slight rant/question

[mikewdw]

since we are faced next year with paying for a family of 5 i am very surprised that Disney does not have some cheaper options for groups like us. only one mod for 5 and then the deluxes. this could greatly change what we do there (like days of vacation, DDP, spending money on souvenirs, etc.).
anyone know why, other than the bottom line profits?
thanks for listening,
mikewdw

 

[kaytieeldr]

Four is the standard occupancy rate for hotels. That's not restricted to Disney. But you apparently are unaware of the Family Suites at All Star Music; or the Fort Wilderness Cabins (or even camping).

 

[TagsMissy]

Four is the standard occupancy rate for hotels. That's not restricted to Disney. But you apparently are unaware of the Family Suites at All Star Music; or the Fort Wilderness Cabins (or even camping).

Or POR - AB section

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I know your pain, mikewdw! My kids are now grown, but when they were little, we were in the same dilemma you describe - there were 5 of us, so we stayed at POR & deluxe resorts. It would be nice if there were a few more options at WDW.

I know people like to say that it is industry-wide, but most other hotels/motels we've stayed in, we've been able to get a rollaway for the fifth person. At WDW, they claim the fire marshal won't let them. Strange that they even claim that for deluxe rooms that have more room, but still only supposedly sleep 4! (for instance, turret rooms or 1-bedroom suites)

 

[njfamilyof6]

I posted this same concern and Just wanted to tell you that alot of people apparently are angry when you have a "problem" (for lack of a better word) with disney. Being a family of 6 I know how it is. But be prepared for some nasty replies.. I am with you on this. If interested my post is listed under "being penalized on this board"

 

[anne60]

We are a family of 5 and have stayed at POR. I don't know how old your children are - but when we stayed my 2 girls,who were 16 and 11, shared one of the beds. My son was 14 and the trundle they provided was not big enough for him, so we used an inflated mattress instead. It worked fine. Other than the fact that getting ready in the morning with one bathroom was a little hairy, we had no complaints.

Hope this helps!

 

[Fantasmiss]

I read that post
I think most people were disagreeing about what you said about being "penalized", and that it's only natural that it costs more for more people to travel etc. I don't think it's at all fair to say that people are nasty on this board, or that people get angry when you have a problem with Disney. I think Disboard generally is the friendliest message board I've seen and it's practically free of the nasty troublemakers I often see in other message boards!

I hope you'll both find good deals for your holiday and that you'll have a magical time there

I posted this same concern and Just wanted to tell you that alot of people apparently are angry when you have a "problem" (for lack of a better word) with disney. Being a family of 6 I know how it is. But be prepared for some nasty replies.. I am with you on this. If interested my post is listed under "being penalized on this board"

 

[maxiesmom]

since we are faced next year with paying for a family of 5 i am very surprised that Disney does not have some cheaper options for groups like us. only one mod for 5 and then the deluxes. this could greatly change what we do there (like days of vacation, DDP, spending money on souvenirs, etc.).
anyone know why, other than the bottom line profits?
thanks for listening,
mikewdw

Disney doesn't charge per person, they charge per room. And the industry standard is 4 in a room. I have made many trips to Disney as a family of 6, and these are the ways we have stayed:

As a legal 6 at POR (the youngest was under 3 in a crib)
In 2 rooms at a Value
In an All Star Family Suite
In 2 rooms at a Deluxe
Rented points for a 2 bedroom Villa from a DVC member
Stayed off-site

The All Star Suites have only been in existence for a few years, so Disney is working on having more options for larger families. And my family hasn't even done all the options yet! We have not camped at Fort Wilderness, or stayed in a Wilderness Home. My sis just doesn't want to camp at Disney. We have never felt penalized for having more than 4 people in our group.

And some posters don't like to believe it, but Fire Codes do have a lot to do with why you cannot just add a roll away to each room. For instance, the rooms in the Alligator Bayou section of POR have trundles and sleep 5, the Mansion rooms do not. Why? Partly because the AB section does not have elevators, and is only 2 levels high. The Mansion section has elevators, and is 3 levels high.

I think Disney has a pretty good variety of options for larger families, given that the average family has less than 2 children. It is all about the bottom line, Disney is a business first and formost.

 

[shaunaluvsdisney]

We are a family of 6 also. Getting 2 rooms gets very expensive. The suites are a nice option. Try going during value season also and hope for deep room discounts like they are giving now!

 

[larryz]

Try the cabins at FtW.

