If you are planning a trip to the Walt Disney World resorts with several family members, you may be wondering what are the best Disney World hotels for large families. If you have a family like mine with four children or more, or if you are considering bringing along relatives or friends, you will want to consider the best fit before you make a reservation. I hope this post helps you learn more about the differences in the Disney World hotels to make an educated choice for your family.
What should you consider when selecting the best Disney World hotel for large families?
There are a few things to consider when selecting the best Disney World hotel for large families. First, what is your budget? This will determine a price range for your trip. Factor in the cost of tickets and determine a range for your hotel room.
Next, consider if there are certain Disney parks you would like to be closest to: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or Epcot. Are there specific amenities you value in a hotel: pools, laundry facilities, square footage, noise levels, etc? These will play into your hotel decision.
Types of Disney World Resort Hotel Rooms
Walt Disney World Resorts range in prices. Value resorts are a good option for a larger family on a tight budget. These have the best value and typically have fun Disney theming and kid-friendly amenities. Young children will enjoy the Disney characters throughout most of the value resorts and parents will appreciate the price point. Disney value resorts include:
Disney Value Resorts
- All-Star Movies Resort
- Pop Century Resort
- All-Star Music Resort (have family suites and standard rooms)
- All-Star Sports Resort
- Art of Animation Resort (Value Plus with family suites and standard rooms)
Things to Know about Value Resorts at Disney World
Value resorts have standard rooms of smaller size that will sleep four. They are about 260 square feet with the the All-Star Resorts having two double beds or one king bed. Larger families will want to price out having two standard rooms versus a suite option at Art of Animation or All-Star Music Resort. Pop Century and the renovated All-Star Music rooms feature a queen bed and a queen-sized table bed that folds down.
Value family suites have 260-275 square feet. They feature a separate bedroom area with a small kitchenette, two full baths, a small refrigerator, sink, coffee pot, and multiple beds. Most value resorts will have motel-style doors that open to the outside. Disney’s Art of Animation suites would be the exception to this, as they open to interior hallways. These suites will sleep 6 (plus an infant in the crib), making it a great choice for large families. The suites have one queen bed, one double sleeper sofa, and a double table bed or a twin sleeper chair and ottoman.
Another important fact to remember about value resorts is that they do not have sit-down restaurants. Your main dining options will be a food court or quick service option. Remember to utilize mobile dining in your My Disney Experience if you want the option to pick up your food quickly. Kids will enjoy the pools, but there are no water slides at value resorts.
The All-Star Resorts share bus transportation routes, while Pop Century and Art of Animation have their own bus routes. In addition, the Skyliner now serves Pop and Art of Animation, providing a great transportation option for Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
Disney Moderate Resorts
Disney’s moderate resorts are a great option with slightly larger hotel rooms than the value resorts. The guest rooms are typically 314 square feet. Resorts in this category include:
- Caribbean Beach Resort
- Coronado Springs Resort
- Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Port Orleans French Quarter
- Ft Wilderness Cabins
Things to Know about Disney’s Moderate Resorts
The moderate resorts also feature motel-style doors that open to the outside. Moderate resorts still have lovely theming, of the Caribbean style, Southwest/Mexican style, Louisiana, or camping. They are not particularly Disney-heavy theming.
Water slides are available at moderate resorts, as well as quiet pools (meaning no slides available). Hot tubs are present at moderate resorts. A food court, a sit-down restaurant, a pool bar, and a restaurant bar are all available at moderate resorts.
Big families will want to consider the transportation options at the moderate resorts. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort has bus and Skyliner transportation available. Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, and French Quarter offer bus transportation to all of the parks. Ft Wilderness Cabins provides boat transportation to Magic Kingdom and a bus stop for all other Disney theme parks. Port Orleans resorts offer boat service to Disney Springs.
Standard rooms at moderate resorts offer two queen beds or one king bed. Also, Port Orleans Riverside and Coronado Springs offer a fifth sleeper option with a pull-down bed (best for a child).
The Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs does offer some suite room options which some big families may find helpful. These can sleep up to 6 people. Several of these include a separate living area which is beneficial for a large family.
Fort Wilderness cabins offer 504 square feet with a queen bed and bunk beds in the bedroom, a full kitchen, and a living room with a double sofa bed. The cabins offer one bathroom. A large family may enjoy having the extra space and outside areas at the cabins to run out any extra energy (if you have any on a Disney vacation!) at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. The cabins sleep up to 6 people.
Disney Deluxe Resorts
Disney deluxe resorts offer fantastic amenities, close proximity to the theme parks, and offer large rooms. Deluxe hotel rooms at Disney World hotels average around 380 square feet. Disney deluxe resorts include:
- Wilderness Lodge
- Boardwalk Inn
- Beach Club
- Yacht Club
- Contemporary Resort
- Grand Floridian Resort
- Polynesian Village Resort
- Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Star Wars Resort (2022)
What do deluxe resorts offer?
