Room for 5

[Bork]

So it's me, dw, ds20, dd11, and ds5. The last couple trips we have stayed offsite due to cost and we really liked having a whole condo last time. But with LL changes and early entry, it has us looking at staying onsite again for the first time in 8 years. We've never done it with 5 before and I can see that the costs really jump going from 4 to 5.

We are looking for the cheapest options and I realize that staying onsite saves us parking and we'll probably skip LL and do early entry.

I was looking at POR with the kid bed or the All Stars family suites. They seem to be about the same price. But then I noticed that booking 2 All Star Rooms is cheaper.

Any recomendations for 5?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Of the options above I would consider the 2 rooms at All Stars at it would give you 4 beds and 2 bathrooms. You will need to ensure you request 'connecting' rooms but know that this is only a request and not guaranteed.

 

[Ensusieasm]

So it's me, dw, ds20, dd11, and ds5. The last couple trips we have stayed offsite due to cost and we really liked having a whole condo last time. But with LL changes and early entry, it has us looking at staying onsite again for the first time in 8 years. We've never done it with 5 before and I can see that the costs really jump going from 4 to 5.

We are looking for the cheapest options and I realize that staying onsite saves us parking and we'll probably skip LL and do early entry.

I was looking at POR with the kid bed or the All Stars family suites. They seem to be about the same price. But then I noticed that booking 2 All Star Rooms is cheaper.

Any recomendations for 5?

I love Port Orleans Riverside for many reasons, but if two all star rooms are cheaper I would have to go with that for many reasons! I’m sure your 20 year old would love his own room!

 

[sponica]

With that age configuration, I would do the 2 rooms.

 

[lanejudy]

To put all 5 of you in 1 room, you're getting hit with the extra adult charge as well as the more expensive room to sleep 5. If you are willing to take the gamble on not getting connecting rooms, go with the 2 AS rooms -- as PP suggests the 20 year old can be in the extra room.

 

[AnnaS]

I would go with the two rooms. Our first two cruises while the kids were still minors and as a family of five, I had a cabin with my daughter and a connecting cabin for my husband and two sons. Extra space and bathrooms were important. Even if you get close rooms, you should be okay. Does not hurt to put in request and again when you check in. Good luck!

 

[Bork]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like 2 rooms are the best option. We are going again in late August, so now we wait for discounts.

 

[Bork]

I should add that Queen beds are a must. I seem to recall All Stars having doubles, but now they appear to be queens?

 

[woody5]

The All Stars do in face now have queen beds. Two rooms is definitely the way to go!

 

[Miffy]

Two rooms for sure. Trying to squeeze all 5 of you into one room is a recipe for a terrible vacation.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

You could rent DVC points. We are DVC owners but are renting points to stay at Boulder ridge/Wilderness lodge off of another owner on the boards here. Paying $18 a point, going in January, we’re paying about $270 a night for a studio villa at a deluxe resort. It sleeps five. It only has one bathroom and everyone’s in close quarters but you’re in a deluxe resort room that sleeps 5 for moderate prices. You have to do your research though and make sure whoever you rent from (third party sites will be WAY more expensive then renting direct from an owner on these boards) is trustworthy and it’s commitment because you can’t cancel like you can in a resort, but it’s an option.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

For our family we have actually stayed at POP with myself, DW, DD(1), my sister and her DD(17) and had a great time. It really depends on the family and how they handle being together, some dwell on the "quaintness" but we had no issues. This was before the murphy bed, so now you put it up and that really opens up the room. But for other families I would suggest 2 rooms if you need more room. Also, you can look at renting points, but it does come with some caveats.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Art of Animation suites are pretty great, 2 full bathrooms, sleeps 6. The Murphy bed (over the table) is comfortable, and you have the Skyliner access to 2 parks.

 

[Random Ninja]

With those ages, you might want to consider a cabin at Fort Wilderness. Mom & dad in the bedroom with the younger kids in the bunkbed and older kiddo on the pull down bed in the living room. You would only have one bathroom but you’d have room to spread out.

 

[jormom1030]

We just went in March with me, DH, 20 yr old son, 16 yr old daughter, and 12 year old daughter. We did an ASM suite because we wanted the fridge/freezer. You don't get that with two rooms. It was plenty big enough for all 5 of us.

 

[Little E]

We are DVC folks, but I did a last-minute-before-school-starts trip with DS 22, and DS 20. It was a quick trip with just three days in the parks and I was looking for the least expensive option. I booked two rooms preferred at AS Sports and I was so glad I did! I requested connecting rooms. My boys are in their 20's and would have been just fine with a room not connected to me, but I requested it, because I knew it would be easier for me. We received connecting rooms and we loved the fact that that we had two bathrooms and both rooms had queen beds. The rooms were newly refurbished, clean, and they were exactly what we needed for our quick trip.

FWIW, in three previous stays at Pop Century, I requested connecting rooms twice and got connecting rooms all three times. (One trip with girlfriends, I booked a preferred room, while my two friends didn't. The CM checking us in gifted us with pixie dust by moving my friends to a connecting room with me in preferred!!) While it is definitely not guaranteed, Disney does a darned good job of honoring requests whenever possible.

Also, we went in mid August this year. While it was Satan's kitchen hot, as long as you know this and make peace with it by moving from one AC spot to the next, August is a great month to go. We loved the lower crowds!

I hope you have a magical trip, wherever you decide to stay!