Large Group - Where to stay?

[twinboysmom]

We will be traveling to Disney next year in mid May with a rather large group, at least for us. We have invited 2 other families to join us on this trip. Each family consists of 2 adults and 2 young children. Of the children, 4 will be under the age of 3, one 5 year old, one 4 year old. This will be the first trip for DH and I with our twin boys who will be 18 months old. Our home resort is SSR and I will be booking a 2 bdrm there at the 11 month window. I did check with MS re: the amount of people and was told that the children under 3 did not count. I am planning on changing the reservation if possible at the 7 month window but did want a room reserved in case this was not possible. What I am considering would be a grand villa at OKW or a 2 bdrm at AKV Kidani or BLT as they have a 3rd bathroom. We had originally thought about a treehouse villa as they have 3 bedrooms but for us the bedroom with the bunk beds would not be useful and the size is a little small. Also the stairs to get into the room would not be practical with so many young children. Any ideas as to what we would enjoy most would be helpful. The 2 other families are coming as part of our hospitality so if they are a little crammed then so be it. Also, if we do stay in a 2 bdrm, how do I decide who gets the sleeper couch? Children will be on air mattresses. We are also driving in with 3 vehicles. Does anybody know if there are restrictions on how many cars you can have per registration? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would either get a 2 bedroom and a studio, or 3 studios rather than try to put everyone in a single 2 bedroom. Only 3 buildings at OKW have elevators, so if stairs are an issue, you can't be sure you won't have it at OKW for the GV. The GV would be my first choice, if you can get beyond the steps issue, a 2 bedroom and a studio my second, 3 studios last.

Bobbi

 

[Disneypubgal]

I would go with the three studios personally.... especially if the young ones nap during the day. While it is great to have the room associated with a two bedroom (and the kitchen, wahser and dryer).... there will definitely be some privacy issues and it could be diffciult to get all the little ones to go down for a nap.... also depending upon how long your trip is, it could be too much time together without a break in between. It will also save on points!!

 

[SusieBea]

We have had three car passes at one time before, so that shouldn't be an issue for you.

Are you not interested in a GV at SSR? I agree w/ the PP that cramming all those people (even the small ones) in a 2 bdrm might get a little overwhelming.

 

[mybabesuz]

It states 8 people and 1 under three are allowed in a 2-bedroom at SSR...
I really don't think you can have 12 in one room.

Anyways... another vote for 3 studios.

 

[SusieBea]

I think I'd get at least a one bedroom and then maybe 2 studios. I wouldn't want to be without that full kitchen with all those little kiddoes.

 

[twinboysmom]

Thanks for the quick responses. We had thought of 3 studios but that leaves us without a kitchen which I would really like to have. The master bedroom and bathroom will be exclusively used by my family so that should help with our privacy. The only grand villa we have enough points to stay at is OKW. We have stayed there before and I am aware of the stairs. I am unsure of what would be more important to us, space or ammenities. I love the pool at Kidani and the proximity to MK from BLT would be fantastic. That said, I am sure we will be able to get into SSR but not sure about any of the others and am unsure of which to waitlist. If we end up in a 2 bdrm, I guess the other families can draw straws as to who would get the living room pull out.

 

[twinboysmom]

Again so nobody thinks I am trying to break any DVC rules, I emailed member services about the children. The person who emailed me back said that the children under 3 did not count towards the number of people in the room so therefore per DVC, we only have 8 people. He said they only recommend one child under 3 but that is a recommendation for "our comfort."

 

[Disneycouple99]

They told you wrong. You can book one child under 3 but anything over that will count towards occupancy limit. I would call MS and ask again.

 

[Disneypubgal]

Just a quick question on this... if the two bedroom is/can be a studio and a one bedroom which when booked separately would each accomodate one child under the age of three... why then wouldn't it be permissable to have two under three when combining both rooms to make a two bedroom??? There is a pack and play in each and that would accomodate two under three... not thinking about the "rules" just a common sense question??? And not addressing the number in the OP post....

 

[SusieBea]

Just a quick question on this... if the two bedroom is/can be a studio and a one bedroom which when booked separately would each accomodate one child under the age of three... why then wouldn't it be permissable to have two under three when combining both rooms to make a two bedroom??? There is a pack and play in each and that would accomodate two under three... not thinking about the "rules" just a common sense question??? And not addressing the number in the OP post....

