Resorts for family of 5????

[bigkid@disney]

We have stayed at POFQ and Pop Century. Now we are making a trip with my DW, 2 DD's and 1 DS. Ages will be 9, 7 & 3.

I understand some of the resorts have suites, but I also have seen some of the prices.

I understand one option is a value resort and get two rooms, but I hate to have 2 rooms when my three kids are so small. I understand as they get bigger, that will probably be a great option.

Any suggestions that won't break the bank?

Does the Swan or Dolphin allow 5 in a double bed room?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

Plus, we prefer to stay onsite unless it proves for financial that off-site is the way to go.

Thanks....

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

The Moderate Resort Port Orleans Riverside has rooms that can sleep 5 with a trundle bed for the 5th person at no extra charge.

 

[brentalex]

Some of the rooms at the POR will allow 5 in a room. They have a trundle bed which would be fine for any of your kids. These are rooms in the Aligator Bayou portion of the resort. Also, some of the deluxe rooms have a day bed which will allow 5 in a room. POR is obviously cheaper than the deluxe resorts

 

[tlbwriter]

Here's a great post about rooms for families of 5 or more.

 

[Wendy*Darling]

I have 3 kids as well. They are about the same age as yours. Our trip at the end of this year will be our first as an "official family of five" as my youngest son was under 3 on our previous trips. We have done 3 different onsite options with all 3 kids. We've done Wilderness Lodge, Poly and Ft. Wilderness cabins. The WIL won't work for us in the future unless it's a deluxe room but that room was similar in size to the POR that would have the trundle. We felt tight in that room. When any of the boys are bigger it would be too small. The Poly was plenty spacious and has a day bed that is a twin bed so it accomodates five. I didn't feel cramped there at all. The cabins were a great alternative too! I loved Ft. Wilderness and it gave us even more room (and more privacy) than the Poly plus we had a little kitchen so we could have breakfast and a lunch or two in the cabin before we left for the parks.

I am the same way about two rooms. I just worry that the kids will leave the room in the middle of the night or something! I'm just not ready for that. If there was a way to keep their door so it couldn't be opened then maybe I'd be OK but since there isn't we will all be in one room of a cabin for a while longer! (and I know it's a fire hazard and all that, it's just that Mommy worry gene kicking in!)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

FW Cabins are great--especially if you can get a discount on them. There is a murphy bed in the living where mom and dad can sleep and a double bed and bunkbeds in the bedroom. And there is also a kitchen which can be very nice as well.

 

[Hopefully]

We've stayed in both Fort Wilderness Cabins, as well as DVC Villas. We loved Fort Wildnerness when the kids were smaller, it was wonderful. The single drawback is that it is a bit more difficult to get around "The World" as it almost always involves an internal tram to a central location for a boat/bus to other locations. But the cabins were wonderful, and there are lots of extra things to do at the campground. I would go back anytime, but my DH balks at the convenience
Although the DVC Villas are more expensive than a Deluxe room, they are more economical than a suite in the hotels, and you get a fully equiped kitchen and in a 1 bedroom or larger you have a Washer and Dryer - very convenient. By eating breakfast and snacks (at least) in, you save quite a bit, so factor that into the final cost. I think the Villas at Old Key West are the largest rooms on property too.
Good Luck and Have Fun.

 

[mommykds]

We are also a family of 5 going to POR AB this Oct. Here is some info you may find helpful...

Which hotels have rooms that will accommodate more than four people?
All rooms will fit four people plus a child under 3 in a crib. The following will accommodate more. Be sure to indicate when making your reservation how many persons plan to stay in a room.
Animal Kingdom Lodge (4-5)
Beach Club (5)
Beach Club Villas (4-8)
BoardWalk Inn (4-5)
BoardWalk Villas (4-12)
Contemporary (5)
Port Orleans Riverside (5 in some rooms in the Alligator Bayou section)
Fort Wilderness Cabins and Homes (6)
Fort Wilderness Campsites (10)
Grand Floridian (5)
Old Key West (4-12)
Polynesian (5)
Saratoga Springs (4-12)
Wilderness Lodge (4-5) and Villas (4-8)
Yacht Club (4-5)

 

[NCombs]

We were at POR last year and it worked fine. My kids are similar in age to yours. My 4 year old son loved sleeping in the trundle bed. It just slid under the bed when we were not using it.

