Family of 5...Options?

[Us3]

I've been avoiding this topic because I knew the day would come and I didn't want to think about the added expense! We're a family of 5, and our youngest dd is will be turning 3...so I think this places us out of a room with two beds (such as a value resort). I forget which resorts have trundles or fold out couches and allow a family of 5 to stay in one room???

Disney is about to get A LOT more expensive for us because our oldest dd turns 10 (adult price) and our youngest turns 3. I'm thankful for Fort Wilderness...we have our own RV and it such a cool resort...but I'd still like to see what our hotel options are because sometimes is really hard to get a site there during peak times. We have AP's....so taking advantage of those discounts help a bit.

TIA

 

[mairhiggs6]

We are taking our second trip with a family of 6, and the options of staying onsite are very limited. You can stay at Port Orleans Riverside with a trundle bed (I think you have to ask for that option). If your child is under three, I think you can still stay in many of the regular rooms. Once your child is over 3, they will tell you need to get two rooms. There's also the new family suites at the All Star Music resort. But you have to call that hotel specifically for reservations, they do not do those over the internet and do not show it as an option. I found those suites a little pricey ($200 a night during value season), so we were considering staying offsite at the Doubletree Suites or the Gaylord Palms. But then they offered the free dining option for this fall, and so we are staying at POR

 

[Aliceacc]

Shamelessly stolen from another thread:

Originally Posted by allison
Here is a list of possibilities:
Port Orleans Riverside
All Star Family Suites
Coronado Springs junior suite
Fort Wilderness cabins
Wilderness Lodge deluxe room
Beach Club
Yacht Club
Boardwalk
Grand Floridian
Polynesian
Contemporary
AKL 1 bedroom villa

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

We are taking our second trip with a family of 6, and the options of staying onsite are very limited. You can stay at Port Orleans Riverside with a trundle bed (I think you have to ask for that option). If your child is under three, I think you can still stay in many of the regular rooms. Once your child is over 3, they will tell you need to get two rooms. There's also the new family suites at the All Star Music resort. But you have to call that hotel specifically for reservations, they do not do those over the internet and do not show it as an option. I found those suites a little pricey ($200 a night during value season), so we were considering staying offsite at the Doubletree Suites or the Gaylord Palms. But then they offered the free dining option for this fall, and so we are staying at POR

You do not have to call the resort for reservations for the All Star Music Resort. You can book online. They do show it as an option. I have always booked online, except for once with a bounceback promo - we booked on the phone while we were still there.

 

[mairhiggs6]

For the Family Suites at All Star Music? My sister just tried to book them and they told her she had to call the hotel directly and try a million different date combinations until she could find availability (finally found some in November). I know that you can book a regular room there online but I am 90% the suites do not come up online. But I have been wrong before.

 

[Fingerpaints]

I've been avoiding this topic because I knew the day would come and I didn't want to think about the added expense! We're a family of 5, and our youngest dd is will be turning 3...so I think this places out of a room with two double beds (such as a value resort). I forget which resorts have trundles or fold out couches and allow a family of 5 to stay in one room???

Disney is about to get A LOT more expensive for us because our oldest dd turns 10 (adult price) and our youngest turns 3. I'm thankful for Fort Wilderness...we have our own RV and it such a cool resort...but I'd still like to see what our hotel options are because sometimes is really hard to get a site there during peak times. We have AP's....so taking advantage of those discounts help a bit.

TIA

That happened to us this year! Let me tell you I nearly fell over when I told dh the total. I didn't even think about turning 10 just we were going to be paying for the 3 yo. UGH.

We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside. That is what they suggested for us when we called to book.

 

[_queenie_]

We've done both a deluxe room, two queens and a daybed, and a basic room at the Swan with the youngest unable to sleep in a crib. At the Swan we had the 3yo sleep with my DD13 and I, but she was then moved to the chair and that was okay. We were more comfortable at the Deluxe though having her sleep on the daybed. Keep in mind that if you have AAA and don't care about the Disney extras (ME and DDP, there's still the bus service and EMH), you can get two rooms at the Swan for about the same price as one room over at the BC, that would be four queen beds versus two and the daybed. That's what I think we'll be doing next time we go. If you're lucky, they may offer you the connecting room at only $99, we didn't take it but since the room next to us was available on our Feb trip, they did offer it to us at that price. If you're lucky, you might be able to get the two rooms for $320 a night, just a thought.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

We went with Fort Wilderness Cabins. It seems like many people avoid FW but we were so impressed that after much thought we decided to stay there again. The cabins are so roomy it is like your own mini house. The kids could play right outside and have fun and be perfectly safe. Inside there is a full kitchen that was great for storing food basics and leftovers (even though we didn't eat a meal there other than a bowl of cereal). We drove around in the golf cart and I think that was one of my kids' favorite parts. everyone is so nice and helpful. I am afraid that if we stayed anywhere else we would long for FW (and BTW I am the least outdoorsy camping type person in the world).

