Two bedroom villa or multiple rooms for large family?

[bcbickers]

Hello Everyone!

I have been planning a trip to WDW for August 2019 and was about to pull the trigger last month when my father-in-law unexpectedly passed away. Fast forward a month, and we have now decided to have our first Christmas without him at WDW. There will be seven of us on the trip: me and momma, three teenagers (16,14,12), and both of our mothers/kiddo's grandmothers. All other short-term booking issues aside, I have a small dilemma: book a two bedroom villa at Old Key West or book a family suite and a regular room at Art of Animation. The villa is about $2,000 more, but we are all together in one "room" so to speak. Being a travel snob (have been traveling for work for the last 20 years), I prefer the setting/ambiance of OKW to a Lion King or Cars theme and like the idea of keeping us all together. BUT...Art of Animation is cheaper, has dedicated bus service, and a quick-service food court instead of just a snack bar. Decisions, decisions...

Have any of you traveled to WDW with your extended family and run into this same problem? What did you do, or what would you recommend? Thanks!

 

[Doug M]

Have you considered off site? Lots of home rentals, condos, and other options that would have ample amenities for a family of that size for a fraction of the cost.

 

[mamaofsix]

We travel with extended family and book a luxury Villa offsite ( usually at Windsor Hills). Larger, better quality, and MUCH less expensive than a villa on Disney Property. Rental vehicles are cheap in Florida, and Windsor Hills is closer to many of the Disney parks than a lot of the Disney resort hotels themselves...

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Hi @bcbickers, to the DIS!

FYI, I have moved your thread to the Disney Resorts board.

Happy planning!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

OKW has dedicated bus service. There are multiple stops, but buses are not shared.

 

[coast2coastmickey]

1 room for you and wife
1 room for a grandma
1 room for other grandma
1 room for teenagers
So 4 bedrooms, and ideally 4 bathrooms. I'd say go offsite.

Easily you can find a house, off site, for $100/day, and rent a minivan for $40/day, which will come out to a fraction of what it would cost to stay onsite in cramped accommodations. A family suite plus another room will probably end up around $400/day at least...

You can do a ton of extras including a Christmas party for everyone with the saved money...

Edited: misread dates, OP going in December not August

 

[KittyKitty]

I vote OKW,maybe. Thinking about where everyone will sleep. Grandmothers will want their own room/bathroom/bed? Kids will probably want to stay up later/get up later/bathroom? You will sleep on sofa bed in living room/share bathroom? How bad is a 3 bedroom?

Or rent points for OKW. You might want to get a price from companies who rent DVC (OKW)locations? I went to the company I use, picked 7 days, last week in Aug. This was their prices at OKW.

Studio $1584. 1 bed $3184. 2 bed $4304. Grand villa( I think 3 bed) $6848


There is a forum for DVC. You might want to check that out.
https://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-vacation-club-forums.200/

The only reason I don't suggest offsite is because family members may want to stay/go home at different times, which makes transportation difficult. Staying onsite, they can always take the bus.

 

[dansdad]

After multiple trips with large groups I will always recommend multiple rooms over 1 large Villa. Everyone having their own space has been a real trip saver.

 

[danielocha30]

don’t forget to budget parking, at the resort, AoA parking fee (if applicable) will be less than ao OKW. If you decide to stay offsite parking at the parks is around $25 daily

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We travel with large family groups all the time and love the shared suite. We enjoy being together - even when we travel with friends. I would pick OKW over Art of Animation. The only issue I would have would be if people have to sleep in the living room - especially if those people like to sleep in.

 

[dansdad]

We travel with large family groups all the time and love the shared suite. We enjoy being together - even when we travel with friends. I would pick OKW over Art of Animation. The only issue I have would be if people have to sleep in the living room - especially if those people like to sleep in.

In our experience, this was almost a trip ruiner. And not just those sleeping in the living room, though that was the worst, but different sleeping habits.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

1 room for you and wife
1 room for a grandma
1 room for other grandma
1 room for teenagers
So 4 bedrooms, and ideally 4 bathrooms. I'd say go offsite.

