At these resorts, standard rooms have two double beds to accommodate a family of four; they allow a fifth guest if it's a child under 3-years. To accommodate your clan, there is a double sink and closet/dressing area outside the bathroom. Note that the Alligator Bayou wing at the Port Orleans is the only place where accommodations are set up for a family of five.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

When you enter the Customs House lobby, decked out in slowly flapping ceiling fans and jalousie blinds, the decor and backgrounKd tin pan music evoke the warmth of the Caribbean islands. At this property, the check-in area serves only as a springboard to find out what "island" or room cluster you've booked, and from there, intra-resort buses transport you past commercial and recreation facilities to one of six color-coded, themed island homes.

Whether it's Aruba or Trinidad, the resort's 2,112 rooms are within a 5-10 minutes' walk of Old Port Royale, the central commercial area with a casual burger place, grocery and other facilities. In addition to a large food court, there's the sit-down Shutters Restaurant and outside, a lighthouse marking the boat rental area. The jogging trail encircling the property is 1.5-miles long and you can fish in the man-made canals encircling each island.

The Caribbean Beach opened in 1989 and to this day, its scattered pools, white sand beaches (you can watch the Epcot fireworks from here), piped-in reggae and myriad playgrounds make it one of WDW's most popular lodgings.  Standard rooms have bright floral print bedspreads and a garden view. For more information 407/934-3400.

Disney's Port Orleans Resort (and Riverside)

Dragon-shaped waterslides and Cajun wrought-iron reflect New Orleans at the 1,008-room French Quarter part of this property, while Spanish moss and plantation style housing blocks with 2,048 rooms evoke the Mississippi at the former Riverside Resort, both now part of a combined Port Orleans Resort.

This very large and rambling oasis is one of the quietest and most homey at WDW, and in addition to theme park buses, it is serviced by water taxis between the two areas, and to Downtown Disney's Village Marketplace and Pleasure Island.

Drawbacks are the far-off location and few live shows that are offered. However, around Boatwrights Dining Hall and the River Roost bar there's always jazz music and a lot of action nightly. On the manmade Sassagoula River, kids ages 4-10 can board an Adventure Cruise and learn tricks from a crew of Jesters, or join an all-ages fishing trip. There are small powerboats (SeaRaycers), kayaks, pontoon boats and bikes for rent.

The more intimate French Quarter is reminiscent of New Orleans' own Garden District, with three-story room blocks overlooking lush gardens or the lively Doubloon Lagoon pool. The fun food court is decorated with huge Mardi Gras masks and parade memorabilia and fresh beignets and colored beads are always on hand.

The Port Orleans Riverside is the former Dixie Landing, themed to resemble the antebellum South. Here, the Alligator Bayou's rustic rooms contain two split log double bedframes, with a single trundle bed underneath, so five people can be comfortably accommodated.

The Riverside has a great themed Ol' Man Island pool near the food court, five smaller pools, and is popular for good Cajun cooking. This resort is so spread out that families with weary little ones will want a room close to the dining facilities; buildings 14-18 in the Alligator Bayou wing are closest. For more information 407/934-6000.

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

The Coronado Springs is conveniently located near to Disney's Hollywood Studios, formerly called Disney-MGM Studios, and the Blizzard Beach waterpark. It is the area's top convention center hotel and meeting facility, with a variety of moderately priced rooms and the only suites in this price category. Here, with a decor that accentuates the Spanish colonial theme, tiles and stucco are used to define three huge housing complexes built around a lagoon. Families will appreciate the impressive Mayan pyramid and several pools with waterslides. For more information 407/939-1000.

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

The Saratoga Springs is between the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and Downtown Disney, and away from the theme parks. This attractive property has a grand lakeside resort feel that emulates Old World Saratoga Springs, New York. Recently, the Saratoga Springs became a Disney Vacation Club property, meaning its 864 apartment-style units with kitchens are timeshares.  However, when units are available, they may be booked by the night and are usually better value than suites at the hotels.  The Saratoga has more spacious accommodations than most, pleasant Victorian architecture, large public facilities to handle big groups, gurgling springs, and a spa with a good reputation. For more information 407/827-1100.

Book Early

As soon as you make some choices, work with a travel agent to secure reservations; many resorts sell out six to eight months in advance. However, there will always be room at the inn when you realize that 25,000 rooms are now available at Disney World. You can call Disney at 407/934-7639 or visit www.disneyworld.com to get more information and brochures.