Traveling with 10 children to Disney for the FIRST TIME

[cruisingtwins]

Another vote for offsite. Rent an entire house in windsor hills or a 3 bedroom condo in WBC which is technically onsite.

 

[kate_wdw]

Have you thought about renting points to stay at one of the DVC properties?

This was going to be my suggestion as well (if you definitely want to be on property).

 

[My5Kiddos]

We have 5 kids and have been looking into the Executive suites at the Swan.

With 10 kids, I think a place with a kitchen would make a huge difference for you. It will save you time and money to feed the kids at home, even if its just breakfast.

 

[erin327]

Whether or not the dining plan makes financial sense does depend on where you eat. We do a lot of character meals and for us (2 adults, 2 kids), we always save some money. The kids are where you can save and since your kids outnumber adults it might work well for you if you plan to do buffets or character meals often.

We often share meals at home, but I have enjoyed the luxury of not doing so at Disney World. It is great to not have to worry about getting multiple people to agree to eat the same thing, then getting extra plates and splitting things up. Not a big deal but a nice luxury. Everyone chooses their own meal each time and I just hand it to them and can enjoy my own right away instead of after everyone else is finished.

 

[beccalines]

We are a family of 9. We went to disney in November of 2014 and go again next week. We've stayed at Pop both times. I was told that when the number of kids is higher than the number of adults, they will make sure you have connecting rooms. (At least for two of them.)

For food, we bring things from home-muffins, pop tarts, breakfast bars, etc-and eat that unless we had a dining reservation set up. If we planned a breakfast meal, we try to do it around 10/10:30 so it can be more of a brunch and then a small snack holds everyone over until supper.

As for the dining plan-I love it! I would say if you could get it free, stay at Pop and pay the difference to upgrade to the regular plan. Do some character meals so you don't have to wait in line to meet the characters. Buffets are great! The older kids can help themselves. I loved not having to worry about trying to split meals with everyone. (I actually got to eat my very own meal that was exactly what I wanted!) For counter service, the big kids could order on their own and I would order for the smaller ones while my husband found a seat with the younger ones.

This time I have all the smaller children on the same reservation as mine and my husband has the older kids on his. We are getting the deluxe dining plan for my room and plan on sharing snack and meal credits with their room. We'll see how it goes!

Anyway, you'll have a blast and make amazing memories!

Oh, and get Memory Maker! We actually have great pictures of our whole family throughout the trip. Totally worth the money.

 

[CarterFamilyof12]

Thanks for the great tips! Since I originally posted, I've read a couple large books cover to cover and with the help of these boards feel like our trip is going to be extra magical, affordable, and filled with memories to last a lifetime.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I would not upgrade the dining plan because then that's however many more meals you need to tip %18 on.

Instead I would pick maybe 1 or 2 table service breakfasts (since it's the cheaper meals) character meals if you really want to do one.

We went in November and stayed at Pop and by time we paid for the hopper, upgraded the meal plan and paid tip for one table service a day it added a lot.

I would def take stuff to eat breakfast in the room. Quicker and cheaper.

if you do get the "free dining" make sure you use every snack credit. At the end if you have any left there are tons of prepackaged items you can get, little boxes of cookies or crackers, etc. don't leave any unused!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Oh and if you get the regular quick service one that includes dessert, I never let my kids have the sugary dessert twice a day. One meal I would ask for the bagged apples or grapes instead of the cake/brownie etc. they still think that's the rules of the plan

Oh and at the food court for Pop, etc you can get ice cream for dessert but have them stamp your receipt when you pay and that gives you 30 or 60 mins (I forget) to get if after you eat your meal so it won't melt.

 

[roseaster]

We are a family of 7. Rent off site. It is much, much cheaper (we had a 4bed/4bath house with a private pool and game room for 2 weeks for $1500) We loved having the extra space and the extra bathrooms. 4 people trying to share 1 bathroom is no picnic.

We were also able to save quite a bit of money by having a kitchen. We had breakfast at the house, we packed snacks and drinks, a QS lunch at the park, and for dinner we had a few restaurant meals, a few take out meals, and cooked a few meals.

It was nice to be have really quiet down time on non park days.

 

[jtopp]

In my opinion, at this point in time, the cost of the dining plan is not worth it. I have planned, as you have, to be as cost effective as possible, and have zero debt for the trip. I have gone on this site and, using the restaurant guide, projected a daily food cost vs. dining plan. My family of five is more cost effective paying for food outright, instead of having Disney hold the funds and having meals/snacks unused at the end of the trip. Your figures may vary, as you are more familiar with the dining habits of your family, but you can use this site to make an informed decision on which option is best for you. Good luck, and may you and your family have a fun and safe trip.

 

[DisneyOma]

Staying onsite gets you transprotation to and from the parks from your resort. Renting a house means you need to get a vehicle (or two to fit 13 people) and must organize park time much more strictly, or spend a lot of time driving back and forth. You also have to pay for parking each day. Two vehicles would give more flexibility, but then you'd have to pay for parking twice as well. Also, trams with strollers, etc.

If you stay onsite, someone can take the little ones for a nap while the older kids go off for more park time. People could come and go at will, not needing to consider who will pick up the others later on.

 

[maxiesmom]

For the much less hassle factor alone I would stay on site. Driving 2 cars back and forth to the parks, paying for parking and gas for both of them, and then trying to wrangle all of those kids onto the trams? No thanks!

I would try for a family suite at the ASMu and one room. Request that they be near each other. That way you wouldn't have the stress of connecting vs non connecting rooms (and no matter what you are told, connecting rooms are never guaranteed) and you would also get a kitchenette in the suite. Enough space and equipment for small meals and snacks. Save money with breakfast in the room most days.

