Opinions For Party of 5 Please

[ajgardner]

Have you considered renting DVC points and finding a 1 or 2 BR villa that would accommodate all of you?

I don’t know much about dvc point renting, I will look into it. Does this allow for 60 day FastPass?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don’t know much about dvc point renting, I will look into it. Does this allow for 60 day FastPass?

yes

 

[Macprincess]

Family of five, with two in college at the moment so we are at that age where we have been traveling with boyfriends and girlfriends lately. We are also Florida residents who live just far enough away that we typically stay for at least a long weekend. I'm totally cool with getting two rooms and my own kids sleeping in a separate room. However, when the boyfriends or girlfriends join us this won't work for my comfort zone. I much prefer everyone under one roof when we do these types of trips.

If you find that a 2 bedroom on site is out of your budget. I would consider Bonnet Creek or Windsor Hills. Rent a car because the buses are not that great if your use to Disney transportation. Yes, this will be a different type of trip than your use to, but there are some perks in condo stays that being crammed in typical hotel room won't give you. For starters, for a party this size even with a car rental and parking it's probably going to cost less. You may even be able to get a three bedroom, 2 bath unit in your budget. You will have full kitchen so you can do easy snacks and if you want some easy meals in the condo as well. Having a washer and dryer is really nice. (I read you guys are doing a cruise as well so the washer and dryer in the condo is wonderful for trips like this.) Space with teens is always a good thing! Also, if you rent a car consider renting from a company that has a location near the port and arrange for drop off there. In Florida they do not charge and extra fee for drop off at a different location than where you pick up the car, but do let them know this is the plan when you book. For Five people the cost of Disney transfers from resort to port and back to the airport may actually be about equal to what a rental car wold cost. It's a very easy drive from the Disney area to the port, but do take small bills and quarters for the toll roads.

I know your probably considering The Double Tree in Disney Springs for the 60 day fast pass window. I guess I see this point, but we hardly ever do our fast passes 60 days out and still manage just fine. If your really freaked about this book your first night onsite at what ever an onsite is most cost effective for you and then move over to the condo. That way you you can book your fast passes at 60 days out and still have the comfort of the space you need. We have stayed at the Double Tree in Disney Spring an while its okay, clean, safe and staff is nice it lacks anything exciting and the pool is basic and boring.

Best of luck in what ever you decide. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[thr33boys]

My thought was husband and I in one queen, my son and daughter in the other queen and the boyfriend on the sleeper. My daughter and son wouldn’t care about sharing, not that they wouldn't prefer their own bed.

Have you considered 2 rooms at a moderate? That would give you 4 beds and 2 bathrooms. You and yourDH in one room with your daughter and the 2 boys in the other room. All ‘kids’ would have their own bed.

 

[ajgardner]

Have you considered 2 rooms at a moderate? That would give you 4 beds and 2 bathrooms. You and yourDH in one room with your daughter and the 2 boys in the other room. All ‘kids’ would have their own bed.

I was considering booking two rooms and requesting them to be connecting rooms, but I know that’s not guaranteed. I am not sure how I feel about my daughter and boyfriend being alone (well, my son would be there but still) in a non-connected room on a family vacation even though they’re 19.5... I’m starting to feel like okaying him coming was a mistake, but he’s never been to Disney so I was kind of excited for him!

 

[bclittle]

If you are worried about having your daughter and bf in a room, then why not get a Family Suite at All Star Music? They are being refurbished right now, but there would be a queen bed for you and your husband in the bedroom, and then the kids can go in the living room. The older rooms even have 3 sleeping surfaces in the living room which would be perfect for your situation! And the new rooms have one bed in the bedroom and 2 queen murphy beds in the living room. Plus you get all the onsite perks and don't break the bank or have to worry about too much alone time in a 2 bedroom option. Seems like a great option for your family!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Our family of five loved the cabins. I mean loved them. The only issue you might have is that the bunk beds are short and small. We have two kids and the women in the family were short, so we fit in the bunk beds, but for five adults who are 5’5 or taller, it might be a tight squeeze.
Fort Wilderness feels totally like Disney for me- and I’m a bit of a Disney snob. Only reservation might be the size of the bunk beds.

I’d get two rooms at Pop if it were me and I didn’t think we’d fit in the bunk beds. Then maybe have the boys bunk together and the girls bunk together.

I think it’s great you invited the boyfriend. Sounds like a fun trip.

 

[ajgardner]

If you are worried about having your daughter and bf in a room, then why not get a Family Suite at All Star Music? They are being refurbished right now, but there would be a queen bed for you and your husband in the bedroom, and then the kids can go in the living room. The older rooms even have 3 sleeping surfaces in the living room which would be perfect for your situation! And the new rooms have one bed in the bedroom and 2 queen murphy beds in the living room. Plus you get all the onsite perks and don't break the bank or have to worry about too much alone time in a 2 bedroom option. Seems like a great option for your family!

