We are a family of eight traveling to Orlando in November. We will be through the area for three nights during two separate weeks. I have read through lots of the posts and now, I am more confused than I was before I started reading. 
It would seem that we ought to stay away from a Disney Hotel/Resort as they don't sound to be "roomy enough" for a large family.
Do any of you have any suggestions as to which is better - villas, resorts, suites, etc? We stayed at the HI Kidsuites in 2002 and found it clean and inexpensive, $79US. It was fine for the two nights - we hit a park one day, and swam lots the night we arrived. We have also stayed at a Days Inn Suites (Kissimmee?) and found it glum and dreary and the pool was terrible. For three nights, our question also is do you spend the money on the hotel and just stay with that and use its facilities or do you go a cheaper route and do stuff off the hotel properties? Our kids are easy going, and range from 4 - 16.
The other option is since we are going to be there twice for three nights, to try it each way... oooooohhhh, so much planning and so hard in Orlando!!
Any suggestions from seasoned travellers or other planners would be much appreciated. I can wing it on occasion, but this trip is different and I seem to be in the mode of plan plan plan!!
It would seem that we ought to stay away from a Disney Hotel/Resort as they don't sound to be "roomy enough" for a large family.
Do any of you have any suggestions as to which is better - villas, resorts, suites, etc? We stayed at the HI Kidsuites in 2002 and found it clean and inexpensive, $79US. It was fine for the two nights - we hit a park one day, and swam lots the night we arrived. We have also stayed at a Days Inn Suites (Kissimmee?) and found it glum and dreary and the pool was terrible. For three nights, our question also is do you spend the money on the hotel and just stay with that and use its facilities or do you go a cheaper route and do stuff off the hotel properties? Our kids are easy going, and range from 4 - 16. The other option is since we are going to be there twice for three nights, to try it each way... oooooohhhh, so much planning and so hard in Orlando!!
Any suggestions from seasoned travellers or other planners would be much appreciated. I can wing it on occasion, but this trip is different and I seem to be in the mode of plan plan plan!! 
