Large Family Planning

[momSandy]

We are trying to plan a family vacation to Disneyland in March 2010, but are feeling overwhelmed with trying to plan a budget-sensitive trip with our large family.

DH has been before, as have his kids (DD 16, DD 14 ... not sure if the girls will be able to travel with us).

It has been a LONG time since I've been, and my kids have NEVER been (DS 14, DS 13, DS 11, DS 11, DS 9, DS 9 and DS 9).

The trip will also probably coincide with our DS's 1st birthday! (In case you're keeping track . . . yup, that's 2 girls and 8 boys.)

Okay, all you pro's . . . what's the best way to go about this?

I'm thinking renting a house in the vicinity may be better option for us than hotel rooms . . . thoughts?

We're tentatively thinking of driving on Saturday and visiting the park on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (driving home on Wednesday). Are three days in the park reasonable? This is going to be a huge undertaking.

We're MORE THAN OPEN to suggestions. Please, please help.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Definitely look into renting a house. Check out www.vrbo.com. We are doing a big family trip in June (10 adults, 10 kids) and found a house by the convention center for us to share (for only $350/night for 5 families!!).

 

[Brady's Mom]

Now that is a LOT of boys! I boys. I have 4. Do you have twins and triplets????

I can't imagine where you would stay with at least 10 people all in one place. Unless Anaheim Plaza Hotel has room for 10 people. They are a hotel near DLR (within walking distance) that has a 2 room "suite". It doesn't seem like a real suite to me - just more like 2 rooms hooked together, but it might work. Or maybe they only have rooms for 8?? Sorry, I've never stayed there, but my sister has and it was big enough for the 8 people they had with them.

Otherwise I think your best bet might be a house nearby. It seems like it would be easier/less expensive to be able to feed everyone at "home" than it would to feed that many people in the parks.

And it might be wise to consider adding an extra day - with that many people it could be crazy trying to do everything that everyone wants to do in 3 days. Starting after the first of the year through the end of April (I think) there is a buy 5 day tickets for the price of 3 day tickets - well worth the money and extra days even if you don't use the 5th day.

Good luck planning your trip and I hope you find a solution - even if it means 3 separate rooms at a less expensive place.

 

[firefly87]

I am leaving today for our trip and our standard travelling group can be rather large. We have 12 total (7 adults and 5 kids). We are staying in a house that we found on vrbo.com. (in walking distance to DL!) I can't stress enough how nice that is with a large group! Not only for meal times, but you also get laundry and a place to spread out after time in the parks. That was really nice as we weren't all cramped up in hotel rooms.

On this trip, we are planning to eat dinners in every night except for one dinner that we will go to Rainforest Cafe in DTD. If we ate out every night, it would cost a small fortune. We bring a soft collapsible cooler to the park with us every day and bring lunches in. The kids are having Uncrustables or as I like to all them "lazy mom's PB&J" and the adults are having like a chicken salad type wrap thingey. We also bring in water and snacks with us. Other than the occasional special snack, we really don't spend any money on food or drinks in the park.

With our big group, we also wear matching shirts each day. It makes it sooo much easier to keep track of everyone because you only have to remember the "color of the day" to find someone! Some of our shirts are those $5.00 Old Nacy 4th of July shirts, or just a plain solid colored t-shirt.

When I get back from our trip, I could probably give you some more fresh ideas!!

 

[laura&fam]

I agree with trying to add another day. We just got back and we had a 4 day pass. DH thought that would be too much, but with a trip to the ER with a dislocated elbow one day and stomach flu another we really needed four days.

We only had 3 kids and it was pretty hard to keep everyone reasonably happy. Will any of the older ones have some time to go off together? That could help because they will want to do the scarier rides. I'd make sure they stay together, but that's just me.

One thing we noticed was that DH and I missed out on alot that we wanted to do. It really was all about the kids. You may want to decide what if any "big" rides you and DH can't miss and try to fit those in, but you will probably miss some rides just herding kids, picking up fastpasses, taking kids to the bathroom etc. Oh, and meeting characters takes a long time too and that's hard to plan in since you never know when and where they will be.

This is based on our family though and our kids are a bit younger. We also did the matching shirt thing and it was very helpful to keep track of people. Also the photopass photographer could say "tie dye family, your turn" and they knew exactly who was suppose to be in the photo

I'll try to ask my SIL if she has any tips. She did DL a couple of years back with 9 kids.

 

[Brady's Mom]

momSandy, If the girls don't end up going with you there is another hotel that is w/in walking distance to DLR that sleeps 10 people.

