How many big families go Deluxe?

[bizeemom4]

We have four children so we need to book 2 rooms. We've done the Dolphin and loved that. The remainder of our stays have been at All Stars (HATED that), POR and CSR.

I really have such a desire to try the deluxes but it's sooo expensive for two rooms. I want to stay at Poly GV concierge but am starting to think I'm absolutely crazy for spending so much money. Over $800 a night before any discounts! Am I nuts?

If you need two rooms, do you stay deluxe?

 

[golfgal]

Two rooms at AKL wouldn't run $800/night. You could book two standard rooms with either a standard view, pool view or savannah view for about half that. The Deluxe rooms at the AKL, the ones for 5 people, run about $380/rack rate-are those the one's you are looking at? We have a Deluxe room, savannah view with a e-mail code for $300/night. The standard rooms with that same code are going for about $160/night (savannah view).

 

[sanibelover]

Have you ever tried the Wilderness Homes? Not exactly deluxe but you would have a kitchen. (and room for 4 kids) We really enjoyed our stay at Fort Wilderness.

 

[Tinks]

WL also has a deluxe room that sleeps 6. It is more money than the standard rooms, obviously, but less than a suite. If we have another child, this is the room we'll book.

 

[Luv2Travel]

You could also rent points and stay in a 2 bedroom DVC at the BW, BC, OKW, SSR for less than $300 a night. Go to the DVC rent/trade board to get more info.

 

[theostwalts]

We are planning our first trip as a family and we are looking at the Deluxe resorts. It is pricey, but I think it will be worth it. We have one less than you, only 5 to a room. I notice you said you did not like the value resorts and you have stayed in the Mods. I have considered 2 values or a Mod as well. What have your experiences at those been.

Thanks

 

[winniedapooh]

We have 5 kids and stayed in 2 rooms at the WL once. We had stayed offsite before and wanted the kids to have the onsite experience. It was nice but crowded and they got cranky and I got crankier. We have rented the last 2 times the same home at Windsor Palms and will do the same again at Christmas. I must confess though, I am looking to rent something onsite for our last 2 nights. I was thinking of renting points but it is a Saturday and Sunday and the points are eeekkkk! I called to get quotes for 2 rooms and a 2 bedroom at OKW and almost had a coronary, lol. I don't know I love the privacy of the pool and the spa and love love love the washing machine/dryer but I also love onsite. What to do?

 

[EthansMom]

Well, I would never stay at concierge at Disney because I don't think it's worth the money. And my kids wouldn't any more enjoyment out of our vacation if we stayed at a delux than if we stayed at a moderate. So if you're talking about an extra $350/night for 7 nights (for instance), thats $2450! Now, that's a LOT of money -- is a delux going to make you THAT much more happy?

On the other hand, I'm not one to deny myself the pleasures I really want. So, if I really wanted to try a delux, then I would probably split my stay with the last couple of nights at the delux and consider myself to have gotten what I wanted and saved around $1750 ($2450-$700).

But, given the hassle of moving the entire family from one hotel to another in the middle of our vacation, I probably wouldn't want to do that badly enough, so would probably get two moderate rooms and spend a nice dinner with DH at one of the deluxes one night (get a sitter, if necessary). But, that's me.

I guess what I'm saying is that, like most other things in life, your decision should balance cost with payoff. Is paying roughly twice as much for delux concierge going to make you twice as happy as your previous stays at moderate resorts? Or, is there something else you could spend the money on that would make you happier? Whatever you decide, it should be YOUR (and your DHs) decision.

I hope this helps!

EthansMom

 

[cottontail]

Hi: We did the two room thing at por french quarter, it was great, this is when we also did the parks.

Next we did 3 resort days only at the end of our vacation in one room at the poly, we only had 4 adults though, (I think you can put 5 in a room at the poly). It worked out great for us.

If you went to a value you could probably afford 3 rooms (when you look at 800 a night, ) at the beginnig than move to a deluxe for the last couple.

Deb.

