Where to Stay: 4 adults 2 Children

[ejayne2]

We are trying to plan our children's first Disney visit. Right now dates are very flexible. It will be my husband, me, our kids 5 and 3 and the grandparents. Where would you recommend staying? Would it make more sense to stay in a suite or to book 2 connecting rooms.
When would you go? I want the kids to be able to use the pools but I am not wanting to go during super busy season. We will probably stay 4-5 nights.

Thanks for your help

 

[darkwing818]

If your budget can handle it, I go for either Yacht or the Beach Club. They have the best pool on Disney property (IMHO). If you go for a moderate, I'd go with Port Orleans French Quarter. These are just our 2 favorites, I'm sure you'll get many other suggestions.

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

We are trying to plan our children's first Disney visit. Right now dates are very flexible. It will be my husband, me, our kids 5 and 3 and the grandparents. Where would you recommend staying? Would it make more sense to stay in a suite or to book 2 connecting rooms.
When would you go? I want the kids to be able to use the pools but I am not wanting to go during super busy season. We will probably stay 4-5 nights.

Thanks for your help

I am not sure but I think some of the suites at AoA can sleep up to six and it may be less expensive than connecting rooms at other resorts. We have found that any time between mid Sept. and the Holidays is a great time to be at the parks due to low crowds and nice weather, and the kids will enjoy the pool. Even though your 5 year old will most likely be in kindergarden you will be able to take he/she out of school with no problem. Hope you enjoy WDW whatever decision you make

 

[robinb]

We are trying to plan our children's first Disney visit. Right now dates are very flexible. It will be my husband, me, our kids 5 and 3 and the grandparents. Where would you recommend staying? Would it make more sense to stay in a suite or to book 2 connecting rooms.
When would you go? I want the kids to be able to use the pools but I am not wanting to go during super busy season. We will probably stay 4-5 nights.

Thanks for your help

What is your budget like?

I would suggest 2 rooms, one for your family and one for the grandparents. Disney resorts are ridiculously expensive and the "Deluxe" resorts suggested earlier in the thread are $300-$400 per night at the slowest/cheapest times. All resorts have great pools for kids 3 & 5. I don't think a slide is a requirement at 5, so the Value resorts would work well for you. They are perfect for young families and young at heart. If you want something a little nicer, with a pool slide, hot tubs and sit down restaurant then you should look at the Moderate resorts. They are Disney's "inbetween" hotels. If price is no object, then go for one of the Deluxe resorts. With kids that small, I would go with something near the Magic Kingdom like the Polynesian.

I have stayed at almost all the Disney resorts and there is only one that I won't return to (All Star Music -- it's too spread out). Each has it's pluses and minuses and all of them are wonderful.

 

[Blessedwithboys]

I would choose AOA suites!! The kids will love it Have the kitchenette area and table that seats 4 really helps when grabbing breakfast and such, also I just love the bathrooms in the AOA suites! Very, very nice!

Good luck choosing and regardless you will have a great trip

 

[robinb]

I would choose AOA suites!! The kids will love it Have the kitchenette area and table that seats 4 really helps when grabbing breakfast and such, also I just love the bathrooms in the AOA suites! Very, very nice!

Good luck choosing and regardless you will have a great trip

The issue with AOA/ASMu suites as I see it is that a pair of adults is expected to sleep in the living room on the fold out couch for more than twice the price of 2 rooms in the same resort. Two rooms (request connecting, not guaranteed) is cheaper and each part of the family has their privacy and real beds.

 

[gorkt]

Consider renting DVC points. Even a 2 bedroom, especially if you stay Sunday-Thursday nights, is reasonably inexpensive for the quality of room that you get. You and your family can stay in the 1 bedroom part of the suite and your parents can stay in the studio.

 

[LovesTimone]

I suggest 2 rooms at a moderate. Being your 1st time you will be spending most of the time in the parks, and while you will want some down time at the pool and such, moderate pools are great, with slides and cool theming.