Here is the link. DI&S has been mentioned on the Dis before and they are very close to DL. Could work for your large group. Unless the girls come and then I think your best bet is a house.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I would check out Desert Inn and Suites. It is right across the street, they have large suites that may be able to accommodate your family. They are very reasonably priced.

You can walk (score, no paying for parking!)
Free continental breakfast (it's not great but is a free breakfast for all those kids)

We've stayed there and would again. Clean and close

 

[prncssmel]

Staybridge Suites has 2 bedroom suites with full kitchens, a free hot breakfast, plus free hamburgers and hot dogs 3 nights a week. It averaged about $250/night with tax when we stayed there.

 

[momSandy]

It looks like the girls won't be able to go with us after all. And, my oldest can't miss school and sports activities.

That leaves us with the 6 big boys and the baby. (Brady's Mom . . . all seven boys (except the baby) are adopted, so I have several VERY close in age. They are often mistaken for twins and/or triplets.)

Do we need to count the baby when booking a room? We usually just lie (gasp!) and sneak in extra kids (who camp out on the floor in sleeping bags), but I hear things are a lot more particular in the Disney area.

As an added dilemma, DH is currently undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and we're not really sure what his energy level will be like in March.

After spending many hours reading the wonderful advice on this board, I'm inclined to think a close hotel may be a better option that renting a house.

There seem to be definite advantage to a hotel:
* Walking to DLR and not having to worry about parking
* Being able to return to the hotel mid-day for naps for DH and/or baby
* An included breakfast would be great . . . cost-wise, but also one less thing to worry about

Some things that seem appealing about renting a home:
* More space to spread out (and separate squabbling boys)
* Some have pools (which the boys would LOVE)
* Ability to cook meals

I read that outside food/drink is not allowed in the park. For those of you that bring lunch, etc., do you store things in a locker outside the park? What if no lockers are available?

My oldest son will probably be allowed to venture off with the taller kids to hit some of the bigger rides, while we hang out with the younger/shorter kids. We definitely plan on wearing matching shirts . . . we usually do anytime we're in crowds.

There is a wealth of information here and I'm so thankful that all of you are willing to share your knowledge and experience. I really wish money were no object and I could just go crazy making this a trip of a lifetime for all of them, but alas . . . It will still be a trip of a lifetime, just on a budget.

 

[visitingapril09]

The Desert Inn and Suites rooms that are large look great. Very reasonably priced when I plugged in a random date in the next month. It is less than we paid at the Portofino in April for a 2 bed. suit that slept 6.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I read that outside food/drink is not allowed in the park. For those of you that bring lunch, etc., do you store things in a locker outside the park? What if no lockers are available?

You CAN bring in food. We bring in a soft sided cooler (6 pack size) with sandwiches, snacks, drinks, etc. There are also lockers by the picnic area for a larger cooler if you wish.

 

[laura&fam]

When we were on the Mark Twain riverboat last week someone pulled out a hard sided cooler and had a full picnic on the deck of the boat. I wouldn't try it because I have heard too many reports that they don't allow hard sided coolers in, but they got in. Besides, it was a bit wierd since I felt like I was intruding on their picnic, but maybe I'm just strange.

We stayed at the Desert Inn and Suites four years ago in a suite. It worked for us because there were three seperate room areas (but you do have to go through one to get out or in). It would be handy for having some nap and some not. It was reasonably priced, but we had a couple of families to split the cost with. They have a pool and a simple breakfast. With boys your ages you may want to consider supplementing it, (with instant oatmeal, cereal, etc.). It is one of the closest hotels, closer than either DL hotel or Paradise Pier IMO. They have a small fridge and microwave in the rooms too.

One of the things this last trip for us is that one of us was with the baby and one of us was with the other two kids. I felt like we were hardly ever together. If your DH is tierd/napping and you have to try to keep a baby happy that might be hard on you and your other kids. It seemed like the baby napped at the park in the stroller and then was wide awake when we wanted to rest at the hotel. Just warning you because it was harder than I expected.

For cheap food McDonalds is on Harbor Blvd not too far from the DL entrance. Not the best food, but cheaper than most.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

It seemed like the baby napped at the park in the stroller and then was wide awake when we wanted to rest at the hotel. Just warning you because it was harder than I expected.

we had the same problem, but it was my 9 mo old AND my 2 yr old. That meant mommy and daddy didn't get to nap.

 

[Brady's Mom]

It looks like the girls won't be able to go with us after all. And, my oldest can't miss school and sports activities.

That leaves us with the 6 big boys and the baby. (Brady's Mom . . . all seven boys (except the baby) are adopted, so I have several VERY close in age. They are often mistaken for twins and/or triplets.)

