Family 0f 5

[deniso65]

What would be an appropriate resort for a family of 5.
2 teens and a 12 year old.
Planning on going Feb. 7/09 -Feb. 21/09
What's the weather like then?
Planning on seeing Universal Studios and Sea World as well.
A couple days of rest would certainly be on the agenda.

Any info would be appreciated.
Thanx in advance!

 

[dburg30]

It all depends. 5 will require you to make sure you get the right room at certain resorts. Are you using the room / resort as just a place to sleep and get cleaned up or will you 'use' the resort? Do you like the outdoors? If so I would consider the cabins at fort wilderness. Plus that has a full kitchen also.

A little more about what you are looking for out of a room(s) will give people a better chance to suggest things..

 

[ElizabethB]

You can stay at any deluxe resort other than Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge with five. I'd suggest Beach Club. We just returned from there and really enjoyed it. The Storm-a-long Bay sand bottom pool was great. You teens would enjoy it. It's also very close to Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, the Boardwalk and lots of great dining options.

Five can also stay in one room at Port Orleans Riverside, with one on a trundle bed, so the 12-year-old can't be too big for a trundle.

You can get a Family Suite at All Star Music, which has two rooms, two baths, a kitchenette, and sleeps 6.

A Wilderness Cabin will sleep 6. You have a full kitchen, but the transportation is very inconvenient, IMO.

You can have five at the Swan/Dolphin with one on a rollaway. It would be tight quarters (but not as tight as Port Orleans), plus Swan/Dolphin has a great pool and very good on-site location (Port Orleans is not nearly as well located).

You can rent two rooms at any resort and ask for them to be connecting, although there is no guarantees they'll be connecting.

If you want to share one room and be close to Magic Kingdom, consider the Contemporary Resort. It has very large, comfortable rooms. (It was built years ago, before WDW tried to save on construction costs by making rooms tiny.) Also, it has the lake with water sports, including small individually driven boats, parasailing, jet skis (the twelve-year-old can do the boats if he/she is tall enough, but has to parasail and jet ski with an adult. Not sure about the other teens.) You can walk to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary.

You can also put 5 in a one bedroom villa at Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you do, two of the kids will have to share a sofa bed. But, you'll have two rooms, a full kitchen and a washer/dryer.

These are a few ideas. Good luck with your planning.

 

[toystorymom]

We are a family of 5 and just got back a few days ago. This trip we had 2 connecting rooms at POP. It was affordable and the extra space was great. We had 2 tables, 2 tvs, 2 bathrooms, 2 sinks, 4 beds, plenty of space. We would definitely do this again. Last time we stayed at POR which is a beautiful resort. With your youngest being 12, you may be cramped in one room there though.

 

[myladyisatramp]

I would weigh the cost of 2 rooms v/s booking a DVC 2 bedroom. At least you have a place to sit and relax (not on a bed) We are a family of 5 my youngest is 21 going in Nov I got a quote for 2 rooms then I looked into DVC, renting points from someone on this board (bottom has a DVC link to rent). I checked out the person I was going to rent from to make sure they infact did own DVC. I got a 2 bedroom at Boardwalk for a great price Sun - Thurs 1/2 of what Disney rate is. He has been wonderful put us in for the dining plan answers any questions I have we email back and forth all the time .So check all your options before you book.Look at what parks you will be spending time in, for me BWV works as my crew is older they can walk the boardwalk at night, DS is right there as is Epcot, area with lots to do.

 

[portocall]

We are a family of 5 too planning to go in 2009/2010 and this is what I have found for staying on property (a must in my book).

In the Deluxe cat, Poly and Grand Floridian, a standard view can accomodate 5, 2 queens and a daybed. The others require the deluxe accomodations that include club level and up the price an extra $200 per night.

Mods, Port Orleans Riverside has a trundle, but if the youngest is tall, might be a problem and the rooms are small so a tight fit. (My family is going with this one). Someone said that you might be able to get a rollaway, and could bring an airbed.
Coronado Springs do have suites, but it doubles the price ($3000 vs. $6000 for a 6 night 7day package with tickets with park hopper and waterpark option) All prices I am quoting are for summer season only, since I work at a school it is the best time for us to go.
Fort Wilderness Cabins are another option. They are a little pricier than Port Orleans, but may be worth it for you.

Value: You can get a family suite at All Star Music, a little more than Riverside. Or two rooms at a value for a couple hundred more but the added bathroom may be worth it.

Of course, the villas- Animal Kingdom Villas have one bedrooms that fit 5, the others I looked at made us get a 2 bedroom. (And I didn't look at all of them, just Wilderness Lodge, Saratoga Springs)

And if your family is into it, there is camping at Fort Wilderness. My family enjoys camping, but it isn't for us on this vacation.


Then there is off property, however, since I didn't want to do that, I didn't even look.

Whatever you decide, happy planning

 

[Mickey Fliers]

In the Deluxe cat, Poly and Grand Floridian, a standard view can accomodate 5, 2 queens and a daybed. The others require the deluxe accomodations that include club level and up the price an extra $200 per night.

