No crazy discounts for a family of 6?

[Shonte Durrett]

Are most of the discounts only for family's of 4?

I have been searching and looking. Even my postcard in the mail was only for family of 4. How does a larger family get just as good deals?

I used to get the free dining when we were a smaller family but we've grown. lol and the girls are older so missing a week of school isn't too appropriate when they are in High School. Plus with every school activity they are in.

HELP! SHOW ME THE BIG FAMILY DISCOUNTS! haha

 

[Iowamomof4]

I think the "family of 4" discounts are just examples.

 

[Shonte Durrett]

OOOOOOOH... I feel silly. haha

 

[Alesia]

I think the "family of 4" discounts are just examples.

Correct. Those discounts don't only apply to families of 4.

With a big family, though, the best way to save money (and sanity) is to stay offsite. There are plenty of 3 and 4 bedroom houses for under $100 per night. You won't come close to that staying onsite.

 

[Shonte Durrett]

Correct. Those discounts don't only apply to families of 4.

With a big family, though, the best way to save money (and sanity) is to stay offsite. There are plenty of 3 and 4 bedroom houses for under $100 per night. You won't come close to that staying onsite.

Thank you! I'm just concerned about not having all the perks. This would be my husband's 1st time and I am trying to find the best affordable way to give him all the magic!

 

[Iowamomof4]

We stayed onsite with 6. We had a family suite at Art of Animation and then two connecting rooms at CBR and BC. We fit pretty well in all those places and loved being in the "Disney bubble".

 

[Shonte Durrett]

We stayed onsite with 6. We had a family suite at Art of Animation and then two connecting rooms at CBR and BC. We fit pretty well in all those places and loved being in the "Disney bubble".

My 15yr old has her heart on CBR and both her and my 13yr old want Art of Animation. I would love a suite there.

is it best to keep searching daily or so until a good discount comes along?

 

[Iowamomof4]

My 15yr old has her heart on CBR and both her and my 13yr old want Art of Animation. I would love a suite there.

is it best to keep searching daily or so until a good discount comes along?

When are you wanting to go? We used a travel agent and, even being the uber planner that I am, I wouldn't have it any other way! I still made my own dining reservations and fp's so it's not like I had nothing to do. Then, when things went a little haywire while we were there, she was on the phone with Disney working to get things straightened out. I appreciated having someone working on my side when dealing with some hiccups.

 

[mistysue]

Daily might be overkill, they only release discounts every so often. When are you looking to go?

ETA: http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/
That link will give you an idea of around when to watch for a discount to come out for the time of year you want. It's not 100% reliable for prediction but better than going in blind. If you know exactly when you want to go it can be easier to book, then watch for a discount to apply so that you can do dining reservations ASAP.

 

[Shonte Durrett]

LOL.. Yeah, I tend to overkill A LOT!

We are looking for May 22nd - 28th. It was originally the week after for my oldest Sweet 16 birthday but read that the week before may be slightly cheaper & a little less crowded. (28th - June 4th)

I want at least a 5N/6D package but would love 6N/7D

 

[Shonte Durrett]

LOL.. Yeah, I tend to overkill A LOT!

We are looking for May 22nd - 28th. It was originally the week after for my oldest Sweet 16 birthday but read that the week before may be slightly cheaper & a little less crowded. (28th - June 4th)

I want at least a 5N/6D package but would love 6N/7D

(Actually to be able to stay 10 days would totally rock)

 

[Iowamomof4]

I booked with my TA for May as well, but we may end up cancelling. I'm just waiting to see what they do with Star Wars Weekends before I decide for sure. We'll try to apply any discount later on when it gets released (sometime after January 1, I expect).

 

[Darcy03231]

We're a family of 6. WDW doesn't have a lot of on-site options for larger families. We've been enough that we stay off-site in a rental home. Much less expensive, even with renting a mini-van. We also find we save a lot of money on meals as we tend to eat breakfast in and then eat off-site for dinner.

If you have your heart set on staying on-site, we found the best and least expensive option for our family was two rooms at a value resort. While WDW won't guaranty you adjoining rooms, we've gotten them every time we requested them. This way you have a room for adults and one for the kids and you also have two bathrooms (which is a huge plus when six people are trying to get ready in the morning).

When our children were older we stuck to going during school breaks (February or April) or during the summer. Our school doesn't start until after Labor Day so we found the end of August worked well for us. Florida children are back in school by then and while the parks were less crowded. It is hot and humid though, so you have to factor that in.

 

[eliza61]

Thank you! I'm just concerned about not having all the perks. This would be my husband's 1st time and I am trying to find the best affordable way to give him all the magic!

what perks do you definitely use. I use to think that way also until I realize I don't really use all the perks.
disney transportation is open to all no matter where you stay. We never do the ddp as oop always saves us money. I have large boys and my dh was a tall guy so we hated cramming into small disney room (this was before the art of animation suites were built).
We rarely do rope drop so the only perk maybe evening extra magic hours.

Not saying this would work for you but just evaluate whether you make use of the perks.

Also have you looked into renting dvc points. saves a ton.

