Family of 6 (5 + baby) at POR - Pack N Play and Room Organization suggestions

[ateam79828592]

We are looking to book at POR (Alligator Bayou) for our next trip. Our kids would be 9, 6, 4 & 9 months. Obviously it will be a tight fit.

Anyone have pictures of how they had their room organized with a family of 6?

Does the pack n play fit under the closet rod in the sink area like it did in the other mods?

Looks like there is very little drawer space...how did you handle clothing?

We take pop-up hampers for dirty clothes, over-the-door organizers for smaller bathroom/household items. Our suitcases are collapsible so they usually fit between the bed and the bathroom wall.

Thanks for any pictures and/or suggestions!

 

[got2sammies]

this website has pictures of the rooms and layouts and all kinda neat stuff! Love POR!
http://www.portorleans.org/

 

[Missytara]

You can definitely head over to the POR thread; many people have posted suggestions there.

Lots of suggestions range from using hanging cubes, to packing each child's clothing for that particular day in ziplock bags, to using a hanging shoe organizer over the bathroom door.

 

[TwistGrl101]

We were considering POR with the same family size. We always stay at BC and will be again. I really don't mind the small space, but I thought POR would be more of a hassle, almost not manageable. My personal reasons:

The pull-down bed looks so small, I feel like one of my DDs would fall in the middle of the night.
Because POR is a "motel" and not a "hotel", if a parent needed to stay behind a few times with the baby for any reason, you would be confined to the room...you couldn't walk around the lobby, go out on the balcony, etc.

But we go in August, so my thinking was that if its too hot for the baby or if its down pouring one day and the rest still want to go out, I could stay with DD18mos and just walk around the lobby and stuff for a whole.

Depending on the age of the infant, when we were originally going to go this summer I was going to rent an Exercauser and it would just be too tight.

The mod pools are not zero entry, to me this makes a huge difference as I could play in the shallow area with the baby while the others head to the slide.

If you could swing deluxe, the transportation would be so much easier...for example, at BC we don't have to fold up any strollers to get to Epcot or DHS.

 

[ateam79828592]

We were considering POR with the same family size. We always stay at BC and will be again. I really don't mind the small space, but I thought POR would be more of a hassle, almost not manageable. My personal reasons:

The pull-down bed looks so small, I feel like one of my DDs would fall in the middle of the night.
Because POR is a "motel" and not a "hotel", if a parent needed to stay behind a few times with the baby for any reason, you would be confined to the room...you couldn't walk around the lobby, go out on the balcony, etc.

But we go in August, so my thinking was that if its too hot for the baby or if its down pouring one day and the rest still want to go out, I could stay with DD18mos and just walk around the lobby and stuff for a whole.

Depending on the age of the infant, when we were originally going to go this summer I was going to rent an Exercauser and it would just be too tight.

The mod pools are not zero entry, to me this makes a huge difference as I could play in the shallow area with the baby while the others head to the slide.

If you could swing deluxe, the transportation would be so much easier...for example, at BC we don't have to fold up any strollers to get to Epcot or DHS.

Deluxe would be nice...but for a 10 night stay the cost is like $1700 over the mod for the cheapest deluxe that will sleep 5+infant (CR Garden Wing). So if we decide POR will be too cramped it will probably be All Star Music Family Suites. We have done the mods the last 4 years with the youngest ranging from 4 months to 2 years. We are fine with pools (CBR actually has zero-entry) and the outside doors. The only draw to the deluxe for us is the bigger rooms (available for a cheaper price at values suites) and transportation convenience. $1700 just seems like too much for us for convenience of transportation.

 

[TwistGrl101]

So then what is it about a mod that has you choosing POR over ASM suites?
The pool slide?

 

[TwistGrl101]

Also is the price with any type of discount?

