Familes with 4+ children..

[doulacandice]

Where do you stay when you go to WDW???

I've been thinking about this lately. I had originally wanted to stay at the All Star Resort or Pop century.. I was told I could get a room with double beds but I know it doesn't include a fridge or kitchen, anything like that. I would have to go some where else and wash clothes, eat out every meal (maybe poptarts or something for breakfast) you get the idea.

My thought was 6 of us in one room for 7 days?

If you have as many children as I have, what would you do? We will spend a lot of time at the parks I know but when we come back for naps and bedtime it would be nice to have our space. I really wanted to stay on Disney grounds, we really wouldn't have to drive, we could take advantage of the DDP and the extra hours at the parks too when we wanted.

If we move up to the next level of resorts, which ones offer bigger spaces? Maybe something with a kitchen or bedrooms? I don't really wanna spend 200.00 a night on a place, we have a budget! That's why I thought maybe staying off property would be the best way for us. If you know of any places please let me know!

What are your thoughts???

 

[pigget74]

Depending on the ages of your kids you would not be able to all stay in one room at the Value unless you get a family suite. Even if you have 2 under 3 I would not stay at a value unless it is in a suite. In the suite I think you get a micriwave and a fridge. I could be wrong. We stayed at POP last March and we had a 1 year old, 9 year old, and a 12 year old. If we had to stay in the room any longer than to get ready and go to bed we would have gone crazy. There was no room to move.

I would recommend renting points and possibly getting a 1 bedroom at AK or any other DVC resort. The one bedrooms have afull kitchen and a washer and dryer.

Another option would be a cabin at Fort Wilderness--these are nice and have bunk beds and a kitchen. Not sure about a washer and dryer.

Also depending on the ages of your kids it might be harder getting back and forth from off property. Good luck.

 

[TheRatPack]

If a kitchen is important to you, maybe the family suites with the mini kitchen area? Or staying off property? We always take our personal mini fridge and we have snacks...etc that we leave on the table. We rent 2 rooms at the Pop that are connecting, that way we get 2 bathrooms, 2 tvs and 2 rooms...etc. The little ones can nap while my husband watches TV in the next room and I can run and do laundry then It works out for us. I'd be interested in hearing more about the next level hotels though....I would love to stay at one of the Moderates or Deluxe's, but with 5 kids it's just too expensive when we go once a year.

 

[doulacandice]

Thanks! I will look into the suites.. I just would like something with a bedroom off to the side, so the kids can sleep in there or vise versa. I have no problem doing cereal or something like that for breakfast but having a microwave and a fridge would be GREAT! It doesn't have to be a full kitchen.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

We are leaving for WDW in 32 days with our 6 kids (10,9,7,6,3, and 2 months). We are staying in 2 rooms at ASMovies. We're flying to Orlando so if we had chosen to stay offsite we would have had to rent a car (or 2!) to get to the condo and to get to the parks. I'm pretty sure that added cost would more than make up for the fact that we are in 2 rooms at the AllStars and can use DME from the airport and Disney Transportation to the parks. We will be able to spread out between the 2 rooms and managed to get on a fridge swap list so we will have a free fridge while we're there. We have gone the last 2 trips during free dining, but this time we will be paying for it. IMO, and in our situation ,the dining plan is a good deal. That's because doing a TS dinner each day is a big part of the fun for us and a great way to meet the characters. We like the convenience of the plan and the fact that we're not constantly checking prices on the menu (a normal thing when you dine with so many people) This is more than worth the price for our family. Depending on what you plan on doing it may or may not work for your family. Of course you can always save $ by bringing in your own sandwiches,drinks,snacks,etc. If you are on a budget (at least what I consider a budget)I wouldn't bother looking into renting DVC points unless you were otherwise planning on staying at a moderate or a deluxe resort. The DVC suggestion comes up a lot when you see questions regarding big families, but it's not cheaper than staying in 2 value rooms,at least in what I've researched. Also, you have to consider if you're planning on doing other things besides Disney. If so, offsite might be more appealing. We haven't yet felt the need or desire to leave the Disney bubble so onsite is best for us. It really depends on the individual circumstances of each family. Good luck!

 

[darlak]

I have 4, but most of them are adults now and rarely travel with us. The exception to that is every September, for my birthday trip to WDW. Although each year, we have different numbers of people traveling with us, this past September, it was me, DH, DD13, DD20 and her DH21, plus DS23. We did 2 rooms at Pop for that trip.

This March, we’ll have me, DH, DD13, DD21 and our 6-year-old granddaughter. We’re staying at PORS for that trip. We like to be on-site and a single room at PORS is cheaper than a AS Family Suite or 2 rooms at Pop. If one or more of your kids is under 3, then you could stay there and price wise, I think that would be your cheapest on-site resort. You’ll have a mini fridge there as well.

Next September, there will be 8 adults and 4 children. That trip, we’re staying at Pop in 3 rooms.

 

[pigget74]

I have 4, but most of them are adults now and rarely travel with us. The exception to that is every September, for my birthday trip to WDW. Although each year, we have different numbers of people traveling with us, this past September, it was me, DH, DD13, DD20 and her DH21, plus DS23. We did 2 rooms at Pop for that trip.

This March, we’ll have me, DH, DD13, DD21 and our 6-year-old granddaughter. We’re staying at PORS for that trip. We like to be on-site and a single room at PORS is cheaper than a AS Family Suite or 2 rooms at Pop. If one or more of your kids is under 3, then you could stay there and price wise, I think that would be your cheapest on-site resort. You’ll have a mini fridge there as well.

Next September, there will be 8 adults and 4 children. That trip, we’re staying at Pop in 3 rooms.

