New to boards. Large family going in Sept. 2005

[tigertam]

Hi,

My family of 8(six kids - 17, 15, 12, 10, 2 and 1) plus my parents(a total of 10) are planning on going to WDW in Sept. of 2005. I have lots of questions but to start with is WHERE to stay? I have looked around quite a bit on differant sites. I have it narrowed down to POR and the Yacht club. The Yacht club looks good for the range of ages since we will be going everywhere and I was thinking about letting the two oldest boys go to Epcot or MGM by themselves(it looks to be closer). The pool looks like it would offer the most versatility for all ages. But I don't like the price. POR looked nice for the price, romantic, nice to walk around, and the middle girls liked the boat to DD. Is it that much more complicated for transportation? So anyways really my big question I am adressing is: I have heard of people staying at differant resorts in the same stay, but they have never commented any further. One of the reasons we want to stay in WDW is to be able to go back to our resort with the little ones for afternoon naps. (from what I have read this is an excellent idea even w/o little ones) I wanted to know if you stay two nights at yacht then two nights at POR, where are you in the middle of the day on the second day? Can you put you little ones down for an afternoon nap and have the kids say play at the Yacht Club pool? Is the transfer of luggage quick and easy?(WDW said they would make the transfer no problem, but no guarnatees of how fast) Could anyone give their comments on this? Is it worth it to try two resorts in such a short stay? Can I stay two nights at the Yacht the next afternoon and then leave for dinner and the evening and already have my luggage and everything at POR that evening? It sounds nice, can it happen? Thanks for anyones reply,Tigertam

 

[Bugsmom73]

I will try to answer your questions for you but I am by no means an expert.
Is it that much more complicated for transportation? Having travelled with both a 3 1/2, year old a 13mos old. Getting on and off the buses with strollers can be difficult, especially if since they have to be collapsed. I may not be a big deal for you since you have a lot of adult and older kid help but it is something to consider.

As for splitting the resort stay, if you were staying longer than 4 days, I would say go for it, it seems to me that you are no sooner going to get settled than have to move again. With all the stuff your youngest 2 will have, it maybe better to stay in one place. I definitely agree on staying onsite though. Check out time is 11 am and thay may nix a nap for the younger 2. If you can swing it, I would say try for the YC. Remember POR, has trundle beds and your 12 and 10 year olds may be too big for them plus you may also have 2 pack n plays too plus luggage, there is a lot more room at the YC for all the family to spread out.

To cut costs, maybe you could do breakfast in your rooms. It does save time and money. I am not sure whether you are driving or flying but if you are flying then you will also have carseats as well.

 

[jjohnson]

I wouldn't switch for only 4 nights but that's just me. I'd hate to pack everything up again.

How many rooms are you planning on getting? If you got 3 at POR, the teens could be in their own room, You & DH & little ones in another & parents in the 3rd. Also it would be about $200 less than getting 2 rooms at YC.

 

[barb45]

I wouldn't want to move in the middle of a 4 day stay. Why don't you go over to the DVC rent board and rent a 2 bedroom and a studio unit at the Beach Club Villas - it should work out way cheaper.

 

[meandthree]

Perhaps you should consider a villa and buy points from a DVC member. A two bedroom villa sleeps 8 and is very roomy. You can also save money by using the full kitchen to cook some of the meals if you wish. We stayed at the Boardwalk Villas and it was very roomy and nice. The Beach Club has villas also.

 

[John Dobbertin]

Family of 8 with the age spread you have presents some real thought-provoking "challenges." The suggestion above to look at renting points from a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member is a good one. If you're looking at Yacht Club/Beach Club -- deluxe hotels -- the DVC is a very good alternative & gives you some great benefits like (a) full kitchen, (b) two-bedroom units with three "sleeping areas" (sofa in living room is queen-size hide-a-bed), (c) washer/dryer in the unit. The GPs could either take a studio in a DVC, or a room in a WDW resort. If you really want to go full-blown-deluxe check out the incredible two-level units at the new SSR timeshare. Not cheap, but are they spectacular -- I think this would accommodate all 10 of you! Ask a CM at WDW reservations about these units. Takes a lot of $$ or points per night, but could be worth it! Also, Boardwalk Villas has three-bedroom units. As far as returning for naps for little ones, IOP with your very young you will be spending a lot of time at MK. Closest timeshare to MK is VWL -- also IOP most "child friendly."

