How can everyone stand to be in ONE ROOM with their family for a week or more???

[missypie]

I just returned from a long weekend with my family of 5 at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort in San Antonio. The rooms are very large as far as hotel rooms go and are quite nice (each room has a fridge; the sink is separate from the shower and toilet). We were on the 1st floor, so we could walk outside whenever we wanted.

But it was still so crowded. I started thinking about next year's planned WDW vacation, and how the "large" rooms at the Contemp. would seem so small after a few days. A 2 bedroom villa is out of our price range, as is 2 rooms at a Deluxe.

Has anyone who loves the on-site resorts given up and gone to an off site house or condo to be able to have more personal space?

 

[Christy93]

Hi, I stayed at the Poly in 2 rooms in April with my husband and 3 kids (5, 3 and 1). We got two rooms because we wanted to be sure the baby would sleep at night and not wake up everyone else. After we were there and settled in, we realized we could have saved more than a thousand dollars with only 1 room since the rooms were pretty big. We wern't in our room much, mainly to sleep at night and to take a nap during the day. We're planning a sept 2005 trip and we will only be getting 1 room.

Good luck, I couldn't imagine staying offsite. There is so much to do and when you need space, just go browse the shops.

 

[chrisp]

I agree with Christy93. Our familiy of 5 has stayed at the CR in one room several times. There is so much to do that you are hardly in the room at all. We would basically fall asleep as soon as we got there and woke up rarin' to start another day at WDW. Not only are there things for you to do in the CR outside your room, you can, (depending on the ages of your children) send your children to the game room and the food 'n fun center if you want some quiet time in your room.

 

[Mercy]

We were supposed to have 5 on our upcoming trip, me, DH and 3 teen boys. I had originally booked 2 rooms at CSR for us all. Our plans have changed and we are back to only 4, so I just went with one room.

You may want to consider getting 2 connecting rooms at either a moderate or a value. With the AP rate I had, it was around $187 for both rooms, which is around the same or cheaper than one room at a deluxe.

I almost we still had the 2 rooms, but I can't justify the extra $655 anymore.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

We feel cramped also. We ususally split our stay or get a cabin at FW. We love them. We also get rooms and suites at the Loews chain. Their rooms are so much more roomier and cozy.

 

[cart-mom]

I have to agree with the fact that you are not in your room much when you stay on property. Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't ever stay off property again!

If you aren't in the parks, your probably shopping, at the pool, in the arcade, eatting or doing something else OUTSIDE of your room. There are plently of places at WDW Resorts to have your own personal space even when they are booked solid.

Unless your family doesn't like each other much, I think you'll be just fine. I mean, you are at WDW! The happiest place on earth!

 

[missypie]

Oh, I love my family dearly. And I'm probably the only mom whose kids leave wet bathing suits, flip flops, dirty clothes and Coke cans all over the hotel room all the time. Maybe it should be my goal between now and next June to teach them to use a hamper and the trash can!!!

(This trip made me vow to buy one of those collapsable hampers before our next trip.)

 

[dmonroe]

That's why we rent DVC points and stay in at least a 1 bedroom villa! Even when it was just 3 of us (now 4!) we all needed some personal space. Last year we did a last minute trip and stayed at POR--while it wasn't horrible, I sure did miss the extra room. Renting points from a DVC member is MUCH less expensive than booking through CRO. You may want to check out the DVC Rent/Trade board.

 

[missypie]

We'll be at WDW over two weekends. Whever I've looked at the DVD rent/trade board, it seems like weekends cost about 3 times more than weekdays do and by the time you factor that in, you're pretty close to rack rate. Am I wrong?

 

[dmonroe]

No, you're right. Weekends do "cost" more points. If you don't mind, you could stay in a different resort on the weekend nights. We actually planned on doing this for our next trip; but since we'll have a six month old with us, we decided to just go ahead and pay for the weekend nights. This time it will be easier not to have to move around!



Just wanted to add that I just checked prices on the Disney web site. A deluxe studio at OKW for my dates would be $1982. We're staying in a 1 bedroom at BWV for 7 nights for $1600 (on points), so I think points are still cheaper.

 

[4greatboys]

Weekend points are steep. If you dont mind moving maybe you can stay in 2 value or mod rooms for the weekend then move. I know you will be there an additional weekend, but that might cut down on some of the cost.
Since my youngest is still under 3 we do just get 1 room at a deluxe and being altogether used to not bother me that much but now that we are dvc member and I have experienced the joys of the 2 bdrm I love being able to spread out.