Here you would have a trundle bed as well.

 

[Rylee]

Our five children are 20 years apart in age, and over the last few years, the older ones aren't always able to vacation with us because of college and job schedules.

So, depending on how many of us are vacationing, we stay at...

5 or less - Beach club (2 Queens and a daybed)

6 or more - Two rooms at All Star Movies

For families of 5 +, cheapest going up in price...

• POR has some rooms that sleep 5, with 2 doubles plus a trundle bed. (Not sure if they allow an additional baby in a crib.)
  
• Two rooms at a value resort. (4 Doubles, 2 bathrooms, 2 TVs)
  
• All Star Music Suites. (1 bed, pull-out sofa & chairs, 2 bathrooms, 2 TVs)
  
• Fort Wilderness Cabins. (1 Double, bunk beds, 1 bathroom, 1 TV)

Beyond the above choices, everything gets very pricey, and I'm not sure my info is entirely correct, but...

There are a few junior suites at a couple of resorts (not sure how many they sleep).

1 and 2 bedrooms are very expensive but you can rent points from owners. However, weekends are extremely expensive, so most advise only renting for weekdays. So, if you wanted a longer stay at WDW, it would involve changing resorts (inconvenient with young children) or paying top dollar.


We never stay off-site for a Disney vacation. We do rent a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo/suite for beach vacations, and have rented a 1 bedroom in NYC, but for us...

Disney isn't Disney, if we don't live in the house with the mouse!

 

[hddanis]

We were able to stay at Shades of Green in June...2 rooms, 8 days - $1600..Not too shabby for Deluxe size rooms..

I think for our December trip, we're going to get 2 rooms at either Pop or CSR.. The Ft. Wilderness Cabins is also somewhere I'd consider staying.

 

[momof3girls6712]

We have 3 children (6, 7, and 12) and like to get 2 rooms at a value. We have tried POR and yes it was a nicer place. However, having 2 bathrooms and time alone at the end of the night work much better for us. Besides the kids get a huge kick out of the fact they have their own room.

 

[DawnM]

We stay off-property. We end up with much more room, a full kitchen, a washer and dryer and enough beds and room for everyone. AND MUCH cheaper than you can get on property.

Typically we use SkyAuction and pay around $200 for the 7 nights/8 days, making it under $30/night.

Dawn

 

[momxx5]

Ft. Wilderness Cabins!!

Check out the Ft. W forum.

We have stayed there 3 times. It is awesome.
A bedroom with full bed and bunkbeds w/tv, huge bathroom, tons and tons of towels, full kitchen, dishwasher, mirco, fridge, living room w/tv, sofa (pull down murphy bed)

A large outside deck with grills is great to have.

You have that great Disney feeling and yet have a little cabin in the woods.
The laundry is close by with a small pool.

We love it there.
Check it out.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have 4 kids, we rented at OKW one year, then ended up buying DVC for the space. We knew we wanted to visit WDW every other year or so. If they had the Value Suites, we might have just rented those. 2 connecting rooms is also possible, sometimes the value regular rooms are very discounted, the value suites usually are not. You do not want all one room, believe me. You also want/need 2 bathrooms. Off site is of course a viable option, more space for less $$. But, I wanted to be on site.

 

[skoi]

Family of 5 soon to be 6 here. We own DVC, and it's great for us. We have a full kitchen, washer and dryer, nice baloney with the room, and with a two bedroom you can sleep eight. We've stayed at all of the resorts except Saratoga (haven't gotten to it but it looks great) and we'd recommend any of them. Our favorites are Beach Club and Animal Kingdom.

You can always rent points from a member on the DVC board here on dis.

 

[MomtoMMKO]

We have 4 children and this fall stayed at All Star Music in two connecting rooms. We are staying at Pop in two connecting rooms in fall of 2008. The only thing I missed was a fridge in the room but we brought with us (as a carry on) a soft sided cooler and that worked great.

 

[katiesmom2]

If you change your mind about staying on DW property, there are MANY rental houses in the area, which might be perfect for you. We've stayed in a rental house twice through Award Vacation Homes. Last year, we went with DH's parents and got a 4 bedroom house with kitchen, living, dining, 2 baths and a pool for $130 a night. We were so comfortable and had the best time.

Just a thought....

 

[pweyl36]

If you change your mind about staying on DW property, there are MANY rental houses in the area, which might be perfect for you. We've stayed in a rental house twice through Award Vacation Homes. Last year, we went with DH's parents and got a 4 bedroom house with kitchen, living, dining, 2 baths and a pool for $130 a night. We were so comfortable and had the best time.

Just a thought....

I 2ND THAT! Yes you still feel the magic,and you have all the privicey you want. Also a pool all to your selfs you also get to eat breakfast before you go,put the kids down for a nap. Plus you would only be about 10mins away form the parks and you dont have to wait for the bus

 

[dizneekim]

Hi, Doulacandice-If you would consider staying offsite, I'll vote for that! We've sampled both offsite and on, and off wins hands down for economy, convenience and s-p-a-c-e. We just rented a 5 br. house 2 weeks ago -actually larger than ours!- with all of the usual amenities of home plus a screened in private pool for $525 for 7 nights-total! It was in Sandy Ridge subdivision which is a few miles down I-4. Do not fear the drive! It took less than 15 mins. from driveway to riding in the parking lot tram, never any traffic at all. The only Disney transportation we use anymore is the monorail or ferry; driving is so much more efficient. We've used homeaway.com and found great deals. Just my 2 cents for a fellow North Carolinian!

 

[doulacandice]

Thanks so much for the replies! I will look into all the places you all mentioned!