Best resort for big families?

[PrincessAnnabell]

We are still deciding on where to stay. What do you think is the best for big families (2 adults, 4 kids)? Suites or 2 adjoining rooms?

 

[The Lion King]

We have the same type of family and we are getting connecting rooms at Pop. This is our first trip so I have no other comparison. Hope you have a great time wherever you stay.

 

[dmomom]

We're going in April with 3 adults and 3 kids and have chosen a suite at the All-Star Music. I don't know how old your children are, but they said they could not guarantee adjoining rooms, and this was a concern for us with young children. We chose the suite for several reasons:

1. We were guaranteed to be in the same room
2. We have a bedroom so we can close the door for naps (we have a 19-month old)
3. We'll have a small kitchenette (As I understand, you have to pay extra for a fridge in a regular room)

All the reviews have been very favorable, and the suites are fairly new, so should be in good shape. Check out the photos on the DIS website under resorts.

Have a great trip!

 

[drivencrazy]

We are a family with 4 kids, 2 adults... we stayed in an All Stars Music Suite, it was nice and we had plunty of room. Our kids were: 12, 9, 4 and 2 at the time. The older girls (12 & 9) shared the pull out couch. The 4 year old, we pulled the matterss off the fold out chair and put it on the floor for him (there seemed to be lots of room that he thought he might get stuck in on the chair so he wanted it on the floor). And the 2 year old sleep on the fold out footrest bed, she did great, I thought about putting her matterss on the floor, but didn't need to... And us parents slept in the bedroom on the great bed!! The room was a bit tight with all the beds out, but we only put them out when we were going to bed so it didn't really matter!

We loved having the frig in there and the coffee pot. Not sure that we ever used the microwave. But staying there we also got "Disney" paper plates and cups that we didn't use, so brought them home to enjoy!

 

[Rylee]

For families of 6, the options I'm aware of...

Lowest, going up in cost -

• Value Resort, 2 rooms
  
• All-Star Music family suite
  
• Fort Wilderness Cabin
  
• Deluxe Resort, any room that sleeps 5, if one child is under 3
  
• DVC Resorts - 2 bedroom villa

(There are a few family suites at a couple of the resorts, but I don't remember the occupancy.)

 

[melissalee1220]

This really depends on what you're looking for. If you plan on eating in then you'll want something with a full kitchen: any DVC resort villa and Fort Wilderness cabin.

Out of those choices FTW will be less expensive but the location isn't too desirable and you'll have to wait for buses just to take you to the place where you wait for buses/boats to get to the parks. I've stayed here twice before and really liked it but then...........I became a DVC owner SOOOO

I personally LOVE the villas at Boardwalk and Beach Club, but have also stayed at Old Key West and Saratoga. Those villas are spacious (huge at OKW!) and fully equiped with washer/dryer and full kitchen. Now that I'm used to these types of resorts I try to stay away from "regular" hotel rooms. However......

If you arent planning on staying in the room a lot of eating in then go ahead and get two adjoining regular rooms!

 

[_queenie_]

Are you planning on getting the DDP and using Magical Express? If not, you can get two rooms at the Swan (with two queen beds) for a combined $470 ($430 with AAA). If you're looking for something luxurious but don't want to spend a fortune it's what I suggest.

 

[rheffelf]

Love the Swan and Dolphin and the location...

Have done it Christmas 2004 with adjoining rooms. Dolphin fountain (great for burgers/ice cream) and Picabu (cafeteria style) are great resources for kids which are not found at the deluxe resorts. Also, take AAA discounts of 20% off food there which is nice.

 

[shellyfive]

we get adjoining rooms at one of the values-----this way we have two bathrooms and can use disney transportation and take advantage of EMH----They don't "guarantee" adjoining rooms, but we have never had a problem getting them, and one cm told me that they give priority to mom in one room and dad in another with kids split between them, vs. other requesters for adjoining rooms------but it all depends when you are going and when you book.........(this again may or may not be true-------but we haven't had a problem with it........

 

[Keara'sMom]

Have you considered renting DVC points? We've done this twice (not with a big family), and it works well--you get to stay at a beautiful resort and pay only a fraction of what it would typically cost for that room. Just a thought...

 

[Lucky'sMom]

If you'd consider off-site, the Marriott, Sheraton and Hilton vacation club properties offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom resorts very close to Disney. Some favorites of DISers include: Marriott's Cypress Harbour, Grand Vista and Horizons; Sheraton's Vistana Villages and Resort; and Hilton Grand Vacation Club Sea World and International Drive. Depending on the season, you could get these 2 bedroom accommodations with full kitchens, washer/dryer, etc. for about the price of 2 connecting value rooms. They are all very close to Disney. The decision to stay at one of these vs. on-site depends on: how many days you're going (less days = stay on-site, more days = off-site), if you will have a car or are willing to rent one, your budget, etc. Have a great trip!

 

[lucigo]

We have chosen to get 2 rooms at Pop, the price is great, and this worked well. Our kids are 19, 16, 13 and 4. ...and yes I know 19 is an adult but she is still my little princess

 

[_queenie_]

Also, take AAA discounts of 20% off food there which is nice.

Really? We just got back two weeks ago and have a HUGE food bill on the old American Express card, I wish I had know about that! We used AAA on the room, but I never though about food.

 

[rheffelf]

I am not sure if you can use the AAA discount at the sit- down restaurants like Shula's, but I have used it at the Dolphin fountain and Picabu's. Was just in the Boardwalk area this past weekend and we stopped at Picabu's for a sandwhich and I used the AAA discount there. Really comes in handy. Sorry that you missed out on it....

 

[_queenie_]

Probably the case, as always. We spent alot of our money at Shula's anyway, had a delicous $350 meal!

 

[BarbWB]

A family of 6 here (kids 10, 8, 6, 4):\

Honestly, the best resort was Windsor Hills. We got a 5 bdr/5 ba with our very own pool (in Oct) for $1200/wk, inclusive. The neighborhood also has a big pool with a waterslide if you want it (used it once!!)

Don't get me wrong, I love hotels when I'm with my DH, but with 4 kids, a hotel room doesn't work for us. Windsor Hills was the best choice for us.