Help me win a battle against the family to stay on site!

[Welsh_Dragon]

Trying to herd 18 people out of an off site rental property at the same time could be an ordeal. Staying onsite gives everyone a lot more independence, to come and go as they please, wake up when they please etc. Also, who wants to be responsible for cleaning, cooking etc for 18 while on holiday?

 

[springtime]

That is a lot of money! After my recent stay at Disney, I have a hard time suggesting people stay onsite. The perks just are not there. The only possible thing I can think of is the ease of Disney transportation if people want to split up and come back. We had a group of 10 on this trip, and it was helpful. People have different tolerances for crowds, lines, rain, heat, etc. It was nice that they could take a break without taking down the whole group with them.

The suggestion about staying offsite and using the money in a different way is a good one. I have never been a person who wanted to pay a lot for a hotel. I am just not in it enough. I would much rather put money towards experiences.

Also consider what people might not be saying. In the past, I was often the one that could not afford the nicer amenities that other extended family could. It can be embarrassing to admit that, especially when others don’t even blink an eye at the cost and are super excited about moving forward. I doubt most my extended family was aware it was a challenge for us because my sister would often speak up about finding cheaper options to keep me from the embarrassment of admitting it just did not fit in our very tight budget. It could be possible, after this pandemic year, that $2000 is cost prohibitive the someone in the group.

 

[Miffy]

I'm pretty sure there are groups as large as yours--or larger--who've managed to stay at the same resort, have the same FPs (assuming they would exist when you're there), eat at the same restaurants, etc., for an entire trip, but it seems like a lot of work on your part for little or no benefit.

I agree with many of the other posters on this thread: You can stay at WL with your immediate family. Let everyone else on the trip (all 15 or 14 or however many of them there are) stay wherever they want--a lower-priced resort onsite, off-site, wherever. It's up to them.

If you're paying for everyone, then there's no need to convince anyone, but since you mentioned the $2K extra per family, then I'm guessing that you are not paying for everyone. Nor should you! I don't mean to imply that.

But trying to coordinate 18 people for 3 meals a day, for ride after ride, for a schedule that will please everyone or nearly everyone--that is a near-impossibility.

Let everyone stay where they want. Make a few reservations for parts of the group and maybe one or two with all 18.

If I were a member of this group of 18, I wouldn't want to spend an extra $2K just to stay at WL, and I love WL. And if I were you I wouldn't want to be responsible for several reservations at any one place. Let each family book their own stay. Much better and less stress for you, despite your desires. I get that you want everyone to have a great experience, but you can't control that. They could all stay in suites at the GF and have a terrible time for whatever reason--a reason that wouldn't equate to a terrible time for you.

 

[kylenne]

Trying to herd 18 people out of an off site rental property at the same time could be an ordeal. Staying onsite gives everyone a lot more independence, to come and go as they please, wake up when they please etc. Also, who wants to be responsible for cleaning, cooking etc for 18 while on holiday?

I mean this is going to be an issue regardless of where they stay. Even on a cruise ship herding that many people is annoying and ridiculous (I almost went insane with just six on a cruise 10 ago). And tbh rideshare provides just as much independence as Disney transportation, unless these other families have multiple small kids that require car seats.

Not everyone has the same budget or the same priorities on vacation. What if some want to be park commandos whereas others just want to lay by the pool all day? What if some want to go to UO for a day or two? And so on. This is the kind of situation where I feel like each of the families really needs to be responsible for their own accommodations though. OP can offer advice and coordination between the group as necessary but trying to recreate a vacation a family of 4 had 10 years ago for nearly 20 people is just setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration imo.

 

[MrWreckless]

$2000 is another GREAT vacation for my family. Thats not something that can be hand waved away. Your vacation is going to be made by the interactions you have with one another, not a ferry boat.


Two years ago we took an extended family vacation to Florida and my wife was gung ho about staying in a property facing the ocean. We couldnt find a property in our price range that sleeps 10 so my wife wanted multiple units. But i found a penthouse across the street looking at the bay instead of the ocean that could sleep everyone comfortably and it took everything to convince her that the kids would be happier spending the night with "pop pop" and "auntie" in the same unit than they would being split up but with an ocean view. We got the penthouse and later she agreed it was the right decision.

 

[smwisc]

$2000 is another GREAT vacation for my family. Thats not something that can be hand waved away. Your vacation is going to be made by the interactions you have with one another, not a ferry boat.

That is a standard I often find myself using - when an expense gets into "we could take another vacation for that!" territory, it's most often a "no".

 

[suwoogie]

I’d recommend Wyndham Bonnet Creek. Go through Vacation Strategy. It’s on Disney property, but not owned by Disney. You can get 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedroom villas with full kitchens, washer/dryer, balcony, and several pools and lazy River for a fraction of the price of a Disney resort.

 

[kylenne]

The suggestion about staying offsite and using the money in a different way is a good one. I have never been a person who wanted to pay a lot for a hotel. I am just not in it enough. I would much rather put money towards experiences.

