Disney (FL) Hotel - Family of 5 and Reasonable.. Great Pool Too

We've stayed at All-Star Movie, Wilderness Lodge and the Beach Club. Beach Club has the best pool BY FAR!!!! We even spent a whole day at the pool - never had to leave b/c we were having too much fun!!!

We stayed at the Beach Club Villas in May. It is an awesome pool for kids and only guests of the Beach or Yacht club can use this pool; you have to show your room key. There is water slides, lazy river pool and beach. The entire bottom of the pool is a sand beach. Look at it online Google Earth satellite view. Awesome!
You can walk to Epcot, boat to Hollywood Studios and bus to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. AK was the only one that had several stops, but I have found that to be true from other hotels since it is the furtherest park. You will pay more for this hotel, but I found that the location and pool far made up for being farther away. It was nice because you could split up and not rely on a car to get you back and forth. You will not need a car at all for this hotel and Disney does a great job moving people around. In fact you can check your luggage direct onto your flight from this hotel, so no worries about storing or the whole airport thing. We in fact did rent a car and never used it! Could have saved $ there; live and learn.

We traveled with another family of 6 who belong to the vacation club. They had a double room with living/kitchen in the middle and laundry. They did use the kitchen and laundry as they drove.
You can also buy vacation points from vacation club members; however you would need to be flexible with your dates. Or you can book direct into the villas as well as that is what we did. We had a fridge, kitchen sink and microwave in our room; we really only used the fridge and that was for left overs.
I would also do the food plan 1 sit down, 1 quick service, 1 snack. Food is good and plentiful. Take advantage of the buffets for sit downs; multiple options for everyone and you won't go away hungry.
It was much easier and less hassle than making sure you had cash in hand and saves you about 20%.
Personally I would not stay off property unless you were planning on going to other non-Disney attractions. We have done both and it is much better staying on property that off.

We stayed at Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa in November and loved it. Great pool and various size condo style suites. Driving in and parking were no problem.

Best deals we've always found are on property. I'd recommend the All-Star Movies Resort.

I second port Orleans riverside. I know they were remodeling so try to get a remodeled room. Only one type of room there will accommodate 5. Otherwise..,there are brand new famiy suites in the value resorts....can't remember what. If you have money to splurge with....there may be more choices. Go to disboards.com and they have lots of info about everything..including hotels. Be prepared to learn lots when you go to this site.

We stayed at the All Star. It was nice & lots of fun. No Coffee Pot though

we LOVE port orleans riverside. so pretty. There is one main pool with an awesome water slide and several satellite pools throughout the property. The sister hotel port orleans french quarter has a fun water slide. this is the only place you can technically pool hop (you can go via boat). it is a moderate price resort and oh so beautiful. That would be my favorite moderate hotel. I have never done a value resort. We did stay and Animal Kingdom Lodge which is incredible but it is more pricey.

We never stayed anywhere but the Polynesian. LOVE that place! I could stay there and never go to any parks at all.

It is pricey... but worth it.

You might go to facebook and check to see what people are saying.

Good luck to you and yours.