Which of these 2 options would you choose for trip w/extended family?

[pixie921]

We have a trip booked for the end of November this year. Our group will be dh, myself, and our 17yo ds, plus dh's mother (has been to WDW 2x, with us both times), his 44yo brother (has been with us 1x), and his 36yo sister and her partner (neither have ever been).

They're relying on us to choose the accommodations (we will be driving down from 3 separate states and will have a total of 3 vehicles, if that makes a difference). On our previous trip with dh's mom and brother, we stayed in a 2bdrm at VWL. They loved it. We are currently booked in a dedicated 2bdrm at BLT (our home resort).

On the off-chance, though, that a 2bdrm concierge villa was available at AKV at the 7-month mark, which way would you go? Or is it a moot point because there's simply no chance of one being available in that time frame?

Any opinions are welcome!

 

[johnsonmatt3]

With 7 people i would recomend the family suite at disneys all star music. Those hold 8 people and have a kitchenette. It is very big.

 

[pixie921]

With 7 people i would recomend the family suite at disneys all star music. Those hold 8 people and have a kitchenette. It is very big.

Thanks for trying to help, but we're using DVC accommodations. And a 2bdrm DVC villa is MUCH bigger and more well-appointed than a suite at the All Stars.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would stick with BLT. You have a dedicated two bedroom that has 3 baths. The Concierge 2 bedroom would have only 2, and would only have 2 real beds, whereas in the dedicated 2 bedroom you have 3 real beds.

I don't think your chances of getting concierge for November are very good. That's the beginning of the Christmas season, with decorations and activites and that time of the year is popular with DVC members.

Bobbi

 

[DenLo]

I'd recommend a THV at SSR but I think you might have trouble parking three cars near the treehouse. Also, I'm not sure you could get one at the 7 month mark. Besides since you don't have young children, I don't know who would be able to sleep in the bunk beds or want too. OKW has the largest 2 BR villas.

Here's the square footage for each resort's two bedroom villa:

AKV Kidani - 1173
Jambo - 1075 (945 Value 2 BR)
BCV - 1083
BLT - 1152
BWV - 1073
OKW - 1395
SSR - 1075
VWL - 1080

Parking would be a cinch at BLT. I think a dedicated villa is a good idea as you will need as many beds as possible. Although there is a sleeper chair in the living room, I don't think it really works for tall people. Is your 17 yo DS really tall? You already know everything available in the area near BLT since you stayed at VWL previously. You could always take an inflatable twin air mattress in case someone objects to sharing a bed.

However, I would consider moving to a cheaper point resort and get a second studio or 1 BR villa in addition to the two bedroom. I wouldn't bother getting the concierge AKV villa. More space would be more important to the group than a few privileges. Although the 3rd bathroom available at BLT (and AKV) would come in handy with your large group.

Would the family enjoy AKV more than BLT? Is it important for them to be on the monorail? Which park would they enjoy the most? These are questions I would ask before I settle on one resort or another.

Good Luck.

 

[DenLo]

With 7 people i would recomend the family suite at disneys all star music. Those hold 8 people and have a kitchenette. It is very big.

I'm not sure those rooms hold 8. Per Mousesavers.com they hold 6 persons.

These 520 square foot suites sleep up to 6 (plus one child under 3 in a crib). They include all new furniture, two full baths and a kitchenette with microwave, 4.3 cubic feet cube refrigerator, sink, coffee pot and limited cabinet space.

And as you can see the square footage is much smaller than a 2 BR villa. See my post above for the 2 BR villa sq. ft.

But as the OP has stated they prefer to stay at a DVC villa.

 

[pixie921]

I would stick with BLT. You have a dedicated two bedroom that has 3 baths. The Concierge 2 bedroom would have only 2, and would only have 2 real beds, whereas in the dedicated 2 bedroom you have 3 real beds.

I don't think your chances of getting concierge for November are very good. That's the beginning of the Christmas season, with decorations and activites and that time of the year is popular with DVC members.

Bobbi

Fewer "real" beds would possibly be an issue. And the time of year was my concern as well.

I'd recommend a THV at SSR but I think you might have trouble parking three cars near the treehouse. Also, I'm not sure you could get one at the 7 month mark. Besides since you don't have young children, I don't know who would be able to sleep in the bunk beds or want too. OKW has the largest 2 BR villas.

Here's the square footage for each resort's two bedroom villa:

AKV Kidani - 1173
Jambo - 1075 (945 Value 2 BR)
BCV - 1083
BLT - 1152
BWV - 1073
OKW - 1395
SSR - 1075
VWL - 1080

Parking would be a cinch at BLT. I think a dedicated villa is a good idea as you will need as many beds as possible. Although there is a sleeper chair in the living room, I don't think it really works for tall people. Is your 17 yo DS really tall? You already know everything available in the area near BLT since you stayed at VWL previously. You could always take an inflatable twin air mattress in case someone objects to sharing a bed.

However, I would consider moving to a cheaper point resort and get a second studio or 1 BR villa in addition to the two bedroom. I wouldn't bother getting the concierge AKV villa. More space would be more important to the group than a few privileges. Although the 3rd bathroom available at BLT (and AKV) would come in handy with your large group.

Would the family enjoy AKV more than BLT? Is it important for them to be on the monorail? Which park would they enjoy the most? These are questions I would ask before I settle on one resort or another.

Good Luck.

