Hi Pam!
I love taking large groups of family and friends to the
Walt Disney World Resort. As a family of 6, we are already pretty big, and typically we vacation with my parents or friends. Just our family of 6 is a small group, we have gone with as many as 21!
As Disney Vacation Club Members, we find that
Disney’s Deluxe Villa Accommodations are perfect for large groups. And did you know that
these villas are also available to the general public? There are
Deluxe Studios that sleep 4 to 5 (depending on resort) and have a kitchenette. A
1 Bedroom Villa sleeps 4 to 5 (again, depending on resort), and has a full kitchen and a washer and dryer right in the room! When you put those two rooms together you get a
2 Bedroom Villa that sleeps 8 to 9! And while the availability is very limited, you can call to inquire about
3 Bedroom Grand Villas that sleep up to 12. If you can snag one of those 3 bedrooms that would be the perfect solution!
Since the 3 Bedroom Villas are in high demand, I would recommend you book either one 1 Bedroom Villa and 2 Deluxe Studios, or a 2 Bedroom and a Deluxe Studio. This would mean plenty of room for everyone to stretch out, you’d have a washer and dryer to keep up with all the laundry 6 kids can create, and that full kitchen. We typically order groceries delivered to the resort and eat breakfast in our room each day. This can potentially save a ton of money for a large group. Scrambled eggs and toast, bagels and cream cheese, or a quick bowl of cereal is an affordable way to get everyone out the door in the morning. And having the laundry in the room means less to pack which can mean lower baggage fees. Especially if there will be a little one traveling, having laundry in the room is a huge help.
Pam, if the villas are not your style, the other option would be to booking three standard rooms. I would call to book, and at that time you can put in a request for either connecting or adjacent rooms. While this is just a request and cannot be guaranteed, Disney will do their best. Even if your rooms were separated from each other, if you are at the same resort it is easy to meet up at the pool or bus stop. And there is a thing as too much togetherness, so having your own space is a good idea. You could consider
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort which offers both Family Suites that sleep 6, and standard rooms that sleep 4. Also popular is
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside that has rooms that sleep up to 5.
Pam, I hope one of these ideas will work for you and your family. And please let me know if there are any additional questions I can help you with, or if you want additional recommendations on which villas to choose, we are here to help!
Happy Planning!
- Kate