Lodging for family of 5 (DTD maybe?)

[Allieloopy]

Hi! Last Feb we made the trip to Disneyworld for our first time. I found everyone's advice here on the DIS indispensible. (I even became a Croc convert, ugly yes but comfy Yeah!)
I also thought I was able to plan another trip for this year on my own.

Well we suddenly have an extra daugter. Our former foster child came back into care and it looks like we will end up adopting her .

But this makes us a family of 5, two adults, 3 girls, 9,9 and 6. So we can't just pick up a room in PoP like last time.

My husband and the kids also want to stay longer, for about 2 weeks ( and I'm not gonna argue!)

So is there a cheaper way than staying in a Fort Wilderness cabin or in a ASM suite? It looks like adding one kid doubles our lodging costs?


We had the meal plan last time but don't mind saving money by eating meals outside of Disney or eating in the room so I was thinking we might get a better deal in DTD.
I want to be able to walk to the busses but not for a mile!
We probably won't rent a car due to the expense so will be dependant on Disney for that.
Does anyone have any advice to make this trip cheaper?

Thanks for any advice, I will be searching the archives for info also.

Thanks!
Allie

 

[karliebug]

You could do a room at POR. they sleep 5 with a trundle bed that pulls out from under one of the double beds. My family has done this several times. Or you could book 2 connecting rooms at a value which gives you 4 beds, 2 baths and 2 tvs with a door between the 2 rooms. This is cheaper than a suite but you don't get the fridge and microwave. Or you could maybe stay at one of the downtown disney hotels. Sometimes the swan and dolphin also have specials, especially if you are a school employee or nurse. Congrats on your family addition!

 

[Kimberle]

I you book a cabin, you'll have a full kitchen and a grill. You can save a lot of $$$ by cooking most of your own meals. The family suites have a small fridge, microwave & coffee pot. By being creative, you can make quite a few meals, too.

 

[Rylee]

Congratulations! Three princesses, that's wonderful.

As pp's have said, for a family of 5, your options are, from low end cost, going up -

1. Port Orleans Riverside - 1 room w/trundle bed.
2. Value Resort - 2 rooms
3. All-Star Music- family suite
4. Fort Wilderness - cabin

As for DTD area, I don't know what type of transportation these hotels offer, so I don't know if you would want to stay there without a car. However, if you'd like to check out their prices and maybe find a special, go to the mousesavers site. She often list specials for these hotels and even gives her recommendations. (There is currently a special offer for Doubletree suites, which would accommodate your family but I don't know what the travel dates are.)

As for saving money by eating in the DTD area, I don't know if that would be cost saving. Some tips for saving on food - bring some breakfast items and snacks from home - pop-tarts, granola bars, mini cereal boxes, juice boxes, etc. Pack some paper cups so the children can split bottles of juices. Also, if your children are not big eaters, consider buying less at counter service meals... order 2 sandwiches and 3 combo meals. When we do this because some are not as hungry as others, I find that we still throw away fries or salad, etc.

Be sure to watch for discount codes.

When do you plan to visit?

 

[loopner67]

I vote for POR with a trundle bed. Great resort for kids and the price could be right for you! Have a great trip.

 

[HACAM]

If you are going again in February, you may want to check out the special that is going on right now (ZWC Code)...you can book a package and get the free upgrade to the park hopper and water option plus you will get a discount on your room...the package must be booked by Dec.15/07 in order to get this promo. I would suggest that, and you could book just one room at POR, it will accomodate a family of 5 and would be your cheapest option for staying on site.

Good luck with the planning.

 

[HopperFan]

My first choice would be POR IF you don't want to cook. We love the resort, it has the bedding for you and it will give you all the Disney perks. 24/7 Disney would always be my first choice, especially without a car. I also noticed that AAA discounts are now available on Music suites so the price can be in range of $147 depending on when you are going and if availability.

