Will a family of 5 fit in a Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah?

[mickeymousepuppy]

We have booked our first cruise on the Fantasy 10/5/13. I am so excited I can't even stand it!! This is quite the the upgrade from our usual camping vacations. We love Disney and have been to the parks a few times. We have always rented houses with another family. I am a little concerned about the tight quarters of a Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah. Of course I am hoping for a major pixie dust upgrade at port, and I'm contemplation camping out to be the in line for upgrades! Some reviews have stated these rooms are specious enough for a family of 5. We are 2 adults, with 21, 13, 10 sons. Other reviews state they could not imagine a family of 5 in that size room. Does anyone have any experience with 5 in a family state room and survived? Our state room is 12522, if that makes any difference. Any feedback would be helpful. We have ruled out two connecting staterooms because we believe for the minimal difference in the price, we would like to be pampered for a change.

Thank you!

 

[pharmama]

Hmmm....I hate to be a downer but I think it will be tight. Our family of 5 just stayed in a family verandah cabin (not concierge but the room itself is the same) and it was doable but my kids are 7, 3 and 1- we weren't even using the 5th bed since the baby was in a pack n play. With three boys those ages you will be pretty cramped. DH slept on the bottom bunk one night and said he felt like the mattress wasn't really designed to support an adult. (oh-and the top bunk is max 220lbs in case your boys are big- though at least the 10 and 13 yo should be ok).

Sorry but I vote two rooms. We were able to overflow a bit in the adjoining in-laws cabin and the extra space was much appreciated.

 

[jrbdad]

We did it last year. Two boys about as big as me 6'1". And a daughter. I used the shower in the men's locker room. It was great!

We got some pixie dust this year and ended up in a 1BR . More space, but similar sleeping arrangements.

You won't be in the stateroom much and folks can hang out in the lounge for more room.

Enjoy.

 

[SharonLowe]

The room has a queen bed, a double sleep sofa and a pull down bed. Are 2 of your sons willing to sleep in the same bed? At those ages, I can't imagine it but I don't know your family. While I think the concierge benefits are nice, I would guess you would be happier with 2 rooms - 2 full baths, etc. You could get connecting rooms or you could get across the hall rooms so that you have at least one with a verandah but save some money that you could use on other splurges. It is a 7-night cruise so I think more space would be nicer than the concierge benefits. While it is a long way away, you could always hope for a port upgrade for one of your rooms to a concierge room and still spend less.

 

[jrbdad]

My boys are 16 & 14 and they are fine sharing a bed for the benefit of concierge.

 

[RockyMama]

We have done 5, but it was 4 adults and a baby in the PNP. It was tight even with that arrangement- 4 adults sharing the bathroom to get ready was a squeeze. At the end of the day, it didn't ruin our cruise experience- we were still so happy to be on the ship! If finances require 1 cabin, I would do it and go in with an open mind regarding the tight quarters. As a PP mentioned, someone can shower in the men's locker area. And I suspect at least one of your kids will be gone most of the time anyway!

 

[WDWDeb]

We have done a cat V on the Dream 3 times with 5 people and were ok. Yes, it is a bit crowded, but for concierge, it was well worth it to us. If you can swing it, I also highly recommend getting a cabana in CC. We love them. Being in concierge gives you first chance at getting one (along with Platinum cruisers.) They book up usually within hours of them becoming available.
It also doesn't hurt to check at the port for upgrade options. For the 5 of us, it was only 400.00 TOTAL to upgrade from a cat V to a 1 bedroom cat T for a 4 night. Normally it would have been about 3000.00 more if we had just booked a cat T from the beginning. That gives you much more space, another bathroom, living room, dining room, etc.

 

[tiggspring]

The room has a queen bed, a double sleep sofa and a pull down bed. Are 2 of your sons willing to sleep in the same bed? At those ages, I can't imagine it but I don't know your family. While I think the concierge benefits are nice, I would guess you would be happier with 2 rooms - 2 full baths, etc. You could get connecting rooms or you could get across the hall rooms so that you have at least one with a verandah but save some money that you could use on other splurges. It is a 7-night cruise so I think more space would be nicer than the concierge benefits. While it is a long way away, you could always hope for a port upgrade for one of your rooms to a concierge room and still spend less.

