Room options for 6 person family? AKL preferred

[GaryDis]

I’m looking at booking a February trip for my nephew’s family as well as the two of us. My nephew has two girls under 10 and a step son who’s 20 along with his girlfriend. I’m assuming my husband and I will be in a separate room.

I was looking at AKL Villas at the Disney website, and there are no 2 bedrooms villas available. But when I look at the DVC Rental Store, there are. Is this something because the 2BR villas are all allocated for DVC members, even if not yet booked? Does that mean there’s a chance of them being released? I don’t mind booking a separate room for their adult son, but it looks like it’s more expensive to get two rooms for them than to get a 2BR villa. I’ve used DVC Rental Store before, 10 years ago, and was happy with the results, but I’m a little reluctant to do that now with the complexity of me doing and paying for the booking, my nephew and his wife being the main adults for the room, and, of course, having to go through the rental agency and the actual point owner to make any changes. I’m also open to any of the other deluxe resorts. I’d rather pay the extra cost for Disney booking,

I’m also open to other suggestions.

 

[Hubalorian]

Do you want/need the kitchen? If not, why not book studios?

 

[eticketplease]

I’m looking at booking a February trip for my nephew’s family as well as the two of us. My nephew has two girls under 10 and a step son who’s 20 along with his girlfriend. I’m assuming my husband and I will be in a separate room.

I was looking at AKL Villas at the Disney website, and there are no 2 bedrooms villas available. But when I look at the DVC Rental Store, there are. Is this something because the 2BR villas are all allocated for DVC members, even if not yet booked? Does that mean there’s a chance of them being released? I don’t mind booking a separate room for their adult son, but it looks like it’s more expensive to get two rooms for them than to get a 2BR villa. I’ve used DVC Rental Store before, 10 years ago, and was happy with the results, but I’m a little reluctant to do that now with the complexity of me doing and paying for the booking, my nephew and his wife being the main adults for the room, and, of course, having to go through the rental agency and the actual point owner to make any changes. I’m also open to any of the other deluxe resorts. I’d rather pay the extra cost for Disney booking,

I’m also open to other suggestions.

There are some nights that rooms are available via DVC. Disney has the ability to rent a minimum of 2% of the DVC rooms but can rent more closer to the dates or if members swap their points for other options.

We cannot tell you what is available for certain dates on here unfortunately as it constantly changes.

Have you looked at the cabins? Your nephew, wife and two girls can sleep in the bedroom and the stepson and girlfriend can sleep in the living room

 

[Dave006]

I’m also open to any of the other deluxe resorts. I’d rather pay the extra cost for Disney booking,

There are Deluxe resort rooms at BWI, YC, BC, CR, and WL that sleep (6) Adults. And as @eticketplease mentioned the DVC Ft Wilderness Cabins that sleep 6.

Dave

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

It would work for all 8 of you in the same "room" if you had a 2br or 2br lock-off at AKL. Just know that staying there you will be using Disney buses between the resort and the parks.

 

[cruising spud]

I was in the same situation as you when I booked a family trip for eight people earlier this year. I looked at suites but finally decided that three individual rooms would be the best fit for us. Reserving suites looked complicated and pricey, and I worried that everyone would want some down time with their "own family group" in the evening. This worked well for us.

 

[Minniemoo15]

Art of Animation Suites are another option to sleep 6.

As for DVC, availability depends on when you are trying to book it. The rental sites will show you the price as if it is available, but only once you put in the formal request does it get checked. For this February, it is almost certainly sold out (or at least sporadic) on the DVC side as well.

 

[gottalovepluto]

With the age of the girls going Value might be the better play if you aren’t after deluxe hours. The larger than life theming at the values can really hit with young kids. One room for you, two rooms for them*. Call Disney to book the rooms for them together. Also make a note with Disney aside from a request for adjoining rooms for them that you are all traveling together (in case something happens and Disney needs to move you, super rare but this gives Disney a heads up that you would all want to be relocated together). This is especially good in your scenario because with the boy in his 20s it’s not the end of the world if they don’t get adjoining suites the way it is with those under 18.

*obviously suites are an option but if you go AoA be aware the non-suite Little Mermaid rooms are a hefty hike from- well everything, except your car if you have one.

 

[GaryDis]

It would work for all 8 of you in the same "room" if you had a 2br or 2br lock-off at AKL. Just know that staying there you will be using Disney buses between the resort and the parks.

What’s the difference between a 2BR Villa and a 2BR lock-off? Is the lock-off still a villa?

Also, I’m not sure what your point is about using Disney buses. Granted, the last time I was there was about 8 years ago, but we always used the Disney buses for getting around on site. That’s with the exception of staying at the Boardwalk and sometimes walking to Epcot or Studios. I’ve thought about staying at the Yacht or Beach clubs, but with a Feb. stay, the pool is less of a draw.

