Need Thoughts on Villa Selection! Please help!

[melomouse]

Hi All!
Well My BFF contacted me today and has requested her vacation during our usual annual WDW trip so she and her 3 kids (22, 14, 16) will be able to join us.This is great news for all of us, especially now that our kids can get to parks by themselves (mine will be 21 and 17 by August). These are or family friends and the kids have been close since toddlerhood as well.

That said, we have gone to Disney before and have different touring styles, and this is the first time they will stay onsite, tho her youngest has been with us at WLV a couple of times. My friend is an energetic commando who can sometimes be persuaded to stop for a cold adult beverage, a swim, a massage, while I actually rented a scooter last time to save my hip.We are Dining Plan users, they are not~~ I understand all in the same room have to be on DDP, would that be the case if we were in 2 studios?

My home resort is SSR but I am going to shoot for a 7-month window at AKL, BLT and even WLV and see what I can get.

What do you think about 2 studios vs. a 2BR villa vs. a 3BR treehouse at SSR? I am "treating" on points and we will be working something out financially in terms of food, etc to recoup.Extra bath, privacy, vs. laundry and more space? Should I rethink this and do 2BR at OKW (bigger?)We will stay Sunday-Thursday then maybe hop on a 3 day (non-Disney) cruise if the budget can bear it and there's a deal.

Suggestions, input, advice all welcome!Thank you so much!

 

[tassma]

Hi All!
Well My BFF contacted me today and has requested her vacation during our usual annual WDW trip so she and her 3 kids (22, 14, 16) will be able to join us.This is great news for all of us, especially now that our kids can get to parks by themselves (mine will be 21 and 17 by August). These are or family friends and the kids have been close since toddlerhood as well.

That said, we have gone to Disney before and have different touring styles, and this is the first time they will stay onsite, tho her youngest has been with us at WLV a couple of times. My friend is an energetic commando who can sometimes be persuaded to stop for a cold adult beverage, a swim, a massage, while I actually rented a scooter last time to save my hip.We are Dining Plan users, they are not~~ I understand all in the same room have to be on DDP, would that be the case if we were in 2 studios?

My home resort is SSR but I am going to shoot for a 7-month window at AKL, BLT and even WLV and see what I can get.

What do you think about 2 studios vs. a 2BR villa vs. a 3BR treehouse at SSR? I am "treating" on points and we will be working something out financially in terms of food, etc to recoup.Extra bath, privacy, vs. laundry and more space? Should I rethink this and do 2BR at OKW (bigger?)We will stay Sunday-Thursday then maybe hop on a 3 day (non-Disney) cruise if the budget can bear it and there's a deal.

Suggestions, input, advice all welcome!Thank you so much!

We enjoy having a full kitchen, so I would look at a larger villa. The tree houses sound perfect if you can get the dining plan worked out. I think the only requirement is that the entire room be on the plan - not reservation. We eat breakfast in our villa and take snacks/drinks to the parks?

Good luck -

Tassma

 

[eeyoresmom]

If the DDP is important to you, you will have to do 2 studios . Otherwise, I would go for the OKW 2 bedroom with your group of adults. For a few more points, you could do a studio and a 1 bedroom, that way you'd get all the amenities as well as a split DDP.

 

[Kidanifan08]

With that many adults and teens, I would try to maximize bathrooms. AKV and BLT 2BR have the 3 full baths, full kitchen and W/D. You could also look at OKW grand villas. Those come fairly "cheap", as GV's go, and usually non-HH GV's are available at the 7 month mark.

If the DDP is that important, then you will need to split up. You could also consider the TIW card if you do TS meals daily. A group that size would probably make the TIW worth it. You need to spend at least $500 using the card just to recover the $100 cost of the card, but that often is easy to do with WDW food prices You can check out the TIW here: www.tablesinwonderland.com

 

[melomouse]

WOW! Thanks so much you guys! Think I am going to try for a 2BR at AKL - I had no idea there were 3!!? bathrooms?? OMG! I was thinking the exact same thing about teens and needing bathrooms,Kidanifan1, and I thank you.We love BLT - but points are higher and my kids even call it "cold-looking", despite the proximity to MK. Go figure...

Not yet sure how I will handle DDP - we can forgo this time, or split up, but definitely we are all "breakfast in the room" types.
Now, to see what's left when I start calling...

Thanks!

 

[Dean]

WOW! Thanks so much you guys! Think I am going to try for a 2BR at AKL - I had no idea there were 3!!? bathrooms?? OMG! I was thinking the exact same thing about teens and needing bathrooms,Kidanifan1, and I thank you.We love BLT - but points are higher and my kids even call it "cold-looking", despite the proximity to MK. Go figure...

Not yet sure how I will handle DDP - we can forgo this time, or split up, but definitely we are all "breakfast in the room" types.
Now, to see what's left when I start calling...

Thanks!

The savings for the DP is modest at best, depending on the length of your trip, plan chosen and how you use it. If you might have another trip you could use it for, the TIW is likely to be a better deal overall for this trip. Even though you'll fit under occupancy (?7 or 8 total), the sleeping arrangements for a 2 BR could be a little tricky. For AKV make sure you get a dedicated 2BR so you'll have 2 queen beds in the second and if you go with 2 studios, OKW would be the best due to the 2 queens in the studio there are nowhere else.

 

[Disneycouple99]

The savings for the DP is modest at best, depending on the length of your trip, plan chosen and how you use it. If you might have another trip you could use it for, the TIW is likely to be a better deal overall for this trip. Even though you'll fit under occupancy (?7 or 8 total), the sleeping arrangements for a 2 BR could be a little tricky. For AKV make sure you get a dedicated 2BR so you'll have 2 queen beds in the second and if you go with 2 studios, OKW would be the best due to the 2 queens in the studio there are nowhere else.

To further clarify, you need a dedicated 2 bedroom at Kidani for the 3 bathrooms not Jambo.