 

[Gupsmom]

I'm probably the only mom whose kids leave wet bathing suits, flip flops, dirty clothes and Coke cans all over the hotel room all the time

I'm not a neat freak at home (by any stretch of the imagination) but on vacation we survive on being well organized. When we first enter a room I declare a home for sneakers, swimming gear (goggles, water shoes, etc), dirty clothes (big bag to stuff 'em in). All of these get a little corner or closet and then all I have to do is remind everyone to "put your shoes where they go" or "get your swim stuff out."

We are also a family of 5. I find the deluxe rooms in WDW to be fine for us. I don't feel like we are on top of eachother. We also don't sepnd too much time in our room. We're in the park, swimming, eatting, etc....until it's time to put the kids to bed. If we do take some down time during the day, I usually leave my DH with the kids while I escape for a cup of tea or to browse the gift shop. My Dh gets much less aggitated by being cofined by 4 walls than I do. He'd much rather lie back and relax alone with the kids than have me get uptight and go mental...lol.

Jess

 

[lovesdumbo]

In Jan we were in 1 room at Poly concierge with me, DH, DD(4), DS(3), DD(1) and another adult friend. The rooms are good size and we didn't feel too crowded even though we had a full size crib and both single and double stroller. I know that having the concierge lounge to hang out in really helped. When we went back to the room to have the kids nap we'd leave 1 adult in the room with kids and others could go to lounge to watch tv, crab a snack or read a book or newspaper. With 5 in the room concierge is worth the extra expense.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I just had to laugh because this reminds me of last years vacation. We weren't at WDW. We were staying at a resort in central NH. There were 8 of us in a small 2 bedroom townhouse. Needless to say, the trip didn't go well. My sisters ended up getting into a fight where one slapped the other. The one who did the slapping sped off and went home with her then 1 year old dd. Everyone was getting into fights and on each others nerves. I had a great time though! Btw, my sisters aren't kids or even teenagers. They're in their 30's!

Sorry this is sorta OT, but I just wanted to let you know that I know where you're coming from.

 

[missypie]

If I'm paying for one night at a Super 8 or LaQuinta, it really doesn't bother me (too much) if the room gets messy. But when I'm paying $$$$$ for a beautifully decorated room, I hate stumbling all over everyone and everyone's stuff.

Besides a hamper, any ideas for keeping the room neat? (We'll be flying, so we can't bring a lot of extra storage unless it can fold flat.)

 

[Sammie]

Luckily my parents bought DVC or we would have given up family vacations long ago.

 

[Nolcrest]

I'm seriously considering getting 2 rooms for our next visit. DD is now 14 & DS is 17. My kids are neat but I just don't want to be around DD 24/7. Her hormones & mine together will make us crazy.

DS is very easy to travel with but now we'll be paying 25 extra to have him in the room. So, to keep everyone's sanity - and DD can stay in the shower as long as she wants, I think 2 rooms may be our answer.

BTW - we have a cabin in PA so the family is not interested in staying in a cabin. We have stayed in FW cabins when they were younger and it was great.

 

[anita46]

I'm with LOVESDUMBO. Go concierge!

The kids are safe in the hallways.

There's a kids' TV in the concierge lounge. They have there own little living room.

 

[gigi1313]

we're only a family of four and we have reserved two rooms at a value... even after considering a deluxe, we decided that two bathrooms and two tvs (one to watch the news and one to watch the disney channel!) are well worth the expense... but we booked our reservations w/one adult and one child in each room/reservation, requesting connecting on both, and came in well under the cost of one deluxe room, as well as under on the cost of one package room and one room-only rate... be sure to try every configuration of packages, etc to get the best rate... i changed our res three or four times before i got it "right!"

 

[steelmans DW]

We just got back from our trip that we had this same problem. Originally we booked CR but then when AP rates came out we switched to 2 rooms at CSR. I can't even tell you how great that was! We paid almost exactly the same as we would have for 1 room at CR and got tons more space. Because we were so much more comfortable this time we spent more time at the resort which was great for relaxing. We went over to CR for dinner at Chef Mickeys and the CR was SO busy with people all over the place. I was really glad that we changed our ressies. CSR is so much quieter. We are booked at CR for Thanksgiving and now we're talking about changing to CSR again! We really enjoyed our stay!