How should we decide on a resort?

[jpeka65844]

We're beginning to plan a March 07 trip with two other familes: 4 adults, 4 children for most of the trip, the other family will be adding 2 adults and 1 child for a short time. How on earth should we go about deciding where to stay?

DH and I loved French Quarter but one couple is from New Orleans! And I'm not sure all of our budgets will accommodate a Deluxe.

What are some things you all consider when planning with multiple families?



Denice T.
Olathe, KS

 

[Shells9]

First I would decide what category resort you can best afford. Consider things like will you spend a lot of time at the pool, and how important is a sit down restaurant to you?

Then I would consider each resort in that category. Ask each party to select their top 3 choices and go from there. Have them consider theme and purpose in their selections. Is it important to be closer to one park than another? Spending a lot of time in the room and want a nice view?

Or, I would just tell them, "This is what I'm doing...do what is best for you and we'll meet you (here at this time)."

 

[CherCrazy]

Or, I would just tell them, "This is what I'm doing...do what is best for you and we'll meet you (here at this time)."

Shells has some great advice. You can't make all the people happy all of the time. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. I would pick the hotel that YOU like, let everyone know where you'll be, then try to get some advance dining reservations together.

POFQ is a great hotel. You'll be sure to love it. I loved its gardens and waterways ....the price is pretty good too!!

 

[rt2dz]

First I would decide what category resort you can best afford. Consider things like will you spend a lot of time at the pool, and how important is a sit down restaurant to you?

Then I would consider each resort in that category. Ask each party to select their top 3 choices and go from there. Have them consider theme and purpose in their selections. Is it important to be closer to one park than another? Spending a lot of time in the room and want a nice view?

Or, I would just tell them, "This is what I'm doing...do what is best for you and we'll meet you (here at this time)."

This is fantastic advice if you MUST stay at the same resort. I personally when traveling anywhere with other families stay where I want to stay, let them know my choice and tell them to stay wherever they want--we'll meet up. I also plan activities we both want to do together & time apart for when we want to do other things.

 

[catbertdave99]

We usually go to parks in the morning, return to the resort in the afternoon for a break and hang out there, and then off to a park for the evening.

With that in mind, we don't spend much time in the room, so that's not a big deal. But because we DO spend time in the afternoons at the resort, theming and things to do at the resort does matter to us.

Perhaps that is why after staying at WL and AKL (we loved them both), when we stayed at CBR this past April it became our new favorite! This was a trip with others and we got connecting rooms. We loved the white-sand beaches, hammocks, beach chairs, pools, food court, boat rentals and the beautiful 1.4-mile walkway around CBR's own 45-acre lake! We could all hang out together, or we could all do different things and be on our own.... whatever we felt like at that moment!

 

[goofy4tink]

The two families that are basically traveling together (4 adults, 4 kids) should decide what is important to them. What kind of pools do you need/want, do you have to have a sit-down table service restuarant at your resort, or is just a food court okay. How important are those extra activities...such as surry bikes, regular bikes, canoe/kayak rentals.
Now....the resorts break down as such..
values....no slides at the pools, only a food court, no extra activities

moderates...nice pools with slides, one table service rest. as well as a food court, those extra activities.

I love POR. It is my moderate of choice since that is where I stayed for my first trip to WDW. I love the theming, I love the pools, I like the ability to sit down and order dinner if I want to. But...and this is the big but....
I absolutely adore Pop. The rooms are a tad smaller, the beds are the same size. There is only one sink vs two at POR. But the food court is wonderful. The pools are nice. My 12 y/o dd has stayed at BC, BW, the Polynesian, CR, POR....she has no problems with the Hippy Dippy Pool at Pop. In fact, if she can't stay at BWV, she prefers Pop also....although she adores POR, she just loves the theming at Pop.

I would get two rooms, adjoining or connecting...whichever is more easy to get. Then the other family who joins you later could decide where they want to be...wherever you are or a different resort.