Family of 6 not 4

[mrsgus06]

We are also a family of 8, ages 19 to 4. We usually go in our camper, but when it is only the girls and myself (that makes 5), we stay at the cabins in Ft. Wilderness. I am going April 7 and with the ap discount rate, paying $207.40 per night.

 

[5boyz]

clkelley.....LOL!!! Yeah mine like sport and movies and fun things too!!! I am not yet sure which one we are staying at but I am sure it will be fun no matter what!!!

4lilpoohs....If I didn't know any better having 5 boys I would say 4lils_ _ts!!! Just kidding but that is what I thought of when I seen it....cute name!!!
when are you going? We are going July 24

mrsgus06...you have 4 girls 2 boys? I have 5 boys 1 girl (she is the baby). We stayed at the FW cabins last year. They were nice but too quiet for me...I like lotsa gonin on!!! LOL!!!

 

[eeyore45]

just thought I'd post the mousesavers link with the layout

http://www.mousesavers.com/allstarmusicsuites.html

I find it interesting that she also posts
"Are these suites a good deal? It depends. Unless you really want the kitchenette, you may find it's a better value to book two standard rooms at one of the Value resorts instead. This will give you two bathrooms and four double beds (for a maximum occupancy of 8 people). Two standard rooms cost slightly less than a family suite and can be additionally discounted with any available code or special rate. - end quote"

 

[5boyz]

That is exactly what I said when I talked to the lady at Disney about the family suites. I said to her why would someone pay $11.more a night for a suite when they can get adjoining rooms. She mentioned the kitchenette. We are driving so we can bring a cooler for drinks and milk (or go get in cafeteria)for cereal with the big honken mugs that I will buy!! But yes never thought (well actually never knew )until a few days ago about the discounts!!!!

 

[KristiKelly]

Have you looked into a cabin at Fort Wilderness? Also, renting points. Someone mentioned that this would be too expensive and it may be but with the cabins or with a 2 BR DVC you would have a complete kitchen. Dining @ WDW can get expensive. Being able to buy groceries and having breakfasts and a few other meals in the room, or packing a picnic lunch for the parks can save quite a bit of money. With a family of 6, the cabins at Fort Wilderness might be a good option. Check www.mousesavers.com for discount codes for the resorts and cabins. Also the DVC rent/trade board. Good luck!

 

[DVC Sadie]

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!

Although renting points is a great deal, it is only a great deal if the person who is renting points was going to book two rooms in either a moderate or deluxe. For most people booking 2 rooms at a value resort is a lot less expensive than renting points.

 

[tcolbert]

I would definitely check into the cabins at Fort Wilderness. In addition to the room, you have a little more privacy and tons of room for them to run around.

 

[minnie61650]

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!!

According to Allearsnet.com the suites are going for:

Value season $169
Regular season $209
Peak season $239
Holiday season $259

A little info:

New Family Suites at All Star Music Resort

Several rooms at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort are getting an extreme makeover. They are being restructured to house the new Disney’s All-Star Resort Family Suites, set to open June 4, 2006.

The new family suites will offer an affordable and convenient option for larger families with the amenities of a studio apartment.

Guests will enjoy the whimsical music-themed details, along with modest rates averaging $204, based on season. Most rooms sleep a family of six. There is a limited amount of rooms available.

Families can be together in the suite while enjoying separate sleeping areas with added privacy. Having two bathrooms will not only save time, but makes getting ready easier for the whole family. Plus, extra amenities like a microwave enable guests to prepare warm snacks and meals. With the extra room, guests can relax and recount the memories of the day before falling off to a goodnight’s sleep.

52 Family Suites located in the Jazz Inn building
(192 suites upon completion located in Calypso and Jazz Inn buildings)

-Sleep up to 6 (plus one child under age 3 in a Pak-n-Play crib)
-Studio amenities and separate sleeping areas giving more privacy than a standard room.
-Queen bed, full-size pullout sofa, convertible ottoman & chair sleepers (4 separate sleepers)
-Private master bedroom and family room have 27” flat CRT TV and high speed internet access.
-Kitchenette with microwave, small refrigerator (4.3 cu. ft) and coffee pot
-Two-full bathrooms

Here is the layout:

Here are some photos from the DIS resort website:

The children would have lots of fun at the All Stars.
I am 55 and have tried some of Disney's pricer resorts and even though I can well afford to stay a deluxe I would much rather stay at the All Stars.

It is like being in the middle of a Disney movie Fantasyland.
When we pull in and see those giant icons I get the biggest smile on my face.
I know I am at Disney!

If you any questions about the All Stars just PM me.

Have fun at Disney!

 

[minnie61650]

That is exactly what I said when I talked to the lady at Disney about the family suites. I said to her why would someone pay $11.more a night for a suite when they can get adjoining rooms. She mentioned the kitchenette...........!

