Large Family tips and discussion

[MandiC]

We loved staying at POR, the extra bed is pretty long, neither of my girls were anywhere close to too outgrowing it (7 and 9 at the time). I am fairly sure all of Alligator Bayou have the same layout. The bed is a pull down. I'll take a look and see if we got a picture.

This thread makes my family feel not so big My hope is that we will stay at Fort Wilderness in the cabins on our next trip. We will have the kitchen and all the on-site benefits. I have priced out off site and it appears cheaper but once I add on park tickets, food, rental car and parking fees the savings is really not that great anymore. A savings of $500 to *me* just isn't worth losing on-site benefits.

 

[3princes+1princess]

Not so much a tip for saving money, but I have recently I have made my son (15) and adult on MDE. This way his magic band has charging privileges and also is linked for photos. This is a big help as I can ask him to go get some snacks, pay for dinner, or while him and the kids are on the rides I don't particularly like, he can get the photos too. Takes a load off of me.

Also, this is our first year doing the YES program which did save us a few hundred for our tickets. My grandma has a timeshare I can exchange to DVC property...which gets me a 2 bedroom for the week for about $350. Just luck on that one.

 

[xipetotec]

Hey all, I'm resurrecting this thread as I'm starting to plan a late April/early May trip for 2015. We called off our earlier plans as we found out we are going to have a baby in a few days. #8! So our delayed trip is looking at Spring and still thinking at least some of it might be onsite.

I'm thinking of renting DVC points for onsite unless there is a good deal on multiple rooms for our stay. Now we'd need two rooms that hold 5 each...does anyone have a suggestion of their favorite places that allow this? I've heard POR has a lot of 5 person rooms...and a trundle/murphy is fine for us since most of my kids are pretty small.

Any other new tips for large families?

Well for DVC you want to be careful. a lot of DVC studios don't have the option for a stowaway bed ( they will strictly only allow 4 ). And the larger 2-bedroom apartments, while amazing, cost a heck of a lot more points.

I would personally opt for POR .

See earlier posts in here for large families. But I would make ADRs as early as possible ( if you can get the group to agree on them ) I can't stress that enough UNLESS no one cares where they eat. You want a specific place for your large group? book it early!

I would no try to keep *everyone* together *all* the time. We split up and meet up for dinners and maybe plan for 1 or 2 attractions we want to do as a family group. If you do plan on a few attractions to ride as a group, FP+ has made *that* easier to plan.


Now with free wifi in the parks, facebook messenger is a great way for everyone to keep in touch. ( If each group has a smartphone OR ipod touch or something ).

 

[7KLucky]

LOVE your thread! Love all the advice of others as well.

I'm a nervous wreck as I prepare to submit and put down our deposit for our July vacation.
We have visited 5 times with our children:
2001 ASM
2002 CBR
2004 ASSports
2006 POP
2010 POP

We have 5 children and we want to bring them back to the magic but the expense of two rooms is just so much. Our oldest is graduating from High School this year and this is his last family vacation request...... I've explored every money saving tip I can find and we have decided to Rent an RV and stay at Ft Wilderness. I'm frugal and not accustomed to luxury, but I have also never camped before.
I don't know that you can call staying in an RV actually camping, but I hope you know what I mean....

The descriptions on this site and others are extremely enticing. In part I am happy about the relaxed atmosphere people describe. On the other hand, I don't want my kids to miss out on the "magic of Disney" because mom and dad have to save a buck.

We are spending 10 nights at Ft Wilderness. We plan to go to Universal 2 days in between 6 days at the parks. Surely that will bring enough magic right? This is the "chill" away from the hustle and bustle right?

Going during non peak season isn't an option because both my husband and I are teachers. We thought about staying off property but those EMH just can't be beat! Plus the transportation options...... My oldest and I went on a school trip last spring break and I thought the drive from hotel to
bus/monorail center was awful

Thanks for all the words of wisdom!

 

[MandiC]

Does anyone want to explain how to get these YES tickets?
I just haven't been willing to give up my my on-site benefits/dining plan/ect so we had to delay our trip from what I previously wanted and I believe our oldest two kids will be over 10 at that point (I had really wanted to go just before #2 turned 10...and maybe we will but just in case).

7KLucky- I am pretty set on us staying at Fort Wilderness for our next trip (in the cabins). Honestly, it sounds like a really fun resort with lots of Disney magic! The biggest complaint I have seen is just how big it is and the internal transportation system, to combat that we plan on renting a car for our next trip. Especially being in the cabins, which if I read the maps right are about as far from the fun stuff as possible Fort Wilderness has Chip and Dale Campfire, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, HDD Musical Revue, archery, pony rides and a boat to MK! At Christmastime it seems many people decorate their campsites and lots of people seem very loyal to the resort.

 

[3princes+1princess]

Does anyone want to explain how to get these YES tickets?
I just haven't been willing to give up my my on-site benefits/dining plan/ect so we had to delay our trip from what I previously wanted and I believe our oldest two kids will be over 10 at that point (I had really wanted to go just before #2 turned 10...and maybe we will but just in case).

http://www.disneyyouth.com/our-prog...-enrollment/#categories-individual-enrollment

This is the website you can get them at...if you have any other questions that are not answered here.. ask away. There is also a thread on the Dis boards about it.