1 or 2 rooms for family of 7 with young children?

[JosieMouse]

Hi every one! My name is Joshall, and my family is planing to take our first trip to Walt Disney World in late summer 2014. At the time my children will be 5 to 9 years old. I need them to be in the room with my and DH because of there ages. One of the Villas is the cheapest option, but it's still too pricey for us. I was wondering if you can get conecting room at one of the value or moderate resorts? Also are the value seasons about the same time each year? For 2012 and 2013, Value 2 season includes date at the end of July and August. That's when I would like to go in 2014.

 

[maxiesmom]

You can request connecting rooms, but Disney does not guarantee getting them ahead of time. Usually when you request them you get them, but not always. It just depends on how many are available when you are at WDW, and that won't be known until check in. We have requested connecting rooms many times, and been denied them once.

If you decide to go with 2 rooms, stay away from the Music resort. Many of their connecting rooms were used to make up the Family Suites, so they have fewer to give out than the other value resorts.

 

[cranleys]

I would suggest 2 rooms at a value resort. They will guarantee two attached rooms when the occupants of one of the two will be minors. I know this from experience. Our family of 5 loves ASM. I think it just has a great Disney feel. Good luck with your planning

 

[jsw1114]

I would suggest POP this family of six stayed there in 08 had connecting rooms and loved every min of it
They will guarantee connecting rooms if the second room is made up of children ours was not but both trips we had connecting rooms
We stayed at movies last year and did not like it the buses run all three all star resorts we always waited at least a half hr at the resort getting from the parks were a nightmare and our room was the furthest away from the pools and the main building

 

[maxiesmom]

I would suggest 2 rooms at a value resort. They will guarantee two attached rooms when the occupants of one of the two will be minors. I know this from experience. Our family of 5 loves ASM. I think it just has a great Disney feel. Good luck with your planning

Actually they don't. If you look on Disney's own web site it tells you when you book that connecting rooms are a request only and not guaranteed. If worst comes to worst they would expect the adults to split up and sleep one in each room.

As I stated before, it usually doesn't come to that. But nothing about your room is guaranteed until you are in it. They don't guarantee paid for room locations or upgrades. Not even getting a room at the resort which you booked! Disney does their best, but sometimes stuff happens and rooms end up not being available that should have been.

We have once not gotten our requested connecting rooms and twice been bumped from a paid for upgraded room location. It can happen! And it is best to know that now and be prepared, instead of having it smack you in the face when you are checking in.

 

[jenlov]

Definitely 2 rooms at a value or moderate. We're doing 2 rooms at LM for $236 per night for both. That won't even touch a suite at a villa.

Are any of your kids under 3? if so, you could do a family suite at AoA or All Star Music since it allows 6 and one under 3. ASMu is quite a bit cheaper than the family suites at AoA. Oh wait, just noticed you said 5-9, never mind, lol.

Keep a watch out for free dining or room discount to maximize your savings. For us, free dining far outweighed the room discount b/c there are 9 of us.

 

[LilyWDW]

Actually they don't. If you look on Disney's own web site it tells you when you book that connecting rooms are a request only and not guaranteed. If worst comes to worst they would expect the adults to split up and sleep one in each room.

As I stated before, it usually doesn't come to that. But nothing about your room is guaranteed until you are in it. They don't guarantee paid for room locations or upgrades. Not even getting a room at the resort which you booked! Disney does their best, but sometimes stuff happens and rooms end up not being available that should have been.

We have once not gotten our requested connecting rooms and twice been bumped from a paid for upgraded room location. It can happen! And it is best to know that now and be prepared, instead of having it smack you in the face when you are checking in.

I am just quoting you for the fact you are correct 100%. I don't want people to get bad information. No matter what the CM tells you on the phone or your reservation says, connecting is a request only. Read the fine print and you will see this. Nothing is guaranteed except for a room on Disney property. Period.

I have seen WAY too many instances where those who were "guaranteed" connecting rooms were unable to actually get them when they check in. It does happen and Disney will say that nothing is guaranteed. If it is a huge issue for you and your family to have to separate and not get connecting rooms, then you should get a room where you all fit.

 

[JosieMouse]

Thanks for they advice everyone. I checked the rate for 2013 during the frist week of August for both the valuse resorts and villas and it was about $2000 difference. I"m just scared thatb I'll get there and find ouit that we have to be seperated. I have 3 autistic kids how want fully understand. I think will stick with one of the Villas. I wish the family suite would hold 7. Do you know if you can request a roll-away bed?

 

[JosieMouse]

Definitely 2 rooms at a value or moderate. We're doing 2 rooms at LM for $236 per night for both. That won't even touch a suite at a villa.

Are any of your kids under 3? if so, you could do a family suite at AoA or All Star Music since it allows 6 and one under 3. ASMu is quite a bit cheaper than the family suites at AoA. Oh wait, just noticed you said 5-9, never mind, lol.

