Any families of 6???

[Mom of 4 Princesses]

Would really like to go on DCL in 2003. We are 2 adults and 4 kids, ages 3,5,10,12. Would like to do 7 day cruise only. Any larger families out there that can offer advice about staterooms? Do I really need to book TWO? Does Disney offer a discount on the second one? Also, I would HAVE to have inside connecting rooms. Although I requested them when we went to WDW in Dec, we did not get them. Lucky we had more adults with us.
Would appreciate all advice/suggestions.

 

[tecdavidt]

If you can afford it and can book far enough in advance the suites would work but pricewise it is cheaper to book two staterooms that are connected. We are a family of six. On our first cruise all 4 children went. Ages then were 18, 15, 15, & 7. Those rooms were not connected but right next to each other. We put the 3 teen boys in one room and we shared our room with our daughter.

The next cruise was the 1st 7 day on the Magic. Again all 4 children went but our rooms were connecting. My husband prefers connecting because he showers in the teen room while I am cleaning up in ours. We still get 2 rooms but the last cruise only 3 of the 4 children went. Son 20 then and now 21 has decided not to vacation with the family.

No discounts on room 2. The only discount really is that the 3rd and 4th person in a room sails for a lower rate. It is cheaper to cruise during Sept. and Oct. if you can go then. We always cruise in Aug. but after Sept. 11 the rates were dropped for a short time and we moved our Aug. 3rd cruise to March 16th. Our daughter will fly free and that was the DCL deal at that time but we are saving $2000 and it does not cost $2000 for her to fly. Our TA said the rates on all cruises are back up now that people are traveling once again.

Our only advice would be to book as far advance as you can and use a TA that will keep checking the price of the cruise. Kathy

 

[my3kids]

Not 6, but 5 here. We booked 2 connecting category 10 staterooms. Categories 4-10 offer connecting doors. When you look at the price sheet, keep in mind that with 2 staterooms, you have to pay for 4 adults! The first 2 people in each room pay the full fare and children or 3rd and 4th adults pay lower amounts.

 

[iluvorlando]

Are you cruising this march? my dh, dd's and I will be on that cruise too!

 

[DisneyPoly]

We are a family of 6 and preparing for our first cruise. Based on everyone's advice, we have connecting category 10 rooms. We were able to take advantage of the Spring Time Magic offer and saved $1,400.

Enjoy your planning!

 

[Mom of 4 Princesses]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. My quote was over $10,000! (Wanted to go week of Easter). There is no possible way that fits into our budget! I don't know how it fits into anyone's budget. Disney is really not too large-family friendly. I am looking at other weeks, but hate to pull the kids out of school (just did WDW in December and took them out for a week).

If anyone has anymore suggestions on how to lower that rate, please let me know.

 

[my3kids]

I don't know when you children's school starts, but if it after Labor Day, the sailings for the very end of August start to see the price decline. Also if they have 2 days off in a week, or a long weekend during the fall, those would be cheaper weeks. You'd still miss school, but maybe not the whole week.

 

[DeltaDawn]

We too are a family of six with 4 girls, 16,16,14, &9. We chose Oct. because of everything I had read about the weather, cheaper fares, lesser crowds at the parks.
We had two connecting staterooms. The biggest downfall was that the three teens really suffered in their school work, missing a week. Their school has what's called blocked scheduling. Instead of 8, 35min classes, they only have 4classes per semester, running 85min apiece. So missing one week is like missing two! I didn't realize this when I booked.
The 9yo didn't suffer at all, made up her work & it didn't reflect on her report card.
Your children are still young enough, it may not affect your 12yo.
Good luck and Enjoy.

 

[morgan68]

We have 5 in our party---2 adults, 10 yo, 6 yo and infant. They do not have a category 1-4 for the dates that we can travel. I cannot believe that they count an infant (who sleeps with her parents, sigh!) as an actual occupant of a sleeping space. Remember an infant flies for free, can go to the movies for free, can enter WDW parks for free, etc..........The cruise for infants who are less than 36 months old on the vacation commencement date will be charged for government fees and taxes only, excluding air, when accompanied by two full-fare paying adults in the same stateroom. Air add-ons apply for children older than 24 months.

This does not make any sense whatsoever. On the WDW cruise line reservation page it states this......

"In the next step, we'll show you all the cruises available for the month you have chosen.
Now, please tell us about your travel party.
Each stateroom booked must include at least one adult and no more than 5 total guests may occupy a stateroom. If your party size is greater than 5, please book more than one stateroom for the same date. "

So my interpretation of this is that five in a stateroom (does not specify what type of stateroom) would be ok. Counting an infant in a stateroom does not make any sense, can this be bypassed?
Are there any exceptions?

 

[my3kids]

Morgan68: Only the category 4 stateroom can hold 5 people. The suites, categories 1-3 don't show up ever on the website. Have you called about those? Otherwise, yes, it has to be 2 rooms for 5 people. Even babies count. It isn't like a hotel where you might be able to take an extra person in if you didn't mind that there wasn't a bed for them. They won't allow an unticketed passenger anywhere near the ship, infant or otherwise. I would certainly try calling. Maybe they have something reserved that isn't showing up on the website.

 

[KathyV]

I have 2 sets of twins (ages 4 and 2). We are going 2/2/02 and are staying in 2 Cat 5s w/ Verandha. We got nicer rooms b/c we figured w/ young kids and naps, earlier bedtimes, etc. we would be there often. The rooms are ajoining and we invited my in-laws(you might as well since the 2nd room HAS to be purchased anyway). We really are discriminated against in the entire resort industry w/ only 4 usually allowed in a room. Good luck-Kathy