Help me decide; sorry this is long, but I'm really torn...

[kt_mom]

If you go at F&W time....I would stay at the boardwalk. With that many young kids I think it would be very stressful at the pool(BCV). Way to spread out....Everyone wants to go to a different spot and CHAOS.

I love the Boardwalk...fun pool.....walk to Epcot and studios.


Xmas time.....If you can get WLV....thats my 1st choice....after that I would pick BLT for the monorail and extra sleeper chair.

While OKW is great very large rooms....with all of the kids....I think the option of the monorail/boats is much more fun.
Happy planning.
Relax....planning is fun right
Kerri

Thanks! That's all I was looking for was opinions on different places at different times.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for all the advice. When we call our guide back to help us book, I'd like to be able to give him the dates we want to go and the what we would like to book in order of preference and see what he can do. Then I could always keep trying later on if we don't get exactly what we want.

I don't really have my heart set on anything at this point. I will have a great time wherever we stay because I'll be in Disney. I really want to help our friends have a great time and their kids. They have never done a big family vacation so this will be really special for their kids and hopefully encourage them to take more.

I'll have to do some more research on OKW. I'm not sure what DH would say about staying there.

Why are you asking your guide to reserve you stay? It isn't even within the booking window yet for December 2011. I'd just call on the 11 month mark and make it yourself.

As for not considering OKW... I think you are making a big mistake when you have friends with you. OKW is the largest 2 bedroom on site, and it has one more "real" bed than many of the others. I do think you will be shortchanging yourself though if you plan to have kids sleeping in the living room. It really does limit your use of the villa. In that case, I would likely also encourage you to get seperate accommodations for you and your guests.

 

[kt_mom]

Why are you asking your guide to reserve you stay? It isn't even within the booking window yet for December 2011. I'd just call on the 11 month mark and make it yourself.

As for not considering OKW... I think you are making a big mistake when you have friends with you. OKW is the largest 2 bedroom on site, and it has one more "real" bed than many of the others. I do think you will be shortchanging yourself though if you plan to have kids sleeping in the living room. It really does limit your use of the villa. In that case, I would likely also encourage you to get seperate accommodations for you and your guests.

We actually haven't decided yet if we want to do October or December and I plan to book at the 11 month window for the dates we are considering in October then if we decide on December just change it. DH is the only one that really really wants December. I'm torn, I like them both and one of the things I was trying to figure out was which would be the most fun with our friends taking into account the weather, crowds, F&W, the parties, the beautiful Christmas decorations. I want this trip to show them how much fun a family trip to Disney can be. I've done both and won't be disappointed with either.

I'm not too worried about the kids in LR. We'll keep our little guy in our room in a pack n play and then DD can fall asleep in our bed and we can move her to the LR when everyone is ready for bed. She's easy to move and so are their kids. This will allow us to hang out together in the LR in the evening for a little bit if we want to. If their boys fall asleep on the sleeper sofa and they want to leave them there they can do that too.

They have never done a real family vacation to somewhere like this. Not even the beach. I think the only reason they are going is because they are going with us. They had a horrible time in August on a day trip to the park and are reluctant to return. The husband said they only way he wanted to go back was if it was with us and I planned it. It's a lot of pressure on me, but I love their boys and I'm so excited for them. I know that anything can go wrong at any time but there a some things we can plan for and work out ahead of time to help things go smoother.

Probably BLT is our best bet anyway. The monorail will be so easy with two strollers and we will probably spend the most time there.

ETA: I haven't asked the guide to do anything yet. I'm just thinking about what we would like to try to do.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I just wanted to say that there is no need to get your guide involved at all. You just call the toll free number and make the reservation yourself at the 11 month booking window.

 

[photobob]

Here's what I do when booking a trip. I ALWAYS book at my home resort for whatever trip we are taking at 11 months. Then, at 7 months if I want I call to see if there is availability elsewhere.

So, I would book BLT and then, see what is available at 7 months.

This is always my standard operating procedure as well. DVC works best for those that can plan well in advance obviously. Make sure to play close attention to the exact day that the 7 month window opens and call first thing that morning. Even if what you want is not available you can be one of the first to be on a waitlist. If you can't get your number 1 choice try your number 2 choice and waitlist for number 1.

 

[DebbieB]

I just wanted to say that there is no need to get your guide involved at all. You just call the toll free number and make the reservation yourself at the 11 month booking window.

I think the guide was using it as a sales tactic, that he would be able to get them what they wanted:

I think I mentioned earlier that when I had originally talked to him in August and we had talked about rooms if we bought then, he would have been able to get us in at either BLT or BCV. I think he was quite surprised with the BCV though and he said that would have to be that day or would probably be gone.

Sounds like a car salesman..........

 

[kt_mom]

Sounds like a car salesman..........

That's funny, my husband is the GSM at a car dealership. We're pretty familiar with sales tactics. Our guide never put any pressure on us which was nice. I asked about the BCV and BLT and he looked. BLT he said he wouldn't have any problem getting us into so I really don't feel like he was trying to pressure us, he also knew that was our first choice. When we decided to wait and do the tour and meet with him in person he was fine with that too.

I realize I don't have use him to book our first visit, he just said we could. I don't know what I'll do yet. I have a few more days I think before I need to call.

Again, I was just playing with scenarios and getting opinions on different resorts at different times. That's why I said lets pretend I could get in anywhere. I realize the difficulty if not impossibility of some places at certain times, I've read enough on here to know that. I just wanted opinions on different places but unfortunately I haven't gotten much of that. Thanks to those that shared their opinions, I appreciate it. I'm a firm believer that you should always at least try, even if you don't get what you want, at least you know you tried.