Looking for a resort large family

[my4boys+1]

Hi I'm looking for a hopefully value hotel in Disney for myself and 5 children. My dh doesn't want to go. I'd like to go June 2008 but some of the suites really seem costly. I need to be under 5,000 for the whole week including airfare. Any ideas?

 

[darlak]

Have you considered a cabin at Fort Wilderness? They sleep six and have a full kitchen.

 

[marivaid]

I'd do POR instead of a suite.

POR 7 nights about $1300
7 day tickets for 2 adults & 4 kids = $1112

That leaves you about $2,500 for flights, food and other misc expenses.

 

[my4boys+1]

Thanks I need to have some numbers so can I bring it to dh

 

[marivaid]

OOPS nevermind you can only be 5 in a room at POR not 6. I think your only option would be a suite in a value or a cabin.

 

[welovewdw]

Is it 5 plus an infant under 2 or just 5 in those rooms in POR? (and for that matter is it under to or 2 & Under??) I woud do those rooms over a suite, too - just can't remember if you can have a crib in there w/ the 5 people - POR would work for her if you can (and if 2 yo is not too old!)

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

A few suggestions:

I would get quotes from EVERYBODY for all scenarios before making a decision - you have plenty of time to do so. $5K is realistic and you should have no trouble staying under that number.

You can book on-site packages through AAA with some good discounts. Travelocity also does on-site and can be booked 330 days in advance. Go to the "package" tab on their website and click on disney vacations. I'm not sure about Expedia but they prob have similar.

Check out the value suites, no real kitchen, just a fridge and M-wave, but you get 2 rooms, lots of beds and two bathrooms. They are pretty reasonable and can be booked through travelocity and AAA.

On-site with a FW Cabin and the DDP.

Cabin $1750 [rack rate]
DDP $ 776 [38.99/day per adult(over 10) 10.99/child]
Park tiks $1112
Transport via ME fro/to airport and WDW transport on site - free

$3638 leaves $1362 for airfare and misc. P.S. The value suites are even less, you'll have to price them.

Have you considered off-site in a condo, townhouse , or home with private pool. In the past we have been six(4 kids), have stayed on site in two rooms and off-site in condos/townhomes and much prefer the condo/townhouse accomodations. WDW lodging is way overpriced IMO, and the EMH's are tough to take advantage of with that many young kids and the park's early openings/late closings during June. I cant imagine getting all 5 of them to breakfast by 7 for a 8 am EMH opening. Obviously airfare will vary depending upon your location ability to get good fares. You can rent a nice villa or townhome at Windsor Hills or a similar resort close to WDW with private pool and nice resort ammenities for 700 and up depending upon #of bedrooms, what season you go, etc. Those extra bathrooms and bedrooms and a real living room, dining room and kitchen are pretty nice during a long stay. A minivan can be rented for approx $300 - $350 for the week and between the two you have the option of eating out at cheaper places and eating a few meals in.

On a $5K budget you can easily do this trip and stay in upscale accomodations.

Townhouse $1000
WDW Tickets $1112
Minivan + gas/parking $450

That leaves roughly $2500 for airfare and food which should be ample.

As you're not going until June 2008 you have plenty of time to shop and put this together - and convince DH to go and help you with those 5 DC's.

 

[minnie61650]

The cabins at FW sleep 6 and start at $249 a night during value season.

The cabins have a full kitchen but only 1 bathroom.

The Family Suites at All Star Music start at $179 a night during value season.

They have a Queen size bed, a kitchenette with a microwave, coffee pot and an under the counter fridge with a freezer. They also have 2 bathrooms,& 2 closets for storage.

Here is the layout of the FW cabin:

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 metal 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

----------------------------------------------
Here is an info post I wrote about POR-AB vs. Family Suites.

It has photos of the trundle bed in it.:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392857


Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[disneyfanfamily]

I think the absolute cheapest (besides off site) would be 2 value rooms. I do not think you could do Port Orleans because your youngest would be over 2 by the time you went.

2 rooms at a value would give you room to sleep 8. Make sure that you would get the rooms that have the door between the 2. That would run you about $225 a night. It might be a little more, but I don't think much.

