More than Four (or Five)? Disney Accomodations for Larger Families

Hi folks!   I would like to welcome back our very first guest blogger Lori Potter.  Since her first blog post with us, she has officially joined the TMC Travel family.  Lori is a mom of four and has great experience travelling with a larger brood!

New Innova Bed at Art of Animation.  Is it a table or a bed?
Photo courtesy of Disney

We have a family of 6, which according to Disney it makes us a large family.  And because of that it makes our accommodation options at Disney a bit more limited.  Thankfully Disney is finally realizing that more and more families have more than 2 kids and has just built the beautiful Art of Animation resort which adds a ton more family suites into their inventory at a more affordable price.  So what are the on-property resort options for a family of 6?

The most economical way to go is actually 2 rooms at a Value resort.  If you are a family traveling together with one adult in each room then Disney will give you priority on adjoining rooms.  If you don’t mind Value accommodations this is a great option.  However, there are some more options if you want to all stay in one room. 

The Value resorts All Star Music and Art of Animation have Family Suites that are specifically designed for a family of 6.  My family just stayed in a Family Suite at the All Star Music and we really enjoyed our time there.  It is a Value resort so the doors open to exterior hallways and the linens are well, not as nice as some resorts but all in all it was a great fit for us.  When you open the door you walk into the family room.  There is a sofa (that turns into a double bed), a chair (which makes a twin size bed) and an ottoman (that folds out into a bed!).  Off to the side there is a vanity area with good storage for suitcases and a bathroom.   There is also a “kitchenette” which has a microwave, small fridge and a counter area.  There is a bedroom (with a door) that has a double bed, TV and desk area.  Across from the bedroom is another bathroom.   So two bathrooms, beds for 6 and ample storage space!  Our suite was in Jazz Inn 9.  It was sort of in the middle of the resort.  We didn’t have to walk too far to the pool or the main building which houses the food court and the bus stops.  There was also parking close to our room which was convenient for us since we drove.  Art of Animation is a brand new resort and will have a similar layout for their family suites.   However, instead of an ottoman there will be table that folds out into a bed!  A table!  Can’t wait to see these in person and hopefully stay there at an upcoming trip. 

In the moderate resort category the Cabins at Fort Wilderness are a great option.  The cabins are individual buildings set at the beautiful Fort Wilderness campground.   They are equipped with a full kitchen, one bathroom, bedroom with a double bed and a set of bunk beds and a family room that has a pull down double Murphy bed.  Each cabin also has a private patio.  We love this option as we don’t have to worry too much about the kids being so loud they disturb neighbors.  We also love having the bedroom for the kids so we can stay up later (well that’s the though anyways..we are usually more tired than the kids!).  Fort Wilderness is a fun place to stay – there are always tons of activities going on around the resort like nightly movies and a Chip and Dale Sing-a-long by the campfire.  It has a great restaurant – Trail’s End and a fabulous dinner show – The Hoop De Doo.  Transportation can be a little bit of challenge – the resort is very large so there are buses to take you around to different spots around the resort as well as to the Disney transportation areas.  It is a quick boat ride to the Magic Kingdom and you take buses everywhere else. 

If you are looking for a little more luxury in your resort stay Disney has several Deluxe Villas that will accommodate a family of 6.  There resorts are part of the Disney Vacation Club are designed with luxury and comfort in mind.   There are 8 villas that have 2 bedrooms that will fit a family of 6:  Saratoga Springs, Beach Club, Boardwalk, Old Key West, Animal Kingdom (both Jambo and Kidani), Wilderness Lodge and Bay Lake Towers.  Fair warning – these resorts can be very pricey and the two bedrooms at some of them (Bay Lake Towers) are pretty hard to come by since Disney Vacation Club members have priority for them.  However, the villas are spacious, beautiful and very comfortable (and they have washers and dryers!).  A great option if it fits your budget.  These resorts all have full kitchens and at least 2 bathrooms. 

We’d love to help you find a great resort fit for your family of 6 or more!  Call us today!!