Large family

[susieq76]

I just called Disney & confirmed- they DO guarantee connecting rooms to families with children- so theoretically you will get four rooms- two connecting and the other two connecting. All four WILL NOT connect.

 

[CrystalB10]

Thanks!! Thats good to know!! I think we might be better off with a house to rent so I can cook. Dont think I can afford to eat out every meal, every day there with my family size. I just need to price transportation. We own a 15 pass van, but I dont think we are driving down. I think from PA it is like 18 - 20 hours???

Crystal

 

[CrystalB10]

Transportation to and from the park I mean.

 

[5kids4dis]

We are driving from Ar. and we chose this so we can use our own car while there....we are also going off site after our 5 days BUT you can bring snacks and breakfest and pack lunch and then have a light dinner ..that is what we paln on doing..you can also share meals with your family like the kids that don;t eat much and stuff....I would think that renting a vechile would off set the cost of staying off site......if anyone knows the diff. let me know thanks Linda

 

[runwad]

Start watching the Disneyshopping.com site, they have a semi-annual pin clearance in Feb or March I think??? I got sets of 5 pins for around 6 bucks if memory serves me right. They were valentine sets so maybe I got them in March, but anyway my kids used those to trade away and had a GREAT time doing it.

 

[spiceycat]

here is site that compare the car rental sites

http://www.bnm.com/

that said sometimes it seems to leave off one of the cheapest (most of the time)

www.dollar.com

sometimes these are running specials - so ask on the budget board and transportation board if there are any discount codes for your time.

www.national.com
www.budget.com
www.alamo.com

also consider the price of a van in your comparison to Disney. also add the price of gas -

disney has a shuttle service from MCO (airport) to WDW for FREE...

the 2-bedroom villa at OKW (hold 8) or the FW cabins (hold 6) - both have a full kitchen.... I might go with a 2-bedroom (so you have the full kitchen) and put everyone else in studios.

now my family gets along better when everyone has their own bed.(no sharing)...if your does too - then definitely go with offsite....

oh if you go with Disney there is a service that will bring you groceries - so you don't have to pay Disney prices

www.wegoshop.com

 

[sheepygirl23]

I would defintaly recommend renting points from a DVC member at Old Key West Resort. I go with my Fiance family and there are 8 of us and we stay in a three bedroom grand villa. Theres alot of space and three bathrooms and a full kitchen. Disney also delivers groceries. I think you have to order them before you leave though. I htink that staying onsite is more convienient even though it might cost alittle more. If you stay offsite you definatly have to rent a few vans for everyone. When staying onsite you dont need rental vehicles as Disney has its own transportation. I know it might be hard to save for but In my opinion its worth not having to deal with the headaches of driving from off site everyday.

 

[Goofy4]

I would defintaly recommend renting points from a DVC member at Old Key West Resort. .

Totally agree with that regarding the size of the room.

If you do go the DVC route and the resort pool will be a popular destination, you might want to check out the BC/YC pool (http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_sab.htm) or Luna Park at the Boardwalk (http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_bwv.htm).

OKW has a new pool which I haven't seen, but my thinking is that you could possibly have to drive to the main pool at OKW because of the resort size. Not so most anywhere else. Also, BC/YC and Boardwalk give you much easier access to MGM and Epcot than OKW. And if it hasn't been mentioned, all of the DVC resorts give you a full kitchen (studios have a smaller version).

Just to throw in another thought -- http://www.nickhotel.com/ is another off-site option.

 

[VAN]

Have you given any thought to camping? Ft. Wilderness is wonderful and April will have nice weather.

Depending upon when Easter falls, you may want to book sooner rather than later once you decide on where you will stay. If you are going in the two weeks that surround Easter -- be prepared for MAJOR crowds at the parks!!!

 

[CrystalB10]

Ok guys, you are loosing me a little. I have been to Disney twice, but both as a child. Now being my my 30's I honestly dont remember much.
With that said, can someone explain the whole "points" thing that many of you refer to. I can make out most of the abbrev for the hotels, but what is DVC?
Sorry!

I appreciate all the time you all are taking for me!

Crystal

 

[spiceycat]

in the early 90's Disney entered the timeshare business - but instead of weeks disney uses points.

You can rent a reservation from a DVC member and save you a good deal of money.

a 2-bedroom (sleep 8 - however there can be an exemption for a family - Disney has been know to this)

king bed in master, queen sleeper sofa in the livingroom, 2 queen beds in the second bedroom, their enough room on the love sofa for a small child - but Disney will only supply sheets & pillows for their bedding....

some people also bring an air matress.

