3 kids that are no longer KIDS! Best Room for 5?

[BLTtinkerbell]

Have you looked at the Swan/Dolphin? They are in the Boardwalk area. You can take the boat to Epcot and Studios. Very nice area!

 

[AliceIn]

HA! Funny. Disney has not always been this way...at least to me. Been going for years.........
When i think of Griswold..i think of SUX Flags. SUX Flags has a few decent rides but the CM's are rude and bothered by you being there, the trash is always overflowing and swarming with bee's and 'wife beater' shirts as far as the eye can see. It has its place in the food chain. Just a bit taken back that i saw a bit of that at the All Star resorts...thats all.

Maybe you just had bad luck. Disney seems to me to be a very, very middle class sort of place. Lots of families with small children -- some barely middle class, most comfortably in the middle. Disney is probably too expensive for those on the lower end of the spectrum. The rest of the complaints seem to be more about the parks (trash, bees).

 

[twinboysmom]

Guys and Gals, dont hate me or fire hate mail back at me as you asked me to define what i said....but to me the Values crowd are a bit more of the "Grizwold's". Actually the last time we stayed at one it felt like the Grizwolds had taken over. It just seemed a bit to low brow and redneck.
Now i am not some high falutin, high roller snob (although it sounds like it even to my ears), as we are just an average middle class family.
I have stayed at All Star seveal times, and it was in the all star resort that my now wife told me she loved me for the first time. SO we love the All Stars... But walking by the All star pools and seeing toddlers with soggy poopie diapers/swimsuits and something that looked like the pool at the local YMCA, unattentive parents...etc etc... we wanted something a step up from there. There is NO WAY we can afford the Contemporary resort and its ilk..but want something in between.

Please lets not turn this into some debate about my opinion and how its misguided, jaded, snotty or jackleg. Its simply my opinion.

Back to the topic, CSR is by far our most favorite disney resort as we honeymooned there. THe best OJ i have ever drank in my life was there!
I am still at the beginning stages of pricing and seeing what options are available to my family of adults........and my wallet is complaining already.

D

Sorry but you said it. The value crowd? Really? I came back to this thread to see how your planning was coming, if you had any more questions that I might assist you with. You wouldn't want my opinion. We stay value, a lot. We go , a lot. Well over 30 times in the past 12 years. We own DVC and stay all levels. Some of the worst behavior I have seen from guests have been at the deluxe resorts. The worst incident I have witnessed was at the cbr. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. How about not offending anyone and saying something such as the values aren't for us or we would prefer to stay at a moderate resort.

 

[spiceycat]

For value it almost makes sense to do All Star resort with 2 attached rooms...but this sounds snobby, but with Value resort comes the Value crowd and thats not really my thing.

D

first these rooms are called connecting and they are generally for use by one parent when traveling alone with little ones. sometimes they are allowed for 2 parents - but since your kids are adults - don't really think you will get one.

you might get 2 adjoining rooms - but these are unattached rooms.

the AOA or ASMu suities are both also designed for little kids. they are cute - but for 5 adults - no way.

at the DVC resorts if you rent from a DVC member and not thru Disney - then there is no surcharge for extra adults in a DVC resort.

 

[mchouse]

Still curious... it would be hard for me to tell the resort especially a deluxe one that my 2 kids were over 17 so they could ding me for another 50 bucks on a 500 dollar room. I understand if the extra people in your room werent your immediate family members but if they are then they shouldnt charge you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Im curious, How will Disney know how many adults are in the room if you just book room only and buy your tickets through a broker?

Because you have to tell Disney who is staying on your reservation and their ages. If you choose to lie about who is staying with you.....

 

[Danibelle]

I think Disney is a Griswold sort of place. It is the same folks all over at all onsite resorts. If you are looking for a higher class resort, the Waldorf is a better choice.

Yes, even the GF has the Griswolds (and the soggy diaper set).

 

[crashbb]

Because you have to tell Disney who is staying on your reservation and their ages. If you choose to lie about who is staying with you.....

And you don't care that they don't have a room key, cannot use DME, and cannot benefit from EMH...

 

[pigletto]

We were faced with the same decision. Two rooms at a value, which would have been "fine" but we're going during free dining and were only interested in Pop Century and knew it would be very very busy.
So then it was an AoA suite but we waffled back and forth on that one too (and ironically the most expensive of all the choices I had).
Then I booked the Grand Floridian with a very good discount, but that still had us in one room and one of the kids coming is dd's friend so a little more privacy/space is necessary. And it's due for major contraction while we are there which was a turn off.
POR was simply not enough room for the 5 of us even if we fit.. so that was out.
In the end we chose a Fort Wilderness cabin. We are very pleased with that decision and we're getting free dining so it helps.
It was better on the budget than renting points (BY FAR) so although that is a good suggestion, make sure to price out all your options if cost is your bottom line.
We're renting a golf cart to get around (though I've heard it's not necessary because there are internal buses.. we just prefer to).
Most of all what we are looking forward to is the peace and quiet after long hot days at the parks.
We've stayed in every level of resort many times. This seemed to be the best solution for all of us considering we were bringing an extra person this time.

 

[mchouse]

And you don't care that they don't have a room key, cannot use DME, and cannot benefit from EMH...

If they were my kids I would probably lie. Other relatives or friends I would definitly pay the extra fee.

