Two connecting Cat. 9 cabins vs. one Cat. 4 stateroom?

[DonnaDavid]

I currently have 2 guaranteed Cat. 9 staterooms with a connecting door requested on the Aug. repositioning cruise. We are a family of 5 (DH, myself, and 3 children ages 11, 8, and 4 at the time of our cruise). The last time we cruised we had 2 connecting Cat. 9 staterooms and it was fine. The 2nd bathroom is a plus but my kids are small enough that they avoid bathing when possible. Although I like the idea of a verandah, it isn't critical. My dilemma is that I can't get assigned staterooms from DCL and therefore can't be guaranteed the connecting door. The price between the 2 Cat. 9's and the 1 Cat. 4 is almost the same. I would rather have the Cat. 4 and be guaranteed to be together vs. 2 Cat. 9's that aren't connected. I've called DCL and was told that I probably have nothing to worry about (she did call it her "guess.") Costco said that it was a pretty full cruise and I should go ahead and change to the Cat. 4. Any thoughts? Does anyone know how to hack into DCL's computer so I can see cabin availability? (Don't worry - just kidding. But if anybody knows how to do it, it's someone from the DIS!)

 

[kpgclark]

Out of curiosity, if you change rooms now to the category 4 will you have to pay Disney's current price for that stateroom? If so, the single category 4 might end up being more money.

 

[thiscloud]

in many threads about the topic, the concensus was that if you were upgrading your room, you would only pay the price difference between your cabin category and the upgrade cabin category in the same price bracket that you originally booked in, rather than the curren price of the category.

of course only dcl (and costco or whatever TA is used) would be able to answer that for definite.

 

[hydster]

Boy that's a HUGE dilemma and I don't know what I would do about it either. Is there any way to change your cat 9 booking from GTY to picking your stateroom (never done GTY so I have no idea how that works) or maybe seeing if you could go to a Cat 8 with connecting doors?? I would think on the repo cruise that would mean 14 days on the ship right?? If that is the case I think FOR ME the Cat 4 cabin would drive me nutty! We had 2 connecting 8's for our 5/1 cruise but got upgraded to 2 connecting cat 4's and for the 7 days it was SO nice to have the kids have their own room! Since there are 5 of you going that means all the beds will be in use at night which makes for a cramped feeling with the murphy bed down and the other 2 beds out. We did the 4 day with 5 of us in 1 room and if it had been longer I think I would have freaked out....there was just so much stuff everywhere and it didn't feel like we had enough room (and DCL cabins are much bigger than others) but I think I'd look into getting 2 connecting rooms rather than go for 1 Cat 4. Of course this is my own opinion but it would drive me nuts.

Heidi

 

[Bmwdsny]

On my very first Disney Cruise, we had a Cat 4 since we bought my sis in law with us which we had the 5 of us. As much as you get a vernadah which is a plus, BUT , when the murphy bed is down, it is in the way of the vernadah door anyhow and what a PAIN to climb over the bed to simply step outside for a few minutes. Other than a not having a vernadah, it is only about 4 feet longer than a cat 9, which is for the murphy bed purpose. With 5 people, you got more suitcases and it can get pretty crampy. I know now if i were to have 5 people again, i would definetly get 2 connected stateroom. You get a another bathroom which is a plus, and you can spread out more.

Also, you have current ressies, don't worry about paying the higher rates if you wish to upgrade. As long as you don't cancel your current ressie, you will only be paying the lower price bracket that you originally have ressie for.. I was told about this by a DCL rep just the other day.

 

[Luv2Dream]

I agree with keeping the two cat 9's as well. I stayed in a Cat 4 and we only have 3 people in our family and I can't even imagine having 5 people in there. That being said, if they were 3 small children, then I'd consider it. 5 adult-like people, definitely not.

 

[DonnaDavid]

Thanks, everyone. I am worried about the 5 of us in such a small space for 2 wks. My oldest children will fight and make me crazy. I just wish that DCL would go ahead and let us have assigned cabins!