Easily you can find a house, off site, for $100/day, and rent a minivan for $40/day, which will come out to a fraction of what it would cost to stay onsite in cramped accommodations. A family suite plus another room will probably end up around $400/day at least...

You can do a ton of extras including a Halloween party for everyone if it's late enough in August with the saved money...

This all the way.

I would do four separate rooms at any resort level or a villa/house offsite.

After our last two trips with my teenager/preteen i will never share a room with them again (then add in MIL and Mom! Nope) Maybe a night here or there but never for an extended vacation.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can do a ton of extras including a Halloween party for everyone if it's late enough in August with the saved money...

OP no longer going next August. Trip has been changed to Christmas 2018.

How bad is a 3 bedroom?

Really, really difficult to get.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

In our experience, this was almost a trip ruiner. And not just those sleeping in the living room, though that was the worst, but different sleeping habits.

We just spent a week in a 3 bedroom suite at the BWI with friends and we all had a blast. We were a party of 11 and if someone wanted to go to bed they did - although no one had to sleep on the couch.

 

[chainkid]

I always get a grand villa and then add rooms to that depending on how many people are coming. Never had any issues with too much togetherness either but then our family gets along well and we each do our own things during the day and try and plan a few dinners that the whole group votes on. Having the large space is great for cocktails and snacks and a great gathering place for impromptu breakfast gatherings before hitting the parks. I would never book two bedroom in place of a grand villa unless I fail to get one. OKW has very large villas and an added bathroom. We don't plan on using middle area for sleeping but usually the teens make friends or last minute ask to bring friends and they get sleeping bags . Never an issue with me

 

[TwinkleKS]

If you are going to be there literally for Christmas this year, I personally would not suggest staying offsite - unless it is a money issue. It will be so much more convenient to be onsite during the busiest time of the year. As far as the one room versus multiples ... it depends on how close you are when it comes to sharing space. Also, remember that with the two room option, rooms close to each other are not a guarantee ... so think if that would be an issue for your family.

 

[dansdad]

We just spent a week in a 3 bedroom suite at the BWI with friends and we all had a blast. We were a party of 11 and if someone wanted to go to bed they did - although no one had to sleep on the couch.

That's great. Unfortunately not everyone is as rational as you and your party.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Have you priced out three value rooms? That would give everyone their own space. The AoA suite plus the regular room will put the two groups really far from each other in separate buildings.

 

[Doug M]

I vote OKW,maybe. Thinking about where everyone will sleep. Grandmothers will want their own room/bathroom/bed? Kids will probably want to stay up later/get up later/bathroom? You will sleep on sofa bed in living room/share bathroom? How bad is a 3 bedroom?

Or rent points for OKW. You might want to get a price from companies who rent DVC (OKW)locations? I went to the company I use, picked 7 days, last week in Aug. This was their prices at OKW.

Studio $1584. 1 bed $3184. 2 bed $4304. Grand villa( I think 3 bed) $6848


There is a forum for DVC. You might want to check that out.
https://www.disboards.com/forums/disney-vacation-club-forums.200/

The only reason I don't suggest offsite is because family members may want to stay/go home at different times, which makes transportation difficult. Staying onsite, they can always take the bus.

While yes the different departure and arrival times is a big bonus to on site, you could uber or taxi each group separately each way each day for far more space and bathrooms and for significantly less cost by staying offsite.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I will add that we vacation with a group of friends about once a year and we usually get a big house rental (not Disney trips). We get along great and kids are included. Never an issue.

I just refuse to share a small hotel room with my kids for anything more than one night. They can be sloppy and i need my space in the evenings. That’s why i recommended 4 separate hotel rooms or a villa or house offsite since the only other options were 2 bedroom villa or AoA suite and an extra room.

If your other option would’ve been a 3 bedroom villa plus an extra room i would’ve picked that.