Another option for you since you say you will be there two weeks.......
Check Doubletree Suites in DTD, through Mousesavers. We have stayed there, and through Mousesavers got a good rate and the cold breakfast buffet for free. One of the best cold buffets we have ever seen and kept us plenty full until a late lunch. Saves some money.

Rooms are two room suites with door between bedroom and living room. Kitchenette with micro and fridge, table and chairs. GREAT beds and a sofa bed in living room. Since we are five they brought us an extra dining chair. Great to have the space for an extended trip and real sofa/chairs. Two weeks can be a long time to sit on a bed for your sofa. They have buses.

Downside is the walk to DTD is the farthest of all the DTD resorts. But it is only across the street from Crossroads shopping and grocery. Has a tiny Disney store and minimal activities inside hotel. Our stay there was good........but we go often.

My budget hint: When eating in Disney resort foodcourts (and we are all "adults") we get a Child's Pasta/Meatball meal (comes with applesauce you can save for later), then a large salad to share and the free cups of ice water (or refillable mug). If you want you can add sides of breadsticks. For 5 was @ $26 without the bread. Some meals we just want to eat low budget so we can splurge on others

 

[MikeAidanEoinMom]

Hi! Last Feb we made the trip to Disneyworld for our first time. I found everyone's advice here on the DIS indispensible. (I even became a Croc convert, ugly yes but comfy Yeah!)
I also thought I was able to plan another trip for this year on my own.

Well we suddenly have an extra daugter. Our former foster child came back into care and it looks like we will end up adopting her .

But this makes us a family of 5, two adults, 3 girls, 9,9 and 6. So we can't just pick up a room in PoP like last time.

My husband and the kids also want to stay longer, for about 2 weeks ( and I'm not gonna argue!)

So is there a cheaper way than staying in a Fort Wilderness cabin or in a ASM suite? It looks like adding one kid doubles our lodging costs?


We had the meal plan last time but don't mind saving money by eating meals outside of Disney or eating in the room so I was thinking we might get a better deal in DTD.
I want to be able to walk to the busses but not for a mile!
We probably won't rent a car due to the expense so will be dependant on Disney for that.
Does anyone have any advice to make this trip cheaper?

Thanks for any advice, I will be searching the archives for info also.

Thanks!
Allie

If you are going for 2 weeks are you going to get APs??? I would get at least 1... then get the AP discount for the cabin to save money making food and then get the DDE card for your sit downs you may want.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I would try for the room at POR with the trundle for the 6-yo. That way you can use Magical Express from the airport to POR and full access of the Disney transportation system. Buses from DTD only go to resorts, so even if you stayed at one of the DTD hotels, you'd have to take their shuttles to the parks.

You'd have a dorm-sized fridge at POR and can take along breakfast stuff. My family stayed at CSR in Sept and I took pop-tarts, cereal bars, cereal, cookies, granola bars, etc, for breakfast and snacks. (But we drive so I can take whatever I want.) It was nice not having to take time to stop for breakfast and being able to feed our sons while my DH showered and got ready for the day.

Have fun planning!

 

[Allieloopy]

I think from reading all the great advice is that we will be staying on the property. I'm just not willing to give up a moment of Disney magic to save a little.

Last year we used the Feb. discount and it was great but I won't be able to take the kids out of school for 2 weeks. Maybe? But we still wouldn't be able to pull it together by Feb to go. Maybe if they have free dining again we can go next year and at the end we just about lived on CS and snacks.

But we did have a cheapie cooler and groceries (Diet Pepsi) delivered so we ate breakfast in our room. Cooking dinner wouldn't be that big of a deal, they did waste a lot of food last year. I do want to do the Hoop De Doo again. The kids see so many characters around the park that I think they can live without a Cinderalla dinner this time.

I think I will concentrate on POR, the cabins and ASM. My husband really liked Pop so he is rooting for All Star Music suites. And if I ask the girls they just want us to sell our house and move there so that's no help.

Whats this about the Annual Passes? I'll have to look it up on the boards.
Does it have regular discounts or is it like a special where you have to catch it when it happens?

