Family of 4 in 2 Double Beds

[disneymania]

We have stayed at DxL, CS & WL with our 3 kids at all ages & I have to say that we usually split up adults with kids just to make bedtime quicker. I do remember that when we stayed at DxL my daughter fell out of the bed a few times which is why one of us started sleeping with her. The beds were really high too. I found out afterwards that we could have gotten guard rails. I would definately check that out. At WL we had bunk beds which the kids still talk about but if you have budget constraints, I would stay at any of the moderates in a second. They are just as great IMHO & the food court at DxL is better than CS & WL hands down (which with small children is where we wanted to eat for many meals).

 

[TShippPugh]

We have a quite large family (7 of us going) and I found that renting a home is much cheaper than renting a hotel room (which several thousand people have stayed in over the years!).

I found a 4 bedroom, 2 bath with it's own pool in Davenport (10 min to WDW) for $99 per night. The house was just finished in April, so very few people have stayed there.

They have anywhere from 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedrooms for rent. Check out:

www.fvhr.net
www.vrbo.com

 

[mainey-mouse]

Well, I have two tall kids, age 4 and 7. At home they have their own beds, but also usually end up in ours - which is a queen. Amazingly, on vacation, they were so tired they didn't even wake up to move in. Admittedly, I didn't like being in a hotel room with two double beds- but honestly, I wouldn't pay extra for two queens. We altogether prefered the 2 bedroom offsite cabin, with couch and kids sleeping loft too.

We stayed 2 days at PO-RS (Dixielandings). The resort itself from the outside was much more appealing than PO-FQ (saw that when we went to swim at the serpent pool). Pool area is actually nicer at PO-RS than at PO-FQ - except for that serpent slide at PO-FQ which is worth trying out. Playground at PO-RS is far superior to the one at PO-FQ.

PO-RS rooms were dark, and ours was damp. Floor was still wet from carpet cleaning when we got in (about noon) but we figured - well, at least we know they clean the carpets and since we're in early, I guess that explains why they aren't dry yet. It was a bit disconcerting when some spots weren't dry the next am. Neither were our bathing suits which we hung up at 4pm the day before. No adjustments to the in-room airconditionner helped. I think if we were there longer than 2 days, I'd have asked for a new room on the first day. The bathroom is really small, and there is no closet - so you have to live with suitcases out and about. However, the room was NOT dirty at all, and it was attractively decorated. Then again, I work full time, and do my own housecleaning - maybe if I had a maid in daily at home or something, I'd think differently. People have different baselines to compare these things to. Lets just say, it was as clean or cleaner than just about any middle class home I've been in...

Transportation. Every bus we took was crowded - and our kids fell asleep on the way home after fireworks. Big hassle. First bus out to MK on an non-EE day was crowded -- so I assume the first bus out on EE day would be worse. You'll get back to your room just as quickly if you drive - even if you stay offsite in a good location - as you will on the PO-RS bus. Waits are between 10-20 mins (more after fireworks or parade) and drive time is 17 minutes, and the walk to your room is 5-10 mins. I'm aware some people consider these buses a convenience, but why, is just beyond me. The monorail and parking lot tram are at least not long enough for kids to fall asleep on.

Ultimately, if you're paying rack rate for a Disney deluxe, but wish to save money and not sacrifice comfort - I'd really recommend an offsite suite. Having tried both with kids - we won't consider an extended stay in a hotel room again if we have any option - until maybe the kids are old enough that we can get them their own room

 

[kathfish]

You know what.... my kids fight over which one gets the FLOOR! Ds is 10 and dd is 7 and every year for the past 5 they have been switching off one night one GETS the floor, the next night the other one GETS it.... Yup, their strange! We use the bedspread on the bottom and get extra blankets/sheet to cover them. Works good for me and Dh! Now we have an 8 mo old, so soon we'll need more floor!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

We had originally booked at Caribbean Beach resort for Oct - 2 double beds. I am going with husband, MIL and 9yr old son. When I heard Wilderness Lodge had 2 queen beds or 1 queen w/bunk bed I got on phone to MIL and asked her if she would sleep in the bottom bunk. We need the extra room.
Husband and I went with son in 1996 - he was 4 at the time - and thought the All Stars were too small. This time we moved up from Value to Deluxe (lower end of Deluxe but still Deluxe).

