Resort for five people - wwyd?

[mefordis]

I am helping my friend plan her trip. It's her, husband, three kids all teenagers. She insists on staying onsite, has a car, and wants the dining plan and park hopper.

So far Caribean Beach Resort is the cheapest option. This is one resort I've never stayed at so I can't really comment with first hand experience.

So, if you were her travel agent, what would you recommend for her family? Anyone out there love CBR?

Cost at this point for early August, 6 nights 5 day park hoppers, regular dining plan:

$5216

Thanks for any help!

 

[minnie mum]

I don't think the 5 bed rooms at the mods will work with teenagers. The pull down Murphy bed is short, and meant for a child under 5 ft. I think they'd be better off with a family suite at ASMu or AoA. Or 2 value rooms if they're OK with connecting rooms not being guaranteed. The upside of the suites is the 2 bathrooms. The cabins at FtW would work, too, but only have 1 bathroom

 

[mefordis]

I don't think the 5 bed rooms at the mods will work with teenagers. The pull down Murphy bed is short, and meant for a child under 5 ft. I think they'd be better off with a family suite at ASMu or AoA. Or 2 value rooms if they're OK with connecting rooms not being guaranteed. The upside of the suites is the 2 bathrooms. The cabins at FtW would work, too, but only have 1 bathroom

Thank you! I'm guessing that Port orleans pull out would be the same, too small for a teenager?

 

[dansdad]

Thank you! I'm guessing that Port orleans pull out would be the same, too small for a teenager?

Yup, same size. Both CBR and POR are fantastic resorts with CBR being our favorite. But I agree with @minnie mum, neither would be ideal for 2 adults and 3 teenagers.

 

[mefordis]

If you had a family of 5, what would be your first choice (if you were on a budget)?

 

[dansdad]

If you had a family of 5, what would be your first choice (if you were on a budget)?

My first choice would be 2 hopefully connecting rooms at one of the Values. Connecting rooms are not guaranteed and are only a request. With teenagers, I wouldn't have an issue if the rooms didn't connect. With this choice there are 4 real beds, no pull downs or sleeper chairs.

My second choice would be a family suite at either AoA or All Star Music.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

AOA family suite or Ft. Wilderness Cabins.

Tom

 

[DMOMof3]

AOA suite, bedroom has queen and full bathroom, living area has two very comfortable full size beds and another full bathroom.

 

[wdw4rfam]

If you had a family of 5, what would be your first choice (if you were on a budget)?

We are a family of 5 and I can tell you, I would not do CBR or POR, the bed is not big enough. I also don't like the family suites because the beds are double pull out/ downs. We do 2 rooms at moderates, but if I were on a budget, I would book 2 rooms at a value. Then me and DH share a double, but then all the kids have their own bed, and there would be two bathrooms

 

[mefordis]

We are a family of 5 and I can tell you, I would not do CBR or POR, the bed is not big enough. I also don't like the family suites because the beds are double pull out/ downs. We do 2 rooms at moderates, but if I were on a budget, I would book 2 rooms at a value. Then me and DH share a double, but then all the kids have their own bed, and there would be two bathrooms

I'm going to look into this option, thanks! I just don't like not having the guarantee of connecting rooms. What about a deluxe, such as BWI (2 queens, daybed).

 

[HopperFan]

My first choice would be 2 hopefully connecting rooms at one of the Values. Connecting rooms are not guaranteed and are only a request. With teenagers, I wouldn't have an issue if the rooms didn't connect. With this choice there are 4 real beds, no pull downs or sleeper chairs.

My second choice would be a family suite at either AoA or All Star Music.

We are a family of 5 with big kids. Completly agree with this.

- Most for the money is two value rooms which will give you two bathrooms and 4 double beds. This would be my first choice!!!
- POP would be my first choice in value, great for older kids and access to AoA food court as well which is a really good one.
- If you really want in one "room" then look at the suites at AoA or ASMu.
- AoA would be my preference on many levels over ASMu but I know ASMu is much cheaper.
- Last resort would be Ft Wilderness Cabins, last due to logistics and one bathroom.

 

[happymommy]

I'm going to look into this option, thanks! I just don't like not having the guarantee of connecting rooms. What about a deluxe, such as BWI (2 queens, daybed).

Last time all four of us shared a room, it was at the BWI. That was a few years ago, so neither one of my kids was a teenager at that point. We took one queen bed, DS took the other, and DD took the daybed. It was difficult to get enough sleep with all four of us in one room. This is also a more expensive option than two value rooms, which would give more privacy, more beds, another bathroom, and did I mention more privacy? I also like that Pop has a curtain in the bathroom area. I've grown to dislike BWI (last stay was just DD and me, and honestly it wasn't really worth it to me or her; we liked our last trip to Pop much more!).

I'd risk the connecting room issue. If they're teenagers, it would be okay with me to risk that. You can always put that in as your only request.

