Vacation for Family of 5?

[btrflywngs88]

I need help planning a trip for my family of 5. I want to go sometime around end of Sept/ beg. of Oct....My kids then will be 16, 14 and 4. We need suggestions on where to stay, package deals, etc...

Actually I need help w/ every aspect of planning this trip.

I am overwhelmed w/ this whole thing.

So any and all help will be greatly appreciated! I want our 1st vacation together to be the best!

 

[DawnM]

We have a family of 5 also. It gets tough to stay on site because about the cheapest you can do for a group of 5 is $250 per night if you want one area together, or you can get $160 per night if you are willing to get 2 hotel rooms. We aren't.

We try to find a condo within a mile of Disney. We have used SkyAuction for the best deals, but you can find other deals out there. We used ebay a few times too.....and got a 2 bedroom condo for $300 for 7 nights with no additional tax.

You might also find out about renting points from a Disney Vacation Club member for an on-site lodging for less.

The advantage to a place with a fridge is of course the cost of food. We typically eat b-fast in the condo, lunch in the parks (or take lunch) and then eat a late dinner back at the condo or off-site.

But many don't care about saving money when it comes to going to Disney World, which is fine! We just like to go a LOT and so we find if we save $$ on each trip we can go more often.

So.....if you want the full "magic" experience you may very well want to find a place on-site and get the package with dining.

It is really up to you how you want this trip to go.....and how much of a budget you want to have!

It will be GREAT no matter what you do!

Dawn

 

[twinspluscade]

We have a family of 5 also. It gets tough to stay on site because about the cheapest you can do for a group of 5 is $250 per night if you want one area together, or you can get $160 per night if you are willing to get 2 hotel rooms. We aren't.

We try to find a condo within a mile of Disney. We have used SkyAuction for the best deals, but you can find other deals out there. We used ebay a few times too.....and got a 2 bedroom condo for $300 for 7 nights with no additional tax.

You might also find out about renting points from a Disney Vacation Club member for an on-site lodging for less.

The advantage to a place with a fridge is of course the cost of food. We typically eat b-fast in the condo, lunch in the parks (or take lunch) and then eat a late dinner back at the condo or off-site.

But many don't care about saving money when it comes to going to Disney World, which is fine! We just like to go a LOT and so we find if we save $$ on each trip we can go more often.

So.....if you want the full "magic" experience you may very well want to find a place on-site and get the package with dining.

It is really up to you how you want this trip to go.....and how much of a budget you want to have!

It will be GREAT no matter what you do!

Dawn

Dawn--Did you know that Port Orleans Riverside resort WILL let you have 5 in one room as long as one member of your party is age 9 or younger? We are a family of 5 also, and that's where we're staying in Sept--for $145/night POR has a trundle bed for the 5th person.

Kelly

 

[DisneyMomx7]

There is also a rumor going around that there will be free dining through most of September. If you book POR and get free dining that will probably be the best deal you can get!

 

[DawnM]

Good to know! Thanks!

Now I have to figure out if I could eat Vegan on the DDP. Since I am the only true Vegan in the family it might work.

Dawn

Dawn--Did you know that Port Orleans Riverside resort WILL let you have 5 in one room as long as one member of your party is age 9 or younger? We are a family of 5 also, and that's where we're staying in Sept--for $145/night POR has a trundle bed for the 5th person.

Kelly

 

[TENIA66]

We're a family of 5, ds2, ds7 and dd soon to be 13 have been a few times, I like quite a few threads to get me going:

Magical Moments Not To Miss

How do you afford your disney trips

what tips did you receive that were pointless

I wish I had brought.........

things you didn't budget for

what did you [URL="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1184417"]pack that was a waste

saving money on food at disney[/URL]

most important items to take to disney

biggest mistakes made

packing tips

what you learned from your last trip

 

[Barb D]

My kids are 15, 13 and 7. We've done Port Orleans Riverside in the past, but the only kid who will fit on the trundle bed is the 7 year old, and I'm not going to make the teens share a bed! This time we're doing connecting rooms at All Star Sports. This will give us plenty of beds, plus 2 bathrooms.

 

[deide71]

I agree, connecting rooms, or a condo offsite. 5 in a small room with one bathroom is no fun!

The Fort Wilderness cabins are another option. They are a bit more than the moderates (still only one bathroom), but the kitchen is a godsend if you are really trying to save $$$ and stay onsite.

 

[alicenwonder99]

I would suggest either a monorail resort (the rooms are big enough for a family of 5), or FW cabin. Staying at the Contemporary is great because it's just so easy to get to MK. You may be spending more time at MK with your 4 year old, and then the teens can off on their own to MGM.

We've had 6 (one infant) at CR last Sept and it was perfect for us. We also had 6 at FW cabins and we absolutely LOVED it there.

Here's how you should plan your trip:

1. Narrow down which WDW hotels you want to stay at
2. Sign up for DING from Southwest Airlines
3. Watch the Codes board for when Free Dining is announced (last year it was April 1).
4. The first day Free Dining is announced, you need to call WDW and book your hotel.
5. Keep on checking for great DING rates (the good Ding rates for Sept will be out in a couple of months)
6. Talk to the kids about where they would like to eat (pick great places, it will be free).
7. Visit the DIS boards daily to plan your trip (soon you will be hooked...lol)

HTH