*large* family (6 kiddos) ~ why stay on resort?

[BlsdMama]

Help....... we did all the research and then didn't go. Now, we're trying to decide whether to take all of them or just some... I can't imagine leaving our (then) 3yob and 1yog behind.

Our kids will be 11yog, 8yob, 6yog, 4yog, 3yob, 1yog in February. I know if we don't take the youngest two we could do wilderness lodge. Our only other choice is adjoining rooms correct?

We know we could probably save a lot of $$ by staying off resort, but I wonder if that would detract from the vacation in the long run. Plus I want dining included! That would make life SO much easier... no penny pinching!

Your thoughts please?

Thanks!
Kelly

 

[Aliceacc]

I say go for adjoining rooms at a value resort on site.

 

[slimplaw]

You could book a 2 bedroom unit at Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk or Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas. They sleep 8. You would have a full kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a washer and dryer. You would be onsite, so if one of you had to take the younger ones back to the resort to nap you could use the Disney transportation. This would also give you Magical Express from the airport if you are flying. These units could be rented through Disney or you can check the DVC Rental board here on the DIS to see if any members would book for you and rent you the units. By going with a DVC member it is usually cheaper.

 

[jjk1107]

Another option would be to look at renting points from a DVC owner for a 2 bedroom at Wilderness Lodge or other DVC property. They sleep up to 8 people and you can add the dining plans.

 

[Perditamarie]

You could also consider renting points from a DVC member to have a 2bdrm unit (check out the DVC board) w/full kitchen and washer/dryer. Those units hold up to 8, and the 1yo wouldn't count in the room capacity. I am not familiar w/the new dining plan in 08 -- I know I am not crazy about table service dining on a daily basis (although we love character meals) -- but there may be more flexibility in 08, you just have to decide if the cost in time and $$ is worth it. If you don't do the dining plan, you can order groceries online and have them delivered -- that way your kids can eat some familiar food and maybe save some $$ or sanity for some meals.

One of the biggest pluses to staying onsite to us is transportation - they pick you up at the airport and return you and buses, boats and monorails are available to take you to the parks. If you are flying, that may save some headaches w/rental cars and carseats, etc.

If you are driving, you may find some great deals in offsite lodging, but then won't qualify for the dining plan!

hope this helps!

 

[twinspluscade]

Help....... we did all the research and then didn't go. Now, we're trying to decide whether to take all of them or just some... I can't imagine leaving our (then) 3yob and 1yog behind.

Our kids will be 11yog, 8yob, 6yog, 4yog, 3yob, 1yog in February. I know if we don't take the youngest two we could do wilderness lodge. Our only other choice is adjoining rooms correct?

We know we could probably save a lot of $$ by staying off resort, but I wonder if that would detract from the vacation in the long run. Plus I want dining included! That would make life SO much easier... no penny pinching!

Your thoughts please?

Thanks!
Kelly

I'd probably get two rooms at a value, or even at a mod if you can swing it. OR you could get two rooms at Wilderness lodge, which probably isn't much more than a suite there (which is what you'd need if you take just the oldest four).

As for taking the kids, since yours are so close in age, I'd probably take all of them. I think it'd be hard on the 3 year old to get left behind while the 4 year old gets to go, KWIM? Especially since at age 3 they're old enough to "get it".

 

[gigi1313]

personally, i'd go for two rooms at POR w/the trundle beds... then you'd have a little extra sleeping space in case anyone doesn't want to (or cannot) share... you really don't need any more space/rooms for the six kiddos than you do for just four, so make it a true family affair and go for it! besides, the littlest one is FREE!

 

[J and R's mom]

Another vote for renting points from a DVC member. You can stay 5 nights (Sun-Thur) at SSR in a 2br villa for around $1450 (that's around $10 per rented point). The price will change depending on the resort, number of nights stayed and time of year, but that's a rough estimate (I used 10/14/07-10/19/07 as a gauge).

It's also VERY nice to have the washer/dryer, especially with so many little ones. We use it quite a bit and we only have a 4 and 2 year old. Although we don't cook meals in the villas, we do like having the full-sized kitchen. It's also nice having a living room area off of the bedrooms so that those that don't feel like napping/sleeping can still have a place to hang out.

Of course, two rooms at a value or moderate resort might cost less and be a good option as well...you just won't have the extra living room space, kitchen, washer/dryer.

