Planning a multi-generational Trip! Help me decide on a resort.

[CharissaOKC]

Hi everyone! My mom has decided to gift our family a week long trip in March 2023. I am helping her plan it and figure out what is best for everyone. Our family rarely takes big trips all together so this is a big deal to her. We are trying to give everyone the best experience while watching the budget. Here are the details…

8 people total. My parents (60), myself and DH (30s), our kids (8 & 2.5), my sister and her husband (20’s).

My mom is pretty set on all of us staying together and wants a kitchen so we are looking a getting a 2 bedroom villa with rented points. We will probably only book standard view due to keeping budget in check.

We will do 3-4 park days. We have been to Disney several times so she wants to do a few more unique experiences and have resort time as well.

Right now we are looking at SSR and AKL. My dad will have an ECV so I am not sure if one of these resorts is better than the other for that.

SSR: We like the updated rooms and the boat to DS. It also feels more serene and relaxing. My mom likes that it has the pull down Murphy bed as that would be more comfy for my sister. It is also a bit cheaper but I am worried about it being so spread out.

AKL: we like the food better here and feel like it’s a more unique experience. No one else in my family has seen this resort and i think the would like the lobby. Also the fact it has interior hallways. My mom does like that the grandkids would like this resort better. Jambo house or Kidani? I like the 2 bedroom layout in Kidani but the resort better at Jambo.

Does anyone have any recommendations? It’s tough to find a place that everyone would 100% enjoy but we are trying. I know each place has pros and cons.

 

[Marionnette]

Hi everyone! My mom has decided to gift our family a week long trip in March 2023. I am helping her plan it and figure out what is best for everyone. Our family rarely takes big trips all together so this is a big deal to her. We are trying to give everyone the best experience while watching the budget. Here are the details…

8 people total. My parents (60), myself and DH (30s), our kids (8 & 2.5), my sister and her husband (20’s).

My mom is pretty set on all of us staying together and wants a kitchen so we are looking a getting a 2 bedroom villa with rented points. We will probably only book standard view due to keeping budget in check.

We will do 3-4 park days. We have been to Disney several times so she wants to do a few more unique experiences and have resort time as well.

Right now we are looking at SSR and AKL. My dad will have an ECV so I am not sure if one of these resorts is better than the other for that.

SSR: We like the updated rooms and the boat to DS. It also feels more serene and relaxing. My mom likes that it has the pull down Murphy bed as that would be more comfy for my sister. It is also a bit cheaper but I am worried about it being so spread out.

AKL: we like the food better here and feel like it’s a more unique experience. No one else in my family has seen this resort and i think the would like the lobby. Also the fact it has interior hallways. My mom does like that the grandkids would like this resort better. Jambo house or Kidani? I like the 2 bedroom layout in Kidani but the resort better at Jambo.

Does anyone have any recommendations? It’s tough to find a place that everyone would 100% enjoy but we are trying. I know each place has pros and cons.

I would lean toward Kidani for the unique resort experience and the 3rd bathroom in the 2BR villas. The only drawback at both Jambo and Kidani is the long hallways. The SSR updated villas are very nice and that pull-down bed/sofa combination in the living room will be much more comfortable than the AKV sofa beds (I hear from my daughter that they're pretty rough).

The Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge is slated for a full refurbishment soon and will most likely have the pull-down bed/sofa when completed. I would consider it in the running. The number if points needed is a little higher than AKV or SSR but its proximity to the MK is much better.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

Out of the 2 I’d say AKL for the food, the animals, and the slightly easier layout. The thing I don’t like about that resort is that it feels SO far from the parks and everything else (even just driving up that long driveway takes forever) but since you said you were planning on ample resort time, and if that doesn’t bother you, it’s hard to find a more beautiful and unique resort.

 

[holden]

I'd recommend a 3BR for 8 people, especially when most of them are adults. A 2BR will be tight. That's just my opinion based on my previous experiences. We've done a 2Br with two adults and four kids (teens).

If you must do a 2BR, Kidani is the way to go. It has an extra full bathroom. That to me is more valuable than anything else.

