It’s been a rainy start to fall break here in Oklahoma, and seeing all the vacation photos popping up on social media has me dreaming of vacations gone by.
I’d love to be just about anywhere else right now. Unfortunately, we decided this fall break would be the perfect opportunity to tackle some long-neglected house projects. Yay, us.
So, if you’re like me—stuck at home and dreaming about your next vacation—maybe you’re also thinking about Walt Disney World?!
As you know, we love all the Disney Parks. It doesn’t matter how often we go. We never get tired of the rides, the atmosphere, or the magic. As soon as we get home, we’re already talking about next time.
But there’s one thing I’ve learned after visiting Disney World and experiencing so many of its resorts: finding the right hotel for a family of five makes the biggest difference in your vacation budget.
There are a million Disney World resort guides out there, I know. But this one is a little different. I’ve personally stayed at or toured 30 of the 34 Disney World resorts, and these are the ones I’d recommend to a family like ours.
We’re a family of five who loves Disney but still has a budget to consider. We want comfortable accommodations, convenient transportation, and a place where everyone can sleep without somebody getting stuck on the floor.
Sound familiar?
Let’s find your family’s Disney home away from home!
Best Value Disney World Resorts for a Family of 5
If you’re trying to keep your Disney vacation affordable, value resorts are a great place to start. Two of my favorites are Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
Both offer access to the Disney Skyliner for transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, along with bus transportation to the other theme parks and Disney Springs.
And honestly, the Skyliner is a pretty great perk!
Disney’s Pop Century Resort: Best for Smaller Families
Pop Century celebrates the different decades of the 20th century, with larger-than-life icons and colorful theming throughout the resort. It’s fun, nostalgic, and a great choice for families who want the Disney experience without paying deluxe-resort prices.
However, there’s one important detail for larger families: a standard room at Pop Century accommodates up to four guests, so a family of five will generally need two rooms.
Depending on your dates and available discounts, booking two rooms might still make sense. But for my family, I’d rather find a resort where we can all stay together.
That’s where my next pick comes in!
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: Best Value for Families Who Need More Space
Art of Animation is my favorite of the two for our family of five when the price is right.
The resort celebrates beloved animated Disney and Pixar films, with themed areas inspired by movies such as Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Little Mermaid.
But the biggest selling point for us isn’t the theming. It’s the family suites.
These suites give us room for everyone to sleep comfortably in a real bed, along with extra space to spread out. And when you’re traveling with three kids who are getting bigger by the minute, that extra room matters!
Art of Animation also has Skyliner access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, making it especially appealing if those parks are high on your family’s priority list.
My verdict: If you’re a family of five looking for value, I’d compare the price of an Art of Animation family suite against the cost of two rooms at Pop Century before booking.
Best Moderate Disney World Resort for a Family of 5
Often, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will price a little less expensive than the two options I have mentioned, making it one of our favorite resorts.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: Best for a Fifth Sleeper Room
Caribbean Beach has a tropical island theme, with colorful buildings, sandy beaches, and a laid-back vacation atmosphere.
For our family, the biggest advantage is the availability of rooms with a fifth sleeper. That means we can all stay in one room without needing to book a suite or two separate rooms.
Like Pop Century and Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach has access to the Skyliner for transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Buses serve the other parks and destinations.
Of course, room categories, occupancy limits, and prices can vary, so make sure you select a room that explicitly accommodates all five members of your family.
My verdict: Caribbean Beach is one of the first places I’d check if I wanted a moderate resort with convenient transportation and a room that fits our family.
Best Deluxe Disney World Resorts for a Family of 5
And now for the resorts I’ve been saving for last!
If your budget allows for a suite, you have plenty of wonderful options across Disney World’s deluxe resorts. More space is always welcome when you’re traveling with three kids, and a suite can make it easier to spread out and relax.
But if you’re like me and want to find the best option that accommodates your family without breaking the bank, you’re in the right place.
Sometimes, you don’t need a suite. You just need the right room at the right resort.
1. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn: Our Favorite Overall
If you ask my family to pick a favorite deluxe resort for a studio stay that accommodates five guests, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn comes out on top.
The rooms we’ve experienced have been clean and comfortable, and the location is fantastic.
