What would you do - Cat 3, Cat 4 or 2 5's?

[minniesota]

We are first time cruisers and my DH likes lots of room. We have DD-12 and DS-10 and they won't sleep together. Would you do a Cat 3 , Cat 4 or two Cat 5's? A Cat 3 handicap-accessible cabin (8100) in the aft is available during our cruise time. The layout looks a little weird? Anyway, any input/ advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated! I was planning a WDW trip and DH just said, "let's do a cruise instead!" I have never considered one but now I'm getting kind of excited.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Does DCL have any rules/procedures regarding handicapped accessible rooms? There aren't many options if you need to be bumped because someone needs that room. Just curious.

 

[Lisa F]

All of the cabins that hold 4 people have a queen bed that can be broken into two twins, a folddown sofa bed and a fold down bunk, so even if you just got one cat 5, your kids would not have to share a bed (though they might fight over who gets the top bunk). The only thing a cat 4 would get you over that arrangement would be a fold down murphy bed (single).

Some of the cat 3's have the 4th bed in the master bedroom while others have it in the livingroom. IMO, I would never pay cat 3 prices for a suite and then not have my privacy in the master suite. I'm not sure what the various configurations are of cat 3's because we never looked into booking one.

Lisa

 

[outahere]

If you really want the extra room, go with the cat 3. As the post above questioned, I don't know what DCL's policy is on the handicap-accessible rooms. One other item about cabin 8100 is I don't think the balcony has the plexiglass below the rail. I believe it is solid metal..... a little hard to see through, if that matters.

 

[minniesota]

I'll have to check on Disney's policy re the Handicap room. Has anyone ever stayed in a Cat 3? Is there a major difference? Also, what do you all think about plexiglass versus metal veranda? I have so many questions and we're sailing Jan. 24 so I feel a little pressure. Thanks for your input!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Keep in mind that with all Category 3 rooms (except for 8032, 8034, 8532, and 8534), the fold-down fifth bed is in the bedroom, not the living room. So, if you wanted the suite because you were anticipating some "privacy", you wouldn't get that privacy in 8100.

Others have mentioned that with Categories 4 & 5, you won't have two kids having to share a pull-out bed.

I think I'd go for two Category 6's (not 5's... 6's are configured exactly the same as 5's, they're just one deck lower). You'd get twice as much bathroom facility than with a Category 4. And each kid would get their own bed and you'd get "privacy".

 

[minniesota]

Wow, thanks for the info Dave. That definitely makes a difference! I think we'll go for the two Cat 6 rooms. Privacy and two bathrooms. What are the chances of getting connecting rooms and does anyone have any suggestions for Room numbers to request. We like very quiet space (and I'm sure there will be plenty of that to go around Any advice is welcome.

 

[DisneyGator01]

Would it just be you, your husband and the two kids? keep in mind too that if you go with the two staterooms... you will have to pay the adult rate for your two children, since the first two people in a stateroom are charged the adult rate regardless of age.

Might want to figure that in some, not sure how much it would effect the total $.. never really looked at how the rated differ.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

If you want to get two adjoining Cat 5 rooms, you should act as soon as possible.

We just booked a cruise for two couples for 11/13/2004 and the best adjoining Cat 5 rooms are taken.

The one other option (if money isn't an issue) is that I think there are some Cat 3 rooms with adjoining Cat 4 rooms. Otherwise the Cat 2 (two bedroom suit) would be nice, but it's very difficult to get as there are only 2 of them.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

minnie, since you're looking at adjoining cat.6 rooms, try 6072/74 or 6572/74 no staterooms across from you and not too close to the elevators

 

[my3kids]

In the category 3 rooms, as mentioned, the 5th bed is in the master bedroom in all but 4 of the rooms. In the category 3 rooms, it is my understanding the 3rd and 4th passengers are in are a double sleeper sofa...so in the suite the kids would have to sleep together or share your bedroom. I have never stayed in the category 3, but someone can verify. A friend of mine went to connecting category 5's to avoid her children sleeping together on the sofa bed.

You would have far less room and privacy in one category 4 as opposed to 2 of any other room. The only additional space in the #4 is room for a single murphy bed to flip down.

 

[Ginny]

Please be aware that the Cat 3 handicap accessible suites are different than other Cat 3 suites as they don't offer a pull down bed. They are not configured to sleep 4 or 5......only 4 - and that requires that two people use the pull out couch. We found this out the hard way when we were mistakenly booked into one for our Christmas cruise this year. You also don't have the Jacuzzi tub.

Your two children would be required to share the queen size sleeper sofa in one of the handicap accessible suites. I believe that BeanoC ran into this issue too in his September 02 cruise. We were quite unhappy with the arrangement as our children are much older than when we first cruised in 1999 and we want them to be comfortable, too. We were lucky enough that someone dropped their ressie in a regular suite and booked that one.

 

[minniesota]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just new the Disboarders would help me out. I could plan a trip to the parks in my sleep thanks to these boards, but the cruise thing is all new to me! My TA assured me the pull down was in the living area - guess I'll e-mail her this AM and gently explain that I have more accurate info. I'll also check into what's available in connecting Cat 6 or Cat 5. The good news is that by switching from Cat 3 to two Cat 6, I save lots of $$. Thanks, DMS_Cruisers4, for the room sugestions - I'll see if their available. I'm sure you'll all be hearing more from me.

 

[rundogrun]

We went through the same question when the four of us sailed this past August. Actually we considered it 18 months ago when we booked the space.

We have two kids, 7 and 4. We looked into the Cat 3 (we had a Cat 1 the first time and two connecting Cat 4s the second time, both of those cruises with grandparents).

We opted for adjoining Cat 5s for this trip, simply because booking two 5s when we did, cost less than booking a suite. Since the space was pretty comparable in total size, we did it. Having stayed in a suite before, we didn't feel the "extras" merited the higher cost either.

It worked out great. The kids had their own "room" and bathrooms, and places to spread out and put all their stuff. My wife and I had our own room and privacy as well. We kept the adjoining doors open most of the time, leaving them open just a crack at night while we slept.

In the end it doesn't matter if it's cat 5, 6 or even 7, for that matter. Adjoining is definitely the way to go as far as we're concerned.