Will We Ever Go to WDW Again?

[MelessaG]

As you can see from my signature, my family and I used to be frequent WDW visitors and I used to be a much more active DIS'er. After a couple of years away from the Happiest Place on Earth (and the DIS boards), my kids and I were very much hoping to go again next Fall. Instead, it looks as if we will grow from a family of 6 to a family of 7 in August of '09. (My youngest is almost 5, can you say "bonus baby?") Obviously that rules out next Fall, and now my question is: With 5 kids, will we ever be able to go to WDW again?

(I'm not so much asking about the financial side of things as I am the logistics of finding a place to stay for 7 people and managing five kids in the parks. The current ages of my older children are: 11, 8, 6, and 4.)

 

[noritake1]

Hi I am a Mom of 5. Ages are 14,13,7,5,3 all girls except the last you can pm if you have any ? thanks Jill

 

[brekin67]

Hello, fellow Okie! Wow, that is a lot of kids to take to the park and keep up with. It would be nice if you could get the Disney Nanny that helps you out throughout the day. That may be pretty expensive. Maybe Mom and the girls can go in the Fall and Dad and the sons can go the following year. Could you stay at family suites? Isn't that 6 and a crib? Or, get connecting rooms at All star.

 

[MelessaG]

Hello, fellow Okie! Wow, that is a lot of kids to take to the park and keep up with. It would be nice if you could get the Disney Nanny that helps you out throughout the day. That may be pretty expensive. Maybe Mom and the girls can go in the Fall and Dad and the sons can go the following year. Could you stay at family suites? Isn't that 6 and a crib? Or, get connecting rooms at All star.

We've done split trips in the past, and those have worked well for the girls, but not so much for my son because Dad isn't the Disney fan that the rest of us are and never has taken him (I took two of the girls in '05 by ourselves).

My parents have a timeshare in Orlando, and while I feel like there are just too many of us to stay with them, they do enjoy coming aliong helping out in the parks. The problem is, their condo disqualifies them for EMH which I really like to do. Still, if we time the trip right, we would have their help an hour after we arrive at the parks.

And I'm thinking if we do go, it will have to be before the new baby is three since All-Star or Ft. Wilderness have, by default, become our only WDW resort options.

I think deep down, I still believe we can do another trip, I've just been caught very off-guard by the new baby news. Thanks for your input!

 

[MelessaG]

Hi I am a Mom of 5. Ages are 14,13,7,5,3 all girls except the last you can pm if you have any ? thanks Jill

Thank you! Right now I'm so overwhelmed I can't think of specific questions, but when I do I will PM you.

 

[delmar411]

I don't see why you couldn't? We've got 4 kids and hope to be adding #5 this year and #6 in the next 2yrs. I have no plan to not go to the parks just because our kids will officially out number our hands. They already out number us 2 to 1! LOL

My oldest is almost 11 and is awesome about taking her 5yr old sister on certain rides by themselves. The boys are still too small for a few rides and my youngest is too short for all height restricted rides so we've got a solid rider switch touring plan that keeps everyone happy and busy in the parks. Everyone gets to do what they want and I don't see that adding in more ppl will be a problem honestly.

As for accommodations we have DVC and the 2bedrooms sleep 8 (or 9 in some resorts) plus a child under 3. The OKW 2bedroom we just stayed in was about the same size as our house so clearly no space issues there. If you were only planning on going every other year or so, you could just rent points and plan to go during value season to get the most for your money.

 

[Schmeck]

Even after your youngest is three years old, you can still get two connecting rooms at an All Star resort or Pop Century. You can fit up to 8 people in two rooms - so your family of 7 will be fine.

 

[mjkacmom]

Mom of 5 - 12, 10, 7, 5, and 5 (twins were our "bonus"), and we did great last year. Rented DVC points for a 2 bedroom BCV, and it was perfect! We have absolutely no problem managing our brood in the parks, or anywhere - we've been vacationing with all of them since the twins were 1. I guess being a big family, everyone has learned the art of compromise, taking turns, listening, etc. We've done resorts, the beach, Disney, Hershey, water parks, etc., and we sometimes split up for a bit, but it works out!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

OP -- Looks like the Tag Fairy will have some catching up to do with your Tags! Congratulations and remember: where there's a will, there's a way. You'll make it happen.

 

[girlsx2]

Of course you can go back to Disney. My friend went three years ago with six children. They stayed off site. They now have nine children and currently live in Florida and they go at least once a year now. Good luck. I second the idea of renting DVC points to stay in a 2 bedroom villa. You will also have the advantage of a kitchen.

 

[MelessaG]

OP -- Looks like the Tag Fairy will have some catching up to do with your Tags! Congratulations and remember: where there's a will, there's a way. You'll make it happen.

I know! I forgot about my tag until I posted again here today. Told ya I had been away for quite some time. Sadly, I think the tag fairies found me on the Community Board and I'm not sure I will be as regular there as I once was. (I was just excited to find my login still worked.) I suppose I could find some way to delete it, but I remember now how tickled I was to find it a few years ago so I'll just leave it-dated though it is-and hope the tag fairy finds me again someday.

