Please help my family of 5!?

[krismom]

We are a family of 5 and I am hoping to tack on an extra 2 days this March to our trip. We are staying the first 7 days at the Vistana- and would love to end the trip with a couple of days on site. Being a large family- I know are options are limited to Poly, PO Riverside or 2 adjoining rooms. Does anyone have any advice on resort and or buildings at the resort for me? Close to food court and busses is probably most important. We have twin sons, age 5, and a daughter, age 7.Thanks for any help or advice!!!! I really appreciate it!

 

[NCombs]

Actually, you have a lot more choices than that. Any of the deluxe resorts will accomodate 5 people (AKL & WL at the Deluxe room level). Did you narrow the Deluxes to the Poly by choice? The Contemporary would also be a good choice.

Building 27 was great for us at POR. Building 14 is good also.

 

[pennst8r]

Poly isn't the only deluxe hotel for 5. I think WL *is the only one where you have to upgrade to a deluxe/jr suite room. We're staying at YC with 5--they have 2 queens and a daybed in the room. As far as mods, yep, POR is the only one--they have the trundle under one bed. Or, like you said, 2 connecting rooms. We loved POR, btw--our kids keep requesting it.

*was posting this at the same time as previous poster--not trying to correct them! I think AKL does, too, now that they mention it!

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

Actually, we are a family of 5 as well - This past June/July we stayed at POR AB section. It was a bit tight but we were at Disney so it was all good! December we are splurging and heading to AKL Deluxe Savannah which also accomodate 5. Good Luck!

 

[KCMiller]

If I were you, I'd go to the DVC boards, listed under the Discussion Forums, and read up on renting points at one of the DVC resorts. We've done this several times, and recommend it highly. It gets you into some of the nicest resorts, and usually for far less than a comparable hotel room - AND these rooms usually have cooking and laundry facilities, which is very nice.

Once you rent points to get a deluxe room for what you would have paid for a moderate, you'll never go back . . .


KC

 

[kkleiner]

We did the same type of thing in 2004, when our kids were
8, 5 and 3. It's very cool to step oustide and be able to hear the Magic Kingdom train whistle!

We stayed in the Contemporary in one of the North Garden Wings - we
ended up in a room almost right outside of the playground and a quick walk to the lobby, etc.

It was an AWESOME way to end the vacation, but made it much much
harder to leave.

Good luck!

 

[JerJan]

I also suggest that you check out the DVC rent/trade board. You can get anything from a studio to a 1, 2 or 3 bedroom villa at either BWV, SSR, BCV, WLV or OKW....good luck!

 

[Sammie]

Bargains can be had on the DVC rent board, however be sure you realize the points needed are much higher on Friday and Saturday nights, making those nights more expensive.

Also be sure you realize this is a private agreement between you and the renter and Disney does not have anything do with this. So be careful you rent from. Most have never had problems, however some have.

If you do have problems you will have to settle them without assistance from Disney.

 

[Lorelai]

We are a family of 5 who stayed at the Poly in April. My oldest (11) was the one who slept on the nice, comfy daybed. He didn't want to let his brother have a turn, because he thought it was so cool. Not that the little one minded - he loves the Poly beds!

 

[spiceycat]

I would go with 2 rooms at a value resort - Pop Century!

the Polyn is nice but anyplace with 5 in one room you are going to be crowded.

especially coming from a 2-bedroom condo.

if you have the money you might consider a 2-bedroom DVC villa. OKW villa are as big as Sheraton Vistana - the other DVC are smaller. (the size of the villa)

 

[Bugsmom73]

It will be cheaper for the poster to stay in either CR or the Poly than it will be at WL and AKL. It will be a difference of about a couple of hundred dollars.

 

[Lorelai]

RE: The Poly for 5.....

We were only in our room to shower & sleep. While we took turns showering, those waiting enjoyed lounging & watching great Disney cartoons among the lovely Polynesian decor. It was perfect for us with kids 11, 7 & 3. We spent most of the time swimming, shopping, eating, riding the boat - then we transferred to our timeshare for the remainder of the week. For a few days it's totally doable with 5 - unless you plan on spending the day in the room - then maybe a larger set-up would be needed. We also had a nice walk out to the garden - we were on the first floor.

 

[TnTWalter]

I was told 'too late' and that I need to post with 11 months notice. Hopefully you'll have better luck.
Trish

 

[Disneynutbsv]

We are a family of 5 too! We are staying next August in two rooms at ASMovies. I like the fact that we'll have two bathrooms, two tv's, enough room to wander. But like the other poster said...you are usually only in there to sleep...at least that's the way it was for us! I would love to stay in the moderates or deluxes, but my kids want to be around the icons

 

[legalslave]

The cabins in Fort Wilderness sleep six and have two TVs. Double bed and bunk beds in bedroom, bed that pulls down from the wall in living room and a full kitchen with daily mousekeeping service (she doesn't cook, but does do dishes).

 

[Sammie]

I was told 'too late' and that I need to post with 11 months notice. Hopefully you'll have better luck.
Trish

This is correct. Since DVC members can book their home resorts at 11 months and other resorts at 7 months, they do tend to fill up quickly for certain times of the year at certain resorts.

 

[Pamle]

We stayed at the Contemporary for a week. It wasn't crowded. We were very happy with it. We did spend some time in the room. We took breaks, and stuff. It was fine. I would do it again.

 

[Gillian]

The Polynesian or CR would be fun for 2 nights! I'm sure you'd fit fine.

To rent DVC with 5 I think you need a 2 bedroom, even if you would fit in something smaller. Even the 1 BR only has beds for 4, which is how they figure occupancy.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you decide to go with a DVC rental, you might be able to use a one bedroom, but you would only have bedding and linens for four. Either your kids would all have to sleep together or you would have to bring an aerobed or other sleeping surface. You would only get four bath towels, two hand towels and four face cloths. You get limited housekeeping service with DVC because it is a timeshare.

In a two bedroom, you would have the king sized bed in the master bedroom. A queen sized sleeper sofa in the living room and either two queens or one queen and one double sleeper sofa in the 2nd bedroom. Plus you would get linens for 8 (just double what you get in a one bedroom).

If you wait until three months out for a very popular time, the odds of getting what you want is more difficult. The earlier you book with a member, the better chance you get what you want (resort, view, etc.).

Also, this is a private agreement with a DVC member and Disney is not involved. You may have to pay half to make the reservation and the rest at 60 days out. Each member has his or her own arrangements. Cancellation can be difficult, so you would also have to have an agreement on that with the member.

Good luck with your choices.

 

[DisneyMom5]

We're done both the cabin and connecting rooms at Pop. Both were great! 2 rooms at Pop are a little less expensive.
If you go the two room route, make sure you request CONNECTING not adjoining. People make that mistake a lot. Connecting means there is a door inside the rooms that connects them. Adjoining means only next to each other. They are SUPPOSED to guarentee connecting for small children and only 2 adults, but some people have not gotten this. It seems to be only in a few limited cases. We had no problem.
Have fun!