Resorts for a family of 5

[LuckyBelle81]

We took our last trip in Nov of 2015 so it will be at least 2017 before we make it down again. But I have started looking at options already so we have a ballpark figure for how much the next trip will cost. The next time we go our oldest will be at least 10 so we will have to pay adult prices for her and our youngest will be at least 3 so we will have to pay for her to have tickets, etc. Does anyone have suggestions for accommodating our family of 5 without completely breaking the bank?? We have stayed in the suites at AoA and really like it so we know that is an option. We stayed at the Cabins at FW last Nov and while we really liked the cabin and transportation inside the resort was not a problem, getting to and from the parks got a little nightmarish at times so I don't know if I want to go that route again. Anyone ever stayed in the suites at All-Star Music? My DH and I stayed in a regular rm there over 10 years ago and it was fine since we weren't spending much time in the rm but I didn't even realize they had suites until it came up as an option. We will most likely be going in the spring, probably March. Anyway, any advice would be appreciated!

 

[gatormom2tots]

CBR holds 5 and I *believe* POR does as well. Its cheaper than 2 values or A of A. But not as much room...

 

[Minniesgal]

I think you have listed the three best options. A suite at a value if they will give you it as a booking category so you are guaranteed the space together, AOA or FW.

Otherwise rent DVC points for a 1 bedroom at AKV Kidani or BLT or OKW good for a family of 5. Or if you could really cope with a squeeze a studio at Poly, VWL or VGF.

 

[Pesky]

CBR, POR, AoA suite, ASM suite. You can also look at renting DVC points and staying in a Poly studio, BWV, YC, BLT at CR, and VGF. You'd have to specify with some that you want a room that sleeps 5. You can also look at suites but then your price jumps.

 

[NinaBella]

Stay at the cabins and drive to/from the parks. If you fly to Orlando this may require including a rental car in your budget. The cabins are great for families.

Of course you can also look at places off property if you are going to rent a car that would be less expensive than the cabins.

 

[mkla2015]

I would look into renting DVC points... we rent and stay at BLT in a 1 bedroom and have plenty of room with myself, DH, my mom, DD5, and DS4. The price has been pretty reasonable. I want to say renting at AKL is even less pricey. This also gives you a kitchen IF you'd like to cook a few meals.

 

[writermommy6]

This may not be an option as you appear to want to stay onsite, I booked a 4 bedroom townhouse at Regal Palms and after taxes and fees it's $550. There are 8 of us so staying on property was never an option. AND we like to spread out after a long day together.

 

[absolutmey]

Stay at the cabins and drive to/from the parks. If you fly to Orlando this may require including a rental car in your budget. The cabins are great for families.

Of course you can also look at places off property if you are going to rent a car that would be less expensive than the cabins.

We're going as a 5-some in October and have a cabin booked. It looks perfect in terms of sleeping arrangements and space for all of us. It's a moderate, so the price really isn't bad at all (for Disney).

 

[pooh4evr]

We've stayed in the Music Family Suites a few times, but it is cheaper to get 2 value rooms. We have also stayed at POR. We were too squished, and i don't mind paying a little extra for 2 bathrooms.

 

[LuckyBelle81]

Thanks for the info y'all!

I don't think 2 value rooms are really an option for us right now because our kids are 9, 6, and 2 (they will most likely be 10, 7, and 3 the next time we go) and my DH and I don't want to be in separate rooms for the duration of our trip. I know that it is possible to get adjoining rooms but I think I read somewhere that they can't guarantee it (maybe I'm wrong on that and they will??).

We enjoyed our stay at the cabins but between the transportation issues (I know we can drive to the parks but part of the reason we stay onsite is so we don't have to so it sort of defeats the purpose) and the fact that we like feeling like we're in the middle of everything (the cabins were a little *too* quiet) I think we'll probably go a different route next time.

Thanks for the input about POR feeling too cramped - I was afraid of that. My feeling is that we will prob go with a suite at AoA since we've done that before and were happy with it (we had 7 ppl on that trip bc we had grandparents with us and it was before our 3rd child was born and it was still doable - having the 2nd bathroom made all the difference.) or maybe the suites at ASM since its a little cheaper. I know that looking at something offsite would def save more money but I think we're willing to put off the trip longer and save more to be able to stay onsite bc we just really enjoy all the conveniences and the overall immersed feeling you have onsite.

