Recommendations for LARGE family????

[dd53]

We are beginning to look at ideas for our Disney adoption celebration vacation (hoping to book for late January 2013--second choice is June 2013) but because January is not available online to book yet, I am having trouble finding what resorts might be appropriate for us. We are 2 adults and 8 kids(ages 3-14). We want to stay onsite because we want to do the dining plan (much easier than budgeting throughout the week and we would like to do a good number of character meals). We know we can do two family suites but that is not ideal as we would like to be together as hubby and I would have to split up that way. Also I have been told that they sometimes do free dining in January and that would be awesome (hoping for some pixie dust there)!!! Where could we stay all together that isn't completely a budget buster?

 

[runner_princess]

You have a few options. I would look at the Disney Vacation Club properties, also called Villa hotels. Several of these hotels, like Saratoga Springs, Animal Kingdom, and Old Key West have "grand villas" that would accomodate your group. You may also be able to get a two-bedroom + a studio (though that would seperate you and DH).

From a budget standpoint, you may be better off renting points from a DVC member than to book these directly through disney. Good luck!

 

[LeslieLou]

To prevent budget busting, I would recommend renting dvc points and staying in a grand villa or 2br (not sure how many fit in 2br)

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

Sounds like a perfect set up for one of the treehouse villas at Saratoga Springs. If you go through Disney you can do the dining plan or follow the advise of others and rent points and pay OOP for your meals and save on your lodging.

Our family prefers the dining plan. I don't like having to watch the tab all the time and I have teenaged boys who eat and eat and eat so it helps me. I'm sure you'll get lots of advise. Have fun planning!

 

[Atchley]

Will the three year old still be three at the time of travel? If so, you may be able to get a two bedroom villa at either AKL or BLT. (Or a treehouse at SSR) They have rooms that will hold 9 plus a child in a pack and play. (I can't remember if it is under 3 or 3 and under.) If you go this route, check into renting points from a DVC member. It would be a much cheaper option but you would not be eligible for free dining. It would probably still be cheaper to pay for the dining plan than to pack rack rate for one of those rooms. If most of your children are under 10, the dining plan is not the expensive. It is ten and over and adults when the price is higher.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I agree with the grand villa recommendations.

 

[dd53]

Wow we never thought bout renting points but it does look very affordable compared to the pricing I have seen for the deluxes through Disney. Question though...If we did a 2BR villa (which seems quite spacious), will they let us book it with a party of 10 (or are they sticklers for the sleeps 8)? The littles will share and the youngest still naps in a pack and play so she would be fine sleeping in one for a week!

 

[plutolovr]

Wow we never thought bout renting points but it does look very affordable compared to the pricing I have seen for the deluxes through Disney. Question though...If we did a 2BR villa (which seems quite spacious), will they let us book it with a party of 10 (or are they sticklers for the sleeps 8)? The littles will share and the youngest still naps in a pack and play so she would be fine sleeping in one for a week!

Sorry, you would have to go with a Grand Villa that sleeps 12. Your party is too large for the 2 bedroom. It doesn't matter how small the little ones are. Disney's pretty serious about it's maximum occupancy limits.

 

[badiggio]

I was just looking into this myself today.I think i read a thread by the moderators{while doing a search} stating that most of the 2 bedrooms sleep 9 because of a sleeper chair now in most{king,2 queens,queen sofa bed and chair},and if you have a child under 3 they can stay in a pack n play,making 10.

 

[Lynne M]

With a group of 10, your only option would be a grand villa. You might consider them a budget buster, however, even if you rented from a DVC member, and even if you managed to get it for $10 a point, you'd still be looking at anywhere from $500 - $900 or more per night, depending on the resort and time of year.

If you want to do free dining, you'd need to book through Disney and it would be considerable more expensive, as you'd have to pay rack rate. Just using SSR as an example, you'd be paying $1330/night plus tax in January, and $1480 plus tax in June.

 

[Kathy Z]

Here's a thought that hasn't been mentioned. How about 2 rooms at Port Orleans Resort booking Alligator Bayou (each can sleep 5) and requesting connecting rooms? I'd call Disney and ask the probability of them being able to put you into connecting rooms considering the number and ages of your children. There would be no kitchen like a villa but you'd have 2 mini frigs, 2 bathrooms etc.

 

[MMS1125]

Here's a thought that hasn't been mentioned. How about 2 rooms at Port Orleans Resort booking Alligator Bayou (each can sleep 5) and requesting connecting rooms? I'd call Disney and ask the probability of them being able to put you into connecting rooms considering the number and ages of your children. There would be no kitchen like a villa but you'd have 2 mini frigs, 2 bathrooms etc.

That was going to be my suggestion we've done 2 POR rooms in the past. Just let them know there won't be an adult for the 2nd room and they will make sure they are connecting

That's going to be your cheapest option by far

Congrats on your adoption!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sounds like a perfect set up for one of the treehouse villas at Saratoga Springs. If you go through Disney you can do the dining plan or follow the advise of others and rent points and pay OOP for your meals and save on your lodging.

Our family prefers the dining plan. I don't like having to watch the tab all the time and I have teenaged boys who eat and eat and eat so it helps me. I'm sure you'll get lots of advise. Have fun planning!

Tree House Villas only sleep nine plus one under the age of three. The OP has ten, all three or older. THV would be out. Two bedroom villas, even the ones that sleep nine, will not fit this family of ten. One too many. And DVC is very strict about occupancy.

Grand Villas are going to be hard to get because DVC members have first crack at them at 11 months out. The OP could try for a DVC rental, but they would have to get a member lined up at least a year in advance.

Offsite locations like Bonnet Creek have three and four bedroom villas. No dining plan, no Magical Express, no other onsite Disney perks, but a very nice resort and plenty of room for this family of ten. And they can be obtained for decent prices.