Wow! Lots of good food for thought! We did consider the THV, but yup, those bunkbeds wouldn't work for our group. They're all used to camping/vacationing together in small, tight spaces for extended periods of time (my dh and I are the only 2 in the group who don't kayak and camp), so room sharing is definitely a non-issue. They've already told us they're fine with that. The plan is for dh and I to have the master, ds and bil to share the living room and then mil to share the second bedroom with sil and her partner.

I think they'd love the theming at AKV a LOT, but there's a lot to be said for the convenience of BLT with the monorail. And parking is definitely something to take into consideration, too. I was also considering a 2bdrm at BCV because I know all the adults would love having Epcot and the BW so easily accessible. But then again, we'd be losing a bathroom.

Maybe I'll play around with the points a little more and see what other configurations I can come up with. Thanks for giving me more to think about!

 

[AirGoofy]

ok, here's an odd question, but how much do you like the newbies and in-laws? If you stay at AKV, your modes of transportation are more limited as well as places in walking distance. If you stay at BLT, you have the monorail, boat from CR, and escape to many more places.

 

[pixie921]

ok, here's an odd question, but how much do you like the newbies and in-laws? If you stay at AKV, your modes of transportation are more limited as well as places in walking distance. If you stay at BLT, you have the monorail, boat from CR, and escape to many more places.

LOL!! That is something very important to consider! We'll all have our own vehicles, so that shouldn't be an issue. But the idea that DenLo had about possibly doing a 2bd plus a studio ... now THAT appeals to all of us! We could do an AKV studio and a 2bd (standard view) for one point more than our lake view BLT 2bd. Now I just have to cross my fingers that they're both available at the 7 mo. window.

 

[AKV707]

If you are interested in AKV, I would go for a 2 br at Kidani. They are very spacious, with three baths just like BLT. Different theme and animals galore.

 

[AirGoofy]

Now I just have to cross my fingers that they're both available at the 7 mo. window.

We were able to get a SV studio at AKV for June at the 7 month window.

 

[fijidoc]

how long are you going to be there? What about a split stay?

We just got back from AKV kidani in a two bedroom. Very large. 3 full bathrooms. We loved it.

Is less convenient for Magic Kingdom and getting to parks.

With 3 vehicles parking should be no problem it is right under resort.

 

[pixie921]

how long are you going to be there? What about a split stay?

We just got back from AKV kidani in a two bedroom. Very large. 3 full bathrooms. We loved it.

Is less convenient for Magic Kingdom and getting to parks.

With 3 vehicles parking should be no problem it is right under resort.

We'll be there for 6 nights. We thought about a split stay, but with 4 "households" involved, decided it would be too much hassle. I want to keep things as simple as possible for the in-laws, especially the ones that will be Disney newbies.

We're definitely going to try for 2 villas at AKV when our 7-month window opens.

 

[spiceycat]

think I would stick with BLT - it has the MK right outside the door.

okw is very nice - but it is away from the parks - which might be a good thing

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are needing more "REAL" beds, I'd go for a 2 bedroom at OKW. There is a lot more room there also. On the other hand...if you are already booked at BLT, I'd probably stay there if for no other reason than the extra bathroom.

With OKW, whomever sleeps in the living room will have to use the master bathroom. As long as you are in buildings 30 and above, that wont be a problem because there will be a door into the toilet/shower/vanity portion of the bathroom through the laundry room, and the door to the sink/closet/tub area of the bathroom can be closed off for privacy. That makes it ALMOST like a 3rd bathroom. Given that and all the extra space at OKW, I'd still prefer that over the cramped quarters and fewer real beds at BLT.

 

[disneylovin24]

Stay with BLT!!! It is in the best location and has the nicest views

 

[dianeschlicht]

Stay with BLT!!! It is in the best location and has the nicest views

LOL, that's debateable! For my money, I am not the least bit interested in those views or that location. It's an individual preference type thing, but not everyone thinks the Magic Kingdom is the best park. In fact, we could easily do a week long trip and never hit the MK for anything more than Wishes.

 

[spiceycat]

Given that and all the extra space at OKW, I'd still prefer that over the cramped quarters and fewer real beds at BLT.

think she said dedicated 2-bedrooms BLT has the same real beds that OKW does

3 - 1 king and 2 queens

 

[DenLo]

We're definitely going to try for 2 villas at AKV when our 7-month window opens.

Glad you liked my idea. I have to admit I kept scratchin' my head trying to figure out where your 17 yo DS was going to sleep in a 2 BR configuration. It just seemed like every bed was taken. Maybe he would fit on the pull out chair or one of the women would. I guess you could bring an air mattress along for him and find some niche and put it there. That is if you are unable to get the rooms you want at AKV.

Here's some pixiedust to help you get your two villas at AKV.

 

[pixie921]

Glad you liked my idea. I have to admit I kept scratchin' my head trying to figure out where your 17 yo DS was going to sleep in a 2 BR configuration. It just seemed like every bed was taken. Maybe he would fit on the pull out chair or one of the women would. I guess you could bring an air mattress along for him and find some niche and put it there. That is if you are unable to get the rooms you want at AKV.

Here's some pixiedust to help you get your two villas at AKV.

In the 2bd scenario, my mil was going to share the 2nd bedroom with her daughter & daughter's partner, and then ds would have the sleeper chair in the living room if he and his uncle didn't want to double up on the sleeper sofa (which they have done in the past just fine). For myself, that's a little too much togetherness (which is why dh and I don't go on their wilderness adventures, LOL), but none of them mind.

But your idea of the two villas is MUCH better!! Thanks for the pixie dust! Here's hoping it works!