Keep a watch out for free dining or room discount to maximize your savings. For us, free dining far outweighed the room discount b/c there are 9 of us.

Do they ever do free dinning during the summer. If you do the room only 500 day ahead, can you later upgrade to a package? I want to get the dinning plan?

 

[softballmom3]

Since you have a large family why not check into renting dvc points? There is a dvc board on here and plenty of friendly people there. We are doing that this go around. You could get your villa much cheaper than through Disney themselves

 

[twinboysmom]

Thanks for they advice everyone. I checked the rate for 2013 during the frist week of August for both the valuse resorts and villas and it was about $2000 difference. I"m just scared thatb I'll get there and find ouit that we have to be seperated. I have 3 autistic kids how want fully understand. I think will stick with one of the Villas. I wish the family suite would hold 7. Do you know if you can request a roll-away bed?

There is a very small chance that the rooms will not connect. Because of that, I would recommend a villa or stay offsite. WDW will not allow you to put 7 in a family suite unless you have one under 3 so there will be no roll away option.

If you want to get the dining plan, they do sometimes do it for free in the summer I believe but not near as much as during the less popular times. I am not 100% sure because I do NOT ever do it, ever. I have 2 autistic boys and to be honest, with as many children as you have, I might consider not doing it. You know your children best but are they ok with stopping what they are doing and going to eat for that ADR? Also for us, it is not a money saver because we don't deserts often, particularly with a CS meal.

You have the option of renting DVC points to save money on a villa. You would need a 2 bedroom. Points rent usually from $10-13 a point. A great website to check into is dvcrequest.com. This is a private transaction with you and a DVC owner so only you can decide if it is something you are comfortable with. It is usually not refundable, works best with at least 11 months ahead of your vacation (which you have for sure), and while you can purchase the dining plan you can not get the plan for free (not an option).

Hope is helps some. Happy planning and ask any questions you need.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

If you stay at a value resort and get free dining, you will get free quick service which is all counter service. They no longer give away the regular dining plan for free at values, you could only get it by paying the upgrade charge. Quick service may be a great option for you if you do not want to do sit down table service with your kids, but I would only get it if it is free. It's not worth it to pay for it.
Some people did get free dining pins sent to them for June, and usually the end of August has general public free dining. These would probably be your only summer options for FD.

 

[kam1011]

The value resorts are ginormous (as in number of guest rooms available). The chances of your request being denied are very slim. We've always had our requests granted (although I'm sure there are people who haven't. Do what you've gotta do! Worst case, put one adult in each room.

The villas are absolutely gorgeous, so if you have the money for it, your family of seven will be more comfortable in a two bedroom villa. Definitely consider renting DVC points if you go that route. You can save a lot of money.

 

[JosieMouse]

There is a very small chance that the rooms will not connect. Because of that, I would recommend a villa or stay offsite. WDW will not allow you to put 7 in a family suite unless you have one under 3 so there will be no roll away option.

If you want to get the dining plan, they do sometimes do it for free in the summer I believe but not near as much as during the less popular times. I am not 100% sure because I do NOT ever do it, ever. I have 2 autistic boys and to be honest, with as many children as you have, I might consider not doing it. You know your children best but are they ok with stopping what they are doing and going to eat for that ADR? Also for us, it is not a money saver because we don't deserts often, particularly with a CS meal.

You have the option of renting DVC points to save money on a villa. You would need a 2 bedroom. Points rent usually from $10-13 a point. A great website to check into is dvcrequest.com. This is a private transaction with you and a DVC owner so only you can decide if it is something you are comfortable with. It is usually not refundable, works best with at least 11 months ahead of your vacation (which you have for sure), and while you can purchase the dining plan you can not get the plan for free (not an option).

Hope is helps some. Happy planning and ask any questions you need.

I'm glad you brought up the ARD's. I didn't even think about how they would act if we stop what were doing to go eat. I 2 autistic children as well (my youngest daughter and oldest son). This year we went to the state fair for the first time and they didn't like the noise too much, but my daughter would get on the ride and pet the animals even though she was panicing. My son did really want to do anything, but didn't want to leave. They were pretty good about stoping to eat. All my kids love to eat. If we do the vilia, I was going to bring them cereal for breakfast (that's all they want), QS for lunch, SD dinner. I want to do the character dinning for dinner. I, I mean the kids, love Mickey, and must eat at Chef Mickey's. I want to take the girls to the BBB one morning and after have breakfast at CRT. I also have mutiple food allergies. I'm gonna need to price out the food to see if the DP is worth it.

 

[MMS1125]

Not sure which villas you priced but if you price out Old Key West or Saratoga Springs they are a bit cheaper than the other 2BR villas on property.

We've gotten connecting rooms every time except once when we requested so chances are you'd be ok but there is always that worst case scenario situation so it's a gamble.