Hi there, Courtney! Thanks for coming to the planDisney team with your questions. It sounds like you are planning an extra magical vacation this holiday season! I'm happy to give you some advice.
Finding affordable accommodations for a large group at Walt Disney World Resort can be challenging! The Family Suites at
Disney's Art of Animation Resort sleep up to six and are a great choice. The main bedroom has one Queen-Size bed, and in the living area, there is one double-size convertible "TableBed" and one double-size sleeper sofa. Plus, its location gives you access to the
Disney Skyliner!
The only issue I can see with your scenario is that when you book a
Walt Disney World Vacation Package, everyone booked in your room needs to have the same type of tickets. Since part of your party arrives on night six of your stay, they would still need to get 9-day Park Hopper tickets. One option is to book a Room Only reservation and purchase your
theme park tickets separately. Just know that your tickets would be nonrefundable if you choose this route (vacation packages, on the other hand, are fully refundable up to 30 days beforehand). Another idea is to book two vacation packages with two separate rooms, such as a Lion King Suite and a standard Little Mermaid room.
I'm going to give you one more thing to consider, Courtney. Try pricing out a Family Suite at
Disney's All-Star Music Resort. Typically, they run a little cheaper than the ones at Art of Animation, and the price difference may offset the cost of the 9-day tickets. While this resort is not on the Disney Skyliner, the suites are newly renovated, and I love the modern look! These rooms have one Queen Bed in the bedroom, two Queen-Size Pull Down Beds in the living area and a larger kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator. This configuration may actually be a little more comfortable for your party of six!
I hope this helps a little, Courtney! I would love to help you again, so please feel free to send me any follow-up questions. See ya real soon!
Eean