I'M SO CONFUSED - Room for 5

[Commando]

My extended family is planning our first Disney cruise -- a 4-night cruise on the Disney Wonder for early July 2003. My problem is choosing a room for my immediate family (2 adults + 3 kids). The kids then will be 10, 8, and 4. Should we pay the really big bucks for one room that will fit 5 peope or pay for the youngest to stay with his grandparents in a separate room? (I suppose the youngest could actually sleep with us if he can fit in a 4-person room since he'll be very small). I just don't know what I can expect in terms of size and whether or not it would be worth it to get a suite or a big verandah room (for 5).

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm so confused.

Are there any websites I should look at for pricing for the different room categories, together with what's included in each room? Thanks, as always!

 

[Katesdad]

You've got some homework to do, or you call a TA (like DU, sponsor of this board) and let them do it for you. Yes, you can get a Cat 1, 2, or 3 for your family of five, but it's not cheap. Many go with a connecting 8,9 or 10 (11 and 12 do not connect - which is a door inbetween rooms). If possible, check on the Cat 10 rooms on Deck 5, forward. You can do this all your self on the Disney Cruise Line web page. My recommendation, let the TA do it. Many have found great service with DU. I've used AAA for my two cruises. When pricing yourself, make sure you check or uncheck the boxes for airfare and insurance, depending on your needs.

 

[dgroet]

We are a group of 12 travelling in 2 weeks. So we have 3 rooms that sleep 4. SIL's family numbers 4, so they're in 1 room. Inlaws have single SIL with them. We are 5, so we have one of our kids listed on their room. But since the kids are small 2 6 & 7, they will probably all just be staying in our room anyway. I think the 2 year old will have to sleep between us anyway since he'll most likely wiggle off the sofa bed and on to the floor, so that leaves the ceiling bed and the sofa bed for the other two. We're not the type to get two hotel rooms either, but that's just our style.


12 more days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[hokie5cruiser]

I vote for putting the 10 year old in grandparents room (and paying for him/her) as he will be old enough to handle being in a different room if this is good with grandparents. We are also a family of 5 and one of my 12 yo stayed in my sister's room.
Otherwise you will either have to get a category 1-4 $$$$$$$ or two rooms with the first 2 in each room paying adult fare.

I thought putting the extra child in grandparents' room was the whole reason to go with grandparents LOL

 

[Commando]

Thanks for all of the great advice.....more, more more, please.

I think signing one of the kids up for the grandparents' room and then having all 3 kids sleep with us may be the best way to go. They're small kids and have no trouble sleeping in small places.

I'm open to all suggestions.

 

[Michelle]

Just be aware that if you do book the youngest in the grandparent's room and your cabin sleeps four there will be no BED for the third child, and putting two kids (even small ones) in one bed would be pretty tight.

 

[westjones]

We have always stayed in Cat. 11 rooms and I think two small kids would be fine together, or even in the King Size bed with mom and dad.

You can't book 3 kids to be in the room with you, but I think you will be fine. Besides, you are hardly ever in your room and by night time everyone is so tired they will fall right to sleep!

Have a great cruise!
DJ

 

[my3kids]

If you can book a child with a grandparent...great! The category 4 room that will sleep 5 really isn't much bigger than any of the rooms in cat. 10 up to 5...just enough room between the end of the sofa and the verandah door to flip a murphy bed from the wall. I'm like you, my kids pile in and no one is any worse for the wear. We did have to get 2 cabins for the cruise though because no other family members are going along. If he sleeps in your room or in the grandparents really won't matter, but it sure makes sense for booking purposes. He'd have to attend the life boat drill with whichever room he was booked into, I believe. Get which ever cabin category you are comfortable with. To fit a booking party of 4 you can select any category except 12 and 7.

 

[Commando]

You guys are great....keep them coming.

 

[howardk613]

We have been on 2 cruises with our married children and their families. Both of our children had 4 in their families and were in category 4 rooms (sleeps 5) so there was plenty of room for them but on both cruises one of the little ones from each of our children stayed in our room anyway. What grandparent would not LOVE to have 1 or 2 grandchildren with them. It made our cruise even more special. Besides saving money for you, I guarantee that it would be a treat for your child as well as your parents so I recommend having one of the kids stay with grandma and grandpa.

 

[4nana]

We are a family of 16 cruising this winter w/our children and their families. We have 5 cabins (each sleep 4) with 2 sets of conn. cabins and one other cabin Cat 9 ocean view. The daughter in cabin nx to ours has 3 children, one will be register in our room. The grands are very excited planning to take turns sleeping in 'nana and pop pop's' room on the fold out couch or pull down bed. We feel the conn. cabins will be great when the kids want to take naps or if the parents want to an evening out.
I would recommend starting w/the sponsor of this board for info and have enclosed their link. Good luck - I'm sure you will enjoy whatever you choose!

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/cruise/clmultimedia/clmultimain.htm

 

[dbond]

We had the same scenario on our 7-day last year. We booked 2 category 6 rooms, connecting, our youngest slept in the room with the grandparents, but our rooms were connected so he could come and go with us, he showered with us, dressed with us, only slept in there and they didn't even have to be there because our rooms were connected. It worked beautifully. We did it this way because it was a lot cheaper than us having a family suite and they didn't want a room on that higher more expensive floor that the family suites are on. We've had a family suite before on a different cruise. I thought it was very cramped with 5 and without having to pull that 5th bed down out of the wall in front of the verandah door, we sure had a lot more room in the morning to get dressed.