Too expensive to stay on site

[PrincessAnnabell]

We are a big family. It will cost 850 and up per night to stay at AK. We have 2 adults, 15, 10, 10, 5, 2, 1. Should we just stay offsite? I am afraid that we wouldn't be able to get connecting rooms at a value resort.

 

[cel_disney]

We are a big family. It will cost 850 and up per night to stay at AK. We have 2 adults, 15, 10, 10, 5, 2, 1. Should we just stay offsite? I am afraid that we wouldn't be able to get connecting rooms at a value resort.

When are you planning to go and have you considered renting DVC points?

 

[dsnymomof4]

We are a family of 7 and have stayed at Pop many times and have NEVER had a problem getting connecting rooms. Pop is a great resort for kids and staying onsite really is a great part of the whole Disney experience. Good luck!

 

[DanieD0909]

We went to Pop in October...we had a room and then my mom had a room. I asked at check in for them to please just pre block them in the same section - didn't have to be in the same building or wing or anything. My mom checked in two days later - she was in the room connecting to ours!

 

[disneywalkers]

We are a family of 10 and go yearly and stay off site. The time of the year we go I pay around $100 a night for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, private pool house not far from Disney. We love it not only because we save money but the extra space and privacy is awesome. After all that time at the parks everyone has their own space. We are 4 adults (me, hubby, my parents) and our kids 15, 12, 8, 6, 4 and 2. Private pool is awesome too.
Oh and that money we save... Allows us to splurge on ressies without guilt and to me that's the best part since we are low cal at home

 

[missourimomof3]

We are a party of 7 headed down this fall, and I've looked into just about every resort possibility (on site and off site) that you could possibly imagine. Of all things, I discovered this great company in Orlando that rents campers and RV's. They will bring it to Ft Wilderness for you and set it up before check in, then pull it out after you check out. We're renting a 32-ft fifth wheel with 3 slide outs that sleeps 12 for $699 for 7 days. Plus the $64/night for the campsite. It was the most cost-effective compared to reserving multiple rooms at any of the WDW resorts, plus we're just a boat ride away from MK. I know camping isn't for everyone, but we're really looking forward to an affordable option for our large party that allows us all the benefits of staying on-site. Good luck!

 

[EagleScout]

Another factor- while Disney works hard yo meet connecting room requests, NEVER guaranteed. Personally I would not want that uncertainty

 

[4lowesonthego]

We are a party of 7 headed down this fall, and I've looked into just about every resort possibility (on site and off site) that you could possibly imagine. Of all things, I discovered this great company in Orlando that rents campers and RV's. They will bring it to Ft Wilderness for you and set it up before check in, then pull it out after you check out. We're renting a 32-ft fifth wheel with 3 slide outs that sleeps 12 for $699 for 7 days. Plus the $64/night for the campsite. It was the most cost-effective compared to reserving multiple rooms at any of the WDW resorts, plus we're just a boat ride away from MK. I know camping isn't for everyone, but we're really looking forward to an affordable option for our large party that allows us all the benefits of staying on-site. Good luck!

Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun! What company, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Gracie09]

You could look into renting DVc points and staying in a treehouse villa or grand villa. You don't qualify for any other discounts like free dining but you also get a full kitchen so it might off set that expense

 

[laughinplace199]

You could look into renting DVc points and staying in a treehouse villa or grand villa. You don't qualify for any other discounts like free dining but you also get a full kitchen so it might off set that expense

It looks like they are a family of 8, so they could fit in a 2 BR also, if the grand villa was too expensive.

 

[Schmeck]

We are a big family. It will cost 850 and up per night to stay at AK. We have 2 adults, 15, 10, 10, 5, 2, 1. Should we just stay offsite? I am afraid that we wouldn't be able to get connecting rooms at a value resort.