Actually, this isn't true. All of the deluxe resorts (except for WL and AKL) can sleep a family of five. You do not have to book Club/Concierge level to have these accomodations. GF, Poly, CR, BC, YC, BWI all have a 2 Queens + daybed sleeping arrangements.

You also have the option of Ft. Wilderness Cabins, Deluxe Room at WL, POR, AS Family Suites, or 2 connecting rooms at a value or mod.

Best of luck.

 

[francie57]

We just got back on Thurs. We had five in our group with three being 27, 25 and 22. We had a two bedroom villa at the Boardwalk and have stayed there many times in the past. We like having the kitchen for making quick breakfast and having the washer/dryer in the room. We love the convenience of being able to walk to Disney Studios and Epcot. We have many years ago stayed at the Poly. and Contemporary with five but the kids were younger so it was fine. We like the villas for the extra space and the second bathroom. Guess it depends on how much space you want and how much you want to spend on the room

 

[minnie61650]

The Family Suites start at $184 a night duing value season.
Most of the Disney resorts (excluding DVC) charge extra for more than 2 adults in a room.
The Family Suites do not charge extra for extra adults.
1-6 adults can stay in the Family Suites for the same et price.
The Family Suites have discounts available also so if you keep your eyes open you just may snag a great deal.

---------------------------------------------

Family Suite info:

DH and I stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music ( a value resort) in Sept. of 2006.

We really enjoyed the Queen size bed, the kitchenette with the microwave, having a sofa and cushioned chair to sit on and relax after a day at the parks before retiring for the evening.

I thought the pullouts very comfortable.

They are designed so the back cushion and seat cushion of the pullout support the pullout. There is no metal bar to hurt the sleepers back.

Info thread--Pullouts in Family Suites at ASMU with photos of how the pullout is supported.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18100990#post18100990

Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

They:

-Sleep up to 6 (plus one child under age 3 in a Pak-n-Play crib)
-Studio amenities and separate sleeping areas giving more privacy than a standard room.
-Queen bed, full-size pullout sofa, convertible ottoman & chair sleepers
The pullout chair and large ottoman each pull out into standard size twin beds.
(4 separate sleepers)
-Private master bedroom and family room have 27” flat CRT TV and high speed Internet access.
-Kitchenette with microwave, small refrigerator (4.3 cu. ft) and coffee pot
-Two-full bathrooms


Here is my review of the Suites:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17640774&postcount=7

For more photos and info please see this info thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392879

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Value: You can get a family suite at All Star Music, a little more than Riverside. Or two rooms at a value for a couple hundred more but the added bathroom may be worth it.:

Actually, getting two connecting rooms at a value is the least expensive way to stay. I looked at the All-Star Family Suites for our upcoming December trip and I believe that they were $184.00 per night. We got TWO connecting rooms at All-Star Movies for $164.00 per night. So I'm actually paying $20.00 less per night for the extra bathroom and the extra bed - so now my MIL can join us (of course, that's a whole other story that I won't go into! lol!)

 

[minnie61650]

Just an FYI


For comparison, the price of a Family Suite is about $20 more then 2 Standard Rooms, or about the same price as 2 Preferred Rooms.

Also a fridge is included in AS Suite.

Fridges cost $10 a night to rent when staying at a value .
The Family Suites are located in the Calypso and Jazz buildings.
Those buildings are the nearest to the main pool, food court and bus stop which means less walking!

Don't forget the Queen size bed, a coffee pot and microwave are also included in the Family Suites.


Have fun at Disney!

 

[DisneyCapers]

I also have a family of 5. Last August we stayed at POR and we really enjoyed it. We had a pool located just outside our room. We are planning another trip in August 09. Is POR the least expensive accomodations, onsite, for us?

 

[portocall]

Mickey's Fliers, that is good to know, I looked at WL (which I reallly wanted to stay at) AKL, Poly, and GF, and stopped there. I should have said that better.

 

[eeyorepixie]

I was just crunching numbers because I want to book bounceback for 2009 for my family. The cheapest I can see is POR, wanted to do the deluxe standard but that doubles the cost. Which defeats the whole purpose of free dining for me. I am going to investigate DVC points. It is hard when you have a family of 5 to stay on Disney and stay on Budget.

I am concidering booking 10 days POR and 4 at Poly. Not all deluxes standard rooms fit 5 and if they do they are double the cost!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Mickey's Fliers, that is good to know, I looked at WL (which I reallly wanted to stay at) AKL, Poly, and GF, and stopped there. I should have said that better.

No worries. You can still get a Jr. Suite at the WL, but that is very expensive. Or, you can try and rent DVC points. Have fun!

I am concidering booking 10 days POR and 4 at Poly. Not all deluxes standard rooms fit 5 and if they do they are double the cost!

Split stays are a great option. The only Deluxe resorts that DON'T sleep 5 are WL and AKL. Every other Deluxe resorts can sleep 5 in their Standard rooms.

BTW, being a family of 5 (almost 6 ) is what pushed us to purchase DVC .