Two families - what type of accomodation?

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi - I am thinking of asking our best friends on our next trip and was wondering what type of accomodation would be best for us?

We both have two children (they have a girl of 8 & a boy of 5) and we have two boys (8 & 5). So there will be 8 of us in total.

Obviously a 2 bed would give us more room & facilities - but I am concerned whether we will have enough privacy? (We would probably have seperate vacations - ie visit different places on different days, and just plan a few meals or days together)

If it makes any difference - we would have a week at BLT, followed by a week at AKV.

Have any of you vacationed with friends and how did it go?

Many thanks for any advice!

 

[kimberbell]

In 2007 my parents and my self went down with a family of 6. The two parents and 4 kids (ages 5, 7, 10 and 11) we got a two bedroom at Wilderness lodge. We had plenty of privacy because there are two full bathrooms and 3 televisions. My parents slept in the main bedroom which had a king sized bed i shared the pull out couch with two of the kids and the other 4 were in the second bedroom which has 2 full beds. as long as 2 kids wouldn't mind sleeping on a pull out sofa i would say go for the 2 bedroom. another choice would be to get two studio rooms that are connected but then you would loose the kitchen. Hope that helped!

 

[twinklebug]

5 years back my friend and I went together with our kids (of equal age and our sons were even best friends). I reserved 3 nights at OKW and 4 at BWV for each of us. We both had studios, but were located about a 5 minute walk from each other in both resorts.

Cutting to the end: Although we're still very good friends to this day, I am SO glad we didn't have connecting rooms.

Were I you, I'd offer them the same sort of accommodations you plan on reserving for yourself, put in a request to be near each other, but if you're not, consider it a blessing Have fun planning & Good Luck!

 

[ToddyLu]

Not the same experience, but we booked two studio last year one for DH and me and one for MIL...worked so well we are doing it again, this Dec. We tootled around together for the most part...but she really found that she liked a day or two to herself. We were there 10 days total.

I would do a 1 Br for you guys and a studio or 1 Br for them if you can. I think the separation would be good. And I dearly love my MIL, but she needed her privacy, too.

If it were one week I could go with a 2 Br, but 2 weeks....neh!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

thanks everyone - I think I am going to show them the studios and then if they are happy with those, then that will give us both privacy and save me a few points - win,win!!

Thanks for you help!

 

[TagsMissy]

Hi - I am thinking of asking our best friends on our next trip and was wondering what type of accomodation would be best for us?

We both have two children (they have a girl of 8 & a boy of 5) and we have two boys (8 & 5). So there will be 8 of us in total.

Obviously a 2 bed would give us more room & facilities - but I am concerned whether we will have enough privacy? (We would probably have seperate vacations - ie visit different places on different days, and just plan a few meals or days together)

If it makes any difference - we would have a week at BLT, followed by a week at AKV.

Have any of you vacationed with friends and how did it go?

Many thanks for any advice!

Get a non-dedicated 2BR if you want more privacy. This way your friends can have their own door to a studio and have a small kitchenette. We last traveled as a group of 7; hubby and I then my brother's family of 5 we got a Dedicated as for us being family it worked just find for us. If hubby and I ever wanted quiet time we just went to our room and closed the door but that was extremely rare for us to do. Are your friends ok with having 1 sofabed?

As an option you can do a OKW 2BR non dedicated and your friends get 2 Queen beds in stead of a sofa bed option?

As our group of 7 we stayed at SSR, AKV Kidani and BLT and there was more than enough room for us.

 

[Chellymouse]

We took our friends last summer, which was quite a new experience for DH and I as we don't have kids and we've never had anyone with us. It was mom, dad and their DS 8, we did a 2BR and it worked out fine for all of us. Next summer we are getting a THV for DH and I, MIL, SIL and her DH and their 2 kids (7&5).
We all managed in a 2BR fine last summer. Furthermore, we had friends over for a night (they spent the night then went home) and it worked out.

 

[nickspace]

2 Studios

 

[allshookup]

We took friends & their DS & DD & we also have a DS & DD, although the DD's are quite far apart in age. We stayed at SSR in a 2BR & believe me when I tell you that DH really LOVES his privacy, but even he didn't have a problem with our friends in the other bedroom. We took the MBR & put our kids on air mattresses, so that the living room was always free. It worked out fine, because we still felt like we had our separate bathrooms & bedrooms to go to at night & watch TV, but we shared groceries & it was nice to gather for breakfast & the occassional lunch. Whoever was up first would put coffee on & we all gradually got up & the adults would sit around the living room & relax over a cup of coffee while discussing our plans for the day. Sometimes we stayed together & sometimes we all needed space & we went off & did our own thing, but all in all, it was a great vacation & I'd do it again!

