help me, what should I do with 5 to a room?

[fordham2003]

I am so excited I am taking my kids on their 2nd trip to the world. We are all booked for Sept. 9-16, with the free dining(horray!) At first it was going to just be me, the mom, and 3 of my for kids. My 11 year old wanted to stay home and spent some private time with Dad, My husband really didn't want to go. But now my DS changed his mind and he really wants to go. I am so glad that he is coming because I was really having a hard time thinking of going without him. But I am allready booked and have such a great deal at the Pop. We have the room premium tickets with park hopping, and free dining all for $1650. I went thru dreams unlimited travel. I told my agent of the problem, and she e-mailed me that we could stay at Port Orleans instead because you can have 5 to the room, but the price went to $2350. That's $800 for an 11 year old. The other part to this is that I have 2 day park hopper tickets left over from our last trip in 2001. And I really don't have to have the dining for him, he eats like a bird and can just share with us. Now you guys on these boards saved me so much money on our 1st disney trip I am hopping Y'all can help me with this one. What do you suggest.
Thanks so much.

 

[Sammie]

Since occupancy is 4 at Pop unless one is under 3, I don't see you have much choice but to change. Resort ID's now have the names of the guests on them, including kids and you will need these to be able to take advantage of the Extra Magic hours. You would not want to leave one child behind at the room to do this.

 

[indigoxtreme]

Also realize that your 11 yr old is considered and adult. So he has adult tickets. You have his ticket plus the extra room charge for an adult. Plus the Port Orleans hotel is a Moderate and not a Value. Upcharge on the room rate. With the extra's there it may be worth the cost of 100.00 a day for you. The other alternative would be 2 rooms at Pop but the cost may be the same.

 

[fordham2003]

Thanks for the help, I was wondering if it may be cheaper if I just booked another room at Pop, aside from our package, and hope to get value rate at $49 dollars a night. Then bought him a 4 more days of park hopper, to go along with the 2 days we allready have. If I did this would he be able to take advantage of early entry days?

 

[Shelby5514]

All resort guests can use early entry...that's one of the perks for staying onsite! Not too sure about the extra room thing. You have a room booked in your name with the free dining package...and then a 2nd room booked in your name without the package, right? hmm I'm wondering if they'll make you add him to the package since even though he is an "adult" by Disney standards, he is still a minor. Maybe someone with first hand knowledge can give you more info.

 

[safetymom]

For the room he is not considered an adult until 18. It may be different for the dining plan but for the room he is not an adult.

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for the help, I was wondering if it may be cheaper if I just booked another room at Pop, aside from our package, and hope to get value rate at $49 dollars a night. Then bought him a 4 more days of park hopper, to go along with the 2 days we allready have. If I did this would he be able to take advantage of early entry days?

I think you could get guaranteed connecting rooms since there is no adult for the second room. The $49 rate sounds pretty cheap, not sure that would be available. The AP rate for September is $59.

All resort guests can use early entry...that's one of the perks for staying onsite!

They sometimes check all the resort ID's, even children. She would not be able to get a resort ID for the 5th person in the same room.

 

[Rhonda]

I think you could get guaranteed connecting rooms since there is no adult for the second room. The $49 rate sounds pretty cheap, not sure that would be available. The AP rate for September is $59.

The price that time of year is $85.86 per night, including tax. (with no AP discount). I'm not sure Disney would guarantee connecting rooms, with two separate reservations - one with a package and one room-only.

Worth a try!

 

[fordham2003]

There is one more thing that I can do. My sister and her family are going the same time. They are staying off-site in a condo. I wonder if one of my kids could take turns staying with her. Although my son wouldn't be able to take advantage of extra magic hours, it is off season, and we would probably be okay without the extra time in the parks. do you think this would work?

 

[karejoa]

We will be 5 to a room at the POR in early Aug. (AAA $129 a nite). 3 kids are all over 10, me and husband. We stayed here 2 years ago, kids over 10, no problem. If you try to book a room thru Disney website, it says max of 4, but if you book a vacation package, it says max of 5, no age limitations. Called CR and she said it was no problem, as I wanted only the room. Only use the room to sleep in, so it is fine for us. Grounds are beautiful, kids love the pool. It will be our 3rd time at POR. Didn't they refurbish the room in the last 2 years? Stayed at CB last year and loved it, but with 5 this year it is back to the POR! Can't wait!

 

[disneymom1]

I just read another thread where the writer indicated that they stayed in a regular room (max occupancy 4) at WL with 2 adults and 3 kids. You are not supposed to do this but I suspect families of 5 do it all the time. I have read threads about people using a blow up mattress on the floor for an extra child. If you don't mind breaking the rules, you would probably get away with it. A blow up mattress at POP would be a really tight fit (I've done it in the past with a Pack & Play crib and it was tight!!)

True, you would not have a resort ID for the extra child. However, I have never been asked for my ID for anything. They might not ask you for it for early openings, but you would need the resort ID for the EMH in the evening. (I dont go to EMH in the evening). If it isn't essential that you go to EMH, you would not really need the 5th resort ID. I usually leave my kids resort ID's in the safe in the room.

From what I have read, your room key will have your dining credits on it and you can use as many as you want at each restaurant. Sharing the dining would probably work, except at sit down restaurants where they probably wouldn't let you share. But you could pay cash for one child's meal which is generally not too expensive.

You have a tough situation. It's a lot of additional money just to take along one extra child. If I were you, I wouldn't want to lose the good deal you already have. Then again, I only have 2 kids so I would never have to make the decision.

Unfortunately, I don't see any way to get around the additional cost other than breaking the rules on room occupancy, which you may or may not be able to live with.