 

[maxiesmom]

Deluxe would be nice...but for a 10 night stay the cost is like $1700 over the mod for the cheapest deluxe that will sleep 5+infant (CR Garden Wing). So if we decide POR will be too cramped it will probably be All Star Music Family Suites. We have done the mods the last 4 years with the youngest ranging from 4 months to 2 years. We are fine with pools (CBR actually has zero-entry) and the outside doors. The only draw to the deluxe for us is the bigger rooms (available for a cheaper price at values suites) and transportation convenience. $1700 just seems like too much for us for convenience of transportation.

As someone who has done the legal 6 at POR, I strongly suggest you stay in an All Star Family Suite. You will have a lot more room, plus a kitchenette, 2 bathrooms, and 2 tvs. They are wonderful!

We only stayed at POR as 6 people for a few nights, and I was relieved when we moved to our off site suite hotel. I think it is the only time I have been happy to leave a Disney resort! I can't imagine staying that on top of each other for 10 nights.

 

[ateam79828592]

So then what is it about a mod that has you choosing POR over ASM suites?
The pool slide?

Our reasons are: Pool slide, resort feel (like the theming of mods over values), fear of noise at values, limited opportunity to do mods (or deluxe) before we are a family of 6, ASMSu are $560 more and will have QS dining (if free dining is offered Sept 2014).

ASMSu's only real pro was space / kitchenette. That is a big pro tho.

Also is the price with any type of discount?

We go in September...so it was assuming a free dining discount for all rooms. Free dining gives us a bigger discount than even a 40% at a CR Garden Wing.

 

[TwistGrl101]

I posted a few days ago about last time in a deluxe as 5+infant.
I concurred that we will stay at BC, since it will be the last time we are able to.
You may want to find that thread, there's also another one going around about family of 6.
The cheapest option seems to stay off property, though for us it would be too much of a hassle flying with 4 carseats.
Others suggested renting DVC points, but the numbers just don't work for me.
I would highly suggest splurging for deluxe though if there's any way you can swing it. Maybe you can go for one less day, not take park hoppers, etc. The rooms are larger and the amenities are great.
Otherwise, if you don't mind tight space and one bathroom and having to get on a bus to go everywhere, Disney is allowing you I stay in POR for one more year, so it would definitely be the most bang for your buck. Like I said, there were just a few circumstances that I felt wouldn't work out for my family, but every family has different needs.

 

[Supermom3]

We love POR. Our family of 5 has stayed their several times and have always had plenty of space in the room. That being said, we don't spend a ton of time in the room. My DD6 was very comfortable in the Murphy bed. I think that there would be ample space for the pack n play in the space between the bed and the door, that way you aren't taking up too much space in the bathroom/closet area. I think you would do well to get one last trip at POR before your family of 6 out grows one room at this resort, especially if you can get free dining.

 

[ateam79828592]

We love POR. Our family of 5 has stayed their several times and have always had plenty of space in the room. That being said, we don't spend a ton of time in the room. My DD6 was very comfortable in the Murphy bed. I think that there would be ample space for the pack n play in the space between the bed and the door, that way you aren't taking up too much space in the bathroom/closet area. I think you would do well to get one last trip at POR before your family of 6 out grows one room at this resort, especially if you can get free dining.

Thanks! Helpful to hear from larger family who have stayed at POR. The only reason we like to put the pack n play the bathroom area is because of the curtain...keeps the area darker and hide activity in main part of room from curious baby. It fit (barely) in the bathroom area under the closet rod at CBR, CSR, & POFQ. By the bed/door would work as a back-up plan tho.

 

[Supermom3]

Thanks! Helpful to hear from larger family who have stayed at POR. The only reason we like to put the pack n play the bathroom area is because of the curtain...keeps the area darker and hide activity in main part of room from curious baby. It fit (barely) in the bathroom area under the closet rod at CBR, CSR, & POFQ. By the bed/door would work as a back-up plan tho.

I think it would certainly fit in that area, and that is a good reason with the curtain.

I do think that a preferred location is money well spent. It puts you much closer to the main building. Otherwise, it can be a bit of a hike. The official POR thread has really great info about the resort.

