Family of five on a buget

[loveysbydesign]

Stay offsite at Windsor Hills...cheaper, newer, plenty of space, Disney themed ones are available and only 10 minutes to the parking lot of each park! Or 2 rooms onsite so you have enough space and bathrooms!

 

[dianed358]

Thanks for all the advise

Still not sure what to do....
Not really sold on a value resort but the extra room sounds nice....willing to be cramped at the POR...we did like it there.
The trundle bed is fine for our 5 year old.
We really only spend time there sleeping and getting dressed... we prefer to eat out while on vacation and NOT cook!!
We really do spend all day in the parks.... that's what we are there for!!!

I quess I have to price out different options and see what we can do... I also have to include airfare....

I really have the Disney itch!!!!!

 

[dianed358]

Also we really want to stay in a Disney resort..... No driving for us!!! We are completely sold on that!!! Got to get every second of Disney magic that we could!!!

 

[Rylee]

The Port Orleans Riverside Trundle Bed is 35" X 65".

A standard Twin Mattress is 39" X 75".

 

[blessedby3]

We are a family of 6, kids are 19,14,11 and 2. We either stay at a deluxe (if we can swing it at the time) or go with 2 rooms at POP. This is a great value resort and you have lots of room with 2 rooms.
I dont feel the mods are worth the price difference, so we either go value or deluxe.

 

[dianed358]

Are you guarenteed connecting rooms??? That was our concern last time we went... someone told me that they could not guarentee them..

That would work better because my ten year old does not want to sleep on a fold out bed...Don't blame her. They do not look comfortable.

Going to start my pricing today....more fun than cleaning house!! LOL

 

[GMS]

I see a lot of posts about renting DVC points...can someone tell me how to go about doing this? BTW, we have stayed at POR at least 3 times and like it, have stayed at AKL, loved it but can't always afford it and usually have too many people for just one room, and gotten two rooms at ASMO and ASMu. It was fine, nice with extra space of two rooms and we really liked having our own "adult" room. Just booked 2 rooms for 5 of us at POP for the first time in March...we'll see...

 

[tzolkin]

Are you guarenteed connecting rooms??? That was our concern last time we went... someone told me that they could not guarentee them..

They are not guaranteed, but you will most likely get them.


Personally I would do the room at POR. My youngest has been under 3 our last few trips and we really don't mind being in one room (and we've had a crib or air mattress, two strollers, etc). I keep everything organized and we have never had any issues. I know many want their separate space to be comfortable, but I'm so paranoid that I don't think I could sleep with my kids in another room.

We stayed at Pop a few times and enjoyed it, but stayed at CSR our last trip. My MIL said once we got there we would never be able to stay at a value again... and I think she was right. The kids were thrilled with our "new hotel" and the relaxed atmosphere was much better for our family.


Not to give you way too many options, but have you considered the Dolphin? I had always dismissed it as not a Disney hotel, but the location seems great and guests have access to EMHs (no ME or Dining Plan though). There are good discounts for nurses and teachers, so the price is about the same as POR.


--A side question for those who suggest renting DVC points (I've noticed this on several threads)... do you have a family of 5? It seemed that the regular rooms only accomodate 4, so a larger family would need to get a 2 bedroom. Those are a huge number of points, so I don't see where this could be cheaper than non-DVC options. I am interested if there are other options for families of 5. Thanks.

 

[blessedby3]

Are you guarenteed connecting rooms??? That was our concern last time we went... someone told me that they could not guarentee them..

That would work better because my ten year old does not want to sleep on a fold out bed...Don't blame her. They do not look comfortable.

Going to start my pricing today....more fun than cleaning house!! LOL

Out of all our Disney trips that we have needed connecting rooms, we have always gotten them. Never been a problem for us, but no they are not actually guarenteed. I wouldnt think it would be a problem unless you were going at a very busy time. I dont remember if you said when you were going.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

With the connecting rooms, is there a "foot" to fold down on the bottom of the door to keep the door open or do you need some sort of doorstop?

 

[disneyfan55]

Thanks for all the advise

Still not sure what to do....
Not really sold on a value resort but the extra room sounds nice....willing to be cramped at the POR...we did like it there.
The trundle bed is fine for our 5 year old.
We really only spend time there sleeping and getting dressed... we prefer to eat out while on vacation and NOT cook!!
We really do spend all day in the parks.... that's what we are there for!!!

I quess I have to price out different options and see what we can do... I also have to include airfare....

I really have the Disney itch!!!!!

I don't think anyone was saying to cook on vacation. We have always found to save money as well as time to eat breakfast in the room The cabin suggestion just made you have not only much more room 2 TVs but a kitchen for simple things like cereal etc. Sorry if you thought we wanted you to book it for you to have to cook. Have fun whatever you pick!

