Resort that will accomodate a family of 6?

[05ChristmasSurprise]

We are a family of six - four kids (they will be 8, 5, 3, and 2 when we're there).
Any recommendations on an affordable onsite resort that will accomodate all of us?

 

[jel0511]

The only resorts that will accomdate you is either two rooms at a value/moderate resort, the FW cabins, most deluxe resorts (If the baby will still be under 3), and a 2 bedroom villa at DVC resorts. The cheapest option will be the two rooms at a value resort.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Try going over to the DVC board or rent/trade board.

For Christmas, see if anyone will rent you points for a two bedroom villa at Wilderness Lodge. (I'm not positive on the one-bedroom limits, but that may be a tight squeeze.) That puts you closest DVC to the MK and from the posts I've read WL at Christmas is cool. 2 BR DVC units have kitchens and 2 bathrooms.
The DVC owner will have to book the room for you but cannot do it sooner than 11 months out (at their home resort, so you'll want to rent from a VWL DVC owner). There are several DVC resorts on the WDW property.

If you do not know how to calculate the points, post your dates and someone can give you a point total. Figure on paying $10-12 per point.

The other option is a Cabin at Fort Wilderness. You get one bedroom with a double and a bunkbed. Plus a Murphy bed in the den and a full kitchen, but only one bathroom. You also get to park right outside your cabin.

Or finally, your cheapest option would be to get an adjoining room at a value resort like Pop Century or one of the All Stars.

Just keep checking Mousesavers.com for the best codes.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Okay, I admit it - I am lost

We're looking at spending no more than 10...for all 4 adults, 3 kids, 1 infant and at least park hoppers.

What do you recommend?

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by 05ChristmasSurprise
Okay, I admit it - I am lost

We're looking at spending no more than 10...for all 4 adults, 3 kids, 1 infant and at least park hoppers.

What do you recommend?

When you say 10, do you mean 10,000? Also, when are you planning on going, and how long are you planning on staying as that can have a big impact on resort prices. If you plan on arriving after 12/20 or so, you'll end up paying the very high Holiday prices at WDW, which start at around $125 per night, and that's for a value resort. Food is also a big variable, is that included in your budgeted number? If you end up at the FW cabins, you can save a significant amount in food as they have full kitchens. Give us a little more to work with, and we'll try to help.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Okay, I found the board but it looks like I can't rent points until it is 11 months out (which means January, I think - if we're looking to go at the end of November, right?)

So, I searched the WLVs and it said it would be 194 points based on the 04 season.

I guess I just don't understand the details of it...that seems awfully inexpensive. I had to have done something wrong.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Originally posted by jel0511
When you say 10, do you mean 10,000? Also, when are you planning on going

Yes, 10,000. We are departing on Thanksgiving (11/24 I think) and staying 9 nights (until 12/3) - so we'll still be in the value season.

No, we didn't include food in that. We figured each of us would handle our own food (since last time we planned out three meals a day and discovered we weren't hungry enough to do that - and didn't want to sit down for meals each time). So, we'll probably grab counter service snacks throughout the day and do one big meal each day at a sit-down.

Thanks SO much for all your help!

 

[jel0511]

If that's the number of points you'll need for a two bedroom, then that's the correct number. I'm a DVC member and can check the points math if you'll give me the dates. The going rate for points is around $!0 - $11 per point, so your resort stay would be approx $2,000 give or take. There are no additional taxes or charges when renting points. A few things to note when renting DVC points. You're staying as the guest of a DVC member and will receive the same limited services that DVC members receive. You will not recieve daily housekeeping, or fresh towels daily. You'll recieve fresh towels on day 4 of your stay, unless you decide to pay extra for the service. With a washer/dryer in the room, it's really not all that inconvient to run a load of towels.

 

[jel0511]

I just checked your dates, arriving on 11/24 (Thanksgiving) and staying for 9 nights, would mean 394 points for a two bedroom. So, you're looking at $4k for the hotel, not a bad deal! If renting points is seriously what you'd like to do, go visit the rent/trade board here on the DIS. That is VERY popular time for DVC, especially VWL. You should find a DVC member willing to rent the points now, so that when the 11 month window opens up, the member can call immediately and get your reservation for you. There is a matter of trust between renter and rentee, as it's a private transaction and usually all monies once paid are non-refundable. Good luck with planning your trip!

 

[cruise-o-matic]

If you are not visiting during Christmas break, then that is a good time to go. Less crowded and less expensive, plus WDW is all dressed up for Christmas.

194 points doesn't seem right for a 2 BR for 7 nights. With DVC Fri and Sat are double the points than the rest of the week. You're realistically looking at 270 points for 12/3-12/10/05.
Points calculator link http://www.wdwinfo.com/resort/dvcpoint.cfm

But you have also upped you're count by 2 adults. A 2 BR villa would be a tight fit, and a cabin w/one bathroom....no way. Either go to a Grand Villa, possibly at Old Key West or 2 or 3 rooms at a resort. A grand villa at OKw for the same nights would be 356 points.

You may alos look at getting an Annual Pass for one of your party members to take advantage of any AP discounts.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Thanks for all your hard work!

I don't mind washing towels, certainly - and we tend to hang them up after we use them and let them dry anyway at home

$4K is certainly less than what we were looking at for resorts...I assume...I guess I should calculate all of it with just room-only rates. (I assume the DVC stays do not include park hoppers?)

