Frustrating....party of 5

[cindycviper]

I don't know if anyone has been in this situation...but it is kind of frustrating that if you have 2 adults and 3 small children you are pretty limited in your choices of Disney Resorts. Unless you get 2 rooms at the value resort or stay at Port Orleans Riverside (with added charge for trundle bed) you are pretty much forced to stay at a Deluxe Resort. We stayed at Beach Club Resort last year and loved it, but it was pricy. My kids LOVE the pool area, esp. the water slide. Wanted to stay at CSR because it is a lot cheaper than BC and it looks like it has a really cool pool area with water slide. But, looks like we can't stay there because of the max. allowed. We are planning on buying season passes, so hopefully we can get an AP discount and save some money. Not sure if we should go back to Beach Club or try another Deluxe. The one thing I was disappointed with at Beach Club was the lack of fast food type food places. Beaches and Cream was yummy, but always a long wait...just too small. Anyhow, any suggestions would be great for people who may have the same situation. Thanks for letting me "vent.."

 

[aesalsa]

There's a Jr. suite at CSR! I think it is about $325 a night w/o tax during regular season. I hope someone else comes along with more info to help you. You'd think Disney would have more "affordable" options for families with more than 4 people. Good luck, and I'm sorry for your frustration. I'm sending a lot of pixie dust your way ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ !!

 

[karebear1]

Oh how I remember those days! When our kids were young we stayed at the BWV- and have since bought into the DVC. Have you looked at this? Or at least at renting points? How old are you kids?

 

[MELSMICE]

There are a few options:

--BC or YC, which you have already done. A little pricey, but a great pool & great location.

--Contemporary sleeps 5. Large rooms. Very convenient to MK.

--Polynesion - never stayed there, but have heard it's very nice.

--FW cabin. This was always our 1st choice before we bought into DVC. Sleeps 6, outdoor deck, full kitchen.

--Rent points from a DVC owner. A 2BR has a full kitchen & 2 baths. Point values differ depending on what "season" you travel in.

The cabins are about $300/night peak season, but can go as low as $170/night off season or with a code. We have always justified the cost by eating some meals in the cabin. We always have breakfast (about $25-$40/day for us) & do lunches there when we have a "pool day" (another $30-40 day even with counter service)

We also would have at least 1 or 2 dinners. Dinner for us 5 is about $100/day.

Anyway, depending on how you want to spend your vacation there are some options. Some people don't want to even see a kitchen. I didn't mind cooking a few dinners. It's more convenient to have breakfast in the room while everyone is getting ready. It's not a big deal for me to make sandwiches & take them to the pool.

Good luck deciding.

 

[married2grumpy]

I know the feeling. Being a family of 5, we are having a hard time with where to stay onsite that is affordable. We too have AP's that expire in may that we more than likely will not renew. With my dd turning 3, the on site options have dwindled. This past year we have been fortunate enough to visit Disney 3 times for a total of 33 nights all together. This was possible because we were able to still "fit" into the less expensive resorts. Now being left with only pricier options, we may only be able to afford 1 trip this year. We plan on staying at the Poly, which will cost us a lot more than a value or moderate would have. I know some of you will say we are lucky to visit at least once a year and that is true. Disney is just losing our business on those extra trips because who can afford to stay at the Poly or GF every trip. Not many families of 5, that's for sure. Until my kids are older, the option of 2 connecting rooms is out of the question for us as well.

I hope you too will e-mail Disney and let them know that their lack of affordable options for a family of 5 is disappointing. I don't expect 1 or 2 e-mails to change their minds but it may. My e-mail has been answered and I was told they do take guests input very seriously. I was told that they are looking into rooms for 5 in the new section of PC. We'll see.

Until then, we must stay where we can and visit less often. Disney would only benefit by making some other moderates or values accomodate 5.

Thanks for letting me "vent" too!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I would HIGHLY recommend the swan or dolphin, you can get a great ap rate or teacher/nurse/govt. disc. They are 2 queen beds at the swan plus you can get a roll away for $25 a night. We did this in aug and now we booked for april. Its like $200 with the taxes and resort fee. We stayed at the poly too in aug. but had the ftp. We only go to the deluxes in value season. Good luck. The dolphin has the snack casual place - tubbbis and that is where the mug refills are. There are only a few drawbacks, we can do without mickey soap, wake up calls and charging back to the room for the ton of money we are saving. Good luck.

 

[KNBNESMOM]

Wow, after reading these posts I am more grateful that we are eligible for the Shades of Green. On all of our previous trips we only had 2 children but now that we have 3 I am noticing how hard it is to find accomodations even outside of Disney World. In Europe you can just forget about it. Well except for Disneyland Paris anyway. But there again, you are still paying out the nose for a room there. Well in any event, good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[njcarita]

op how old are your three small children-

if one is under 3- you can stay at any of the resorts.

 

[leighe]

I think I'm crazy! DH and I haven't really talked about kids yet - but I find myself thinking, "Ok - only two - one more and we'll have problems going to WDW!" I have a younger brother and sister and my parents always chose the Poly and even that got a little crowded - especially when we got older.