 

[Marionnette]

I'd recommend a 3BR for 8 people, especially when most of them are adults. A 2BR will be tight. That's just my opinion based on my previous experiences. We've done a 2Br with two adults and four kids (teens).

If you must do a 2BR, Kidani is the way to go. It has an extra full bathroom. That to me is more valuable than anything else.

I totally agree with you on the 3BR villa. They are all truly amazing and the Jambo House 3BRs even have a pool table! But oh my goodness the number of points needed is not budget-friendly! I would go with a 2BR + a studio before jumping to a 3BR Grand Villa.

 

[Marthasor]

I, too, would be looking at 3-bedrooms or a 2-bedroom and a studio. While a 2-bedroom technically holds all of you, the sofa beds in the villas just aren't comfortable, at all. SSR avoids that issue (the murphys are great), but you lose the 3rd bathroom that you would get at Kidani. I don't know the dynamic of your family, but putting 6 adults and 2 young children in a 2-bedroom might be a little much after a few days.

 

[MillauFr]

Don't you have to book 11 months in advance?

 

[MICKIMINI]

2 BR and a Studio would be best as mentioned by OP's. Privacy is important for everyone to be comfortable. The other thing I think about is being close to entertainment for those that like to go out at night. Monorail or Skyliner resorts may be too costly, however SSR would give access to DS. Busses just aren't as fun.

We've done many generational trips and those with family we don't *live* with and find these two elements are more important IMO than many other considerations.

Happy planning!

 

[jimmymc]

SSR and AKL will both comfortably fit the 8 of you. OKW will also give you some extra room and still has the boat to Disney Springs.

 

[sponica]

I don't mean to be the stick in the mud, or what have you. But I would try to go for a 2 BR and a studio rather than cramming everyone into one 2 BR, just matching beds with people means that either you are sharing a bedroom with your sister and her husband with the kids in the living room OR your 20 something sister and BIL are going to have to sleep in the living room and a week is a LONG time with that sort of sleeping arrangement.

 

[CharissaOKC]

I would lean toward Kidani for the unique resort experience and the 3rd bathroom in the 2BR villas. The only drawback at both Jambo and Kidani is the long hallways. The SSR updated villas are very nice and that pull-down bed/sofa combination in the living room will be much more comfortable than the AKV sofa beds (I hear from my daughter that they're pretty rough).

The Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge is slated for a full refurbishment soon and will most likely have the pull-down bed/sofa when completed. I would consider it in the running. The number if points needed is a little higher than AKV or SSR but its proximity to the MK is much better.

Hmm… my family loves WL. I wonder if the refurb would be complete by then. Thanks for the idea!

 

[CharissaOKC]

I don't mean to be the stick in the mud, or what have you. But I would try to go for a 2 BR and a studio rather than cramming everyone into one 2 BR, just matching beds with people means that either you are sharing a bedroom with your sister and her husband with the kids in the living room OR your 20 something sister and BIL are going to have to sleep in the living room and a week is a LONG time with that sort of sleeping arrangement.

2 BR and a Studio would be best as mentioned by OP's. Privacy is important for everyone to be comfortable. The other thing I think about is being close to entertainment for those that like to go out at night. Monorail or Skyliner resorts may be too costly, however SSR would give access to DS. Busses just aren't as fun.

We've done many generational trips and those with family we don't *live* with and find these two elements are more important IMO than many other considerations.

Happy planning!

I, too, would be looking at 3-bedrooms or a 2-bedroom and a studio. While a 2-bedroom technically holds all of you, the sofa beds in the villas just aren't comfortable, at all. SSR avoids that issue (the murphys are great), but you lose the 3rd bathroom that you would get at Kidani. I don't know the dynamic of your family, but putting 6 adults and 2 young children in a 2-bedroom might be a little much after a few days.

Yeah. I get the need for space. Our kids like to sleep with grandma a lot and my sister and her husband said they are fine in the living room or sharing with us if that means my mom paying for more of the experiences and things like that. But I will pull pricing for a couple of alternative options and present that to the group.

