Family of 5 - Should we stay in a Deluxe or 2 Value Rooms (Adjoining)

[degrapevine]

Our family will be traveling the week of March 22nd and consists of 2 adults and 3 kids - ages 9, 5, and 3. We are Florida residents and will be able to use those discounts, but are unsure of what type of room will work best for us.

Since the Mods only offer 2 Double or 1 King rooms, those are out.
One Deluxe room with 2 Queens would be okay, since hubby can share with the 9 yr old and 1 can share with the other two (in between of course, to prevent arguments!).
Or ... we could get 2 rooms adjoining at a Value resort and each have our own bed (our 3 year old daughter can sleep in a pack-n-play, as she is very petite, or she can share with me).

We've never stayed (all of us) at anything other than a Deluxe (always the Contemporary at Christmas time - We love walking back at 2 AM after MVMCP!), so would a Deluxe be worth the extra $? We don't use the pools and don't mind carrying our own luggage and eating at the food courts would be fine. We don't spend much time at the resorts, anyway! We'd have to take buses everywhere, but that's okay.

So, would you book 2 Value rooms or just 1 Deluxe? What do other families of 5 do? Especially once our daughter is 4 and can't sleep in a pack-n-play? Help!

Sorry for the long post - Just looking for some opinions!

 

[Candice30]

you could stay moderate. my sister has a family of 5 and they stayed in a std room at coronado springs. it worked out fine. her 3 kids were around the same age as yours and they brought 1 sleeping bag and the kids took turns being the one to sleep there. they had plenty of room because the kids were not teenagers. another option, coronado springs does have a few suites that may work for you. the rooms have 2 std rooms connected by the same connecting door as in other resorts but i believe one side has a kitchen area. the second room is just a std room attached. look at www.wdwig.com i think they have a floorplan on there for you to see the room. sorry i can't remember the cost but it was not high! Good Luck!

 

[disney4us2002]

This is the question we always asking ourselves when planning a trip as well, lol. It is not an easy decision. We've stayed at the Doubletree in DD because the bedroom door could be closed and the kids would actually sleep (in one room they have a tough time sleeping with the tv running). We've also stayed at the Cont because of the daybed. Our upcoming trip we are planning the Poly for the same reason.

Personally, we haven't chosen a value and two rooms only because we don't like the buses and they are just not convenient to any park. Our kids are 7, 11, 14 so the adjoining room and extra bath sound great; we just prefer to hop the monorail to hit MK or Epcot. We will probably consider an Epcot deluxe before a value resort in the future as the kids really like MGM as much as MK. In your case, I would probably choose a deluxe as your kids aren't that old to be in a separate room (I know you could leave the door open....). Just my opinion of course, lol.

POR, btw, does allow for five if you ask for the trundle bed rooms in the Bayou section I think I read.

Most vacations are unfortunately set up with the 'ideal' family in mind - mom, dad, 2 kids...... It does get frustrating sometimes.

Have a great trip whatever you decide!

 

[Candice30]

oh yea...forgot to mention that. being 2 rooms, the suite has 2 bathrooms also and depending on the setup ( they have different ones), your cost may be lower than the deluxe. and you said that you do not spend a lot of time at the resort. tough decision!

 

[Lswilmot@aol.com]

Have you considered the cabins at Fort Wilderness? They will sleep 6 (double bed and single bunk beds in bedroom and a double Murphy bed in the living room) and are quite "roomy". Still only one bath, but that's the same as a room at the deluxe hotels. We enjoy the peace & quite after a hectic day in the park. It's not really "camping", there is daily maid service and a full kitchen, if your into cooking on vacation. We're not, and usually just fix coffee and evening snacks.

 

[missypie]

At the age your kids are, I'd do the deluxe. I believe that all the deluxe resorts have rooms with day beds available. (It won't be a "standard" room at AKL - you'll have to book a "deluxe" room there.) We went to DLR (in California) last year and stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, in a room with 2 queens and a day bed. The kids were 12, 10 and 7 and we all fit just fine. (The kids made a whole schedule of who got to sleep in the day bed on which night.) I've been told that when the kids are older and cnsume more bathroom time, we'll want to book two rooms to have 2 bathrooms. But for now it's not a problem and I like to have everyone in the same room as me.

