When the Grandparents are coming...where to stay?

[Hisgirl]

We'd really like to take the two grandkids WITH their mama to WDW. But what resort?

We normally stay at GF or AKL, but we're gonna need a bed for us, a bed for daughter and bed for the kids to share. So three beds. We'd prefer not to have to get two rooms.

Are there any resorts that aren't astronomical that would accommodate this group?

 

[pvj1970]

Yes, Caribbean Beach and POR both have pull down beds to fit 5's

 

[Tiggerish]

Would you consider a DVC Fort Wilderness cabin? That has a queen bed and a set of bunk beds in the bedroom and a queen pull down bed in the living room.

 

[HopperFan]

All Star Music Family Suites would work if you want to stay together.
Queen Bedroom and bathroom for YOU two.
Living Room converts to two queen beds for daughter & kids.
Additional bathroom for them.
Kitchenette with full size fridge.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/all-star-music-resort/rates-rooms/

 

[elvispursley]

Art of Animation in one of the family suites. I know when we would and take my mom (DGM), we did CR. She slept in the bed with one of my sons and the other son slept on the daybed. You could do the same at any of the deluxe resorts that sleep 5. You also could stay in a DVC villa.

 

[katyjeka]

I understand you don't want 2 rooms but I would go with 2 value rooms. The space and privacy will benefit all. Enjoy your trip.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

GF rooms sleep 5. 2 queen beds and one sofa bed

 

[KGmomoftwins]

I would look into Dvc at the boardwalk or wilderness lodge. You could get a 2 bedroom at the wilderness or boardwalk and have 2 bathrooms, full kitchen, and laundry. Plus all the perks of a deluxe resort. Or 2 studios at any dvc resort that connect. You would have to price out which is cheaper. Or fort wilderness like a previous person posted would be great.

 

[sponica]

I'd honestly get 2 rooms at a value resort, then you get 2 bathrooms and 4 beds and nobody has to share a bed if they don't want to. (My kids are terrible bed sharers).

When we've done this trip, we've done 2 rooms so that we have space apart at the end of the night (and even that was sometimes too much together time)

 

[justafigment27]

We stayed deluxe for years - the last big family trip, we stayed at Art of Animation in a family suite and I’m a fan. DH and I had our own bedroom/bathroom and our college kids had their own beds and bathroom. It was so nice to have our own bathroom (with a walk in shower - the other bathroom has a tub/shower combo) and a private bedroom, yet still be all together in the same room. You lose the balcony, the hot tub and a sit down restaurant vs. a deluxe, but the pool areas are incredibly well themed and you gain the skyliner.

 

[Wood Nymph]

You haven't mentioned the age of the children. I think that their age would factor into your choice. You have stayed at the GF so you know how much room you would have in one of the rooms. Any deluxe that sleeps five would work if you want to keep costs down.

Two rooms at a moderate like Port Orleans Riverside would give everyone their own beds, two bathrooms and a little privacy for just about the cost of a deluxe room. Kids can get very crabby during a WDW trip. They are out of their element and often don't get enough sleep. Separate rooms would be nice.

If you decide to book two rooms then get what is called a multi-room reservation. You have to call Disney reservations to do this. You book two rooms under one reservation number for the best chance of getting connecting rooms. It puts everyone under the same reservation number and makes it easier when you are doing mobile orders, etc. And all room charges go to the one reservation. We made a mulit-room reservation when we took our son and two grandchildren to the BC. Our MagicBands opened both room doors, which made it easy to access either room.

 

[DisneyFive]

Why opposed to two rooms? Request connecting rooms and you'll have a door internal to the room that can be opened connecting the two. Typically more beds and two full bathrooms and a lot more space? Lots of resorts have this. I think if there is a minor in each room then they gaurantee the connecting room request. (I could be wrong on that. You should check the rules on connecting room gaurantees). I know that in our instance, for our upcoming stay the 5 of us are all 18+ and they won't gaurantee connecting rooms but we have requested it. We have absolutely gotten connecting rooms when requested up until this year when our kids were younger and at least one was under 18

 

[Sandi]

Why opposed to two rooms? Request connecting rooms and you'll have a door internal to the room that can be opened connecting the two. Typically more beds and two full bathrooms and a lot more space? Lots of resorts have this. I think if there is a minor in each room then they gaurantee the connecting room request. (I could be wrong on that. You should check the rules on connecting room gaurantees). I know that in our instance, for our upcoming stay the 5 of us are all 18+ and they won't gaurantee connecting rooms but we have requested it. We have absolutely gotten connecting rooms when requested up until this year when our kids were younger and at least one was under 18

My understanding is that WDW does not guarantee connecting rooms. I've seen that where there is one adult with minor children where more than one room is needed, they really work with the guest to get connecting rooms, but I'm not sure that even in that case it is guaranteed. The suites, Fort Wilderness, and DVC resorts can accommodate larger groups more easily.

 

[CarolynFH]

Or 2 studios at any dvc resort that connect.

NB: The only DVC resorts that have connecting studios are the Poly DVC Deluxe Studios in the longhouses (not in the new Island Tower) and the VGF Resort Studios in BPK (not the Deluxe Studios in the original VGF building). And like other WDW resorts, being assigned connecting studios is by non-guaranteed request, not booking.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

So many factors

 

[loves to dive]

If you don't mind the values, look in the suites at A0A and All Stars Music (I think it's music). I'd go music since those have actual little mini kitchens with a full sized fridge.

 

[DisneyFive]

If you don't mind the values, look in the suites at A0A and All Stars Music (I think it's music). I'd go music since those have actual little mini kitchens with a full sized fridge.

Not a bad idea.

Our case: We tacked on one additional day to our 8 night stay next week, making it 9 nights. We added one day at All Star Music in a family suite. 3 queen beds, a separate bedroom, a full size fridge and microwave, and two showers. All for $400 total and we get to do the water parks "for free" that day. My wife and I toured ALL the Disney resorts about 10 years ago while I was staying at the Contemporary for a work conference and the All Stars weren't our favs but I'm willing to give them a shot for the price and the extra day.

 

[Pridemom]

We'd really like to take the two grandkids WITH their mama to WDW. But what resort?

We normally stay at GF or AKL, but we're gonna need a bed for us, a bed for daughter and bed for the kids to share. So three beds. We'd prefer not to have to get two rooms.

Are there any resorts that aren't astronomical that would accommodate this group?

We are going with our son’s family (2 adults and 2 kids) and reserved two DVC deluxe studios.

 

[erinch]

When we needed to expand, we moved to the Vistana, by renting points thru owner thru TUG. It was no longer a vacation to have that many people crowded in 1 room.

 

[ShaneDJ]

Rent DVC points to get a 3-bedroom Grand Villa at AKL Jambo.