Splitting the Family On/Off Site

[maxiesmom]

With three kids, my brother has great needs and wants but limited finances. The Value Resorts won't work, as the rooms are just too small. Even if we send one of the kids to sleepover with Grandma, these kids (and their Mom) just need a certain amount of space to keep from killing each other. The family could survive in Moderate, but they would feel cramped. Not to mention the cost would strain their finances.

Depending on the month you are going it may be worth it to get an AP to get the room discounts. Are you a member of AAA? You can save a little if you are a member. Or if they can afford the value resorts, maybe pay for the upgrade and make it a Christmas/Birthday/Whatever gift? Just trying to give you more options than splitting up.

 

[Sammie]

In order to have 5 resort IDs you would need either a deluxe, a Fort Wilderness Cabin or a DVC villa.

However that still means 4 people in your group are not going to be able to go to Early Entry, or Extra Magic Hours or swim at the Disney pool. The resort ID have names on them so you will have to make sure you list who is going.

Good luck from the description you gave of your brother and SIL I am not sure this is going to be easy to pull off.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...
With three kids, my brother has great needs and wants but limited finances. The Value Resorts won't work, as the rooms are just too small. ... They can fit a nice suite hotel or condo into their budget, but lose out on the advantages of staying onsite. ...So they want what everyone does - onsite amenities at offsite prices. ...

Lots of people want the benefits of staying onsite, but the price of staying off the property. Your brother has choices and he will have to make them. But, technically, he can't have both, even with you getting the deluxe. Swimming at the hotel pools is still only for the resort guests, not the guests of the guests. EMH is still only for resort guests, not offsite guests who have family staying on the property. Parking at the resorts is for the resort guests, not the guests of the guests.

If it takes a bit longer for him to save the money to stay at a Moderate resort (POR), that may be his best option. Or reduce the number of days for his family's stay. That's another way to save money.

 

[tjmw2727]

The biggest problem with this is going to be room key/id's for EMH and then using them to gain access to your room. If you get a package then your park tickets will also be on your room key - which means no FP or access to another park if a relative takes your key to use the room.

I understand your reasoning but having traveled with family in the past I will now let them pick the resort they are happy with while we pick ours. We don't do every day all day at parks together any more instead we usually meet for dinner or a prarade or show.

TJ

 

[Disneyenthusiast]

I would go with 3 affordable rooms at one of the value resorts for this trip. It will give everyone their own space and give you proximity if you want it. Everyone will have the advantages of Disney special options like extended passes and guaranteed admission as well as proximity if they need a rest. They will also not need to be concerned about how to get from off-site locations to the parks or to meet with you. I would not want anyone to feel like second-class citizens if this is to be an exxtended family trip. No hurt feelings or awkwardness with the potential pitfalls of trying to sneak someone in to a pool where they don't belong. You might consider something like Pop Century. They have an indoor bar for adult time. You could reserve 1 room in each of three separate buildings. You may not be the only ones that would enjoy some quiet, private time.

 

[gigi1313]

any chance mom/bro could share the cost of a cabin at ft wilderness? that would be a good solution for everyone... having a kitchen could also help them save $ on food...

 

[Cmbar]

When are you going? DVC rental is Cheapest and MUCH lower staying Sun-Thursday nights. If you are considering hopping resorts I would just book a POP for a Friday and Saturday night and do a DVC studio for each family Sun-Thurday. You might have to book a one bedroom for the family of five. It says only four, but DVC allows five in that room but they will not provide an extra bed/bedding. Although you may be able to put five on the Studio as well. We stayed at BWV and got a studio with a Bench/daybed that allowed our four year old to sleep on it fine. IT worked like a charm. We just called down to get bed rails and extra blankets which they brought up right away. I love Renting DVC!! You can't beat the convience for the price. Kitchen saved us a lot of money on food as well.

Of course if you are going in peak season, that option would probably be out.

You couldn't pay me to stay offsite ever! It never works out to be cheaper even if you do have a kitchen and a bit large accomodations. Between parking and having to rent a car, and just the pure hassle of it , it is not worth it. Just my two cents. That being said. I have a sister that can't get that thought in her head. She wants cheap and she wants me to stay on site so her little one can nap in the middle of the day. Sorry I am not as nice as you are

 

[Deb & Bill]

When are you going? DVC rental is Cheapest and MUCH lower staying Sun-Thursday nights. If you are considering hopping resorts I would just book a POP for a Friday and Saturday night and do a DVC studio for each family Sun-Thurday. You might have to book a one bedroom for the family of five. It says only four, but DVC allows five in that room but they will not provide an extra bed/bedding. Although you may be able to put five on the Studio as well. ...

You can only have four in a studio. The BWV studio plus is not guaranteed and the "daybed" is more like an upholstered luggage rack. Smaller than a crib. You'd either need a one bedroom for the family of five or farm one of the kids out to Gramma and Grandpa. A one bedroom will only have bedding and linens for four, so you'd have to either bring your own or farm one kid out for the trip.

If you go with the FW Cabin, you'd still be limited to six in the cabin and you'd have seven with Brother and his family plus mom and dad. Unless you wanted to do four in a cabin and five in a cabin.