Large Family Planning

53 posts / 0 new

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 14:40

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

Large Family Planning

Who here has had the dilemma of going with a large family and trying to decide where to stay? I don't mean extended family because of course, they (should) pay their own way and stay in their own room.

We are a family of 5, which is the maximum number of people (over the age of 2) who can stay in one room at the Polynesian. (fire code is 6 a room but the rom sleeps 5 and one crib/pack n play) My MIL is going with us this year and that makes 6 people but Wyatt is only 2 so it's like he doesn't count

This means, CJ and I sleep in one Queen size bed, Fawn (ML) and Olivia (6 years old) sleep in the other Queen size bed, Dante (3 years old) gets the daybed and Wyatt will be in a pack n play.

Now last year my mom and grandma were along but they had their own room - we were able to get connecting rooms, so Olivia stayed with them and Fawn had a bed to herself. That worked out fine because we had a lot of people but future visits will probably consist of just the 6 of us, which of course we'd like to be in the same room but by next year Wyatt will not be able to sleep in a pack n play and therefore the Polynesian is out, unless we pay for 2 rooms which well,

I know we have the option of Villas - but yea I'm Poly spoiled and I feel like because of $ (not being able to afford 2 rooms) 'll never be able to stay there again!

CJ mentioned staying in a rental house - much cheaper, much bigger - and not on Disney property so I say hell no, not worth it!

What do you do if you have not too many people buy too many for one room?
Am I making sense???

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 14:45

cdub

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 3220

I'd be very down on staying off site.

I totally hear you though that you feel like your one extra person is consigning you to never stay at the poly again. I think a villa might be a better option than you think though. Maybe you mix it up and one year stay at a villa and the next get 2 at the poly.

I would say try to sneak in the extra person (there's no way they'd know, except they wouldn't have a room key), but you're already pretty tight on sleeping arrangements.

I think my solution would be to mix it up, one year try a new resort that's a bit cheaper, one year try a villa and one year splurge and do poly. Probably 1 out of 3 years someone might have a conflict and not come anyway.

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 14:49

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

cdub wrote:

I'd be very down on staying off site.

I totally hear you though that you feel like your one extra person is consigning you to never stay at the poly again. I think a villa might be a better option than you think though. Maybe you mix it up and one year stay at a villa and the next get 2 at the poly.

I would say try to sneak in the extra person (there's no way they'd know, except they wouldn't have a room key), but you're already pretty tight on sleeping arrangements.

I think my solution would be to mix it up, one year try a new resort that's a bit cheaper, one year try a villa and one year splurge and do poly. Probably 1 out of 3 years someone might have a conflict and not come anyway.

It's amazing how 2 rooms at the Poly is more than one villa somewhere! At least the last time I checked

I thought about being sneaky, but you're right, no room key now means no admission to parks (we get the dinning plan and hopper passes) s we'd be out of luck thee because by next year, all my kids will have to pay admissions and for food

I thought about 2 rooms at a value resort but just the thought of staying at one of them makes me depressed - no offense to those who love the value resorts - I'm really not a snob, well, only when it comes to Disney

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 15:03

bali

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 3444

Lots of people face that dilemma. I think when it comes to being spoiled by the Poly, your best bet really is a DVC Villa. You get the same luxury of a deluxe resort, but with the more affordable comfort of a villa. Plus, you can make meals there--a great cost savings.

I know you love the Poly, but maybe you try out Bay Lake Towers next year (still on the monorail), or Animal Kingdom Villas (like your hubby was considering). There's also Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas, which are fun as they're right next to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. They're all truly wonderful resorts with their own charm.

__________________

May 2008 CSR

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 15:07

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

bali wrote:

Lots of people face that dilemma. I think when it comes to being spoiled by the Poly, your best bet really is a DVC Villa. You get the same luxury of a deluxe resort, but with the more affordable comfort of a villa. Plus, you can make meals there--a great cost savings.

I know you love the Poly, but maybe you try out Bay Lake Towers next year (still on the monorail), or Animal Kingdom Villas (like your hubby was considering). There's also Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas, which are fun as they're right next to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. They're all truly wonderful resorts with their own charm.

Yes, you're right, there ARE so man beautiful resorts. As my kids get older we won't 'need' the monorail as much and traveling by boat/bus won't be so bad. Bay Lake Towers is new, right?

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 19:22

bali

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 3444

See next post

__________________

May 2008 CSR

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 19:26

bali

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 3444

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

Yes, you're right, there ARE so man beautiful resorts. As my kids get older we won't 'need' the monorail as much and traveling by boat/bus won't be so bad. Bay Lake Towers is new, right?

Yep. Bay Lake Towers is opening in August--it's the DVC Building at the Contemporary Resort, so you'll be able to WALK to the Magic Kingdom

You can see some pics of the model rooms and the outside of BLT in Admin's Trip Report: Scroll down for pictures.

