Large Families at Walt Disney World
OVERVIEW: LARGE FAMILIES AT DISNEY WORLD
A large family is one that will not fit into a standard Walt Disney World hotel room—more than 4 people for values and almost all moderates, and more than 5 for most deluxe resorts.
(See this for the distinctions among the resort classes at Walt Disney World.)
The problem with connecting, adjoining, or nearby rooms as a solution is that Disney won’t guarantee that you will get them.
When you show up at Walt Disney World, your “connecting rooms” may be not connected, and in fact may be in completely different buildings at your resort.
Your chances of getting connecting rooms are best during the slow season—which is when this site recommends you go, see this for when to go—but even then, there are no guarantees.
DISNEY WORLD SOLUTIONS FOR LARGE FAMILIES
The links below present the best options–by price and family size–for large families at Walt Disney World
Room capacity figures on the pages linked below always exclude one child under 3 in a crib, which can be added to any Disney room—so always read, when a capacity figure is given, “plus one child under three at time of check in, in a crib.”
These links cover large family options
- Large families looking for low-priced rooms—what Disney calls “Value” rooms—see this page
- Large families looking for deluxe level accommodations can see recommendations on this page
- Some recommendations involve reserving Disney Vacation Club rooms, or even renting points from current Disney Vacation Club members to use. See this for more on Disney Vacation Club rooms in general, and this for more on renting points
- For suites, see this
- For staying off-site, see this
MORE ON WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- For where to stay, see this
- For your next best choices, in order, see this
- For picking your resort based on appeal to kids, see this
- For picking your resort based on convenience, see this
- For where not to stay, see this
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- For what you get in each resort price category, see this
- For Walt Disney World resort price seasons, see this
- For resort reviews, see this
- For the value resorts, see this
- For the moderate resorts, see this
- For the deluxe resorts, see this
- For suites at the deluxe resorts, see this
- For the Disney Vacation Club (“DVC”) Resorts, see this
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- For a (geeky) overview of comparative room size, see this
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- Military/DOD families should look at this
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- Families seeking the most comfortable place to stay should see this
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9 comments
You don’t need to post this comment, but I’m wondering why you don’t at least mention some off-site alternatives for large families. We have 5 in our family and since we don’t have the budget for a deluxe on Disney we nearly always stay off-site.
We usually are able to find a really nice 3-bedroom (or more) condo with kitchen and living room within a couple of miles of the front gate for under $600/week.
I realize it’s not for everybody, but a lot of large families would probably enjoy the off-site option if guided to something good like a condo or pool house.
Love your site, especially the “pick a week” application. Spot on!
Joel–see this: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/27/the-tightwads-guide-to-staying-off-site-at-walt-disney-world/
Good point about my not mentioning it out the “large families” page–I’ll put a link to it there in a second…
Thanks!! Dave
I have reviewed your information and congratulate you on a fine job. We have been going to Disney World since 1972 and have enjoyed watching it grow and evolve.
We now have need for accomadations for wheelchair and roll in shower, and I have’nt seen any information regarding recommendations for the disabled on your site. Love to see that corrected.
Thanks
Hi Larry, thanks. My first visit was also in 72…hard to believe how the time has passed.
Thanks for the thought on the disabled. I have no expertise to share, so instead recommend a book on the topic–it’s the fifth one on this page: http://yourfirstvisit.net/about-2/recommended-books/
Accessibility information on Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line can be found at http://MickeysFanClub.com
Just curious-does Disney allow a 5th person in a room? i’m refering to a standard room in the Wilderness Lodge. (The 5th person is only 4-would bring an air mattress).
Thanks in advance..
In standard Wilderness Lodge rooms, not really. They hold four, plus a third under 3 in a crib. See http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/08/25/review-disneys-wilderness-lodge/
I don’t think they will kick you out, but you won’t be able to get a room key (and hence use extra magic hours) or the dining plan for the fifth person…
Hello, I just stumbled upon this site,it is definitely a bit helpful to us. We are a family of 7, 2 adults/5children under 12! Any other advice for a family our size would be wonderful, we would like to try a disney world vacation within the next few years! Thank you!
Hi Kara! The main problem you’ll run into is finding an affordable place to stay. And you are on the right page for that!
Not sure how old your youngest is, but if under three at the time of your visit, they don’t count against room limits and enter the parks for free.
On the other hand, kids who are ten or older at the time of your visit are more expensive–park tickets are hihger, and, espedially, the dining plan…
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