If you stay at AOA - while it sleeps 6, who will sleep on the pull out couch? not very comfortable, and the pull down might not allow enough room for both kid's to sleep comfortably. Some friends did this at AOA and they gave the room to the grandparents, and they slept on the pull out she told me they were very uncomfortable, as her husband feet and lower legs hung off the bed, and the pull down was not big enough for 2 kids. 2 and 4 - she said they went to Wal-Mart and got a blow up bed and her husband and son slept on it.

With 2 rooms - 2 bath rooms, and 4 beds (queen size now in most mod's), and the kids could take turns sleeping in grandparents room, which is special treat for them. It also gives the adults some privacy while getting ready for the day. We did this when our kiddos where little and it worked out great, we had room with the adjoining door in between, which the kiddos thought was cool.


The pools are open year around at the resorts and heated, we have been swimming while visiting during Christmas,- October is another good month, You could do the Halloween party, MNSSHP - It would be fun everyone can get dressed up, and trick or treat. Great Memories.

Not sure if you are doing the dining plan, you might want to check this out, There is a lot of chatter about the dinning plan, We love it, DH loves know that all the meals are paid for ( we do ddxdp which works for our family)I like knowing everyone can get what they want, You have to make that choice, but do check out this option. Character meals get very expense, but they are a must do at this age, most are buffets which everyone can find something, the characters come to you at the table, which keep you from having to stand in line to see them and get autographs, and air conditioning, and taking a breather from the parks.
YOu can check out menus and photo here and over on Allears site, This biggest tip I can give is make advance dinning reservations, ADR,

Check out park hours, parade time, Hard ticket events ( such as the Halloween party, Christmas party etc.,,)

Okay this is the biggest tip I can give, Know that your not going to be able to see it all, enjoying what you can see and do. Make the Memories..

Have a really magical time.

 

[Blessedwithboys]

The issue with AOA/ASMu suites as I see it is that a pair of adults is expected to sleep in the living room on the fold out couch for more than twice the price of 2 rooms in the same resort. Two rooms (request connecting, not guaranteed) is cheaper and each part of the family has their privacy and real beds.

I get what you are saying
I guess it depends on what you are used to! When we went our parents had the master area with bathroom and a queen bed and full bathroom for just the two of them. Of course the kids went in there and played etc, etc. My husband and I slept on the pull out coach (well really one of ended up on murphy bed with DS) and we had a pack n play for DS2. My family of 4 used the outer area with the two sleeping areas, kitchenette and that bathroom as our main camp and my parents got the master area for themselves. We liked it much better as my parents were happy to have a queen bed opposed to a double and that big bathroom they did not have to share. With the above situation they would need 3 rooms.... each only sleeps 4 and they have 10 people. I think they would probably be happier in 2 suites or even 1 suite and a single room! But I am sure the OP will know what is best!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I counted 6 people, but I could have misunderstood. I love POFQ and would stay in 2 rooms there. The resort has a very kid friendly pool, is small so the walking is minimized, has a nice food court, and I never had an issue with bus service.

 

[robinb]

With the above situation they would need 3 rooms.... each only sleeps 4 and they have 10 people. I think they would probably be happier in 2 suites or even 1 suite and a single room! But I am sure the OP will know what is best!!

I think they have 6 people total: 2 parents, 2 kids and 2 grandparents.

 

[NC Disney Fan]

We have traveled with our 2 girls (starting when they are 5 & 7), to Disney for 9 nights in September for the past 6 years. Here is my thoughts on it. First, you have young ones--do they need naps, rest time? This could make a huge difference in where you chose. If you need to return to the resort often and/or have a lot of time in the rooms, then chosing your room or resort is very important. Obviously, if this is the case, you may want to look at an option that allows you some separate living space from the sleeping. A suite may offer this despite the pullout couch. While I wouldn't want to sleep on one, the truth of the matter is that you are exhausted at the end of a day and everyone passes out so luxury sleeping may not matter so much. A connecting room would also allow this separation as well. If it were me, even though I love my inlaws, I would chose adjoining rooms. That way the spaces are separate, there are 2 bathrooms and it may be easier to accommodate sleeping styles and times.