 

[married2grumpy]

leighe,

We became "addicted" to Disney and Disney Resorts during my pregnancy with our 3rd child. We took full advantage of her being under 3 and planned as many trips as we could afford (even planning some we couldn't! ). Our 3rd child has brought us so much happiness and she is the biggest Disney lover of us all.

We joke about how if we only knew about the room occupancy limits before hand, maybe we would have stopped at 2.

I thought finding affordable hotels for 5 was difficult/expensive. A Disney cruise will cost us an arm and a leg. We would need either 2 rooms or a family veranda room. Very expensive for a family of 5 and something we must save a long time for.

I wouldn't trade my little one for all the cheap Disney trips in the world!

 

[DisneyPoly]

I can appreciate your frustration -- we're a family of six and now the youngest is over three -- I agree that two rooms at the Dolphin/Swan is a great option.

We have rented a 2 bedroom at OKW a few times and I would highly recommend this as well!

Good luck!

 

[leighe]

Oh - I definitely want to have 3 kids! I would have 6 if we were millionaires. I know when we start to have kids, our budget will change in a lot of ways! Probably no more eating out 4 nights out of 7. I'll have to learn to cook! Maybe I should get started now in case it takes me a while to learn . . .

 

[mickeymoose3]

I know this is frowned on but as a family of 5 we usually stay at the carribbean beach. The kids are 13D, 14D and 17S. We set up the bedspreads on the floor for my son as a mattress and he tells us it is comfortable. I know we shouldn't but we can't always afford the deluxe.

 

[jbhaupt]

Hi, I was told by a DVC rep that you can stay in a studio or 1 bdrm with 3 children. (Home away from Home resorts) They said they would however not provide a bed. As long as the total of people is not 6 or more..which would then have to goto a 2 bdrm or 2 adjoining rooms at a different resort. This is due to fire codes.
Good luck. We have three children also. With my youngest approaching 3 this summer.

 

[SueM in MN]

Two things.....

Hi, I was told by a DVC rep that you can stay in a studio or 1 bdrm with 3 children. (Home away from Home resorts) They said they would however not provide a bed. As long as the total of people is not 6 or more

There is a thread on the Debate Board about just this subject (and it is a forbidden subject on the DVC Board because it turns into a heated debate there). despite what DVC reps sometimes tell people, the official listed maximum occupancy for a studio or 2 bedroom DVC villa is 4 people (plus a child under the age of 3). For a 2 bedroom, it is a maximum of 8

..which would then have to goto a 2 bdrm or 2 adjoining rooms at a different resort.

Many people think adjoining rooms are ones that can be "joined" together. Even though that is what they sound like, in "hotel language", adjoining rooms are just rooms that are next to each other. They might even be across the hall from each other.
If you want two rooms that have a door between them so that you can open it and go from room to room without going out in the hallway, Connecting Rooms are what you want.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Sue,
Just wanted to thank you for clarifying the "adjoining" vs. "connecting" issue--that was very helpful to me

 

[Dismom63]

Just a vote for the obvious...POR, AB section with a trundle! We have done this several times and our three kids always want to get the trundle. The one time Grandparents came we were able to assign one to their room at CBR.
This time we are using teacher discount at the Dolphin and getting a rollaway!
We just take it trip by trip and keep the big picture in mind...You are blessed with 3 wonderful kids and you're going to Disney!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by HappyMommy2
Sue,
Just wanted to thank you for clarifying the "adjoining" vs. "connecting" issue--that was very helpful to me

My mom used to work in a hotel, so I speak "hotel".
And, I've seen too many posts from people who asked for "adjoining" rooms and were disappointed that their rooms next to each other didn't join.

 

[DJBounce]

I feel your pain.
I have three kids and we are planning a family trip after Thankgiving, or after the first of the year, have not decided yet.
We were planning to get a room at the Poly which will hold 5 people. I have been to the Mousesavers website and comparing AP rates. Now I know I cannot rely on this as AP rates may or may not be offered, may or may not be available for my travel dates, etc. But I found that getting two rooms at CBR is over $80 less than one room at the Poly. I know that staying at the Poly will enable us to get to Epcot and MK a lot easier via the Monorail, but saving money and getting two rooms in the process is very appealing.
Other options we have considered is two rooms at any of the values. My wife and I were just at PC last month and we liked it alot. We payed $55 a night with that CTH code that was out.
Another option to look at is, if you're into this, camping at Fort Wilderness. It's economical and you still have the same amenities as any other resort (of course minus your own personal shower and bathroom). If this is an option you might want to consider the Camping Board is a fantastic resource for this.

Oh well, best of luck and hope you make a choice that is comfortable for you and your family.

 

[cheeringmom]

We are a family of five -2 teens and a 4 yr old. One time we stayed at the BW in DD. The rooms were pretty big. Bus service was ok. Wish we wold have had a car, but the kids enjoyed walking to DD at night after the parks closed. I think we even got a rate of $69 a night. Not too bad Just got back from the CR. Loved the location but hated the hotel. But the rooms fit 5 very comfortably