Also consider what people might not be saying. In the past, I was often the one that could not afford the nicer amenities that other extended family could. It can be embarrassing to admit that, especially when others don’t even blink an eye at the cost and are super excited about moving forward. I doubt most my extended family was aware it was a challenge for us because my sister would often speak up about finding cheaper options to keep me from the embarrassment of admitting it just did not fit in our very tight budget. It could be possible, after this pandemic year, that $2000 is cost prohibitive the someone in the group.

This is such a good point. Back when I was younger I was definitely that broke family member/friend that couldn't afford to go on trips with people and if I went it was because someone helped me out. I guess that's why I'm sensitive to this sort of thing. And it's embarrassing being that person, plus you don't want to be a drag on the group. It's really not cool when someone who's better off just assumes everyone in the group can swing whatever and it's not a big deal. $2k is an awful lot of money, even in normal times when all the perks are there. And they aren't now. Even as an "onsite or bust, in a deluxe(or GDT)" type of person I will freely admit that.

As DINKs we are planning a trip for next year with my best friend from work who only went once as a small kid during the 10th anniversary but doesn't remember anything so she may as well be a first timer. She and her husband are DINKs as well and she definitely wants to stay on site, but if she doesn't want to pay to stay at Poly I'm not forcing the issue. We will have just as much fun staying elsewhere. It's more about the experience with each other imo.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Relax and don’t make it your mission to dissuade other families from staying off site ! We’ve happily been “off-siters” for many, many trips, vastly preferring a vacation home/townhouse, or even condo to a resort room. Yes, we have stayed on site, as well, but unless our budget was magically increased, we feel there is NO comparison for the comfort and convenience of multiple bedrooms and bathrooms under a private roof, not to mention common areas and laundry facilities. Come the end of a long day, pulling up to our front door, then sitting in our own spa with a glass of wine just steps away from our bedrooms at about half the price of a room in the Disney bubble is a no-brainer for us!

We acknowledge the need for a rental car, but it is also our preference to have one. We can be at the entrance to the AK parking lot in under 10 min. six of us are heading back to WDW this Nov (2 grandmothers, 2 teen boys, and their parents) and we have a nice 4 bed/4 bathroom house with private pool all lined up for a week for less than we’d pay for any single WDW room.

The following week, DD and I will move into a condo within the same gated resort. We treasure having our own rooms and bathrooms, as well as being able to pack really light as we can toss on a load of laundry each night. We will be next to the beautiful resort clubhouse and pool, can fix light meals in our kitchen to enjoy at our dining table or on our balcony. All that for $89/night. We love to tour the Disney Resorts, and enjoy their restaurants, but staying in a hotel room is not even a little bit enjoyable anymore.

 

[NickC]

It's a tough one, because neither group is right or wrong. People just vacation differently. I don't vacation with others, and things like going to the beach while I could be at MK don't appeal to me. It's your vacation too, so I don't think that having an opinion is stubborn. I would want to stay onsite too. But, it's a lot of money. If it were me, I would consider staying offsite if I could still do everything else that I wanted. I would hate to compromise on the accommodations AND miss out on the things that were important to me. I would definitely discuss the 'must-dos' with other members of the group. Maybe split up into smaller groups during the day and meet up at the house at night. So, one group can go to the beach while another goes to HS. Then you can all be together in the evening--cook out, go for a swim, etc.

 

[Disneylover99]

You’re talking about a savings of $8000 to stay offsite.
Sorry, but I don’t think this is a battle you should win.
Embrace off site.

 

[Arouge]

As someone who stayed on property for several years, we ended up renting a house in Windsor Hills for the first time in April 2019- 5 adults and 4 children. My husband and I take our children and grandchildren, so 3 rooms for a week, meals and tickets add up. We loved staying at the house and the resort is nice. We each had bedrooms and bathrooms and our private pool. The drive to the parks isn't bad and my family did not like to ever take Disney transportation, so we always drove anyway. For our first trip, I made a chart comparing costs- I think we ended up saving around $2000. I can't justify spending that $ and being crowded in a Pop Century room. But I understand people love the Disney bubble and transportation can be an issue.
We have since been back and am now planning a quick trip this August- no Disney this time, but am renting houses for February and April Disney trips.

 

[boop0524]

This is such a good point. Back when I was younger I was definitely that broke family member/friend that couldn't afford to go on trips with people and if I went it was because someone helped me out. I guess that's why I'm sensitive to this sort of thing. And it's embarrassing being that person, plus you don't want to be a drag on the group. It's really not cool when someone who's better off just assumes everyone in the group can swing whatever and it's not a big deal. $2k is an awful lot of money, even in normal times when all the perks are there. And they aren't now. Even as an "onsite or bust, in a deluxe(or GDT)" type of person I will freely admit that.