 

[Halle]

Another two studios vote, DF's may want their privacy but may not want to tell you since you are being so generous.

 

[Dean]

The 2 BR is not that much more than 2 studios and gives you more space, W/D, kitchen, etc. As noted, if it's a lockoff you can use it like separate rooms in many ways. If you do the DDP you'll have to have everyone on the plan. The other issue is who gets the Master and who the "studio" portion. Usually not hard to work out but it can be, esp if you don't set parameters ahead of time.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

thanks everyone for their advice!!

I think I am going to speak to my friends and position it that we are offering them two weeks in a studio and I guess it will depend on whether they are happy to share a bedroom with their children, as to whether they take us up on the offer or not.

Then we as a family can just decide whether we want a 1 bed (in which case we'll book a lock off) or if we are also happy in a studio.

Many thanks you have been really helpful!

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you do a 2 bedroom lock off, you can have the best of both worlds. That way each of you gets a bedroom and someone's children get the living room. You can both still use the common area, but you could set up your own terms for it, and everyone can lock themselves off should they choose to.

We have traveled many times with groups of friends, and never had an issue sharing a 2 bedroom. The most we've ever had in a 2 bedroom though is 7, and even in the large space at OKW, that was a bit more than I would want. Ours were all adults though, so maybe it would be easier with 4 kids.

 

[jodifla]

NO WAY would I do two studios!!!

A two bedroom basically IS a one bedroom with a studio attached. If they are your best friends, it should be no problem to have them take the studio portion, while you enjoy the 1 bedroom.

WHy cram yourselves into a studio?

This way, you can connect late in the evenings....Kids can be in one room playing watching TV, you folks can be hanging out.

We do this ALL the time. It's always a blast.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

thanks Diane and Jodi - I am beginning to think that a lock off 2 bed will be ideal!!

 

[rhonimouse]

I am going back to AKV kidani at Thanksgiving with a party of 10 (2 separate families of 4 and another couple) we are all family and close friends so I am planning to have the 8 share a 2 bedroom 3 bath condo and a studio nearby for the couple. I love having the washer and dryer in unit, along with a kitchen and 3!!! bathrooms....that is the reason I would choose the 2 bedroom over 2 separate studios.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

Have any of you vacationed with friends and how did it go?

Many thanks for any advice!

So far we've only been home (GCV at DLR) twice, but both times it's been with other families...and it's worked out WONDERFULLY for us both times!

We are a family of 5, and the other families have been families of 4, so the 2-bedroom "lockoff" option has been our godsend.

With the lockoffs, you get two entrances to the villa (one at the "studio" section, and one at the "living room/kitchen" section). During the day, the studio section is reserved for the other family, and the bedroom is reserved for our family, and the kitchen/family room is the "common" area. (Of course we can invite each other to each area, but we try to keep them "private" as a sanctuary from the hubbub of the common area!)

At night, we lock off the door separating the common area from the studio, so that our kids (sleeping in the pull-out and murphy bed) get a little privacy to sleep.

Come morning, we unlock the door, and we all have breakfast together.

It's worked out so wonderfully, as we all have an area to have fun together, AND have a private area for solitude.

thanks everyone - I think I am going to show them the studios and then if they are happy with those, then that will give us both privacy and save me a few points - win,win!!
Thanks for you help!

That IS an option, but for us, we really really REALLY liked having the kitchen in the 2BR lockoff!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Just to update you all - I have spoken to my Best Friend and she was so excited about the idea and didn't know what to say!

I have told her that we would have two choices (and have basically explained the differences between a lock off 2 bed and us having 2 x studios) and she seemed pleased with either suggestion - we will talk some more once she has had chance to tell her DH - but hopefully we will be off to WDW together!!

Thanks again for all of your help!

 

[jodifla]

Just to update you all - I have spoken to my Best Friend and she was so excited about the idea and didn't know what to say!

I have told her that we would have two choices (and have basically explained the differences between a lock off 2 bed and us having 2 x studios) and she seemed pleased with either suggestion - we will talk some more once she has had chance to tell her DH - but hopefully we will be off to WDW together!!

Thanks again for all of your help!

great! As I said, we travel with folks all the time, and always have a blast, BUT: I am careful to access all the expectations ahead of time.

And normally, we just let the other guests do their own thing, and we are together in the morning, most evenings and for some pool time.

 

[jodifla]

oh I just realized you are traveling from the UK!

Definitely get the larger space for the kitchen and laundry room and the living room and dining room.