 

[Us3]

We went with Fort Wilderness Cabins. It seems like many people avoid FW but we were so impressed that after much thought we decided to stay there again. The cabins are so roomy it is like your own mini house. The kids could play right outside and have fun and be perfectly safe. Inside there is a full kitchen that was great for storing food basics and leftovers (even though we didn't eat a meal there other than a bowl of cereal). We drove around in the golf cart and I think that was one of my kids' favorite parts. everyone is so nice and helpful. I am afraid that if we stayed anywhere else we would long for FW (and BTW I am the least outdoorsy camping type person in the world).

You named many of the same reasons we LOVE Fort Wilderness! We have a golf cart that we bring with us...and looping through the resort, watching fireworks at night from the beach, having space for the kids to run and play...it just makes FW one of our favorite places on Disney property.

It looks like POR would be a good choice otherwise. Or perhaps one of the deluxes for special occassions. I only wish they would run a special like they did in 2003...7 night for 4!!! We stayed at GF that year for less than ASM, haha!

 

[Us3]

We've done both a deluxe room, two queens and a daybed, and a basic room at the Swan with the youngest unable to sleep in a crib. At the Swan we had the 3yo sleep with my DD13 and I, but she was then moved to the chair and that was okay. We were more comfortable at the Deluxe though having her sleep on the daybed. Keep in mind that if you have AAA and don't care about the Disney extras (ME and DDP, there's still the bus service and EMH), you can get two rooms at the Swan for about the same price as one room over at the BC, that would be four queen beds versus two and the daybed. That's what I think we'll be doing next time we go. If you're lucky, they may offer you the connecting room at only $99, we didn't take it but since the room next to us was available on our Feb trip, they did offer it to us at that price. If you're lucky, you might be able to get the two rooms for $320 a night, just a thought.

I always forget about the Swan! This is a great option too! I think being so close to the back door of Epcot would make it a great option!

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

For the Family Suites at All Star Music? My sister just tried to book them and they told her she had to call the hotel directly and try a million different date combinations until she could find availability (finally found some in November). I know that you can book a regular room there online but I am 90% the suites do not come up online. But I have been wrong before.

That is so weird. Are you referring to the disneyworld.com website? I have two vacations booked (one of which I am going to cancel - I just can't make my mind up yet) both at the All Star Music Family Suite. One was booked as a Bounceback Promo while on property last September for this September with Free Dining. The other was booked within the last month on the website. I put in our info (2 adults, a 13year old, a 7 year old, and a 3 year old). Then resorts that you can't book say "Your party size exceeds the maximum occupancy for this resort." All of the Value resorts say that except for Music because they have the family suites. Click on Check Availability. Under Room type you will see Family Suite. Try for the dates of December 12through December 19th and you will see what I am talking about. As long as there is availability you should be able to book online. I always have.

 

[1lear]

We are a family of 5 and most places we travel we get two rooms. My daughters are 12 and 14 and my son is 9. The girls stay in a room together and DH, son, and I stay in a room. I tried to book at CSR online but the only option given was for a suite, which is more expensive than two rooms. When I called, though, it was no problem booking the rooms.

That third child does make vacations more expensive.

Lisa

 

[mairhiggs6]

I had the same issue as my sister when I was booking for my September trip. So I don't know, now I am curious- maybe I will set up a "fake" reservation and see what it says.
I know when I called in March to book my September trip the cm on the phone told me that it wouldn't come up online as an option, so maybe they changed it? Maybe they thought my sister's travel party was too big or something? She has 4 adults and a child.

 

[sardanem]

I agree that a family of 5 is very hard. Since I can't afford the villas or deluxe hotels, it really limited our choices. I looked into POR, but we are not a 2 double bed and a trundle sized family and the ASMu suites were booked for when we are going so I booked 2 connecting rooms at POP. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will get the request filled so we can stay together.


Lisa

 

[jellybeans0607]

you can book the music family suites in line, the problem is, they book extremely fast. so it is much easier to call and find out when its available than to try to do it on line.