I'd stay at Pop Century. Onsite guests can book FP+ in advance, offsite guests cannot (as of now). You will also be able to take advantage of EMH onsite, will not have to rent a car to get to the parks, or pay for parking. With such a wide range of ages, there's a chance some of you will be ready to go back to the room while others want to stay in the parks. It's much easier to do this when you are staying onsite.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I love the camping idea but if that is not for you, I would book two rooms at POP. Chances are very good that your rooms will connect but even if they did not, it would not be so terrible for one adult and three kids to sleep in one, and the same in the other. The rooms at pop are small and really all you are going to do there is sleep and get ready. When one group is ready, they simply come over to your room. If there is down time before bedtime, hang at the pool or everyone can pile onto the beds of one room to watch TV and then head to their room. To us it is worth it to stay onsite. We like magicbands, FP+ being made ahead of time, EMH and not having to drive the entire week!!!

 

[themommy]

We are a party of 7 headed down this fall, and I've looked into just about every resort possibility (on site and off site) that you could possibly imagine. Of all things, I discovered this great company in Orlando that rents campers and RV's. They will bring it to Ft Wilderness for you and set it up before check in, then pull it out after you check out. We're renting a 32-ft fifth wheel with 3 slide outs that sleeps 12 for $699 for 7 days. Plus the $64/night for the campsite. It was the most cost-effective compared to reserving multiple rooms at any of the WDW resorts, plus we're just a boat ride away from MK. I know camping isn't for everyone, but we're really looking forward to an affordable option for our large party that allows us all the benefits of staying on-site. Good luck!

I did not know this was possible. It sounds awesome!

 

[mjkacmom]

I suggest finding the cheapest way to stay onsite, because I expect you will want to split up at some point, and being able to use WDW transportation will make things a lot easier. We rented DVC points, which wasn't the cheapest way, but we loved having all of the room, bathrooms, washer and dryer.

 

[missourimomof3]

Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun! What company, if you don't mind my asking?

There are 2 that I found - the one we we've with was Florida Camper Rentals. I can't remember what the other company name was.

 

[momdad4kids]

We rented a 5bdr home off site last March, it had very good reviews. Supposedly a 5 star home with pool and it was ok, not great, pool wasn't large and the rental agency looking after it were rude, the safe was broken , we found a note to this affect AFTER locking it, the agency treated this as an annoyance on their part never mind some of our party had locked their passports in it. House wasn't clean and the driving to the parks everyday was an annoyance.
If I had to do it again Id book POP and stay on site, we've never had an issue with getting connecting rooms there and our kids love it plus your on site and those few little perks are nice when on vacation

 

[powellrj]

go over to the orlando board and check out the we love bonnet creek thread, lots of good ideas over there.

 

[SweetMissy]

Then don't stay at AKL! As you know, it's super expensive. We're staying there in May and only because we've discovered renting DVC points. Never had a desire to stay there due to the price. We've stayed at either Movies or Pop Century and both are fun resorts, and more importantly much cheaper! If AKL is a much do for you and your family, than I would look into renting the points. Good luck!

Also, I've looked into staying off site and IMO for us it's not worth it because onsite you have bus service, restaurants at the resort, don't have to worry about parking, you have to rent a car if flying, can't get the dining plan, etc. Bottom line, IMO there's many more advantages to staying onsite.

 

[dragonfly57005]

We stay on site because of the younger kids we have. We fly and don't want the hassle of hauling carseats which we would need if we drove from off site location.

 

[star72232]

With that many people I can't imagine staying on site. I guess I'm in the minority, but I hate staying in one room with my kids (there are 4 of them). No one sleeps well, the youngest needs naps, which means everyone else needs to be silent, everyone has to go to bed early. That isn't a vacation for me. I'd rather be in a 5 bedroom house for the price of one moderate room at Disney, where we can spread out, I can cook a decent breakfast and we can have snacks and some meals at the house.

I'm guessing with that many people you have at least 2 vehicles. That means that some of you can go early and leave midday if you want, some can go later or stay later - you aren't all locked into the same schedule. Yes, you pay for parking, but even 2 connected rooms (which aren't a guarantee) are going to be crowded. And even 2 rooms at a value are going to be more expensive than an off-site house, even paying for parking for 2 cars.