Need some help - five people

[DisneyCrazyMomma]

I need some help! I'm trying to help a friend plan their first trip.... She is part of a family of five. 2 adults and 3 kids, ages 12,10 and 8. She is concerned because it seems like most rooms are four 4 people. I only have traveled with my family of 2 adults and 1 child so never had to worry about this. What is the situation with that? Where can they stay? Does Wilderness Lodge have any five person rooms? Where else? Thanks so much!!

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

It's tough to be a family of 5 at Disney...I know. Her choices are basically all in the deluxe category of resorts. The only moderate that will fit her family is POR. We have stayed there many times since it is the most affordable option. ASMu family suites and when AoA opens are also options. In the deluxe category, GF, Poly, YC and BC, Boardwalk and CR. Wilderness Lodge and AK only allow 4 in a standard room. Also, FW cabins can be an option if she's interested in that. Of course, there's always renting points from DVC for a villa. Good luck to her, it's not easy being 5 at Disney!

 

[Lynne M]

WL has junior suites that sleep 5.

 

[Uptoit21]

I need some help! I'm trying to help a friend plan their first trip.... She is part of a family of five. 2 adults and 3 kids, ages 12,10 and 8. She is concerned because it seems like most rooms are four 4 people. I only have traveled with my family of 2 adults and 1 child so never had to worry about this. What is the situation with that? Where can they stay? Does Wilderness Lodge have any five person rooms? Where else? Thanks so much!!

Hi Disney Crazy Momma

We were in the same situation as your friend. We went to Disney World for the first time in the end of Sept. last year. Never having been there I decided to book at ASM family suites but was latter convinced to change reservations & stay at the BC(friend that has been to Disney a hand full of times & has stayed at the BC). I was assured that the BC would accommodate my family which was at time of travel Myself, wife, two boy's ages 9 & 7, girl 7 yrs. The beach club worked perfect for us, the boy's were so tired at the end of the night they were just happy to crawl into bed & watch a bit of tv from their bed that they did not mind sharing a queen size bed. And my daughter was in seventh heaven with all the princess she seen during the day that she did not mind sleeping in the day bed. We added one extra day onto our trip, it was cheaper to fly out one day latter. BC was full so we stayed the extra night at ASM family suites. The kids loved it, my wife & I did not, the kids all slept on pull outs which takes up most of the one room so it was hard to move around & a pita to get out the door. If I was to book today I defiantly at the BC. Also when talking to anyone from Disney while making my reservations that it was my first time going to Disney World Our room view was of the quiet pool very close to Epcot(3min walk to back entrance. I hope this helped.

 

[dancin Disney style]

The budget plays an enormous part in this question. The deluxe level room can cost over $315+tax/night for a standard room that accomodates a family of 5 in low season.

What can the family in question afford????

 

[alex9179]

We are a family of 5 and have the same issues. I was SO tempted to get two connecting rooms at a value or mod, but connecting isn't guaranteed. The whole point of the two rooms, for us, was so that DH and I could have some privacy. We chose not to take the chance.

Alligator Bayou at POR can sleep 5, but since we planned to spend resort time I didn't relish being so cramped.

That left the Deluxes. WL's standard rooms, as noted above, only sleep 4. The Deluxe Suite will sleep 5 but is really expensive and not eligble for discounts since it's a suite.
BC and YC have a great location for EPCOT, but my kids are young and I can't count on spending that much time there. The pool area is huge, and keeping track of 3 young kids would have been a nightmare. There is no one place to sit that you can see most everything. The rooms are not overly large.
GF is lovely but I felt the rest of the family wouldn't appreciate it as much. Also, it's the most expensive. Lots of dining choices, nice pool, spa will be out of commission for a while but has exercise facilities open.
CR has a great location for MK, great rooms, good dining choices but lacks a bit in the ambiance column.
POLY has a fantastic location for MK and EPCOT, along with TTC. Lovely atmosphere, easy access it it's own restaurants and GF's, large rooms, fun pool for the kids and small enough that I'll be able to keep an eye on all three. The lack of a hot tub or exercise facilities do not affect us...wouldn't use either. This is what we chose. Location, dining opportunites, pool, large rooms and ambiance won it for us.