 

[Shonte Durrett]

what perks do you definitely use. I use to think that way also until I realize I don't really use all the perks.
disney transportation is open to all no matter where you stay. We never do the ddp as oop always saves us money. I have large boys and my dh was a tall guy so we hated cramming into small disney room (this was before the art of animation suites were built).
We rarely do rope drop so the only perk maybe evening extra magic hours.

Not saying this would work for you but just evaluate whether you make use of the perks.

Also have you looked into renting dvc points. saves a ton.

I'm not sure now that you mention all that. LOL.... I love the Dining Plans. I think that and EMH would be the missing perks for me. I really don't understand financing or doing DVC. I wanted to years ago but my then husband said no. I'm just curious now..... now that it's a lot more $$ than back then.

I've tried going to the DVC site to check it all out. It's still confusing to me.

 

[Shonte Durrett]

We're a family of 6. WDW doesn't have a lot of on-site options for larger families. We've been enough that we stay off-site in a rental home. Much less expensive, even with renting a mini-van. We also find we save a lot of money on meals as we tend to eat breakfast in and then eat off-site for dinner.

If you have your heart set on staying on-site, we found the best and least expensive option for our family was two rooms at a value resort. While WDW won't guaranty you adjoining rooms, we've gotten them every time we requested them. This way you have a room for adults and one for the kids and you also have two bathrooms (which is a huge plus when six people are trying to get ready in the morning).

When our children were older we stuck to going during school breaks (February or April) or during the summer. Our school doesn't start until after Labor Day so we found the end of August worked well for us. Florida children are back in school by then and while the parks were less crowded. It is hot and humid though, so you have to factor that in.

I have often pondered the thought of joining rooms. Wasn't sure it would be any cheaper than somewhere else. I would like the joining rooms but my fear would be they didn't give it to us and I don't want us to be separated on our family vacation. I may still look into it though.

 

[bjscheel]

Also go to the Resorts forum, and then the Codes & Rates subforum. There is probably a May 2016 Code Watch thread and when something comes up, it will be sure to be posted there!

Something to look into (that I don't know the answer to)- do the Family Suites have 1 bathroom or 2? If you get two adjoining rooms, you would have two bathrooms for sure.

 

[kristenrice]

I'm not sure now that you mention all that. LOL.... I love the Dining Plans. I think that and EMH would be the missing perks for me. I really don't understand financing or doing DVC. I wanted to years ago but my then husband said no. I'm just curious now..... now that it's a lot more $$ than back then.

I've tried going to the DVC site to check it all out. It's still confusing to me.

"Renting" DVC points is not the same as buying into DVC, which is what you will see when you go to the DVC website. With renting points, you are paying a DVC owner to use their points to make a reservation for you. The biggest downside to renting is that it is a non-refundable reservation that cannot be changed once it is booked. You can add the dining plans and purchase tickets on your own which can also save money.

Check out David's site (dvcbyrequest.com) and you will see that a standard view 2BR at Animal Kingdom Villas will cost you $3010 for your dates (or about $500/night). These villas (if you chose Kidani Village over Jambo House) will give you a full kitchen (with cookware, dishes, etc) and a washer and dryer in your unit. They also include THREE full bathrooms! I wouldn't exactly consider renting DVC points a "budget-friendly" option, but for an onsite resort for a family of 6, there is a "comfort value" that each individual family has to weigh for themselves.

 

[HeatherC]

If you would consider offsite, I would highly recommend Bonnet Creek Resort. It is literally next door to CBR...just not Disney owned. You cam rent a two or three bedroom villa for like $125 a night...including all taxes. That could allow you a longer stay or save you money that could be put towards things like a character meal, etc. that you wanted to do.

We are a family of five and love Bonnet Creek. We rent a car because we would hate using Disney transportation. We eat breakfast in our pj's and can be at the parks when they open. Since it is practically onsite it can be faster getting to the parks driving yoursleves than staying at a Disney owned resort and using their buses.

The nice part of a villa is you have a full kitchen if you want to cook or just pick up some fast items for breakfast or snacks or quick dinners. You also have washer and dryer which means you can bring less stuff. You have two bathrooms to get ready in and multiple bedrooms allow everyone a little extra space and mom and dad some privacy too.

The downside is no EMH. But in May I think you would be fine with arriving around rope drop anyway.

Just thought I would throw out another option to consider.

Have fun planning and a great time wherever you stay!

 

[Shonte Durrett]

"Renting" DVC points is not the same as buying into DVC, which is what you will see when you go to the DVC website. With renting points, you are paying a DVC owner to use their points to make a reservation for you. The biggest downside to renting is that it is a non-refundable reservation that cannot be changed once it is booked. You can add the dining plans and purchase tickets on your own which can also save money.

Check out David's site (dvcbyrequest.com) and you will see that a standard view 2BR at Animal Kingdom Villas will cost you $3010 for your dates (or about $500/night). These villas (if you chose Kidani Village over Jambo House) will give you a full kitchen (with cookware, dishes, etc) and a washer and dryer in your unit. They also include THREE full bathrooms! I wouldn't exactly consider renting DVC points a "budget-friendly" option, but for an onsite resort for a family of 6, there is a "comfort value" that each individual family has to weigh for themselves.

That's awesome!!!! Thank you! It's a little scary though to send my money to someone else to use their points... Like a ticket scout! LOL... I'm sure most can be trusted but some.... IDK Have you done this?