Families of 5 --- what do you do???

[sjlupin]

We are a family of 5 - Me, DH, DS12, DD10 and DD8. It has always been a pet peeve of mine that there aren't more options in Disney Resorts for a family of 5. If you don't want to get 2 rooms, it is POR w/trundle or Deluxe. No cheepo rooms for us!

We have been lucky enough to stay once at the Poly (2001 - with a good discount), once at the Beach Club (2003 - incredible discount because my SIL is DOD and SOG was closed) and once at POR (2003 - moved there when SIL left and no longer had DOD discount at Beach Club ).

This coming January we are staying at the Poly again for 6 nights and I feel extrememly fortunate that we can afford to do so. Not everyone would be able to do this, and there have certainly been times (and will be again I'm sure) when we couldn't afford to.

I am just curious what other families of 5 do? Do people do 2 rooms at the Values? Always POR 2/ trundle? Deluxe? Are there other options I don't know about?

Thanks for any response!

sjlupin

 

[shady]

We are a family of 5 - Me, DH, DS12, DD10 and DD8. It has always been a pet peeve of mine that there aren't more options in Disney Resorts for a family of 5. If you don't want to get 2 rooms, it is POR w/trundle or Deluxe. No cheepo rooms for us!

We have been lucky enough to stay once at the Poly (2001 - with a good discount), once at the Beach Club (2003 - incredible discount because my SIL is DOD and SOG was closed) and once at POR (2003 - moved there when SIL left and no longer had DOD discount at Beach Club ).

This coming January we are staying at the Poly again for 6 nights and I feel extrememly fortunate that we can afford to do so. Not everyone would be able to do this, and there have certainly been times (and will be again I'm sure) when we couldn't afford to.

I am just curious what other families of 5 do? Do people do 2 rooms at the Values? Always POR 2/ trundle? Deluxe? Are there other options I don't know about?

Thanks for any response!

sjlupin

We go all over depending on the deal. We use our rooms for nothing more than sleeping, so it doesnt matter to us. POR is good for overnight trips, the AS suites work for longer trips. And we've done okay finding bargains on adjoining rooms in mods often.

We're so spent at the end of the night, it doesnt really matter to us.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've always gone deluxe. Of course with the rates and seasons changing we may rethink this eventually!

 

[tink_lover]

Good question! We stayed one night in POR before transfer to CR. As I'm looking at next year's vacation, I could save $2,000 by staying at AS instead of CR. It is all in what you decide to spend your money on - which is a very personal thing. I have heard that there may be family suites being built at CR where they tore down the north wing. Not sure if DVC or suites will be built there. Good luck!

 

[LMEJ]

When we were considering having a third child I actually thought "what will we do about Disney?" Not just rooms, but many of the rides are set up for 2 or 4 people. We are going for the first time with all five of us in November, and we are staying at CR. We won't always do this, though. We can afford it, but honestly I don't think it is worth it unless you get a good deal. I would rather pay $200 to have 2 rooms at a Value, with 4 beds and 2 bathrooms, than about the same rate or more to sleep 5 in one room at POR or deluxe. The reason we are doing CR this time is for quick access to MK with 3 small children. When they are older, we will likely do value.

 

[bennythepug]

we just came back form a split stat between POP (only time we can stay 1 room, my youngest will now be to old!) and a FW cabin
we could never afford the cabin w/o my sister in law the cm and her discount.
we looked at pofq and the kids liked it fine, but we really need a fridge and liked having a kitchen - we saved so much $ on food.
the all star music suites just don't appeal to me.
might be considering off site

 

[bittyx2]

We have 5 in our family, me, dh, dd (15), dd(15) and ds (11).

This is our first trip to WDW, and I ran into the same problem. At the time I was making the reservation, the most affordable rate for us was at POR. I know that I may regret this (all 5 us being in one room for 5 nights), but we will take the chance. I have heard wonderful things about this hotel. Hoping that we will spend little time in the room anyway. Kids love to swim, so they should be in the pools when not in the parks.

I guess I will find out in about 9 days whether or not I will do this again. next time I might pay the extra for a suite.

 

[dis-happy]

It's because we're a family of 5 that we bought into DVC. We love the space of a 1 b/r! And now that we're unexpectedly becoming a family of 6 I'm even more glad that we took the plunge. If you plan on visiting WDW every year and stay deluxe you might want to look into DVC.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

As a family of 5 we usually do the deluxes because my dh insists on a queen sized bed. We would always try to get an ap discount lst. Also looked at the seasonal rates. We have also stayed at the Swan, but now they only accept 4 but the Dolphin, which does accept 5 in the room, is another option if you dont mind full sized beds. You can bring your own aerobed which we have done. If you join starwoods you can get room upgrades if available and frequent guest points etc. Do you qualify for another of the discounts for starwoods, nurse, govt. teacher etc. My dh is govt. so that helps too. The disney deluxes just arent a good value these days. Their customer service is really lacking. Best of luck.

 

[SuzieN]

We too are a family of 5. It's ridiculous for Disney to think that everyone has the cookie-cutter family with 2 children! Seems like more people these days are having bigger families and Disney needs to start considering this. I come from a family of 3 kids and my sibs both have larger families than I do! [My sis has 4 kids and bro is expecting #5!] We are staying in 2 rooms at POFQ in Feb. because my Mom is coming with us. If she wasn't, I guess it would be back to POR for us! By the way, I thought you could only have 5 in POR if 1 was 9 or under?