 

[Stelson]

I have to agree the cabins are great. We are a family of five (9,7,5) and were struggling with the same question. We loved the cabins. In the mornings we could do breakfast & showers, etc. at the same time. The walk to & from the bus stop was sooo peaceful. We didn't have to hear other families or try to be quite as to not destrub others (that is a real challenge for us) in the cabin.

 

[Andy's mom]

I think with the ages of your children, 1 deluxe room would be just fine. We stayed at the Poly 2 years ago (children were then 10, 7 & 4) and it worked just fine. The rooms are large and comfortable. My daughter had the day bed, boys shared 1 queen and my husband and I in other. We tend to get up and out early so don't mind going to bed early. At some point when the children are older, we will need 2 bathrooms and more room, but at this time we are fine in 1 room with 1 bathroom. It also makes me feel a little more secure having the children in the same room while in a strange place. Hope this helps!

 

[harleyquinn]

Just to give more info on POR.

My fiance and I stayed in one of the trundle bed rooms. I thought it was very nice and rather large for a moderate room. Plus POR has a bunch of pools if the kids like to swim!

Two bathrooms is probably your biggest deciding factor!!

 

[5dizneynutz]

Have you thought of staying at Port Orleans Riverside? The rooms in the Alligator Bayou have a trundle bed and sleep 5. We have stayed there many times(we have 5 in our family) and is actually my favorite Disney resort. I know someone who recently stayed at POR, their youngest is 17 and she slept on the trundle and it was plenty big enough. I think the official Disney word is that it will fit a guest under 10 yrs, but it is not much smaller than a single size bed and the people at CRO told me it didn't matter to them what age child slept in it. Have a great time!!!

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We're a family of five and we don't have a problem in the deluxe. Our daughters are 15, 12 and 9. We stayed at the Poly last August. The oldest slept in the daybed and the other two shared one of the queen beds. If I was picking between 2 value rooms and 1 deluxe. I'd take the deluxe.

We've also stayed at the POR with the trundle bed. It's a great resort and the 2 younger girls took turns using the trundle bed. They both liked it.

 

[lknut01]

Great post!
We are a family of five (kids 5, 6, 6) and are planning a stay at the Yacht Club in three weeks. Our son will sleep on the day bed and our daughters will share a queen. I'm not ready for the separate doors and I thought it would be great to be so close to MGM and Epcot in case someone got crabby or tired. I thought a long time about trying POR but kind of wanted a more summery beach theme. Only moderate we would have considered would have been CBR... wish they had day beds! In the end, I'm excited to stay at a deluxe and have the easy access to two parks and the boardwalk. I'd also like to try the cabins someday.
Good luck!

 

[degrapevine]

I'd be fine sleeping in a double bed, but my hubby is 6' 1" and he really would be uncomfortable in anything smaller than a queen! For the adjoining rooms, we'd probably split up (how unromantic!) and each take 1 room with 1 or 2 of the kids.

I completely agree about the convenience of the boats or monorail vs. the buses and that is probably our major concern, but no matter where we stay, we'll have to take a bus to get somewhere. (Especially since Downtown Disney is a must with our 9 year old Legomaniac!).

It'll probably come down to how cheap we can get a Deluxe. The WL is a dream stay ... not sure what the rate would be, though.

Thanks to everyone for all their help!

 

[missypie]

I add this to almost every post on accomodating families of 5 in hopes that someone will pay attention: A Travel Agent could do very well by specializing in accomodations for families that have more than 4 people (or parties that just need more than 2 beds. My friend is a widow with a teenaged boy and a teenaged girl. When they travel they need 3 beds, because neither wants to sleep with her, and they sure don't want to sleep with each other.) Every time I try to use a TA to book rooms, they ASSUME we will need 2 rooms...I'm always the one who has to do the research to find the places that can accomodate a family of 5. (Lots of the "all suites" hotels don't work, because they have only rooms with a king and a sofa bed.)

Okay rant over. It's just that one is always told, in articles about starting a new business, or finding success in life, to figure out a need that is unfulfilled, and fulfill it. So here it is!

 

[missypie]

I think that WL is the only deluxe where you can't get a room with a day bed.

