Family of 6 not 4

[momlvsdsny]

Ok, any advice? All the deals I see to stay at the resorts are for a family of 4. We have a family of 6. But other than to book two rooms, which is not an affordable option for us, we would have to do off the grounds, which we have done, but I wanted my kids to experience the resort experience. Any advice??? Thanks!!!

 

[bartleby1]

You might want to check on the resorts board. I think I read something about them opening new suites at all-star music that sleep 6. Not sure on a price though.

 

[BikeFan]

We're a family of 6, so I'm familiar with your options. As already mentioned, the new family suites at the All-Stars sleep 6 and are opening very soon - by April, so I've heard. Price will depend on season, but I think they start at $169(?) during value season. If your youngest is under 3, they don't 'count' for occupancy purposes, so most of the deluxes and at least one moderate (Port Orleans - Riverside) will accommodate you all 'legally'. We've done this - it's a squeeze, but doable. Finally, the Fort Wilderness cabins sleep 6, and include full kitchens, porches, etc. I think they start at just over $200/night. Of course there's also Disney Vacation Club properties, which are very nice, but likely more than you wanted to spend - a 2-br. at any DVC starts over $500/night, I think.

Good luck!

 

[tkbbmom]

We are the same size family - check the cabins depending upon the time you are going they were quite a bit cheaper than the moderates for two rooms. Our quote for the value resorts (with two) were about the same as for the cabins if I remember correctly. I can't find our quotes right now - but going the week before Easter for 5 nights/six days the cabins were around $2400 and so were the value resorts. The moderates were a little over $3000 and AKL was $4700.00. The family suites are suppose to be larger - but I'm not sure how comfortable the sleeping will be - when I looked it talked about chairs that turned into beds.

 

[sara74]

Renting points for a DVC property might be a less expensive way of staying there. I was too overwhelmed with all the planning of our 1st trip to do it, but I know people who have and have found it to be a great way to stay!

 

[homemaker]

We are also a family of six so I feel your pain. Two rooms can be costly. We stayed in the cabins when we were a party of 5 and we're staying there as 6 in August. We can't wait! Booked for 8 nights with passes and dining for just over 4200. I think Pop Century was about 100 more for 2 rooms for the same package. We love the cabins because they are more private and my boys can't really disturb anyone when they unwind. The full kitchen is just an added benefit for our little one who is only 16 mths old. Good luck with your plans.

 

[momlvsdsny]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I looked at the All Star Music Family Suite, and that is right, it will sleep six. My youngest is 5. We also looked into the cabins. I must have done something wrong, because when it came back with my quote, it was over 10,000!!! haha!! I was rushed, and havent had time to check it out again yet. They do look really nice. We went last year, and stayed off site, which was good too, but I really wanted to try to stay at a resort this time. As I stated before, my youngest is 5, but my oldest is 16, so I was kind of hoping to do it again before they start branching off on their own, haha!! That, and there was so much to see and do, that we didnt get to everything I wanted!!

 

[momlvsdsny]

renting points?? What is that?? There are alot of things I dont know about I guess. I have been on here alot researching, and I guess that is something I didnt see yet.

 

[tiggercrew]

Look on the DVC rent/trade board. It is the place where owners of DVC rent out points and where renters can post when looking for someone to rent from.

Good Luck.

 

[tkbbmom]

Wow! That would have scared me off too - I'm not sure what you put in - but our family of 6 at even one of the 2-brd villas was less than half of your quote! Now if you look into a cruise - our quote on the 4 day land 3 day sea pkg was $12000.00 - so I decided against it.

 

[BikeFan]

We are also a family of six so I feel your pain. Two rooms can be costly. We stayed in the cabins when we were a party of 5 and we're staying there as 6 in August. We can't wait! Booked for 8 nights with passes and dining for just over 4200. I think Pop Century was about 100 more for 2 rooms for the same package. We love the cabins because they are more private and my boys can't really disturb anyone when they unwind. The full kitchen is just an added benefit for our little one who is only 16 mths old. Good luck with your plans.

The cabins look great for all the reasons already mentioned - full kitchen, more room, privacy (so 4 kids bouncing off the walls doesn't disturb others), and a beautiful wood setting (at least I like it). The only 'negative' about Ft. Wilderness is that it's huge (from some spots, you've got to take an internal bus to take an external bus to the parks!) and the pool is rather plain compared to some other moderate and deluxe resort pools.

