so how many would be too many????

[Dee77]

Just want to run this idea by the great folks here on the DVC board.


My in-laws who joined us on our recent trip to OKW heard from my BIL and his wife that they are now interested in going on the trip next year. My MIL instantly looked into the grand villas at SSR (they have their own membership and this is their favorite resort) and started working the dates, points etc. She was super convinced that a SSR GV will be perfect for all of us, just want to know what everyone else thinks since none of us have experience with staying in a GV. The family that would be going consists of MIL, FIL, one SIL and her three children, 12, 10 and 9, the BIL and his wife and their two children 4 and 2 and us, DH, myself and our DD who will be 6.


She has prefaced this as an all expense paid trip for 8 nights next November, as it is set up with the GV, she and SIL with the 3 kids would cover the GV with their own points but if we stay elsewhere we would have to use our own points but she would still want us to stay at SSR, which the points are not a problem at all for us and is what I am leaning towards anyway but I would prefer to stay at OKW.

Can't wait to see what everyone thinks. Thanks!

 

[jupers]

I would chalk it up to doing it for your family and stay at SSR. The kids will be together, and it'll probably make your inlaws super happy to have everyone in the same place. Save your points and plan the trip you want for another time.

 

[Muhlenberg]

That sounds nice to all be together! (We like taking our adult children. ) I would figure out the sleeping arrangements, though, with all those adults. Yes, you're within occupancy, but you have 4 families and 3 bedrooms plus the sofabed. Would the SIL sleep on the sofabed? You should figure all that out ahead of time, unless your MIL has it all figured out.

Most importantly, have fun!

 

[dbs1228]

Agree with PP, for me I would want to know sleeping arrangements. If you take a room with 2 queen beds and BIL family takes the other (MIL obviously gets master) then that leaves SIL and 3 kids on pull out which accommodates 2 so I have a feeling SIL or kids will need to be in a room with another family. You are a complete occupancy with the 2 year old in a pack and play. I would certainly stay at SSR but I may consider getting my own room requesting they be close - thats just me I don't like anyone sleeping in the living area for more then 1 or 2 nights that is why I bought into DVC in the 1st place.

As others have said most important have fun, enjoy your family!

 

[crisi]

I like my family, but I'd rather have multiple rooms. Too much togetherness is wearing.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Sleeping arrangements are important to me, so, I would get our own place in SSR. Some of the cousins may even like taking a turn having a sleepover at your place.

Your group is way too large for me to stay altogether, even in a GV!

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

While a GV is doable with that many people, it isn't the ideal, and especially at SSR, where I feel the GVs are a bit on the small side. They have more room than the BLT GVs, but still feel small to me.

I would think if everyone wanted to stay together in a GV, your best options are OKW or AKV/Jambo Those two both have extra space and an extra bed.

 

[cvjw]

No way I would put 4 families into 3 bedrooms for 8 days. That is just too many people for that GV in my opinion. I would get a separate villa for my family, and just get the villas close together. You all will be much happier with a separate sleeping space for each family, and somewhere to go to have some quiet family time.

We travel every year with the same amount of people - MIL, FIL, and 3 separate siblings with families. We stayed one year in one big house (6 or 7 bedrooms, huge house), and it was way too small after a couple of days. Now, when we vacation as a family, we each get our own rooms, or condos. It makes the vacation much more relaxing if everyone has some space of their own, and some down time from the rest of the family.

 

[Dee77]

OP here- thanks for the responses. I had a feeling that most people would agree that this is way too many families in even a grand villa so I have already come to the conclusion that IF (and that is a big if) we go that we will 100% get our own 1 bedroom at what ever resort is available at @ 5 months out which is approximately when we would be able to commit to going. And while it sounds like a nice idea, there will be no sleepovers for any of the cousins to our room or for DD to go to the GV.

Did I mention that one of the SIL's and I don't speak and MIL and FIL have made it abundantly clear that 2 of her kids are their favorites and it is really all about them and BIL's kids. Yeah you did just read that. As I mentioned above, my in laws decided to join us on our 8 night trip last month and I can't even explain what it was like, they went their way, we went our way, we only had a couple of meals together and only @ 5 hours of park time together. As far as SIL's 3 kids it's all a big secret because they don't want her kids to know that they went to WDW with my DD without them. When they would call to speak with them we all had to be quiet in the background, try explaining that to a 5 year old in Disney. My husband's parents never get one on one time with my DD since they live with SIL and her kids (and about 10 minutes away from BIL) so I was thinking that they would embrace the idea of being there with her and make as much of a fuss over having that bonding time well nope that was not the case at all. So I am looking at this trip next year with a very realistic perspective.

Whew I guess I needed to get all of that off my chest, feels good to get that out there.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Well, you answered your own question then! Under THOSE circumstances, you DEFINITELY need your own room!!! And NOT in that GV!!! Maybe not even during the same week. Unless you're trying to "keep the peace (for lack of a better word )."

 

[bobbiwoz]

Well, you answered your own question then! Under THOSE circumstances, you DEFINITELY need your own room!!! And NOT in that GV!!! Maybe not even during the same week. Unless you're trying to "keep the peace (for lack of a better word )."

I think do, too! Enjoy your separate accommodations!

 

[LindaBabe]

Dee, can I just say {{{{Dee}}}}! Been there, done that. Own room, own time, own trip with your OWN family who love you.

 

[iloveokw]

If I were in your shoes I would (with a nice smile on my face) tell your inlaws that since you already "enjoyed" a trip together and it is time for the rest of the family to "enjoy" a trip together.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Go with an OKW one bedroom villa. Distance makes family so much nicer sometimes.

 

[2binak]

We went with family a few years ago. There were 6 adults and 1 child. 2 adults had their own room and the rest of us shared a 2 bedroom. It worked well for us, but there were times when we wished we had split the 2 bedroom into a separate 1 bedroom & studio rather than connected. There's no way I would put all of your family in one villa OP, especially after reading your update.

 

[mousefan1972]

Go with an OKW one bedroom villa. Distance makes family so much nicer sometimes.

I agree. In fact, under the circumstances you just described, I think I would probably check availability at Aulani for that week....

 

[murcor]

I agree. In fact, under the circumstances you just described, I think I would probably check availability at Aulani for that week....

 

[emlutz23]

I say a separate trip when and where you want! . Even if at different resorts, I wouldn't want that kind of stress lingering over my head.

 

[get_us_to_WDW]

I was going to write and say that my extended family of 12 (my parents, by bro and sil and their 3 boys and DH, me and my 3 kids) shared a SSR GV for 2 nights and it worked out fine. Our kids love being together, we're all very comfortable with a lot of togetherness, and it was only 2 nights.

But after seeing your second post!!!! No way does this sound like a good idea for you!!

All I can say is if you decide to go: Good Luck!!!

 

[sajetto]

I like my family, but I'd rather have multiple rooms. Too much togetherness is wearing.

Same here. We did a GV at OKW last year for all of our family. Won't be doing it again unless it is just for me, husband, and kids.