 

[ElizabethB]

With a big group of all ages, including little ones, and only four short days, I would suggest either renting points for DVC, as others have recommended, or stay at one of the monorail resorts.

If money is an issue, try for a good rate at the Contemporary garden wings. They are the least expensive monorail option. We stayed there and the convenience can't be beat. You can put five in each room (two beds (queen, I think) plus a perfectly "sleepable" extra fold out twin bed. You could probably get connecting rooms. The rooms are quite large and the bathrooms are large. There is a sizeable table for breakfast in the room. I would suggest making a grocery stop for cold cereal, milk, muffins, etc. as breakfast (even a quick one) will be very pricey for 10 as will the other meals. You might want to consider the MYW dining option.

The proximity to MK and the monorail can't be beat. You can walk there, take the monorail or the boat. Strollers are easy on the monorail as you don't have to fold them up (unlike on the buses). Just keep the kids in the strollers and roll 'em on! Plus, the older kids will have a lot of freedom to hop on the monorail, go to MK on their own, take the monorail (change at the ticket and transportation center) to Epcot and even walk or take the boat from Epcot to MGM. A work colleague just returned from a Poly stay and said his 12 and 14 year olds had a great time hopping the monorail and going on their own. The only rule was they had to return to the hotel for dinner with the family.

Although the Contemporary may not have the ambience of the Yacht Club, its convenience is so great for a big group/short stay, that I don't think you'll miss it. The pools (while not themed) are very nice -- one has a great slide, the other is quiet and sits right on the lake -- very pretty and great for the adults. There is a beach on the lake and all of the lake activities -- boats, water sprites, etc., as well as parasailing.

There is a terrific arcade (best one on property) with tons of electronic games for the teens/tweens. Chef Mickey's is conveniently on site as are Concourse Steakhouse and California Grill. There are several nice shops for easy souvenir shopping. Kona Cafe and the Grand Floridian restaurants are just a monorail ride away.

Frankly, if one of your goals is to return to the hotel with the little ones, you won't regret staying at the Contemporary. They will mainly want to go to MK, and the Contemporary will put you within walking distance of MK! Also, when I take my parents, they sometimes lose steam before the rest of us and want to return to the hotel to relax and sit by the pool. The monorail is an easy trip for them.

By the way, I wouldn't even consider changing hotels during a four-day stay, especially with little ones.

 

[tigertam]

Family of 8 with the age spread you have presents some real thought-provoking "challenges." The suggestion above to look at renting points from a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member is a good one. If you're looking at Yacht Club/Beach Club -- deluxe hotels -- the DVC is a very good alternative & gives you some great benefits like (a) full kitchen, (b) two-bedroom units with three "sleeping areas" (sofa in living room is queen-size hide-a-bed), (c) washer/dryer in the unit. The GPs could either take a studio in a DVC, or a room in a WDW resort. If you really want to go full-blown-deluxe check out the incredible two-level units at the new SSR timeshare. Not cheap, but are they spectacular -- I think this would accommodate all 10 of you! Ask a CM at WDW reservations about these units. Takes a lot of $$ or points per night, but could be worth it! Also, Boardwalk Villas has three-bedroom units. As far as returning for naps for little ones, IOP with your very young you will be spending a lot of time at MK. Closest timeshare to MK is VWL -- also IOP most "child friendly."

What is IOP?

 

[tigertam]

