Hi Whitney!
Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel! It sounds like you are well on your way to having a fantastic Walt Disney World vacation! Doing some research is an excellent way to get a good idea of what to budget for. I would suggest pricing out some vacations on
Walt Disney World's website to give you an idea of hotel costs and ticket prices. Click around and explore the different hotels to see what themes and pools suit your fancy.
Another website I like to use is Mousesavers.com to see the list of rack rates (full price without any discounts) of all the Walt Disney World resorts. This way you can see whether you are most comfortable cost-wise in a Value, Moderate, or Deluxe hotel. With 8 people in your party, you would need two hotel rooms or a 2-bedroom-villa. While you are on that website, you may also want to check out when the least expensive times to visit are which are sometimes referred to as "seasons." Traditionally September and January are the most budget-friendly times to visit.
Once you narrow down your options and select your travel dates and hotel, then you can really get into the planning! Planning is half the fun!
If I can assist you further in your vacation planning, please don't hesitate to ask. I hope your family has a magical, fantastical vacation!
Tania