Now the next question is: How rich are you? Certainly the deluxe resorts offer a BIT bigger of a room but not huge. However, the luxury of being on the monorail system (if you stay at Polynesain, Grand Floridian or Contempory) is huge if you have to return to the resort for naps and downtime. We have never had the luxury of staying there but I have to admit, it looks so nice. Additionally, many have balconies which could be a nice feature if you kids are napping.

If your kids do not need naps, here is my thought. My husband and I have jealously envied those staying at the deluxe and even moderate resorts for years. But here is what we found. We barely are in our room! We sleep in and leave to get to the parks about 10 am. We stay until the bitter end. At those point, we return to our rooms and collapse in our beds. Even when a park closes early, my girls want to go to the pool. Again, the room is used so little that it does not make sense to spend the extra money. It would be like throwing money away. So we have always stayed in the value resorts because as we figure it, if we upgraded to the higher level hotels, it would cost us about half of our next DIsney vacation. For us, it is a no brainer.

What sexes are your children? That makes a difference on where I might suggest. For kids in the deluxe, I think that Polynsian is the most Kid friendly and magical. The others seem a bit stuffy for kids. For moderate, we have never stayed (will be at POFQ this september) so I cannot really make a great recommendation. I think the POFQ is better than PORS for your kids as RS has a ton of space and therefore walking. Carribean Beach looked great if you don't live in a beachy area.

My expertise is in the values. Again, for what you get, this is your best value especially over moderates. All Star Movies is a great little resort. It seems a bit more quiet than the other values and has the decor that your little ones will love. Pop is a fun resort but it is huge! Also, I think the decor will be lost on them as it features icons of the past decades that will not be so personal to them. I do love Pop but being so big, I'm thinking this wouldn't be my first choice. I have to agree that Art of Animation would be a good choice as well. It certainly is brilliant in it's ambiance and full of color and excitement for kids your age. We peaked in a family suite room and were impressed but adjoining rooms would be better (in my opinion). The pool is so colorful and kid focused. It is huge like Pop so you need to consider this. I would also like to suggest that you look at the resort schematic for AofA. If the connecting rooms are only in the two original buildings (that look like Pop buildings and don't have interior walkways) and that are the furthest out, I may consider not doing AofA. Again, with little exhausted ones and parents, consider the resort and needs of your family.

One last suggestion, Do your homework and make a reservation request. If you feel you need a closer building to the main hall or a bus stop due to the ages or your kids or parents, make the request. It is not a guarantee but they are very good about trying to honor a request. Hope this all helped.

 

[Sue M]

The issue with AOA/ASMu suites as I see it is that a pair of adults is expected to sleep in the living room on the fold out couch for more than twice the price of 2 rooms in the same resort. Two rooms (request connecting, not guaranteed) is cheaper and each part of the family has their privacy and real beds.

I would agree with this. The Family Suites are just not set up for 2 sets of adults sleeping on fold outs in the living room.
I'd go for 2 rooms at which ever resort you have the budget for. There are many in all price ranges.
Allears.net has extensive resort photos & video of all the resorts plus fact sheets with price charts for all the seasons. Keep in mind Disney does put out promos for dining, or room discounts.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Well, if I was the Grandparents I'd want my own room so I'd go for 2 rooms, have the reservation linked and request connecting rooms.
Now that is only a request so you may end up with adjoining rooms instead but that would work well too.

And I'd most likely stay at a moderate resort.

As far as when - Based on your kids ages - I'd probably avoid summer, January, and unless you want to do food and wine festival - I'd also avoid October. That's because of crowds and in January the parks are full of tour groups which also makes it busy.