 

[fall08CP]

I am from a family of 6 and when we were growing up, my parents only took two of us at a time and left two with relatives. On "our" year we got special time with the parents and they never had to worry about the whole two room or suite issue. I've never felt resentment towards them for not always taking me on the trips- I actually felt privileged that I ever got the chance to go!

 

[mikewdw]

thanks kaytieeldr and tagsmissy, but i am aware of those options. but the suites at the AS are about double a room, the deluxes are over double per night at an AS. my wife and i are both teachers so value seasons are out. as a teacher and coach i cant just up and leave for a week during school. i was looking at prices for future trips and the room options can really up the price of our vacation. we will have a 5 yr DD and twin 3 yr old DS. i know even in a deluxe we would sleep with our kids piled up with us the exact way we would at an AS. i was not complaining about Disney. actually i was just a little surprised that Disney doesn't have more affordable options considering how they make almost everything there so easily accommadating for people. i didnt know if it was a Disney policy or restrictions on hotel, or even florida hotel restrictions.

 

[greenpea89]

We are a family of six so I completely understand your perspective. Have you considered the Dolphin(it appears to be less expensive than the Swan on the DIS listing)? They have great teacher's discounts that seem to range from about $159 during value season to $199 peak season (compared to one room at a Value at the summer rate of $109/$119 and the family suite summer rate of $250/$270 - all rack rates). Also, value season at the Disney value resorts can start quite early in August (around the 3rd I think) so depending on when you start in-service and meeting days this might work for you. Outside of value season, if you watch for codes and discounts room rates can be even better (most also apply to the Family Suite too). Renting points from a DVC member has been mentioned too - I believe - and this can be a budget friendly option for bigger families. I know a teacher's salary doesn't always stretch that far and I would applaud Disney creating more options for large families but until that day comes, while it will take a little extra effort, there might be some workable options for you.
As to your original question "why it isn't possible for Disney to allow more than four plus an infant to a room" I honestly don't think anyone knows. While I understand the fire code issue some of the Disney properties contradict one another in this regard. It's an interesting question but I personally believe that, in addition to fire code, staff to guest ratio, industry standard (which isn't necessarily correct - it varies by region, country etc, from 2 - 4 per room), and profit issues it was also a decision based on the "average" family size and the need to determine a fairly uniform occupancy standard throughout the Disney resorts. Just my totally unfounded impression - worth what it cost .
Good luck!

 

[kaytieeldr]

actually i was just a little surprised that Disney doesn't have more affordable options considering

But the thing is, "affordable" is subjective.

Really, really respectfully: it isn't Disney's (or any business's) responsibility to determine what is affordable for ALL its potential customers. If $180 a night isn't affordable this year, don't go (and I mean that nicely). Put aside money until you can afford a resort that accepts your party size.

Back in 1991, I started working part time in a drugstore. One of the pharmacists was putting away a certain amount of money every year, with plans to go to Disney after ten years. He did. It wasn't even that the trip wasn't affordable, or that he couldn't get the vacation time. That's the goal his family set.

 

[maxiesmom]

thanks kaytieeldr and tagsmissy, but i am aware of those options. but the suites at the AS are about double a room, the deluxes are over double per night at an AS.

The suites do cost more than 2 rooms would at the All Stars, but don't forget you get more for your money. You get a fridge, a microwave, and a coffee pot. We ordered some groceries, and had breakfast in our room almost every day. With 6 people to feed, 3 that eat a lot, that saved a bunch of money. Plus, you don't have to worry that you won't get connecting rooms, which doesn't happen a lot, but does happen.

POR would even cost less than 2 rooms at a value, and you would still get a fridge and a coffee pot. So you could still do cereal in the room in the mornings to save money. Your family does fit in an Alligator Bayou room.

Do you have AAA? They offer room only discounts that range from 10-20% off, depending on resort and season. It is usually enough to cover at least the resort tax.

I have to agree with Kaytieelder. What is affordable is subjective. If I wanted to stay at a deluxe resort with the deluxe dining plan, there is no way I could afford to go as often as I do. Trust me, I would love to stay at a monorail resort every time! But by doing things like eating breakfast in the room, or staying at a value resort, it makes a trip to Disney affordable for me. It is all about the choices we make.

