Family of 6 recommendations

[Sharka8]

Hello all! In June 2018 I am heading to WDW with 6 family members. It'll be me, DH, DS4, niece 13, step nephew 13 and my mom (grandma). What do you recommend for a resort? AoA family suite, Ft. Wilderness cabin or 2 rooms (hopefully connecting)? I also thought about renting points for either 2 studios or a 2 bedroom. We won't spend a ton of time in the room. It'll be my niece's 2nd time (first was with her wicked stepmother) and my step nephew's 1st time. I've been tons, husband a few, mom many and DS4 once. We are planning 5 nights with 4 park days. I have an AP so fingers crossed for a room discount! I have my doubts about summer though! I've actually never been in the summer. I know it'll be hot but step nephew's mom won't let him miss school. Thanks!

 

[sweetyk83]

We did this with my mom in 2013 and stayed at AoA. We took the bedroom, my mom slept on the pull out sofa, two kiddos on the drop down table bed, one on a small cot, and my infant daughter stayed in a crib. I'll say since you have older kids it may complicate the sleeping arrangements. You could put your 4 year old on a small cot, there's lots of room for that. The best thing about the family suites for us was having two bathrooms. It was really helpful!
Sleeping arrangements would probably be more comfortable in one of the villas but it really depends how much you want to spend vs how comfy you want to be.

 

[paradesintherain]

AoA family suites are very nice, my family loved them!

Another option might be the deluxe room at Wilderness Lodge; it has essentially 3 queen beds. It is club level so might be too pricey, but could be worth pricing out?

 

[Wood Nymph]

I would get two rooms and ask for connecting rooms. That will give you the most beds and a little privacy. Since you plan to spend most of the time at the parks then it doesn't matter where you stay. A two bedroom villa would work, too.

 

[VAfamily1998]

With the relationships involved, I'm guessing you probably wouldn't want a room with just 3 sleeping spaces (like AoA or a deluxe room). Who would sleep together? I'm assuming you and your Dh in one bed...but then? Are your niece and step nephew step siblings? It might be awkward for two unrelated, opposite sex teenagers to share a bed!
Would grandma sleep in the same bed as your son? Is your mom also the grandma of your niece and nephew, or is that the other side of the family?

Assuming grandma is also the grandma of your niece and step nephew, I'd probably do two rooms. One for you, your Dh, and your son. The other room for grandma, niece, and step nephew--with grandma and niece sharing a bed.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I would reserve two rooms at a mod or value. Then, when AP rates come out, I would check to see if you could get a 2BR villa at either Saratoga or OKW. That is what we did this last May. We had two rooms reserved at POFQ for a total at that time of about $480 per night. When the AP rate came out I called that day and switched to a 2BR villa in Turtle Pond area of OKW for right at $450 per night. Worked out great. We were in the master, daughters family in the second BR and my son was on the pull out sofa in the living room. Loved the huge room and when my MIL joined us I actually slept on the pull out single chair and it was the most comfortable pull out I have ever slept on. Used the washer dryer a couple times and had full refridgerator fo handling drinks and my granddaughters stuff.

 

[Marionnette]

Hello all! In June 2018 I am heading to WDW with 6 family members. It'll be me, DH, DS4, niece 13, step nephew 13 and my mom (grandma). What do you recommend for a resort? AoA family suite, Ft. Wilderness cabin or 2 rooms (hopefully connecting)? I also thought about renting points for either 2 studios or a 2 bedroom. We won't spend a ton of time in the room. It'll be my niece's 2nd time (first was with her wicked stepmother) and my step nephew's 1st time. I've been tons, husband a few, mom many and DS4 once. We are planning 5 nights with 4 park days. I have an AP so fingers crossed for a room discount! I have my doubts about summer though! I've actually never been in the summer. I know it'll be hot but step nephew's mom won't let him miss school. Thanks!

I would give a lot of consideration to the sleeping surfaces and other amenities in each of the options that you have listed.

