Family of 4 in 2 Double Beds

[honeymom]

Due to some budget constraints we are thinking of switching from WL to a moderate (either CBR or PO-FQ). We are a family of 4 - myself, DH, DD - aged 5 and DS - age 2 and 1/2 (does not sleep in crib anymore). I like the idea about saving money, but I'm concerned about sleeping. I don't think the kids will share a bed without a war which means my DH sharing a bed with my DS and my sharing a bed with my DD.

As much as I love them, I'm not sure we can sleep comfortably this way. We are all tall and the kids are kickers. What is your experience? Any of you have any advice?

 

[CapHook]

We always do that kind of arrangement when we are staying in a hotel. When we were at Disneyworld my DD and DS were so tired they didn't move all night and my DS is a very restless sleeper.

 

[honeymom]

Did any of you ever ask the resort for bed rails and were they able to accomodate?

 

[skeezixspud]

I seem to recall hearing that some of the rooms at PO have trundle beds, you probably want to check the resorts board. if you got one of those, then you and DH could sleep in one bed, and the kids could each have a bed.

 

[Kermit]

Yes, you can get a room with a trundle at PO Riverside (DxL). They may charge $10/night extra, but it would probably be worth it.

 

[honeymom]

My sister stayed in one of those rooms 3 years ago and said it was dirty and dark. She really didn't like Dixie Landings (she loved CBR and liked WL to give you an idea of her tastes). I'm sure it was just luck of the draw given that so many people do like the resort, but she has scared me off of it. If you've stayed there, would you please tell me what your experience was like and if there was a section that you would recommend.

 

[rbuzzotta]

I can't remember the last time I slept in the same bed as my DH on a WDW vacation!! We have 3 DD's 9,5, 2 3/4. My yougest LOVES the portacrib even though she has been sleeping in a full size bed since the age of 15 months!! My DH and I take turns sleeping with our DD's.

We feel we have solved that problem since we bought into DVC last year. Our first trip in a DVC resort is this July/August. Our favorite resort is PO--FrenchQuarters!! We stayed at DxL this past March and my kids wished that we were at PO. My girls are usually "all over" the bed but after a full day out and about at WDW, they don't even move at night!!!!!

Good Luck

 

[TinkTink]

If you're not against staying off property, you can rent a vacation home for the same price as WDW moderate. You would get 2 BR, 2 Ba, private pool, kitchen, the works! We did this in January and we plan to do it again and again!

Check out www.pr-vacation.com for more info. There is a lot of info about vacation home rental on the Orlando Accomodations board.

 

[Schmeck]

First trip to WDW was when DDs were 2 1/2 and 5 yrs old. We pushed the double bed nearest the bathroom up against the wall at CBR, and had the little one sleep on the inside. Both girls are tossers, but I agree, all that exercise, excitement, and fresh air turned them into little logs.

Last trip, (5 1/2 and 8) they didn't want to 'sleep together', so we started them out in separate beds, while hubby and I read at the table. 30 minutes later, the oldest is snoring, the younger is grinding her teeth, and we know they're too zonked out to notice that we've moved one into the other's bed...

Seem to remember that you can order a cot for your room as well - as long as it's for one of the four people in your room.

Schmeck

 

[honeymom]

thanks for all the great suggestions. In the past I've actually only stayed off site. Given the age of my kids we opted for on site so we can take down time more easily during the day. I hope my kids get as tired as yours. For some reason, they seem to wake up at night, especially when they are excited. Realistically, however, they almost always wind up in our beds anyway when we are away from home, even when we have separate beds for them. Now I've just got to convince my husband that it's worth changing from WL to save the money (he loves the look of that place). If we switch to a moderate I'm leaning towards CBR or PO-FQ. Both look really nice.

 

[Jenn]

I would get the bedrails for both sides of the bed the kids are sleeping in. Then, ask housekeeping for a couple of extra pillows and put the pillows in the middle of the bed so you make two seperate areas for each kid. That would do the trick with my daughter. She loves sleeping in the middles of a big pile of pillows.

 

[honeymom]

That's a great idea Jenn. Then they can't kick each other all night.

 

[Serena]

We have a family of four. Me and my dh, 2 dd's one was 14, the other 8.
Those two almost never get along, but they were so tired and just happy that we didn't hear a peep out of them.
Now these two can barely make it one block without arguing so I was prepared, but no problems at all. The whole week.

Me and my dh aren't little and we did fine too.

 

[greyhoundmama]

My family of four (myself, 10 y/o DS, 9 y/o DD, and 6 y/o DD) will be at the ASMo in two double beds. I agree that the children will probably be so worn out that they won't care where they sleep, or who they sleep with. One thought (works with my children when they beg to sleep on the couch instead of in bed) is that once the littlest one falls asleep in the bed you could move her to a crip in order to give the older child more room, etc.

 

[honeymom]

Unfortunately, we breed tall children. Littlest one is already about 38" tall. Don't think he'd even fit in a portacrib anymore.

My kids always make 90-95 percentile on height. No surprise - I'm nearly 5'10" and husband is 6'2"!

 

[kathyjanet]

Our family of 4 slept in 2 double beds. My kids are 5 & 7. I was worried at first but we all were so tired from the long days that no one moved in their sleep!

 

[Ladygator]

We stayed at the Dolphin last August with our 3 children. The infant in a crib and our 5 and 3 years olds each slept on a child-size type air mattress. We just packed an extra suitcase with the air mattresses, the air pump and sheets. It worked out great for us.

 

[honeymom]

Thank you for the great responses. We switched to PO-FQ and are saving some money (at least enough to help us to afford some souvenirs this trip and a little more money to spend on meals). Now I'll just have to tire the kids out enough to pass out at night since they will be sharing a bed. Somehow I don't think that will be a problem at WDW! Thanks again.

 

[mom2boys]

We do the one parent & one child per bed arrangement whenever we travel. We even did it at BC with Queen sized beds and a day bed. With everyone in one room everyone needs to go to bed at the same time (at least in our family). The only time DH & I have slept in the same bed on vacation is when we stayed at WL in a room with a queen bed and a set of bunk beds. The boys worked out an arrangement were they alternated sleeping on the top bunk. We were pleasantly pleased with their agreement (& yes surprised). The boys were 5 & 7 last trip.

 

[ToyStory]

We are having an issue with who will sleep with our son. There is no way my DH and I can sleep in a double bed. DH assumes he will be having the bed to himself since he complains that our son moves around too much.

We had a queen bed at home for the first two years of our marriage, but moved to a King bed and we still fight over the blankets. At least I don't get elbowed in the eye any more.

I plan on gettng a bed rail for my son's side of the bed or move the bed against the wall if we are unable get on. Another thing I am doing is bringing a nighlight for the bathroom since we have one at home.