...We are kind of wanting to stay on disney property and are questioning the pros and cons, I think taking 16 people for a day in the park when you are staying off property would be a logistics nightmare considering we have 6 kids with us. We have 5 couples that would like a room to themselves and kids could use pullout couches and hammocks but we only need 1 kitchen space because we are wanting to eat breakfast together. So needing 5 rooms and space to sleep 16 seems hard on disney property being on a budget. Can you guys make any more suggestions besides 2 villas that would keep us all rather close together??? ...
Hi mlukan!
I feel your pain, I've been arranging a family trip for 9 adults for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. So I've been through the numbers a few times myself.
1. The only places "on property" (including DTD hotels) with kitchens would be the DVC accommodations and the cabins at the Fort Wilderness campground. Of the DVC properties, OKW is the most affordable when renting points from an owner, and also offers the most space.
2. It is more cost effective to rent points from a DVC owner than to reserve through Disney. One two bedroom villa, and 3 studios at OKW for a 7 day stay would be at least $5000... at $10.50 a point during value season.
3. We are renting a house in Formosa Gardens that sleeps 16 it has 4000 sq feet. (4 king beds, 1 queen bed, 2 twin beds, 2 sets of bunks - full on bottom, twin on top). During low season including taxes and pool heat, it was $2800. This house is very close to WDW - 5 min drive to AK, and has very high end furnishings with its own pool and hot tub, and games room. In your case, if you divide that total by 5... for the 5 couples that each want their own room, it comes out to $80 per night per room with tax, or roughly equivalent to a hotel rate of $70 per night before tax - a very competitive rate for the area, especially when considering the quality of the house. I doubt that you could stay at Disney value resort for less.
4. During low season, you can get rental cars for $140 per week with all fees (sometimes as low as $120). It is actually about the same money - or even less- to rent two smaller cars as to rent one mini van. If you rented 4 cars and paid for WDW parking for 5 days, spent $30 in gas for each for the week, your transportation total would be $880.
So if you traveled during low season, your accommodations and transportation would run you about $3680. So yes, you can save money by staying offsite. You also get more spacious and luxurious accommodations, with everyone in the same house. You also have a private pool, so it is easier to keep an eye on the little ones, and the family isn't so divided when the kids want pool time.
We are looking very much forward to our off site stay, as we love the more luxurious bedding and furnishings, beautifully stocked kitchen, our own private well heated pool and hot tub. Because we are spending more time together as a family, and less time in the parks, we wanted a very special place in which to be together.
If the majority of your time will be spent touring the theme parks, an onsite stay would make park touring easier. But renting a pool villa will make spending time as a family easier. Good luck making a decision.