 

[noahdove]

In my opinion, at this point in time, the cost of the dining plan is not worth it. I have planned, as you have, to be as cost effective as possible, and have zero debt for the trip. I have gone on this site and, using the restaurant guide, projected a daily food cost vs. dining plan. My family of five is more cost effective paying for food outright, instead of having Disney hold the funds and having meals/snacks unused at the end of the trip. Your figures may vary, as you are more familiar with the dining habits of your family, but you can use this site to make an informed decision on which option is best for you. Good luck, and may you and your family have a fun and safe trip.

I agree with you, I have worked the figures and it will be better to pay out of pocket for our meals and save money
and food.. Maybe if my grandson was older, it 'could" pay, but, for now, no

 

[5kidsmommy]

Our family is half the size of yours, only 5 kids here but table service is just a pain for us and that 18% tip adds up. I'd stick with quick service. Here is why we never do the dining plan. We stay onsite but we camp in our trailer, we never wanted to do the two room thing. We always eat breakfast in our room, we stop by walmart and load up on food. We also always bring snacks with us into Disney, the kids each have their own backpacks and are responsible for their snacks and water bottles or a soda if they want. We eat one to two quick service meals a day, although often I throw something in the crockpot in the morning and we come back for dinner in the evening. My kids tend to not be huge eaters at Disney and they do not want to stop to sit in a restaurant for nearly two hours because that is how long it usually ends up being between the time we check in to when we are done. We'd rather stop and get quick service. To save on money since we pay out of pocket we do not get drinks (they have free ice water) and we don't get desserts. My daughter and I often get kids meals if the food is something besides chicken nuggets because the portions are decent sized.

In your case I would also recommend staying offsite and I love being onsite. My reasons are that since this is your first trip you will most likely stay together, the perk of being onsite is kids being able to go back to the room alone but I imagine you will all at least be staying in the same park together. Also in a house you will have a lot more room to spread out and some houses even have their own pools. The kitchen would come in handy for meals.

But if you decide to stay onsite make use of the fridge, not buying breakfast each day will save you a huge amount and food will be a big cost for you. Good luck and enjoy!!!

 

[aaarcher86]

Have you looked on vrbo.com for bonnet creek?

It's condos, on property, but not owned by Disney. They do have park shuttles. It'd be relatively cheap in the off season.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Have you looked on vrbo.com for bonnet creek?

It's condos, on property, but not owned by Disney. They do have park shuttles. It'd be relatively cheap in the off season.

Their shuttle is $8 a person, that would add up pretty quick for 13 people. If they have a vehicle they'd be better off paying $20 a day for parking.

 

[cruisingtwins]

You can rent a 15 passenger van I would not stay anywhere without a full laundry inside the room. Can you imagine packing for 15 people and no laumdry.

 

[aaarcher86]

Their shuttle is $8 a person, that would add up pretty quick for 13 people. If they have a vehicle they'd be better off paying $20 a day for parking.

I'd agree with that. I wasn't aware their shuttle had a fee.

 

[TinaLala]

So I just went to Disney with 8 students and planning is the #1 thing you need to do.

#1 - do not do a hopper pass. Too much money. Yes the kids under 3 will be free, but jumping from park to park on one day will exhausted everyone. You should plan on scheduling time to go back to the hotel for naps. Could be pool time for the older kids.

#2 - I would do a dining plan but call Disney because with your group size you'll need special handling. Also be aware any Disney dining will charge you and additional 18% service fee for your group size. Book meals that are buffets so everyone gets options. You can grab extra fruit so you have snacks. Recommend Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, Hollywood & Vine, Garden Grill. Check our Allears.net for menus and food pictures (here too). Most buffets have chicken nuggets, pizza and Mac &scheme.

#3 think about calling Garden Grocer for food deliveries. Save yourself some luggage space. You can order diapers, bottle liners and have it all delivered. Get extra baby wipes!!

#4 -You should bring refillable water bottles and ask for ice water at quick service places to keep everyone hydrated.

#5 - go to Walmart and grab spray water bottles and extra batteries. It's still warm in FL and the last thing you want to have is hot kids that want you to carry them all hot day.

#6 - strollers - highly recommend you bring your own stroller, but be sure you bring a cooler like bag to keep things cold that will hang off the back of the stroller. There are some great stroller fans at BabyRUs. Also you will need the strollers from the bus to the room.

#7 - don't expect to do everything in one day. If you're planning 9 days of Disney figure magic kingdom 4-5 days, 1 days at animal kingdom, 2 days at the studios, 1-2 days at Epcot. Take advantage of the early morning days for your younger group who will be up early anyway. Mid day naps will be a huge benefit. Be prepared to split the group up, older kids might want to stay for the night show but younger might not make it.

#8 - busy time items - prep group now for waiting in line. Teach them the guess who I am game. Give three clues and have them figure out what Disney character you are. Then you can do this while you wait in line. Also go to dollar store and crab handy coloring books, crayons, cards to keep little ones busy when there's an hour wait.

#9 - prep movies. Watch some of the character movies so they know who the characters are. Disney movie night each week until the trip. Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Alice in wonderland, toy story, bugs life, dumbo, Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella, beauty and beast, lion king. Check out the Disney movie dinner night thread on here on how to connect meal, craft and movie fun.

10. Throw the schedule out the window. Most kids do not stick to usual sleeping schedule and that's ok. Some toddlers are up until midnight ready to party and then sleep until 10am. It's ok.

Some are saying to stay off site, I think you should stay at art of animation. You can put 6 In a room and ask for a crib so that's only 2 rooms. There's a mini kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a Murphy bed with a table so you can do breakfast - bagels, cereal, eggs.

Hope this helps!!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'd agree with that. I wasn't aware their shuttle had a fee.

They started charging not too long ago.