 

[crisi]

Renting points won't be a good option. Somehow people have gotten the impression that this is cheap - and its a bargain for staying at a Deluxe resort. But the OP can't afford connecting rooms at a value.

For her family of six, she would need a two bedroom. At the cheapest time of year, in the cheapest resort, that's going to be 22 points a night, 54 on the weekends. At the going rate of $10 per point, that will be $220 a night, $540 if she wants to stay Friday night or Saturday. She can do better with connecting rooms at a value. She isn't going in the cheapest time of year though, she is going in July - thats 30 points a night - 73 on the weekend.

Plus there will be much stricter cancellation policies. With four kids, if one gets sick, you'll want to be able to cancel on short notice. Most DVC owners won't refund your money - they can't - their points go into holding and are much less valuable to them or anyone else.

Now, she'd get a full kitchen - but budget boarders know that you don't need a full kitchen to eat cheap at Disney.

 

[ptmmg]

we to are a family of 6 kids ages from 2 to 16 ( I know what you mean about "branching out") anyway we booked a suite at the all star music for the end of August. I like that they have queen size bed and my kids won't care about sleeping on pull outs. I like the fact if your back during the day at all its not like you are sitting on beds, and the younger ones can nap in the bed. they also have a fridge and microwave.
they are booking now but are opening in June I can't wait to hear reviews on them.

 

[laceemouse]

I think the new suites are your best option for doing it cheap on-site. We are a family of six and that is the main reason we bought DVC. I think a lot of larger families stay off-site. The whole world seems to be set up for 2 kid families!

 

[momlvsdsny]

Yes, and there are some really nice places that I have seen that are only a short distance from Disney, which is no problem really. I also just for fun tried to look at the Disney Cruise, and it told me to make my party size less than 5. Haha, I thought, ok what do I tell the one kid that I am supposed to drop?! Was reading one part that said the stateroom slept 7, ,but it wouldnt take my party of six at all, so I didnt really press that, because I figured it was way out of my price range anyway. I am still not sure which way we are going to go, though I do like the look of the All Star Music. But thanks to all who are giving me advice, I really appreciate it!!!

 

[crisi]

If you were to look into cruising, big families book two connecting staterooms in a low category. The first two people in each stateroom are charged adult prices. Its still pricey (DCL is a very expensive cruiseline - you can easily find cheaper cruises), but it doesn't send you into shock.

 

[clkelley]

If you were to join AAA, you could get two Value rooms for $168.30 per night + tax.

Tax is less at Pop Century than it is at All-Stars, so your bottom dollar rate with tax would be at Pop Century.

You can get tickets at Ticket Mania at a good discount by subscribing to the Mousesavers.com newsletter.

Another thing no one has suggested is camping. Are you tent campers?? Can you borrow a pop-up camper from someone??

Ft. Wilderness sites sleep up to 10 folks. You are looking at from $55 - $72 per night at the most.

Yes, it would be hot, but fans help and even a portable air conditioner.

 

[5boyz]

I thought I was the only one.....We are actually a family of 8 but only 6 going 2 are too old!!! LOL!!! I have seen pics of the family suites and they look very cool. The have a King bed in room and then in livingroom there is a pullout couch, pullout chair and a pullout ottoman. They fold out just like the couch but are single the couch is double or queen. There are at least 2 but I think I read 3 TV's and then off course we know what the outside looks like....FUN FOR KIDS!!!! My 15 year old wants to stay there instead of POR with our friends....he thinks it is somewhere that his granma would, it is too nice for kids he said!!! No Offence to anyone!!!! If you want the website with the pics I will look it up for you and send it!!!

 

[clkelley]

FUN FOR KIDS!!!! My 15 year old wants to stay there instead of POR with our friends....he thinks it is somewhere that his granma would, it is too nice for kids he said!!! No Offence to anyone!!!!!

My boys agree with your 15YO. We stayed at the POFQ one year with our 16 & 17 yo boys as (what we thought) a treat and they were BORED!!

They like the All-Stars much better with lots of other teens and the football field for pickup games.

 

[4lilpoohs]

I also have six in my family. My boys are 16, 12, 5 and 2. We are booking two rooms at Pop. I thought about the All Star suites but I didn't like the idea of them sleeping on pullouts. I would like to hear what people have to say after they open.