HELP!!! Planning last minute trip for 8

[nunleycentral]

My husband just learned he has a business meeting next week in Orlando and suggested that I meet him there with our 4 kids and stay the week for Thanksgiving. He also wants his parents to meet us there.

How do I plan such a spontaneous trip the week of Thanksgiving for 4 adults and 4 kids???? The kids are 5yrs and 3yr old triplets. I have no idea which WDW resort would be the best for all of us.
Should I just rent a home instead??? I don't want to have to bother with renting a car and bringing carseats though.

Can this trip be done? Am I too late and just forget it? Do you think its' possible to still get priority seating for any character meals??

Help! I don't know if I should even try to do this.

 

[skychica]

Wow! Talk about spontaneous!! First of all, you need to think about what is important to you on this trip. If you are looking to adhere to a budget I would check out rates for a few rooms at the All Star Resorts or check rates for one of Disney's "Home away from home" options. Especially if you do not want to rent a car, I would try to stay on-property.

I would also contact Disney's Magical Gatherings and see if they can help you put something together.

At this point it may be cheaper to rent a car if that is a possibility for you.

Good luck with all of this!!!

 

[MissionMouse]

First off...I feel for you. Keep it simple and cover the basics first and if you still have time try to secure some of the finer things, but onlly if there is time.

Don't worry about what resort since this is a very busy time of the year. You need to see what is still available and work from there. Considering you have small children I would recommend trying to get a resort close to the MK, since this is the park kids want to spend the most time at too. The CR would be ideal since you can walk to the MK from there allowing you to avoid the lines for transportation.

The best PS times for character meals have probably been booked. The larger the group, the harder to get PS on short notice. You can continually check time and time again to pick-up a cancellation of a guest who is polite enought to notify WDW of their change of plans.

I don't know what your grandparents are like but when you start making plans outside your immediate family it can get complicated. Especially if they can't make decisions and like to complain about every little thing. Its best to quickly set the ground works prior to the trip to prevent conflict. LIKE: This is what we are doing and you can join us or go do your own thing. Include them in your PS headcount.

 

[asktriplets]

we're leaving this weekend with our just-turned 2 y.o. triplets and both sets of g'parents!

our 2 requirements for the trip: 1. a suite or separate room with a door for the kids at bedtime/naptime and 2. a kitchen.

we're staying in cabins at FW (liked the proximity to MK and the space for the kids to run), but also looked at 2 bdrm. villas at WL so we could all stay together (not sure about your price range). when kids outnumber parents and you need 2 rooms, they'll guarantee you adjoining rooms, so perhaps you can find availability for 3 rooms (2 adjoining) in one of the moderate or value resorts.

we looked briefly at staying off-property (we figure we'll be driving to many of the parks, anyway, because it'll be easier than hauling all the gear on/off the buses), and there are some nice looking hotels with suites just outside the grounds (i think the holiday inn has "kid suites"...very family friendly, it seems).

if you can't get ps's, just make plans to spend time at some of the meet-and-greet spots in the parks so the kids can still see the characters (toontown, ariel's grotto) and make sure you get at least a microwave and fridge in your rooms so you can "cook". for a group that big, try 2 reservations of 4 at the same time and hopefully they'll be able to push tables together (this would give the g'parents some one-on-one time with 2 of the kids,too, if you had to sit at 2 different tables!)

oh, and "missionmouse"'s suggestion on laying out the rules of the trip is great...we've told both our parents that we're following the kids' schedules and they can choose to do what we're doing or go off on their own. i don't know about your in-laws, but both all 4 g'parents here are _tripping_ over themselves in an effort to be helpful and accomodating in our trip planning----they are so excited to be included on this trip....


good luck, and if you decide to go, have a great time!!!!!!

 

[lunabkat]

HI

I strongly suggest staying on property at that time because you can get locked out of the parks if they get too crowded if you are not staying on disney property. fort wilderness cabins are nice and are in the resort system. You can also try Dreams Unlimited travel, they do disney in a big way, maybe they can help.

 

[ErinInCT]

Go to the DVC thread & see how many points it would take to get a 2 bedroom (VWL would be my choice due to proximity to MK) or grand villa (OKW or one of the EPCOT resorts, can't remember which, either BC or BW). Then see if anyone on the rent/trade board will sell you the points (usually around $10/point). May be more economical then trying to get these types of rooms thru CRO.
Or maybe you can get 2 connected rooms at a value & you can stay with 2 of the kids & your relatives can stay with 2 kids but at nap time you can put them all in the same room & almost close the door while you are in the other room.
I really like the DVC rooms because they feel larger & more like home with the living area & kitchen & w/d (this saves money on food & space with packing).