Family of 5 in a value/moderate?

[olliesmom]

We are planning a trip for next fall/winter for what will be a family of five (two adults, two children ages 4 and 7, one infant 6 months old at the time of travel). We had initially booked a deluxe (BC) stay with a bounceback offer, but are realizing that we could extend our stay to 10 nights and take things slower if we switched to a value or possibly a moderate.

Because of the infant's age, we would technically still be able to book a standard value or moderate room and sleep two in each bed with a pack and play. From a savings perspective, this makes sense! But I'm wondering if it might be too tight a fit with a double stroller, pack and play plus five humans.

Has anyone done this and has thoughts as to how manageable it felt? I'm also possibly considering booking at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and/or renting DVC points, but those booking windows haven't opened yet.

 

[fla4fun]

We are planning a trip for next fall/winter for what will be a family of five (two adults, two children ages 4 and 7, one infant 6 months old at the time of travel). We had initially booked a deluxe (BC) stay with a bounceback offer, but are realizing that we could extend our stay to 10 nights and take things slower if we switched to a value or possibly a moderate.

Because of the infant's age, we would technically still be able to book a standard value or moderate room and sleep two in each bed with a pack and play. From a savings perspective, this makes sense! But I'm wondering if it might be too tight a fit with a double stroller, pack and play plus five humans.

Has anyone done this and has thoughts as to how manageable it felt? I'm also possibly considering booking at Wyndham Bonnet Creek and/or renting DVC points, but those booking windows haven't opened yet.

While you could squeeze everything into a value room, I think you would prefer a moderate room for the extra space. Value rooms have an average of around 260 square feet and moderates average around 314 square feet. CSR tower rooms rival deluxe rooms in size, coming in around 375 square feet (con: more expensive than other mods) and CBR has the second largest at around 340 square feet (con: no elevator to second floor rooms).

If you really want to save the money though, a value resort can work. Store your luggage under the bed, fold the stroller and put it against the wall just outside the bathroom area, and put the pack and play near the window. It will be tight, but it will work. I would recommend that the adults sleep on the Murphy bed, as it has the mattress set inside a framework that kids could get hurt on if they are not careful. I have hit my shins on it often enough myself . . .

 

[mort1331]

or try renting points and still stay at BC or BWV

 

[gottalovepluto]

Don’t forget to price Swolphin. Sometimes it can be a happy medium between Deluxe and Mod.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Family of 5 here - did you look at the AoA 1BR/2BA family suites? My family loves those. Our go-to was POR (great pool and QS, SOOO quiet!), but we stayed at AoA in a family suite one trip - moved from CBR which we hated (infernal busses and it was dated). After staying in a AoA suite we just could not go back to a studio, so we bought DVC. Your family is young enough that the studio will probably work just fine though.

You did not say which Deluxe, but I will caution against as they are REALLY expensive and the QS are much better at the Values and Mods. If you want to eat at expensive sit-down places then Deluxe will be a better choice, but you are really paying for the theming. No doubt it's great, but it's just one part of the vacation. Pools are better at the mods (they have slides and are less crowded).

 

[elmwyn]

We did five at Pop Century with a 7 month old and it was fine? Caveat, said seven month old was totally cool taking stroller naps so we didn't have to take too many nap breaks back at the hotel.

Pack 'n play fit where the connecting room door is placed so there was still a clear path. Kept the stroller folded as much as possible. It was easy to throw up the second bed if the older kids wanted more room. I actually preferred the set up more than our stay at Universal's Royal Pacific, even though that's a larger room they stuff that extra space with more/bigger furniture.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

We stayed at POP before the murphy bed was added, but instead of the bigger pack and play we had a bedside bassinet and that worked great and took up less room. Now that they have the murphy bed, it really opens up the room when you put it back into the wall. Our family had/has no issues with smaller rooms and we kept our stroller open just inside the door by the window, and we used it to store our park bags etc. so it was already to go for the next day. Also, during this stay it was more like 4 adults and an infant and we had a great stay

 

[Babsy]

As others have said, it can be done. However, it will be a snug fit and much will depend upon how your children will be all together in one fairly small room. You are the best judge of that. My family of four could manage when my children were young, but I personally would have found a baby as well difficult to manage in a value sized room. You would have more space (314 sq ft) in a moderate for somewhere close to double the cost of the value (260 sq ft). As someone else mentioned, CBR have slightly larger rooms at 340 sq ft, and it is on the Skyliner, but it is very spread out. I would look for a preferred room if staying there (more $$$) or at POR. POP and AoA are also value resorts and are on the skyline.

