The Best Disney Resort for Families of 5 (or more)
For families of five or more, finding Walt Disney World accommodations to fit your family’s size, needs and budget can be a challenge. But the stress-saving, on-property extras — like extended theme park hours, free resort and airport transportation and earlier booking windows for dining and Fastpass reservations — can be invaluable for a busy Mom. There are some Walt Disney World Resort accommodation options for families of five or more to fit any budget.
This topic is very near and dear to my heart. I loved going to Walt Disney World as a kid. My Mom always had a child under 3 taking naps so we would frequently stay on the monorail so she could take the baby back and my Dad and I could ride my favorite roller coasters. Once my youngest brother was born when I was 10, we stopped going to Walt Disney World. You see at that point we became a family of 6 and there just wasn’t an accommodation option for us and my family couldn’t afford 2 rooms at a monorail resort.
Thankfully, Disney realized this was an issue for many families like ours and started developing villa properties and adding family suites. And there are now more options than ever for larger families at Disney.
Port Orleans Riverside was the first non-deluxe resort with room for more than four. Caribbean Beach has added hundreds of five-person rooms, and All Star Movies and Art of Animation offer family suites for groups of six. And of course, with the exception of the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge, all the deluxe resorts have standard rooms (with daybeds) that sleep five. There are other options, including a junior suite at Coronado Springs with room for six, plus DVC properties and deluxe resort suites where families can enjoy the amenities of connecting Deluxe Resorts.
A few quick tips:
A child under 2 is not included in the listed room capacity, a Crib can be requested from the resort without counting towards the maximum persons.
Make sure you pay attention to the number of sleep surfaces, if you have older children who refuse to share a bed you be better off with a room with twin pull out chairs.
Some of the Murphy/Pullout Options are not suitable for adults. If you are traveling with a group of adults try pricing out two rooms at a value resort that may be around the same price and give you a more comfortable arrangement.
Standard Rooms That Sleep 5
Port Orleans Riverside and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort are Moderate Resorts that both offer select rooms that have a capacity of 5. These rooms are the same size as the standard rooms with two queen beds but offer a murphy pull-down bed under the tv. When you are looking at room rates make sure you are looking at a room with “5th Sleeper” clearly designated.
This Murphy Bed is not suited for adults and should only be used by children under 12.
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside (as an example)
Best for Families with Preschool aged Children
Moderate Resort Sleeps Up to 5 People
Some rooms in the Alligator Bayou section of the resort can accommodate up to 5 people
2 Queen Beds, 1 Pull Down Murphy Bed more suited for children than adults
One Bathroom
314 square feet
Another great option is a standard room at a Deluxe Resort. All of the standard rooms at the Deluxe Resorts except Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offer a sofa or day bed for the 5th Sleeper. These can accommodate older children or an adult a little more comfortably. These rooms are a little bigger and give you a little personal space but you are still sharing a bathroom.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort (As An Example)
Best for Families with Middle schoolers/teens Children
Deluxe Resort Sleeps up to 5 People
Standard rooms can accommodate 5 people
Two Queen Beds and a Daybed
One Bathroom
391 square feet
Fort Wilderness resorts and campgrounds
Fort Wilderness Cabins
Best for Adventurous Families
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or an amateur looking to save money and try your hand at the “back-to-nature” scene, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort invites you to enjoy a unique “backwoods” experience. Set on 750 sprawling acres, the American Frontier-themed resort offers 784 private campsites and 750 air-conditioned cabins. Campsites accommodate up to 10, with many configurations and hook-up options available. Cabins are 504 square feet each and sleep six and feature one bathroom, a full kitchen and an outdoor grill. For families with older kids, or multi-generational families, cabin sleeping arrangements — which include a master bedroom with a double bed and a set of bunk beds and a living room with a Murphy bed — can be a bit tight and awkward, but for close-knit crews, Fort Wilderness is a fun, budget-stretching option. Note that cars may be parked onsite and may be used to commute to the theme parks, but cannot be driven to onsite dining and recreation. Be sure to factor the optional golf cart rental (around $60 per day) into your vacation budget.
Disney’s Deluxe Villas
Best for larger or extended family groups traveling togetheR
They offer upscale accommodations and some of the best locations closest to the parks. All Disney Villas offer themed luxury accommodations, immersive experiences and plenty of Disney Magic.
Most Disney Villas are adjacent to Disney Deluxe Resorts with the exception of Saratoga Springs and Old Key West which are standalone properties. They are technically Disney Vacation Club properties, Disney’s time share program but rooms are sold to the public like typical hotel rooms. Guests staying at the villas are free to use all of the adjacent Deluxe resort pools, restaurants, activities and features. There are so many configurations for every type of family.
Studios: Maximum Occupancy 5 (at some resorts)
Studios sleep up to five people and include one queen-size bed, one double sleeper sofa, and one small fold-down bed suitable for a child or small adult. BoardWalk studios are 412 square feet. Currently only Beach Club Villas, Boulder Ridge Villas, Boardwalk Villas, Polynesian Villas, Grand Floridian Villas, Riviera Resort can accommodate 5 in a studio.
1 Bedroom Villa: Maximum Occupancy
Some 1-bedroom villas sleeps 5 and provides a formal kitchen, a second bathroom and a living room in addition to the studio bedroom. The living room’s chair and sofa fold out to provide beds for 3 more people. The resorts at Walt Disney World that can accommodate five guests in a one-bedroom villa are: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – both Kidani Village and Jambo House. Do be careful when booking Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House, as there are one-bedroom units there that accommodate either four or five guests.
2 Bedroom Villa: Maximum Occupancy 8 (First bedroom: King bed, Second Bedroom:Queen Bed with Queen sleeper sofa, Living room with double sleeper sofa) Certain resorts will allow 9 with a convertible living room chair that converts to a twin.
2 bedroom lock off= Maximum Occupancy 8. A Lock Off means you have a one bedroom unit connected to a studio. This means there are TWO exit doors into the main guest hallways, one from each unit. (First bedroom: King bed, Second bedroom: Queen bed + Queen Sleeper sofa, Living room has double sleeper sofa, 3 bathrooms/master with whirlpool tub) Certain resorts will allow with a convertible living room chair that converts to a twin.
3 Bedroom Grand Villas-Maximum Occupancy 12 First bedroom: King bed, Second & Third bedrooms: 2 Queen bed + Queen Sleeper sofa, Living room has double sleeper sofa, 4 bathrooms/master with whirlpool tub. These have an extremely limited inventory and are typically booked by DVC members before they can reach the general public. The resorts that offer Grand Villas are: Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House, Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village, Boardwalk Villas, Grand Floridian Villas, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs Resort
The Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs only sleep 9 but they are extremely cool. I mean… who hasn’t dreamed of living in a treehouse?
***In addition to the maximum occupancy, one infant under the age of 3 can be added to any Disney Villa. Portable cribs are available in each unit.
When it comes to Walt Disney World for families of 5, larger families and multigenerational families there are more options than ever. You no longer have to choose your resort based on the room configurations you can choose a resort for it’s amenities. If you need help choosing the best resort for your family, download the guide below. It will walk you through what you should consider and help you make a decision based on your family’s needs and interests.
NEED HELP CHOOSING THE RIGHT RESORT?
The right resort can upgrade your entire Disney vacation—but with more than 25 Disney resorts and hotels to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed! I can help you so you can choose the perfect-fit resort for your family—based on your budget, travel style, and family’s interests.
DOWNLOAD the Guide to Choosing the Right Resort to understand the differences in amenities, how to choose the resort with the right location and which resorts offer the activities you are looking for.
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