3 adults, two older kids (12 & 14) - where would you stay?

[ImarriedGrumpy]

We have a group of 3 adults and 2 kids heading to WDW in June 2020. Our cast of characters is myself & my 12 yr old, plus our best friends: EA & MA and their 14 yr old GA. It will be trip #6 for me, but the first time back since 2005, trip #2 for EA, and first visit to WDW for the other 3. We've done many trips to DLR together since I moved out to California in 2004, and we usually share a room to keep costs down. We've made it work in rooms with two queen beds and a pull-out on our DLR trips.

We initially thought of AoA, but now I'm seeing that POR and CBR are both getting some rooms with two queen beds and a twin-size pull down. Both of those look like they'd be less expensive than AoA, and I like that it's two queens so those sharing a bed aren't trying to fit on a double. We're trying to stick to a budget since this trip will be over 3 times what we usually spend on our DLR trips just due to the airfare and needing a longer trip to cover everything.

Just to give you insight to our personalities: we always disneybound as a group at least one day of our trips, we also have custom shirts made by EA (a graphic designer), MA is an accountant and loves spreadsheets & charts & plans, I'm the biggest Disney geek of the bunch but the others are close behind me, and we are definitely "make the most of every minute of the day" people but we'll go off plan if needed. None of us are athletic, and a couple are downright lazy, but we're starting our walking workouts now to get ready for this big trip.

Are there other options I'm overlooking? Any thoughts on what might be best?
TIA!

 

[mel2014]

Assuming that the 60+ FP availability continues for the Disney Springs hotels into 2020, have you thought about staying in a Disney Springs Hotel? We are staying at the Doubletree in Disney Springs for an August visit in a 1 bedroom suite with two queens and a pullout. I booked the Mousesavers rate including continental breakfast for 2 adults and 2 kids for $133+tax per night. While the shuttle buses from Disney Springs get so-so reviews, with the ages of your party it would be easy to get an Uber XL for transportation if you don't want to take the buses. Even paying for that every day won't be as expensive as the price difference between the the Doubletree and an on-site resort.

The B Resort in Disney Springs has rooms with two queens and a single-size sleeper chair, so that would be an option as well.

In addition to the Doubletree and B Resort, it's possible the construction could be done at the Best Western by then (the Best Western has 2 queen plus pullout rooms but it is getting very mixed reviews right now due to the construction work).


Other options on-site would be to try and rent with DVC or to look at the cabins at Fort Wilderness.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Personally, I would get 2 rooms at a value resort, but I don't share a room with people who don't live in my house.

If you like the suite option, I think the suites at ASMusic are less expensive than AoA, but they are a similar layout and have 2 bathrooms (I don't know if AoA has 2 bathrooms or not). I would have to get a suite to have 2 bathrooms since there are 5 of you but again that may just be me. POR and CBR have some rooms with the pull down bed, but it isn't very big from what I've read. If your child is a small 12 year old, it would probably be okay. I don't think the other moderate resorts have the pull-down bed. You could also get a cabin at Ft. Wilderness, which has a bedroom with a queen (I think?) bed and a set of bunk beds with another queen pullout bed in the living room.

You could also rent a 3-bedroom condo at Windsor Hills for far less than 2 rooms at a value resort, but I'm not sure if you want to look offsite.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I, personally, would not put 3 adults, a 12-year old and a 14-year old in a single room in CBR or POR. You will be very, very cramped. I would look into the ASMu Family Suite or do 2 rooms at Pop.

 

[tjmw2727]

That does seem tight to me - also the murphy at CBR and POR is not quite a twin so one of the kids would need to be small enough to be comfortable in that. Unless your really only in the room to sleep and can stagger your showers I would price out 2 rooms at a value or look at the suites at AOA or at the Allstars (can't remember which one has a suite sorry!).

Downside to the suites is there is only one real bed, downside to 2 value rooms is (maybe) no guarantee of connecting or even adjoining.

AOA suite has a master with a master bath and a queen, living area with a pull out sofa and a pull down murphy and another bathroom in the main area., AS suite has a master with a queen, pull out sofa and two pull out twins, both bathrooms are in the main area.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Get two rooms and stay friends.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Get two rooms and stay friends.

We really have stayed in one room together on many, many trips, and it's just fine! We're more like family than friends - they were in our wedding, we have keys to each others' houses, I've been nanny for their DD since she was 5 m old, we go to the same church, same schools for our kids, we live a few blocks from each other and have potluck every week. Our kids are both only children, but they've grown up together so we refer to them as "friendlings" - more than friends, but not actually siblings. We've seen each other at our absolute worst and been through all kinds of things together. I wouldn't room share with just anyone, but these friends are unique.

 

[Miffy]

I thought I knew my Disboard acronyms, but EA, MA, and GA have me stumped.

My only advice about the resort is to get something that's got two bathrooms. At least, for me, that would be a necessary feature with that many other people.

 

[Disneyhenry]

I agree 2 rooms, if you must share try Family Suites at Music, have fun

 

[dragonfly57005]

We really have stayed in one room together on many, many trips, and it's just fine! We're more like family than friends - they were in our wedding, we have keys to each others' houses, I've been nanny for their DD since she was 5 m old, we go to the same church, same schools for our kids, we live a few blocks from each other and have potluck every week. Our kids are both only children, but they've grown up together so we refer to them as "friendlings" - more than friends, but not actually siblings. We've seen each other at our absolute worst and been through all kinds of things together. I wouldn't room share with just anyone, but these friends are unique.

