OKW GV and Vero cottage question, and water park

[gwensgoofy]

I'm asking this very prematurely, but the answers will help guide our decision. We've have kicked around the idea repeatedly of trying to get extended family, or at least their kids together for one big trip. Finances are really tight for two of the families. We would cover the room, but couldn't pick up tickets to disneyworld for everyone. First scenario would involve Vero in a cottage, as we can avoid the ticket problem. We own at AKV. Are the cottages still available 7 months out for a June or July trip? Second question, if not Vero, then maybe OKW GV with water park tickets. When we were there this past week I saw that a water park annual pass was $99. Second question, same as the first: Are OKW GV ever available 7 months out for a June or July trip?

Final question: does an annual pass at the water park cover both typhoon lagoon and blizzard beach, or do you need to choose one park.

Thanks All! Just trying to plan a future trip..which may be a while, so I can try to get us to Hawaii!

 

[Dasha]

As a VB owner, I have found that cottages for June/July are gone by the 7 month window. We don't know our vacation days at the 11 month window, so several times at the 8 and 9 month marks we haven't gotten cottages for the week. In the past (especially when the points were higher) FRI and SAT nights seemed always available though.

 

[queendarvet]

We booked our cottage for late June at 11 months exactly. At 7 months we tried to add one night before we arrived and had to waitlist. This was for a Saturday night. The waitlist never came through. I wouldn't think you would be able to get a cottage at the 7 month mark in the summer.

 

[Starr W.]

I booked a BC at 11 months for Spring Break for 6 nights, at 7 months right at 9am I called and tried to add a night, no such luck. And I was looking for a Friday night!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You'd be better off getting a grand villa at AKV at 11 months out. Then you would be assured of getting what you want. OKW and VB will be hard at 7 months.

You need a premium annual pass to get access to the water parks. And you can go to both each day if you want.

 

[Dean]

As noted, the chances are pretty close to zero. One thing you might consider is renting out the points and doing cash somewhere that's convenient, maybe a larger vacation home somewhere. Or else, getting smaller units, maybe multiple 2 BR units or even a 2 BR plus Inn or studio rooms. Certainly AKV is a great location to stay and not do parks but it may provide a temptation for those that have the means to leave the others behind.

We usually do a family trip at least every other year but it's really been almost every year the last few. We provide the accommodations and invite people until we're full. We've done HH, VB, WDW and Gatlinburg with HH being the consistent player. Our normal approach is to eat out a min of one meal a day with danish or similar for breakfast then snacks, sandwiches, leftovers for the 3rd meal. However, given that larger groups are harder to manage and some don't have the means, we mostly hang out, grill out, etc. We insist on a group meal out and rotate the meal prep duties, otherwise everyone else is on their own. This year I have seven 2 BR units in Nashville just before Xmas.

 

[discorsner]

As noted, the chances are pretty close to zero. One thing you might consider is renting out the points and doing cash somewhere that's convenient, maybe a larger vacation home somewhere. Or else, getting smaller units, maybe multiple 2 BR units or even a 2 BR plus Inn or studio rooms. Certainly AKV is a great location to stay and not do parks but it may provide a temptation for those that have the means to leave the others behind.

We usually do a family trip at least every other year but it's really been almost every year the last few. We provide the accommodations and invite people until we're full. We've done HH, VB, WDW and Gatlinburg with HH being the consistent player. Our normal approach is to eat out a min of one meal a day with danish or similar for breakfast then snacks, sandwiches, leftovers for the 3rd meal. However, given that larger groups are harder to manage and some don't have the means, we mostly hang out, grill out, etc. We insist on a group meal out and rotate the meal prep duties, otherwise everyone else is on their own. This year I have seven 2 BR units in Nashville just before Xmas.

Awesome Dean! Can I just become a member of your family?

It would make my vacation plans a lot easier!

That is so nice that you treat people. I hope that your family appreciates it! We use to do things like this with vacation rental houses and then some of the people we use to take started acting like they expected it rather than appreciated it.

I don't need or want people to kiss my butt for taking them but I also don't expect them to keep asking me when we are taking them back either.

However now we are thinking of buying DVC resale and trying to invite the grandparents to join in when possible as well as some very close friends who would behave nicely.

 

[Dean]

Awesome Dean! Can I just become a member of your family?

It would make my vacation plans a lot easier!

That is so nice that you treat people. I hope that your family appreciates it! We use to do things like this with vacation rental houses and then some of the people we use to take started acting like they expected it rather than appreciated it.

I don't need or want people to kiss my butt for taking them but I also don't expect them to keep asking me when we are taking them back either.

However now we are thinking of buying DVC resale and trying to invite the grandparents to join in when possible as well as some very close friends who would behave nicely.

I'm sure everyone appreciates it, most say so and all act like they do, which is really more than I ask. If they didn't, or caused drama, I wouldn't invite that person going forward. But I also make a significant effort to make sure I'm not creating unreasonable but unstated expectations which are easy to do. I don't plan their entire trip and other than the 1 meal out, they can do as much or little as they want with whomever they want. We state the rules to new guests, they know what to expect and what not to. We are just glad we can do it, it's our way of giving back to the family.