Families of five or more...

[jomommy]

There are 8 of us, 6 kids.

We get two rooms. We've stayed at ASM, POR, and POLY with all the kids.

We are considering renting points for a stay at BLT next summer because we want to stay at CR and renting a 2BR there would be cheaper. Also, we'd like to be able to eat lunch in the room. My kids tire of the fast food choices for lunch and we are usually ready for a break about that time anyway. The ability to do laundry in our room would be a big bonus, too, with six kids.

 

[tarak]

We're a large party, too. Two adults, three kids, and one infant. This lat trip we rented DVC points and stayed in a one BR suite at Kidani village. The room for five nights was $1885. I'm not saying that's cheap, but compared to what we'd pay for two rooms at AKL or a suite, it was a bargain. Once the baby is three, we'll have to go up to a two BR suite. But that's fine with us. We only go once every two years or so as a family, we don't splurge on much of anything else and we rarely vacation. Not having to fly home with dirty clothes was heavenly (I've never used the laundry facilities on property - the last thing I want to do on vacation is schlep out to a laundry room).

 

[maxiesmom]

This baffles me in a lot of ways. What are "big" families to do at disney? We booked POR for October for our family of five. Working the online booking is very hard when you have more than 4 in your family. What are the other options? What happens when DS5 gets too big for the Murphy bed? Are we just forced into getting two rooms? We go to other hotels all the time and have roll away bed options. Is this something WDW just doesn't do? And what deluxe resorts are suited for families of five? And what in the world do people with more than 3 kids do???

We have done:
1 room at POR (least favorite option)
2 connecting value rooms
an all star family suite (favorite option)
2 connecting moderate rooms
2 connecting deluxe rooms
beach club villa
AND
off site

Disney isn't unique in having room occupancy limits. Most every hotel does. The AoA suites were just added last year, so they do keep building more and more places for those larger families to stay.

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

Re: POR murphy bed - stayed there last week for 5 days and my 14 year old daughter slept on the murphy bed! She is 5'4" and her feet were right at the end of the bed. Our family of 5 was fine there - we enjoyed it. Another year we did family suite at ASMu and that was a little more roomy, but more expensive than POR. Your 5 yr-old won't outgrow the murphy bed for a few years at least.

Mollymum I send you a private message, but maybe someone else could use this too here. Was wondering if you have a picture of your daughter on the murphy bed? My 13 y.o is suppose to sleep on one in 50 days, just curious how it is for teenager!

 

[Alisha's mom Sarah]

I booked 2 value rooms rather than a room at Riverside. I have 3 daughters and we could do one room since they are 8,6 and 4 but its worth the extra for a 2nd bathroom.

 

[spiceycat]

The issue we are finding besides being possibly 5 next year, is not only the if 5 are allowed, but we really want two baths ( at least 2 toilets).

It would be DH, DD, DS and my mom. My mom is insisting on her own, private bathroom. Plus probably doesnt want my husband seeing her in her night gown and my DH also sleeps in his whities. so that is an issue.

It's just so expensive getting that extra room for one person. We normally stay at moderates, but AoA family suite is looking like a good thing at the moment.

also 1-bedroom at AKV (Kidani) or BLT - 1-bedroom at these 2 resorts have 2 bathrooms.

you might also consider the All star music suites.

you might go for 2 rooms at a value resort - in your case.

 

[maxiesmom]

I booked 2 value rooms rather than a room at Riverside. I have 3 daughters and we could do one room since they are 8,6 and 4 but its worth the extra for a 2nd bathroom.

If you haven't already, make sure you have a note on your reservation stating that you are requesting connecting rooms. That way they will do their best to put you in 2 rooms that have the inside door between them. Keep in mind it is a request and there always is a small chance you won't get them.

 

[Aliceacc]

One great resource I've recently come across is Six Suitcase Travel. It's all about finding hotel rooms for larger families.
http://sixsuitcasetravel.com/

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Mollymum I send you a private message, but maybe someone else could use this too here. Was wondering if you have a picture of your daughter on the murphy bed? My 13 y.o is suppose to sleep on one in 50 days, just curious how it is for teenager!

If you don't get the answer here, check the POR thread on the resorts boards.

One great resource I've recently come across is Six Suitcase Travel. It's all about finding hotel rooms for larger families.
http://sixsuitcasetravel.com/

Thank you for this! I'm trying to plan a trip to Rome and am having a hard time with hotels. There were several options through this site!

 

[Aliceacc]

You're welcome!! It looks to be a great resource!

I sent you a PM about Rome.

 

[catherines_mama]

Visit the rent / trade board here on DIS and price out renting DVC points from an owner and staying in 1 bdrm villa at DVC resort. We did this and loved it. Your fam 5 will fit great, you'll have a full kitchen to save some $ on a meal or 2 a day. We typically just do breakfast. If you stay at BLT (Bay Lake Tower) or AKV (animal kingdom villas-Kidani) you have a 2n bathroom.

I priced it out and it was less than 2 rooms as POFQ, saved us $$. We fell in love and bought, but we go alot so it made sense. Renting is very easy and if it prices out right can save you money.

 

[amytech]

We have 5 kids, so we have stayed onsite in two rooms, but my kids actually prefer the room in an offsite house with our own pool and hot tub. We still usually eat out most nights for dinner, but even having breakfast and some lunches from groceries at the house saves us money.

We find it more stressful to be cramped in hotel rooms with our 5 kids than being offsite. So the savings in dollars is a bonus!

We have looked into renting points for a 2 bedrooms unit at AKV but having kids sleeping on the pullout in the living room didn't appeal as much as the space of the house either. Everyone does what works for them!

My kids prefer this too! They love the privacy of our own private pool and hot tub, more room to spread out, etc. And doing our own breakfasts and lunches has saved us a ton of money since with 4 kids (all teens/adults and 3 of them are boys!) the food costs at Disney simply KILLS our budget. We always gets snacks onsite to supplement our lunches and they are happy with that