 

[Dave006]

What’s the difference between a 2BR Villa and a 2BR lock-off? Is the lock-off still a villa?

A 2BR Villa is a single dedicated unit. A 2BR lock-off is a 1 BR Villa unit with a connecting Studio. They have slightly different configurations and bedding choices.

Dave

 

[GaryDis]

A 2BR Villa is a single dedicated unit. A 2BR lock-off is a 1 BR Villa unit with a connecting Studio. They have slightly different configurations and bedding choices.

Dave

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I edited my previous reply to add a second question, but apparently not quickly enough. The question was about your point concerning using the buses. I’ve always considered that the norm. Is it just that it’s not walkable to AK from the lodge, the way it is to MK from the Contemporary or Epcot from the nearby resorts?

 

[GaryDis]

With the age of the girls going Value might be the better play if you aren’t after deluxe hours. The larger than life theming at the values can really hit with young kids. One room for you, two rooms for them*. Call Disney to book the rooms for them together. Also make a note with Disney aside from a request for adjoining rooms for them that you are all traveling together (in case something happens and Disney needs to move you, super rare but this gives Disney a heads up that you would all want to be relocated together). This is especially good in your scenario because with the boy in his 20s it’s not the end of the world if they don’t get adjoining suites the way it is with those under 18.

*obviously suites are an option but if you go AoA be aware the non-suite Little Mermaid rooms are a hefty hike from- well everything, except your car if you have one.

Thanks for your suggestion, and I appreciate you taking the time to write it.

We went with my husband’s sister’s family about 20 or 30 years ago, staying at All Star Music. We didn’t really like it, mostly because of the dining. The food court was a zoo for breakfast and wasn’t what we wanted for dinner. I don’t know whether AoA is better, as we’ve never even stopped there. Since then, we’ve always stuck to the moderate or deluxe resorts. I realize that people have different tastes, priorities, and budgets. Especially since we’re looking at a February trip, when the parks won’t be open late, we want to make sure the hotel has some a good table service restaurant.

 

[Dave006]

Is it just that it’s not walkable to AK from the lodge, the way it is to MK from the Contemporary or Epcot from the nearby resorts?

Correct there is no walkway between AKL: Jambo House / Kidani and AK Park. They are not close to each other as other resorts are at the MK or Epcot.

Dave

 

[GaryDis]

Do you want/need the kitchen? If not, why not book studios?

I’m still waiting to hear back from my nephew and his wife. She and one of their daughters have celiac, so I don’t know if they have breakfast preferences. But I think you’re right. Indeed, I’m not even sure they’d need a studio as opposed to one room for those four and a separate room for the son and girlfriend.

 

[GaryDis]

I was in the same situation as you when I booked a family trip for eight people earlier this year. I looked at suites but finally decided that three individual rooms would be the best fit for us. Reserving suites looked complicated and pricey, and I worried that everyone would want some down time with their "own family group" in the evening. This worked well for us.

I’m thinking you’re right. One thing that occurred to me is that I don’t want the nephew and his girlfriend being able to charge things to the room. I don’t know how that would work if they’re all in one suite. For that matter, I don’t know how to arrange things so that my I can pay for the room, but my nephew and his wife can charge to the room and have it go onto their credit cards.

 

[Dave006]

For that matter, I don’t know how to arrange things so that my I can pay for the room, but my nephew and his wife can charge to the room and have it go onto their credit cards.

You just pay for the room before they check-in, and then they will need to add a Debit / Credit card for charging back to the room if they want to use MBs to charge purchases. But it is not required they can always just use their own Debit / Credit or Gift cards.

Dave

 

[Anthony1971]

8 at AKL will work in a 2br. There are a few considerations. Jambo house is nicer IMO also has better food options. Kidani 2br will have a third bathroom and a very nice mater bath. There is a walkway between Kidani and Jambo although not particularly convenient. There is a shuttle and some park bus options. A lock off is a studio and 1BR at both and therefore will have a pulldown or sofa bed. A dedicated will have 2 queen beds in the studio. Beyond the lichen living room will have a queen pull down or sofa bed, the master BR will have a king bed. As far as transportation it is bus only which is fine. The furthest park is MK which is about 12 minutes once it leaves the resort. AK is about 2 minutes. The rest is average under 10. You can add different credit cards to different magic bands or room cards. Both rooms will have a full kitchen and washer dryer.
Kidani I would only consider if you will make breakfast and want the third bathroom which will Come in handy with 8. I personally have done 8 in both although they were shorter stays before or after a cruise but had no issue for space.
AKL overall is easy to spend a day or two at without leaving the resort and never feel bored. If it is all parks some say it is less convenient then other resorts although I never felt that way but will agree if there is one park you visit multiple times it is nice to be close to that park.