Deluxe resorts feature interior hallways, water slides, quiet pools, and hot tubs. They are also home to fantastic table service dining, quick service, pool bars, and hotel lounges. In addition, their close proximity to the theme parks makes them a great option for guests wanting to get in and out of the parks easily.
Transportation options include bus transportation, monorail access, walking paths, and boats. If you are looking for extra space in your Disney hotel room and easy access to the parks, consider a deluxe resort.
Disney’s Deluxe Villas
Disney’s deluxe villas are great options for large groups or families looking for more space on Disney property. These villas are all part of Disney Vacation Club Resorts, which is a part of Disney’s timeshare program. You do not have to be an owner with DVC to access these properties. You can find availability at some times through Disney’s site or you can rent directly from owners from third-party sites. Deluxe villas can be found at:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Boardwalk Villas
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (Treehouse Villas)
- Old Key West
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Cooper Creek Villas and Cabins at Wilderness Lodge
- Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
- Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Villas and Bungalows
- Villas at Grand Floridian
- Riviera Resort
Things to Know about Villas at Disney World Resorts
If you are wondering about the best Disney World hotels for large families, be sure to check out the Disney villas. The villas can range in size from studios (around 370 square feet) to 1-3 bedroom villas. Larger villas are perfect for large groups wanting to spread out. Separate bedrooms, kitchen, washer/dryer, and multiple bathrooms are available – ideal for groups that would like to have plenty of room.
These villas are available at deluxe resorts, making them perfect for families who also want to be in close proximity to the theme parks. Villas also feature multiple pools, water slides, hot tubs, and plenty of amenities. Sit-down dining, quick-service dining, pool bars, and hotel lounges are available at these deluxe resorts.
Transportation options for deluxe villas include: walking to parks, bus transport, Skyliner access, boats, and monorails. All in all, if your family enjoys close access to the parks, more square footage, and has the budget, the deluxe villas could be a great option for your Walt Disney Word vacation.
So, which one is best for my large family?
Ok, now that we have reviewed all of the Walt Disney World resort categories, which one is best for your family? Let’s break it down.
Favorite Budget Option for Large Families
My favorite budget option for large families is the family suite at Art of Animation. Between the separate bedrooms, multiple beds, two bathrooms, the kitchenette, and the Big Blue Pool, I think it is a hands-down winner for large families. I also love the access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner.
Our kids loved the Finding Nemo, Lion King, and Cars suites theming, and it was the perfect option for a larger family with young kids. If the suites are out of budget, you can also consider grabbing two standard Little Mermaid rooms.
Top Moderate Option for Large Families at Disney World
Shopping for a moderate option for large families? My favorite moderate option for large families is the Fort Wilderness Cabins. I love having a separate bedroom and a full kitchen. In addition, another nice perk is the outside space. Be sure to rent a golf cart, if you stay at Fort Wilderness. The resort is large, so it will help you navigate quickly.
If you just want a standard hotel room for a family of five, I think Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans Riverside are both fantastic options. You will enjoy the amenities of both of these resorts, along with the fifth sleeper.
Favorite Deluxe Option for Large Families at Disney World
Choosing a favorite deluxe option for large families at Disney is hard. Why? Because there are so many fantastic ones! My top pick is Wilderness Lodge which can sleep up to six in the deluxe rooms. Villas can sleep up to 8. The Pacific Northwest theming is beautiful, and our family loves the quick access to Magic Kingdom.
Best Resort Near Magic Kingdom for Large Families
If you have a healthy budget, my favorite resort for families near Magic Kingdom has to be the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. The large standard rooms, suites, and villas can easily house many family members. The easy access to Magic Kingdom, including a beautiful new walking path makes it a perfect option for families wanting to get in and out of the parks quickly. It’s also the perfect spot to take in the evening fireworks.
Top Resort Near Animal Kingdom for Large Families
Wondering about the best Disney World hotels for large families that love animals? Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite resort for families wanting to be near all of the animals. The suites and villas provide a fantastic respite from the parks. Remember, you also can’t miss the dining options at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sanaa is always on our dining list, for the bread service. In addition, Boma is also a “do not miss” location for our family. Kids will love watching the animals throughout the resort.
Best Resort Near Hollywood Studios for Large Families
Beach Club Resort is my favorite for those families wanting to be close to Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk area. The beauty of this resort can’t be beaten, and the Stormalong Bay pool is phenomenal. Between its easy access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, the beautiful suites, and the amenities, Beach Club is a perfect retreat from the theme parks.
Top Resort Near Epcot for Large Families
If you love Epcot, my favorite resort has to be any of the Boardwalk resorts: Boardwalk, Yacht Club, or Beach Club. The easy access to walking right into the World Showcase, the ability to walk to Hollywood Studios, and the amazing dining options are fantastic. Make sure to check out this area for an Epcot-focused trip!
I hope this post on the best Disney World hotels for large families helps you make a great choice. Happy travels. Be sure to sign up for my free Disney World packing list below. Keep reading for more Disney-related info!
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