Need some help planning a trip with friends

[JohnLocke]

Me and some friends are considering taking a trip to WDW in the next year. I've only been with my family, and we typically stay on property, but I realize that this may not be easiest to do because of tight budgets. I'm looking for any suggestions on off property trips and tips for ways to possibly stay on property for as cheap as possible. Also, how does parking work when staying off property? Would we have to pay each day or is there a long pass? Thanks for any help.

Also: additional info, it looks like there will be a total of 5 of us, with the possibility of adding 1 or 2 or subtracting 1.

 

[smw]

So that would be 2 rack rate value rooms for the same cost as renting a 2br AKL villa.

That's an extremely unfair comparison, though. 2 value rooms vs a deluxe 2 bedroom villa?

A fair comparison would be cash vs point rental at the same resort. For example, just last night I priced our next trip to Bay Lake Tower... It was roughly 2500 vs 1200 for 5 nights, cash vs point rental.

 

[dreamfinder]

That's an extremely unfair comparison, though. 2 value rooms vs a deluxe 2 bedroom villa?

A fair comparison would be cash vs point rental at the same resort. For example, just last night I priced our next trip to Bay Lake Tower... It was roughly 2500 vs 1200 for 5 nights, cash vs point rental.

The OP was looking for the cheapest way to stay on property. I agree that comparing the two isn't fair, but when looking for the cheapest way to stay, fairness doesn't come into play. If they were asking for the cheapest way for a party of 5 to stay at Contemporary Resort/BLT, then yes, renting points would probably be the way to go. But simply getting your foot on property, totally different story.

And I still hold true to the belief that cash rates for DVC are inflated to make owners feel like they are getting a better value for their points.

 

[smw]

Ah, you're right about looking for cheapest option. Forgot that part.