"You might want to consider the MYW dining option." I think I am going to do that, but I haven't read much about people who have done it. Can anyone share some details? Did it seem you were eating all the time to utilize what you paid for? Was it convenient to use? Was the restaurant choices what most people would choose and was the food good? One comment I have read was the restaurants were unsure of what was included. The other comment I read was they figured they saved over $300. Last I knew my parents don't want to be on the plan, but that will actually save us money. We have been told we can put the 10 and 12 year old girls in my parents room. The rule is everyone in your room has to be on the same plan. We will put the 17 and 15 year old boys in our room and I am sure we will save money! I printed off menu's from restaurants in each park and had the kids look through them. The 10 year old wasn't interested in adult meals at all. The 12 year old(turning 12 at WDW) was interested in a few items, but for the most part wanted the kids meals. The kids meal are $4 and $5 everywhere. I was also told that the portions are pretty big and that with My husband, the two boys and me(a small eater) we would have plenty of food. We are not used to eating an appetizer, main meal, soda, and a dessert all in one sitting! I told the girls that it was cheaper for us to pay say $10/day for kids meals and some special treats or utilize our treats off our plan then pay $35/day for them on the plan. I am planning on the dinning plan for us and bringing breakfast stuff for the room and get an early start(early entrance) to the parks. How long does it take out of your day to go to a sit down meal. Waiting for seating and eating? My husband enjoys eating, I do too, but I'd rather run the parks. He on the other hand likes to relax once in awhile.(He would be looking forward to taking the little ones back for naps after running around. I'll probably stay with the other kids having fun!)

I am just trying to figure out the logistics of time spent in transportation(say we pick POR because it seems nice and is less then Yacht club), eating and going back to the room for naps and then back out for the evening. The last time we went the newly turned 10 year old was 16 months. We stayed at my husbands parents Florida home and commuted for the day. They were long jam packed days with eating breakfast before we left and some snacks to tide everyone over(the kids were all young, my husband suffered the frugals-thats why he is excited about this dining plan!!) How much time do you get to have fun on the rides and stuff if your eating and using the transportation to go back to the room? We want to stay in the park for the convenience of putting the little ones down, but it seems if your going to eventually hit all 4 parks, one day or the other you will be spending more time in transportation then the other. Some said the Contemporary because it was closer to MK(thats just one day) Is there any one better place to stay when you are going to each park once? It looks like the Yacht club because of the fun pool for all ages(The vacation will be centered around the older kids) and it is closer to two parks. I am thinking some days we will all come back to the pool/resort and a couple days try the girls all day(if they can handle it) I don't know, thats why I am asking you what the actuality is? Thats the other question, it sounds like it would be fun to just stay at some place like the Yacht club or just relax and enjoy Disney(not the parks) I will let you in on a few more details you don't have yet. Yes we are planning on just 4 nights inside Disney, but we will be buying a 7 day MYW premium pass. My husbands parents have a place in Florida(not as close as their old house, but still 45 min. away) We plan on going to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon a couple times( I was told the five extra visits are your choice is that correct? I just saw Maple Leaf Tickets say one visit to each extra place) and will still have a two days left of the theme parks. I don't know, thats why I am asking you what the actuality is? So many questions, can anyone help? I thank everyone for responding!

 

[tigertam]

I want to thank everyone for responding. I just want to clearify something. I have read lots of reviews of checking in at the resorts. If you switch from one to another during the same stay is the switchover like the reviews of initially checking in? What I mean is some have been able to get in as early as 7:00 am and some not until 3:00. So is it the same here with switching mid stream? But I think someone said you should be able to use the first ones resort for the day or only till a certain time? Does anyone know that?
Is there a number I could call that would know that answer for sure and about if a child could nap midday on the day of the switch? Can you call the specific resort and ask the question?

 

[jennypenny]

If you switch resorts during your stay it's treated as two different stays. You would have to check out by 11. You could check in to the second resort as early as 7am but they don't guarantee the room until 3pm.

If you're caught on the day you switch you could always try one of the baby care centers in the parks. Your older kids could still enjoy the parks and you could try and get your younger ones to sleep in the center.

I second (third?) the notion of renting DVC points or just paying cash for a DVC resort. SSR is walking distance to DTD for your older ones and offers lots of dining choices. BCV is great but might be hard to get now. Wilderness Lodge Villas are great and just a boatride to MK, Contemporary, and Ft. Wilderness. And they used to offer a length of stay family recreation pass but I'm not sure if they still do.

And it's great to have the separate rooms of DVC when some kids are napping and some are not.

Jenny

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you decide to rent points from a DVC member to stay in a DVC resort, you need to act now. Points are going for anywhere from $10 - $12 a point. You would be making a private arrangement with an individual, not with Disney. The member might require half to make the reservation and the rest later on, but before 60 days out. It just depends on the member. Some accept Paypay (credit card), others require cash only. The member has complete control over the reservation at all times.

Go to the Rent/Trade Board on the DIS and check out the FAQS at the top of the page.