 

[nkereina]

With the pack and play in the closet rod area, I would think you would lose valuable space there where you could potentially hang organizers, store your pop up hampers, etc. But since there's not many other places for the pack and play, I'd also suggest foregoing the pop up hampers and putting dirty clothes in your empty suitcases. And keep your empty suitcases under the beds, which is wasted space anyway. Anything you can do to keep stuff off the floor will make it feel less cluttered.

The murphy bed is meant for children 12 and under so anyone of the older kids would be fine on it.

 

[thr33boys]

We are looking to book at POR (Alligator Bayou) for our next trip. Our kids would be 9, 6, 4 & 9 months. Obviously it will be a tight fit.

Anyone have pictures of how they had their room organized with a family of 6?

Does the pack n play fit under the closet rod in the sink area like it did in the other mods?

Looks like there is very little drawer space...how did you handle clothing?

We take pop-up hampers for dirty clothes, over-the-door organizers for smaller bathroom/household items. Our suitcases are collapsible so they usually fit between the bed and the bathroom wall.

Thanks for any pictures and/or suggestions!

Have you looked into renting DVC points? We are getting a 1 bedroom villa for only a couple hundred more than POR would have been. Of course, there are many factors but at Kidani, a 1 bedroom would give you an extra bathroom and you could use that area for the pack n play, the 3 other kids could sleep in the pull out and sleeper chair and you and DH could enjoy the king size bed and you'll have a balcony. Not to mention, you have the option of throwing in a load of laundry if you need to and you'll have a full size fridge. Good luck, I hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[ateam79828592]

Have you looked into renting DVC points? We are getting a 1 bedroom villa for only a couple hundred more than POR would have been. Of course, there are many factors but at Kidani, a 1 bedroom would give you an extra bathroom and you could use that area for the pack n play, the 3 other kids could sleep in the pull out and sleeper chair and you and DH could enjoy the king size bed and you'll have a balcony. Not to mention, you have the option of throwing in a load of laundry if you need to and you'll have a full size fridge. Good luck, I hope you enjoy your trip.

I can't get the math to work on renting DVC. Maybe I'm missing something or don't know the right place to rent points. But for the 10 nights...it is $1125 more then POR and $650 less than CR Garden Wing. When you add in dining at the estimated OOP (not full dining plan costs) we are at $2400 more than POR and $600 more than CR GW. That is for 1 bedroom at OKW, which I think would be the cheapest DVC options that would fit our 5+baby.

 

[ateam79828592]

With the pack and play in the closet rod area, I would think you would lose valuable space there where you could potentially hang organizers, store your pop up hampers, etc. But since there's not many other places for the pack and play, I'd also suggest foregoing the pop up hampers and putting dirty clothes in your empty suitcases. And keep your empty suitcases under the beds, which is wasted space anyway. Anything you can do to keep stuff off the floor will make it feel less cluttered.

The murphy bed is meant for children 12 and under so anyone of the older kids would be fine on it.

Ooo...I didn't know the "under the bed" area was open. At CBR, CSR & POFQ the area is not...you can't put anything under the bed. Good to know! Thanks!

 

[Carriesouthard]

Why not try a less expensive deluxe like BC or BW? We were booked at POR last august as a family of 5 and decided to switch to BC...we loved it. The rooms are larger than mods and less expensive than the monorail resorts! I just can't imagine being cramped with 4 kids, one being an infant, for that long! Good luck whatever you choose!

 

[ateam79828592]

Why not try a less expensive deluxe like BC or BW? We were booked at POR last august as a family of 5 and decided to switch to BC...we loved it. The rooms are larger than mods and less expensive than the monorail resorts! I just can't imagine being cramped with 4 kids, one being an infant, for that long! Good luck whatever you choose!

I think CR Garden Wing is the cheapest deluxe that sleeps 5... At least according to mousesavers... Maybe that depends on time of year? we go in September. For this September...CR GW is $330. YC/BW/BC are $350-360. AKL/WL don't sleep 5.

 

[TwistGrl101]

Every time I've priced it out, BC has been cheaper than CR.