Help planning WDW trip for LARGE family

[devalsam]

H and I recently took custody of my nieces, this puts us at 6 kids. We are planning a trip to WDW next year and are having trouble finding somewhere onsite that is big enough for our whole family. Any recommendations? Or are we stuck doing offsite for this trip?

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

How old are the kids? How big is your budget?

I think you have a few options on site, such as two rooms at a resort, or getting a two bedroom unit at one of the DVC properties (they sleep 8 via a king bed in one bedroom, a queen in another bedroom, plus two double or queen sleeper sofas).


Hope that helps...

 

[devalsam]

Kids will be 16, 15, 14, 13, 12 and 5.

I know absolutely nothing about DVC. We've only ever stayed at value or moderate resorts. Would we be eligible for free dining, if it happens to be offered, if we're staying DVC?

I guess I should check out the DVC board, huh?

 

[Karenj2]

The DVC board is mostly for renters/owners, not us general folk, although I can say that they're very helpful & nice! (I would LIKE to rent, and desperately want to own, so I lurk there every once in a while.)

I'm staying at a 2 bedroom DVC at the Animal Kingdom (Kidani Village) for the first time in September. We have 9 people going in total, but our ages are different - we have 4 adults, a 4 year old, and two sets of twin 1 year olds! That makes it a bit easier, because the 1 year olds will all be in the pack-n-plays, our 4 year old will have her own bed in the same bedroom as us (2 queens), and our friends will have the king bed. We booked through Disney, although you can rent through DVC owners for less. We needed the flexibility of cancelling, because our friends weren't 100% sure they could come.

Would your kids be willing to double up? (Does it work - you don't mention if they're boys or girls)

You can check out the layouts at www.allears.net and see pictures on the Disney website.

 

[mukorasirish]

Port Orleans Riverside is BEAUTIFUL and you can get 2 connecting rooms there cheaper that 1 at a deluxe.

 

[GotLabradors]

We are thinking of renting DVC points so that we can stay in a Deluxe Resort. DVC rooms do not qualify for free dining. You really just have to figure out what is best for your budgets. I made several spread sheets to be able to compare all of my options.

 

[Karenj2]

We are thinking of renting DVC points so that we can stay in a Deluxe Resort. DVC rooms do not qualify for free dining. You really just have to figure out what is best for your budgets. I made several spread sheets to be able to compare all of my options.

If you rent from an owner, you don't qualify for free dining, but you can go through Disney and get free dining (that's what we did). We were willing to pay the rack rate since we needed flexibility of paying & cancellation anyway.

 

[Hannathy]

what about 2 connecting rooms at a value? you will need at least 2 bathrooms with that many teens.

 

[DisneyBliss7]

We are a family of 7 and rented points at AKV Kidani. We had a two bedroom, sleeps 9, and three bathroom. We ordered groceries from Garden Grocer to save on the cost of food. We did pay out of pocket for three character meals and we ate QS for dinner on park days. Breakfast was always at the resort.

 

[mom25kiddos]

We are a large family (five children) and honestly, just prefer staying off site and having the space to stretch out. We want kid space and adult space and a pool right outside our door. For us, off site has worked wonderfully, but I know others swear it takes away from the magic. It is plenty magical for us

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Without going off-site, renting two value rooms might be the most economical option. There will be very little personal space, no kitchen facilities, but at least there are two bathrooms. CM's have done a good job of assigning connecting rooms on my previous trips. My travel partners also brought sleeping bags and foamies for their kids, so they didn't have to share beds.

Edit: Fort Wilderness cabins will only accommodate groups of six -- that's not big enough for your family needs.

Is camping an option?

 

[gincz24]

We are a family of 7 and always travel with my parents, which makes us 9. In the past we've always done 2 connecting rooms. We love it. Our youngest recently turned 3, so we can no longer do that at a value resort. So our next trip will either be 3 rooms at a value resort or two rooms at PORS.

Wish Disney offered more economical choices for large families, because we're even too large for AOA suites. Plus I think those are too expensive to be called value.

 

[texasroni75]

We would do 2 connecting rooms at a Value - it's still less expensive than one room at some Moderate resorts (which your group wouldn't fit into). I would do that if you plan to spend most of your time at the parks, and just sleep and shower in the rooms. And, like others posted, it gives you two bathrooms And, if they offer a FD promotion while you are there, that would be the icing on the cake!