 

[shellybaxter]

Other options would be the cabins at fort wilderness or I believe any of the Deluxe rooms that normally sleep five (Poly, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Beach or Yacht Club, Boardwalk) since your youngest is under three.

As for why you should stay on resort - because you don't leave the magic that way. I love being emersed in Disney and not having to leave for 10 days or however long we are staying. To me that is one of the joys of a Disney vacation. I really hope you will consider staying on site

 

[gigi1313]

Other options would be the cabins at fort wilderness or I believe any of the Deluxe rooms that normally sleep five (Poly, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Beach or Yacht Club, Boardwalk) since your youngest is under three.

the op has SIX CHILDREN plus TWO ADULTS, so a room that sleeps five won't do her much good...

 

[shellybaxter]

the op has SIX CHILDREN plus TWO ADULTS, so a room that sleeps five won't do her much good...

You are right - sorry I misread the original post

 

[Atchley]

I would go for two rooms at a Value Resort. You may even want to wait until there is free dining. You may have to take the kids out of school for a little bit, but not having to pay for food will be a huge savings, not to mention that the room will be in value season, so it will be a little cheaper.

 

[DisneyMom5]

We took our 6 kids last time, ages 1-11, and will be taking our now 7 kids next month, ages 1-13.

We get connecting rooms at Pop Century.
(A request that is both guarenteed, and not guarenteed, so take it with a grain of salt. That said, they happily accomodated us last time. Make sure you say connecting, as adjoining does not have the door that connects the two rooms.)

Why stay onsite?

1) We drive down, in our 15 passenger van, as it is cheaper than flying 9 people. So when we get to WDW, we prefer to let Mickey pay for the gas, and staying onsite using onsite WDW transportation is the best way to do that.

2) Time. Our vacation time is very valuable to us. Staying onsite spares us a lot of commute time (because no matter what they tell you, it's still faster to get around onsite than to battle off-site traffic.)

3) Magic. We love being immersed in Disney. Really no good logical reason there, but it really is cool.

4) FREE DINING. The last trip and this upcoming one we have managed to travel during the free dining promotion. It really is worth it for us to get the least expensive hotel room, during the least expensive season, AND combine it with the free offer of the WDW dining plan. That might not be the case any other time of year, or even next fall, but it worked out for us.
We discussed paying for the plan, but were able to extend our trip by not having to pay for it.

We are not made of money. A lot of people think we are nuts for doing things the way we do (and that includes having seven kids in the first place.)
WDW just happens to be a place that ALL of our children (and us parents) can enjoy equally.

And NO, we never leave a family member behind. We enjoy experiencing it all together. People have different opinions on that, but we take all of our kid's everywhere, so WDW is no different!

If you absolutely HAVE to stay off-site, then by all means, do it. It still will be an awesome trip. But if you can swing onsite, go for it.

Happy planning from one "ARE THEY ALL YOURS???" family to another!

 

[seven dwarfs]

My kids are 7,7,5,5,5 and 3. We have been going to Disney at least once a year since the twins were two. We have stayed in a 2 bed room at the Boardwalk, two rooms at POFQ, in the RV at the campground, the music resort, two rooms at the contemporary (this was an upgrade and long story) and this next trip we are staying at Pop with two rooms. It is very nice to be on site. As you know when you have a large family everything takes a little more time. It is nice waking up and walking to the bus stop and letting Disney take you were you want to go. It was nice to have the 2 bedroom with the washer and the dryer. But, we also like to save money and stay in the values. It is a lot of fun for us not matter where we stay and my kids beg us to go back. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Disneytwinz]

We have 5 children...one is almost on his own. We've stayed at the values in connecting rooms and had a great trip.
What sold us is that we park our van and leave it there until our trip is over. We use Disney transportation which saves us on gas. We enjoyed riding around property seeing all the different sites. We also took advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. We like that the dining plan is all inclusive...well until recent changes were made. It is no longer a reason to want to stay onsite for us, but could be in the future. Good luck with deciding!

 

[haleofafamily]

We love the 2 bedroom villas. The full kitchen is a great option to save money on meals. Renting from a DVC owner saves alot of money off the regular rate. There is no housekeeping though. The washer and dryer are also nice. At first I thought it would be too much like being at home, but somehow doing the things like laundry and making a meal seemed different in Disney World.
We also take a baby sitter with us. That way she can take the younger kids back for a nap in the afternoons. While we are in the park we use the fast pass and child swap and everyone is usually able to ride the 'thrill rides' twice.