Experiences with family of 5?

[saraheliz]

As we start to ponder our next Disney trip for 2021, it will be our first with a family of 5 and while I've been busy exploring options I'd love some personal experiences about what has worked best for YOUR family or traveling group.

Background: Last full family trip was in 2012 when my oldest two were a month shy of 5 and 3. We stayed at POR and loved it, kids slept great etc but it was kind of a PITA to get the 3 year old to bed since someone had to hang out in the room silently until the girls fell asleep, which took awhile for 3 year old even when she was exhausted. Last year I took a girls trip with them and they were 10 and 8 and we loved AoA, but obviously all crashed at the same time, etc.

Next trip will be myself, DH, DDs will be 14ish and 12ish, and DS will be 5. Trying to figure out the best strategy. This may be our only "full family" trip as we've got some other vacation plans on the horizon. We want to stay onsite. I know my DH would love to have two separate rooms after last visit, and obviously I'd love the extra space, too...but I'd also love to try an Epcot resort and a 2 bedroom won't be in the budget.

In your experience, is it too crowded to have a family of 5 in one room? AKL 1 bedroom on DVC points seems like a good option but it would be really nice to have a transportation choice other than the bus. Splurge and try to get BLT 1 bedroom on points? Suck it up and get a studio or regular deluxe room? 2 rooms at a moderate is also a possibility...then everyone would have their own sleeping surface? Not sure we need a kitchen in DVC but we may use it a little bit. I'd love to hear others thoughts/personal experiences as we navigate new territory....I want to make sure the experience is pleasant for all involved.

 

[SJSloan]

We were a family of 5 for many trips, and now a family of 6 but since our little one is under 2 we can still fit in rooms that fit 5. While we haven't stayed at any deluxe resorts, we have stayed in a room at POR and CBR with the murphy beds, and a family suite at All-Star Music. The ONLY think I liked about the family suite was having 2 bathrooms, but the rest was awful. I know that's not on your list but I wouldn't recommend anyone stay there until they are refurbished.

I would just ask myself "how much time will we be in the room?" Are you a family that is at rope drop and closes the park, maybe with a pool break in the middle? Or do you sleep in some days or leave the park early other days to go back to the room and relax? If you plan to spend a decent amount of time in the room I would suggest a 1BR somewhere. If you won't be in the room much and it's basically a place to sleep and take a shower then I would think a deluxe room that fits 5 would be fine.

 

[kbender295]

We are staying in 9 days at Fort Wilderness. It wasn't my first choice but it was affordable for me and my party of 5 and gave my husband and I (although with my youngest) some privacy in the bedroom with bunk beds. It only has one bath but has a full kitchen. We plan to be able to grab breakfast in the morning and snacks when wanted in the room. The one bath is a drawback but I'm sure I can juggle and shower at night along with my youngest. Traveling with us also is older daughter and her boyfriend. The older ones will sleep on the pull out couch. I know another con is that because FW is so large, transportation can be an issue. We are hoping that we will get a cabin near the Outpost so we can minimize waiting for transportation.

There are lots of things to do at FW and being able to ride the boat to the Contemporary to hop on the monorail or to Magic Kingdom is fun. Being in forest like setting also offers a different Disney experience.

Just a thought. I'm sure no matter what you select with be wonderful!

 

[lmhall2000]

I would stay at AoA in a Cars room or Lion King..we are a family of 5 and going next week- but our kids are very close in age. When they were all young, we enjoyed Monorail resorts, then tried POR, OKW, and while we liked the extra bedroom, we were rarely in the room long enough to sleep.
We will be at BC this time and each only packs a backpack- the key is organizing all your items so the one room can stay orderly. We hang a backpack in the closet and all dirty clothes immediately go in there and we have a system with the bathrooms.
Ours are 20, 21, 23 and we still love having one room because we love talking before crashing.
But, your five year old would love the theming and so would your older ones at AofA, the only others I would consider would be BC for the big pool area.

 

[SharonZ]

Just remember that there is no guarantee of getting connecting rooms, and if you are considering renting points make sure that you do your research on their policies. Most point rentals can't be changed, you usually pay the amount in full at booking and most are non-refundable.

