a 2 br. lock off at 7 months at a less point costly legacy resort. A 2 br. lock off is a 1 br. + a studio w/ a connecting door & costs fewer points than it would if you booked them as 2 separate reservations for a 1 br. and a studio. For example, at Riviera for 5 nights including Thanksgiving 2026 - 2 br. lock off resort view is 292 points v. if you booked them separately a 1 br. resort view 228 + a studio resort view 108 = 336 points.
However, you are looking at a very in demand week in the WDW DVC booking universe, the probability that you will find two villas at a less point costly resort at 7 months for that particular week isn’t great. Here’s a resource for getting a sense for just how hard things are to book at 7 months at various times https://dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables.
Thus, I’d assume I was going to be booking my home resort & not be able to move to a cheaper point resort at 7 months, so I’d book a 1 br. + a 2 br. lock off at Riviera in the less expensive resort view category if I had the points to cover it, or your normal two 1 br.s if you don’t have enough points, which, while not perfect, will, I assume, fit your party of 9.
I too have a Dec. use year & late November stays always make me nervous because if something happens & you need to cancel late you’ll likely lose all those points, so I’d avoid borrowing the next years use points if at all possible.

 

[CarolynFH]

I think I’d add the studio to the two 1BR, especially given the ages of the kids - which actually means a 1BR and a lockoff 2BR as @sndral describes above. If considering a GV, be sure to look at the layout and figure out where everyone would sleep. For instance, would the four boys share the two queens in one secondary BR, or would it be parents plus kids sharing those two queens in the two secondary bedrooms, and grandma gets the one and only king?

 

[LoveToDisney]

I had a similar group and chose a 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom. My sister needed a walk in shower so she needed a MBR. I put the rest of her family in the second bedroom and living room (they choose arrangement). My family went in the remaining 1 bedroom. I put a note on each villa that we were together and they placed us next door to each other which was perfect.

 

[Shellyred8]

As long as Grandma doesn't need any extra assistance with anything, I would do 2 one-bedrooms and a Studio for grandma. This will give Grandma her own space for sleeping and getting ready. She can still come and hang out in the 1-br's with y'all, but she would have her own space if/when she wanted it.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Yeah that’s a tricky one. I’d do a 2br and a studio. More than enough room. We’ve done 9 people a million times. In fact most of our trips have been that way, always in one 2 br. But that was DH and me, our 5 kids and my parents, so different dynamic. For you all I’d think a 2br plus a studio is most economic while still giving everyone a little room.

 

[Mouseforward]

For thanksgiving , your only option to trade out may be SSR. If it was not an OKW GV would be my choice but they will not be available.

I would see if you can do 2br and a studio @RIV , if you don't than the same at SSR

 

[sndral]

I’m curious - for those suggesting studio + 2 br. - is the thinking that OP’s family stays in the studio & step sister’s party of 5 stays in the 2 br.? Or grandma gets studio & OP & step sister’s families share the 2 br.?
I did glance at a duo studio for grandma - but the point cost seemed high.