staying at Disney 10+ people

[rspencer38]

Just wondering if I could get some advice about staying at Disney with a group of 11. Traveling next Christmas with 8 adults and 3 kids but unsure of whether we should stay on Disney or rent a property near by. Any advice?

 

[vicki_c]

Just wondering if I could get some advice about staying at Disney with a group of 11. Traveling next Christmas with 8 adults and 3 kids but unsure of whether we should stay on Disney or rent a property near by. Any advice?

Off site would be cheaper and you could get more space in a condo.

Onsite or will need multiple rooms or a DVC grand villa, which would be hard to come by during the holidays.

 

[kimnvbva]

You might want to look into the value hotels if you want to stay on property. You can reserve a block of rooms together. There's a place on their website for larger groups. It might be easier for transportation reasons to get 10 people around rather than staying off property and dealing with parking! Then you can do the dining plan too! Hope this helps!!

 

[Texashokies]

Having separate rooms might not be a bad thing. Sometimes it is good to be able to get away from people.

 

[rspencer38]

Don't mind the separate rooms, but from what I can tell 4 separate rooms will generally cost more than say two rooms with two bedrooms.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

With my family, not only would I want separate rooms, I would also want to be at separate resorts! Too many different interests, even pace of walking would get annoying. However, we could meet for lunch or dinner and then go back to our own humble abode. Yes, it would be more expensive, but with my family, it would be a much more enjoyable trip. Same goes for traveling with friends -- nothing like not being in each others' face 24/7 -- otherwise it isn't a vacation - -it's a prison sentence. God, I sound like a horrible human being -- just one man's opinion.

Tom

 

[Pakey]

I've done it several ways.

We have done separate rooms, we have done 2 2 bedroom villas and we have done a grand villa.

None of these options are going to be as inexpensive as staying offsite.

The cheapeast onsite option is going to be 4 rooms. You can request the rooms be linked so that they attempt to put them close to one another. My experience (we've done the multiple room option several times) is that Disney's idea of close and my idea of close are not the same.

After several hits and misses, we prefer the separate rooms. Everyone has their privacy at the end of the day which is not a bad thing. Trust me, one spat between a couple can ruin an entire group's vacation.

So we do separate rooms and we have a preset meeting time and location every morning. Everybody who wants to be part of the group for the day knows to be at Spot X at Xam. We book one meal a day as a group, usually a dinner and everyone has that schedule. So if we don't see each other during the day, we at least hook up for dinner. This is also after many trial/error vacations where sticking together as a large group didn't work so well.

If you rent nearby, I would also recommend separate rental cars so that every family unit can come/go to the parks at their own pace.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Don't mind the separate rooms, but from what I can tell 4 separate rooms will generally cost more than say two rooms with two bedrooms.

Not onsite. Maybe offsite. The only problem with offsite during Christmas is that as the parks fill and close offsite guests without APs are the first blocked from entering.

A two bedroom villa will cost more than two value rooms. Especially that time of the year.

Are you looking at Christmas 2012 or Christmas 2013?

 

[rspencer38]

2013

 

[MMS1125]

Are the 8 adults 4 couples? If so I'd go with 4 value rooms. If the adults don't mind sharing rooms then you could get away with 3 value rooms. You could also do 2 value suites at AoA or ASMu. 3 value rooms will be your cheapest option

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I'm working on this same thing right now for Easter 2013...be aware that most offsite villas require a minimum 7 night stay during holiday periods. If you aren't planning on staying a full week you might have to do a little more searching for offsite options.

 

[ErinsAuntMimi]

With my family, not only would I want separate rooms, I would also want to be at separate resorts! Too many different interests, even pace of walking would get annoying. However, we could meet for lunch or dinner and then go back to our own humble abode. Yes, it would be more expensive, but with my family, it would be a much more enjoyable trip. Same goes for traveling with friends -- nothing like not being in each others' face 24/7 -- otherwise it isn't a vacation - -it's a prison sentence. God, I sound like a horrible human being -- just one man's opinion.

Tom

Oh, MY! My sentiments exactly!

 

[rspencer38]

Ya 4 couples. One couple has 1 dd and another couple has 2 ds

 

[rspencer38]

Would we save a lot by staying off site at a place like winsor hill resort? I think staying onsite is a main goal but if its far cheaper off site for a 5/6 bedroom rental then we would definitely have to consider it.

 

[dansdad]

Just ran some quick numbers.

4 standard rooms at Pop December 21-28 = $6000 total


Most expensive 5 bedroom house in Windsor Hills for same dates = $3853.

 

[Deb & Bill]

But again, you have to be at the park when it opens for the day or you will be shut out if you are planning on being there Christmas week.

 

[rspencer38]

So if we stay on resort we will be guaranteed to get in?

 

[kimnvbva]

Will you be driving or flying? Remember transportation issues, bring shut out if you're not a resort guest. Another alternative that one of the pp stated was let the couples make their own resort reservations and maybe you can make some dining ressies? They can still have there own space and still meet up for dinners and breakfasts.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So if we stay on resort we will be guaranteed to get in?

You will be guaranteed a park, but maybe not the one you want. There are stages to closing. I don't think every park has been in final closing stage at the same time.