Another option is the All Star Music family suites (520 sq ft). That gives you two rooms to spread out and a place for nap time in the day, if needed, while the rest of the family uses in a separate area. To give some idea of comparison costs I priced a few random days next November: The moderates were about $335 per night and the ASMu rooms were priced at about $169 - $211 per night, while the suites were $389 per night. These prices were rack rate and may go up depending upon when you go, but also may qualify for a discount and thus be lower, especially if you are flexible with dates. The suite gives you one reg queen bed and two pull down queen beds, two bathrooms. During the same time frame the Dolphin had rates around $330 per night. (I even saw one night listed at $298 for the night at the Dolphin). Rates are room only.

FWIW in your situation I would opt for the ASMu family suite if the budget works. For WDW it is a fairly good value. Our children enjoyed the All Star resorts when they were young, having two rooms with the family is really nice and the bus to the MK brings you straight to the MK bus stop by the MK entrance. With young children you will likely be going to the MK often. The downside is that All stars do only have bus transportation and are the furthest away from the MK. OTOH, The Dolphin MK bus only brings you to the TTC, where you then have to board a ferry or monorail to get to the MK entrance.

Renting DVC points when the window opens is a good option as well. When you know your dates and preferred location, you can use a website like David's or go to the Rent/Transfer forum here to rent points. The disadvantage of this option is the inability to change or cancel. But it is staying in a deluxe resort for a significantly lower price point.

Since you have a BB offer, I assume that you have been to WDW before and will have some idea of what you like and how you like to vacation in WDW which is important.

Have fun!

 

[DeeBee3]

To add to the above, I would just gauge how everyone sleeps at night. As an adult, I am a light sleeper. Ever since my kids were born I do not sleep well. They all sleep well - ha. When we go on vacation, we are in a studio together, but I am not sleeping very well. I wear earplugs.

 

[Djm_in_buffalo]

I hear that for value-to-size, the studios at OKW can’t be beat. Comes with two normal queen-sized beds. Won’t exactly be spacious with a pack n play, but can certainly be done. If current pricing is loosely indicative, looks like the DVC rental websites go for +/-$300 a night, inclusive of tax. Guessing one of the fine folks here could rent points competitively. I had the pleasure of renting Frank’s for earlier this year.

Alternatively, if it was me, I’d eye the Swan but not Dolphin. Swan comes with 2 queen beds but Dolphin is 2 doubles. Those extra few inches at night seem to help a lot!!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[hertamaniac]

I'm a huge fan of renting DVC points and have done pre-booked reservations quite a few times over the years. That being said, I would highly consider the 1BR villa at OKW. The villa has plenty of room and the full kitchen is wonderful for breakfasts, snacks, etc. (this is where we saved $$$). And the television setup is great for an entire family to watch during downtime(s).

We only rent 2BR villas at OKW and know they had a full-sized washer/dryer room; I presume it is the same for the 1BR.

 

[sponica]

As far as fitting a double stroller and a pack and play, I only did that in a Poly room (resort side). That was gloriously spacious.

Honestly I'd be inclined to stay in BC if it sleeps 5 because then the kids don't have to bed share, mine are TERRIBLE at sharing a bed so I only look at rooms that sleep 5.

If I was going to go down to a moderate, I'd probably book a preferred room at POR because those are in Alligator Bayou and have 5th sleepers, and I think the pack n play will fit in front of the sink in the bathroom?

The downside is that it is bus only, which can be a pain with a double stroller.

 

[Counting Stars]

we could extend our stay to 10 nights and take things slower if we switched to a value or possibly a moderate.