 

[ZachnElli]

Maybe you should look offsite. We are staying at Holiday Inn Family suites (www.hifamilysuites.com) and staying in kid suites. Kids get their own room with bunk beds, an extra pull out in their room plus a tv/vcr/nintendo in their room! Plus it's only a mile from WDW. My rates are cheaper than what I found onsite (not including AS/AM). Just a thought! I may be on vacation, but I don't want to share my bed or bedroom with my kids!

 

[lorik]

Those double beds are always a problem for us. My DH is 300 lbs and there is no way the two of us can get a good night sleep, or any sleep at all, in a double bed. DH sleeps with DS and I sleep with DD. However, this is not particularly comfortable for DH since DS is 9 and big for his age.

If we can ever afford to go to Disney again we are considering staying at the Swan since there are Queen size beds and hopefully, they will still have the nurse's rate so it won't be any more expensive than a moderate.

 

[honeymom]

We just got back and much to my surprise, yes my kids were so pooped at night that they slept together in the same bed. We asked for bed rails which worked great. Thanks for all the advice. Had a very pleasant stay.

 

[LKS]

One other idea which has worked for us is vacation bribery. Any kid that we did not hear talking after bedtime got a dollar in the morning. Ours don't mind sleeping together, but talk and talk, keeping one another awake. It worked, especially since they wanted vacation spending money.

 

[honeymom]

I believe in bribery. I actually give my kids a dime (sorry I can't afford a dollar on a regular basis), each time that they sleep through the night without waking us up. Unfortunately, I don't give many dimes away.

 

[RumpleMom]

We have queen bed at home, so double bed on vacation felt really small. We realized we would need to move up from moderates to have queen bed, but did not feel we would be able to afford to go to WDW every three years if we did. We decided we would drive instead of fly to save money, and bought DVC to lock in future prices. We are looking forward to summer vacation in 1 bedroom at OKW- we have king bed and 2teenage DD have queen sleeper sofa.

 

[jstmee]

Ha, lol, rofl, sleeping ALONE, in bed with DH on a vacation with my dear, dear four, wonderful children?? I wish. Actually, we have gotten away with ALL six in one room before. I take a 12 year old, my hubby takes a 12 year old, my dd 9 puts two chairs together and curls up in that and my ds 8 gets a blow up mattress thing and sleeps on that. Of course that usually gets a rip in it after one night, but it's the thought that counts. Now, we get two rooms and pray that there is no arguing before bedtime. They "promised" for the disney trip they wouldn't argue, they are working out sleeping arrangements now and we aren't going until September.

 

[Yvette Q.O.D.]

When we were a family of 4 (now 5) this is how we did it. DH and DS slept in one bed and DD and I slept in the other. It was more comfortable that way because DH and I do not fit comfortably in a double bed.

We're too used to our big king bed at home.

Have Fun!

 

[Pooh93]

We did the family of four thing in December. My kids were 5 and not quite 3 years old. I thought they'd want to sleep together....silly me One dd slept with dh and other dd slept with me! I got the one that kicks, tosses and turns all night! I guess that is what us mom are for! Actually, it wasn't that big of a deal, because DH and I have a queen bed at home and I'm not sure I'd have been that comfortable with him, because he is a tosser and turner at times also.

 

[whirlsy]

hi, i also am staying at the wl with my 6yr old daughter and 2 yr old son and husband i requested bunk beds let the little one stay on the bottom and request bed rails they let us do it so im sure youll have no problem getting them also, wl is the best resort by far i would hate to think you had to switch . best of luck