 

[Avery&Todd]

We will have this same issue next summer - my oldest DS who is graduating HS has requested we take his best friend with us which gives us 3 teenagers and 2 adults...my DH has already come out and said he wants a 2 BR villa...

AND....we do park hoppers..and DDxP...

holy cow..I've looked at non-discounted costs for that for June 2016 - and it's over $11k for the trip...



I haven't told him how much it is..

 

[wdw4rfam]

I'm going to look into this option, thanks! I just don't like not having the guarantee of connecting rooms. What about a deluxe, such as BWI (2 queens, daybed).

Not a guarantee of connecting, but in all of our trips, they have always been next door. I know they say no guarantee, but they usually try real hard. We've booked 2 rooms 5 times now, and always had next door, just not always connecting.

 

[Karebear]

I'm going to look into this option, thanks! I just don't like not having the guarantee of connecting rooms. What about a deluxe, such as BWI (2 queens, daybed).

Any of the deluxe hotels (except AKL and WL) will accommodate 5 with 2 queens and a day bed. If you are worried about not have a guarantee of connecting rooms, then this might be the way to go.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

We have stayed with 5 in the CR and BWI with a cot. We are not in the room much so it was actually fine, although the one bathroom was annoying. 1BR at BLT worked out really well with 2 full bathrooms and full kitchen, but it was pricey even with a room discount.

The 'magical' travel place quoted me a rate this year for 2 rooms at the YC with tickets which turned out to be equivalent of one room being close to free. Couldn't purchase the DDP with that deal. I would definitely recommend getting a quote there.

This year we are renting points at the BWV 2BR. Renting is a much more affordable option for the villas but it can be risky and it is non-refundable/non-changeable in most cases. The member can add the DDP and you can buy discount tickets at UT. Check out the thread on renting on the DVC boards.

We will have this same issue next summer - my oldest DS who is graduating HS has requested we take his best friend with us which gives us 3 teenagers and 2 adults...my DH has already come out and said he wants a 2 BR villa...

AND....we do park hoppers..and DDxP...

holy cow..I've looked at non-discounted costs for that for June 2016 - and it's over $11k for the trip...



I haven't told him how much it is..

 

[crzy4dsny]

My son slept comfortably on the Murphy bed at CBR, he's 5'7".

 

[Minniesgal]

Because of the family of 5 thing we bought DVC so we could do 2 bedroom villas. If I didn't have DVC I'd rent points and have a 2 bedroom villa

 

[bluezy]

We've traveled to Disney with 3 teens on several occasions and two bathrooms is crucial for us. We stayed in connecting rooms at Pop Century on 3 different trips -- always got our request. Pop Century has the most number of connecting rooms of all the resorts, that's why we chose it. We also made connecting rooms our only request. Now that AoA is open, we've started staying in a suite. DH & I like having our own private space to just unwind from the busy days. The kids tend to stay up later than us so it's nice to be able to close our door and relax while they're still playing games and watching TV at night. We do take an air mattress along and use that in the suite because none of the kids like to share a bed but they prefer AoA over connecting rooms.

I did consider trying a room for 5 at a Moderate on our next trip (despite there only being one bathroom) but the Murphy bed is only 63" long and I can't remember how wide it is but I know it was only slightly larger than a crib mattress. Our older teens are both too tall for that bed since they don't like to sleep with their legs curled up and hanging off the edge of the bed. The youngest would just fit on it (with maybe an inch to spare) but she's such a restless sleeper that she'd no doubt either constantly be smacking her head against the wall or she'd end up on the floor. We decided that if we're going to do a room for 5, it's going to have to be at a Deluxe Resort where the extra bed is a normal size. We're back at AoA for our trip next summer because we just aren't ready to give up the 2nd bathroom.

 

[Avery&Todd]

Because of the family of 5 thing we bought DVC so we could do 2 bedroom villas. If I didn't have DVC I'd rent points and have a 2 bedroom villa

I've already started my price shopping with renting points but honestly as a "first time renter" I'm scared because of the non-refundable and non-adjustable reservation...BUT, I can already tell that it would about $2k cheaper to rent points even ADDING the park hopper and DDxp for 5 of us...

We have stayed with 5 in the CR and BWI with a cot. We are not in the room much so it was actually fine, although the one bathroom was annoying. 1BR at BLT worked out really well with 2 full bathrooms and full kitchen, but it was pricey even with a room discount.

The 'magical' travel place quoted me a rate this year for 2 rooms at the YC with tickets which turned out to be equivalent of one room being close to free. Couldn't purchase the DDP with that deal. I would definitely recommend getting a quote there.

This year we are renting points at the BWV 2BR. Renting is a much more affordable option for the villas but it can be risky and it is non-refundable/non-changeable in most cases. The member can add the DDP and you can buy discount tickets at UT. Check out the thread on renting on the DVC boards.

you have NO idea how tempting the idea of 2 bathrooms is..it's almost worth $11k to me!! I'll need to check out "magical" - thanks!!