April is expensive!!!

each night price - Sun-thurs only!

april 15-30 2-bedroom is 30 so $300 dollars, studio (sleeps 4) is 11 - so $110

april 1-14 (easter and the week before) - 2 bedroom is 41 so $410 - studio 15 so $150.

this is only SUN-THUR - not fri/sat - fri/sat are too expensive when renting points

april 15-30 2-bedroom 73 points - so $730 each night.....

now if you can afford it the 3-bedroom sleeps 12 - but it is so expensive
april 15-30 - 51 points - $510 per night!!! weekend (Fri/sat) is $1230 per night.....

It is not a good value because instead of having 2 queen beds it only has 2 double beds - otherwise it has the same sleeping arrangement that the 2-bedroom does...

 

[Heather Smith]

JMHO, but since you homeschool why not change the dates of the trip to off peak. Rooms are cheaper and I find it hard enough keeping track of 2 kids in the mayhem of spring break at Disney. I couldn't even imagine 8. My favorite time (barring hurricanes) is the week after labor day. There's rarely a line for the rides and many times you ride repeatedly without even going back through the line. Many times in Epcot my kids get to explore the exhibits with no one else around. There are some nice interactive exhibits there, that I don't think would be all that enjoyable with a bunch of kids clamoring for them.

It sounds as if this might be a kind of rare treat for your family so I would definately want to be able to do everything and that's hard to do when it's crowded.

 

[spiceycat]

JMHO, but since you homeschool why not change the dates of the trip to off peak. Rooms are cheaper and I find it hard enough keeping track of 2 kids in the mayhem of spring break at Disney. I couldn't even imagine 8. My favorite time (barring hurricanes) is the week after labor day. There's rarely a line for the rides and many times you ride repeatedly without even going back through the line. Many times in Epcot my kids get to explore the exhibits with no one else around. There are some nice interactive exhibits there, that I don't think would be all that enjoyable with a bunch of kids clamoring for them.

It sounds as if this might be a kind of rare treat for your family so I would definately want to be able to do everything and that's hard to do when it's crowded.

an excellent suggestion!!!!

also if you don't want to chance hurricanes you might consider early December.

lows crowds and better year it will much cheaper (but so would Sept)...

Sun-thurs only!!!
a 2-bedroom at OKW in Jan, Sept, Dec 1-14 is 22 points a night - so $220, while a studio is 8 points so $80....
you are looking at $380 total - instead of $520 (one 2-bedroom and 2 studios)
per night!!!

if you want a house - there are several that will give you a bargin price for Sept....

 

[CrystalB10]

Shows how much I know. I thought April was off peak. So Dec. and Sept. are off peak?? Any other months better?

Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

Sept, early Dec, Jan, May.

sept, dec and Jan are generally cheaper than May.

No - April is peak season.

it is either spring break (middle of Feb until end of April). or like this year has Easter.

Easter and the week before - are only a little less crowded than Christmas to NY - WDW busiest season....

Oct and Nov use to be - but Disney food/wine festavial has put this season into regular season. So it is not the deal it once was...

 

[5disneyfreaks]

I have to put my two cents in on this one. I don't think anyone has said anything about the dining plans. It is something you may want to think about. It cost a little bit now, but you don't have to worry about how much money you will need later for meals. Also, I'm looking at the ages you have. Last year we took our 3 kids and one of my sons' friends. There ages were at that time 15 (DS), 14 (DS friend), 11 (DD), 8 (DD). We did different character meals, and a buffets and the kids never said they were hungery! I don't know anything about your kids so let me tell you about mine, it might help. DS- 6' tall and 200 lbs. Plays football. Eats anything that doesn't eat him first. DSF- Very picky eater! Could live off of bacon cheeseburgers and be happy. DD (11 ) Wiil try anything! Loves veggies and steak! DD (8)- at this point, she was still wanting only chicken nuggents and fries, but enjoyed everything we had. With all the said, we went to Boma's in Animal Lodge, and we ALL enjoyed the meal! I don't know if we would have even tried it without having a dining plan.
The good thing, you are starting now! Get books and go to different sites. Even try the Disney site, it give you a chance to look at the different resorts and find out about the different dining plans.
Have fun planning.

I am a homeschool mom, too. However, I just started this year! Yikes!

 

[Tiffann4k]

Thanks!! Thats good to know!! I think we might be better off with a house to rent so I can cook. Dont think I can afford to eat out every meal, every day there with my family size. I just need to price transportation. We own a 15 pass van, but I dont think we are driving down. I think from PA it is like 18 - 20 hours???

Crystal

We drove from NW Ohio ( Toledo Area) and it took us 19 hours

 

[Tiffann4k]

I am a homeschool mom, too. However, I just started this year! Yikes!

Good luck! We are on our 3rd year and I am about ready to throw the towl in, its getting hard and hectic with 4 kids I cant imagine how the OP does it with 8 kids......sorry to get so off topic!