Thanks for all the info. I can't wait to go again but planning is half the fun for me anyway!

Besides we have to go. I've broken the last of my plastic Mickey Mouse plates that I saved from the kids meals at PoP. Now the only thing I have left is one bar of Mickey soap from the hotel.
I am going to save it like a fine wine and not open it until I book my next trip. Yes, I know I'm nuts. But in a good way!

 

[westjones]

You may want to look at pictures of the different resorts. This website has slideshows of all the different resorts:

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_hot.htm

I have never rented points, but renting points from a DVC member for a two bedroom could be an option. We own DVC and love it, but I have never rented out my points nor have I rented points from someone else, but if you go to the DVC rent/trade board they can probably explain things to you. Those rooms are very nice.

I think the Dolphin may have the option to get a fold away bed (but you would need to check on that for sure). That is a very nice resort and you can walk to Epcot and MGM from there, which can be very nice. We try to stay over at the Epcot resort whenever we can (but the Swan and Dolphin aren't "official" WDW resorts, so you can use the magical express from the airport, but I think they do allow the Extra Magic Hours at the parks).

If I were in your situation, I would probably go with POR because I have read on the boards that you may not get connecting rooms if you get two rooms at the values (although we were able to get them with grandparents in the summer, but it was just lucky we did). The room at POR will probably be your least expensive option and it is a nice resort.

Good Luck!

DJ

 

[LBS]

We also are a family of 5 and yes, that extra child does double your cost for lodging. Our last stay we had 2 rooms at Pop. There is no way I would get a single room for any length of stay. We just need to extra space and a place for the kids and parents to be away from each other. My vote would be for an All-Star suite or connecting rooms at a value.

 

[zagafi]

We're a family of 5 as well, and yep, room costs go up significantly. We really liked the Swan Studio, but it's $100 more/nt than it was in 2006(went from $244 to $349!) and that's WITH my teacher discount, so we let the boys choose where they wanted to stay for our next trip. They unanimously chose Pop Century, so we booked connecting rooms. Will dh and I miss some of the nice touches we've had at Deluxes? Maybe, but as long as I have a place to lay my head and my 3 kids are happy, I'm happy.

 

[Allieloopy]

Thanks for showing me all of those pictures. I am drooling now and want to go tomorrow. I am leaning towards POR now. We really enjoyed POP but I would like to try a different hotel. When we went for 8 days we barely had a chance to use the amenities but with 14 days I am sure we will have more downtime.
Thanks for all of the advice. Now I just need to plan and look around for a good deal. Oh yeah and save up a few thousand bucks!

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

With it being 2 adults and 3 kids, I don't think the space issue would bother me. If it were me, I would go with POR with the trundle bed, not only does it sound like the cheapest option but it sounds like it would be the best fit as well. Have a great time with whatever you decide but, I would take one of the on property options as you have said, giving up the magic just isn't worth the little savings.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We're a family of 5 too so I feel your "pain". I'm researching our next trip - so far this is what I'm concentrating on - POR (not sure w/the small rooms-314sp ft.), ASMu suites (I just figured out w/the u means Music), a deluxe, Doubletree suites and and a vacation home rental.

Heres my take:
POR - small rooms only 314sq ft. w/5 of us I'm really doubtful on this although we have stayed there before and loved it! We spend a lot of time at the resort w/naps, etc.

ASMu - DH doesn't want to stay here so we probably won't but I like the size of the suites and the kitchenette.

Deluxe- DH likes WL - very expensive for 5. The room would have to be a deluxe that sleeps 6. Big bucks but I have a feeling it would be worth it. BC is always a possibility. We stayed at the Poly last time and loved it but I'd like to try something new.

Doubletree Suites - looks great and more room for less $$$. So this is definitely a possiblity but I think I would miss that disney feeling. No EMH - didn't use EMH last time but the kids will be older this time around so we may stay in the parks longer. No onsite disney benefits but very close to DTD and the parks.

