Countdown to Disney: The Best Multigenerational Resorts at Disney World
In case you missed it, we are headed to Disney World! You can follow along in all of our planning in our Countdown to Disney series! Missed the reveal? You can view it here: Surprise, You’re Going to Disney World! Don’t forget to read our tips on Planning a Multigenerational Trip to Disney World and how to Optimize Your Time!
Where Do You Stay?
You are traveling with extended family, and you aren’t quite sure how much space you need, if you want to stay with one another, or where to start. You are not alone! Many people have asked what the best options are for traveling with a big party.
My biggest recommendation is STAY ON PROPERTY!!! By staying right on Disney property you have benefits available to you that are not available at any other hotels. Here are just a few, and we’ll get to them in a later post:
- Transportation
- Extra Magic Hours at Disney Parks
- Magical Express
- Recreational Activities at resorts
Deluxe Options
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
For those of you who are looking for a space that offers luxurious spaces and amazing amenities you can book one of the deluxe resort options. We highly recommend a 1 or 2 bedroom villa at Within walking distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, an amazing pool named Stormalong Bay with a lazy river and all.
A 2 bedroom villa sleeps up to 8 adults with views of Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Woods, Pool or Courtyard. It has the options of 1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double-Size Pull Down Bed or 1 King Bed and 2 Queen Beds and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa. You can see a slideshow of the rooms here.
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
We also recommend a villa at – but we are also a little biased since that’s where we stayed when we were married. It is directly across from Disney’s Beach Club. It offers the nostalgic feeling of turn of the century Atlantic City. Timeless elegance meets old-fashioned charm at this waterfront Resort hotel. Delight in saltwater taffy-colored cottages, private courtyards and picturesque gardens—plus the ragtime sounds and carnival pastimes of the exciting Coney Island-style boardwalk.
You can see a slideshow of their rooms here.
Moderate Option
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
We highly recommend . It’s more moderately priced than Disney’s Beach Club and Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. We have stayed here 4 times and absolutely love it. You are transported to the Florida Keys in a tranquil community of Conch Flats, with a fantastic restaurant named Olivia’s, a General Store, with views of the waterways, swaying palm trees and manicured golf-course fairways.
We have stayed in a Studio that offers 2 Queen beds and sleeps up to 4 adults. We love this option when traveling with extended family on a multi-generation trip because we each have our own space with a studio. In recent trip Billy, Abby, and I had a studio, my sister & her fiance had their own studio, and then Gigi, Poppy, and Riley stayed in a One Bedroom Villa. The One Bedroom Villa offers views of Water, Woodlands or Fairways and includes 1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa and 1 Twin-Size Sleeper Chair. It comfortably sleeps up to 5 Adults but could fit more. You can see a slideshow of the rooms here.
The best part about the One Bedroom Villa is that it has a full kitchen with a spacious dining area, which meant that we could have family meals together and not have to necessarily eat at restaurants all the time.
Value Option
Disney’s Art of Animation Family Suites
are fun and colorful and perfect for families with young children. They provide spacious accommodations for parties up to 6—with room for the whole family to spread out—inspired by some of your favorite animated movies – The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars.
Family suites include a bedroom with one queen-size bed; one double-size convertible TableBed; one double-size sleeper sofa; living room; 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette. On our last trip, our best friends stayed in a Cars suite and said it was perfect for their family of 5. It offered a room for Mom & Dad, the pull out couch for their twin girls, and the murphy bed for their oldest daughter.
The theming in the resort is absolutely adorable and so much fun! You can see some images of their rooms here.
Unique Option
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
photo credit: Brett Kiger Ghosts of Wilderness Past via photopin (license)
Experience the down-home pleasures of pioneer life—with all the conveniences of home! Stroll to the lakeside dock for an easy 10-minute boat ride to Magic Kingdom park or rent a golf cart or bike and explore the whole darn Resort! This is definitely on our bucket list for Disney experiences we would like to have.
photo credit: CL Photographs Transportation Tuesday – Serene Sunset (Explored) via photopin (license)
Settle in to your settler’s paradise—a fully furnished private cabin in the woods spacious enough to sleep 6 adults. Brimming with rustic charm, these hideaways offer a living room, bedroom, full bathroom, private patio, charcoal grill and modern kitchen complete with a refrigerator, dishwasher, convection/microwave oven and 2 countertop burners. Housekeeping even does your dishes! You can see images of the rooms here.
No matter where you stay you are bound to find all of the little touches and elements that make up the experience of Disney Magic! We’ll be back with some more information on the special benefits to guests staying on Disney property!
Looking for more Disney posts? Check out all of the posts in our Countdown to Disney series!
