Family of 5 - choices limited

[luvestodizz]

We have 3 kids - 7 8 and 12. AKL and WL don't have regular rooms for our size. I don't really want a value resort and deluxes are too $$.That leaves POR with one kid sleeping on a bench. Doesn't sound too magical when I type it out LOL. I wish the other deluxes allowed 5 without having to upgrade to a deluxe room. I also don't see why WL can allow a 5th in a crib but not a roll away bed. Don't nention fire codes and occupancy because a child under 2 is still a person during an emergency. Don't mean to be a downer but I really want to be onsite but $ wise feel spsqueed out. BTW I have spent one night at POP and the value pools just don't appeal to me.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are a couple other options: the Ft. Wilderness cabins or the suites at All Star Music or Art of Animation. AoA's main pool is reportedly quite an upgrade, you might like it.

But, ultimately, there are three things you might want in a hotel room for a WDW vacation:

1: To be onsite
2: To have a reasonable amount of space
3: To spend a reasonable amount of money.

The problem is, most of the time, you can't have all three. You absolutely require #2, so you will have to decide between #1 and #3. Personally, I'd strongly consider staying offsite with a family of five---and I sometimes do with my family of four so that we can spread out more.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I also don't see why WL can allow a 5th in a crib but not a roll away bed. Don't nention fire codes and occupancy because a child under 2 is still a person during an emergency. Don't mean to be a downer but I really want to be onsite but $ wise feel spsqueed out. BTW I have spent one night at POP and the value pools just don't appeal to me.

If there was a fire, adults would be expected to carry a child under the age of three down the stairs. So no extra feet taking up exit egress space. It's the not space in the room, but the space needed to evacuate the building.

So why not try the CR wing rooms? They are a little less expensive and are pretty big. Or maybe a Fort Wilderness Cabin?

 

[KimK2006]

Yacht Club (and I assume Beach Club and Boardwalk Inn) have a day bed in the rooms and can accomodate 5.

 

[momof3ds]

We are a family of 5 and loved AOA. Both the main pool and the cars pool were very nice.

 

[canadakath]

We stayed in the garden wing of the Contemporary last year with a 5, 7 and 10 year old. My nephew (the 10yo) is large for his age, and was very comfortable on the day bed. The day bed is a normal, twin sized bed - no saggy pull out or mini sized cot. The room was great for the 5 of us.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

How about renting DVC. You could get a one bedroom villa.

 

[Missytara]

I also don't see why WL can allow a 5th in a crib but not a roll away bed. Don't nention fire codes and occupancy because a child under 2 is still a person during an emergency.

It is a child under the age of three that is not considered part of the occupancy count.

They are not included in the count because it is assumed that one adult will carry the child and they will be taking up room in the exit corridor/stair as an older child would who work walk out on their own.

Sorry, but I am an architect and a construction manager and very passionate about safety in buildings.

 

[meredith1]

How about renting DVC. You could get a one bedroom villa.

We just put our request in for the BLT suite with Dave's Vacation Rentals. Look into renting points. It's an awesome deal with the villas and you can still get park tickets and dining package if you want/need them.

 

[meredith1]

We stayed in the garden wing of the Contemporary last year with a 5, 7 and 10 year old. My nephew (the 10yo) is large for his age, and was very comfortable on the day bed. The day bed is a normal, twin sized bed - no saggy pull out or mini sized cot. The room was great for the 5 of us.

I agree with this the rooms are big and the day bed is great! I would have been very happy to sleep on it if I needed to.

 

[mad madam mim78]

I know the bench doesn't sound too magical to you, but to a seven year old to get their own special bed you might be pleasantly surprised. I would go with PoR hands down. I am also a family of five so I feel your pain.

 

[ke3d98]

Try AoA if you want a value

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Actually for children that age Riverside is perfect. We love it there. We don't spend to much time in the room anyway so it's fine for us.

Having said that though, now that our kids have gotten bigger and older we are going to stay at Wyndham Bonnet Creek next time to give it a try. We can rent a 2br suite for $120 a night and have tons more space. It's also right there on Disney property next to CBR. Since we drive to the parks anyway this is no big deal for us.

 

[maxiesmom]

Ok, I have to say it. You say your choices as a family of 5 are limited, but what you really are saying is that the 2 resorts you would like to stay at don't have standard rooms that fit 5. Seems you are pretty limited in where you want to stay, imho.

At WDW as a family of 6 we have done:

2 value rooms (multiple times)
An All Star Family Suite
2 moderate rooms (multiple times)
2 deluxe rooms (multiple times)
rented points for a 2 bedroom villa
As a legal 6 at POR (we had an infant) NOT RECOMMENDED
And Even

Off-Site

I think you need to focus less on where you can't stay, and more on the many ways you can stay on-site. Or maybe you can rent points and stay at the Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge villas. If only one of those resorts will do.

 

[MMS1125]

Ok, I have to say it. You say your choices as a family of 5 are limited, but what you really are saying is that the 2 resorts you would like to stay at don't have standard rooms that fit 5. Seems you are pretty limited in where you want to stay, imho.

I agree with this. The 2 deluxes you mentioned are the only 2 that can't fit 5 in a standard room. The rest have room for 5

POR and FW Cabins are the mods that fit 5 unless you do 2 rooms.

I agree the mod choices are quite limited but we're much happier in 2 rooms than we are 1 room anyways so it's never bothered us

 

[jamala]

We are a family of 5 ---kids 16,14,6 and we have stayed at bc, yc, and gf and bc is our favorite. The daybeds at GF seemed bigger than the ones at bc and yc but my kids all loved them. Wilderness lodge also has some deluxe rooms that fit 5.

 

[nkereina]

It's not really a "bench" at POR. Have you seen it? It's a murphy bed which is just a bed that folds up... regular mattress and bedding. It's definitely not big enough for an adult but the younger kids would be fine on it.

 

[AliceIn]

The AoA suites are much larger than the POR rooms. I looked at POR and there was no way I was going to crowd five of us into that little room and only have a single bathroom. The AoA is really nice. My husband and I loved that we had a room to ourselves, while our 7, 8, and 11 year olds had their own space and bathroom.

 

[metta4]

Hopping on to this if you don't find..this is my first time looking into WDW for a family of 5 and I too am a little disappointed with my choices...

Are Swan or Dolphin an option?

 

[CalicoSky]

It's not really a "bench" at POR. Have you seen it? It's a murphy bed which is just a bed that folds up... regular mattress and bedding. It's definitely not big enough for an adult but the younger kids would be fine on it.

It's also totally cute. If I was young enough I would totally battle a sibling to get to use that bed.

Oh who am I kidding, I wouldn't need to be younger...when I went in February I would've opted for that bed if I was just a couple of feet shorter!