Suggestions - Family of 5

[Tiffanie]

Planning a trip in February of 2018 - researching best resort options - we are a family of 5 and my two oldest are 19 and 15, youngest is 9 - considering renting DVC points but appears that all the deluxe villas only have one bed plus a sofa sleeper and pull down bed? Is this correct? Don't think my older two could last a week on a sofa sleeper - thinking maybe a moderate that sleeps 5 would be a better option? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! We are trying to make this an economical trip and not break the bank! And only on-site will do for us!

 

[Mousemommy1]

You could do:
-a family suite at AoA or All Star Music
-one room at CBR, or POR
-a cabin at Ft. Wilderness
-a room at any of the deluxes, except for WL or AKL (unless you do a CL deluxe room that sleeps 6).

Lots of options!

 

[SharonZ]

The 3rd bed in a moderate is smaller than a twin, and don't forget the extra adult charge per night for your oldest son.

 

[megs1313]

I think you're going to realistically need a 2 br somewhere. Cheapest would be AKL, then SS, then OKW.

 

[kwdw]

So - the family suite at AoA has a queen bed in the bedroom, a table bed that is a full/double size bed and much better than a sleeper sofa, and a sleeper sofa that is a full/double. Depending on who is sharing a bed - this might work for you.

The mods that sleep five - that bed that pulls down is small. I can't say how long it is - but your 9 year old would need to be short. They call it "child-sized." I saw one briefly (a long story) - and I would say I'd put 3 to 6 year old it - maybe a short 7 year old.

Cabins at Fort Wilderness would also be a great choice for you - as long as the bed combinations fit your needs.

Depending on rates/discounts, however, two value rooms might be your cheapest choice. You can request two connecting - but that's not guarantee. But - that would give you plenty of bed space!

You can move up to a deluxe or a 2br DVC villa and that would be nice - but that's definitely a large jump in price.

 

[Dakota731]

We liked the family suite. With teens we needed two bathrooms!

 

[HollVoll]

We love the idea of a family suite, but always end up at POR or CBR because of cost. Our boys will be 17, 19, and 13 this trip. Our youngest has Down syndrome and is not very tall and he does very well on the pull out bed. We are basically in the room to sleep so it works well for us. It really depends on how much time you plan to be in the room.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

that all the deluxe villas only have one bed plus a sofa sleeper and pull down bed?

Studio villas that sleep 5 are at Polynesian, Villas at Grand Floridian, Boulder Ridge Villas, Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas; the other studios only sleep 4.

A better fit might be a 1BR at Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower or Old Key West, but those will have a king bed, sofa bed and a chair bed -- so you would still be looking at a sofa bed for one child.

Another option is to book a standard room at one several deluxe resorts. The Contemporary (Garden Wing or Tower), Grand Floridian and Polynesian each have 2 queen beds and a single sleeper in each room. The single sleeper has a real mattress, so it shouldn't be classed with "sofa bed."

The murphy beds at POR and CBR may also be an option, but it depends how tall y'all are.

 

[madzy]

We are a family of 7 (5 kids under 13) and our last two trips we rented two rooms at one of the values. Price wise, it was our best option. We had plenty of space plus two bathrooms!

 

[mexi]

I would go for a deluxe resort. We are a family of 5 and usually stay at BWI. My girls were 19,17,15 in July on our last family vacation. We did one night at CBR before BWI and we definitely noticed the size difference in the rooms. The deluxe resort rooms are bigger than the mods and we always seem to have enough space. My youngest is only 5' so she sleeps on the daybed. It looks to be the same size as a twin bed and she is always very comfortable sleeping there.

 

[MichaelWill&Megan'sMom]

Unless your 9 yr old is tall, moderates are fine. We stayed at POR until my oldest was 12 (family of 5)
Now (kids are now 14, 11, 10) we love BC, and are doing a split poly/BC in three months.
Couch in a deluxe converts to an actual twin, plus two queens. Perfect for a family of 5.

 

[Brenda Kim]

I have been on 2 trips with 3 adults and 2 children, first we stayed at AoA and if this is an option, take it. Those suites are really nice and the beds are super comfortable and the bed/sofa and Murphy bed all convert very easily.

We also stayed at POR in the Alligator Bayou as they have the third bed, which is smaller than a twin bed in both length and width, but your 9 year old should fit comfortably. CBR also has this option. Bang for your buck, POR or CBR would be the way to go. But if the cost differences is amenable then AoA will give more space and and extra bathroom.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Planning a trip in February of 2018 - researching best resort options - we are a family of 5 and my two oldest are 19 and 15, youngest is 9 - considering renting DVC points but appears that all the deluxe villas only have one bed plus a sofa sleeper and pull down bed? Is this correct? Don't think my older two could last a week on a sofa sleeper - thinking maybe a moderate that sleeps 5 would be a better option? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! We are trying to make this an economical trip and not break the bank! And only on-site will do for us!

We have stayed are Port Orleans Riverside before, they have rooms that sleep 5..also Coronado springs does as well...

 

[HopperFan]

We have stayed are Port Orleans Riverside before, they have rooms that sleep 5..also Coronado springs does as well...

Coronado they would have to book a Suite and they can be expensive ... enough I'd just go to a Deluxe.

 

[maxiesmom]

We have stayed are Port Orleans Riverside before, they have rooms that sleep 5..also Coronado springs does as well...

Not Coronado, but Caribbean Beach.

I would look at getting 2 value rooms. Once you add in the additional adult fee for a single moderate, a moderate won't be so economical anyways. May as well have a set up where everyone gets a bed, if the pull outs don't work for your teenagers.

 

[Tiffanie]

Thanks everyone! Will continue to research using your suggestions!

 

[mom2my3kids]

Coronado they would have to book a Suite and they can be expensive ... enough I'd just go to a Deluxe.

I always get them confused I don't know why..

 

[happymommy]

If cost is an issue (well, when is it not?), you could also look into two rooms somewhere fun like Pop Century. It would cost less than a family suite at AOA, and have 4 real beds. Put the older two in one room (oldest is over 18, so even if they don't give you connecting rooms, I'd be comfortable with that). You can request connecting rooms, so may get them. That way you get a bed, and each child gets a bed, plus two bathrooms.