Because of the infant's age, we would technically still be able to book a standard value or moderate room and sleep two in each bed with a pack and play. From a savings perspective, this makes sense! But I'm wondering if it might be too tight a fit with a double stroller, pack and play plus five humans.

10 nights in a value seems a bit risky- when traveling with kids, (and adults too), there is no where to go if one of you becomes ill. If you have two rooms, or larger accommodations you can manage the situation. Disney is a very crowded, often skin to skin experience. Unfortunately its not uncommon to hear of people getting sick or coming home sick while vacationing there. (Been there done that) I think that having more space is most important on those longer trips where your exposure is greater.

 

[Babsy]

FYI: The 5th sleeper in AB at POR is a bookable category, if you decide to go that route.

 

[Babsy]

10 nights in a value seems a bit risky- when traveling with kids, (and adults too), there is no where to go if one of you becomes ill. If you have two rooms, or larger accommodations you can manage the situation. Disney is a very crowded, often skin to skin experience. Unfortunately its not uncommon to hear of people getting sick or coming home sick while vacationing there. (Been there done that) I think that having more space is most important on those longer trips where your exposure is greater.

I really do agree with this. But I have done four and it was fine. A lot depends upon the family dynamic. Also important, as DeeBee3 said, how everyone sleeps is critical! With a baby, I would be nervous about staying in a standard room in a value resort. It might give a whole new meaning to togetherness.

 

[Eeyore daily]

It 100% could be a personal thing, but in a value resort it feels like more than 2 adults is too tight. Again that's just my feelings and experiences. I wouldn't want that for a slower paced vacation. You might be able to do it in a 5 sleeper moderate but I will say it felt tight in a regular room with 3 adults and a teenager. And we were rope dropping to park close that trip!

Then again, maybe I have just become too bougie for my tastes lol

 

[elvispursley]

We did this when my boys were 2 1/2 and 4-weeks. We had my mom along so it was 3 adults, 1 child, and 1 infant. We stayed at FQ for 10 nights. We also had a double stroller (the side-by-side Peg Perego). The stroller was folded every night by the table, the pack n play was between the two beds (my mom was great at being able to change him in the middle of the night while I got ready to nurse him). The 2yo slept with my mom. It was a tight fit but it was fine. And this was 20 years ago before you could store all the luggage under the bed.

I can’t imagine doing this in a value but it was fine in a moderate. As much as I loved our stay at the swan, it had ZERO hooks, towel rods—no way to hang up anything!! I don’t know about your family, but it certainly didn’t work well for 2 adults let alone if we were a family of 5. Just be sure you request a roommate a tub wherever you go. Sommer’s only have a walk-in shower.

 

[mommy2paisley]

We were a family of 6 and stayed at a value. I had infant twins who stayed in a crib. It was tight, but it wasn’t so bad we were miserable. I think it really depends on how much time you spend in your room! We never stay in our room except to sleep at night. We do the parks all day, even when our kids are babies because they aren’t good sleepers and are happier out and about! Lol If you spend a lot of time in your room, a value may not be pleasant. For us, it was perfect!

 

[DizneyFamof4]

10 nights in a value seems a bit risky- when traveling with kids, (and adults too), there is no where to go if one of you becomes ill. If you have two rooms, or larger accommodations you can manage the situation. Disney is a very crowded, often skin to skin experience. Unfortunately its not uncommon to hear of people getting sick or coming home sick while vacationing there. (Been there done that) I think that having more space is most important on those longer trips where your exposure is greater.

I have unfortunately been sick at a Deluxe and a Value and the room size really didn't matter. I doubt WDW uses HEPA or even high quality filters in their AC and the room AC just recirculates the rooms air, so really if someone is sick those germs are just being blown into every bit of the room(s) Plus, to me there was nothing worse then being laid up and knowing it's costing me a few hundred $$ a night more just to lay in bed. LOL

 

[liamthompson]

I would consider purchasing or renting slumberpod for the 6mo old. Can 4yo and 7yo share a bed or will it be all-night shenanigans?

If it were me, I would prioritize convenient park transportation and space over number of days, especially since you're a repeat Disney visitor.