I think you are saying there are 8 of you. oKW we just left this morning in fact, I am torn it was our first stay there, not at all as nice as some others, very quiet and the rooms were good since in a studio you get 2 queen beds. But the worst bus rides every, the place is huge and can easily run you 45 minutes more in bus time. With that many kids I would not do it, to get drinks or ask a question up at the front building or to get to a pool or even to walk after a long day with that many kids would not work for me. We will be at animal kingdom next week. We have stayed before, I love animal kingdom villas, just not where animal kingdom is, you have a long ride to MK, or to Epcot or HS. If you do any dining out and such it easily eats up two hours to get places, if the kids take a nap again it eats up travel time. Personally that would not be my choice.
WL to me is the best resort on property, we love boulder ridge, and wilderness lodge. I love the short short bus ride to Disney, or graphic a boat and your there, easy to get back for nap time or an afternoon swim. Very centrally located near contemp and all monorail resorts so easy to get other eating options, even over at fort wilderness. We very often find ourselves over at fort wilderness petting zoo and the camp grounds for a night time movie with chip and dale. We love both the new or newer pools at the lodge, very kid friendly. We also like the prices of the food there, usually $1.50 to $2 cheaper for the same thing at the poly.we love the quietness. We love the little places you can find to sit and relax, like when some take a nap but not everyone and you just want some quiet in the room, there are so many little places that dad can take the kids to play a game or to let them sit and read or whatever.
So as you can tell my choice would be wilderness lodge, but that said, it also depends on a few more things. Like do you need a kitchen or are you like m and on vacation you don’t cook. Or the kids it Cheerios with milk and maybe a p and j sandwich for lunch, if you can get away with that I would do WL, if not than you may have no choice but KV at AKL or OKW. Another thing is laundry, at WL you would need to do laundry at the lodge and spend money. At OKW or KV you would have a laundry in your room and it would be free. 8 people could cost a lot in 9 days.
Lastly, feb usually has some good deals at least early in feb. so you may have some other options. Last year in Jan/feb, we were checking out prices for Saratoga springs 2 bedroom because we are now 9 with one being an infant, if every one goes. The price was $495 a night for a two bedroom. Another favorite was BWI villa, which was slightly more. OKW was over $100 more a night last year. At BWI if your kids don’t mind clowns, I love that place, so quiet and calm. Food got boring after a while since not many choices for breakfast.
Anyway, don’t know if I helped, good luck and have fun.