If you truly have done this in the past, go for it. Lots of people like POR.
I would say though, as your kids hit the teen years...it may not work as well.

 

[MalkaR]

I have a family of five ( and it sounds like you guys are basically family anyway!) And we've stayed at both a 5 person room at CBR using Disney transportation and a three bedroom condo off-site at Windsor Hills with a rental car. They were both amazing but we're staying at Windsor Hills again. I chose a unit that was fully Disney decked out, there are 2 or 3 bathrooms depending on which one you choose. Regular beds for everyone, a full living room area for relaxing, really nice pool and they have a brand new water park area. And amazing prices! Staying on property at CBR was fun and the resort is really pretty, but again, we're staying at WH this time because we loved it so much.

Edited for auto correct errors and to add this: If you guys love the planning aspect of a Disney trip, choosing which WH unit to stay in is really fun. At least I love it!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I thought I knew my Disboard acronyms, but EA, MA, and GA have me stumped.

My only advice about the resort is to get something that's got two bathrooms. At least, for me, that would be a necessary feature with that many other people.

I was thinking those were the other family's initials.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I thought I knew my Disboard acronyms, but EA, MA, and GA have me stumped.

My only advice about the resort is to get something that's got two bathrooms. At least, for me, that would be a necessary feature with that many other people.

I was thinking those were the other family's initials.

Sorry - yes, those are their initials! I should have put them as E.A. etc.

And thanks for the various thoughts, everyone! We're definitely staying on-site this trip, and likely won't be in the room much at all. The kids are both really easy going and remarkably good tempered despite being tween/early teen age, so we should be fine in one room. DS even volunteered to sleep on the floor of the closet, but I had to break it to him that the closets in the value and moderate resorts don't have doors or even a very clearly defined space! He's a small kiddo, and likes to sleep in odd places. On our DLR trips, we've sometimes stayed at a hotel that does have a closet with sliding doors, and he always claims it as his "bedroom".

We decided to hold off on our decision to see how the skyliner affects things. I'm guessing prices will go up at CBR, although if the skyliner works as promised, it might be worth it for the faster trips to 2 of the 4 parks. AoA is still on the table, although if we go with POR, we can afford an extra night and one more day in the parks. Lots to consider!

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

here is a link for the floor plan for alligator bayou room that will sleep five https://www.portorleans.org/floorplans.php we stayed there last year and loved it. It was an awesome place to stay I highly recommend it. Our room did not have the pull out bed but the room we had was very nice. The food court was top notch and all the ammenities were well worth the money. Can't say enough good things about it. You should by all means check into it. Also, french Quarter is a short walk away and the pool slide is a realy cool dragon.

 

[Hoosier John]

Renting DVC won't be as economical as your other options, but for completeness:

DVC's Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian have studios that sleep 5 (each only one dedicated bed), and Floridian & Polynesian have 2 Baths. Problem is, they will probably run over $1500 per week (in a standard view, during Magic Season which begins June 11, 2020).

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Renting DVC won't be as economical as your other options, but for completeness:

DVC's Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian have studios that sleep 5 (each only one dedicated bed), and Floridian & Polynesian have 2 Baths. Problem is, they will probably run over $1500 per week (in a standard view, during Magic Season which begins June 11, 2020).

I put that on our "possible" list, too. Fortunately, M.A. is an accountant who LOVES to crunch numbers, so my job is to do all the research, give her the possibilities, and leave it to her to figure out the exact cost. We'll be having a series of family meetings to discuss the trip, and first up will be where we all want to stay.

They're all a bit amazed by how much planning it takes for a WDW trip vs DLR. I told them just wait until they see how long it takes to park hop compared to DLR! They're all used to going back and forth all day, and we can get from the back of DLP to the back of DCA in less than 20 minutes at a brisk walk. I had to show them the map of DLR placed on top of Epcot to give them some perspective and set their expectations.

 

[Hoosier John]

I would guess you can get from inside one park to inside any other in about a half hour at best, to nearly an hour from back to back of parks, considering security, tapstyles, and about a 15 minute transportation ride (plus wait).

 

[JennyDrake]

Get two rooms and stay friends.

Ditto. That many kids & those ages in ONE room with ONE bathroom.....

I went as a party of 2 adults and 3 kids 14, 16 & 18. I can't fathom having only ONE room.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Renting DVC won't be as economical as your other options, but for completeness:

DVC's Boardwalk, Boulder Ridge, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian have studios that sleep 5 (each only one dedicated bed), and Floridian & Polynesian have 2 Baths. Problem is, they will probably run over $1500 per week (in a standard view, during Magic Season which begins June 11, 2020).

The Polynesian and Grand Floridian studios do not really have two bathrooms. They each have a split bathroom with a single toilet, but both a separate shower and tub/shower combo in two spaces so two people can shower at one time.

 

[Nancyg56]

Have you considered the cabins in Fort Wilderness? I think you would have more space there.

My family travels in a crew, but if I was staying 5 to a room, and we have done so, I would choose a deluxe resort. The rooms are larger, and there are more area to escape to in order to allow some semblance of privacy in the room. It is more money, but for us it is worth it.