3 adults, 5 small children. where to stay?

[atomik_momma]

This will be our second trip to WDW. Last time, it was my husband and I and we only had three kids who were 4, 3, and 8 months old. We stayed at the Cabins and loved it, BUT I lost our camera and thus ALL of our pictures. So naturally we need to go back, right? Well, now we have five kids and by the time we go back they will be 9, 8, 6, 3, and 2 and we'll be taking my MIL with us to help wrangle the kiddos. My husband wants his mom to be able to have her own room so she can get away when our kids inevitably start driving her bananas, but where can the rest of us stay? I loved the cabins, but now there will be too many of us and there won't be a single room close by for MIL. Any suggestions? Should I look in a family suite at the value places or a villa? I don't know if I'd feel comfortable with adjoining standard rooms since the kids will still be pretty young (and noisy. The oldest four are rowdy little boys. lol.)

[FantasiaMagic]

Originally Posted by atomik_momma

This will be our second trip to WDW. Last time, it was my husband and I and we only had three kids who were 4, 3, and 8 months old. We stayed at the Cabins and loved it, BUT I lost our camera and thus ALL of our pictures. So naturally we need to go back, right? Well, now we have five kids and by the time we go back they will be 9, 8, 6, 3, and 2 and we'll be taking my MIL with us to help wrangle the kiddos. My husband wants his mom to be able to have her own room so she can get away when our kids inevitably start driving her bananas, but where can the rest of us stay? I loved the cabins, but now there will be too many of us and there won't be a single room close by for MIL. Any suggestions? Should I look in a family suite at the value places or a villa? I don't know if I'd feel comfortable with adjoining standard rooms since the kids will still be pretty young (and noisy. The oldest four are rowdy little boys. lol.)

All of your family would not fit in one value suite (AoA, ASMu).

If you wanted to get 2 rooms they would have to be connecting, not adjoining. Connecting rooms actually connect with a door between them and adjoining rooms are just next to each other.

If you wanted to all be together in one room you would have to stay in a villa - a 2br which usually fits 9. There is one bedroom with one bed, another bedroom with 2 queens and in the living room their is a pullout couch for 2 and a pullout chair for 1.

If you decide on a villa you must think of price, location, transportation and amenities.

Good Luck deciding!

-FantasiaMagic

[TheDisney411]

We have gotten 2 connecting rooms at a value resort for years with our 4 small children and have never had an issue. Actually we have gotten connecting rooms at all levels of resorts at WDW, but have grown to prefer the values. The kids like the value theming the best and I like the price the best.

[haPevraftr]

Originally Posted by atomik_momma

This will be our second trip to WDW. Last time, it was my husband and I and we only had three kids who were 4, 3, and 8 months old. We stayed at the Cabins and loved it, BUT I lost our camera and thus ALL of our pictures. So naturally we need to go back, right? Well, now we have five kids and by the time we go back they will be 9, 8, 6, 3, and 2 and we'll be taking my MIL with us to help wrangle the kiddos. My husband wants his mom to be able to have her own room so she can get away when our kids inevitably start driving her bananas, but where can the rest of us stay? I loved the cabins, but now there will be too many of us and there won't be a single room close by for MIL. Any suggestions? Should I look in a family suite at the value places or a villa? I don't know if I'd feel comfortable with adjoining standard rooms since the kids will still be pretty young (and noisy. The oldest four are rowdy little boys. lol.)

You might want to investigate renting a 3 or 4 bedroom villa at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. It is located right next to CBR and within WDW property but is not Disney owned so is less expensive. You can contact Vacation Upgrades or Vacation Strategy for a quote. Visit the We Looooove Bonnet Creek thread on the Orlando Resorts thread on these boards for photos and reviews. That is what sold me on trying it. Our 3 bedroom presidential villa is only costing us $1950 for 9 nights over NYE booking through Vacation Strategy. Can't beat those prices and the resort has a lazy river and multiple pool slides.

[TheDisney411]

We won't even consider off site anymore because of free dining. It costs a small fortune to feed a large family and 2 connecting rooms with free dining makes WDW one of the cheaper vacations we take during the year. If we could not travel on value season with free doing offers we might consider off site.

[haPevraftr]

Originally Posted by TheDisney411

We won't even consider off site anymore because of free dining. It costs a small fortune to feed a large family and 2 connecting rooms with free dining makes WDW one of the cheaper vacations we take during the year. If we could not travel on value season with free doing offers we might consider off site.

Exactly. I teach so we can't travel on a value season. Even with a discount, the rates at peak season are still high. And with an offsite condo, we save money by cooking several of our own meals. Free dining has never been offered when we go.

[ADisneyQueen]

You could stay in a suite at all star music and get a standard room for your mom. Hopefully your request to have the rooms near each other would be met.

[Deb & Bill]

Originally Posted by haPevraftr

Exactly. I teach so we can't travel on a value season. Even with a discount, the rates at peak season are still high. And with an offsite condo, we save money by cooking several of our own meals. Free dining has never been offered when we go.

You can't get free dining with a DVC points stay, so that would be out for the OP if they want free dining.

OP, when were you planning on going?

[wiigirl]

Originally Posted by TheDisney411

We have gotten 2 connecting rooms at a value resort for years with our 4 small children and have never had an issue. Actually we have gotten connecting rooms at all levels of resorts at WDW, but have grown to prefer the values. The kids like the value theming the best and I like the price the best.

Us too...the key is to call...confirm...call again...