Family of Five

[mikesmom]

Heck, we always get a 2 bedroom, and we are a family of THREE - however it's always been 4 on a trip as DS brings a buddy. As has been said several times on this board, once you get that 2 bedroom it's tough to go back. The extra bathroom, the ease in accomodating both late and early risers (I don't have to tiptoe around sleeping teenagers when I get up for my 1st cup of coffee), the extra closets, the SPACE!!

Once they get up into the teens you'll be grateful for that extra room availability.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We are a family of 5 and we stay in both one and two-BR units, and plan to keep that pattern well into the future. What size unit we choose is a matter of which resort we're vacationing at and how many trips we have planned in a given year. DVC will not provide addtional bedding for a 5th person in a 1-BR, but a twin areobed is an option for the 1-BR unit.

While our kids are small, a 1-BR is more than enough space, and doesn't allow the toddlers access to a sliding door that may be off the 2nd bedroom. At what point we to switch over to exclusively 2-BR units will depend strictly on our personal vacation desires as well as family dynamics/logistiscs.

Go and enjoy a fret-free vacation...you are the best ones to decide your comfort level.

 

[Richyams]

We get the GV for our family of three. We always bring another couple and let the kids share the third bedroom.

We DVC to be comfortable on vacation.

Regardless of any rules, I would never be as comfortable in a one bedroom with five as I am in my GV.

 

[lovin'DVC]

We are a family of 6, with 33 month old twins. We needed a room for 3 days before we could get into the BCV. I had to laugh when Disney reservations said we could be in any room on the property. (They would provide an extra pack 'n play.) At 38 and 32 lbs, I couldn't imagine either kid in a pack 'n play at all. Luckily, we got a great AP rate on a BW concierge room which sleeps 6 (2 queens and a queen sofabed). We were there for 3 days, then over to BCV for 5 days in a 2BR. Although the concierge part was nice, we were *so* happy to get over to the Villas. We enjoyed the vacation so much more with the extra space and additional bathroom.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Well, first of all............congrats on your new little bundle of joy coming soon...........

As a family of 5, we stayed in a 1 BR until our little one was 3!! Now we love the 2 BR!! The girls have their room and we have ours...............and yes, we had to buy more points too!! Or we could have shortened our stay...........which was out of the question for us!!

 

[disneymama73]

Originally posted by mom2alix
You didn't mention if the new addition is a boy or girl, Congrats, BTW! Since you did say your other two are girls, I'll give you the low-down coming from a family of 3 daughters myself. Forget the beds - you need the extra bathroom!

By the time the newest addition is 3, the extra bath will definitely be worth the add-on. Once they're teenagers you may be wishing for DVC to build a 2 bedroom/3 bathroom unit.

It's also good that your 2 DD are already used to sharing the sofa bad since the baby seems to always be the child who figures out that if you kick and roll and sleep sideways in the bed you get to sleep by yourself!

HI!

We will find out the sex of the baby (hopefully!) in 5 weeks. I'll be 22wks by then.

Thanks for your thoughts & thanks for the *Congrats!* I appreciate it!

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by Johnnie Fedora
We are a family of 5 and we stay in both one and two-BR units, and plan to keep that pattern well into the future. What size unit we choose is a matter of which resort we're vacationing at and how many trips we have planned in a given year. DVC will not provide addtional bedding for a 5th person in a 1-BR, but a twin areobed is an option for the 1-BR unit.

While our kids are small, a 1-BR is more than enough space, and doesn't allow the toddlers access to a sliding door that may be off the 2nd bedroom. At what point we to switch over to exclusively 2-BR units will depend strictly on our personal vacation desires as well as family dynamics/logistiscs.

Go and enjoy a fret-free vacation...you are the best ones to decide your comfort level.

Well said, thanks for the great post.

My understanding is that room occupancy discussions are not allowed on the DVC board. This is because they have resulted in heated debates, with no resolution. Some think a family of 5 is OK in a one bedroom, others are steadfastly against it and critical of any suggestions it is OK. As a result, I believe room occupancy discussions are only allowed on the debate board, so you really can't take either position as being the correct one. You know your families needs better than anyone else. Enjoy your vacations.

 

[drtpaper]

We too are a family of 5 and go through this debate every visit. My DD did great in the portable crib last year. My DW didn't like the location, but I thought the closet made a great bedroom and it kept the youngest from waking up the older two. The best part about the 2 bedroom is not losing your bed. The sofa sleeper is in the main room and we found ourselves letting the older ones go to sleep in our bed and then moving them once we were ready for bed. This worked for a little while, but the oldest was getting a little heavy by the end of the week.

Go for the 2 bedroom when you can swing it. We got hooked on DVC years ago when good friends took us down. We stuffed 5 adults and 6 kids in the room and had plenty of space for a 5 day visit. the two separate sleeping areas are great.

 

[disneymama73]

Originally posted by Desperado
My understanding is that room occupancy discussions are not allowed on the DVC board. This is because they have resulted in heated debates, with no resolution. Some think a family of 5 is OK in a one bedroom, others are steadfastly against it and critical of any suggestions it is OK. As a result, I believe room occupancy discussions are only allowed on the debate board, so you really can't take either position as being the correct one. You know your families needs better than anyone else. Enjoy your vacations.

I was not aware of that. Sorry!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by disneymama73
...unexpected bundle of joy entered the picture...

It seems you need to figure out what is causing it, and quit

Any more and you'll end up in GV land, and lots more points (but also lots of fun )

 

[Duchie]

We're a family of 5 and stayed in a 2BDRM during our trip last year. All 3 kids were 6 and under and they stayed in the 2nd bedroom. The first night, my oldest had a night terror and I spent the entire night with him in the living room. I was never so glad to have the extra space - his siblings were not disturbed once and I could spend as much time as I needed to get him settled. The remaining nights my youngest was sick and went to bed early. Again, having a separate room where he could rest while the rest of us watched TV was invaluable.

I know our case was extreme, but now I just can't imagine not having the extra space ever again!

 

[disneymama73]

Originally posted by pumpkinboy


It seems you need to figure out what is causing it, and quit


You said it!!!! ROFL!!!

.......

 

[disneymama73]

Originally posted by Duchie
We're a family of 5 and stayed in a 2BDRM during our trip last year. All 3 kids were 6 and under and they stayed in the 2nd bedroom. The first night, my oldest had a night terror and I spent the entire night with him in the living room. I was never so glad to have the extra space - his siblings were not disturbed once and I could spend as much time as I needed to get him settled. The remaining nights my youngest was sick and went to bed early. Again, having a separate room where he could rest while the rest of us watched TV was invaluable.

I know our case was extreme, but now I just can't imagine not having the extra space ever again!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Aren't night terrors horrible? My 4-yr-old used to have them.

I have a feeling that once we stay in a 2-bdrm, there will be no turning back. It will feel like such a luxury!!!

 

[Shadeaux]

We are a family of 3 and usually book a 1BR at OKW. Last year my mother-in-law was supposed to join us, so I booked a 2BR. She changed her mind and decided not to come, but since we had enough points, we decided to keep the 2BR. My teenage daughter loved having her own room and I liked not having to worry about opening & closing the sleeper sofa for 11 nights. I also didn't have to hear her complain that I woke her up when I was making coffee. It worked out so well that from now on, we'll be getting a 2BR as long as DD travels with us.

One of our biggest problems since joining DVC in '94 is we're spoiled and have a problem staying in a regular hotel room when we travel somewhere other than WDW. We now look for something like Homewood Suites or Hampton Suites.