Options for rooms for extended family trip

[KPK02090]

We are planning an extended family trip - 15 people (10 adults, 5 kids) for April 2020. We definitely want to stay onsite, looking at, at least, 5 rooms, maybe 6.
Would we be better off cost-wise doing villas? Or are there other options?

 

[Nancyg56]

I think the least expensive option is rooms at a value, or perhaps even at a moderate resort. The villas are not cheap, however they do offer a means to have a lot of people stay together. I think that if you choose a villa, and we have done so, you need to be sure the people in each are used to traveling together.

My family travels as extended family often and we are able to share space, but not everyone cares to do this. I know when my oldest and his wife join us they get their own room. Even a villa would not give them the privacy they like and my son needs. For them, too much togetherness woudl be horrible.

You also want to look at budget for the families who will be with you. WE just came from a 9 day trip with free dining, 7 people at Old Key West, 2 bedroom villa. This was about $13,500 in total, so just about $2000 per person. A value would have been way less money, btu was not our choice.

 

[SharonZ]

First, I would establish a budget. Second, if considering a villa, you need to look at sleeping surfaces. Will some people be OK sleeping on a chair or fold out couch, as opposed to a bed?

 

[Marionnette]

We are planning an extended family trip - 15 people (10 adults, 5 kids) for April 2020. We definitely want to stay onsite, looking at, at least, 5 rooms, maybe 6.
Would we be better off cost-wise doing villas? Or are there other options?

The cheapest options would be Value Resort rooms or FW Cabins (you would need at least 3).

As a PP pointed out, the first thing is to establish a budget and then choose accommodations based on what everyone agrees is affordable. Villas are nice but the least expensive route is to rent a reservation from a DVC owner rather than going thru Disney. When you do that, you cannot cancel or even change dates in most cases and reservations need to be made early (11 months in advance is the most ideal). It is not an option that I would choose when traveling with a large group. Someone always ends up bailing on the group.

The villas also have a lot of less-than-ideal bedding configurations that include drop-down beds (smaller than a twin) and sofa beds (full or queen size) as well as a few chair twin size beds. Some of those beds lack any privacy. And DVC reallocated their points system for 2020, making studio and 1BR villas more point-heavy than they were in the past. Couple that with a huge increase in annual dues and you are looking at a higher cost for renting a reservation in 2020.

 

[sponica]

Also factor in people's expectations for what they'll be paying. If you have people not accustomed to paying disney prices for lodging, they'll balk at everything.

Personally I would opt for whatever configuration gets you the most sleeping surfaces and bathrooms. Each component group in their own room at a moderate would be my vote.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

As @Marionnette points out, the challenge of a villa is it is super pricey if booked via Disney, and if booked via DVC it's not something you can cancel, change or subdivide. For a large group, going with multiple resort rooms based on family unit is the most flexible, because if one family drops out it doesn't suddenly increase the cost for the remaining group. It's a single room canceled.

Going with separate rooms also provides some flexibility on other things - length of stay, dining plan, ticket. If one family needs to get there a day earlier or leave earlier/later, it is far more customizable than putting 10 in a single unit, where everyone needs to either be on dining plan or not for length of reservation.

 

[Marionnette]

Something else to consider: April 5-18, 2020 is "Premier Season" for DVC. This means that nights booked during that timeframe will be as costly as if you were traveling at Christmas time. If your plans involve any of those nights, renting DVC is probably not going to be cost-effective.

 

[KPK02090]

Thanks all - great advice. I think we’ll probably go with multiple rooms. And it would be the following week 18-25, hoping that won’t be as busy...

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks all - great advice. I think we’ll probably go with multiple rooms. And it would be the following week 18-25, hoping that won’t be as busy...

Our visit this year was 14 to 22, and we found it busy. Not crazy busy, but it was not walk on by any stretch of the imagination. WIth the predicted opening of SWGE I would plan on busy. Really busy.

The last tiem we traveled during this time frame, Christmas also fell on the Wednesday. WE found the parks manageable, not dead, but manageable. Until the Friday prior to Christmas. Friday was great, but that night was really beginning to get crowded. By Saturday night the MK was a frenzy, and DHS was shoulder to shoulder. Sunday I was thankful to get the heck out. I would plan on this scenario in 2019. If you are prepared you will not be blindsided, and if the crowds are lean, you will be bonused.

 

[KPK02090]

Thanks @Nancyg56, I’m actually looking at april 18-25, 2020. Easter will be on the 12th of April in 2020. So hoping I’ll be getting crowds a little lighter. But yes, galaxy’s edge will probably keep it crazy busy for quite a while!