Rental home - these are gorgeous and very tempting. For 2 nights at the deluxe WL we could have a week in a home offsite. DH is really pushing for this one. They're ok but I like the disney buses and transportation. Not sure I would like all the driving around. Food would definitely be cheaper but I wouldn't be in my "disney world". No onsite disney benefits but we could have our own spa & pool.

So its really hard to decide. But this is what we're thinking at this time. Probably next week we'll be thinking something else. Good luck.

 

[rosiep]

The rooms at the Royal Plaza in DTD were comfortable with two beds and a pull out couch. (tower rooms) Their buses ran well and DTD offers alot of food options. Having said that the hotel is nice but nothing special.
Review Here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1630843

 

[Taja]

I think from reading all the great advice is that we will be staying on the property. I'm just not willing to give up a moment of Disney magic to save a little.

Last year we used the Feb. discount and it was great but I won't be able to take the kids out of school for 2 weeks. Maybe? But we still wouldn't be able to pull it together by Feb to go. Maybe if they have free dining again we can go next year and at the end we just about lived on CS and snacks.

But we did have a cheapie cooler and groceries (Diet Pepsi) delivered so we ate breakfast in our room. Cooking dinner wouldn't be that big of a deal, they did waste a lot of food last year. I do want to do the Hoop De Doo again. The kids see so many characters around the park that I think they can live without a Cinderalla dinner this time.

I think I will concentrate on POR, the cabins and ASM. My husband really liked Pop so he is rooting for All Star Music suites. And if I ask the girls they just want us to sell our house and move there so that's no help.

Whats this about the Annual Passes? I'll have to look it up on the boards.
Does it have regular discounts or is it like a special where you have to catch it when it happens?

Thanks for all the info. I can't wait to go again but planning is half the fun for me anyway!

Besides we have to go. I've broken the last of my plastic Mickey Mouse plates that I saved from the kids meals at PoP. Now the only thing I have left is one bar of Mickey soap from the hotel.
I am going to save it like a fine wine and not open it until I book my next trip. Yes, I know I'm nuts. But in a good way!

There are room-only discounts available to annual passholders periodically when Disney doesn't have the booking volume they would like for a specified period of time. No guarantee it will happen. These discounts cannot be combined with any other discount (including free DDP).

At this time, you don't have to have an AP at the time you book the discounted room, but you need it when you check in. One adult per room needs to have an AP. In other words, you don't need to purchase the AP in advance; wait until you see if a discount is available and you have booked the room before you invest in one.

Do you belong to AAA? That's another potential discount--10% to 15%. Limited availability, of course, but it helps! I usually book a room with an AAA discount or at rack rate at the resort of my choice (assuming that will be the lowest price available). Then, if a discount becomes available and it makes sense financially to purchase an AP, I'll switch to the AP discount rate. Again, they're limited, but it may give you some options.

 

[Allieloopy]

I think that I am going to plan for POR. It looks great and my 6 yr old is little. The older girls don't want to share a bed but oh well. For the cost I will put up with the complaints.
I don't think that I will be able to make Free dining next year because of school darn it. Two weeks at the begining of the year will be hard to make up.

Thanks for all of the great advice. I knew that I would get super help from you guys!

 

[minnie61650]

The family Suites sleep up 6 persons.
There is a QUEEN SIZE bed in the master bedroom area.
The living room/sleeping area will sleep 4 more.
2 persons can sleep on the foldout sofa. There is a chair and an ottoman which both fold out and each will slep an additional peson.

DH and I stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music ( a value resort) last Sept. (2006)

We really enjoyed the Queen size bed, the kitchenette with the microwave, having a sofa and cushioned chair to sit on and relax after a day at the parks before retiring for the evening.

I thought the pullouts very comfortable.

They are designed so the back cushion and seat cushion of the pullout support the pullout. There is no meatle bar to hurt the sleepers back.

Info thread--Pullouts in Family Suites at ASMU with photos of how the pullout is supported.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18100990#post18100990

Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

Here is my review of the Suites:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17640774&postcount=7

For more photos and info please see this info thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392879

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!