Thanks again!

 

[BWallaceKY]

We are planning to go this fall and it will be our first trip as a family of 5. We're going with another family and thinking about staying at BC. Has anyone stayed there before? It's more expensive than what we've done previously, but I'm just wondering if the rooms are comfy. We will have 2 adults and three kids ages 12, 8, and 2. Thanks!

 

[2009CAN]

Our first stay as a family of 5 was two connecting rooms at POP. The 2.5-year old and the 4-year-old twins stayed in one room and DH and I stayed in the connecting room (with the adjoining door open). It ended up being under $300 a night and we had free dining.
Our second trip with the kids we stayed in Cars room at AOA. The 3-year-old slept on the pull down and the 5-year-old twins shared the sofa bed.
We we go again in a few months, we will stay at AoA again.

ETA: We were told when we booked that we would be given connecting rooms because none of our kids were aged to stay in a room by themselves. I honestly don't think you'd have a problem.

 

[LuckyBelle81]

Thank you 2009can for the note about getting the adjoining rooms because of the ages of the kids. I hadn't thought about mentioning that to ensure that we would get them. Very good to know!!

 

[Gracie09]

If you are sure you are going, look into renting point and getting a dvc 1 bedroom. We stayed at old key west last year and the room was HUGE! And slept five. I have stayed previously at bay lake, beach club and animal kingdom. All great resorts all with their own feel and pluses and minuses.

 

[LuckyBelle81]

I am very interested in renting DVC points but since we've never done it I have no clue how it works or where to start. Will you point me in the right direction?

 

[lanejudy]

I know that it is possible to get adjoining rooms but I think I read somewhere that they can't guarantee it (maybe I'm wrong on that and they will??).

What you would want is "connecting" rooms -- in hotel-speak, it's very different than "adjoining" or "adjacent" which simply means nearby. "Connecting" rooms have an interior door between the rooms so you don't need to go out into the hall/walkway.

And you are correct that it is NOT guaranteed. WDW does their best to accommodate when requested, but never guarantees connecting rooms. There's often reports on the Resorts Forum about people who were told connecting was guaranteed, or even had it noted on their paperwork, but at check-in there simply weren't any available. Phone CMs should not promise what can't be delivered. I agree with you that I would not take the chance of considering the ages of your kids. You could end up on separate floors or even separate buildings. As long as there are 2 adults on the reservation, WDW will expect them to split up if that's what rooms are available. Booking the suite will eliminate any such risk.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[maxiesmom]

I would go with the All Star Family Suite. I've stayed in one, and I think they are very nicely done. Plus they are quite a bit cheaper than the suites at AoA. And has been pointed out, no matter what you are told over the phone, a connecting room is never guaranteed. Disney states on their own web site they are a request only.

 

[DYOBL0305]

We stayed at POP back in August of 2014, it was our first time with kids and needed a reasonably priced room for a family of 5, and POP seemed to be the best out of all the Value resort choices. The rooms were a bit small, but we did have 3 big suitcases and a pack and play for my then-one year old that took up a good chunk of the room. We didn't spend too much time in the room though, most of it we were at the parks or in the pool (my kids LOVED the Hippie Dippy pool). Transportation was good, we never waited longer than 5-10 minutes for our bus, and we were facing the lake so we were able to catch the fireworks at night. We also were close to AoA so we walked over there a few times (absolutely beautiful but out of our price range!).

I wouldn't mind staying there again for our next trip but we are now officially a family of six so it's not going to happen LOL Instead we're now looking into either POR or CB, both which seem to have much bigger rooms than POP.

 

[Gracie09]

I am very interested in renting DVC points but since we've never done it I have no clue how it works or where to start. Will you point me in the right direction?

Dave Disney vacation club or something like that. He's a sponsor here. For a first timer I would use him over the rent/buy board.

 

[roseaster]

We have stayed at the ASMu family suites several times, and enjoyed the stay. They are nicely done, and they are in the "preferred" section so they are close to the pool, lobby, food court, and laundry facilities. They showed movies at night on a big screen at the pool.

We have rented DVC points, and while it is cheaper than booking through WDW, it is still considerably more expensive than the value room.

I was never willing to chance not getting connecting rooms, so we always booked the suite.