 

[eliza61]

I posted this same concern and Just wanted to tell you that alot of people apparently are angry when you have a "problem" (for lack of a better word) with disney. Being a family of 6 I know how it is. But be prepared for some nasty replies.. I am with you on this. If interested my post is listed under "being penalized on this board"

We're not angry that you have this problem, most just don't feel like you are being "penalized".

Sorry you got nasty replies.

Op,
Unfortunately the hotel world (not just disney) revolves around double occupany or families of 4.
So, I'll turn your question around on you. Why should disney not follow industry standards? What should the cut off be?

 

[teacher100]

As another family of 5 I feel your pain! We are getting to go value in February because my oldest can't miss school and the the room is going to be so much cheaper! If it weren't for POR we would probably stay off site when all five of us go. I have heard some people get a roll away at the mansions if they are out of rooms for AB area at POR. As far as the industry goes-we usually can get a roll away for the fifth person at any hotel. It does seem that the fifth person can make the cost go up at least 50%. There is obviously a demand for value resorts for bigger families. I know many people can't get AB at POR because families of 5 book them up.

 

[edk35]

Before you book ASMU in a family suite do some research and get some feedback from members here on Dis that have stayed in them. We stayed in one this past Thanksgiving night 08 and we didn't like it. We have three kids. My dd 18 slept on the sleeper sofa bed and hated it. She had bars in her back all night. My 15 year old slept in the chair and said the same thing and my 9 year old on the smaller bed. They all said it was very uncomfortable and you have to be very careful when you get out of them especially in the middle of the night. They all have the metal framing and when they are all three out..there is no room whatsoever. I think booking two rooms would be a better choice unless you really need that littlet kitfchenette area. The only reason we stayed there was because we couldn't get our last night at SSR.

 

[maxiesmom]

Before you book ASMU in a family suite do some research and get some feedback from members here on Dis that have stayed in them. We stayed in one this past Thanksgiving night 08 and we didn't like it. We have three kids. My dd 18 slept on the sleeper sofa bed and hated it. She had bars in her back all night. My 15 year old slept in the chair and said the same thing and my 9 year old on the smaller bed. They all said it was very uncomfortable and you have to be very careful when you get out of them especially in the middle of the night. They all have the metal framing and when they are all three out..there is no room whatsoever. I think booking two rooms would be a better choice unless you really need that littlet kitfchenette area. The only reason we stayed there was because we couldn't get our last night at SSR.

Well my family disagrees with all of the above! We have been fortunate enough to make 2 trips to Disney this year. The first stay was in a Family Suite. I slept on the sofa pull out with my 13yr old niece. My 17yr old nephew slept on the chair pull out. And we though they were darn comfy. By the way, it is impossible to have a bar in your back, they don't have bars in them except for the frame. So I am not sure what your daughter felt in her back, but it wasn't a bar. Hopefully Minnie will come along and post her great pics which show exactly how the pull outs are designed.

Our second stay was in 2 rooms at the All Star Sports. And while we had a great time there, the consensus was that we would much rather stay in an All Star Suite. My 17yr old nephew even liked sleeping on the pull out better than the bed!

 

[edk35]

Well my family disagrees with all of the above! We have been fortunate enough to make 2 trips to Disney this year. The first stay was in a Family Suite. I slept on the sofa pull out with my 13yr old niece. My 17yr old nephew slept on the chair pull out. And we though they were darn comfy. By the way, it is impossible to have a bar in your back, they don't have bars in them except for the frame. So I am not sure what your daughter felt in her back, but it wasn't a bar. Hopefully Minnie will come along and post her great pics which show exactly how the pull outs are designed.

Our second stay was in 2 rooms at the All Star Sports. And while we had a great time there, the consensus was that we would much rather stay in an All Star Suite. My 17yr old nephew even liked sleeping on the pull out better than the bed!

Bars, metal frames....it is all the same. You do have to be careful about getting out of them because the metal is there for you to catch a body part on when getting out if you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I just know that all the kids complained after one night in them and thankfully that was all we were there for. My dd has slept on the sofa beds in studios before with no complaints. Not to mention there was also a huge stain on the foot stool cushion that made into the smaller bed. When you pull all three out and have luggage and all...it was a very cramped room to get in and out of. Everyone has personal opinion on their resort stays....this was ours. I am sure there are many people that enjoy staying in those type of accomodations...but we didn't. We paid 240 bucks plus tax for it too. If you do a google search on ASMU family suites...there are pictures you can see. I saw those pictures and thought "oh this will be fine for one night". WRONG. Was not for this family of 5.