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

[yecats]

I can sympathize with you, that's for sure. You need to do what you feel is right for your family. If you feel like you need space, then get it (no vacation will be great if someone feels like they need a little space and can't get it). Most of my vacations have been split in half. Half off property and half on property. Personally I have felt like I've had the best of both worlds. You also do have several options on property as well.

First, Off property:
Check into a home rental (many with pools - use this sites sponsor to look into one) or check out Skyauction for a 2 bedroom condo. There is a condo area called Silverlake that is only 1/2 mile outside of AKL. It is inbetween US192 in Kissimmee and AKL on an access road that brings you to Disney property. 2 bedrooms come up on that site for $300 for the week and plenty of people have had good vacations there.

Second, on property:
There are plenty of options here as well. First, you may want to bid for resort level hotel in WDW vicinity on Priceline. I have won bids for the DTD Hilton and DTD Wyndham hotels for between $60 to $70 per night. You still get all the basic benefits in that you can use there bus system to the parks or just walk across the street to DTD and catch Disney's buses. This way you can afford to rent two rooms. Check out a site called biddingfortravel.com. Make sure that you understand all Priceline rules and the study the bidding site. I haven't had a bad stay yet.

As others have suggested, rent DVC points for a one bedroom. Now I would suggest that you stay at OKW (little cheaper than the others) and then the kids can be in the living room while you are in the bedroom. If I am right, you should be able to get a rollaway bed for the 3rd child. This provides many options as you'll have a kitchen to offset some of the cost (breakfast is great to eat here as it is the easiest meal to cook) and you can make a lunch or dinner here a few times as well. Hot dogs and burgers are pretty easy as well as frozen pizzas or ham and cheese sandwiches (lets face it, taking an hour off to go to the store to buy some goods isn't going to kill anyone). You can also pack less due to the fact that you'll have a washer/dryer in the unit and do a load of laundry 1/2 way through the vacation. This same theory also applies to the Wilderness Cabins in Fort Wilderness. Now be aware that Sun - Thurs stays at DVC resorts are cheaper than weekend stays. You can always start your vacation at one of the value or moderates and move to the DVC on Sunday.

Lastly, you can always wait for a code or some sort of FTP deal and get two rooms at a value or moderate. If room is what you need then make sure you find some sort of way to get it. Its not a good vacation if everyone is feeling stressed because theres one tv, one bathroom, people have to constantly move to get around beds and luggage. I know that there are those here that have the patience to live through sleeping in one room but then there are people, like me, who at times just needs some piece and quiet and a little time alone.

Don't fret it, just make some sort of change that will make you happy.

 

[Beastlover]

With a family of 5, we get two rooms, or we go off site for a condo/townhome. There is no way I will put all of us in one room for any more than 1 or 2 nites. Little too much together time.....

 

[Kallison]

I find it's easier now that the kids are older, although we only do one room at Disney. As long as we are in a deluxe and have a balcony I'm ok. We're not there that much. Also my parents usually go along and one kid will go with them or we will get adjoining rooms, so I can escape onto my Mom's bed to watch TV and get some peace and quiet.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We really wouldnt consider staying off site again with our 3 ds. One ds has asthma, so if he is having a problem I want to get back to the room for him to rest. DH works hard and his idea of a vacation is not to drive. We stay at a deluxe but I always ask for the cheapest room. This time we stayed at the swan with a rollaway again. We also dont spend much time in the room. The only problem we have is me getting dressed. I usually do that in the bathroom, or if my back hurts then dh makes all the ds go into the bathroom until I dress. I know it sounds weird but I would rather have us all together for financial reasons of one room and it keeps me on top of things like them getting into fights, not sharing the tv, staying up later than I want them to etc. We are usually out by 9 and back at 11 p.m. Sometimes we stop by for a rest, shower etc. but that is never more than 2 hours max.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

oh misspie, I forgot to add, we love the hill country resort too. Little ds thought we were going there again in a few weeks, but I had to tell him, no we are going to dallas. He has no sense of direction where san antonio is. He was looking forward to the lazy river and those great smores at night.

 

[janette]

DVC is the best thing we've done for ourself! We've stayed in a 1bedroom on our last trips and the few times we've been in a regular hotel room have felt very cramped.

 

[jfulcer]

This is one of the reasons we bought DVC - just so we have room enough for our own family and then some.

Think of DVC this way and it's not that bad - you are pre-paying for luxury home away from home accomodations at "moderate" room price. That and the cost of my 'room' will never, ever go up until my DVC is over with (50 years now with Sarasota) while room prices continue to rise all over Disney property.

DVC is the way to go - whether you rent points or just buy in...

 

[Disney Doll]

I would probably go into a lesser resort (a moderate or value) and go for 2 rooms. I'd start with the moderate, and see what kind of deal I could get.