Do we need to count the baby when booking a room? We usually just lie (gasp!) and sneak in extra kids (who camp out on the floor in sleeping bags), but I hear things are a lot more particular in the Disney area.

As an added dilemma, DH is currently undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and we're not really sure what his energy level will be like in March.

After spending many hours reading the wonderful advice on this board, I'm inclined to think a close hotel may be a better option that renting a house.

There seem to be definite advantage to a hotel:
* Walking to DLR and not having to worry about parking
* Being able to return to the hotel mid-day for naps for DH and/or baby
* An included breakfast would be great . . . cost-wise, but also one less thing to worry about

Some things that seem appealing about renting a home:
* More space to spread out (and separate squabbling boys)
* Some have pools (which the boys would LOVE)
* Ability to cook meals

I read that outside food/drink is not allowed in the park. For those of you that bring lunch, etc., do you store things in a locker outside the park? What if no lockers are available?

My oldest son will probably be allowed to venture off with the taller kids to hit some of the bigger rides, while we hang out with the younger/shorter kids. We definitely plan on wearing matching shirts . . . we usually do anytime we're in crowds.

There is a wealth of information here and I'm so thankful that all of you are willing to share your knowledge and experience. I really wish money were no object and I could just go crazy making this a trip of a lifetime for all of them, but alas . . . It will still be a trip of a lifetime, just on a budget.

Sandy,

How long is your hubby's chemo? My mom is undergoing some heavy duty chemo right now - but she only has two more sessions left. It makes her VERY tired. She is wiped out the weekend after she has chemo (she has it on Wed.) and won't make it to work for Thurs. Fri. and is in bed those days plus Sat. and Sun. and sometimes if she is feeling really bad, Mon. Then she bounces back with lower energy than normal for the next couple of weeks until she has chemo again. She has it every 3 weeks.

I would definitely expect him to be very tired during his chemo and his energy level to be low during sessions. He won't seem like your regular hubby.

If he will have been done with chemo for a while I would hope his energy level would bounce back pretty well. A nap for him would probably be good, though.

The DI&S motel's biggest suite has 3 rooms. 2 bedrooms with 2 queens or doubles (??) and a sitting room with fold out couch and tv. You can close the door between both bedrooms and also close the door between sitting room and bedrooms. It could work for keeping rowdy boys separated from each other and Dad and little one.

We rarely go out to breakfast when we are at DLR. We supplement any continental breakfast that may be offered with oatmeal, bagels, cold cereal and those croissant sandwich things that you can get in the freezer section. We bring hot chocolate, juice, granola bars, jerky and microwave popcorn if we want some extra somethings. We also made lunches this last time we went and saved a bundle on food costs. We brought lunch meat, peanut butter and jam, chips, apples, celery (I cut it up before we left) and baby carrots. We carried water bottles in the park and just refilled them. We tried to label them so we would remember whose was whose, but the perm. marker rubbed off. I might try some nail polish to distinguish everyone's water bottle. Just brush an initial on the bottle, it should stay. We actually enjoyed our home made lunches so much more than eating out all the time. My boys might only choose chicken nuggets or hamburgers, this gave them some fruit and veggies and I didn't feel bad about them choosing nuggets and burgers since they had something healthy already.

Hope your hubby does well with his chemo and his prognosis is good. Keep asking questions until you get all your answers, we're always happy to help.

 

[momSandy]

When I get back from our trip, I could probably give you some more fresh ideas!!

I hope your trip is fabulous. And I can't wait to hear of any fresh ideas you come up with!

 

[momSandy]

How long is your hubby's chemo? My mom is undergoing some heavy duty chemo right now - but she only has two more sessions left. It makes her VERY tired. She is wiped out the weekend after she has chemo (she has it on Wed.) and won't make it to work for Thurs. Fri. and is in bed those days plus Sat. and Sun. and sometimes if she is feeling really bad, Mon. Then she bounces back with lower energy than normal for the next couple of weeks until she has chemo again. She has it every 3 weeks.

I would definitely expect him to be very tired during his chemo and his energy level to be low during sessions. He won't seem like your regular hubby.

Hope your hubby does well with his chemo and his prognosis is good. Keep asking questions until you get all your answers, we're always happy to help.

DH currently chemo schedule is pretty brutal. Infusion chemo every other Wednesday and then a week of oral chemo. One week to rest and it starts all over again. December 2nd marks the finish of 12 rounds! His next PET/CT isn't until mid-December, so we won't know future treatment plans until after that. DH is diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer, so we're really trying to get some LIVING in while we can. (A lesson that is probably a good reminder for all of us.)

I've got a couple of hours blocked out today to collect more information and overwhelm my brain even more. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon.

Thanks for your warm hospitality!