Traveling with MIL

[StuCrew]

We are so so so excited to finally be planning a trip for the first week of November 2017 that will be our daughter's first trip to Disney (currently 14 months and will be 2 1/2 at the time). My MIL is on board to come with us, which is awesome. She is very low key and is amazing with our daughter. We are set on staying at the Contemporary due to the ease of access to MK, either in a Deluxe Garden Wing room or Standard Tower Room. Should we plan on one room or get two? It will obviously be less expensive for everyone to get one but for such a large expense I want everyone to be relaxed and have enough bathroom access. Another option is one of the DVC properties but im really not convinced of the expense. Or even a deluxe club level room at the Wilderness, but we'll be missing monorail/walking access. Any experience with 3 adults in a standard room at the Contemporary? Any recommendations based on the ideas above? You all are awesome and we can't wait to be there

 

[KrazeeK120]

I've stayed in a standard room at the Contemporary with just my husband, but the rooms there are very good size. I think 3 adults would fit with no problem. I think it depends on your relationship with your MIL - do you want to have more of your own space with your family or are you OK being in fairly close proximity to her? It sounds like you're on good terms, and if so, a regular room should be fine for you, IMO. I'm sure there are others out there with alternative opinions though!

 

[StuCrew]

I've stayed in a standard room at the Contemporary with just my husband, but the rooms there are very good size. I think 3 adults would fit with no problem. I think it depends on your relationship with your MIL - do you want to have more of your own space with your family or are you OK being in fairly close proximity to her? It sounds like you're on good terms, and if so, a regular room should be fine for you, IMO. I'm sure there are others out there with alternative opinions though!

Thanks for that insight, makes me feel better about room size. I would love a 2 bedroom villa for us but I just don't think we can justify the expense. Another thing to know is that my husband has a lot of travel anxiety, so I actually think having my MIL there will ease that. She also stayed with us and basically saved our lives for two weeks after my daughter was born. That said, she may already be thinking about her own room, I'm not sure yet. Probably booking after the holidays this year.

 

[cc1013]

This is what we are planning....

We are taking our twins boys to WDW for the first time in December when they will be 2.5. My mom will be joining us. We opted to stay at Beach Club in a one-bedroom club level suite. It allows us to have a bit of extra space but is less expensive than two rooms at most deluxe resorts. Technical capacity for the room is 4 adults but with the boys being so young the capacity is fine.

While we wanted to stay on the monorail, the cost was more and we also got the free dining promo with this room. My mom will stay on the pullout in the sitting room while DH and I will have the king bed in the main bedroom and the boys will be in cribs in our room. The main negative is only one bathroom but with double sinks outside of the shower/toilet area, it should be fine.

One thing to keep in mind is that with two rooms, there is no guarantee they will be connecting or even near one another. We are hoping to try a deluxe club level room at Wilderness Lodge in the future, but with the major construction there, we decided to postpone that option.

 

[Disney_Alli]

You might consider renting points at Bay Lake Tower for a one bedroom DVC. You'd have the King in the master and a pull out couch in the living room. It would probably be a little cheaper than one standard room depending on discounts and what "season" you've traveling (and sometimes high season for DVC is a lower season for room rates so that could play in to your cost too)

 

[alex9179]

CR rooms are very spacious and my family of 5 had plenty of room. Even though it's 3 adults in your case, I think it would be just fine depending on the family dynamics.

Regarding a 1BR villa. I wouldn't ask my mom or MIL to sleep on a sofa bed for a week. I would want her to have an actual bed.

 

[stephmarty]

We are renting DVC points for our upcoming stay in a Poly studio villa. Those rooms have basically two bathrooms with two showers (one has a tub) and two separate areas to get ready. The downside for you guys might be that it is a one bed plus sofa bed room layout. But renting points can be much cheaper than booking either a standard room or DVC villa directly with Disney.

 

[cc1013]

CR rooms are very spacious and my family of 5 had plenty of room. Even though it's 3 adults in your case, I think it would be just fine depending on the family dynamics.

Regarding a 1BR villa. I wouldn't ask my mom or MIL to sleep on a sofa bed for a week. I would want her to have an actual bed.

I had the same concern about the sofa bed but when I called the Beach Club concierge they told me the mattress quality in the suites was greatly improved with the recent refurbishment and they haven't heard of complaints. They also offered a rollaway if the sofa bed wasn't sufficient, so we will see. In our case, we offered to alternate beds with my mom but whoever sleeps in the bedroom will also be with the kids, so that may not be the most restful situation either, lol.