I agree with the point about transportation too. We are pretty well versed in getting from place to place and the different options but when the group splits up that will be a different story. I tried to get her to just book 3 rooms at CBR to have Skyliner access but she wasn’t having it. Lol

It is a challenge when each group has a different priority of what they look for. They all have pros and cons.

 

[jimmymc]

If you have a car then I would also suggest the Treehouse Villas at SSR. If you don't, then I wouldn't consider them.

 

[Marionnette]

It is a challenge when each group has a different priority of what they look for. They all have pros and cons.

My rule is: She who pays gets final say.

We often bring family along using our DVC contracts to book large accommodations. I welcome input on dates and resorts but in the long run, they're my points and I'm the one who is paying. So while they might want a GF grand villa at Christmas, I'm not willing to make that happen.

Key factors from your mom's POV:

• Easy access for your father's ECV
• A kitchen
• Comfortable sleeping arrangements, most notably the sleeper in the living room where your sister and brother-in-law will be sleeping if you get a 2BR
• Attractive resort activities for down days

I would put those factors ahead of all others and then work from there.

 

[Marionnette]

If you have a car then I would also suggest the Treehouse Villas at SSR. If you don't, then I wouldn't consider them.

No. Just no. While they would fit, there are many reasons to cross a THV off the OP's list.

The kiddos are the only ones who could possibly use the bunk beds in bedroom #3. The bedroom #2 is very small and has only 1 queen bed. There are 2 bathrooms but one can only be accessed by walking through the master bedroom. The living room beds consist of a sleeper sofa and a twin sleeper chair. The chair bed is far more comfortable. In addition, the OP's father is using an ECV. That means getting a HA accessible treehouse so that the ECV can be driven up the ramp and into the unit. You cannot leave it outside. There's nowhere to charge it at ground level and you don't want to leave it exposed to the elements.

 

[CharissaOKC]

My rule is: She who pays gets final say.

We often bring family along using our DVC contracts to book large accommodations. I welcome input on dates and resorts but in the long run, they're my points and I'm the one who is paying. So while they might want a GF grand villa at Christmas, I'm not willing to make that happen.

Key factors from your mom's POV:

• Easy access for your father's ECV
• A kitchen
• Comfortable sleeping arrangements, most notably the sleeper in the living room where your sister and brother-in-law will be sleeping if you get a 2BR
• Attractive resort activities for down days

I would put those factors ahead of all others and then work from there.

Thank you! I agree! She wants everyone to have a great time but I always ask her “Mom, what do YOU want?”

 

[CarolynFH]

You’ve gotten a lot of great advice here. I love Kidani, and the 3rd bathroom in a 2BR is wonderful, not to mention the single sleeper chair in the living room along with the sleeper sofa. That said, the hallways at Kidani are notoriously long (literally over a quarter of a mile from the far end of a wing to the lobby). Your dad in his ECV will do fine with them, but the rest of you, especially tired kids coming back from a day in the parks, might not. For that reason as well as the Murphy bed in the living room, SSR gets my vote. It’s easy to visit AKL to see the lobby and enjoy the restaurants!

 

[aerxo17]

I will continue to avoid the pull-out sofas at every resort I can - they are wildly uncomfortable to me! Any of the refurbished rooms with the murphy beds are much better in my opinion.

I would pick Saratoga Springs, or Riviera, if you're willing to splurge a bit! I stayed at Kidani in September 2021, and I would not again, due to not-the-best bus service and the looooooong hallways (I think we walked 10 minutes from room to elevator!!) If I were going to pick AKL and deal with the sofa issue, I would go with Jambo House.

Riviera has an adult-feel but also has Topolino's, a great character breakfast. I feel like that resort would appeal the most to your party. It also has Skyliner transportation to DHS and Epcot - better than just a boat to Disney Springs!

 

[Robber Baron]

For a large group we always chose OKW because they are the biggest. The common area, (living room), is very large with plenty of seating and large kitchen.

 

[IndyToThere]

Just looking at the room layouts and knowing the makeup of your party (basically x3 families), I'd vote for the 2br at Kidani at AKV. Having x3 bathrooms would make this work and would be VASTLY cheaper than a 3br.