Needing Large family/first trip tips

[Paqratkitty]

I have been wanting/planning to take my kids to Disney World since my first was born. I have so many ideas, plans, hopes, sites, and emails saved, it is obsurd and overwhelming. I think my hubby is finally (very hesitantly) on board so I'm getting serious about planning now. I have 10 kids::waits for the gasps and "whats":: (at the moment they are 5 months to 22), also hoping to take my 2 grandkids, and probably my daughters boyfriend. So I figure 3 rooms at best, from what i have read its nearly impossible to get them near each other. I have a million questions but a couple starters are how well would it work to get rooms in multiple resorts, and can we change resorts during our stay? Any(nice) comments are appreciated =)

 

[DisneyRegulars]

You can 'easily' change rooms during your stay although the logistics of packing up and moving for so many people gives me shivers. But should you decide to do a split stay across a couple resorts, bell services will move your bags from one resort to another for you. It's simple and they do it all the time.

 

[Penmac]

I have 5 kids, so considered "large" by today's standards. I can give you some advice on things we did if you want to message me!

 

[Paqratkitty]

I have 5 kids, so considered "large" by today's standards. I can give you some advice on things we did if you want to message me!

So..Apparently I can't figure out how to message you...:/

 

[Paqratkitty]

You can 'easily' change rooms during your stay although the logistics of packing up and moving for so many people gives me shivers. But should you decide to do a split stay across a couple resorts, bell services will move your bags from one resort to another for you. It's simple and they do it all the time.

Thank you =)

 

[Surgie2]

So..Apparently I can't figure out how to message you...:/

I think you have to have a minimum number of messages posted (maybe 10?) before you are allowed to privately message another person on the boards. So just keep responding and asking questions and you'll be able to send a message privately to Penmac. Good for you for wanting to do this for your family!

 

[Paqratkitty]

I think you have to have a minimum number of messages posted (maybe 10?) before you are allowed to privately message another person on the boards. So just keep responding and asking questions and you'll be able to send a message privately to Penmac. Good for you for wanting to do this for your family!

Thought so, thank you =)

 

[DisneyOma]

Make sure you have enough adults along to chaperone the kids on rides - there's a thread on the theme park forum where a woman with 6 kids said when she and 5 of her kids went on Stitch, her daughter got molested by a stranger.

 

[Minnie minor]

I typically visit WDW with my boyfriend and we stay onsite. But, when I went many years ago with my extended family (siblings, nieces, nephews etc.,) we rented a whole house nearby. It was really convenient especially for those with little ones and it gave everyone space to spread out a bit. It's was also significantly less expensive than staying onsite even when the cost of rentals was factored in. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip.
PS. This is my first post!

 

[Minnie minor]

Opps. That was my second post! Still wishing you a great trip

 

[Dumbo7]

12 of us stayed at old key west it was a long time ago. We were newbies then. We go seve times a year now. I think we had a three bedroom villa. It was great. Plus you get all the Disney perks. Free parking extra magic hours!

 

[Jester6]

We have 10 kiddos, also! Ours are 16 and under. I can't imagine packing everything up and moving to another resort. I'm just curious why you are hoping to do that? We've been a few times and we actually didn't spend a ton of time at the resort. Maybe it will be different since our family is much larger than the last time we went.

 

[Paqratkitty]

Make sure you have enough adults along to chaperone the kids on rides - there's a thread on the theme park forum where a woman with 6 kids said when she and 5 of her kids went on Stitch, her daughter got molested by a stranger.

 

[Paqratkitty]

People are so disgusting! "Luckily" I am a very overprotective parent and my 5 teens/adults help with my younger ones, but that is so sadly a good tip.
Grr, this was to DisneyOma. Sorry, my newbie self is showing, can't figure out how to reply/ delete a post. =p

 

[Paqratkitty]

Minnie Minor, I have been researching and just thought staying onsite would be the best for my younger kids. Planning on taking afternoon naps, or if we need anything...and staying onsite is supposedly just icing for the little ones, also the perks like Dumbo7 mentioned =)
Jester7, this may well be our first and only trip, (still hoping we get to go even this one time) I want ALL my children to enjoy it. I figure since chances are high we will get split up anyway, My oldest could stay in another resort and we could see what their room is like. I also know they wouldn't like the kidsy rooms, at least my oldest boy. Then if we all switch resorts we can again see each other's rooms to compare them. A lot of this is hoping I can get my older kids to go again I suppose....thats if I can even convince them this time. The oldest boy has already said he agreed to go with me cause he knew we would never actually go. hmph.
I was also thinking the campsites, obviously if anyone has suggestions, great! Online is so overwhelming, the reviews keep me undecisive, I didnt want to read them but figured I should. Hope all this makes sense, trying to keep my posts short but not doing well