The BoardWalk area itself is a huge part of the appeal. There are places to eat, games and activities to enjoy, and plenty to see while wandering along the waterfront promenade. My kids still talk about the multi-person Surrey bikes you can rent there.
But my favorite perk is even better. You can walk directly into EPCOT from the BoardWalk area. EPCOT happens to be my favorite Disney park, so being able to walk there instead of waiting for transportation is a pretty wonderful benefit.
The resort also offers convenient access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios via the walking path, Skyliner or Friendship Boats. So, for a family that wants to spend time in EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, the location is hard to beat.
My verdict: If I were choosing one deluxe resort for our family of five, BoardWalk Inn would be at the top of my list. I’d check the available room category and price before looking elsewhere.
2. Disney’s Beach Club Resort: Best for Pool Lovers
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is another excellent option for families who want easy access to EPCOT. You can walk to EPCOT from the resort, and Hollywood Studios is also accessible by walking path, Skyliner or boat.
But there’s another reason to consider Beach Club: the pool!
Beach Club and its neighboring Yacht Club Resort share Stormalong Bay, a sprawling pool complex that’s a major draw for many Disney guests. If a fantastic pool is high on your family’s must-have list, these resorts deserve a close look.
After a long, hot day at the parks, sometimes the best vacation activity is simply hanging out at the pool. And if you’re paying deluxe-resort prices, you’ll probably want to take advantage of the amenities, too!
My verdict: I’d compare Beach Club and BoardWalk Inn when deciding where to stay. Both offer an excellent location near EPCOT, but Stormalong Bay could tip the scales in Beach Club’s favor for your family.
3. Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge: Best for a Peaceful Escape
Last but certainly not least on our list is Disney’s Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge. This one is my husband’s favorite!
The resort’s rustic, national-parks-inspired atmosphere makes it feel like a peaceful retreat from the busy theme parks. It’s a comfortable place to return to after a full day of rides, crowds, and walking.
Boulder Ridge Villas offers deluxe studio accommodations that can sleep up to five guests, making it worth considering for larger families who want to stay together.
Even when we aren’t staying at Wilderness Lodge, we enjoy visiting! One of our favorite things to do is take the boat from Magic Kingdom over to Wilderness Lodge for a peaceful dinner. It’s a lovely way to slow down for a bit and enjoy a different side of Disney World.
The resort relies on boat and bus transportation rather than the Skyliner, so keep that in mind when planning your park days.
My verdict: If you love a quieter, woodsy atmosphere and want a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks, Boulder Ridge Villas is worth checking out.
How to Choose the Best Disney World Resort for Your Family of 5
With so many choices, how do you decide where to stay?
Here’s how I’d narrow it down:
- Working with a tighter budget? Start by comparing Art of Animation family suites with two rooms at Pop Century.
- Want a moderate resort with Skyliner access? Look at Caribbean Beach and its fifth-sleeper room options.
- Want to walk to EPCOT? Compare BoardWalk Inn and Beach Club.
- Love a fantastic pool? Put Beach Club and Yacht Club on your shortlist.
- Prefer a peaceful, rustic atmosphere? Take a closer look at Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge.
And here’s my biggest piece of advice: compare the total cost of your stay, not just the nightly room rate. Room occupancy, available discounts, your travel dates, and the convenience of getting to your favorite parks can all affect which resort is the best value for your family.
Disney resort prices change frequently, so the resort that wins for one vacation might not win for the next.
So, Where Would We Stay Again?
There you have it! These are our favorite Walt Disney World resorts for a family of five, based on our own experiences and what matters most to us- comfortable accommodations, convenient transportation, and enough room for everyone. We also want to enjoy the magic of Disney without spending our entire vacation budget on the hotel.
For us, Art of Animation is a favorite when we’re looking for a value resort, Caribbean Beach is a great moderate option, and BoardWalk Inn is our overall deluxe-resort winner for a studio stay that accommodates five.
But the best resort for your family depends on your budget, your park plans, and the kind of vacation you want to have.
And remember, you don’t have to stay at the most expensive resort to have an amazing Disney vacation!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to work on these house projects, all the while day dreaming about our next Disney trip. Because no matter how many times we go, it’s never enough.
Dreaming about Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea? Read all about our family’s experiences here and here!
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