Are the rooms in concierge different than standard verandah rooms? I thought they were the same. We sailed the Dream family of five DD13 is same size as DH and me DS not far behind. We had pull down, twin sofa and murphy by verandah door. Now I wouldnt recomend the top bunck for an Adult but my 10yr old had plenty of room and my 5'6 dd would have fit too because she is fairly slim . We had no problem fitting in the room it is extreamly well designed so no luggage etc about. Our kids were always with us with older kids I cant imagine many times you would all be in there at once. Technically four pp can dress at the same time if one is in each BR one on each side of curtain seperating dbl from seating area and one on verandah waiting. Dressing for a spacific time you all have to be ready for might be tight IF your family really likes its space but we found that it only got Crazy about 15min before dinner. I plan on booking one room possibly concerge if I can get first day booking for the Fantasy 2014. I didnt even concider booking two rooms. I'll take that money for a week in Orlando pryor to boarding. You will love the cruise no mater what you decide.

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

Yikes!!! You will be really tight in that room, and only 1 shower for all 5. We were in one of those back in October for a 3 night with 4 of us, and I felt like we were cramped. Also, when all of the beds are down for the night, it is virtually impossible to get out the verandah door.

 

[SonicGuy]

Another vote here for too tight. Your boys would have a much better time being in a cabin by themselves. Not enough concierge benefits to outweigh the discomfort.

 

[jetskigrl]

We have done the Deluxe family stateroom (non-concierge) for our family of 4 and it was fine. But some friends of ours had 5 in the same type room and said "never again"

Fast forward to our Fantasy trip next year. I originally booked the same room for our family of 4. But then we decided to bring DD's BFF with us. So not only will we have a non-family member, we will have two teenage girls. I'm sure we would be fine with the sleeping arrangments, but not when it comes time to get ready in the morning or for dinner. So I decided to book an inside room across the hall. The reservation has DH and DS in that room but once we get on board we will change it so that DD and her BFF are sleeping there.

 

[budamacdvcr]

Did the concierge family with verandah last summer on 5 night Dream w/ 2 adults and 3 teens, (2) 16 year old girls and 14 year old boy and we did just fine and after getting the perks and spoils of concierge made it painless for us. As PP referenced using Spa shower is a good idea if tight on getting ready time for dinner but even though there is only 1 shower there is a split bath for shaving, hair, etc. Only negative was having to step on pull out sofa bed when it is open to get onto the verandah in the morning.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We did a B2B on the Dream last summer in a Cat 4A family with verandah with 2A, 3K (16yo, 13yo, 10yo). We didn't find it to be too crowded, but then we only have one bathroom/shower at home too.

 

[Savannah Mom]

It also doesn't hurt to check at the port for upgrade options. For the 5 of us, it was only 400.00 TOTAL to upgrade from a cat V to a 1 bedroom cat T for a 4 night. Normally it would have been about 3000.00 more if we had just booked a cat T from the beginning. That gives you much more space, another bathroom, living room, dining room, etc.

This has me very excited We are doing a 4 night in a Cat V room with 5 people and would LOVE to go to a 1BR, but it was going to be close to 4K more at booking, which even if I had all the $ in the world I couldn't justify for a bathroom. My teenaged son can shower in the spa

But $400 I'd do

 

[mickeymousepuppy]

Thank you everyone for your feedback. It's a hard decision as the mixed reviews demonstrate. DH is really leaning towards Concierge. I do feel a lot better with the idea of using the locker room showers. Thanks jrbdad. I think all four boys should do that, and I'll have the stateroom to myself! This was my biggest concern, but with a split bath and some showers in the locker room, it sounds more feasible. My DH also pointed out that the room is a little larger than our camper, and we do that all the time. As far as the boys sharing a bed, it is really their choice. We've had some occasions where one of them have moved to the floor with extra bedding, but they will work that out. This cruise started as an anniversary cruise for DH and myself, so in my mind, they are lucky they got added! We'll cruise alone after they move out. The Concierge rooms are 65 sq ft larger, so that adds a little more space.

Tiggspring, I think you have a good point that I didn't consider. I bet the amount of time we will all be in the room together will be minimal. As far as access to the verandah being blocked in the morning, I think we could go the lounge for coffee and spend some time on the concierge deck. Thanks for the support for the cabana, DH is is a little resistant to that idea.

Again, thanks for all the info! Regardless of what we choose, we will be more than happy to finally be on a Disney Cruise!!!

 

[jrbdad]

To me - booking Concierge is partly just to get a Cabana

Enjoy!

 

[mickeymousepuppy]

Exactly! I just keep trying to convince him that if he just works a little more OT, he will enjoy the cabana that much more! Ha! It's not working so far, but we're still a ways out.

 

[jrbdad]

Exactly! I just keep trying to convince him that if he just works a little more OT, he will enjoy the cabana that much more! Ha! It's not working so far, but we're still a ways out.

That's the reason for the Disney Visa and the six months no interest

 

[TLSnell1981]

That's the reason for the Disney Visa and the six months no interest

Yep...and the reward points come in handy too.

 

[mickeymousepuppy]

I like the way you think!