I will have to look into it. I was focusing on the deluxe and moderate resorts because it’s what we’ve been use to.

 

[bclittle]

I will have to look into it. I was focusing on the deluxe and moderate resorts because it’s what we’ve been use to.

I recently planned a trip with 5 adults and the two bathrooms of the family suites made it a great option and it was affordable, we even got a room discount from Disney for the suite! Doing two rooms with a boys room and girls room would also work! I like the idea of Pop with the Skyliner!

Happy planning!

 

[Karebear]

Thanks for that info! I assumed that knowing it’s a party of 5 would they would automatically give us a room with the daybed. Good to know this isn’t necessarily the case. That certainly throws a wrench in the plan. I don’t think I could get my husband to go back to Pop even though they changed, he has very poor memories of that stay.

They will do their best to give you a room with a daybed as you are a party of 5. If there is not a room with a daybed available, they will give you a rollaway free of charge. I have stayed at the YC/BC many times and have always gotten a daybed. We are a family of 4 but I have a son and daughter who hate sharing a bed. YC is my favorite resort.

 

[Rockette]

I'd go for two rooms at the All Stars, or family suites if you can book one. Connecting rooms would be perfect, and cheaper than a single room at the deluxe resorts.. and you'd have more space. It'll allow you the Dining Plan, as well as the other perks.

2 parents with two full grown kids plus a boyfriend? That's gonna be a packed room. I don't even want to think of the bathroom arrangements. I'd gladly book two rooms at All Stars to avoid dealing with 5 people that need to shower & use the bathroom throughout the day.

 

[tvsdisney]

Thanks for that info! I assumed that knowing it’s a party of 5 would they would automatically give us a room with the daybed. Good to know this isn’t necessarily the case. That certainly throws a wrench in the plan. I don’t think I could get my husband to go back to Pop even though they changed, he has very poor memories of that stay.

You will automatically get a room with a daybed and for 5 people. Have you thought about a deluxe room at BC? That sleeps 6.

 

[ajgardner]

You will automatically get a room with a daybed and for 5 people. Have you thought about a deluxe room at BC? That sleeps 6.

It shows up as not available

 

[ladyderks]

Rent DVC points for a one bedroom at OKW. Two queens, a pull out couch, and a sleeper chair. Full kitchen, lots of space, low points/$$

 

[CNYMickeyFan]

Possibly consider renting points and getting a 2 BDR at Old Key West if available. We comfortably slept 6 there (1 King and 2 queens). The boyfriend can have the pull-out.

 

[Marionnette]

Rent DVC points for a one bedroom at OKW. Two queens, a pull out couch, and a sleeper chair. Full kitchen, lots of space, low points/$$

A 1BR at OKW does not have 2 queen beds. It has a king bed in the bedroom plus a queen sofa bed and a single sleeper chair in the living room.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I was considering booking two rooms and requesting them to be connecting rooms, but I know that’s not guaranteed. I am not sure how I feel about my daughter and boyfriend being alone (well, my son would be there but still) in a non-connected room on a family vacation even though they’re 19.5... I’m starting to feel like okaying him coming was a mistake, but he’s never been to Disney so I was kind of excited for him!

I read the pp's suggestion differently:
Room 1: You and your spouse in 1 queen bed, your daughter in the other queen bed
Room 2: Your son in one queen bed and boyfriend in the other queen bed.

 

[SharonZ]

I would still opt for two rooms for sleeping surfaces, two bathrooms, and JMO - I think that your son and daughter should have their own beds.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You will automatically get a room with a daybed and for 5 people.

Nothing automatic about it. It's not bookable. It's at the pleasure of the assignor, and if there's not one open on check-in day, or if the assignor is sleepy... doesn't happen. People have needed those rooms and been assigned rooms that don't have 5 sleep surfaces, or get the king+daybed for 5 people.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I wouldn't want to share a room with my family plus a person who isn't family. I would get two rooms at a moderate or value.

I would do the rooms like this:

DH and yourself in one queen and then DD in the other queen - same room

DS and BF each in a queen in the other room

I believe that if you are inviting your almost 20 year olds boyfriend on vacation you need to be ok with them having alone time because they will find a way.

I personally would probably say no because I wouldn't want to change my entire vacation for an extra person. DS turns 20 tomorrow and if he asked me today if he could bring his girlfriend on our next vacation it would be a NO immediately. If it was his wife or fiancé that would be a different story.