Families of 5 or more check in here!!

[DisPadre]

Our last time down we found the perfect solution for us was to rent a home. There are literally tons within 10-15 minutes of the park. We were able to find a 4 bedroom/2 BA house w/ its own pool in Windsor Palms. Plenty of room to stretch out and although the pool is not huge (12X20) it's private! Cheap: In December we paid $800 for the week including taxes! I think it was $1200 during the high season. Clean: Many of these houses are only a few years old and they have a cleaning service come in after your rental. Much nicer than hotels rooms. Close: From the south side of Disney there's a back entrance near Animal Kingdom. It literally took 5 minutes to get from the driveway to our parking space at Animal Kingdom. Magic Kingdom was more like 10 minutes. Epcot and MGM 15 minutes. We miss the "Disney Atmosphere" of the on-site hotels, but IMHO you get enough of that in the parks anyway.

 

[dbal]

Count us in too! We are a family of 6 and we too must go offsite. I was upset at first, but now I'm really excited about all the extra room we'll have and the $ were saving. We are staying in a 2 bdrm suite.

We would LOVE to do the cruise but I think you have to get 2 rooms. Anybody have any tips?

Also what does everybody do when touring the parks? Split up and meet up, stay together, etc.

Thanks

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by dbal
We would LOVE to do the cruise but I think you have to get 2 rooms. Anybody have any tips?

Yes, you do have to get two staterooms, unless it's within your means to book one of the two bedroom suites...rather expensive and must be reserved WAY in advance as they go quickly. You can however get two "regular" rooms that are connecting, next to each other, or across the hall from each other. For example, you could get a stateroom with a verandah, then an inside room (less expensive) across the hall for the kids. If your kids are younger though, you'd probably want to go with the connecting. Definitely shop around for prices. I got plenty of quotes and then emailed Annette from MouseEars my lowest...she was able to beat it by $70 PLUS give me a $50 credit to our onboard account for each room -- $170 savings!

 

[Laurabearz]

Glad to know we are not the only ones. FOr Disney trips we are covered.... We own DVC. LOVE LOVE LOVE the two bedroom suites.

I am having trouble finding regular hotel rooms.

I would love to see a hotel chain reserve two connecting rooms at the time of booking.

And yes... We just found out that the Ohio State Fair is starting that weekend..... but then again, all the hotels I called couldnt even, at a slow time, book two connecting rooms for us.

We are so blessed to have 3 kids. Love them all to pieces. When I see familys with only 1 child, well, they look empty! LOL

Flying is a pain too...

I guess my husband and I are destined to just wave at each other while on vacation. LOL

 

[MamaLema]

Another family of five here. I too am so sick of trying to book a hotel online and the same response:

Sorry, max occupancy 4 persons

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

We just celebrated our 4th child's first birthday and bought into the DVC this year. We were working up a budget for Disney for a trip in December 2005 and our room alone was going to cost over $3500. That included splitting the stay between a value resort and a deluxe. I wouldn't mind staying in 2 rooms of a value resort, but I don't want to do that every time.

We now have a DVC membership for 50 years that will pay for itself with 3 trips. We've also just used our points from our Disney Visa to pay our annual dues. Our goal is to be able to have this timeshare and not have to pay anything for it.

We just booked a hotel room with a Family Fun Suite which will only accomodate us because I'm bringing a portable crib for the baby. I guess "family fun" stops after 3 kids. Also, it was a flat rate of $140, no discounts available. That would be a great rate in most places, but we're going to a wedding in Michigan-not the Caribbean.

I remember being pregnant with my 4th and people giving me wierd looks. Everyone assumed she was an "accident," because who in her right mind would choose to have 4 children? Sometimes I laugh it off and sometimes I get frustrated.

 

[laceemouse]

We have 4 kids also. We recently bought into DVC and we own another TS that we trade through RCI for our non-Disney trips (just went to Williamsburg, Va. in June...Great!) On the road we generally stay at Marriots since DH gets points from them doing work travel. We often get suites, or 2 connecting rooms if a suite is not available. Only once did we not get connecting rooms. It was only for one night, the 3 girls stayed with me and DS stayed with DH. TSs are the way to go if you can swing it, a full kitchen, multiple baths and tvs, and a washer/dryer!!! If you look around at Disney you don't really see too many large families. 3 kids is pretty normal, but 5 or more is rare, either that or people with that many can't afford Disney very often.

 

[Laurabearz]

We have the most kids of any of our friends... Most of them stopped at 1, a couple stopped at 2. And all of them had their kids years ago!

I was pregant and/ or nursing from August 1998 until June 2003. I need a break, my body needs a break, and then I would be way way too old for another! LOL (Oh IMO of course... your mileage may vary) I am 40 (and quickly approaching 41), DH is 41 (same as me.... 42 is just round the corner!).

Of course, we still havent figured out how those with more than 3 kids found the time to create the 4th....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We like Springhill Suites. They are nice rooms, allow 5 people (actually, we have 6, which they have the bedding for, but their website says a limit of 5ppl), and have a decent breakfast.

It is a pain to more than 2 children when it comes to hotels (and more so with 4 children). Our daughter will be off to college in a year, though, so our numbers are dwindling.

T&B

 

[fanofmickey]

It certainly makes road trips more difficult to arrange (and more expensive) with 4 kids. We took business trip to Massachusetts last year with all 4 kids. We had arrangements there, but had to stopover one night each way - Me and DD 17 in one bed, DH and DS 14 in the second bed, and DS twins 7 on a rollaway with a head at each end! Worst part of this was that DD and DS not used to sleeping with other people - they rolled on us, climbed on us, talked to us, etc. all night long.

Now, DD starting college, but of course will not miss the trip planned for next September, so she will be 19, DS 16 and DS twins 9. We absolutely CANNOT go in pop-up camper to FW as planned because of privacy issues, space issues, etc.

I always wondered where the cut-off line was for the number of kids people have. For instance, people ask, how many children do you have? If response is one, you get "That's nice." If response is two, you get, "That's nice." If response is three, you get, "Really? That's nice." If response is four, you get "FOUR! Don't you know what's causing that?" (Yep, I do ).

 

[GaTech]

With the addition of twins, we are now a family of six! DS 7, DD 2, and twins(DS & DD 7 weeks old).

We are going in October and have 2 connecting rooms at the All Star Movies. That was the best/cheapest place onsite that we could make work for us.

This trip is going to be an ADVENTURE!

 

[mom of five]

We're 7
DH and me
and 5kids
When I see people with budgets in the 2,000-3,000 dollar range i'm in awe. Ours is more like 7,000!

 

[Kendra17]

You know, back in 1995 or so, we went to Disney for a week (flew), stayed offsite (in a beautiful resort!) and paid $995 through Apple Vacations for three. This INCLUDED park tickets! this did not include food or any other attractions besides disney

This year, ugh, we are up to something like $4000. And, we're DRIVING, not flying. . .but the oldest is now an adult--for disney, and there are 2 other children (one is still free).

Prices sure have gone up!