I have to tell you, for a larger family, you should really look into the DVC. I know when you go for the tour, it sounds like a huge amount of money, and it is, but it can be spread over 10 years (if you purchase from Disney) you can pay it off slowly, and have beautiful accomodations.

When we first bought DVC, we had 200 points. We'd spend the 1st 2 days in the regular WDW resort, then move to the 1BR for the less point-valued weekdays, and we were able to do 2 decent vacations per year. The first few years we were paying it off, it cost us about $2000.00/year between loan payment and dues. Now that we have that contract (and a 2nd one we bought) paid off, it costs us about $1800.00/year, and we stay in beautiful accomodations. If you enjoy staying at the deluxes, $1800.00 will buy you about a week unless you get a real deal. We can stay almost 2 1/2 weeks at a 1BR, with all its amenities.

My point being, IMHO, it's easier to come up with $150-$200 a month than it is to have to come up with the big "chunk of change" needed for the hotel when you go.

Consider it, look into it, really sit down and figure out if it might be worthwhile for you. In the long run, we feel that we have made a more sound financial decision by paying for our future WDW vacations at 1997 & 2001 (the years we bought each contract) prices. Of course, if you're not a frequent WDW visitor, it doesn't make much sense. When DH and I were figuring it out, we determined that if we went to WDW at least every other year, it made sense.

 

[Nancy]

While i loved staying on-site the few times I have I just can't see paying the prices for the smaller room sizes then what I pay for larger rooms off site. (I know I'm in the minority here) BUT my last trip we stayed in DTD in a large room that slept 5 people comfortably for only 69.00 per night. Our last trip we rented a time share for 500.00 for 7 nights. This time share was actually 2 room combined so my kids had their own little room....with 2 double beds and a pull out sofa, bathroom and a mini kitchen, our room had a king size bed, pull out sofa, full kitchen and dining room...huge bathroom with a large jacuzzi tub and sepaerate shower/bathroom area. It took us 5-10 minutes to drive to Disney everyday and was well worth it for the tons of extra space we had. I never felt like I missed any of the magic by staying off site....yes I would love to always stay on site but with a family of 5 and a limited budget I can't do it. We book our character meals, do all the ps's...the only thing we didn't get was an e-ticket night...and if you stay at some of the DTD resorts they participate in e-ride nights. Once we got to the parks if we park hopped we drove, you don't have to pay for parking at all the parks on the same day...you use your same pass all day. I couldn't afford to go to Disney any other way.

 

[PenguinGal]

We took our first WDW trip in mid-June and faced the same decision. There are five in our family: self, DH, DD 17, DS 14 and DS 12. We considered a concierge room at the Poly and AKL, but ultimately decided on two connecting rooms at POFQ. It was absolutely the right choice for us - I can't imagine trying to fit everyone and everything into one room at any of the resorts. I think it depends on the ages in your group and how much you value a little "breathing room".... As for us, it will always be two rooms or a home-away-from-home resort.

 

[Junebugwv]

missypie- When the room is in disarray, it takes longer to get the crew out of the door in the morning. So-

I like to take extra hangers with clips to hang towels, outfits and swimsuits.

A basket for toothbrushes. A plastic hanging organizer...so easy to put hairbrush/sunscreen/toiletries where they can be seen by everyone.

I like to have a cloth tote for storing items that go to the parks. It is everyone's responsibility to drop sunglasses, hats, fanny packs, etc. into the bag when we enter the room and to take their items out as we leave the next morning.

I think it is a good idea to keep the TV off until each one has their things put away. They may remember where they have put their things if their eyes aren't glued to the tube!

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have been going the last 4 - 5 yearsin August. usually the middle or end of the monthe. i was trying to book a trip with surprise staying at POLY (whichis MY DREAM) or my dhs dream AKLODGE. we usually stay at the all stars. we have also stayed 2 - 3 times off site. my biggest problem is that i do not like to FLY so we have been taking the Amtrak train out of dedham. my ddnow is 15. so, all i hear is "i dont feel like sitting on the train again why cant we fly". i have thought about it , but to much anxiety even with medicine. also the last few years, we bring her friend. THey just payfor their 5 - 6 day pass, we pay for everything else. they bring spending to. now if i can TALK everyone to go , now my husband says we def. need 2 ROOMS. he says no way with 1 ROOM anymore. which i really understand his point, but if we get 2 rooms i would prob. go back to all stars, cause if i was gonna spend $$$$$, it would be me and husband. lol. so i dont know what to do, i guess it is easier when they are younger...lol. i really want to stay at the POLY!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry this is so long, but im really annoyed, i told them i would go ALONE. hahaha oh yeah , husband doesnt want to drive while we are there...........