I have five little boys and need help planning our vacation

[kylerboys]

I have five boys ages 8, 7, 5, 3, and 8mo. Dhs family lives in Tampa and we will be flying there from Idaho at the end of March to celebrate my fil 70th birthday. We have decided to go to WDW too. We've been twice--once just to epcot as a married couple, and once just to the MK for one day when our boys were 4, 3, and 1 where we stayed off-site. Dh also travels to orlando frequently for business, so we are somewhat familiar with the area and WDW.

Now that my boys are a little older, we are wanting to plan more of a disney vacation than in the past, but with such a large family I'm having a hard time planning--especially trying to stay within a decent budget(6 tickets to Tampa costs a small fortune!!) . We are planning on 3 days at WDW (March 27-29). A couple questions . . . .

Would it be better to stay in the Value hotels (we were thinking the sports one) and book two rooms or stay off-sight at the Nick Hotel (my kids are drooling over that hotel)? The nick hotel looks nicer and more fun(we actually stayed there last time before they renovated it to a Nick theme), but I would really like the option of one of us being able to leave with the younger kids for a rest at the hotel and the other parent staying with the older kids. Is that easier staying on site?

Should we book a park hopper pass or just plan on two days at MK and one at MGM (not sure my kids would love epcot right now or even the animal kingdom)?

Any other tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

--jenn

 

[loribell]

It is definitely easier for one of you to go back to the resort with the little ones when you are staying onsite. You can just hop on the bus when you need to leave and the rest can stay and have fun. Also the time it takes to go back and forth to an offsite resort makes it hard to leave and come back again.

You could also check on availability at the Ft Wilderness Cabins or possibly one of the other Home Away From Home Resorts. You might even want to check on the rent trade board to see about renting points at a DVC resort. These resorts all have kitchens so you could cut back on food expenses by staying here as well.

Also I wouldn't count out AK, especially at your kids age. It is a wonderful park. My DD loves it. It is her favorite park. She does not like to go to MGM at all.

God luck,
Lori

 

[Mom to Jordan]

FW cabins might be perfect for your boys. You can take to boat to the MK. I would go for hoppers and try to hit all the parks. Everyone has something to offer every age. I think AK would be a much bigger hit than MGM. I would plan a full day and a half at MK, a day at epcot and a half day at AK and MGM. Epcot is also a great night park if the kids get naps and you want to stay out later.

 

[DisneyTarheel]

I have five boys ages 8, 7, 5, 3, and 8mo.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I think it's much easier to take a break on site.

We've done both on site and off site. For us, taking a break off site meant we often didn't go back to the parks.
Or we didn't take a break. (Pre-kids) Even though we weren't that far away in miles it sure seemed as though we were.

That might not be the case for others but it was for us.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not take your kids to MGM - they would have a much better time at Animal Kingdom!

 

[Pembo]

Since the boys haven't really been before I'd do 2 days at the MK. There is so much to see and do. I have 3 kids, 9,7, 2 and that is their park of choice.

 

[kdtwiss]

I have five boys ages 8, 7, 5, 3, and 8mo. Dhs family lives in Tampa and we will be flying there from Idaho at the end of March to celebrate my fil 70th birthday. We have decided to go to WDW too. We've been twice--once just to epcot as a married couple, and once just to the MK for one day when our boys were 4, 3, and 1 where we stayed off-site. Dh also travels to orlando frequently for business, so we are somewhat familiar with the area and WDW.

Now that my boys are a little older, we are wanting to plan more of a disney vacation than in the past, but with such a large family I'm having a hard time planning--especially trying to stay within a decent budget(6 tickets to Tampa costs a small fortune!!) . We are planning on 3 days at WDW (March 27-29). A couple questions . . . .

Would it be better to stay in the Value hotels (we were thinking the sports one) and book two rooms or stay off-sight at the Nick Hotel (my kids are drooling over that hotel)? The nick hotel looks nicer and more fun(we actually stayed there last time before they renovated it to a Nick theme), but I would really like the option of one of us being able to leave with the younger kids for a rest at the hotel and the other parent staying with the older kids. Is that easier staying on site?

Should we book a park hopper pass or just plan on two days at MK and one at MGM (not sure my kids would love epcot right now or even the animal kingdom)?

Any other tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

--jenn

YOU ARE ONE BRAVE MOMMY! With that many people it will be tough on your room budget staying onsite. Worth it , but costly. Two value rooms are your cheapest option, though if you were able to rent DVC points and get a ressie at Old Key West - the cost would be about $300 a night BUT you would have a kitchen and IF you used it that may save the extra money vs the value. The Nick hotel IS fabulous - BUT if you stay there, you would lose a day at Disney as you would certanly want to enjoy the pools! Why spend 350 or 400 for just the night if you don't plan on enjoying why it is so expensive?
JMHO but I don't think of AK or Epcot as one day parks, especially AK as they close so early. Both are great, but very spread out. Maybe do MK, MGM (which is more shows than anything- kind of restful compared to MK) then MK again.Or if you stay onsite plan your parks around EMH. IF you think you could go the whole day w/o leaving just stay offsite. Make your lunch your midday break. we went in may last year with my kiddos - who were 2,6,5 and 10 at the time and we were there till they kicked us out! BUT we did not start super early. Couple of naps were taken in the stroller, but we got as much time out of it as we could!Good luck1 Don't forget - if you plan on having ANYTHING good at all to eat at any table service restaurant = make your ADR now, if anything is left. We got stuck in MGM one night with no TS ADR - and got stuck with REALLY horrible cs food. INEDIBLE! Keep in mind there a re a couple things that close early in MGM also - like the Honey I shrunk The Kids Playground, and Toy Story Pizza Planet among others - so hit those first, then do the other stuff if you end up at MGM

 

[TnTWalter]

My family of 5 [small in comparison to yours] just returned and we stayed at POP. I left a couple times with the younger kiddos while daddy and oldest daughter stayed and did some rides. It was very nice.

Trish

 

[GEM]

No advice really. I just wanted to say that I would love to see a picture of your family! I think little boys are just the sweetest things in the world.

 

[ckmommy]

We have five little ones as well. I would love to read the replies to this thread. I would also love to read your trip report when you get home. We are leaning toward two room at the value resorts when we go again.
Our kids are 7, 5, 3, 3, and finally 1. I am hoping to go sometime in the next 18 months!!