As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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So... Realistically, does this work out okay? We usually just stay each set of adults in their own standard room, but I'm playing around with dates and plans, and was just curious if 6 adults can be comfortable in a family suite. In all honestly, we would probably not even be in the room all that much, but I want to hear your experience!
If four of those adults want to sleep on pull out/fold down beds I would think it could be done. As an adult, would I want to be the one sleeping on the pull out or fold down? No way, no how. They're not overly comfortable (IMO) and truthfully after a long day in the park, I like to just fall into bed, not "make" it beforehand. If your groups consists of people who like real beds, I'd stick with three standard rooms - which in reality could be cheaper than one of the AoA suites. Especially if you stay at one of the All Stars which, last I knew, are the least expensive of all the values.
I think it's too many people in one room, even if technically you have two rooms. I will disagree with Darlene on sleeping on a pull out. I slept on the pull out chair at OKW and it was really comfortable. I am fairly small however.
Another question. Who decides who gets the beds and who gets the pull outs? Do you decide by size? family composition? drawing straws? I think when people contribute equally and some get better accommodations, resentment can brew.
I'd be concerned about couples' need for their own space. And yes, I'm hinting at a possible need for "togetherness."
Even if that isn't a possible concern, I think people need getaway space and occasionally somewhere for one person to be alone, for example, if not feeling well. I'm doubtful that such accommodation could be easily made with so many adults in a suite unless it it has three separate sleeping areas.
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I slept on the pull out chair at OKW and it was really comfortable. I am fairly small however.
To me though, this is comparing apples and oranges. A pull out in a pricier DVC resort (whether it was DVC paid or not) is most likely going to be a lot more comfortable than a pull out in a value resort. If the toilet paper is better quality the higher the resort category, you can't convince me the beds aren't better quality as well.
I never thought of that. I have stayed in Moderates and deluxes and not really noticed any differences other than amenities and room size I have also slept on the day bed at the contemporary.
I didn't think about values being different in so many ways. And I am small (barely bigger than many teens) so I can easily for on a smaller bed. I am not sure my 6 foot tall, well sculpted son would have been comfortable on the pull out-and I would not have asked him to sleep there.
I am staying at a moderate this spring. Will have to look more carefully at the toilet paper. Hopefully, I won't wish I brought my own.
Hmm.. Very good points. The actual sleeping arrangements are not really a concern; we all go on ski trips together and some of us sleep on couches, in lofts, on the floor, etc. - so a pull-out bed would be an upgrade for some of us! We're all family so we're used to each other.
I think we have decided to go the separate standard room route though since my niece is going and they would most likely benefit from their own room for naps and such!
Thank you all for the input! It does help to see what others think!
JUst be aware that pushing the limit of room capacity also pushed the limits of plumbing and the like. And Disney charges for more than two adults in the room so that can add up.
My middle guy stayed at one of the All Stars one year for a FIRST competition. School trip so four to a room. They had many, many plumbing problems. May not make for a bad trip when you have 4 teen boys in the room, but I like my toilet to flush.
If it were me, I'd go with separate rooms. Privacy being one of the most important reasons. Besides, I don't think any of you would be comfortable in the pull-outs.
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We did an all girls trip last year and the 5 of us - all adults stayed in the Cars suite at AoA. We actually did fine! With the 2 bathrooms, the getting ready every morning went well. A couple of us would take our shower at night so that not everyone was showering in the morning.
It sounds like your group will be couples? If that is the case, I am not sure how well it would work. Besides the 2 bathrooms, the only other private place is the master bedroom. The other beds and living areas are in a completely open space. In fact the bed that I slept in was right inside the door into the suite. So privacy could be a problem!
I really think this depends on the people involved. We've stayed in an AoA suite with 6 people and it was fine. Now, those "people" were our kids -- a son in his mid 20's, 2 teenagers, and a tween. It worked fine for us. However; I'm not sure I could do it with 2 other adult couples. I would want more privacy. Keep in mind that the table bed and the sofa bed are both double beds while the bed in the master bedroom is a queen. I know that some couples find a double bed too small for 2 people -- especially if they're used to sleeping in a king-size bed at home.
As far as the comfort of the table and sofa beds -- I think they're actually very comfortable for what they are. Their mattresses are much thicker than your typical pull-out couch. My adult son slept on the table bed and said it was better than any hotel bed he's slept on. And my 17 yo son said the sofa bed was really comfortable, too. While we haven't ever stayed in an All Star Music suite, my brother and his family have stayed there as well as at AoA and they said the pull-outs at AoA are much better than the ones at ASMu. I've seen other reports saying the same thing. So, I wouldn't decide against AoA due to worries about those beds being uncomfortable. And they're both super easy to open or pull down -- they can be done with one hand.
My concern would be more about having enough privacy and if 2 of the couples are ok with double beds rather than a queen. Personally, if I was part of the group, I'd want my own room. Maybe 2 couples could share the suite and the 3rd couple could get their own room. That way you'd have a space to gather in if you wanted to just hang out, but everyone would have some privacy when it comes to sleeping.
[QUOTE=Huntermom;4517144]JUst be aware that pushing the limit of room capacity also pushed the limits of plumbing and the like. And Disney charges for more than two adults in the room so that can add up.
Actually, at the AOA, there is no charge for extra adults. That is why we always stay there with 6 people, but since my DH and I are the ones paying, we get the bedroom. I asked the other adults and they said the beds are really comfortable. We leave them open as we are not in the room often, so it works well for us. But it may not work for others.
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Debbie
Many trips to WDW, too many to list. Going back in June 2017!
We stayed with our family of 5 (DH, me, teenage twins, and a 4 year old) a few years ago (shortly ater AoA opened) for one night before DCL. While it is a really fun resort and we enjoyed the room, it simply was not enough space for our comfort level.
I could not imagine 6 adults being comfortable there in 1 family suite room
Having stayed there in October, I think it would be very cramped with 6 adults. It was very comfy with 3 of us. DS says the table bed is very comfortable (he's Pooh sized). And we will hopefully be staying there this September.
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