resort for 5?

[maryssasmom]

a friend, her family and my family are planning to go to wdw in either february or april - we haev to work around the dd's school schedule adn luckily they are both on the same schedule - we don't think it would be a great idea keeping them out of school for a week. she thinks april would be better but I feel february as I went last year in april and the crowds were huge - I didn't think they would be as feb on feb vaca. but I could be wrong.
I do have a question I thought I would get your opinions on...
she has 2 children, a dd - 7 and a ds - 4. she woudl also be going with the dh and her mom. since that is 5 of them, I am not sure where at the resorts would be the best place to stay - por??? she wanted to do relatively inexpensive so not a deluxe resort. are there any other places? can there be 5 people in any other resort?? I did hear they may charge you for more than 2 adults - what is that fee???

your help is much appreciated!!

 

[MamaTink]

We stayed a AKL last week with 5 in a deluxe savannah room, which wound up costing us about hte same as 2 rooms at a moderate resort. We had 1 queen, bunkbeds, and a nice daybed and were comfortable.
The only moderate with a room for 5 is Port Orleans Riverside, with 2 queens and a (small) trundle bed. We did it 2 years ago with 5, but it was a bit cramped.

 

[Grumpy92]

Really you only have three options:

1. POR - AB section, Many of the rooms have trundle beds but they are very small, plus two dbl beds.

2. FW Cabin - 1 dbl bed, bunkbeds and a murphy bed in the LR. Fully equiped kitchen and 1 bathroom.

3. Two rooms - get two rooms at the value or moderate. 4 beds and 2 bathrooms.

 

[maryssasmom]

thanks guys - I thought about both of those - especially the FW cabins. I will have to talk to her to see what she would like to do and what she can afford - I will be in a separate room as there will be just the 3 of us and either would be a treat as I usually stay at the value reports. I would love to stay at POR. AKL even more!! I could even have her dd stay with me and her and my dd can share a bed to give the other room more space - but they won't sleep I bet!!
she has never been so I want to make this a GREAT first experience for them!! Guess I am the planner of the group!

 

[madler4]

Moma Tink, do you think we could stay at AKL as you did but add a crib as well? We have 3 kids 14, 5, 3 and 1. At this point we have 2 rooms booked at CSR - 4 beds - 2 baths.
Were you cramped at AKL? Any other ideas? I am hearing great things about CSR but I really like AKL.

 

[madler4]

TGIF - we have 4 kids - I somehow miscounted.

 

[MamaTink]

Madler4:
We weren't cramped. You might not want to keep the crib up all the time, but I think you would be okay. There are so many places to relax outside the room, too, especially if you stay at the concierge level. (Which we were able to add to our ressie for $60 a night more-got the AP rate) Price it out and see if it would be a good idea. For us, it came out to $12 pp per day that we used it--and we ate breakfast each day and the appetisers and desserts in the evening were more than enough for supper after a sit down meal at lunch. It was so nice to go there and have breakfast--no waiting with the kids. You know how they are in the mornings! It was just easier all around AND we really felt pampered! If you have any questions, let me know.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by madler4
TGIF - we have 4 kids - I somehow miscounted.

LOL

I have 4 kids, too, and sometimes it is hard to know which end is up, much less how many children I have. Thanks for the laugh. My motto is to laugh every day, even if it is at yourself...and I'm usually laughing at myself.

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by madler4
Moma Tink, do you think we could stay at AKL as you did but add a crib as well? We have 3 kids 14, 5, 3 and 1. At this point we have 2 rooms booked at CSR - 4 beds - 2 baths.
Were you cramped at AKL? Any other ideas? I am hearing great things about CSR but I really like AKL.

We stayed at several places when our 4th was under 3yo. We stayed at the Poly concierge (plenty of room and great having the food since feeding my older kids was not--is not--cheap ), AKL concierge (same concerning the food and I don't remember too much about room size being a problem) and an L-shaped room at the Swan (large). The real issue is when that baby turns 3yo--much harder then. My oldest is 16 so we will be down to 5 vacationing people before long and our options will open up a little.

T&B

 

[madler4]

So is it worth it to book the CSR with 2 rooms? It seems as if I missed out on some rates. Are their any tricks to getting a larger/deluxe room for a reduced (much) rate?

 

[keb55]

go to the Value resorts and book a set of connecting rooms .. bet its cheaper in the long run .. n,ot to metion 4 beds 2 tv's 2 bathrooms ..etc

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I'm assuming that you are going in peak season, right?? (peak is about mid Feb. to mid April)

A room at POR (which I love, by the way) would be around $ 169 a night PLUS a $15 fee for the extra adult. That means $ 184.

Two rooms at a Value resort would be $218 a night. (These are 2004 rates, ofcourse. Next year might be more)

So for $ 34, you would get 4 beds instead of 2, 2 bathrooms instead of 1, and 2 TV's instead of 1.

We've stayed at All star Movies and loved it. My kids had a great time and my DH loved that we were saving all that money.

Have fun deciding.