Recommended hotel for a family of 5 (First visit)

[ShaunZa]

Hi all,

My family will be visiting WDW for the first time from South Africa. We are planning on staying in a Disney hotel for at least 7 nights (as we are unlikely to return anytime soon) early December 2016. But we need advice on which hotel we can stay in that will accommodate our family of 5.

As my children are young, aged 6, 6 and 4 - we need to have a room that can accommodate all of us or have a really excellent chance of being awarded inter-connecting rooms.

We are setting aside a big budget for the trip and I don't believe this will be a constraint. A friend recommended the 1 bedroom villa at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Hotel as there are two bathrooms and there will be a partition between our room and the kids sleeping quarters.

Any advice on where to stay (except the Animal Kingdom lodge which has less appeal coming from Africa) is HUGELY appreciated!

Thanks in advance

 

[MaryJaneP]

Our first visit with 5 (Kids 8,5,18months) was in a one room Garden Wing at Contemporary. We would definitely support the two bathroom BLT. Not available at that time. We were rarely in our room and Monorail access and walkway to MK were huge pluses.

 

[sfeinst]

Assuming the other 2 people are adults, I would recommend 2 rooms at AllStars (if 2 little ones can share beds - they are full not queen so tight for 2 adults). One adult in one room with 2 kids in a bed and the other adult with the other child in the other room. Or get 2 connecting rooms (I've never had problems doing this especially if you tell them young children) and keep the door between rooms open. Matter of fact just got back and my kids are 18 and 19 and we still had no problem getting connecting rooms. This way you get 2 bathrooms. AllStar Music also has suites (which are basically 2 rooms without the wall, but only 1 bathroom).

Another option is Fort Wilderness camp grounds. Never stayed there, but they have cabins which can hold a bunch of people.

Those are the cheap options. The more expensive ones are the villas (as your friend recommended). If budget is not an issue, go for it. The higher end hotels are better than the cheaper ones.

 

[Stitchiegrl23]

Some of the Poly rooms have two queens and a day bed....I don't know how your kids are with sharing

 

[Jahona]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/groups/

Besides that article, Port Orleans Riverside has both conjoined rooms as well as a pull out bed under the TV. I believe most values and moderates have conjoined rooms

 

[sxeensweet]

Also Animal Kingdom Kidani Village (not Jambo) has 2 full bathrooms like BLT in a 1 bedroom villa. Those are the only two DVC resorts with 2 full bathrooms in a 1 bed Villa, and also have the sleeper sofa, and a sleeper chair in the living room. So easily would fit 5 of you comfortably. Also in the Villas you have a washer/dryer in the room and a full kitchen. We love Kidani! So much so we bought into DVC after staying there several times.
Also there are the suites at Art of Animation Resort that can accomadate 5 and also has 2 full bathrooms in the rooms. That resort would be wonderful for the kiddos as it is heavily themed with Disney! People rave about it that have young kiddos.

 

[UofMGuy423]

With little kids and this being your only trip for a few years, I would definitely recommend anything at the Contemporary or the Poly. You'll want to take advantage of the Monorail access and being close to the MK. Have a great trip!

 

[sxeensweet]

With little kids and this being your only trip for a few years, I would definitely recommend anything at the Contemporary or the Poly. You'll want to take advantage of the Monorail access and being close to the MK. Have a great trip!

I'd add the Grand Floridian Resort/or Villas, or Wilderness Lodge Resort/ or Villas for that aspect of being in the monorail (Grand Floridian) or a quick boat ride away (Wilderness Lodge). For me personally the Poly or Comtemporary does nothing for me and DH. We go eat and shop at those resorts but that's it and never really liked the rooms there over other resorts mentioned but that's just our opinion as many do love those 2 resorts.

 

[zurgandfriend]

The Poly, Contemporary and Grand Floridian all have 2 queen beds and a day bed. POR I used to have a trundel bed but I believe they were replaced by a piece of furniture that can be converted into a bed.

 

[ladydi]

I'd stay at the poly or GF with kids that age. We are also a family of five and can fit in one room at the poly, GF, CR, boardwalk, and beach and yacht club. All have two queens and a day bed. POR can also fit five but I thought it was very small when we tried it for a night. My three are older than yours though.

 

[pixiesteno]

You might want to consider staying in the Cabins at Fort Wilderness Campground. They will sleep 6 people and give you a living area and a full kitchen. They have a fold down bed in the living area, a queen bed in the bedroom and a set of bunk beds. There is a deck on each cabin and a grill, should you want to do any grilling. The campground is a wonderful place and there are many outdoor activities for children to do, in addition to the parks. Have a wonderful trip

 

[JAG107]

I also vote Bay Lake Tower 1 bedroom. The proximity to MK is highly valued (10 minute walk or monorail ride), and I assume you will be spending much of your time at that park given your young ones' ages. The buses are very reliable and less crowded than many of the other resorts, and you can monorail to Epcot. I wouldn't recommend the All Stars unless you are low on budget funds. AoA I haven't stayed at personally, but know the cost is high for suites, making the "value" label a bit of a misnomer. Great Disney theming there, however.

 

[Blairnicol]

For Christmas I would look into Wilderness Lodge & do two regular rooms. The theming there at Christmas is spectacular. With minors I believe you are guaranteed connecting rooms. You could also look into a two bedroom DVC villa there, which sleeps 8 (1 king, 2 queens & a pullout) and has 2 bathrooms. The GF is also gorgeous at Christmas. The regular rooms there sleep 5 with two queens and a daybed & the deluxe studios also sleep 5 with 1 queen, one queen-sized pull-out & a daybed. My next pic would be the Poly. Not super christmas-y, but the regular rooms & deluxe studios also sleep 5 (same set-up as GF). Another choice (though not as convenient or well apointed) would be one of the Art of Animation suites (sleeps 6-1 queen & two queen pullouts, plus 2 bathrooms & a door between bedroom & the rest of the suite) or Alligator Bayou at Port Orleans Riverside (2 queens & a murphy bed & this resort is lovely at Christmas).

Check out yourfirstvisit.net for ideas for your first trip & allears.net for floor plans & room photos.

 

[fgmnt]

The 1BR at the Bay Lake Tower would provide a lot of value outside of the room itself. Kids at that age would definitely want to be in MK more than any other park and the Contemporary Resort has walkway to MK as well as the monorail. Since you are coming from South Africa and won't have your own car with you, if there is a problem with a kid where you have to go back to the room RIGHT NOW THIS INSTANT you aren't beholden to the bus system at MK or Epcot. With money being no object, I would totally recommend either this or a GFL 1 BR.

 

[DaisyDoesDisney]

Since you have a big budget and small children my vote is for a Deluxe size room at a Deluxe resort. All of the deluxe resorts are top notch but Grand Floridian and Beach Club do the best job of providing larger luxurious accommodations, in my opinion. Deluxe rooms give you two beds plus an extra seating/living area with a convertible bed. Grand Floridian giving you magnificent luxury all around as well as access to the monorail and Magic Kingdom....Beach Club being a great choice for the superior pool complex and easy, quick access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.