 

[MelessaG]

Thanks for all the supportive replies! I like the idea of renting DVC points. I think I'm flashing back to the craziness of bringing home my last baby when the three older kids were 2, 4, and 6 and our Christmas WDW trip when she was just 6 months old. That was one tiring trip, though those of us who are old enough remember it fondly. This time, everyone will be 5 and up and my 11 year-old loves to be a "little mom" already. So it will be different this time.

I love the idea of renting DVC points. I've done a little reading up on it here on the boards in the past few days and it no longer confuses me. Of course, my parents would love for me to buy a timeshare like theirs (through Marriott I think), but if we ever have the money to buy something like that, we will be buying through Disney. Someday...

 

[girlsx2]

I too, have been reading on these boards about renting points. I finally decided to do it this morning. I had ressies at Pop Century for March at $74/night plus tax. I am now going to staying at Saratoga Springs for $117/night. Same nights, same everything. Can't beat that!! I called Disney (before I decided on renting points) to check on an upgrade here is what they told me (same days):

Coronado Springs - $149/night plus tax
AKL - Standard - $229/night plus tax
Poly - Garden View - $359/night plus tax

Just based on those figures alone, why wouldn't you upgrade using points? Anyway...just my two cents.

I am sure you will figure out a way to get there again, very soon!

 

[MelessaG]

I too, have been reading on these boards about renting points. I finally decided to do it this morning. I had ressies at Pop Century for March at $74/night plus tax. I am now going to staying at Saratoga Springs for $117/night. Same nights, same everything. Can't beat that!! I called Disney (before I decided on renting points) to check on an upgrade here is what they told me (same days):

Coronado Springs - $149/night plus tax
AKL - Standard - $229/night plus tax
Poly - Garden View - $359/night plus tax

Just based on those figures alone, why wouldn't you upgrade using points? Anyway...just my two cents.

I am sure you will figure out a way to get there again, very soon!

Good for you! My parents stayed at Saratoga Springs a few years ago and loved it! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[nessz79]

I'm sure you're feeling very overwhelmed! Don't worry about Disney- I think you know you'll be back . I think it's very normal when you're unexpectedly expecting to run through all the things that are being changed. But don't worry- you know that after that baby is born, everything will fall into place (or at least within a couple short years- they go so fast, remember?). Hugs to you.

 

[lilybrooke14]

Okay, I'll be the one...

What about (gasp) staying off property at one of the vacation homes in Windsor Hills or something. I've looked at them online before, and most of them seem pretty reasonable. Close to Disney, cheaper than staying on-property. Some are really nicely decorated. Most have cribs or pack N plays and some that I've looked at have even had strollers and other amenities for the little ones. Your own pool. Your own kitchen. Master bedroom for mom and dad and plenty of room for the kiddies. Heck, we've only got one kiddo and we're thinking of doing this the next time around. It just sounds relaxing.

The only downside I can think of is no housekeeping, but I'm perfectly capable of making my bed and getting my own towels.

 

[MelessaG]

Okay, I'll be the one...

What about (gasp) staying off property at one of the vacation homes in Windsor Hills or something. I've looked at them online before, and most of them seem pretty reasonable. Close to Disney, cheaper than staying on-property. Some are really nicely decorated. Most have cribs or pack N plays and some that I've looked at have even had strollers and other amenities for the little ones. Your own pool. Your own kitchen. Master bedroom for mom and dad and plenty of room for the kiddies. Heck, we've only got one kiddo and we're thinking of doing this the next time around. It just sounds relaxing.

The only downside I can think of is no housekeeping, but I'm perfectly capable of making my bed and getting my own towels.

That sounds nice too, and has been debated as a possibility by my sister and I back when there were only three kids between the two of us just because, as you said, they sounded relaxing.

 

[heart4dis]

I, too, am wondering if we'll ever do Disney again, but for different reasons (time, money). Even with only 4 children, we were challenged in finding reasonably priced stuff on-site. Off site options are more available for larger families and it's not so bad. I didn't feel like I missed out on Disney magic. Many hotels offer shuttles, too so the van situation can be lessened ( I know it's hard to rent those large multi-passenger things so you get into two vehicles... ). May pixie dust fall all over you! Best wishes!

 

[MelessaG]

I, too, am wondering if we'll ever do Disney again, but for different reasons (time, money). Even with only 4 children, we were challenged in finding reasonably priced stuff on-site. Off site options are more available for larger families and it's not so bad. I didn't feel like I missed out on Disney magic. Many hotels offer shuttles, too so the van situation can be lessened ( I know it's hard to rent those large multi-passenger things so you get into two vehicles... ). May pixie dust fall all over you! Best wishes!

Thank you! And just for the record, it's baby #5, family member #7. I loved the movie The Sound of Music as much as most little girls in the 70's did, but even I am not brave enough for seven children.