 

[laceemouse]

We have 4 kids also. We have, in the past, done the 2 room thing. We also stayed at POR with the trundle, and a Poly room with a daybed when our youngest was under 3. None of these things were very satisfactory to us. Two rooms is pricey, one room and one bathroom for that many folks is just TOO crowded, even when they are small. After the Poly trip, which is a gorgeous resort, we decided to buy DVC. Dragging 6 peoples dirty clothes across the resort to the laundry room almost did me in!!! With the 2 bedroom DVC unit we get 2 bathrooms, 3 t.v.s, a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. It is worth every penny to us. You can rent points to give it a try. DVC is a big outlay, however, if you will return again and again and stay on-site it saves money in the long run. We started out with a small BCV contract, and recently added a larger VWL contract. We have already scheduled a VWL Christmas for this December

 

[Disney1fan2002]

This is why we became DVC members. When my youngest turned 3, we would be a family of five, and all future trips would require us to get two rooms everytime we went.

We could never afford ONE deluxe room, nevermind two!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, I have been looking into going with a family of 6 also. I have 2 young girls and a teenage son. We are thinking in the near future to let him bring a buddy with - making 6 for us. I know the BWI has concierge deluxe rooms that sleep 6 people. The bedroom has 2 queen beds and there is a sitting area with a sofa sleeper. The sitting area also has it's own TV.

The Wilderness Lodge has deluxe rooms - kind of the same arrangement as BWI, but concierge service isn't available for the deluxe rooms. Don't know why - but that is the way it is.

If I were you, I would try the Boardwalk Inn. It looks lovely and the kids would be close to Epcot and MGM, has a neat pool and fun things to do in that area.

Good luck! Enjoy your deluxe stay!! We have stayed in the GF, Poly, CR, and YC/BC & Swan. I love the deluxes and it is very worth it to me to stay and pay the prices. I always want to stay somewhere at least as nice as home when I am on vacation!!

Lives4Disney

 

[makaira]

We also have 4 children and are planning on staying in a WL deluxe room. It has a seperate bed room that divides it from the living room with french doors and when we are going it is a little less than $500/ night.

 

[nbandfour]

We are a family of six and we are doing two rooms at the Poly for 7 nights. Going in value season (yeah for homeschooling!) and with an AAA discount, it is about 650 per night. We chose to do this rather than BWI concierge, 6 in one deluxe room, because of the additional privacy and the monorail. I doubt we will do this again though- it's just too expensive to do it every year. We really loved the FW cabin. I mean REALLY! but the pool situation there is not so good. So I'm thinking 2 rooms at WL in 2006. Just wish I could talk dh into DVC...

NB

 

[4greatboys]

We have stayed at the Deluxes before with our 5 boys but now we have 5 and our little one wont be 2 much longer. So when we stayed at YC, Poly, CR we were fine all of us in the same room but now that is fixing to change. We actually became DVC members because of our family size. The 2 bdrm villa's are awesome and having the kitchen and washer/dryer is great.
We dont use our DVC points on weekend nights though--to high point use so we do stay in the other resorts then. Our next trip will probably be a couple of nights at Pop or maybe a mod before we move over to our DVC room. It will just depend on what type of discounts are out.

 

[PrinceJohn]

we've got 11, so we have 3 rooms...
1200+/night before tickets and food - I guess you only live once.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I hear you loud and clear, that is why I posted on the other thread that a new disney resort should accomodate familys of 5 or more at a less than deluxe price. With the 3 ds we usually only stay deluxe as my dh and oldest ds are big 5'2 and 6'4 so they really want queen beds. We used to go in value season, but with working around everyone schedules it seems we go in april now so that is regular season, without a code, we just cant afford a deluxe anymore with one college around the corner. We so far are staying at the swan and bringing our own aerobed to save money this time. We are getting the govt. discount for 3 days. If I can get the contemporary or poly with an ap code, then we will move over. We have only stayed in deluxes due to our family size.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

we've got 11, so we have 3 rooms...
1200+/night before tickets and food - I guess you only live once.