Family of 6

[sarahbug79]

A friend has asked me to help plan a trip to disney for October/November. I'm a family of 5 so my options were limited but they have 4 kids so I know they are even more limited.

They want to stay onsite
Kids will be 9,9,7,4

What are their options and what were fall discounts this past year? I told her we went several years go and got free dining but I can't remember if that was offered. Lastly she is hoping for temps in the 70-80s does that sound about right for fall?

 

[Gracie09]

The cabins at fort wilderness, family suites at aoa and asmu and two bedroom villa or tree houses will hold 6. If you go with villa or tree houses you are better off renting DVc points even if you have to pay for the meal plan.

 

[Marionnette]

A friend has asked me to help plan a trip to disney for October/November. I'm a family of 5 so my options were limited but they have 4 kids so I know they are even more limited.

They want to stay onsite
Kids will be 9,9,7,4

What are their options and what were fall discounts this past year? I told her we went several years go and got free dining but I can't remember if that was offered. Lastly she is hoping for temps in the 70-80s does that sound about right for fall?

They can choose a couple of options.

1. The cheapest would be to pitch a tent at Fort Wilderness Campground. Campsites allow up to 10 people per site. You can also rent a camper from a non-Disney business and have it placed on a campsite for about the same cost as two rooms at a value resort.
   
2. The next cheapest option would be to book 2 rooms at a value resort and request connecting (NOT adjoining) rooms.
   
3. Slightly more expensive but guaranteeing that you will all be in one unit, would be a family suite at one of the value resorts. You would have the added benefit of a small kitchenette so that you can prepare breakfast and snacks easily.
   
4. The cabins at FW will accommodate 6 people and you would have a full kitchen and 2 rooms.
   
5. For a little more money, there are some suites at CSR that will accommodate a party of that size.
   
6. Lastly, and the most expensive option, staying in a 2-bedroom villa in a DVC resort either by renting points from an owner or booking directly with Disney.

You can find the historic discounts here:
http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#codechart
Discounts for late Oct - early Nov were in the 15%-30% off of rack rate for room-only reservations or "Free" dining for package reservations including rooms at rack rate and a minimum of 2-day ticket purchases.

It should be noted that not all resorts or rooms are included in the discounts. It can be rare for family suites to be included in the "Free" dining offer and the campgrounds are almost never included in any discount.

 

[HeatherC]

I would suggest Bonnet Creek Resort. It is "onsite" just not Disney owned. They could get a two bedroom villa for about $100 a night including taxes. Could literally save them thousands of dollars vs a Disney Resort.

Plus, it is a beautiful resort with multiple pools, lazy river, free mini golf, kids activities, full kitchens, multi baths, multi tvs, washer and dryer, etc..

Just a suggestion that may be worth them checking out.

 

[dpswift]

We went several years ago and got connecting rooms at POP. It worked out well. We had enough room and of the onsite options it was cheapest. We planned a lot of charactor meals so we got the dining plan, however if we did not want so many sit down meals it would have been cheaper to pay for meals separately.

We loved staying onsite because we could split up and use the bus system.

 

[sarahbug79]

Thanks for the help all things to consider. They do want to stay onsite for transportation. Do you think they would need to put a old on a suite will they be hard to come by if they wait? Is the art of animation better than all stars for a suite? The prices were close. Are there any other hotels besides value that would have connecting rooms? If they get free dining they will want regular not quick service.

 

[Marionnette]

Thanks for the help all things to consider. They do want to stay onsite for transportation. Do you think they would need to put a old on a suite will they be hard to come by if they wait? Is the art of animation better than all stars for a suite? The prices were close. Are there any other hotels besides value that would have connecting rooms? If they get free dining they will want regular not quick service.

AoA suites are newer than the ASMu Family Suites. However, the AoA suites are rarely included in "free" dining.

You can request connecting rooms at any resort, but they are NEVER guaranteed.