If she is not concerned with location, a 1 BR at OKW will have a bunch of room and is often offered at a substantial discount from Disney. Also, renting points from a DVC owner may be something for her to consider if daily housekeeping isn't necessary.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Our Family of Five never had a problem with beds.......

We had a room at POLY with 2 regular Beds and a Day bed....'02

Then tried Beach Club... which had a Day Bed.... the girls had the spare bed and DS used the Day Bed.... '04

Loved BC so much went back....

What caused a problem was only ONE Bathroom... so I got adjoining rooms (never guaranteed but never had a problem getting them)...

BOTH our Adjoining rooms at BC had Day beds for '06 and '08...which was great if the girls were arguing over sleeping together...

Then moved up to villas for '10 and '12....

Kudos to you for helping your friend catch the Disney Magic !

(HUGS)
Mary

 

[sullins5]

Hmmmmm, following this thread as it's our delimma too! Kind of nice that we're NOT the only ones who go through this! We have a 24ds, 23dd, 12dd and then dh and I. We love CBR but that would mean 2 rooms not guaranteed connecting. Price wise, its the best with the spring deal. Not really into the FW cabins. And having 2 'older' siblings opposite sex doesn't make it easy either.
Usually the guys room together and the girls room together, NOT my dh's favorite idea, but seems like the only way. We love Diz, but the rooms are the hard part for us!
And...I know some would say "Leave the older two at home", but we LOVE that they want to come!

Hoping to come in May!!!

 

[yarlenna]

What about The cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort?

 

[autismgoesdisney]

The budget plays an enormous part in this question. The deluxe level room can cost over $315+tax/night for a standard room that accomodates a family of 5 in low season.

What can the family in question afford????

This is my question. I am a family of five but my 3 kids are a lot younger than hers. So right now POR is a perfect option for us, BUT I already told DH that when my youngest is 8/9 POR will not be an option as no one will want to sleep on the murphy bed they have.

At that point, we will move to a cabin or family suite or money permitting a deluxe (my choice!)

As you can see money pays a huge part of it. But I personally wouldn't recommend POR to her unless she's really needing to keep it cheap. I just think the murphy bed would be uncomfy at her kids ages, and sleep is important to me with the kids on the go the whole time! So if money is a deciding factor, I'd pick either the cabin or suites at Music.

But like I said if money is no object, I'd pick a deluxe

 

[3pletprincesses]

as a family of 5 we always stay at POR. they are renovating the resort now which will make it even better. Soon they will have a day bed and 2 queen size beds in the room as suppose to a truddle and 2 double beds. I find that POR was big enough for us as we spend little time in our room other then to sleep at night and afternoon break.

 

[jtovey56]

I brought my mother-in-law with my family of four & we stayed at POR. My yougest was about 4 so he loved the trundle bed. It was small though. We enjoyed the trip & the resort.
Jim

 

[connie1042]

I think her kids are to big to get 5 in the room at POR. Nice resort, but when you add 5 people and luggage, not alone having only one bathroom, I don't think they would be happy for long. We have stayed in the ASMu suites. There were 6 of us. My husband and I loved the private bedroom. When the kids got up, they folded up the couch and chair beds, and we had the living room. It was great. The only thing I did not like about the suite, was you had to walk past the kitchen to get to the bathoom. Not a deal breaker, but it would be nice if it was connected to the bedroom.

 

[Missytara]

as a family of 5 we always stay at POR. they are renovating the resort now which will make it even better. Soon they will have a day bed and 2 queen size beds in the room as suppose to a truddle and 2 double beds. I find that POR was big enough for us as we spend little time in our room other then to sleep at night and afternoon break.

Correction; it is not a day bed, it is a murphy bed.

A day bed is a sofa that opens up into a bed; the murphy bed hangs on the wall and pulls down at night. Day beds are usually doubles; the murphy is only a twin bed.

Huge difference.

 

[tlenzendorf]

We very much liked the cabins at Fort Wilderness. It worked well. But now we prefer to rent someone's DVC points and stay deluxe.

 

[DisneyCrazyMomma]

Thank you all so much! I shared these replies with her and she was very happy!

 

[gncntry]

Disney has a link specifically for rooms for 5 or more people here:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/groups/