That's a good question ... I wonder if there would be two p&plays if it was a dedicated 2 bedroom, or only if it was a lock-off and a 1 bedroom ....

 

[Disneypubgal]

That's a good question ... I wonder if there would be two p&plays if it was a dedicated 2 bedroom, or only if it was a lock-off and a 1 bedroom ....

We haven't stayed in a dedicated 2 bedroom for some time so I am not sure... can anyone else comment???

 

[Disneycouple99]

There was a thread about 2 pack-n-plays a couple of months ago. What it came down to was MS said they were over occupancy limit because they had 2 under 3 and 8 other guest. There is an occupancy thread somewhere around hear that has loads of info on it. This one will likely be moved there shortly.

 

[Disneypubgal]

There was a thread about 2 pack-n-plays a couple of months ago. What it came down to was MS said they were over occupancy limit because they had 2 under 3 and 8 other guest. There is an occupancy thread somewhere around hear that has loads of info on it. This one will likely be moved there shortly.

Is this the post you were referring to?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=36296131&highlight=pack+n+plays#post36296131

I think in AKV you are allowed 2 under age of 3 per this post.... but only in certain room types

 

[Disneycouple99]

This is the same poster put not the thread. In this stiuation, they are not allowed 2 under 3. Occupancy for AKV is 9, except in the vaule rooms, so one of there under 3 is the ninth person. They wanted SSR and was told no because of having 8 people over 3 and 2 under three.

 

[twinboysmom]

I saved the email from member services so I could reference it if need be. It says that space would become scare with each pack n play used. If it becomes an issue, I will book 3 studios at SSR when the 11 month window opens shortly. I suppose I can live without a kitchen and a washer and dryer if need be and that would definately settle the privacy issue. Getting back on track, any ideas regarding where to stay at the 7 month booking window would be great. Haven't tried to book a studio in a while so I don't know how difficult it would be to obtain 3 at BLT or Kidani. Also have never tried to book a grand villa.

 

[Disneycouple99]

3 studios at BLT LV might be hard for mid May. It would be easier to get 3 studios at AKV. OKW GV is always hard to get at 3 months. Keep us informed on what happens.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Each villa you book, you can have one child under the age of three that does not count. If you book a two bedroom, you can have eight (or nine depending on the resort) plus one under the age of three. If you book a GV, you can have twelve plus one under the age of three. If you book a studio, you can have four plus one under the age of three. If you book a one bedroom, you can have four (or five depending on the resort) plus one under the age of three.

Anyway you look at it, you can have as many guests as sleeping spaces plus ONE under the age of three, not plus three or four under the age of three. Just one.

 

[castleri]

I would book a 2 BR and studio at 11 months and then try to change to an OKW GV at 7 months. I know people who have gotten a GV at 4 months out for a spring break week so it could be a possibility. That way you have three bedrooms plus the living room if you need it either way and still have the kitchen and laundry if you don't get the GV. I think you would be one very unhappy group at the end of the trip if you tried to put all those people in a 2BR anywhere. We did 5 adults and 3 children (6,4 and 2) in a 2BR at OKW last year and that is definitely over my limit for any future trips.

 

[Liljam]

If I were planning your trip with the combination of people (and I had the points to do this) here is how I would plan for it. I would put 1st family in a Studio (2 adults 2 kids, 2nd family in a Studio 2 adults 2 kids, and then I would put my family in a 1 BR 2 adults 2 kids. This would solve privacy, this would solve occupancy, and I can assure you it would make your vacation much more peaceful as a whole.

We had a GV at SSR one year and we had one child under 3, 2 adults in master room, 1 13 year old and a parent in one bedroom, 2 adults and 2 teens in 3rd bedroom, no one on sleeper sofa. THIS set up was perfect and we could never have allowed the sleeper issue - it would have been crowded. The following trip we did a THV as follows and I'll only go back with less people - 2 people in master and toddler under 3 in pack & play, 2 people in 2nd br, 2 people in bunks but one moved to couch because she hated sharing a bunk room. This was crowded us. Some people don't mind or can deal, and we can deal, but we live and learn... Enjoy your trip and planning! I think BLT looks smaller too btw, but walking to MK would be nice!