Disney expert room advice please

[OHIOVACATIONER]

We are planning Disney for 4 nights next Apr/May. There will be 4 adults and 2 children (2yr and 4yr). Wouldnt mind staying at one of the disney themed resorts thinking the kids would enjoy it. Most of the values do not have suites nor do most have more than double beds. Would consider going Mod or Deluxe especially if a PIN code comes out. I would like reserve 2-1 BR suites since the kids will be in bed earlier then us then we would have a living area and also a kitchen and a balcony to sit and enjoy the views.

Other thoughts are best resorts with nice kid themed pools and maybe boat launch. Planning on a few parks but the main one will probably be MK.

Since there are so many repeat disney fans on here I thought this would be a good place to start. Please help and give suggetions on values, mods, and deluxe. thank you.

 

[deegack]

Look at art of animation. They have a separate master. Also the villas would work but they aren't as heavily Disney themed.

 

[WsPrincess]

If you are thinking Disney theming then the Value Suites like the new Art of Animation suites or the family suites at All Star would be your best bed. The other 1-2 bedroom options are the DVC Villas but like the Deluxe resorts they are not super strong on the Disney theme. They are more subtle theming instead of the icon stuff.

 

[MMS1125]

Your cheapest bet for for a 2br villa if you want separate rooms and a kitchen is to rent DVC points otherwise you can rent through Disney but it's a lot more pricey. There's a good bit of info on the DVC section about how to go about that.

I personally would probably choose a 2br villa at Wilderness Lodge but I'm sure more would tell you to pick Bay Lake Tower. I like the rustic feel of WL over CR personally but it is hard to beat walking to MK

 

[minnie mum]

If you want a balcony and a kitchen and don't want double beds, then you will need one of the DVC villas, not a resort suite. With 6 people, I don't think you would need 2 separate suites- take a look at the 2 bedrooms villas and see if they would suit you.

 

[fla4fun]

If one of the six is under 3 (and it looks like one is only 2) then you would be able to stay at any resort that holds five. There are rooms at POR that hold five, but it is all one room. There aren't any value rooms that hold five or more unless you go to a suite - which would be more expensive than the POR room. You could also consider a FW cabin (although that wouldn't be my first choice with either two strollers or a double - too much getting on and off buses). You would have to go for a two bedroom DVC villa if you paid cash, but if you rented points you could book a one bedroom at BLT or AKV that hold five (last time I checked, the system wouldn't let a cash reservation for five book a one bedroom) and by renting points, you would pay a lot less as well.

One thing to consider about the value suites - the kids sleeping areas are out in the main living space. So if you are wanting space to relax after the kids go to bed, that may not be the best choice. For this scenario, your best bet is either the 2 bedroom villa or the FW cabin.

So, depending on your budget, there are a lot of choices. I would start by making a list of what you want out of your resort - that will eliminate a lot of them, and then pick by theme or location from your short list.

 

[sharadoc]

i may have missed it but what are the sleeping arrangements? who do the kids belong to?

One 2br villa would be ideal for two families to share living and kitchen space but separate sleeping AND bathroom areas. for a week that could run $400-$500 a night with a discount depending on the season. wl is less expensive than BLT if you want to concentrate on MK.

The cabins at Fort Wilderness are fantastic and a lovely peaceful place to stay. One bedroom and one bathroom could be a little tough ig the adults are not close friends or relatives LOL. But it's a great place to stay and the pool has a nice kiddie splash area. full kitchen there too and a deck gives another hang-out spot.

Art of Animation can work depending on sleeping arrangements. That living room seems awful tight for 4 adults though.


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[MMS1125]

You would have to go for a two bedroom DVC villa if you paid cash, but if you rented points you could book a one bedroom at BLT or AKV that hold five (last time I checked, the system wouldn't let a cash reservation for five book a one bedroom) and by renting points, you would pay a lot less as well.

AKV, OKW, and BLT will let you book 5 paying cash through Disney. AKV-Kidani and BLT have 2 bathrooms in the 1BR

Those 3 along with BCV, BWV, SSR and VWL will let you book 5 in a 1BR if you are renting points.

 

[kddisney502]

There's some good information here about rooms for 5 or more:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/groups/

POR isn't listed because, it's really 4 plus one child or small adult. The child/small adult has to fit on a smaller sized murphy bed. You could fit 6 if you used the murphy bed for the 4yr old and put the 2 yr old in the pack & play. But it could be a tight fit.

 

[*Fantasia*]

It's not a villa... but it's the most economical and very heavily themed "Disney in your face".. larger than life icons.. which will give everyone a real bed instead of sleeping on a sofa bed or Murphy bed.. 2 regular rooms in LM section at AoA or 2 rooms at ASMovies.

Con: You can request for connecting rooms, but it is not a guarantee that you will be granted. Disney will do their best to get you a connecting room.

 

[fla4fun]

AKV, OKW, and BLT will let you book 5 paying cash through Disney. AKV-Kidani and BLT have 2 bathrooms in the 1BR

Those 3 along with BCV, BWV, SSR and VWL will let you book 5 in a 1BR if you are renting points.

That is good to know. Last time I checked, it wouldn't let me, but that was right after BLT opened. I think BLT and AKV-K are great choices for five, especially with the second full bathroom. I loved the one bedroom at BLT that I stayed in. It was one of the "outside" villas and it felt HUGE!

But you still run into the same issue of the kids sleeping in the living room, and not being able to enjoy the space once they have settled for the night - which the OP said they wanted to do. The only way around that is either with the cabin or two bedroom villa, where the child sleeping area would be separate. Unless the kids are really sound sleepers so you could put them down in the master bedroom and move them when you were ready to go to bed - that might work.

That's one thing I thought was very odd about how the new AOA suites are laid out. The idea is great, but for adults who want to stay up after the kids go to bed, there really isn't a lot of space for doing so without being confined to the bedroom area. It would have been nice to have a door to the living room as well as the bedroom, so you could put the kids down on the pull down table bed, and go in the living room area and watch tv with the door shut so they weren't disturbed. Since the kitchenette is also in the living room, you would have your adult beverages and snacks handy. It seems like such a small thing, but it makes a big difference.

 

[TJDisneymama]

One thing to consider about the value suites - the kids sleeping areas are out in the main living space. So if you are wanting space to relax after the kids go to bed, that may not be the best choice.
.

not necessarily - we've *always* stayed at suites (including non-disney), even when we only had 1 child, because we like the separate sleeping area. We always have the kid(s) sleep in the bedroom, and we stay out in the living area. I am never comfortable leaving small children out in the living area with the door to the exterior. Maybe when they're older (like teens). But for now, kids always go in the bedroom.