$11 more a night.
Lets see .For $11-----

You get a kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave and coffeepot.
(It would cost $10 extra a night to rent a refrigerator.)
(A microwave and/or coffeepots are not even offered for rent.)

Two 27 inch Flat CRT TV's

High speed internet access.

And a QUEEN size bed. (you can't even get a queen size at a moderate!)

$11 sounds like a bargin to me.

 

[clkelley]

$11 more a night.

High speed internet access.

And a QUEEN size bed. (you can't even get a queen size at a moderate!)

High speed internet access is available at all of the rooms in All-Star Music and costs $9.95 extra per day (including the suites).

You can get a King sized bed connecting to two doubles at the All-Stars and have a KING sized bed.

You are MUCH more likely to get AAA or Annual Pass discounts on the standard rooms.

If you have more than two adults in one of those suites, then that's an extra $10 per night per extra adult. With two standard rooms, you can have up to four adults.

Granted, you don't get the fridge, microwave, and coffee pot.

You can purchase a mini fridge for $70.00, a mini microwave for $30 and a coffee pot for $10 and still have those items after the trip for future trips.

I'm not saying the suites are bad, they look great, but consider the negatives to them also.

 

[Gillian]

I think the main benefit of the suites is that you are guarenteed 2 connecting rooms. If you book 2 actual rooms, there could be problems getting them connecting, especially for a small family like ours. And I don't know how hard it is to get a king connecting to 2 fulls, but it seems like it's much easier to have a confirmed queen in the suites.

The kitchenette is a nice feature. And all those pullouts look cool!

The only thing I don't like is that the door is on the kids side. My kids (2 & 5) can figure out how to open just about any door, and I don't know that I'd feel safe having them be over there by themselves, especially at night or early in the morning.

 

[Gillian]

You can purchase a mini fridge for $70.00, a mini microwave for $30 and a coffee pot for $10 and still have those items after the trip for future trips.

True, but I'm not going to take these thing on the plane with me.

 

[clkelley]

I think the main benefit of the suites is that you are guarenteed 2 connecting rooms. If you book 2 actual rooms, there could be problems getting them connecting, especially for a small family like ours. And I don't know how hard it is to get a king connecting to 2 fulls, but it seems like it's much easier to have a confirmed queen in the suites.

The kitchenette is a nice feature. And all those pullouts look cool!

The only thing I don't like is that the door is on the kids side. My kids (2 & 5) can figure out how to open just about any door, and I don't know that I'd feel safe having them be over there by themselves, especially at night or early in the morning.

This is true. Guaranteeing that you are together is a great feature.

One thing you could do is mom & dad could each take a single pullout and put them together and put the kids in the bedroom with the queen.

Is your 5yo tall enough to reach the "bar lock" near the top of the door?

Locking that will effectively keep them in.

 

[5boyz]

Minnie If you noticed after I said kitchenette I stopped there. I asked a question and she gave me an answer and that was it!!! I know it is a great deal but when I asked the question I didn't know about the kitchenette. 99% chance that is where I will be staying!!!!

 

[crjack]

We only stayed in the FW cabins once back in 1998 but unless they have changed they only had one bathroom.....just something to consider when comparing all of the choices.

It was fine for us back then because our children were much younger but now I would probably find it harder to get all of us out each morning.

 

[4lilpoohs]

5boyz-We are going 12/13-12/27/06. Yes 4lilpoohs can be taken the way you said it

 

[4lilpoohs]

We are booked for 2 Pop rooms. I looked into the cabins after reading they may be cheaper. The Pop rooms came to $2466 and the cabins were $3731. I did check into the suites and they are all booked for my dates. A TA friend of mine told me I could save almost $500 if we get AAA. So I'm going to do that and stick with the Pop rooms.

 

[minnie61650]

Minnie If you noticed after I said kitchenette I stopped there. I asked a question and she gave me an answer and that was it!!! I know it is a great deal but when I asked the question I didn't know about the kitchenette. 99% chance that is where I will be staying!!!!

You are right. I stand corrected.
I like the little kitchette. It will come in handy for quick snacks(freshly popped popcorn comes to mind) and a coffee pot for dh.
It is not a full kitchen but when I am Disney I don't want to cook.

Another reason I will perfer the suites over a DVC is I will not have pay $25 a day extra for Mousekeeping. I love getting clean towels and having my bed
made everyday when I am on vacation.

 

[momlvsdsny]

Thanks everyone for all the info, I am having a hard time deciding!!! But I am keeping track of all the advice, so I can show the hubby this weekend! Thanks again!!

 

[5boyz]

Thanks minni!!!mmmmmmmmmmmm popcorn. The unfortune, well or fortune thing for us is that we spent morning til night at the park and don't really get enjoy the benefits of those neat little things. Last year we got the cabins and were never there!!! All the food we bought went in the garbage or to the mousekeeping!!! But we are there for 4 days longer this year so maybe we will use it more this time!!! LOL!!! Again thanks for all the info!!!