 

[saraheliz]

Thanks for the input. My head is spinning trying to figure out pros and cons of each. It's a total bummer that the thing I want to do (stay in a 1 bedroom villa at WL) isn't even an option because there are 5 of us. I just can't figure out where to spend my money- extra space, better resort/location/transportation? So many variables!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Extra space. Absolutely extra space.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We stayed at the BC quite a few times with our family of five and managed just fine. Its Disney and the kids were happy to be there. Our 6 ft 5 inch tall son didn't even complain about sleeping on the daybed.

 

[Brett Wyman]

If you have a solid idea of when you are going you should really look into renting DVC points. Its the only way to go for larger rooms.

 

[Monykalyn]

Also a family of 5.
When all the kids traveled with us we have stayed at CBR (doable, but tight), Beach club (still tight but much better, especially with older kids and a balcony) and offsite at our 2 bed, 2 bath condo. Last summer was the Cabins at Fort Wilderness-yeah one bathroom-but our loop and location we were very close to a comfort station and a pool (which had bathrooms)-but we never needed to run to a bathroom outside the cabin. I really liked the cabins for the space; we had a golf cart which made the experience fun. we had 4 of us in a Saratoga Springs studio (never again) and 3 of us in a AKL studio (3 was fine, more than that-no).
We like the onsite experience, but we really like the space our offsite timeshare condo gives us (We usually stay at a Marriott vacation club resort)

My kids liked the Beach club and cabins the best, I liked the space of the cabins for onsite.

 

[saraheliz]

We stayed at the BC quite a few times with our family of five and managed just fine. Its Disney and the kids were happy to be there. Our 6 ft 5 inch tall son didn't even complain about sleeping on the daybed.

I'm not worried about complaining....I'm more worried about sleeping with all of us so close together and getting the little guy down to bed. Once he's asleep I imagine he'll be dead to the world like my girls have always been at Disney.

 

[quandrea]

If you have a solid idea of when you are going you should really look into renting DVC points. Its the only way to go for larger rooms.

I found a one bedroom today at Old Key West for much less than renting points. So check with central reservations first. One thousand dollars cheaper. This was for late August. That way you get the better cancellation policy. Check out Old Key West. It’s newly renovated and really lovely now. Tons of space.

I’d absolutely go for more space.

 

[KellDy]

We haven't stayed on site since becoming a family of 6, plus we usually have a few other family members join us on our trips. We rent a condo at Windor Palms. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, full kitchen, washer/dryer, private splash pool. This Oct there will be 9 of us the price was $95/night! We wouldn't be able to afford to take this trip if we stayed on proprerty. Yes you loose some of the magic, but we are doing one night on property (3 value rooms) to get EMH for 2 days and magic bands.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I found a one bedroom today at Old Key West for much less than renting points. So check with central reservations first. One thousand dollars cheaper. This was for late August. That way you get the better cancellation policy. Check out Old Key West. It’s newly renovated and really lovely now. Tons of space.

I’d absolutely go for more space.

A week at Old Key West in August for a 1 bedroom is $3383. If you got it for $2383 that's an awesome deal.

 

[quandrea]

A week at Old Key West in August for a 1 bedroom is $3383. If you got it for $2383 that's an awesome deal.

I never booked it, but yes, it was s good deal.

 

[Rach3975]

We've been to Disney twice as a family of 5. First trip the kids were 7, 10, and 12 and we stayed in a Cars Family Suite at AoA. Second trip they were 9, 13, and 15 and we stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music. We loved both! AoA was nicer and the theming was amazing, but it's more expensive than ASMu and has fewer sleeping surfaces. (At ASMu the kids didn't have to share a bed.) If we make a 3rd trip as a family of 5, we'll probably go for the ASMu suites again.

Personally, we wouldn't consider going on a trip this long (around 6 nights for us) without 2 rooms. Since connecting rooms aren't guaranteed, we stick to the suites. We find that putting the extra money toward having 2 rooms improves our trips (at Disney and elsewhere) more than spending the money on a nicer one room hotel room. YMMV, especially if the extra cost gets you into a resort that's walkable to the parks. Having the second room gives me and DH a chance to relax together without sitting quietly in the dark every night, gives us a place to take DS if he's up early or needs some time alone (sleep disorder and on the autism spectrum), and allows everyone to sleep better.

 

[MomOTwins]

We've always slept 5 in one regular room. Kids are so wiped out after a day in the parks they nod off in all of two seconds once their head hits the pillow. I typically had to work on vacay, so I would take my laptop to the lobby while DH read a book on his backlit kindle in the room.

