Disney for a Family of Five!
Traveling with a family of 5 in a world built for 4 can be very tricky! Either all the kids have to sleep in one bed, someone has to sleep on an uncomfortable sofa bed, or you have to upgrade to two rooms or a suite! Disney knows that not all families are built the same. They have some really great options specifically for families of 5!
Two moderate resorts, Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans Riverside Resort, both have rooms with a 5th sleeper option. This means that in addition to two queen beds the room has a child sized pull down bed. The child size bed is smaller than a twin bed, but plenty big for a child. Our kids love to sleep on the 5th sleeper bed. The mattress is quite comfortable, much more so than a normal pull out bed. We love this option because you get all the amenities of a moderate resort, and the price point is great for a family!
If you want a little more room, Disney offers family suites at Art of Animation Resort and All Star Music Resort. These suites have a bedroom with a queen bed, two convertible double beds, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette. These are the only rooms at value resorts that have the capacity for more than 4 people. Art of Animation has some great amenities for families including the largest pool on Disney property and easy access to the Disney Skyliner for transportation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot.
If your budget allows, many of the Walt Disney World Resort “Deluxe Resorts” do have options for families of 5. These options range from fifth sleeper type day beds, to villas, and suites! Obviously the Deluxe Resorts are pricer but they do have tons of perks! A few of the perks include proximity to the parks, varying transportation options, more and varied food and restaurant choices, and other amenities. These resorts are truly magical!
Now that you’ve settled on a resort, here are several tips and tricks that will make your trip as a family of 5 MAGICAL! Before you get to the park, everyone should pick their “must do” for the day. This can be a ride, show, snack, or character meet and greet. Make a plan to knock these out early in the day, that way when something unexpected comes up, you have already made magic for everyone in your party. If you are using Genie+ for the day, it is a good idea to book one of your must do’s as your first selection- this way you will skip the long lines as the day goes on.
A few things to keep in mind: Many of the boat type rides and the rides without a height requirement are capable of holding at least 3 people in each row. This was very helpful for our family because this way all of the kids got a chance to ride with a parent! Disney requires kids to be at least 7 years old to ride without an adult next to them, cast members will ask their age at each ride. If two kids (7 and older) are riding without adults, Disney will require that they sit in front of the adults in the party. Anyone under the age of 7 must ride with someone 14 or older, even if they exceed the height requirement. If you have kids who do not meet the height requirement, don't forget to utilize “rider swap.” Talk to the cast member at the “Lightning Lane” entrance, they will scan your Magic Bands and get you all set up. Rider swap allows one parent to stay outside the ride with the child who is too small or does not want to ride the more intense ride. Then after the rest of their party rides the parent who waited is able to skip the line and utilize the lightning lane. This is a huge timesaver!
SNACKS! Always pack snacks in your park bag. We have avoided many meltdowns with snacks. I like to get snacks that we don’t usually have at home, this way the kids feel like they are really getting a treat, even though their snack is just from my bag! We always bring water bottles with us too. There are several water bottle filling spots in the park, you can also ask for a FREE cup of water at any quick service location. Snacks and water definitely help keep everyone in your party from the oldest to the youngest ready for their next adventure!
Disney really does offer many great options for families of 5. We would love to talk to you more about these options and work with you to plan your trip to the most MAGICAL place on Earth!