 

[magicmouse2]

we have done 2 rooms at mods and values. I dont really like the values as I like lush landscaping. I think my kids are getting to an age where we are more comfortable in a vacation home. I have one for 8 nights this trip for off site part, then 13 nights in 1 room POR. It will be cramped but we dont spend much time in the room other than sleeping and showering when at WDW. DVC is great but free dining is much better. In order to stay longer I spend as little as possible on an adequate room rather than slurge and stay less nights at a deluxe. So back to the question we stay 1 room in a moderate - the only moderate for 5 - POR. Hope they change the policy soon.

 

[probono]

We booked POR with the trundle for our party of 5 - we have triplets - they will be 4 when we go in December, so I think it will work out well for us. Don't know what we'll do when they get bigger. I'd love to stay at a deluxe, but I cannot justify that right now, financially.

Mari

 

[simonkodousek]

Have you considered the All-Star Family Suites?

 

[kandlsutton5]

Family of 5 here too! Me, DH, DD's 13 & 7, DS3 (his first trip coming in December ). We are staying at the Poly - we originally decided on Beach Club but switched b/c of the amount of time we will be at MK with the 2 younger kids, and the Poly has bigger rooms. We are booked on the Land/Sea package - it was actually cheaper to book 1 Cat. 4 cabin on the cruise and stay in a deluxe than it was to book 2 Cat. 7 and stay in a mod. Besides, not really comfortable with the kids staying in their own room.

We are also going to Sea World before WDW, and we decided to stay off-site for 2 nights at under half the price of a Deluxe and even less than POR. DH and I both prefer Queens, so our options are definitely limited.

For future trips, we will consider the cabins at FW and I keep hoping that maybe POP will expand and add some nicer family suites like ASMu. The issue I had with ASMu family suites is that there doesn't seem to be enough beds - one double and a pull-out and chairs??? There are junior suites at CSR, but those can be as expensive as the deluxe resorts (but with less resort dining options).

We love staying on site, but the deluxe rooms are way too expensive!!!!! . If we like the off-site accommodations at Caribe Royale, we may have to live without the transportation and EMH's.....

 

[maxiesmom]

We too are a family of 5. It's ridiculous for Disney to think that everyone has the cookie-cutter family with 2 children! Seems like more people these days are having bigger families and Disney needs to start considering this. I come from a family of 3 kids and my sibs both have larger families than I do! [My sis has 4 kids and bro is expecting #5!] We are staying in 2 rooms at POFQ in Feb. because my Mom is coming with us. If she wasn't, I guess it would be back to POR for us! By the way, I thought you could only have 5 in POR if 1 was 9 or under?

Disney is considering this. How else would you explain the All-Star Family Suites? Disney does have many options for families of 5--2 rooms anywhere, the All-Star Suites, any single deluxe room, the Fort Wilderness Cabins, and POR. Don't forget too that you can rent points for villas from a DVC member. We did this last fall, and the cost for a 2-bedroom Beach Club Villa was comparable to 2 rooms at a moderate.

Having a larger family, everything costs more. Food, cars, clothing. You name it. Disney is just like anything else. More people=more expense.

 

[monorailsilver]

Next summer will be my first time going as a family of 5 (other then when I was growing up & the Poly was something like $50/night).

Normally we have always stayed at Deluxes so I am planning on continuing the trend (I even just paid $400 deposit to my trip today).

 

[minnie61650]

Write to Disney for more options!!

As a mother of 4 (All grown now. My oldest is in her 30's and my youngest is 23) I often wished Disney had more options for larger families.
When the children were younger and we would go to Disney they did not have DVC or the family suites. In fact Disney did not have a Moderate until CBR opened in the late 1980's so if we wanted to stay onsite we either rented 2 rooms at a deluxe or stayed in the cabins.

I wrote to Disney many (at least 2-3 times a year for about 20 years) times over the years asking for more options for families so when I heard they were building the New Family Suites at All Star Music it just made me so happy!

-----------------------------------------------

DH and I stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music ( a value resort) last Sept. (2006)

We really enjoyed the Queen size bed, the kitchenette with the microwave, having a sofa and cushioned chair to sit on and relax after a day at the parks before retiring for the evening.

I thought the pullouts very comfortable.

They are designed so the back cushion and seat cushion of the pullout support the pullout. There is no meatle bar to hurt the sleepers back.

Info thread--Pullouts in Family Suites at ASMU with photos of how the pullout is supported.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18100990#post18100990

Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

Here is my review of the Suites:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17640774&postcount=7

For more photos and info please see this info thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392879

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

Our family of 6 squeezes into a room at the POR. (Shh)

 

[Fuddrules]

Disney does have many options for families of 5--2 rooms anywhere, the All-Star Suites, any single deluxe room, the Fort Wilderness Cabins, and POR.

Assuming money matters -

They don't have many options (on-site). They have a few.

2-rooms is an option, but that's an option everywhere. It's not 1 unit which is preferred by me. I like the family feel of togetherness Other than Disney, we've never worried about our family of 5 staying in 1 hotel room

All-Star Suites is good. Cabins are good as is POR. That's about it on a non-limitless budget.

It doesn't work at WL and AKL unless you spend out of your yazoo. That's the kicker, cha-ching. To go from a family of 4 to 5 costs and arm and a leg.

What I did?

Asked Grandma and Grandpa to go and slipped 1 of the 3 kids on their ressie.

If the GP's couldn't go, we'd be at the Cabins or off-site.

 

[stingmom]

we are also a fam of 5 (14, 11 & 8)

if you are willing to give up staying on property , the Caribe Royale is a nice place to stay for a lot less money and a lot of room, but also very close to WDW & DTD (our kids enjoy the pool slide there)....but we took the DVC plunge a couple of years ago, thanks to Timeshare Store, and have lots of room now!