Need planning help

[Matt961]

I'm not sure if this is the right board or not, so please move it if needed. I have finally convinced my parents and sisters to take a family trip to WDW in 2019! Long story short, my parents were paying for each of us a family vacation separately, but now will pay for us all to go.


So my question is, what is the most cost effective way to take 3 families to WDW? Stay at value resorts with free dining? Rent DVC points? AP?


We would be staying for 7 days the week after thanksgiving.


Also, my family is going in 27 days! If AP is a good route to go, then if I upgrade at the end of our stay would that help for next year or would the AP start from day 1 of this years trip?

 

[VeronicaZS]

I think we need more info about your party to help. How many adults & kids? Is budget the most important factor?

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you buy an AP now, it will expire 365 days from first use. So if your new ticket starts on Nov 26, 2018, then it expires on Nov 26, 2019.

 

[Matt961]

I think we need more info about your party to help. How many adults & kids? Is budget the most important factor?

It would be 6 adults. 4 children (13, 8,6,1.5 years at time of trip.) know the 13 will be adult ticket but didn’t know if she was considered child anywhere else.

Budget is probably the most important factor. They will cover around $5k of expenses then each of our families would cover whatever is remaining.

 

[Matt961]

If you buy an AP now, it will expire 365 days from first use. So if your new ticket starts on Nov 26, 2018, then it expires on Nov 26, 2019.

So that’s the case even if I upgrade to AP at the end of my trip? It would back calculate to the first day of our trip?

 

[Deb & Bill]

So that’s the case even if I upgrade to AP at the end of my trip? It would back calculate to the first day of our trip?

Yes, it will expire one year from the first date you used the original ticket. It doesn't start over when you upgrade.

 

[BabybetterDisney]

The most cost effective way for 3 families with 9 people (not counting baby, no ticket needed) is 3 rooms in value resort, assuming you are not staying off site. Getting free dining helps, certainly, if you can go during free dining time.

 

[Luvs Mickey]

You may be aware of this but just in case, if you rent DVC points you won’t be able to tap into a free dining offer (if there is one).

 

[Nancyg56]

I would look at what the bounce back offer is when you go this year, and see if the dates work. If it is free dining, then look at the resorts included. Before your go, discuss the budget with your family because $5000 for 9 people is not going to cover the cost, and you need to have an idea ahead of time how much each family will be comfortable contributing.

Every adult in your party can book a BB, so that may be a help.

My family has a 2 bedroom villa, FD booked this year. We know we like table service restaurants, and plan lunch out daily as well, so we are comfortable with the cost. WE also have plenty of space and full kitchen. ( I refuse to use it other than to reheat my leftovers for a snack)

If not, the values are generally the least expensive option, and you all have your own room.
I htink the first thing to factor is your overall budget. I have seen some very hard feelings when some members get priced out of a vacation before it even begins.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

When my extended family went (my brother and his brood, my parents, 7 of us total) we got 3 rooms at Pop and I upgraded to an AP. We only needed one AP in the party to book AP discounts on the rooms and to use the discount for dining etc.

It was a no brainer for our situation. But it might not be cost effective for you.

And as others have stated, once you use the park ticket you plan to upgrade, that’s the first day of your 365 day AP window. If they allowed a 10 grace period to use a ticket then upgrade everyone would be doing it. Unfortunately that loophole doesn’t exist. I’d be all over it if it did.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Your most cost effective option will be staying offsite. You could rent a 6 bedroom house with a private pool for about $1500-2000 per week. 3 rooms at a value probably won’t come close to that.