Family of Five

[lannykins]

Hi Everyone,
We have a family of five (two adults and three kids). It is extremely difficult to find accomodation at Disney Hotels at a reasonable price. We are also interested in going on a cruise. Has anyone with a family of five encountered these problems? If so, how did you solve them (if at all)?
Thanks!

 

[KEH]

We stayed at the Dixie Landings Resort (now part of Port Orleans Resort) when our 3 kids were 9, 7 and 7 and then again whne thye were 10, 8 and 8. The two boys shared one bed, we shared another and my daughter had the trundle bed. Not much space in the room when we were all there but we really used the room as a base. We loved the resort but we now stay at the Boardwalk villas as we are DVC members.

On the cruise, we take two adjoining (not connecting) category 11 rooms. The kids are now 16, 14 and 14, or will be when we cruise. They have one room and we have the other. We find that cheaper than a larger stateroom which would take us all. Again the room is little more than a base for sleeping, dressing and washing as we are out and about all the time.

I have never found the category 11 to be a problem and we are going on our 4th cruise in October.

 

[CheapMom]

Hi Lannykins- POR is the only place that accomadates 5 in 1 room (other than a suite) at WDW- Technically at least one of the children has to be age 9 or under though.

For the cruise you have a few options (from most to least $)
cat4 stateroom, 2 connecting cat10s, 2 adjoining cat 11s.
If you were planning on a verandah- the cat 4 has one.

Some people have liked the convenience of the booking the land/sea package but if you want to save money book WDW and the cruise separate.
edited to add: sorry didn't realize about the Poly

 

[mermaidlady]

the poly also lets you have 5 in a room. Last time we went the kids were 10, 8,and 4. We had two queens and a day bed type thing. We are getting a cat 4 as DH wants the verandah. Our kids will be 14, 13, and 8. My middle one will turn 13 on the cruise.It is usually more expensive for more than 4 in a family I find and not a lot of rooms at WDW for larger families except at the deluxe resorts Another problem is some one is always sitting alone on the rides since most seat either two or four persons.

 

[madoug]

We're sailing 1/2/05 with 5- DH and I, DS 14, Ds12, and DD10.
On our 4 night, the cat 4 priced out a little over $100 more than the 2 rooms. We choice the family suite because of the vervanda.
At WDW deluxes Comp, Poly, GF, BC, YC, and BW have rooms that sleep 5. Alas, AK and WL standard rooms only sleep 4 so we miss out on the $139 room rates there.

 

[llggood]

We have four kids so there are six of us. We booked two adjoining rooms at the All stars which was much cheaper than one room at one of the deluxe resorts that accomodates 6.

 

[cepmom]

I also am planning a cruise for 8/2005 and have a family of 5 (Dh and 3 dd ages 15,8,5). We went ahead and booked the cat 4 family stateroom (accomodates 5). We considered connecting rooms, but Dh wanted to have a room on a higher deck and the veranda so we went ahead and splurged!

As far as the land portion of the trip, we have not decided on a resort yet. I am waiting to see what they will have available for discounts when the time gets closer. I am thinking about going to the FW cabins (accomodates 6) if we can get a good rate. I don't think we will use POR, because I don't think it will be value season for that resort when we go. The deluxe rooms at WL and AKL accomodate 5, but I don't know what the rate is. Also, the Contemporary and the Poly accomodate 5.

Check out mousesavers.com for some great tips on saving money and discount codes.

Good luck planning!

 

[jenschaef1]

Cepmom:

We are a family of 6 and have stayed at the Fort Wilderness Cabins. Very roomy and they have a great fully equiped kitchen, we wouldn't hesitate to stay here again! Any ??? just ask away.

Jennifer

 

[hydster]

We are family of 5 as well. 2 Parents (old) and 3 kids 10, 9 and 5. We are staying at POR for 3 nights before the cruise and then we booked connecting Cat 8 staterooms for the 7 day cruise. We were lucky enough to find out earlier in the week that we had been complimentary upgraded to 2 Cat4 connecting family suites with verandahs. For us our cruise was about 5100 total for our family of 5 on the cruise in 2 connecting Cat 8's. It was about $570.00 more for us when we booked to get the 2 connecting Cat 8's than 1 Cat 4. POR cost us for 1 room with 2 beds and the trundle about 480.00 for the 3 nights total!

HTH
Heidi