 

[Denicio]

We were faced with the same decision. Two rooms at a value, which would have been "fine" but we're going during free dining and were only interested in Pop Century and knew it would be very very busy.
So then it was an AoA suite but we waffled back and forth on that one too (and ironically the most expensive of all the choices I had).
Then I booked the Grand Floridian with a very good discount, but that still had us in one room and one of the kids coming is dd's friend so a little more privacy/space is necessary. And it's due for major contraction while we are there which was a turn off.
POR was simply not enough room for the 5 of us even if we fit.. so that was out.
In the end we chose a Fort Wilderness cabin. We are very pleased with that decision and we're getting free dining so it helps.
It was better on the budget than renting points (BY FAR) so although that is a good suggestion, make sure to price out all your options if cost is your bottom line.
We're renting a golf cart to get around (though I've heard it's not necessary because there are internal buses.. we just prefer to).
Most of all what we are looking forward to is the peace and quiet after long hot days at the parks.
We've stayed in every level of resort many times. This seemed to be the best solution for all of us considering we were bringing an extra person this time.

Pigletto,
This is also some really good info here and i have often wondered about those Wilderness resorts/cabins. Couple of questions about your post for clarity.
1. "Free Dining" i assume you mean you are brining your own groceries?
2. The Transportation: So with it seemingly more spread out than any other resort, how are the busses? DO you have to walk FAR to get to a bus stop or is it as convienent as all the other resorts?

And yeah, the wide open spaces and seemingly more peaceful surroundings does appeal to me. The Boardwalk Villas are stunning to look at, but with all the hustle and bustle ON the boardwalk its self...i have often wondered how quite it is in those suites. I cant imagine it being too noisy but it seems like the possibility is there with all the activity on the Boardwalk.

I will look into the Cabins for sure. And THANKS TO ALL for the suggestions on Buying points, something i never would have thought of either.

Thanks ya'll!

Dennis in Memphis

 

[TJA]

You are getting some great advice about room types, so I just want to touch on resort location. Considering the ages of your kids, I really think your family would enjoy the epcot resort area. The BC and BW (beach club and boardwalk) have DVC, and I believe there are also deluxe rooms at the regular resorts. Then there is the Swan/Dolphin in the same location, but I don't think you can get the dining plan at those.

The epcot resort location is ideal given the boardwalk right there. You can walk to Epcot (and enter in the country section) in 5-10 minutes. You can also take a boat or walk to HS (nice walk along the water, about 20-25 minutes). There is Espn Club on the boardwalk and another place (dance place?) that stays open later than the parks. So if parks close at 9:00 pm, your family can still enjoy things to do back at your resort area. You can walk to mini golf, rent boats, rent bikes.

 

[Denicio]

You are getting some great advice about room types, so I just want to touch on resort location. Considering the ages of your kids, I really think your family would enjoy the epcot resort area. The BC and BW (beach club and boardwalk) have DVC, and I believe there are also deluxe rooms at the regular resorts. Then there is the Swan/Dolphin in the same location, but I don't think you can get the dining plan at those.

The epcot resort location is ideal given the boardwalk right there. You can walk to Epcot (and enter in the country section) in 5-10 minutes. You can also take a boat or walk to HS (nice walk along the water, about 20-25 minutes). There is Espn Club on the boardwalk and another place (dance place?) that stays open later than the parks. So if parks close at 9:00 pm, your family can still enjoy things to do back at your resort area. You can walk to mini golf, rent boats, rent bikes.

TJA,
This thought did occur to me yesterday. When the old folks (me and the wife) are zapped my kids (cough..ahem...young adults) can go hang at the boardwalk. Seeing that with most dinners ending up in Epocot that makes a lot of sense. My 2 'concerns' about Boardwalk were
1. Noise
2. Cost

Does the hustle/bustle noise of the boardwalk activities find their way into the suites?

D

 

[DannysMom]

Some other locations to consider are Yacht & Beach Clubs as well as Beach Club Villas. All have access to the really cool pool complex, Storm Along Bay and are walkable to EP & HS. (I'd personally go w/ BCV -rented pts ressie for the extra space.)

If you are looking for a really nice but peaceful resort, check out Saratoga Springs Resort. Very peaceful with some great pools for the young adults and very close to DTD.

 

[TJA]

TJA,
This thought did occur to me yesterday. When the old folks (me and the wife) are zapped my kids (cough..ahem...young adults) can go hang at the boardwalk. Seeing that with most dinners ending up in Epocot that makes a lot of sense. My 2 'concerns' about Boardwalk were
1. Noise
2. Cost

Does the hustle/bustle noise of the boardwalk activities find their way into the suites?

D

I hate to tell you noise is not a factor at the BWI, but when we stayed there we were surprised it was not. I think it would depend on your room location. We did not have a boardwalk view but were more on the "other side" of the resort. I am not sure where the suites are located, but you all would qualify to book just one regular room but only one bathroom and kind of crowded for a family of 5 "adults."

We really, really love the Beach Club resort. You are across the water from the boardwalk action and only 5 minutes away from Epcot entrance. There is also DVC at the BC.

Costly, yes indeed. Unfortunately, once we stayed in that area, it was/is hard to stay elsewhere.

We have never stayed at Saratoga Springs, but as mentioned above, it's a boatride away from downtown disney which your family may really like.