Large families

[1littleladyplus3]

Clearly we are in the early planning stages but we have a bgi family -- four kids who will be 7, 6, 4, and 1 on our trip. I am thinking we are going to HAVE to have a suite - so which resort would you recommend? WE are wanting to stay AT wdw, TIA.

 

[badblackpug]

Family suites at AsmU

 

[bmoncher]

That depends on how much you want to spend.
You can get a 2 bedroom villa at OKW or SSR but it is quite pricey (unless you look into renting a reservation from a DVC member.. then it can be more reasonable) or you can get 2 connecting rooms (I think they have these) at a mod resort! You put one adult and 2 children in each room..

Beth

 

[ldo]

sometimes, 2 adj. are cheaper than family suite---but you don't get kitchenette. Also, I think you could a do Port Orleans-Riverside room that sleeps 5, b/c the 1 yr old does not count. But, this will be VERY cramped---
I would do ASMU family suite or 2 adj. rooms.

 

[susieq76]

We have 5- but have taken my niece and that was 2 adults & 4 kiddos. Personally- we like having two rooms at a value or mod. The ASMu suites do not allow you to apply any discounts, free dining, free pass add on etc.

Or- I've booked a 2 br villa at WL Villas for a customer and they loved it. Expensive but awesome.

Another option (but it is only 1 bathroom) is the cabin at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[TheDizMom]

My sister has 4 kids as well and they just stayed in one of the suites at the ASMu and she said it was great . They were a good fit for them and having a few kitchen amenities was a great bonus.

 

[PA Princess]

We also have 4 kids...ages 12, 11, 6, and 2. Keep in mind that you can also do a deluxe stay with a baby under 3...according to Disney that counts as 5 in a room so you can stay at most deluxe except WL and you could also still do POR.

We did the deluxe route for many years and enjoyed it. However, our preferred accomodations these days are two rooms at a mod. We have not tried the DVC resorts... a vacation with four kids entails considerable work anyway, so I really want housekeeping services We looked at the family suites, but we like have two bathrooms and the sleeping accomodations in the suites looks uncomfortable to us. Add in no deals offered for the suites and they were a no for us.

Happy planning

 

[1Prince3Princesses]

Hi! You still have the option of staying @ POR. I know that they will allow 6 people in 1 room since you have 1 child under the age of 2 years old at the time of travel. I know this for a fact because I stayed there for my quadruplets 3rd Birthday. We had 2 adults and 4 children, of course all 4 children were 2 at the time of check-in. We were all on the room and took the Magical Express. We never had a problem and on the day of their Birthday, a CM arrived @ our room with Birthday Cards and balloons. This was just last May. It is not as spacious as having 2 adjoining rooms, but it is an option. I like it because the rooms have refridgerators and the boat to DTD is a wonderful bonus.

 

[DawnM]

We stay off-site at a condo. MUCH less $$ and allows us more flexibility.

Dawn

 

[java]

Deluxe - they will let you stay with 6 as long as the youngest is under 3

 

[1littleladyplus3]

Thanks for the help. I didnt realize that I could stay at a deluxe as the baby will still be so little. That helps alot.

 

[blessedby3]

Definately stay on property. You may find something cheaper off, but the travel to and from Disney with that many kids would be crazy. Staying on property gives you the option to split the family and one parent go back with younger ones for a nap while the rest stay at the parks. We will be a family of 6 during our next trip in Jan 2008. We loved staying at the CR in 2003- the monorail is GREAT, but our budget is less this trip so we booked 2 adjoining rooms at POP. This way we will have lots more room and 2 bathrooms. I dont like the look of the family suites because a lot of the beds are pull outs and normally they arent comfortable. Im not willing to book 10 nights there to try them out. We will go with 2 rooms and 4 real beds. I know I will miss the monorail convience especially with a 3 1/2 month old, but we will still be on property. We have DD17, DS12 and DD9 plus the baby.

My Sis is at Disney right now and they have rented a house for the first time. She says that was definately a mistake and from now on she will be back on property.

 

[bookmama]

ft wilderness cabins. we have a big family and i'll defintely tell you how it was for us in june

 

[DVCLiz]

We also have 4 kids...ages 12, 11, 6, and 2. Keep in mind that you can also do a deluxe stay with a baby under 3...according to Disney that counts as 5 in a room so you can stay at most deluxe except WL and you could also still do POR.

We did the deluxe route for many years and enjoyed it. However, our preferred accomodations these days are two rooms at a mod. We have not tried the DVC resorts... a vacation with four kids entails considerable work anyway, so I really want housekeeping services We looked at the family suites, but we like have two bathrooms and the sleeping accomodations in the suites looks uncomfortable to us. Add in no deals offered for the suites and they were a no for us.

Happy planning

Just an FYI, PA - you can request daily mousekeeping at any DVC resort. You'll pay extra for it, but it's available!!! Hope you get to give DVC a try some day.

 

[beccalines]

We are going in October and staying at ADMu in the family suite.

We have 4 kids ages 7,5,4 and 1. Our TA said we would have more room then in POR and I liked the idea of at least the 3 older ones in another room. We'll see how it goes.

 

[PA Princess]

Just an FYI, PA - you can request daily mousekeeping at any DVC resort. You'll pay extra for it, but it's available!!! Hope you get to give DVC a try some day.

Thanks for the info, Liz! Good DIS board reader and researcher that I am, I actually did know this , and I have looked at renting points for DVC several times, but Disney keeps offering free dining and has drawn us in the last two years. I have no doubt we will one day give DVC a try.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Clearly we are in the early planning stages but we have a bgi family -- four kids who will be 7, 6, 4, and 1 on our trip. I am thinking we are going to HAVE to have a suite - so which resort would you recommend? WE are wanting to stay AT wdw, TIA.

Look at renting points from a DVC member for a 2 bedroom villa you will get a full kitchen and laundry facilities right in teh room plus a nice king bed for mom and dad we are in teh same situation now with 4 kids and 2 adults. That is why we are glad we purchased DVC it was a great way to plan our yearly trips and save money in teh long run.

 

[kltruck]

Stay on property! Next time we are booking a Disney Resort with monorail access- then we won't have to fold up the stroller (wake baby, juggle our bags, corral all the kids while doing the aforementioned activities).

 

[RangerPooh]

We stayed in a FW cabin in March, 4 adults and two kids and it worked out great! It has a full kitchen inc. full sized fridge. We really liked this over POR which is where we usually stay as you cna ahve 5 to a room in the AB section. The only downside was that there is only 1 bathroom. But we got over that and went to the comfort station nearby in a camping loop. And we only had to do this once. But check them out, you can get decent discounts and there is plenty to do at the fort.

 

[mommyseven]

I believe that your most affordable option would be to stay at the POR Alligator Bayou section. It sleeps 5 (baby can join in as well). It should be less expensive than the suite, FW cabins, and deluxes.

If money is not a concern, you could stay at the deluxes, which sleep 5 (baby joins too). WL and AKL only sleep more than 4 if you have a deluxe room and pay more. I would suggest saving money and staying at Poly, GF, or Contemp. Fort Wilderness cabins are pricey too. The value suite at the All Stars would most likely be less expensive.

Normally I would suggest two rooms but with your kiddies being younger in age that really isn't an option. We typically get two adjoining rooms (if not a deluxe we prefer POR).