Hiya Becky, welcome to planDisney. I’m glad you stopped by with a great question as you begin planning an incredible two-week stay this August.
Before we look at Disney Resorts, it helps to understand the two types of extra hours that are offered to Guests staying on property. Every Disney Resort hotel Guest, and Guests of a few select partner hotels, get
Early Theme Park Entry. That gives you a 30-minute head start each morning, which is especially useful for hitting the more popular attractions before the crowds arrive. The second option is
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. This one is reserved for Guests staying in Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villa Resorts and typically gives you an extra two hours in whichever park is hosting that night. Not every park offers it every night, and during busy seasons or nights with special events, you may not see it at all, but when it is available, it is a tremendous perk.
Now let’s talk about the resort categories so you can get a sense of where value meets comfort for your group of five.
Value Resorts are going to be the most affordable and offer everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Moderate Resorts sit in the middle with a quieter feel, a few more amenities, and larger rooms.
Deluxe Resorts and
Deluxe Villas offer the most space, the closest proximity to the parks, and the highest level of dining, recreation, and transportation options. With that upgrade in location and convenience comes an increase in cost.
Since you asked about the most affordable option that will comfortably sleep your family of five and still qualify you for extra hours, here is where the path splits a bit. If you are only looking to access Early Theme Park Entry, both
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and
Disney’s All Star Music Resort offer fantastic Family Suites. These suites give you a separate bedroom, a living area that converts into additional sleeping spaces, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette. They are a tremendous value for the amount of space and comfort you get, and they keep you in the Disney bubble for the full two weeks.
If you want access to the Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, you will need to bump up to the Deluxe category. For groups of five, the Deluxe Villa Resorts are often the best fit. The one and two-bedroom villas give you a full kitchen, a living room, multiple bathrooms, and plenty of room to spread out. When you are watching your budget, the most affordable options in this category tend to be
Disney’s Old Key West Resort,
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas. These resorts are part of Disney Vacation Club, and because DVC Members get the priority to book with their points, cash reservations for these rooms usually open up about six months in advance. Once those rooms become available, they can be a terrific way to enjoy the perks of the Deluxe category at a more manageable price for a longer stay.
I hope this gives you a clearer picture of your options, Becky. If you want help comparing prices or working out what fits best for your plans, send another question my way and I’ll be happy to walk through it with you.
Brent