Interconnecting / Family Rooms?

[kizzabel]

Afternoon all,

I was wondering if I could get some help on this one.
DPs sister wants to bring her 3 kids and hubbie next year on their 1st trip (im converting people to DLP left right and centre this week!).

She was wondering what is the cheapest way to accomodate her family of 5? I know she would be interested in offsite options like Thomas Cooks Explorers but nothing any further out because it will be their 1st time abroad and in the sake of keeping things as simple as possible. They will be flying do DCR isnt an option and I have the average family (one of each) so Im no help to her as far as advising which hotel works best.

Is it cheaper to book interconnecting or family rooms onsite?
Which hotels offer these?

Thanks in advance

 

[DLPdaft]

all of the onsite hotels have interconnecting rooms - and its usually a fair bit cheaper to book 2 rooms than a family room. How old are your sister's children?

 

[Ms Poppins]

I think it will depend on the ages of the children. If at least one of them is classed as an infant (under 3 I think) then they do not count towards occupancy and can stay in a standard room. A travel cot will be provided if required.

If a room for 5 is required there are a couple of options - 2 connecting rooms at disney hotels to benefit from EMH - this is our best option given our kids ages, 17,14 and 7. It means that we all have a bed of our own and two bathrooms which is great. Bear in mind that connecting rooms are never guaranteed and that if only 5 in the whole party you may be given 1 room with 2 double beds and the second room with only 1 double bed. It's best to be specific and call the hotel directly a few days before arrival to request this again as this is when the actual booking goes onto their system.

There are a couple of hotels on site that do family rooms for 5 - dlh, newport bay and now santa fe. But this can be much more expensive though and not as much space as having 2 rooms. See my DLH review for pics of what a family room looks like there.

We've never stayed off site, so can't really comment but I think the explorers may be the only other option for all together. they have rooms with a double, 2 single beds and a connecting annex with bunk beds - taking up to 6. I think these can also be expanded for bigger groups. No EMH though unless getting annual pass.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[Ware Bears]

We're a family of 5 and have stayed at the Explorers many times. There is a great fun pool there which may make it seem a more attractive option than say the Cheyenne and Santa Fe that don't have a pool. If they do think the Explorers is an option then they don't want to book it through Disney - it's much cheaper to book it through other sites then buy Dream annual passes so they can still benefit from EMH.

There's also Marriott Village - it's a timeshare resort where you can rent townhouses with full kitchen facilities. There is a shuttle service although it's not quite as regular as the one that serves the Explorers, Kyriad, Dream Castle, Magic Circus.

What ages are the children? If they're really young then it may be better to go for two rooms in a Disney hotel so the location is closer however the two rooms also work better when they're older children. Now mine are all growing up (my eldest is 20 next year and I still can't get rid of her the minute she knew we were going to DLP she announced she was coming with us) having two rooms with TWO bathrooms is invaluable.

 

[kizzabel]

Hi all, thanks for the quick responses.

The kids are 4,5 and 6 and will be 5,6 and 7 at the time they travel so no squeezing the youngest in as under 3!!

It will be a budget friendly trip as its after the eldests communion so Id say Explorers will probably be the best option for them. So just some Im clear - cheap to book 2 rooms then a family room at the SF?

I think I'll stick with just two kids - makes DLP trip planning easier it as good excuse as any not to go again!!
Id been using the I cant fit three carseats in the back of a hatchback (love my tidy, 3 door car!) excuse!

 

[Ware Bears]

It will be a budget friendly trip as its after the eldests communion so Id say Explorers will probably be the best option for them. So just some Im clear - cheap to book 2 rooms then a family room at the SF?

Probably but always check it out just in case in this one instance it wasn't! I know on our first visit it would have been more or less the same price to book 2 rooms at Santa Fe (they didn't do family rooms then) but we were a bit worried we may not get connecting ones and as we'd already decided to go again for Christmas it was better to go down the Explorers and annual pass route - we then got a third trip out of the annual passes the following summer. Also we'd wanted a hotel with a pool which was laughable in the end as it took until the third trip until we found the time to go near it!

Can't avoid number-crunching, I'm afraid.

I think I'll stick with just two kids - makes DLP trip planning easier it as good excuse as any not to go again!!
Id been using the I cant fit three carseats in the back of a hatchback (love my tidy, 3 door car!) excuse!

 

[kizzabel]

Thanks for that. Its not going to be cheap either way but its a special treat. Im happy Im making the most of DS being 2!!