Here's the artist rendering:

__________________

May 2008 CSR

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 22:06

dsoup

Offline

Joined: 07/11/2008

Posts: 2884

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

I thought about being sneaky, but you're right, no room key now means no admission to parks (we get the dinning plan and hopper passes) s we'd be out of luck thee because by next year, all my kids will have to pay admissions and for food

I'm not endorsing any "sneakiness," but I'm pretty sure your passes don't HAVE to be on your room key. Not sure about the dining plan. Of course you still have a serious potential to wind up locked out.

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 22:12

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

dsoup wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

I thought about being sneaky, but you're right, no room key now means no admission to parks (we get the dinning plan and hopper passes) s we'd be out of luck thee because by next year, all my kids will have to pay admissions and for food

I'm not endorsing any "sneakiness," but I'm pretty sure your passes don't HAVE to be on your room key. Not sure about the dining plan. Of course you still have a serious potential to wind up locked out.

LOL
Last year I remember our room key was like a credit card - we had to show it to get in the parks and we had to use it for meals. The meals is easy because the total for the room is loaded on a card, so anyone in the same room can show a card for meals.

I wouldn't cram all of us in anyway. It's not in my nature to be sneaky and there are room stipulations for a reason, like fire hazards - I don't want that karma!

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 22:16

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

bali wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

Yes, you're right, there ARE so man beautiful resorts. As my kids get older we won't 'need' the monorail as much and traveling by boat/bus won't be so bad. Bay Lake Towers is new, right?

Yep. Bay Lake Towers is opening in August--it's the DVC Building at the Contemporary Resort, so you'll be able to WALK to the Magic Kingdom

You can see some pics of the model rooms and the outside of BLT in Admin's Trip Report: Scroll down for pictures.

Here's the artist rendering:

Awesome!!! I found this link too: http://www.contemporaryresort.net/bltphoto.html

So tell me, you don't have to be a DVC member to stay at a DVC villa such as this, do you?

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 22:16

dsoup

Offline

Joined: 07/11/2008

Posts: 2884

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

dsoup wrote:
UnbalancedLibra wrote:

I thought about being sneaky, but you're right, no room key now means no admission to parks (we get the dinning plan and hopper passes) s we'd be out of luck thee because by next year, all my kids will have to pay admissions and for food

I'm not endorsing any "sneakiness," but I'm pretty sure your passes don't HAVE to be on your room key. Not sure about the dining plan. Of course you still have a serious potential to wind up locked out.

LOL
Last year I remember our room key was like a credit card - we had to show it to get in the parks and we had to use it for meals. The meals is easy because the total for the room is loaded on a card, so anyone in the same room can show a card for meals.

I wouldn't cram all of us in anyway. It's not in my nature to be sneaky and there are room stipulations for a reason, like fire hazards - I don't want that karma!

I agree with all of that, PLUS you hit on a good point I overlooked:

Extra Magic Hours. Someone would get left behind.

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 22:18

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

dsoup wrote:

I agree with all of that, PLUS you hit on a good point I overlooked:

Extra Magic Hours. Someone would get left behind.

You know, last year we didn't get to take advantage of EMH!

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 22:27

admin

Offline

Joined: 08/14/2010

Posts: 2733

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

So tell me, you don't have to be a DVC member to stay at a DVC villa such as this, do you?

No ma'am. You don't have to be a DVC member. But I have been told that there's some sort of priority system (e.g. they only release a certain number of rooms to be used by non-DVC owners). Can anyone clarify?!?

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 22:33

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

admin wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

So tell me, you don't have to be a DVC member to stay at a DVC villa such as this, do you?

No ma'am. You don't have to be a DVC member. But I have been told that there's some sort of priority system (e.g. they only release a certain number of rooms to be used by non-DVC owners). Can anyone clarify?!?

I WISH I could afford to be a DVC member!

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 04:27

bali

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 3444

Just read that Bay Lake Towers is actually available for booking for non-DVC members (after it opens in August, of course). You can go punch it into the Disney reservations system online and see what the cost would be for next year

__________________

May 2008 CSR

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 14:02

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

bali wrote:

Just read that Bay Lake Towers is actually available for booking for non-DVC members (after it opens in August, of course). You can go punch it into the Disney reservations system online and see what the cost would be for next year

It won't let me look for 2010

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 15:04

Annie

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 1610

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

bali wrote:
Just read that Bay Lake Towers is actually available for booking for non-DVC members (after it opens in August, of course). You can go punch it into the Disney reservations system online and see what the cost would be for next year

It won't let me look for 2010

Maybe you could look at the cost for later this year (finding a comparable season) to get a good idea of what it might be for next year.

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 17:34

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

Annie wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:
bali wrote:
Just read that Bay Lake Towers is actually available for booking for non-DVC members (after it opens in August, of course). You can go punch it into the Disney reservations system online and see what the cost would be for next year

It won't let me look for 2010

Maybe you could look at the cost for later this year (finding a comparable season) to get a good idea of what it might be for next year.

You know...sometimes my brain just shuts off

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 17:38

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 18:05

Brad

Offline

Joined: 08/05/2008

Posts: 4357

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

That's for a 2 bedroom villa for one week?

