Booking a resort for a family of 5 or more adults

[Livelovedance]

I wasn’t sure if this question should be asked here, in the families forum, or the adults forum! Hopefully this was a good choice.

I’m looking into booking a trip for a family of potentially 5 or more adults. The idea started with 3, but more people have expressed interest in attending. These are family members that we only recently connected/reconnected with, so we are excited to share a Disney vacation with them!

We are looking for the summer, so I know our booking is last minute, but we’d like to stay in Disney. Two of the family members are AP holders, so we would have to do a room-only reservation, but I haven’t seen any promotions for our dates yet either way. The dates aren’t set in stone, and we’re waiting to find out if they work for everyone that is interested in attending.

As we are a family of all adults, I am hesitant to book a room that requires sharing of beds, and only 1 bathroom. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or experience booking for this type of family. The only Disney Resorts I have stayed in were POR (twice) and the Poly on a trip with friends. Both times at POR we were in the Alligator Bayou and weren’t very impressed. We’d like to stay in a different resort this time. Would we be better off staying in a villa, or booking at least 2 regular rooms? We’re looking into moderates for the price. Deluxe would be wonderful, but I don’t think would be affordable. I did find a 2 bedroom villa that would come to about $167 per person per night if we split it, which sounds amazing, but I don’t want to book it just in case the stars don’t align (I dont have the money for the deposit right after Christmas!).

We might end up having to stay offsite, but I’d love to try to stay within the Disney bubble! Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[SharonZ]

Rather than coordinating rooms/villas with people who may cancel (it happens), I would book separate hotel rooms. You need to determine what you can afford, and whether you will be willing to share a room/sleeping surfaces with other families.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

What is the relationship between the 5 adults? In almost every case it will be cheaper and make for a happier situation to have multiple rooms.

 

[Jdsomers]

We were down in September (during Irma) and booked a cabin at Fort Wilderness. It allowed for 6 of us, 2 couples and 2 singles, to be in one “room”. We ended up getting moved, but loved the cabin. It was nice to have our own patio and full kitchen in the cabin.

 

[shellyj]

For your first trip together, I would book separate rooms with only couples, siblings, or people who have really known each other a long time sharing rooms, only couples sharing beds. It can be very awkward, and completely miserable, to share living space with people you haven't lived or traveled with before.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I would book separate rooms. I don't share hotel rooms with anyone who doesn't live in my house, for the reasons mentioned above. Plus, if someone backs out, it is on them; no one else gets stuck paying their share.

 

[IndianaRRT]

The Cabins at FW are delightful, and if everyone can communicate with each other well enough to utilize the bathroom well, you should have no issues. It would require one bed being shared, but the other 3 could sleep alone. My other suggestion would be an Art of Animation family suite. You could also rent DVC points and stay in a villa, which would provide plenty of room. Good luck with your planning, and enjoy your trip!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would let everyone book for themselves. If you want to book with another person then you two can book together. I wouldn't take on all of that responsibility. If people back out then you could be left paying a bigger portion or unable to change to a smaller room if people cancel.

 

[starry_solo]

Everyone book their own room for themselves

 

[gillep]

In that situation, I would want to book my own room and just meet up for park time, meals, activities, etc.

 

[DebbieB]

You could look at a family suite, room for 6 plus 2 bathrooms. But only 2 of the 6 would have a real bed. I would look for at least 2 rooms.

 

[RustManFan]

Now that at least some of the Good Neighbor hotels offer the FP and EMH benefits you might want to check them out..... particularly if you anticipate some meals at DS!

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/good-neighbor-hotels/

https://wdwgoodneighborhotels.com/

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Now that at least some of the Good Neighbor hotels offer the FP and EMH benefits you might want to check them out..... particularly if you anticipate some meals at DS!

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/good-neighbor-hotels/

https://wdwgoodneighborhotels.com/

Edit - read your post too fast. Didn't see the "some of the" part.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would not suggest staying in the same room or suite unless you all have traveled together and are comfortable with one another. My family travels as a group and we do share space but we are used to each other. I would never share space on a Disney trip if traveling for the first time with folks. Recipe for disaster.

 

[ElsasFan]

Since you said these are family members you recently connected/reconnected with, I suggest each party (whether that be an individual or couple/group) book their own room. That opens you up to many more choices (the only moderate that comes to my mind that will accommodate 5 adults is Fort Wilderness Cabins). I do not recommend a family suite; it will sleep six adults, but two would share a fold-out couch and two would sleep on a pull down table. Those four would have very little privacy.

 

[Livelovedance]

Thank you everyone! You definitely brought up some great points that I didn't consider. I was thinking about how to save money, but I agree that sharing a living space together could be dangerous! If we room as smaller family groups everyone is bound to be happier. I also didn't consider the possibility of people backing out, which could be a huge financial strain. If we book separately it will also make it possible for people to book packages instead of room-only.

So now I'm back to the drawing board, time to research the moderates again!

 

[starry_solo]

If you do end up going offsite for a house/condo with 3-4 bedrooms, make sure to collect money (cash) upfront and let them know it's non-refundable!

 

[baler31]

Also, please note there is a fee for any Disney resort room (outside of FW cabins or Family suites or DVC condos) occupied by more than 2 adults. I believe at moderates the fee is $20 per night per adult. So $60 per night for your party.

If budget is a major concern you will be much better staying offsite. The good neighbor hotels now get 60 FP and EMH. Those will be much more budget friendly than Disney.

 

[Cactus girl]

If you are looking at the moderates, i would vote for Coronado Springs. I always passed on it For various reasons. We were there two months ago and stayed in one of the renovated rooms. Wow. It felt like a deluxe room for half the price. The dining options were great and the pool was fab. It seemed to have most of the offerings of a deluxe resort—color me impressed. We had our own car so we could park right by our cabana.

 

[Livelovedance]

If you are looking at the moderates, i would vote for Coronado Springs. I always passed on it For various reasons. We were there two months ago and stayed in one of the renovated rooms. Wow. It felt like a deluxe room for half the price. The dining options were great and the pool was fab. It seemed to have most of the offerings of a deluxe resort—color me impressed. We had our own car so we could park right by our cabana.

Wow, thank you! I wasn’t considering it, not because I didn’t like it but because I didn’t know anything about it, and it’s never been recommended to me before. I will definitely add that one to my list of options.