Now the values to not have refrigerators. You would have to rent those. I believe it is $10 a night.

Have fun planning! I hope your husband changes his mind, and starts to get excited about going!!!!

Angela

 

[minnie61650]

I think the absolute cheapest (besides off site) would be 2 value rooms. I do not think you could do Port Orleans because your youngest would be over 2 by the time you went.

2 rooms at a value would give you room to sleep 8. Make sure that you would get the rooms that have the door between the 2. That would run you about $225 a night. It might be a little more, but I don't think much.

Now the values to not have refrigerators. You would have to rent those. I believe it is $10 a night.

Have fun planning! I hope your husband changes his mind, and starts to get excited about going!!!!

Angela

Just an FYI


For comparison, the price of a Family Suite is $9-11 more then 2 Standard Rooms, or $13-15 less the 2 Preferred Rooms, depending on season.

Also a fridge is included in AS Suite.

Fridges cost $10 a night to rent when staying at a value . Don't forget the Queen size bed,a coffee pot and microwave are also in the Family Suites.


Have fun at Disney!

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

If I was going without my DH I would prefer the family suite with all my kids in one room with me. And there would be room for your DH if he changes his mind. The frig, and microwave would really make it easy to get breakfast for your kids. I would just call Disney - they have been great giving me different prices (different resorts, and with DDP or not). You may want to consider the Dining Plan - it would make your budgeting easier because the meals would be paid for ahead of time.

 

[goofy4tink]

The AllStarMusic Family Suites will run you about $3400...one adult, 5 kids (not sure of the ages, so I may be off a bit on price) and park passes. You would have to add in food and airfare.

 

[SB in KY]

I would think about the cabins, because they have a full kitchen, complete with dishes, full size fridge, dishwasher etc. You could save significant sums on dining, by doing some meals in. There is also a lot for everyone to do over there and the kids would love it. However I would strongly suggest tht you have a car if you stay over there.

Off site would be a decent option for you as well if you had a car I am not sure where you are coming from but would driving be an option?

I think your budget is perfectly reasonable and you should be able to go with several options. I would start with ticket prices...they are pretty much set. You can get some discounts by purchasing them via a reputable ticket broker (see www.mousesavers.com). Then I would start looking at transportation costs....obviously you won't find cheap airfares now for next summer, but looking at current prices for this summer will help you budget and then see how much you will have to spend on lodging, food, etc since those are areas where you can cut corners if needed.

You are really smart to start doing your homework a year in advance.

 

[ShellyL]

We have 5 children and did 2 rooms at POP and loved it. We are going again in November and are doing 2 rooms at POP again. We figure you can't beat the price and have 2 bathrooms and 2 tvs. We had considered doing a family suite but with DH it is 7 and our children are ages 5-13.
Michele

 

[JerJan]

You might go browse the DVC RENT/TRADE BOARD on this forum. You can usually find something that would be more suitable and less costly.....check it out!

 

[SusanDK]

I would go for 2 connecting rooms at a Value. You are guaranteed the connecting rooms when there is only one adult with your 5 children. Then I'd put the 4 boys in one room, sharing two double beds. They would have their own TV and bathroom.

You take the other room with your daughter, with your own TV and bathroom. You may also be able to get a king bed instead of two doubles for the room for you and your daughter, if you would prefer that to two doubles.

I think giving the boys regular beds to sleep in would be preferable to the pull-outs in a family suite. JMO.

Susan

 

[Truelovernr1122]

I have a large family as well and we always stay at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. You can stay in the cabins (which is not considered roughing it by any means.) In each cabin there is a bunk bed, a full size bed and queen bed, a full kitchen, living room, and bathroom. It can sleep seven people and the location is wonderful! All you have to do is take a ferry across the water to Magic Kingdom! We never stay anywhere else because it's very homey, the price is very affordable for the amount of people that can stay in the cabin and the fact that you get your own little 'house' is just great! I'm not sure what the rates are for this year but if you check on the disney site I'm sure it'll help

 

[my4boys+1]

My kids have requested we tent at the wilderness campground. I'm looking into that now as an option. We have a large roomy tent.