Our Picks for Best Disney Resort for Family of 5

Traveling to Disney World with a large family? We’ve been there! In this post I am sharing the best Disney resorts for a family of 5 and how to find the perfect Disney World accommodations for a large family.

We started visiting Disney World with three kids under 5 years old and now we traveling with three teenagers. The Disney resorts that worked for us a decade ago work a bit differently now.

The good news is that there are accommodations at Disney World for families of 5 and they are not going to blow your budget. From deluxe to value resorts there are options for families of 5 to stay on-site at Disney World.

We’ve stayed at all different resorts and have found our favorite way to stay now that the kids are bigger and we need more space. Let’s dig into details on the best Disney resorts for families, should you choose a Disney resort family suites, and what resort is the best fit for your Disney vacation.

Best Disney Resort for Family of 5

We are at the stage where we are traveling to Disney with teens and because of this we have started to book connecting rooms. This means we can stay at any Disney World resort comfortably and often spend less than one room at some resorts.

To decide which is best for your Disney trip you need to consider the ages of your group and how much space you need in your room.

When visiting with small children I think Caribbean Beach Resort is a great one room option for families. If you are looking for a bit more space consider a family suite at Art of Animation. If you want connecting rooms the price is the best at the value resorts, I recommend any of the All Star Resorts.

I go into more details on all of these resorts later in this post.

Disney Resort with Family Suites

There are a few Disney Resorts with Family Suites. They are Art of Animation Resort, All-Star Movies Resort, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge and the Deluxe Villas.

• Art of Animation Resort: Sleeps 6, separate sleeping area, 2 bathrooms, kitchenette
• All-Star Movies Resort: Sleeps 6, separate sleeping area, 2 bathrooms, kitchenette
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge: sleeping space for 6, full kitchen, living & dining area, private picnic table and grill
• Deluxe Villas: 1, 2, and 3-bedroom villas, fully equipped kitchen, separate bedrooms, washer/dryer, spacious living area

Cost

The nightly cost of staying at Disney World with a family of five will vary greatly. It depends on time of year of your visit and what special offers are available. I highly recommend comparing prices for a few options and then decide.

I have found cabins for $375.00 a night, rooms at the value resorts for $100.00/night (booking 2 would still be way less than some resorts), the villas are typically $400 and up. It all depends on the discounts being offered.

The first step is to go to the Disney World website and put your dates in, then compare the prices. This is where I always start when I am at the beginning stages of my Disney trip planning.

5 Great Disney World Accommodations for Large Families

We have stayed at many Disney resorts and the options below are my picks for our favorites. These picks offer nice on-site amenities, worked for my family of five, and 4 out of 5 of them are budget friendly.

Caribbean Beach Resort

Caribbean Beach Resort is a moderate resort located along the Disney Skyliner. The Disney Skyliner is a gondola transportation system that takes guests to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

The resort offers a fantastic on-site restaurant – Sebastian’s Bistro, as well as quick service dining, water slide, and rooms with a 5th sleeper.

The 5th sleeper is an okay options for small children but might not work for kids a bit older. It fits most kids under 5 foot. I wouldn’t recommend it for a family with teens unless you book connecting rooms.

Pop Century

Pop Century is the first Disney resort we ever stayed at and it is a popular choice among families. It is a mid-range value resort and it is on the Disney Skyliner. It is themed to different decades and has a fun atmosphere.

As a family of 5 you will have to book connecting rooms at Pop Century. This is an affordable way to have more space and stay at a value resort.

*We are staying at Pop Century for our upcoming summer trip. It will be our first stay since 2013 as a family of five. Check back in September for my full review.

Art of Animation

I hesitated to include Art of Animation on this list. It is one of the best Disney resorts for kids when it comes to the immersive theme. There are 4 different areas: The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and Cars.

Each area has themed rooms, pools, and fun photo-ops. The Little Mermaid rooms are standard rooms and the other themes are the family suites.

My issue with this resort is the cost. The suites are often well over $450.00 a night. For that price you can book connecting rooms and have 4 queen beds instead of 1 queen bed, a pull-out sofa, and murphy bed.

This is a personal preference and I wanted you to know about it, especially if you are traveling with kids under 10.

All Star Sports

All Star Sports is one of the least expensive Disney resorts and I think that often scares people away, but shouldn’t. It has basic amenities like pools, food court, and bus transportation to and from the parks.

They do not have family suites at All Star Sports and guests with large families will have to book two rooms. This is a great option if you need the space. Two rooms offers two bathrooms and is a huge perk when traveling with a large group.

Riviera Resort

Riviera Resort is a deluxe resort that is located on the Disney Skyliner. It is themed to the French Riviera and offers deluxe villas as well as rooms that fit a family of five.

Guests staying at a deluxe resort will have more amenities than guests staying at a value or moderate, they will also have a higher price point. There are 2 pools, a kiddie splash area, and daily activities.

Final Thoughts

I haven’t stayed at every Disney Resort, but I have stayed at more than one in every price category and the bottom line is- choose the resort that fits your budget.

Decide what works for you and how much you want to spend, there is no right or wrong answer. There are resorts that will fit a family of 5 at all price points and the best resort for your family is the one that fits your budget.

All of the Disney resorts offer a fantastic stay. We like to pick a new resort each visit to experience something new and whether it is a value or a deluxe we always have a great Disney trip.

If you are overwhelmed with planning or just want someone to make all the reservations for you consider using a travel agent. Our friend Nikki at Royal Treatment Travel is amazing and has helped us plan and book many of our trips. She finds the best deals and her service is complimentary for most theme park vacations! It is a win-win. Learn more here.