Help! Advice for family of 6?

[daisyyy]

We've done a few trips separately, but would like to take the whole crew together one time. ( Without having to bring another family and pretending one of our kids are with them in their room. ) We've got DD 11, DD 10, DS 5, & DS 1. + me... and crabby husband... I've heard we could do Port Orleans? I don't really want to pay big bucks for deluxe since we are never in the room to enjoy .... Also... has anyone heard if the free dining will be offered again in Aug? Sept? any dates on that? Please.. any advice on traveling with a large family , please post. Thanks!

 

[Poohbug]

That many people in one room would drive me crazy. Crazy mommy on vacation is very bad.

You say you don't spend time in the room but won't your little one need naps and down time?

Check out the family suites at All Stars or a nice two bedroom at Bonnet Creek. Crabby husband will appreciate the space.

Keep checking back for free dining-it would be a great deal for you. It usually is announced in April and starts in August/ends in Sep.

 

[mommymeg]

Have you thought about a family suite at ASMU or a cabin at FW? We are a family of 5 staying at ASMU family suite in May...from the pics I've found online it will be enough room, plus 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette... we did the buy 4 get 3 free deal and added dining and water park option... We came in well under what I had budgeted for... if you are able to get free dining that will definitally save you around $1000 with your crew... Good luck!

 

[Darcy03231]

We're a family of 6 and I find what works best for us is renting a house. Last time I rented a 5 bedroom/3 bath private pool home 15 min from Disney's Main gate for $700 for the week including all taxes and fees. We love having all the space and the private pool.

If you want to stay on property I would get two rooms (adjoining if possible) at one of the value resorts. If you can get the adjoining rooms put you and DH in one room and the kids in the other, leaving the door open/ajar. If not, I would put the girls in one room and boys in the other.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Two other options are renting points to stay at a DVC resort, or renting a condo/townhouse/home off-site.

We're also a family of 6, and we would kill each other staying in one hotel room. The space issues alone would drive us mad--that's not even getting into the various sleep schedules and all sharing one bathroom.

While you would technically fit in POR, I don't know if you'd physically have enough room for the crib for the baby.

Also bear in mind that, if you were to stay in DVC or off-site, you would have full kitchen facilities. This could easily save a ton of money.

 

[brymolmom]

If Free DIning is announced (fingers crossed here too) - I think you should do 2 adjoining Value rooms. If you do not get Free Dining - I think you should stay offiste - get a nice 2 or 3 bedroom condo for a LOT less than a Mod Or Deluxe onsite and have a TON more room. Plus you'll save a lot on meals having a kitchen.

That's what I would do if I had a family of 6...

 

[dbal]

I will second the idea of adjoining Value rooms. We are also a family of 6 and having an extra bathroom was wonderful! We have stayed at a condo as well for much more room but much LESS money. I thought it was very nice. My dh missed staying onsite. So we have gotten 2 adjoining rooms at ASMo
2x and Pop 1x. It's the cheapest way to do 6 people and stay onsite. No complaints. Good luck!

 

[XYSRUS]

We're 6 too and we always go for 2 connecting rooms. Allows for private time for M&D!

 

[debraW76]

If Free DIning is announced (fingers crossed here too) - I think you should do 2 adjoining Value rooms. If you do not get Free Dining - I think you should stay offiste - get a nice 2 or 3 bedroom condo for a LOT less than a Mod Or Deluxe onsite and have a TON more room. Plus you'll save a lot on meals having a kitchen.

That's what I would do if I had a family of 6...

 

[bgirl29]

We have stayed at POR in a room with myself, DH, DD, DS, an infant and my sister. We did not spend much time in the room. My infant napped in her stroller most of the time. We did sometimes come back for a midday break though. We did feel crowded but if the choice was between being happy to be at disney and feeling crowded or just staying home we much preferred being at disney.

I think if you have a positive attitude about it everything can work out. Just know ahead of time that you won't have alot of extra room. And I did feel even more crowded on a different trip without my sister and staying at ASSp with the baby along.

 

[4forMe]

We're 6 too and we always go for 2 connecting rooms. Allows for private time for M&D!

Two connecting rooms also allows for two bathrooms. There is no way my family would survive a week long vacation sharing one bathroom!

 

[writermommy6]

We're a family of six and since free dining isn't offered while we're going to be there we rented a condo offsite. It was much cheaper than staying onsite and we got 3 bedrooms for less than $100 a night. We'll probably eat in for breakfast and maybe a few other meals.

 

[mjkacmom]

Two connecting rooms also allows for two bathrooms. There is no way my family would survive a week long vacation sharing one bathroom!

I agree - family of 7 here, and we rented DVC points for a 2 bedroom BCV - we would not have survived 1 bathroom! The only time we have 1 bathroom is when we stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, and it's a PITA.

 

[spindoctors]

We are a family of five and stayed in connecting rooms at Pop during free dining two years ago. I have teens so the extra bathroom was a life saver!!

 

[Aliceacc]

I haven't read the other responses, sorry if I repeat.-

From now till August 15th, (except Easter week) Disney is running a 4/3 promo-- pay for 4 nights, get 3 free. Call, and see what you can get. Try for the family suites-- it will give you the room you need and the older kids can watch TV when the baby is asleep.(it will also give you the fridge you'll want for the baby's food.)

Failing that, try
- Port Orleans Riverside, in one of the trundle rooms
- fort Wilderness, one of the cabins
- can you swing the deluxe if you're just paying for 4 nights??

 

[moxiecola]

We are a family of 6 and we rented a house for the first week and then stayed the last 5 days at POR. The kids were happier at the house. They liked having their own pool. They want to stay in the house the next time we go. I prefer to stay in the park but you can spead out and relax so much easier at a home rental (and it's cheaper). At POR we had 1 child in the trundle and one in a pac n' play which we put in the alcove where the bathroom sinks are and pulled the curtain across (because he wouldn't sleep if he saw us all lying in bed). It was tight. The family suites over at the AS resort are bigger because you at least get 2 rooms. I wish they had more options for larger families...

 

[LisaNJ25]

We stayed as a family of 6 at POR in 2007. We did just fine. It is my favorite resort.

Since they are all 3 and over now this year we are doing 2 rooms at Pop

 

[daisyyy]

Is Bonnet Creek a Disney Resort? Vacation Club? I'm not familiar with it... good advice so far. Maybe 2 rooms at all stars is the answer.

 

[Newstarr]

We are a family of six and are doing 2 adjoining rooms at POP. It was much cheaper than the family suite at ASM. We are not getting free dining but I can not imagine staying off property. It's worth the extra to have the magic 24/7. Little things do matter to us, like Mickey wake up calls and autographed photos.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

We are a family of six and are doing 2 adjoining rooms at POP. It was much cheaper than the family suite at ASM. We are not getting free dining but I can not imagine staying off property. It's worth the extra to have the magic 24/7. Little things do matter to us, like Mickey wake up calls and autographed photos.

Really? It's cheaper for 2 rooms at Pop than a family suite? I would not have guessed that. Good to know!