 

[Hopefully]

I had the same concern about the sofa bed but when I called the Beach Club concierge they told me the mattress quality in the suites was greatly improved with the recent refurbishment and they haven't heard of complaints. They also offered a rollaway if the sofa bed wasn't sufficient, so we will see. In our case, we offered to alternate beds with my mom but whoever sleeps in the bedroom will also be with the kids, so that may not be the most restful situation either, lol.

Caution!!
Telephone CM's are notorious for giving misinformation.
Roll away beds are not used in DVC properties.
The Poly studios have 2 bathing spaces, but only 1 Bathroom. There is only 1 toilet
Enjoy

 

[cc1013]

Caution!!
Telephone CM's are notorious for giving misinformation.
Roll away beds are not used in DVC properties.
The Poly studios have 2 bathing spaces, but only 1 Bathroom. There is only 1 toilet
Enjoy

Thanks. We are in a suite, not DVC, so hopefully the rollaway is not a problem. They assured me it is not and I have an email from the concierge saying that. I found the telephone CMs to have conflicting info on most things but fingers crossed that the club level concierge were more accurate. They definitely seem to be a step up from the telephone CMs so far.

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks. We are in a suite, not DVC, so hopefully the rollaway is not a problem. They assured me it is not and I have an email from the concierge saying that. I found the telephone CMs to have conflicting info on most things but fingers crossed that the club level concierge were more accurate. They definitely seem to be a step up from the telephone CMs so far.

Sorry, I misread your post. A rollaway should be fine in a Suite

 

[cc1013]

Sorry, I misread your post. A rollaway should be fine in a Suite

No worries. Great to point out for the OP that a rollaway isn't an option with DVC. I didn't know that either!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Have you considered VGF? Renting perhaps through a site like Davids. Like the Poly the bathroom is spilt ( but there is only one bathroom ) but unlike the Poly you can rent 1 bed villas also. Nice being on the monorail and you get a murphy bed. My friend is an adult and has slept on the murphy bed and said it is just fine.

 

[Regan117]

I would never sleep in the same room with my husband and my mother in law. If you can't rent points and get a villa, get two rooms. You can request connecting rooms and if you don't get them it isn't a big deal - she's an adult and can meet you guys when it's time to go out.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I would never sleep in the same room with my husband and my mother in law. If you can't rent points and get a villa, get two rooms. You can request connecting rooms and if you don't get them it isn't a big deal - she's an adult and can meet you guys when it's time to go out.

I wouldn't either, but that's because my MIL and I are not close (and that's being kind). Depending on family dynamics, though, this simply wouldn't be a problem for some people.

 

[cc1013]

I wouldn't either, but that's because my MIL and I are not close (and that's being kind). Depending on family dynamics, though, this simply wouldn't be a problem for some people.

Absolutely agree with this. I would never share a room with my MIL but no issues with my mom. DH is very close with my mom and we prefer to have her in the same room as we may need help with the kids (who also adore her). Totally depends on family dynamics.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I would agree with the Bay Lake 1 bedroom villa rental, see David's rentals on the DVC boards.

We stayed there with 3 grandkids. The extra private bath for your MIL, and the kitchen makes for a great stay. And I always sleep on the sofa bed at Disney and find it to be very comfortable. I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you choose.

 

[cnavarrete]

I third this suggestion. Renting a 1 bdrm villa at BLT will give you the same MK accessibility that you want, but an extra bathroom with toilet and a door between you and your MIL for sleeping.

 

[cnavarrete]

I would agree with the Bay Lake 1 bedroom villa rental, see David's rentals on the DVC boards.

We stayed there with 3 grandkids. The extra private bath for your MIL, and the kitchen makes for a great stay. And I always sleep on the sofa bed at Disney and find it to be very comfortable. I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you choose.

I third this suggestion. Renting a 1 bdrm villa at BLT will give you the same MK accessibility that you want, but an extra bathroom with toilet and a door between you and your MIL for sleeping.

 

[Scott MC]

Last summer, I overdid it a bit at dinner and woke up at about 1A.M. with horrible stomach pains. Ginger ale is always a big cure for me but I have to sip it and walk around to make myself feel better. The rooms at CR were so big that my partner had no clue I was up Pacing the length of the room for over two hours in the middle of the night. Hopefully that gives you some indication of how large the rooms at this resort are!