It's worth remembering that you'd only need ONE AP to be eligable for the AP discount rate. If the 7 day hopper tickets are enough for your ticket needs you wouldn't need to get everyone annual passes.
Bev said
While I agree with your comments about the delux units, I don't agree as far as the cabins or the DVC units go. The cabins may cost an extra $70-100 a night more, but even so if one is prepared to eat breakfast in the room (and as the units have kitchens and dining areas that isn't hard to do) it's easy to save $50 a day in breakfast alone. Buying water,juice sodas at the supermarket and taking just 2 each per day (10 drinks) to the parks saves you $20 per day. If you like a couple of beers or a bottle of wine in the evening, buying them in the supermarket and chilling them in the fridge saves you $10+ on a bottle of wine, $2 per beer. Having just one meal per week as a frozen pizza or pasta from the supermarket can save another $100. So if you total all of those individual componants up it comes to between $90-100 a day difference. I'll accept that it may not be everyone's preference to toast some bread or bagels every morning instead of going to a restaurant and having it done for you, but it's a question of priorities, if room size is a major priority and you are prepared to give up some other lesser priorities then financially the difference between the TOTAL cost of the exercise (as opposed to just looking at room costs) is really not that different.
A one bedroom DVC unit is also economically viable in the context of a split stay. For a booking of 5 nights, check in on a Sunday, check out on the Friday the points cost at OKW is 22 points per night. Points are renting at $10 per point so the room cost of $220 per night. As there is no tax to pay on renting points, as there is for renting a room. (this is the same as paying $195 for a room where there is 11% sales tax to add on). The one bedroom DVC units also have full kitchen facilities (like the cabins) so you can save a lot of money on food costs that would otherwise be impossible to avoid and you also have your own washer dryer (with a 15 month old that may be a huge help).
As I have said, it is very much a question of priorities and that's up to the individual to decide on their priorities. But in the case of the OP, using her dates, budget constraints here is a plan that fits most/all of her needs. I'll accept that it requires some moving about that may not be suitable, but that again is a priority call. Unfortunately coming in on a Friday and leaving on a Wednesday does make it a little less efficient in using DVC points as it means one extra hotel option. IMHO coming in on a Saturday this is more practical, because coming from Europe means your flight usually lands late afternoon, early evening US time. Most people just clear the airport, get something to eat, find hotel and go to sleep. You can easily then check out next day, go to WDW and check into your DVC unit. Anyway
Arrive Friday June 24th check into either a 3.5* hotel in WDW area at $45 per night or a 3.5* condo unit (WDW area) at $120 a night (both available on http://www.hotwire.com for two nights. Go to Universal for 1st full day, Check out June 26th ( you could as little princess suggest look at staying at a USF hotel for these days and use the FOTL access on the the 25th and 26th for IOA and USF, it increases your budget, but the FOTL is a huge bonus and they are excellent hotels).
Rent DVC points for 5 night stay at OKW in 1 bedroom DVC unit (with full kitchen) cost $220 per night (same as hotel room at $195 due to tax not being paid) Check out of DVC unit on Friday July 1st
Check into FW Cabin (or a moderate) for 4 night stay, check out on July 5th.
With the OP's family size I'd go for the cabins, because I'd want to check out one of the options I'm DEFINATELY going to need in the future. Everyone knows what a regular hotel room offers, the cabins are something unusual and IMHO only by staying in one for a short trip will you know if they are a viable option for a longer stay in the future.
IMHO that plan should be on or below budget when you factor in savings on food and drink. Might be a bit too much hassle for some, but that is a feasable and economic option and therefore is worth bring to the OP's attention as something for her to decide upon. It's even more feasable if they'd been arriving on a Saturday or Sunday, but that information was only available after I'd originally suggested a DVC split.
When considering the "home away from home" resorts it's necessary, IMHO, to look at the TOTAL cost, not just the "headline" or simple room cost. It can very easily be much closer than expected if one is prepared to make use of the extra facilities the higher room charge affords you. If by paying an extra $100 a night for a room gives you the option to save $100 a day on food costs , then the financial side of it is even. It's just a question of whether toasting a few bagels, pouring out OJ from a carton and putting milk on the cereal in the morning is a cost you are prepared to pay in order to have a much larger accommodation, much better facilities and some privacy from/for your kids.
Can you cut your stay by one or two days and upgrade to a moderate for the entire time? The values are really tiny IMO. Another thought...have you considered renting a house? You are wanting to go for what...12 nights? I love Disney as much as the next person, but after 6 I'm tiring of the crowds and need some non-Disney time. And don't kid yourself...being on property THAT much you won't be at the parks all day every day. I don't know....you have three kids including a toddler...I think you guys could really use the extra room. 
Wow, you have a great way with words. 
And thanks for the advice. Yep, that's the thing, the villas outside are so tempting - I want it *all* !
....... can anybody rent points from any DVC member? In other words do Disney give it their blessing or is there an element of backstreet dealing involved? lol, forgive me, but this is all so new to me. How would I know the deal was straight? What if I got to WDW and staff say "Deb *WHO*? you think *you* have a room at Boardwalk Villas. Bwahahaha. Get back to Ireland with ya" 
If renting DVC points makes it so much easier to stay at a bigger, better resort, why isn't everyone doing it? Just some random questions to add to the quagmire of dilemmas I face myself challenged with! Any info much appreciated. 
But a deluxe would be nice!! 