If you get "free" dining at one of the Value Resorts, you can always pay to upgrade it to the regular dining. The only Moderate Resort that would accommodate a family of 6 in one place would be CSR, but those suites are VERY expensive. Even two rooms at a moderate would cost more than a family suite at a Value Resort with the dining upgrade AND you would not be guaranteed that the rooms would connect.

 

[sarahbug79]

Have they included the asm suites in the past? Do you know what the cost is to upgrade the dinning?

 

[Marionnette]

Have they included the asm suites in the past? Do you know what the cost is to upgrade the dinning?

ASMu family suites have been included in "free" dining in the past. The cost to upgrade would be the difference between the regular price of the QSDP and the price of the DDP.

 

[java]

Another way more expensive option is concierge level at the Boardwalk( they havea couple deluxe rooms that sleep 6. With the 30% off discount it wasn't terrible. But that is out of our price range now. Just wanted to throw it out there for any other large families.

We stayed AOA suites the year it opened and really enjoyed it.

 

[Egdisney]

Thanks for the help all things to consider. They do want to stay onsite for transportation. Do you think they would need to put a old on a suite will they be hard to come by if they wait? Is the art of animation better than all stars for a suite? The prices were close. Are there any other hotels besides value that would have connecting rooms? If they get free dining they will want regular not quick service.

We had connecting rooms at CBR, we requested bc we were traveling with my parents, and received them. While they won't guarantee them, I have read numerous times that if you are outnumbered by children, especially at that age, you get them. I don't want to say they guarantee them, but I think they do. It would be worth a phone call.

 

[Marionnette]

We had connecting rooms at CBR, we requested bc we were traveling with my parents, and received them. While they won't guarantee them, I have read numerous times that if you are outnumbered by children, especially at that age, you get them. I don't want to say they guarantee them, but I think they do. It would be worth a phone call.

If the number of adults is equal to the number of rooms, there is a very real possibility that the family can end up in two rooms that don't connect but also are not near each other. If being together is important, the only way to guarantee it would be to book a family suite or a villa. The CM on the phone does not do room assignments and the CM that does do them may not have 2 connecting rooms available for the entire stay.

 

[Egdisney]

If the number of adults is equal to the number of rooms, there is a very real possibility that the family can end up in two rooms that don't connect but also are not near each other. If being together is important, the only way to guarantee it would be to book a family suite or a villa. The CM on the phone does not do room assignments and the CM that does do them may not have 2 connecting rooms available for the entire stay.

I know they will not guarantee it, nor will any other hotel. I also have a family of 6 and spent way too much time reading blogs, comments, and forum posts pertaining to this. In almost every instance they did receive connecting rooms. Due to the young age of the kids, I might be hesitant to book anything other than a suite. We also travelled in October. We were able to get connecting rooms with an equal number of adults and children. We also got the ground floor room we requested. In regards to the adjoining rooms, they may have better luck if they stay at a larger resort. Also, I kind of wish we had stayed at a suite, just for the extra floor space, so that is something to think about as well.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Temps for Oct if she goes the last week of the month temps will be in the low 80's . same for Nov. With lows in the high 50's so better pack sweatshirts or lite jacket. Also keep in mind at the end of Oct is the MNSSHP and the park will close early (7p.m) for the party.

Earlier in Oct the temps will be 85-90 and extremely humid

 

[englishteacha]

My in laws stayed in a suite at AoA and really enjoyed it. It was 3 adults and 2 children. I know it was expensive, though. It was their "dream" vacation and probably won't go back for at least another 10 years.

I know they want to stay onsite, but we've had great luck staying offsite in condos with oodles of space for way less than even one value room onsite. Just something to consider if cost really is an option. I don't think I missed out on any Disney magic by staying offsite.

 

[strmtroopr96]

AoA suites are newer than the ASMu Family Suites. However, the AoA suites are rarely included in "free" dining.

That's not true. The suites at AoA have been included in most, if not all, of the different Free Dining promotions.

It is the Little Mermaid rooms that have not been included in the different discount promotions.