Choosing the “best” Walt Disney World Resort for your family, particularly a family of 5, can be one of the most important factors in planning your Walt Disney World vacation.
We are a family of five – two of them are teenagers. You know what that means…big bodies and you need extra space! We see our Walt Disney World Resort as more than just a place to sleep. With that factor in mind, we have stayed at many of the Walt Disney World Resorts, and have enjoyed them at all ages and stages…from having an infant, to two toddlers, and now with two teenagers and a school aged child.
The beauty of Walt Disney World is they have accommodations for all family sizes. Today I want to share my thoughts on a Standard Room versus a Villa set up at Walt Disney World. Having enjoyed both, I think they work well for larger families…which do you prefer?
Amenities – Between the two options, a villa has more amenities. They have a fully equipped kitchen, as well as a washer and dryer. The standard rooms have a coffeemaker and small refrigerator. You can request a microwave in a standard room, and they will bring it if they have some. However, you are guaranteed a microwave, and even a toaster and in the villas.
Space – Let’s face it, space is a must with a larger family. The standard rooms do have a separate vanity from the toilet/shower area. That is fantastic! Especially when you are trying to get several people ready at once. However, they only have one bathroom. If you stay in a two bedroom villa, your family has two full bathrooms! When staying in a standard room, you may feel cramped with baby gear, luggage, and just people in general.
Sleeping Arrangements – As the kids get older, they get bigger, right? So sometimes sharing a bed between two teenagers can be difficult. The standard rooms do have two queens, which may work if your family has two younger children who don’t take up a lot of space. However, with older children, the villas are great. One bedroom villas have a king bed, as well as a queen sleeper sofa. Two bedroom villas have even more space.
We love the two bedroom villa set up. The master has a king, the other bedroom has two queens, and then a sleeper sofa in the living room. That means all our kiddos have their own bed. Yay! Does your little one need a quiet place to sleep, away from everyone else? Then a villa is a good option, since there isn’t a lot of space in the standard rooms to give your little one some space so he/she isn’t distracted when it’s time to go to bed.
Price Point – Booking two standard rooms can still be a tad cheaper than booking a villa option at Walt Disney World. So from a price perspective, it is worth exploring the options and considering what amenities are best for your family. Will you want the ability to prepare a quick breakfast or a small late lunch when taking a break from the parks? Then a villa is a better option.
Do you just want a “place to sleep”, and not worry about extra amenities? Then you can likely get away with one or two standard rooms. Keep in mind, the villas are at the Deluxe tier level. So that alone gives you more amenities and a closer proximity to the parks. If budget is a concern, consider Disney’s Saratoga Springs or Old Key West as options for a villa. These tend to come in at a lower price than other villa properties, but offer great amenities and space.
Is your family debating between a standard room or a villa? If so, I hope these tips are helpful in helping you decide. Walt Disney World has so many amazing properties, and they fit any family and budget!