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 18:08

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

Brad wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:
Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

That's for a 2 bedroom villa for one week?

The GF is club level...no villas there

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 19:47

cdub

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 3220

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

Brad wrote:
UnbalancedLibra wrote:
Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

That's for a 2 bedroom villa for one week?

The GF is club level...no villas there

That could be nice...if you have 12 grand to spare...

Getting 6 people a super-nice vacation for 8k doesn't seem terribly out of line to me. I mean the prices are high, but WDW prices always are. That's a pretty decent savings over two rooms isn't it?

Thu, 04/09/2009 - 19:57

admin

Offline

Joined: 08/14/2010

Posts: 2733

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

Is AKL a DVC villa or two regular rooms at the Lodge?

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 18:16

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

admin wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:
Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

Is AKL a DVC villa or two regular rooms at the Lodge?

I don't recall now...I'll have to redo it

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 18:52

Brad

Offline

Joined: 08/05/2008

Posts: 4357

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

admin wrote:
UnbalancedLibra wrote:
Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

Is AKL a DVC villa or two regular rooms at the Lodge?

I don't recall now...I'll have to redo it

You know, that happens to me all the time. I have it all sorted out in my head and then I lose it. People suggest writing stuff down, but I don't know which part I'm going to forget, so I wouldn't know what to write down!

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 19:54

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

Brad wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:
admin wrote:
UnbalancedLibra wrote:
Here's what I got (using the middle of September)
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $8,238.87

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $7,372.83
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and SpaTotal: $11,349.60
Disney's Animal Kingdom LodgeTotal: $7,798.50

Is AKL a DVC villa or two regular rooms at the Lodge?

I don't recall now...I'll have to redo it

You know, that happens to me all the time. I have it all sorted out in my head and then I lose it. People suggest writing stuff down, but I don't know which part I'm going to forget, so I wouldn't know what to write down!

LOL

Okay, I picked 6 nights, 7 days for Deluxe Villas in September:

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and SpaTotal: $5,669.97

Disney's Old Key West ResortTotal: $5,669.97

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Total: $6,986.13

Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary ResortTotal: $7,053.63
Disney's Beach Club VillasTotal: $6,884.88

Now, if I do it this way:

2 adults, 2 children in one room and 1 adult and one child in another room:

Disney's Polynesian ResortTotal: $4,634.92 + $3,971.21 = $5,006.13

Looks like getting 2 rooms is cheapest.
Now this is with meal and hopper passes and water parks - I wanted to get an idea of the most expensive way ten we could trim the fat.

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 20:01

Brad

Offline

Joined: 08/05/2008

Posts: 4357

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

Disney's Polynesian ResortTotal: $4,634.92 + $3,971.21 = $5,006.13

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 22:04

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

Brad wrote:

UnbalancedLibra wrote:

Disney's Polynesian ResortTotal: $4,634.92 + $3,971.21 = $5,006.13

Oh, I was checking on 2 rooms because 6 people is to many for one room, so I was wondering what it would cost if we split ourselves into 2 rooms. 2 adults and 2 kids in one room is $4,634.92 and one adult and one child in the other room is $3,971.21

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 22:08

SpaceAce

Offline

Joined: 07/06/2008

Posts: 2532

So 2 rooms at Poly is the cheapest?!? That's crazy. Does that mean all of these options are outside of your budget (you mentioned that 2 poly rooms would top out your budget)?

__________________

[url=http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/'http://www.mickeypath.com/']

[/url]

2010 Beach Club Resort
2005 Port Orleans Riverside
2006 Animal Kingdom Lodge
2007 Wilderness Lodge
2008 Animal Kingdom Lodge
2009 CBR/Polynesian

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 22:12

UnbalancedLibra

Offline

Joined: 01/26/2009

Posts: 748

SpaceAce wrote:

So 2 rooms at Poly is the cheapest?!? That's crazy. Does that mean all of these options are outside of your budget (you mentioned that 2 poly rooms would top out your budget)?

These are the prices I am getting off the Disney website...they include dining, hopper passes and water ark passes, so of course that would all be tweaked. I just can't believe that it would cost over $6,0000 for a family of 6 to go to Disney for a week if a deluxe resort is wanted. I am not sure what the price would be for 2 rooms at a moderate resort, I'll have to play around with that.

I wouldn't want to stay at a value resort - although that would obliviously be cheapest, part of the reason I love Disney is because of the themed resorts.

__________________

All about the planning >> Family Disney Vacations

Updates while we're there and trip reports >> Disney Vacation Trip Reports

Sat, 04/11/2009 - 01:06

bali

Offline

Joined: 06/20/2008

Posts: 3444

That's just shocking! $6K for 6 people? (Then again, we're only two people and it often costs us $2K plus, with airfare and rental car.)

Creative budgeting to the rescue! Maybe you get the counter service dining plan (if it's cheaper) and no water park passes...? I think I'd rather cut out some of the extras than head to a moderate, just because it sounds like your family really enjoys the deluxe amenities.

__________________

May 2008 CSR

Primary links

Secondary links

Large Family Planning