 

[disneyfan55]

With the connecting rooms, is there a "foot" to fold down on the bottom of the door to keep the door open or do you need some sort of doorstop?

I don't recall anything to hold the door open, but in my experience (about 7 times with connecting rooms) the doors stay open if you open them. They don't shut unless you close them.

 

[jbmgsdmom]

We are are family of five going in Oct as well. We have 13, 8, & 3 yr old kiddos. We are having the same discussion. We are deciding between POR or 2 rooms at a value. The 2 rooms was actually cheaper than the All-Star Suites but POR was about $300 cheaper. We are able to get 6 days of tickets, no hopper option and the deluxe dining plan for our family for just under $4000 for POR or just over $4000 for the 2 rooms at the value. This morning as our dds were arguing over the hairbrush, we thought "Maybe that extra $300 would be worth it to be able to send them to their own space"! We are flying in and found that the cost of a rental car and other fees counteracted the money we'd save staying offsite. Good luck on your decision! I'm still not quite there.

 

[Baltazar]

The least expensive would be 1 room at Port Orleans with a trundle bed.

Two rooms at a value is more money and a suite is a bit more than 2 rooms.

 

[DjdBrit]

We are a family of 5, when we return to WDW in April my kids will be 9, 6 and 4. The last 2 years we have stayed at SSR in a 2bedroom villa and brought my Dad along, making our party 6. Last year we got a great deal on the 4/3 offer and saved $2,200.

We started talking about another trip in september and orignally it was just going to be the 5 of us. I started pricing out different options and had concerns about many of them. The family suites were out for us as I did not want my kids sleeping next too an exterior door without me (thats just me, and I am not sleeping on a pull out... sorry). The cabins seemed like a good idea but without a car the more I read, the more remote they seemed.


I was concerned that we wouldn't fit it a moderate room and that deluxe were going to be too expensive. We ended up asking my MIL to come which made us back to a party of 6. Not knowing what deals were coming our way for this year we were offered the chance to rent DVC points and I jumped on it. We will be staying in a 2bed villa at AKV in April and will still be paying more than I would like but I do feel that we made the right decision, when all is said and done its really huge savings.

When the deals for this spring were released and I saw the GC offer I really felt justified our trip to the AKV would have priced at over $10,000 before airfare, which would mean we wouldn't be going

I am always surprised that WDW doesn't see the need for familys of more than 4. Even when the designed DVC reosorts it amazes me that the 2bed lock offs were not designed the other way around so that they would be better for bigger families.


I hope that you find sucess with your trip planning Good luck

 

[Iott Family]

Are you guarenteed connecting rooms??? That was our concern last time we went... someone told me that they could not guarentee them..

That would work better because my ten year old does not want to sleep on a fold out bed...Don't blame her. They do not look comfortable.

Going to start my pricing today....more fun than cleaning house!! LOL

We have always been guranteed connecting rooms because we are a family with children under 17. HTH

 

[dianed358]

Thanks again for all the helpfull suggestions!!!

 

[mommy2taylor]

I think one of the things you did not mention was what your meal plans are? Are you going to be on the dining plan. Do you eat at the resort? We have a family match - 11 year old girl, 8 year old girl, 5 year old boy. We stayed at POR last year, and a friend stayed at the all star music in a family suite. From her description of the food court it didn't sound like they had nearly the type of food we had. My 2 daughters and I split the make your own pasta with the cream sauce and shrimp....it was so much food! It sounded like the values didn't have as full service of a menu...I might be wrong here? I would have liked more space too, but the cost to stay in the family suites was $300 MORE...not worth it to me...especially when we were only CRASHING there. Renting points was definetely more money, and off property you need a car....I vote POR!!

 

[dianed358]

I am leaning towards the POR. I do agree about the food court. From what I remember from our last visits at POP and POR the food was better at POR. We do eat out the whole time but it is nice to have the fridge for a few drinks. Love the pasta at POR!!!!!
For us the room is to sleep and I did like the few extras at POR.....and yes $300 is better in my pocket!!

 

[pooh2001]

Are either of you a nurse, teacher (even an assitant or substitute with a school pay stub), goverment employed to get a great discount at the Dolphin ?
You can get an AAA rate at the Dolphin too.

The rooms sleep 5 at the Dolphin.
You can walk to EPCOT and take a boat to both EPCOT and DHS.
Lots to do on the Boardwalk - rent bikes, rent boats, eat pizza and desserts, just hang out and watch the EPCOT fireworks.
The beds are wonderful and the cot is also comfy.