 

[Divamomto3]

As a family of 5, I have thoroughly researched this!
First of all, 3 people (even if some are small children) should never have to share a bed in a $200+ a night hotel or anywhere for that matter. Second, I just have to say that the Coronado Springs and the sleeping bag idea is no good...not trying to be judgemental, but there are fire codes, etc etc etc. The room has a maximum of 4 occupancy. Period.

Here are your options:

2 rooms at a value. Pop Century has a large percentage of their rooms that connect for families for this very reason. With the door open between the two rooms it's like one big hotel room. You get 2 bathrooms and more storage space.

Port Orleans Riverside. A moderate resort with a trundle bed option for a kid under 9 years old.

Contemporary, Polynesian, Yacht Club, and Beach Club have standard rooms with 2 Queens and one daybed. Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge have deluxe rooms that accomodate 5. Boardwalk Inn has standard rooms with 2 queens and 1 "child's" bed...a smaller mattress that will accomodate a kid under 9 or under 5'0 tall. I'm not sure about the Grand Floridian...never asked..I'm saving that resort for a DH and me ALONE trip someday!

Swan and Dolphin have 2 queens and give you the option to pay $25 more a night for a rollaway bed.

Fort Wilderness Cabins...an affordable options for families up to 6 people with full kitchen facilities also.

Last year we stayed at the Yacht Club. Paid for standard view, got upgraded to a water view. The room did not have a daybed so they brought in a rollaway free of charge. This year we are staying at the Swan with the nurse's rate and paying the extra $25 for the rollaway bed. We loved the Epcot area and that meant more to us than 2 bathrooms.

I hope this helps. Never feel like a kid has to sleep on the floor or 3 people have to squish into a bed. This is your vacation!!

Hey Disney...how about a new MODERATE resort with a daybed option?? I'd like a sit down resort, marina, and nice pool at a moderate price for my family of 5. The POR trundle bed option only goes so far!

 

[mom2boys]

Two value rooms will give you 2 bathrooms and 2 tvs. The two bathrooms could make getting out in the mornings and getting ready for bed faster. 2 Tvs - would be a plus for our family - seems like every time we check into a hotel there is a monster garage marathon on.

 

[georgina]

Originally posted by Divamomto3
As a family of 5, I have thoroughly researched this!
First of all, 3 people (even if some are small children) should never have to share a bed in a $200+ a night hotel or anywhere for that matter. Second, I just have to say that the Coronado Springs and the sleeping bag idea is no good...not trying to be judgemental, but there are fire codes, etc etc etc. The room has a maximum of 4 occupancy. Period.

I thought I've seen posts where people had a rollaway bed at Coronado Springs. If that was the case, then the occupancy is somewhat flexible.

We took an inflatable bed and sleeping bag to the Hard Rock Hotel last summer. Of course, we only paid $125 a night, and saw no need to spring for an extra $25 a night for the rollaway. My kids didn't mind in the least!

 

[Divamomto3]

Originally posted by georgina
I thought I've seen posts where people had a rollaway bed at Coronado Springs. If that was the case, then the occupancy is somewhat flexible.

We took an inflatable bed and sleeping bag to the Hard Rock Hotel last summer. Of course, we only paid $125 a night, and saw no need to spring for an extra $25 a night for the rollaway. My kids didn't mind in the least!

Maybe they had a rollaway at Coronado but they still only had 4 people in their room? Sometimes if you have 3 teens and no one wants to sleep together, you need a rollaway. But we've had this debate here a bunch of times before, so I'm definitely not trying to start it up again! I'm just a rule follower and not good at pretending I have 2 kids with me when I really have 3. I'd just worry all week. I had a similar discussion with a girl at work who thinks that I should just say my 3 year old is still 2 so he doesn't need a hopper pass or have to pay for dinner buffets. No thanks, not for me...and since my 3 year old thinks he's around 6 and talks like he's 6..he's hard to hide!

How did you like the HRH? I'm sure Universal will be a future trip for us!

 

[georgina]

We enjoyed the HRH hotel, but I have heard they don't offer entertainment book rates anymore. The kids liked the pool, and the atmosphere. Being able to walk to both parks was great. (They did know we had 5 people in the room, I made that clear when I reserved it.) We really loved IOA, Universal Studios had a few great things, but a lot of it was not as interesting to the kids.