Family trips: fewer big rooms, or more small rooms?
My family is considering doing something crazy, something I swear I never want to do until we do it: plan an extended family trip with a way-too-large group of people. In this case, we are considering 14 (adults and kids combined) across 4-5 distinct family groups, depending on how you look at it.
Now there are a LOT of questions that go with big group trips to Disney World.
Do you try to do everything as the group?
How do you plan dinners/meals with 14 people?
What is the physical variance in the group to handle back to back days of parks?
How do you manage kids ranging in ages from 1-12, along with parents and grandparents?
My god, who can afford this?
Do you split hotels or hotel rooms in order to ensure there is “sanity time” between days for each group to settle and unwind?
For this blog, I wanted to focus on that last question. I think it makes sense for our group to stay in the same hotel in order to share off-days at the pool or post-park-closing dinners. But what about rooms? Is it better get a couple of 2-bedroom units, a handful of deluxe studios, or maybe splurge for a 3-bedroom grand villa? (Obviously I am talking in DVC terms here.)
There are lots of great resorts to stay at on WDW property, and I don’t want to debate that here, but we were thinking for our best balance of points usage, quality amenities, and interesting things to do on down days (pool, animals) that Animal Kingdom Lodge was our location. But considering we have 4 distinct “core family” groups and a single (uncles, right?), how do you figure out your room balance?
Image from DVC Info
First question: how much do you love your co-travelers? LOL Seriously?!? For me, even when attending the parks with my best friends, being able to go back to my own location, my own space, at the end of the night allows me time to wind down and relax. That would obviously point us in the direction of getting 4x deluxe studio rooms at AKV.
But there is a lot lost if you don’t go with the larger spaces. Two things that jump out at me are the loss of the “common space” and the access to a full kitchen for breakfast/meals. The common space that includes the bigger TV, the couches, seating areas, etc. are great for hanging out and talking before the day starts or when the day ends but before everyone falls asleep. With the parks closing early these days, that might actually be fairly important to you.
Image from DVC Info
The lack of a kitchen is an obvious loss for a large group that might want to save money and just have the convenience of having to get into one less restaurant with 14 people. Making breakfast for 14 people in the small kitchens in DVC rooms isn’t without its own headaches, but you can save hundreds of dollars with this move easily - ever seen a bill from Chef Mickey’s?!?
My perfect balance? Getting a split of studios and a 2-bedroom unit, but putting MY family in one of the studios. That gives me the benefit of going to the larger space for “hang out time” and breakfast, but the oasis of my own bed and bathroom if need be. (Sorry, I’m selfish!)
We are hitting the edge of the 7-month booking window for this trip, so our decision has to be made in the next week or so. For me, the best balance of points cost and family navigation, is actually a mix of both of these options!