 

[bethbuchall]

If it's still that same 6 that you mentioned in the original post, you could stay at the deluxe resorts that accomodate 5, because your youngest is still under 3. That would definitely be more cramped than the two bedroom, and it might be more expensive than renting points overall, but it is an option.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

If you are going to be there 9 days and plan to visit the parks each day, you may want to look at annual passes. I think the break even mark is around 8-9 days. It's posted somewhere on these boards or at mousesavers.com.

If you are contemplating DVC, post your nights on the Rent/Trade board. They won't be able to book the nights you want until Christmas Eve, the beginning of the 11 month window.

In the meantime, it doesn't also hurt to get some quotes from AAA Travel or Dreams Unlimited or Small World Vacations.

One word of advice, I would not book a package for those nights. The package price depends on the START date of your vacation, and 11/24/05 might be peak season b/c Thanksgiving and the rest may be regular or value season. If you want to go with a package, break it down so that one spans the peak nights and the other, the non peak ones. But you are probably better off doing room only or DVC.

DVC does not include Park Hoppers. You are basically renting a Timeshare from an individual.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Thanks!
It may be worthwhile to wait and go down on Friday morning then (the day after Thanksgiving). I think that's *all* considered the value season, but I'll have to check.

I also need to look into an annual pass.

Thanks again! So, Christmas Eve, eh? That might work.

I actually kind of like the fact that it doesn't include the UPHs because then I don't feel that we HAVE to go every day to make it worthwhile

 

[Eeyore2003]

I just rented points at OKW this July and it worked out very nice. I paid about 120/night for a studio. You would fit fine in a two bedroom. (I'm not sure though if you have 4 adults and 3 kids or 2 adults and 3 kids, either way for the price difference, the baby could sleep in a crib. I'm pretty sure that's allowed. One bedroom has a king size bed, the other, two double beds (OKW) or a double bed and a pull out bed (BWV, VWL, or BCV) I'm not sure about Saratoga Springs. There is a full kitchen, living room, washer/drying, jacuzzi, 2 bathrooms. Also a pull out bed in the living room.

I think it would definitely save you food money too. Especially for snacks and maybe even breakfast. You can get daily towel service for a fee. With that many people you might want to check it out.

If you're trying to save on money, I really recommend OKW. It's the most reasonably priced, has the largest rooms in all of Disney. We all loved our stay there. Last December, we enjoyed "resort hopping" for meals, and then got to see the decorations at several throughout our stay. We stayed in Building 62, it was right across from the Main Lobby, Main Bus Stop, Pool and Olivia's. I had heard that there are no elevators, but this building had one. The DVC owner I rented from requested that building for us. With the kids, I wanted things to be convenient.

It's also nice having your car right outside the door, (if you have one).

 

[Tigger&Belle]

When we had 3 kids over 3yo and 1 under 3yo we stayed at the Polynesian (wonderful being on the monorail line!), Animal Kingdom Lodge deluxe room (nice to see the animals, but I don't know that I'd stay there again), and the Swan (had an L shaped room that we could all fit in with room to spare). We've also stayed at the Contemporary (we only had our youngest with us that time, but the rooms are large enough for 6 people and there is a day bed, like at the Poly).

Personally, for that many days I would split my stay between two resorts. I would stay half my time at a monorail resort (Poly is my favorite) and 1/2 at an Epcot resort (I haven't tried Boardwalk, but would like to eventually).

Splitting the stay gives you the best of both locations--monorail for the convenience of getting to the MK, which you'll probably be spending a fair amount of time at and the activity of the Epcot resort and the short trip to MGM and Epcot (walking paths to both if you are up for it and the little ones are in a stroller).

I think that renting points is a good idea, but it might be hard that time of the year and I would save that for your trips when your baby will be over 3yo and you won't be able to fit in most of the deluxe resorts. Right now the baby doesn't count in the room numbers, but before long you'll be in my situation and you'll be more restricted in locations or you'll need to get 2 rooms.

Happy planning!

T&B

 

[ducklite]

They would need to rent enough points for a 2BR, can't all fit in a 1BR or studio. Even with renting points, that gets expensive.

I'd still suggest either two connecting rooms at a moderate or value, or JR. Suite at WL or FW cabin.

Six in one room is just too darn tight IMHO.

Anne

 

[ElizabethB]

I think there are deluxe concierge rooms at the Boardwalk Inn that can accommodate 6. Two queens and a sofa bed. While I agree with Anne that 6 is tight, your children are still pretty young. Plus, you might actually find that 6 people with access to daily continental breakfast, kids snacks and foods, and evening appetizers and desserts might be surprisingly cost effective even though the initial price might give you a bit of sticker shock.

The Boardwalk Inn is a lovely deluxe resort with wonderful access to Epcot and MGM and good bus service to MK. The Luna Park pool is great for kids and the Boardwalk at night is fun for kids and adults.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We stayed concierge at AKL and one of our Poly trips. It was wonderful having the food and drinks and was nice to have the lounge to hang out in.

We had little issues all sharing a room when the kids were that age (1, 7, 10, and 13). We had to make sure that some of the family showered in the evening so that we weren't all trying to get showered in the morning, but that was the only logistical thing we had to work through. Now that my kids are almost 5, 11, 14, and almost 16 we wouldn't do so well with one bathroom. My oldest, a girl, needs her own bathroom, afterall.

T&B