As DINKs we are planning a trip for next year with my best friend from work who only went once as a small kid during the 10th anniversary but doesn't remember anything so she may as well be a first timer. She and her husband are DINKs as well and she definitely wants to stay on site, but if she doesn't want to pay to stay at Poly I'm not forcing the issue. We will have just as much fun staying elsewhere. It's more about the experience with each other imo.

yes I feel this! One of our first big family trips DH and I had just gotten married and didn’t have much at all. Something so simple like I wanted to buy a pair of ears but couldn’t justify the $25 price tag. My dad bought them for me as a surprise, which was kind but I will never forget that. We definitely got “help” that trip. Disney can be very expensive all around

 

[_19disnA]

Over the years we have stayed both on-site and off-site and liked both for different reasons. For a large group, everyone is not going to always want to do the same things and thinking you can all walk around together at any Disney park would be a mistake. Everyone will end up having to do what the person leading wants to do. Some will like to do rides, others may want to shop or just take in the sights. Some may want to enjoy more time relaxing where they are staying and spend less time in the parks. There is no one right way to enjoy Disney. Most families also don't discuss their financial situation with others, so that extra $2,000 could be the difference between going or not for some. I would let everyone stay where they want and then perhaps agree to meet at certain times to eat or explore together or you can even make those optional. For those who have never been to Disney, you really have no idea what they will enjoy doing until they are experiencing it for themselves.

Some in the group may want to pair up and explore, rather then always following the schedule set by whomever is doing the planning. Even if you plan to eat as one large group and the restaurant has tables that large, it really won't be practical to talk to those at the far end of the table. Everyone may also not like the same types of food and might want to eat elsewhere.

 

[SimonSez]

Traveling down to Disney with 4 families a total of 18 of us. My wife and I have been before but everyone else has never been to Florida. I have been managing everything and have everyone booked at Wilderness Lodge (mid-October) with four park days. However, everyone is starting to push back and ask why we don't just rent a house as this will save about $2000.00 a family. The last time I went was in 2012 and remember how magical it was staying at the wilderness lodge getting the boat to the park, Fast passes ( I know they are gone right now), and extra hours. I want all the kids to experience the same thing, but the only thing I can sell on right now is the potential for magic extra hours. They are saying with the money we save we can go to the beach, universal, have a private pool and a lot more room. Any suggestions on what I can counter with or am I just being stubborn at the magic will still be there if we rent a house?

I've had to push back on my family about renting houses on trips. If I wanted to cook and clean, I'd stay home and really save a lot of money. Now this is my opinion only, but I think you'd lose some of the magic staying in a house. I guess it all depends on whether the extra magic is worth the money (yes!), but that's the big discussion you are currently having with your group. I lived in Orlando for a short time. We lived about ten minutes from Disney and could see the fireworks from our house. Even though I enjoyed Disney when we lived there, I felt some of the magic was missing because we didn't have the resort experience. Like I say on all threads of this nature, it ultimately comes down to you and yours. People on Dis give great advice (much better than mine) Hope it works out for you ultimately

 

[scrappinginontario]

For us, $2000 is A LOT of money so I'd be looking to either stay onsite at a more reasonably priced location or, side with those staying offsite.

The one thing though about being onsite with a group that large is that people can come and go as they please using Disney transportation. Pleasing 18 people is rough!!

 

[Akck]

Here’s a quote from another thread by Len Testa from Touring Plans:

Thank you!

…

I'm not sure I'd move offsite. We're anticipating a pretty substantial wait-time advantage for on-site guests once Early Theme Park Entry begins, based on tests we've been doing in the parks.

…

This was referring to early entry that will happen starting October 1st. I’m guessing it will be similar to the unannounced early openings that happened just after reopening until say January. At that time, you were able to ride the attractions you wanted before noon.

 

[jthornton94]

There are many onsite options that would drop the price dramatically. I have stayed offsite before and it wasn’t for me. How will you be traveling to the parks everyday? Will some want mid day breaks? How far from Disney do you plan to rent? Do the others want to cook meals at the rental home? These are all things to discuss as well as pricing cheaper options on site.

 

[nyy]

I would stay onsite with my immediate family and let the others stay offsite. Otherwise, they will almost certainly sabotage your intentions by mentioning how much money the WL is costing them, no matter how well the trip goes.

I think it will work out better for you. Don't feel pressured to stay offsite with them, either. Don't give up what you know makes you happy.

Make some group plans for certain meals and big ticket rides or fireworks shows, but otherwise loose plans so that everyone can vacation within their own preference and budget.

That way, you can relax and enjoy your trip, without the constant stress of trying to make everyone happy.

 

[Darcy03231]

Having done large family/friend group trips before there's no way you're going to keep 18 people together all the time for your vacation, not unless you want some really unhappy people. One of the biggest things I've learned is everyone has different vacation styles. If you really want to stay on-site you should. If everyone else wants to stay off-site they should. I've done both and like both for different reasons. I would plan both a morning and late afternoon/early evening meet up time/spot during the day for whoever wants to join up with you.