Stephanie, we're right next door to your parents in 5131. That's a GREAT location - you might want to leave them there. You won't spend that much time visiting in your rooms - more likely meeting up on deck or in a restaurant or something - it's very convenient for the restaurants and drink station AND it has an inside muster station in Animator's palette.
Your room is more convenient for the theatre and adult pool, it's true, but they're going to have to walk to something - there is no stateroom that's close to everything.
Thanks so much for your insight. Actually, when we have sailed together before, my ILs have come to our stateroom quite a bit to help out with our DS so that we can enjoy the late shows. So, we really wanted to try to find a solution that had us close to one another.
Unfortunately, since there are only a handful of 10As and they are ALL on either Deck 5 or 7 all the way forward, those are the only 2 locations that make sense for our ILs since we really want to keep our 10A for the split bath.
We were hoping Disney would assign our ILs close to us because they are both 78 and FIL does not get around well (although he refuses to use a wheelchair!)
All the 10As on Deck 5 get snatched up early because many of them are the Secret Porthole rooms, which is why we were not surprised that we were assigned to Deck 7 (#7003).
Anyway, after I emailed Disney, they offered us #7009 for our ILs which is the only 11A that is on Deck 7 forward. BUT, they wouldn't upgrade us for free - it would cost the $480 difference from the 11B we booked. I only debated for a moment and then emailed back to say we'd take it.
Unfortunately, by the time Disney emailed me again to say that since we are less than 60 days out we need to call rather than make a change via email, this cabin was gone!
I had a wonderful Disney CM on the phone though who tried all sorts of imaginable options with the inventory left. In the end, we settled on #5013 for my ILs as it is almost directly below us (2 levels) and the closest room to the forward elevator. This seemed like the least amount of walking for my ILs (just a few steps from their room to the elevator and then just a few steps from the elevator to our room). It is also easy for us to just skip up and down the stairs (and get some exercise to boot!)
AND, #5013 is a sideways 11B, so that is kind of nice for them since they always seem to be "bigger."
Plus, if the seas get rocky, I think it is better to be swaying side to side in bed rather than forward to back!!
So, ultimately, while we'd rather have gotten #7009 for them, we are pleased with the accomodations that Disney tried to make for us and, heck, we save $480 in upgrade charges this way.
Thanks to everyone offering to help - you all just ROCK!!
