How do you price a cruise w/a family of 6?

[dutton]

Do you just book 2 rooms and then are you really paying for 8? If you do a land/sea package then what hotel do you stay in? Is it better to do the WDW booking yourself? Do they have rates that include the wilderness cabins? Also, for the kids clubs, what ages do they include? This year is our 10 yr anniversary and we have a 2,4,7,9 yr old. We can't go this year but I would like to do this next October 2003 but if then 3 yr old is too young we will wait one more year. What are the value season dates? What about weather? Thanks for any advice!

 

[mmouse37]

First let's talk about the cruise. You would not pay for 8 people if you only had six. You would need two cabins (adjoining, if possible). First you have to decide your price range. Do you want a verandah (more expensive), do you want just an ocean view, or do you want a cabin with no windows (least expensive). One adult would have to be in each cabin. The pricing works based on the first two people in the cabin regardless if they are adult or child. The third person in each cabin is priced lower. You would probably have 1 parent and 2 children in each cabin. So you would have 2 "triple" cabins.

I have not seen the wilderness cabins listed in the resort portion of a land/sea stay. Many find it less expensive to book the WDW portion on your own. This gives you more flexibility in what accomodations you would want. Then you would book the 3 or 4 day cruise separately.

The hotel you stay in on a land/sea pkg depends on what category of stateroom you have booked on the ship. If you pick up a DCL brochure it lists all the value dates and what hotels go with what staterooms. Also check out the web sites below. They all have wonderful information about the cruise and WDW.

June 1st to the end of November is hurrican season. Late August through the fall is the least expensive time to cruise. Savings can be significant at this time compared to the holiday and summer months.

A three year old would not be too young to cruise. They have plenty of things for all the kids to participate in.

Hope I wasn't too confusing.

www.disneycruise.com
www.dcltribute.com
www.castawayclub.com

MJ

 

[disney6]

We too have four kids. As mmouse37 said you would book two cabins (connecting - adjoining means just next to each other). You will end up paying 4 "adult" fares and 2 child fares. We put 1 adult and 2 kids in each cabin on the documents. We left the door between the cabins open the ENTIRE time and DH and I and the smallest one stayed in one and the three "big" kids stayed in the other - with the door open it was really like one big suite! We stayed in cat. 9 which the then 2 year old LOVED but this year (in Oct.) we are staying in Cat. 10's (inside). Your then 3 year old can go in the clubs but the must be fully potty trained - no pullups even. As I'm sure you know, by the time you get to the fourth one they train early - like big sister/brother!!
October is great for weather. Not too hot but still in the 80's. You run the risk of hurricanes but I think you run the risk of bad weather no matter WHEN you cruise. We will take our kids out of school again this year (they will be 5th grade, 1st grade and Kindergarten and Preschool). Figure we don't have TOO many more years where it will be an option.
Personally I'd book WDW separate. We've stayed in the Fort Wilderness cabins and LOVED them. We grilled out almost every night and had breakfast in the cabin before heading to the parks. (saves BIG bucks that you can use to pay those adult fares with!!!) You can also take the boat straight to the MK which the kids love. We again like to go in October so we can hit the MNSSHP which is fabulous.
Good luck!!!!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I agree with the above two posters about booking the crusie separate from the land part. I originally booked the cruise and land package together but discovered I was over paying. So, I rebooked separately and saved $600. I found discount codes on www.mousesavers.com for the hotel. Also, I found out the cruise/land package includes the Utlimate hopper pass. Well, we really didn't need those because we aren't planning on doing the water parks. So, we saved some money by purchasing the 5 day hopper pass instead. Also, if you can join disneyclub you can save more money on the park passes.

Hope that Helps!

Good Luck.
Tina

 

[zurgswife]

A family of 6 here also...I learned that 2 connecting rooms is the way to go...I plan on 2 cat 10 (porthole rooms) This way you can get natural light...which I think I would enjoy.. I don't think any of the lower 2 cat's have connecting rooms....So, the cheapest you could do is cat 10....

I would also agree witht he above posters that I would price my own land portion...Though I am not a fan of the Wilderness cabins..the minority I know but I just didn't like them at all...made it 2 days and had CRO find us other accomodations. What ever you do book it yourself definately cheaper.

 

[disney6]

zurgswife- FYI cat. 10's are inside cabins. Cat. 9's have a porthole. Unless of course you are lucky enough to get the cat. 10 "secret porthole" cabins (deck 5). They do have 2 sets of connecting cabins there. We were not that lucky but lucky enough to be going on our second Disney cruise so can't complain about that

Since staying in the FW cabins (about 5 years ago) we have since joined DVC so if we EVER get to WDW we'll stay at BWV!!!

 

[Hygiene99]

how ever if try to ask for and u can ask for certain cabins when u speak to who ever u r going to book threw
would ask for cat 10 on deck 5 the ajoining rooms
they r sold as inside staterooms but have a port hole with obstructed view still better than being in an inside stateroom
good luck cheaper than cat 9


peter

would book land and sea seperate also


would go to the disney vacation club rent or trade board
on main page and look in to renting points
at one of the disney vacation club resorts
like the boardwalk and get a 2 bedroom unit
point rent for about 10.00 a piece could save some $ there

 

[miketiuf]

Just back from 6/1 Magic w/family of 6, DH, DS-11, DDs-10, 8 and 2. Had to budget so had 2 cat.11 cabins, not adjoining but right next to each other. Cabins were very roomy. Even had some private time when kids were in programming. Flounders Reef Nursery was very nice for 2 year old, but checked out club for over 3s and she was crazy to be with them. Maybe next time if I am lucky enough to go again.

This forum is great for info. on discounts. I got Florida resident discount which I didn't know existed before and also got $50 credit per room for Disney Club.

Good luck, we had a blast though we caught a bug tail end of cruise. Would do it again in a hear beat.

 

[zurgswife]

The "secret porthole" rooms are the ones I was refering to...There are a few pairs of connecting cat 10's.

disney6

Since staying in the FW cabins (about 5 years ago) we have since joined DVC so if we EVER get to WDW we'll stay at BWV!!!

On our trip to FW cabins we were switched to the BWV's and by the end of the vacation we had also purchased BWV DVC....I love "GOING HOME"

 

[mmouse37]

Yes, I did mean connecting if you can get them, but if not, adjoining would work in a pinch!!!

MJ