• AoA Family Suite - 1 King bed, 1 double sleeper sofa, 1 sleeper chair, 1 drop-down table bed, kitchenette and 2 bathrooms
• 2 Value or Moderate Resort Rooms - 4 full or queen beds, 2 bathrooms, no kitchenette, may or may not connect (no guarantees)
  
• Ft. Wilderness Cabin - 1 queen bed, 2 bunks, 1 queen sleeper sofa, full kitchen (no oven) and ONLY 1 BATHROOM!
• 2 studios - 2 queen beds (4 if at OKW), 2 queen sleeper sofas (none at OKW), 1 drop-down bed at select resorts, kitchenette, 2 bathrooms (Split bathrooms at Poly), connecting studios only possible at Poly
• 2-bedroom villa - 1 king, 1 queen (2 at OKW), 2 sleeper sofas (1 at OKW), full kitchen, 2 bathrooms (3 at AKV-Kidani and BLT), washer and dryer in the unit, everyone in one villa with no doubts about being togther.

Personally, I would opt for the 2-bedroom. It's only slightly more expensive than 2 studios and offers so much more. However, summer is one of the more expensive times to go with DVC points (the holidays are the most expensive), so renting may actually cost more than going with an AP discount. The problem is that renting is non-refundable and needs to be done months in advance. You won't know what kind of AP discount is available until it can be too late to book your preferred resort via rental.

 

[maxiesmom]

With the make up of your family, I would go with 2 rooms.

 

[danikoski]

I would give a lot of consideration to the sleeping surfaces and other amenities in each of the options that you have listed.

• AoA Family Suite - 1 King bed, 1 double sleeper sofa, 1 sleeper chair, 1 drop-down table bed, kitchenette and 2 bathrooms
• 2 Value or Moderate Resort Rooms - 4 full or queen beds, 2 bathrooms, no kitchenette, may or may not connect (no guarantees)
  
• Ft. Wilderness Cabin - 1 queen bed, 2 bunks, 1 queen sleeper sofa, full kitchen (no oven) and ONLY 1 BATHROOM!
• 2 studios - 2 queen beds (4 if at OKW), 2 queen sleeper sofas (none at OKW), 1 drop-down bed at select resorts, kitchenette, 2 bathrooms (Split bathrooms at Poly), connecting studios only possible at Poly
• 2-bedroom villa - 1 king, 1 queen (2 at OKW), 2 sleeper sofas (1 at OKW), full kitchen, 2 bathrooms (3 at AKV-Kidani and BLT), washer and dryer in the unit, everyone in one villa with no doubts about being togther.

Personally, I would opt for the 2-bedroom. It's only slightly more expensive than 2 studios and offers so much more. However, summer is one of the more expensive times to go with DVC points (the holidays are the most expensive), so renting may actually cost more than going with an AP discount. The problem is that renting is non-refundable and needs to be done months in advance. You won't know what kind of AP discount is available until it can be too late to book your preferred resort via rental.

FYI - I don't believe AoA suites have a pull out chair. ASMu family suites, I believe, have a pull out chair, pull out ottoman, pull out sofa, and queen bed, which would make it an option for OP. AoA suites can hold a twin air mattress pretty easily based on room lay out.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

With the make up of your family, I would go with 2 rooms.

I agree with this. It looks like you will need a minimum of 4 sleeping surfaces (1 for you and DH, 1 for grandma, 1 for niece and DD and 1 for nephew).

2-bedrooms are awesome if you can swing it. It will give you all the beds you need plus a washer/dryer and kitchen. I would also consider preferred rooms at POR which will include a two queen beds and a murphy bed so everyone would have their own place to sleep. A cheaper option would be two of the remodeled rooms at Pop which would give you 4 queen sleeping surfaces plus two bathrooms - more sleeping surfaces than the AoA suite!

 

[Sharka8]

Thanks all! I definitely think more sleeping surfaces are better. Grandma and niece can share a bed or grandma and DS4. I do not think niece and step nephew could handle sharing a bed. They were both only children until a few months ago! Two rooms seems like a good way to go. Someone mentioned an air mattress at AoA. Would a full mattress fit? Also, this is my first year with an AP. When do those discounts normally come out? I know I can book my room and add a discount later. Again, thanks for all the replies! I've only ever planned a trip for my little family!

 

[SharonZ]

I would do a twin air mattress. Just remember, there are no guarantees with room discounts and when they do come out they are very limited.

 

[sharadoc]

FYI - I don't believe AoA suites have a pull out chair. ASMu family suites, I believe, have a pull out chair, pull out ottoman, pull out sofa, and queen bed, which would make it an option for OP. AoA suites can hold a twin air mattress pretty easily based on room lay out.

I was going to suggest All-Star Music Family Suites because of the couch, chair and ottoman beds. That living room is huge, you could also fit an air mattress in the bedroom.