 

[LadyCerri]

We are about to embark on our second Disney trip with 7 in total; we had six last time. I would suggest trying to stay at the same resort, simply because the size of Disney is indescribable and the logistics get hairy quickly. When we went in 2011, I was blown away because I hadn't been since Epcot opened in 1984. You may want to come up with an itinerary for little folks and big folks because I know when we took our teenagers, they were completely bored by MK. Also, you may want to when you are selecting reservations, when you get to that point of splitting the party in two to get a shot of actually getting the good restaurants. People are aggressive about snatching them up at 180 days out and you will want to subscribe to the reservation thread for the month you are going if you don't get what you want.

As far as rooms go, honestly, we've never spent much time in them. There's too much to do, even if you're just taking the day in Disney Springs. Also, I am a huge fan of Touringplans.com for setting out itineraries and also renting strollers off property because you have a lot more flexibility than the Disney ones and they're competitively priced.

 

[bjschil]

I have been wanting/planning to take my kids to Disney World since my first was born. I have so many ideas, plans, hopes, sites, and emails saved, it is obsurd and overwhelming. I think my hubby is finally (very hesitantly) on board so I'm getting serious about planning now. I have 10 kids::waits for the gasps and "whats":: (at the moment they are 5 months to 22), also hoping to take my 2 grandkids, and probably my daughters boyfriend. So I figure 3 rooms at best, from what i have read its nearly impossible to get them near each other. I have a million questions but a couple starters are how well would it work to get rooms in multiple resorts, and can we change resorts during our stay? Any(nice) comments are appreciated =)

Have you considered the cabins at Fort Wilderness. They each sleep six, or seven with Pack and Play. And, they have a fully equipped kitchen, and the kids can go out and play, and not wake guests up in the rooms next door.

 

[Ellester]

I would consider renting points and getting a couple of 2BR DVC villas. They are so nice for families. Enough room to spread out and the full kitchen for breakfasts in the room. I would not personally recommend changing resorts, it would take up too much valuable vacation time in my opinion. With such a large group, I would recommend planning a meal a day together and maybe a few attractions/shows and then let everyone kind of do what they want. It is almost impossible to keep a group that big together all day, although I'm sure you are used to the logistics of your brood! And I think 10 kids is wonderful! We are in the minority in out Catholic homeschooling group because we "only" have four. Most families have at least 7! Happy planning! It will be a wonderful trip, I'm sure!!!!!

 

[Paqratkitty]

I would consider renting points and getting a couple of 2BR DVC villas. They are so nice for families. Enough room to spread out and the full kitchen for breakfasts in the room. I would not personally recommend changing resorts, it would take up too much valuable vacation time in my opinion. With such a large group, I would recommend planning a meal a day together and maybe a few attractions/shows and then let everyone kind of do what they want. It is almost impossible to keep a group that big together all day, although I'm sure you are used to the logistics of your brood! And I think 10 kids is wonderful! We are in the minority in out Catholic homeschooling group because we "only" have four. Most families have at least 7! Happy planning! It will be a wonderful trip, I'm sure!!!!!

I will check into that, thank you. Hoping to get into a cheesey themed, on site, cheap resort for the little ones. Even with 3 rooms in AoA value standard rooms its cheaper than most...or tent camping which my oldest would probably like the most. I'm mean and ask my older kids to help/pair up with the smaller ones lol and Thank you, I absolutely love that I got my dream of having a large family! (No I don't homeschool nor are we catholic I get asked those a lot!)

 

[elaine amj]

Consider tent camping. You would only need two campsites.

Or renting 1-2 large RVs.

The 2 bedrooms villas are wonderful but more expensive than 3 value rooms. The All Star value rooms are much cheaper than AoA standard values

I agree with on site for the logistics of your group (u can split up easily). I wouldn't move hotels if u can help it though.