My family of 5 will be traveling to Disneyworld in December for the first time. We're having a hard time finding on-site hotels that accomodate 5 people, especially at a reasonable rate. I have one tip on possibly going to the Port Orleans-Riverside. Anyone have any comments for me on the size of the room fitting 5 people(2 of them teens!)

The Chicago Tribune's Sunday travel section had an article on exactly this question yesterday. I don't have the article with me to tell you any details, but you can go to chicagotribune.com and look it up. They set out looking for a room to accommodate a family of five, and I think the Port Orleans was mentioned.

Good luck!

Get two beds...2 people in each bed and a person in the bathtub.

We stayed at Dixie Landings with two double beds and a roll-a-way. I believe there was an extra charge ($5) for the roll-a-way and it was not as large as a twin size bed so hopefully you have one small child! When we took all four of our kids (many, many years ago) we stayed off the property in a suite type hotel that had plenty of room.

I stayed at Port Orleans last fall and really liked it alot. As to fitting 5 people, I assume you mean with 2 beds and a roll away. The rooms are large enough to accommodate the roll away, but no doubt it will be cramped with suitcases, etc. On the other hand, you won't be in the rooms much and it will be plenty big for everyone to sleep comfortably, so I would say it would work out fine.

Kim

P.O. Riverside does have trundle beds, where a smaller bed pulls out from one of the doubles. I believe they charge $15 extra for this. Or, you could take a blow-up mattress.

We stayed at the Dixie Landings last year. I took an aerobed air mattress along thinking my daughter would use it. The room was not large enough to inflate this twin sized mattress so she had to share my double bed (not queen). It was okay, but I'd hate to put five people in that room. The rooms at the more expensive DW hotels are larger with two queen beds (the moderate hotels all have doubles). What about staying in one of the condo style properties which have suite style rooms. My travel agent had a book with floorplans of all the DW properties which was very helpful. We totally enjoyed Dixie Landings by the way, but we only had three in the room.

I have stayed at Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans) with 4 people, 5 would be tight. I am researching room sizes for a trip to DW in October, and I believe that if you upgrade to "deluxe" category, the rooms are about 1/3 bigger and have queen beds instead of doubles. We will have 4 again this year, and we are going to go "Deluxe" because we were just a teeny bit cramped with 4 at Dixie Landings. I do agree, however, that Dixie is a wonderful resort. For sure I don't recommend staying off disney property, we had a VERY bad experience and ended up on disney property in the end. I think the Animal Kingdom was the most reasonable DW resort in the deluxe category, but check it out on their website to be sure.

You probably have very valid reasons for doing it the way you have suggested but...when we were a party of 5 a few years ago, we ended up in adjoining rooms in the Contemporary resort (poolside wing) very happily and successfully. There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, much hilarity. As a Mom, I really enjoyed having two bathrooms as we also had teenagers with us!

I was thinking of the bathroom aspect too. It will take ages to get everyone ready and out in the morning. Consider showers, blow dryers, who can dress in front of whom or does each dress and undress in the bathroom? Double ugh.

If you're thinking of connecting rooms, the cheapest way to go would be at the All-Stars resort.

Stayed at the All Stars Resort at DW in Jnaury of this year for the Disney Marathon...pretty simplistic. This area of DW does not run to a real restaurant on-site, just cafeteria style and the food on offer was poor in quality and choice. The rooms are sparsely furnished, for example no coffee maker or hair dryer. Its a long way by shuttle to other areas. Granted the rates were great, but for a big memorable holiday? I wouldn't...

Go to www.disboards.com and click on rent/trade board. These people who post are Disney Vacation Club owners who rent their points to anyone, totally legit, when they can't travel to WDW or choose to vacation elsewhere. There are various links to personal websites with detailed room information as well as room size, amenities, etc. I am going in May 2003 and rented points for a 2 bedroom Boardwalk Villa. Your family of 5 would fit in Port Orleans Riverfront as mentioned with the trundle, and/or in any of the villas or studios in the Home Away From Home category. I'm told there are Studios at the BWV with a queen bed, queen sleep sofa, AND a kids daybed but you have to ask specifically for that room type. The site is full of WDW information so be sure to have at least an hour to start but I'm sure you will go back many times. Good luck!