Any tips for trip with extended family? Tutorial needed!

[wrighter]

Today we booked a GV at SSR for eight days over Easter.

Our group:

My family of four from NJ (kids 11 and 9)
My sister's family of four from CO (kids 4 and 1)
Our parents from WA

We have all been to Disney and I definitely consider myself a vet. We don't need maps and know how to manage our park time wisely. But this is the first time we've all been there together since the new MB and FP madness has been in effect. I'm not sure how to handle it all. We have thrill seekers and lollygaggers. Big kids and little ones. How do we handle the FP mess?

I should also say that I have no qualms about "handling" my family. Lol! We travel well together and we all know when to give others their space, etc. So no worries there. We can all be together or go our own ways and nobody gets offended. I'm lucky, I know!

But since we'll be there at a high volume time, I know it is important to utilize FP wisely. I thought there might be others here who have gone through it and could offer some sage advise.

I'm all ears! Get it?

Thanks!

 

[MarlaSingersLaundry]

Pack your patience! We travel frequenly to disney with family and friends. Disney is sometimes stressful and trying, especially on little sleep, even with the best group. Breaks during the day are good for little ones.

You will have to link all guests to you MDE account so you can schedule all fast passes at once. I think you can do so by sending family members an invite if they have a MDE account, or you can make one for them. You will need the park ticket number to do so. Once you are all connected you can schecule fast passses for your entire party, or leave some members out if you choose. Its possible to schedule diffetent people for different activities. If you have trouble connecting all your family members, just call Disney and they will sort it out.

Good luck!

 

[DvcDoc]

When we have visited with a large group, we have set certain times for all of us to be together and other times for each smaller group to do their own thing. We would schedule a group meal and/or maybe a ride for everyone, or even more if that is what you want. And then give everyone time to go explore whatever they wanted. We usually set up to get together for dinner and then enjoy the evening entertainment at whatever park we were visiting. It just made the trip less strenuous and seemed to give everyone a good time. Hope you have a super trip!

 

[wrighter]

With regards to tickets, I'm wondering: Would it just be easier for me to purchase everyone's tickets? That way there is no linking to be done? I'm already dreading the glitches!!!

But then, what if my fam of four wants park hoppers, sis's fam wants one-park-per-day, and parentals only want a three-day pass? Can I do that? How do I make sure everyone gets the right tickets attached to their MBs?

Really hate this new system for multi-generational/family trips. :-(

 

[bobbiwoz]

With regards to tickets, I'm wondering: Would it just be easier for me to purchase everyone's tickets? That way there is no linking to be done? I'm already dreading the glitches!!!

But then, what if my fam of four wants park hoppers, sis's fam wants one-park-per-day, and parentals only want a three-day pass? Can I do that? How do I make sure everyone gets the right tickets attached to their MBs?

Really hate this new system for multi-generational/family trips. :-(

On MDE I have not had any problem matching my friends and family to their tickets. Just be careful, there is a pop up that says once the process is done it cannot be changed. It's the same process no matter who buys the ticket.

 

[Jkpark]

I would decide how your family of 4 wants to use FP. Then email parents and sister and let them know and ask them their priorities. You can then match times for things you all want to do and split up accordingly around the same time were you want to do different things. I sometimes sacrifice my priorities when trying to please lots of people - so try not to do that.

 

[Dee77]

Since you have all been to Disney before, I would ask them what their thoughts are on scheduling park days and meals.. If there are days that you all plan to be together and do rides/ eat together I would probably plan the fast passes and meals for late morning to early evening so if your sister with the young ones gets out to a late start or needs to go back early they won't "miss" anything that you went and planned fast passes for.. KWIM? As for purchasing, linking and booking for everyone though one account on MDE, it is really easy.. With initial fast pass selections and on the fly changes to fast passes, it can be segmented to just a couple of people in your party or the whole group for bookings.. Plus if you get a memory maker, it will carry over to everyone.