Large family (9 kids) planning on buying DVC points-any suggestions?

[dianeschlicht]

Since you are starting out with an occupancy of 11 just with your immediate family, you really have no choice but to plan on a GV each trip until some of the kids are over 18 and can be in their own studio.

Given that situation, I'd buy OKW for the 11 month booking window for the GVs. OKW has the most GVs and the largest GVs, and will accommodate the large size of your family.

 

[paults]

We are wanting to buy DVC points and will need to finance them unless we wait a while (and we don't want to. We have a large family (9 kids) so we want a family friendly resort with a great pool etc. since some trips we may not even go into a park possibly. Since our family is large we will need larger accommodations everytime we visit even if everyone can't make the trip, it is still a big group. We have looked at resale and the large point difference between HHI, SSR, OKW etc. and AMV for example. We aren't sure where we'd want as a home(s) for 11 month booking preference at this point. Any recommendations?

We have visted AKV and it was really neat but we visit the zoo where we live often so we weren't that blown away by the critters, the lodge was awesome though

We think BLT is a good investment and have thought of buying in there with the 160 pts. (smallest new member package)and then adding smaller points packages to other resorts (to get more home resorts) that are harder to book to get us up to the 250-300 points we think we need. I know there is some limitations with combining points from other packages but not sure what those are exactly.

We are also trying to keep in mind that if we want to go to HHI in the spring or summer we may want to own there and buy in April or so (?)to even be able to get reservations during that time.

Are we on the right track here with our reasoning?

What resorts would you recommend us owning considering our large family size and the fact we might want 11 month booking ability if they are hard to get into?

I have appreciated being able to wander around this board and read all the great information here!
Thanks for your time!!
Liz

OKW by a mile

resales at OKW are a better deal.

EXAMPLE: today on TTS 275 pt for $18,150 August UY
200 pt for $13,400 DEC UY
250 pt for $16,500 Oct UY
150 pt for $$10500 Oct UY

and plenty more listed. Disney will not allow you 11 people in a 2 bedroom.

If you vacation Sun to Fri 5 nts your pts will go farther.

good luck on your choice

 

[wildernessDad]

Two words - Grand Villa.

 

[bookwormde]

If you just want to be close, bonnet creek is definetly the way to go and yo can pick up 500,000 points on ebay for less that $1000 plus yearly mantainance fees.

For DVC, OKW is by far the best choice if finances are limited. The point requirements for a GV (or any other accomidation) are the lowest and the if you are careful you can probabely get the points for less that $55. You do not need to buy them all at once since you can get all the points you want (1 transfer per membership year) tranfered in for $9-10. You can add on as your finances allow.

There are point chart links at the top but just for quick reference an OKW GV for a week in most of the summer is 477 points, SSR is 714 points BLT LV is 882 and BLT MK is 1065, ALV ST is 707 and ALV SV is 767 BWV is 800 (this is one of the reasons OKW is the choice for "frugal" members).

bookwormde

 

[dianeschlicht]

The problem with Bonnet Creek is that you get none of the on site perks you get with staying on Disney property at a Disney resort.

 

[js]

With 9 kids I am sure the ages are staggared. We own at SSR and I LOVE the location (although we do always drive). I love the fact that my kids (which are 16 and 12) can walk to DTD, DQ and we can go to movies and eat dinner without having to get in a car or bus.
I would purchase resale (we did for both our contracts at SSR).
With such a large family, your accomodations are VERY important to you and you need to take advantage of the 11 month window so I would be very mindful of where you want to be before making a purchase. For instance, buying at HHI, when you really want to go to Disney and having to call at 7 months looking for a GV or at two 2-bedrooms, may not be a good option.
My family of 4 use our DVC and travel with my mother (who purchased the 420 points for us), so that makes us a family of 5. I would never think about staying in anything less than a 2 bedroom with 5 of us and when we travel without my mother I still get 2 and 3 bedrooms (we own other t/s). 11 in a GV or a few 2 bedrooms will be your only option, I think.
Good luck and please tell us what you decide.

 

[littlestar]

The problem with Bonnet Creek is that you get none of the on site perks you get with staying on Disney property at a Disney resort.

That's true, Wyndham Bonnet Creek has no Magical Express from the airport, no extra magic hours, and no package delivery.

But they have free miniature golf, free tubes for the lazy river ride pools, and free frequent shuttles to the parks and Downtown Disney. And they have 4 bedroom units with 4 bathrooms - something really hard to find unless you rent a private home. Which with a family of 11, a 4 or 5 bedroom private home rental is something to add to the list, too.