POR is a beautiful resort so I recommend it. We stayed at BC and POR. POR was much better on the budget and I liked having access to a food court with 3 kids.

 

[Lizzybee]

We have stayed at POR with 3 adults and two kids and it was fine. My mom and I even took turns on the trundle and it was quite comfy. We only used the room for sleeping, showering and changing though. If it was crowded, we weren't in it long enough to realize it. Hope you have a great time whatever you choose. POR is a great resort we love it there.

 

[km39497]

Count me in on the FW cabins. We have stayed there 3 times. Positives- *Kitchen* always had food/snacks/drinks. Fixed a nice big breakfast while everyone was getting ready in the morning then didn't need to eat for awhile. The mousekeepers even do your dishes and run the dishwasher! (And they do towel animals too) Made a few meals during the week to cut down costs. *Space* lots of room for the kids. They could run around outside the cabin, no bouncing off the walls of a hotel room or worrying if you were disturbing the neighbors. *Deck* we loved sitting out on the deck at night under the lodgepole pines sharing the day after the kids were in bed. There's a grill for barbecuing, too. *Driveway* You didn't say if you were renting a car but we liked being able to park right out front. We just drove to the parks (except MK) and didn't have to haul sleepy kids on busses. We would take the boat over to MK and the kids just loved the boat rides. So relaxing compared to the bus. *Resort* there is lots to do right in the resort, petting zoo, Hoop-de-do, swimming pools, horseback riding, and of course movies with Chip and Dale. I liked doing my walk in the morning before everyone was up because it was just so beautiful there. Negatives- I know a lot of people don't want to have to cook on vacation but this worked out perfectly for us. It is a little out of the way but that's the part we liked, it seemed so quiet and a nice respite from crowds. Have fun planning your vacation!

 

[pixiepower1971]

I just returned from a trip with 2 adults and 3 girls(6,7,8). We had connecting rooms at Pop. They guaranteed the rooms to be connecting with that party makeup. We left the doors open between the rooms and could hear everything! Plenty of beds, space and 2 showers were wonderful! Do not underestimate the value of 2 showers and toilets. At midnight having 2 showers makes it go much faster and gets them in bed. Nap time was great as well. When the kids needed some down time in the afternoon, the adults and oldest child had the other room to use and didnt have to tiptoe around and whisper.

As for security a 3 year old can't reach the top latch on the door and the older ones know better then to leave the room. If you are worried I would put the older ones in the other room and the 3 year old in with you.

It gave us more space then a regular room at any of the deluxe resorts...it couldn't have been more perfect!

 

[Goofy's Muse]

I think I remember reading that the Dolphin can accommodate 5 (perhaps with a roll-away). I know that one of the two (either Dolphin or Swan) does -- one of them is restricted by fire codes. There is a Swan and Dolphin questions and answers thread on the Resorts board if you're interested in learning more about those hotels...

 

[Lives4Disney]

We had 5 in a Swan room. They do allow it. It was tight, though. The rooms are smaller than the Disney Deluxes. If you want "deluxe", though, and don't want to pay WDW prices, I would do the Swan/Dolphin. I much prefer deluxe to value or moderate and the S/D is a beautiful, deluxe resort. Join SPG and get great rates and points toward future stays.

Happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[tlbwriter]

I am the same way about two rooms. I just worry that the kids will leave the room in the middle of the night or something! I'm just not ready for that. If there was a way to keep their door so it couldn't be opened then maybe I'd be OK but since there isn't we will all be in one room of a cabin for a while longer!

What about an alarm to alert you if the door is opened?