Ideal Disney World Accommodations for a Family of Five

Trying to find a hotel room large enough for a family of five can be quite a challenge when visiting Walt Disney World. The opportunities for large hotel rooms are plentiful when willing to stay off the resort as many hotels, condos and resorts offer very competitive pricing and certainly undercut those rates offered up by resorts located within the park. For those that want to consider staying on "Disney grounds" and have access to the buses, dining plan, and overall 24 hour Disney experience, there are still a few Disney resorts that accommodate a family of five.

The overall decision of choosing accommodations all depends on your budget at Walt Disney World. The range of price begins at the Disney Value All Star Music resort and goes up considerably when deciding upon deluxe resorts or even the Disney Vacation Club Villas.

Value Resorts

All value resorts will accommodate families of five when the fifth individual is under the age of three. Such traveling groups may need the services of a crib, playpen, or even consider bringing an inflatable bed to accommodate this smaller extra traveler. The room will be cramped but serviceable for the group just looking for a place to rest with no plans for spending much time in the room. The resorts are very strict about getting ages for each traveler as the fifth member must be under the age of three to stay at any Disney resort. Those that have families getting older and physically larger, there is only one value resort capable of handling a group of five, All Star Music Resort. This resort has a designated grouping of two room suites that handle two adults and three children quite easily. The children's beds are conversion beds in one room adjoined by the parent's room. The upside to these suites is that a kitchenette and extra bathroom are included. These rooms were previously individual rooms that were connected via doorway midway within the suites.

If the Disney traveler is adamant about staying at a value resort other than the All Star Music, one solution to accommodating your large group may be to book two connecting rooms through the Disney resort. The chances are good Disney will be able to accommodate this request, though be warned that not all booking agents will ensure guarantee of connected rooms.

Moderate Priced Resorts

The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort appear as cabins on the outside but are actually trailer homes that can handle families as large as six. They have a very campy theme tucked in the forest and are a ways off the beaten path. They do have access to the Disney bus system though the transit involves an extra ride to a bus depot located within other location of the Fort Wilderness grounds.

The Cabins can accommodate up to six people and allow renters to cook in the unit kitchen. Disney staffers will even clean the dishes for you. If you want to take advantage of the warm hospitable Florida weather, you can even barbecue on provided grill and dine on the picnic table just outside the cabin. The bedrooms include bunk beds and a Murphy bed for children.

The other moderate resort capable of handling a family of five is the Port Orleans '" Riverside location. Alligator Bayou section is the only portion of Port Orleans Riverside that accommodates a group of this size. The rooms are just large enough for five, and offer a trundle bed for the fifth individual. Be sure to book reservations way in advance to ensure availability of getting these limited rooms.

Disney Deluxe Resorts

Just about all deluxe resorts (Polynesian, Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Board Walk, Beach Club, and Yacht Club) will offer large enough rooms capable of handling a family of five. The Animal Kingdom Lodge does not typically cater the group of five but may have a room upon request with an extra charge for a day bed to accommodate the extra person. While these rooms can be pricey, they may still be considered a decent way to go if one is traveling in the value season or comparing costs to the price of connecting rooms at a value or moderate sized suite. The other strong benefits to these rooms are quick commute to the parks via monorail or boat.

Disney Vacation Club Villas

The Villas are considered time share resorts that include Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, Old Key West Villas, Wilderness Lodge Villas, and Saratoga Springs Villas. These Villas can be rented through the resort or directly from the timeshare holder. These units vary in size from studio through three bedrooms. The added benefit to the villas is the ability to have your own kitchen, laundry, and lounging amenities right on site.

The choices for a family of five staying on Disney property are still pretty decent, though there is a new resort adjacent to the Pop Century Value resort anticipated to open in 2012. This resort will be called the Disney Art of Animation which will provide many more units capable of accommodating the larger family sizes.