 

[Marionnette]

As we start to ponder our next Disney trip for 2021, it will be our first with a family of 5 and while I've been busy exploring options I'd love some personal experiences about what has worked best for YOUR family or traveling group.

Background: Last full family trip was in 2012 when my oldest two were a month shy of 5 and 3. We stayed at POR and loved it, kids slept great etc but it was kind of a PITA to get the 3 year old to bed since someone had to hang out in the room silently until the girls fell asleep, which took awhile for 3 year old even when she was exhausted. Last year I took a girls trip with them and they were 10 and 8 and we loved AoA, but obviously all crashed at the same time, etc.

Next trip will be myself, DH, DDs will be 14ish and 12ish, and DS will be 5. Trying to figure out the best strategy. This may be our only "full family" trip as we've got some other vacation plans on the horizon. We want to stay onsite. I know my DH would love to have two separate rooms after last visit, and obviously I'd love the extra space, too...but I'd also love to try an Epcot resort and a 2 bedroom won't be in the budget.

In your experience, is it too crowded to have a family of 5 in one room? AKL 1 bedroom on DVC points seems like a good option but it would be really nice to have a transportation choice other than the bus. Splurge and try to get BLT 1 bedroom on points? Suck it up and get a studio or regular deluxe room? 2 rooms at a moderate is also a possibility...then everyone would have their own sleeping surface? Not sure we need a kitchen in DVC but we may use it a little bit. I'd love to hear others thoughts/personal experiences as we navigate new territory....I want to make sure the experience is pleasant for all involved.

We’re a family of 5 and the lack of affordable options was what pushed us to purchase DVC. I got tired of sharing one bathroom, listening to kids kvetch about not wanting to share a bed, and trying to sleep with more bodies than a college dorm room.

There’s no way that I would try to squeeze into a single room with two teenage girls and one bathroom.

An AKV Kidani 1BR would give you 2 bathrooms and a sleep surface for everyone. Note: Value Views at AKV are located in Jambo House and do not have the 2nd bathroom. They are also relatively few in number and difficult to book.

BLT also has a second bathroom in the 1BR villas. But again, do not expect to be able to rent a Standard View. They tend to get booked up early by people who own at BLT. Figure on a Lake View.

If the DVC villas are beyond your budget, then go for a Family Suite at either POP or AoA. The kitchenette will be a bonus and, of course, having two bathrooms will be a blessing.

 

[saraheliz]

We've been to Disney twice as a family of 5. First trip the kids were 7, 10, and 12 and we stayed in a Cars Family Suite at AoA. Second trip they were 9, 13, and 15 and we stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music. We loved both! AoA was nicer and the theming was amazing, but it's more expensive than ASMu and has fewer sleeping surfaces. (At ASMu the kids didn't have to share a bed.) If we make a 3rd trip as a family of 5, we'll probably go for the ASMu suites again.

Personally, we wouldn't consider going on a trip this long (around 6 nights for us) without 2 rooms. Since connecting rooms aren't guaranteed, we stick to the suites. We find that putting the extra money toward having 2 rooms improves our trips (at Disney and elsewhere) more than spending the money on a nicer one room hotel room. YMMV, especially if the extra cost gets you into a resort that's walkable to the parks. Having the second room gives me and DH a chance to relax together without sitting quietly in the dark every night, gives us a place to take DS if he's up early or needs some time alone (sleep disorder and on the autism spectrum), and allows everyone to sleep better.

Thanks for your input on those two. We stayed at AoA last time and one of my daughters is begging to stay there for our next trip in the Lion King suites. I haven't ruled it out, but since this might be it for full family trips, I'm trying to decide if we splurge and go deluxe this time. Although, we were all perfectly happy at AoA in the LM rooms so I'm sure we'd love it there.

 

[blewits]

Thanks for your input on those two. We stayed at AoA last time and one of my daughters is begging to stay there for our next trip in the Lion King suites. I haven't ruled it out, but since this might be it for full family trips, I'm trying to decide if we splurge and go deluxe this time. Although, we were all perfectly happy at AoA in the LM rooms so I'm sure we'd love it there.

Also don’t forget, the Skyliner is at AoA too. Greatly helps on travel time. Also, 2 bathrooms in those family suites. That’s YUGE in my mind.