Can only afford studios at WDW

[wendlle]

The Aussie dollar is bad and we can only afford studios
Two adults and our two kids aged 9 and 6 when we come next year

We will be staying on property for around 12 nights, renting DVC (was cheaper than rooms at all stars) as we have done before when kids were smaller

I guess I’m wondering about people’s experiences with no privacy for so long - I mean we would love a 1BR but it’s not going to happen with the prices the way they are now.
We will be getting suites at universal as there so much cheaper for before our WDW stay.

What’s everyone’s opinions or experience sharing a single room with kids for 2 weeks!!

 

[LoveToDisney]

Did you get the studio type that has the extra fold down twin so one child is on the wall Murphy and one child is on the foldout twin? That way, no one is kicked at night and wakes up fussy.
Otherwise, I can’t think of a problem. We used to stay a week in a hotel room with our one child before we purchased DVC. Now we are spoiled and stay in 2BR when we have guests and a 1BR with just the 2 of us. (We are tall and prefer the king bed.)
I think most kids/parents are exhausted at WDW and sleep pretty hard. We made sure we had an idea of who was showering at night versus day so we didn’t have a battle getting started each day.
You will miss the suite from Universal when you move to Disney. We try to do Universal AFTER Disney for that very reason. We love staying at their premier resorts and having express pass.

 

[sponica]

I think you'll survive, the worst part will be the bedsharing for the kids, depending on the layout of the beds. We did 7 or 8 nights in a regular Poly hotel room and I don't think it bothered us that much, well we switched rooms after the first night to get one with a patio, there was no way we would have survived on that second floor room we were assigned.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

We never had any issues, but we also really enjoy being in the same room and do not need to have a separate room. Also, helps that our DD's never needed the room to be totally dark or quiet to fall asleep, so DH and I were still able to talk, watch tv or play cards. We had many 9-10 day trips since our 1st DD was an infant

EDIT: Once our DDs started sleeping together we made sure they had their own blankets, so there were never "she is hogging the blankets" problems LOL

 

[gottalovepluto]

Did you already book it? Like, if so it’s too late for regrets and dwelling on the downside will do you no good.

If you haven’t booked- I’d shorten up the Disney part of the trip. That’s a long time of togetherness if you all aren’t used to traveling like that. And that’s a long time of budget stretching at Disney prices as the room is but one aspect of the trip and Disney prices for everything tend to only go one way.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

With kids your age it’s not as big a deal as it is with older ones/teens. The kids should be fine, and if you parents need privacy or time away from the kids you could try a date night (there are babysitting services) or maybe hang out on the balcony while they sleep. Or get a white noise machine and put it near their bed(s) to maybe drown out any noise you guys may make while they sleep.

 

[dez1978]

WE always get the 5th sleeper rooms so our kids don't have to share a bed. I don't always love all of us being in one room, and try to avoid it when I can. But honestly, we are all so tired at the end of the day at Disney we pretty much go right to sleep and there isn't a "need" for privacy. We have 2 boys, now 10 & 13. So generally the only real issue privacy wise is when I am changing clothes completely, like changing into or out of a swimming suit, and I just do that in the bathroom.

 

[StarCruzer]

Maybe this is too much for just a Disney trip, but I've been thinking over whether something like this is packable for a little more privacy in shared rooms:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQ4LG1QH/

Hard to figure out if it could be broken down and fit into a suitcase though!

 

[DVC Gma]

Maybe this is too much for just a Disney trip, but I've been thinking over whether something like this is packable for a little more privacy in shared rooms:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQ4LG1QH/

Hard to figure out if it could be broken down and fit into a suitcase though!

Ship it to resort? But then it would still need to go home.... hmmmmm

 

[mi*vida*loca]

At that age it wasn’t an issue for us to all share a room. Like a pp said my kids never needed complete silence or darkness to sleep since they were infants. So we could still watch tv and talk while they slept. The no alone time or space to yourself was ok since we only did 7-8 days back then.

Once they hit teen years sharing a room is more difficult. Last time we did it my son was 15 and daughter 9 in 2015 and it got rough by day 7 of our 10 day trip. If we ever go back as a family of 4 we will have to get two rooms or a suite.

 

[StarCruzer]

Ship it to resort? But then it would still need to go home.... hmmmmm

$40 isn't the worst sunk cost you could suffer at Disney I guess.

You could always try to pass it off to another guest--we ended up with a gallon jug of free sangria from some lovely ladies who were on their last day and wanted their delicious creation to go to a good home but I suppose that's a bit off topic

 

[Minnie1222]

The kids are still so sweet at age 9 and 6. Sharing a room at that age shouldn't be a problem. Age 11 to 16 would be a hard pass for me.

 

[dez1978]

The kids are still so sweet at age 9 and 6. Sharing a room at that age shouldn't be a problem. Age 11 to 16 would be a hard pass for me.

We definitely don't have the same type of kids lol. My boys can def be sweet, but it is like WWE 24/7 at my house and it has been since they were 3&5. And its so much worse now that it's summer and they are together pretty much all the time since they aren't in daycare anymore. They are now 10 & 13 and man, I don't think I'm going to survive the next 6-10 years...

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I guess I will hug my DDs when I get home. LOL Because as they got older it has been even easier, in the rooms and also because they help unload/load our van, where when they were little it was pretty much all on my DH. Last trip they were 18 & 14 at POP and like the previous trips we had a great time.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

We've never traveled for that long but when our kids were that age, sharing a room was not a big deal. They didn't need a ton of bathroom time and were smaller, so smaller rooms/kids sharing beds was not a big deal. The kids didn't care, they thought the cozy accommodations were fun and they're so tired that by the time they'd get out of the shower they'd be asleep so fast, we could drive a dump trunk through the room and it didn't matter. And we're usually pretty tired too so we were all up until around the same time. Some nights until after midnight depending on the trip. We stayed in studios up until my girls were around 12ish and then the smaller beds/sleeper sofas/under TV pull outs became less comfortable and realistic for them to sleep on. Also, if there's ever a time you all need "space", many of the DVC resorts usually always nice hang out areas that can be quiet or away from the crowds.

 

[wendlle]

Thanks everyone, shipping things isn't an option we're from Australia. We usually visit orlando for a full month so are used to it, but the kids are getting older now so that's why I was asking the questions.

We're renting DVC so I have 7 nights at Boardwalk in a Studio, I also have a request in for the Cabins at Fort Wilderness for 3 nights so that will give us a bit more sleeping space and then possibly 2-3 nights at Saratoga Springs in a Studio.

The reason we are doing Disney last is because as an international visitor we need to be in the USA to book the new LL system so starting at Disney isn't an option anymore.

 

[LoveToDisney]

Wow, I would trade in dollars spent on the cabin to get a 1BR and not stay in studios any longer than necessary.

Totally understand your reason now to start with Universal.

 

[wendlle]

Wow, I would trade in dollars spent on the cabin to get a 1BR and not stay in studios any longer than necessary.

Totally understand your reason now to start with Universal.

The cabin is cheaper than 1BR renting points

 

[LoveToDisney]

The cabin is cheaper than 1BR renting points

Interesting…..considering the point cost is CONSIDERABLY more than a 1BR.

 

[wendlle]

Interesting…..considering the point cost is CONSIDERABLY more than a 1BR.

Wow! No idea then why but my price for 3 nights at the cabin was $175 cheaper than a 1BR at OKW and it was the cheapest 1BR