Boy, did I get a lot of crap from people who traveled with us...

[Zippa D Doodah]

As much as I love my extended family, and enjoy spending time with many friends... a WDW vacation is something that only works for us as a family unit (me, DW, DD, and DS). Being away with just the 4 of us has become the point of WDW trips. Having been several times, we now take it easy -seeing lts of things but by no particular schedule

 

[pdarrah]

We have done WDW with friends and with my parents and DH's TWO sets of parents (Yes, I get 2 sets of in-laws!). For the most part, we have managed to cope although it does usually require some split-time occasionally. Actually, one of my MIL is great to go with (but that FIL is SLOW and if they go with us again we are getting him a scooter - I think we nearly killed him last time!) The other in-laws nearly drove us nuts and I don't know if I could cope if they want to go again! The problem was they had NO OPINIONS - EVER - about anything! No matter what the question the answer was " just do whatever you like, we'll just follow along". OK - this let us make all the decisions, but it got really, really frustrating since we never knew if they were going to like what we decided!

Traveling with others (even family) is a very different experience and ALWAYS takes some extra patience!

pdarrah

 

[annabelle]

SammieG -- If you're at WDW for 18 days, you can afford to take your time! We go for five-weeks at a stretch. Boy do we lounge!! But what about the folks who are there "5-nights-7 days"? Can the kids really go back to their schoolmates & say: "Nope, we didn't do ToT or Space Mountain. We slept." That's like going to Paris & not seeing the Eiffel Tower!

Try going with 11 people (ages 1-63), 3 strollers, 1 electric wheelchair and only ONE day at the parks: Magic Kingdom and that's it. That's what we'll be doing this summer with the crowds and heat. I hope we survive! And at least see half the park!

 

[pezpam]

SammieG -- If you're at WDW for 18 days, you can afford to take your time! We go for five-weeks at a stretch. Boy do we lounge!! But what about the folks who are there "5-nights-7 days"? Can the kids really go back to their schoolmates & say: "Nope, we didn't do ToT or Space Mountain. We slept." That's like going to Paris & not seeing the Eiffel Tower!

Yes. They really can. And they'll survive, even!

We're not big lounging or sleeping-late people, but neither are we ever going to be commando-style people - we've never made an am EMH. We've missed doing a few things along the way - heck, we've never made it to any of the *fireworks displays*, which is absolute heresy to many. And yet, DD and I both have fabulous memories and she chatters about our trips and can't wait to go back.

If you're going with another family, communication about expectations *ahead of time* is a key. If problems arise, it's time to sit down over a meal or a drink and say "Look, you can do all of this autograph and shopping, but it means longer lines and missing other things. We need to decide how to go so we won't be getting on each other's nerves." If I was with a commando-style family, we'd probably spend some time happily bolting from place to place with them, but would definitely plan some slower times. And man, if anyone ever told me to 'pick 'em up and put 'em down'...... it'd sure be time to talk! LOL

 

[beth_cam]

We are going in May and per my daughter's request we invited the grandparents. I expected them to decline since they had just been there in October with other grandchildren and have some fairly extensive travel plans coming up. But they agreed. This can be really great. I am very glad though that they will only be there 3 days of our 7. The kids will get to enjoy with them yet we will be able to do things OUR WAY most of the trip. I have went with my parents 2x as an adult. Once I was very disappointed cause they were always wanting to see all the shows do little shopping and had been so many times in the few years prior they knew exactly what they were going to do when and didnt take into consideration that I may not like the same things. (terrible I know but I flat out refused when it came to the hall of presidents, why did I have to do everything with them every moment so I went to thunder mountain). Oct 2003 we went with them and all the family (like 14 people in all). They were there for a week, we were there 3 nights, same with my brother's family - 2 days in the park. That worked out well. The FAMILY spent most of ONE park day together and that was it. 2x when they were wanting to do stuff that day I just waited till they decided and said okay we'll meet you at the exit or the next attraction in the allotted time. Didnt really give them the option to include what we wanted or make it clear they really didnt care what we wanted. Everything went very smoothly. I am sort of expecting to do the same this time while they are there this time. I'll let them decide whatever they want to do and if I am opposed I'll just meet them later. I've had a change of heart about the shows especially the hall of presidents. My dd is 6 and is so into that kind of stuff and I cant wait to experience her experiencing all this stuff. Cant wait to take her through all the stuff at epcot....Hopefully I'll be better able to listen to my kid's wants than my parents were/are to mine. I look back at this post and all I see is I I I I. gotta work on the WE WE WE

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

...about getting up early and following a "plan". They are now calling me the Drill Sgt.

Why don't others understand the importance of planning and hitting the parks early??

I should have let them sleep in and try the parks on their own

I get the same reaction from my family. I let them fend for themselves once and now they appreciate me a lot more

 

[John Dobbertin]

Pezpam: Sure you can have a great time sitting in the rockers at Exhibition Hall on Town Square at the MK & watching the crowds go by. Who needs the attractions? Who needs the fireworks? Expensive way to pass the day, however!

 

[BonnieA]

I've taken newbies a few times. They understand from the get go that I am the expert and by coming with me they will do what I say. I suppose that sounds like a "drill sgt", then so be it. I tell them they may not appreciate it at the time, but when they get home they will realize just how much they saw and what a good time they had. And they do just that. I don't necessarily do a commando pace, but getting up early is a requirement to do a lot in the mornings and then slow down. It helps that I always go in the off seasons, utilize fast pass when appropriate and allow some down time and a change of pace day. And believe me, those who go with me don't miss very much.

 

[lauran cameron]

Oh man...

We have brought so many WDW virgins to "the world" and they REALLY do wanna stop EVEYRWHERE and see EVERYTHING even if its a flower arrangement they're like "Oo0O0o0o0oo!!!!!!! HOW AMAZINGLY PRETTY!!!!" and we're just stading there mouths hung open just like "uhhhhhhhhhhhh"

but aside from the lagging and oooing and ahhhing it kindda brought back old feelings and brought things to our eyes we would've never seen or notice wiht out them.

they kind of brought out a subliminal beauty of WDW

quite cool...but sometimes yes, we know

 

[pezpam]

Pezpam: Sure you can have a great time sitting in the rockers at Exhibition Hall on Town Square at the MK & watching the crowds go by. Who needs the attractions? Who needs the fireworks? Expensive way to pass the day, however!

There *is* a happy medium. We hardly sit in one place all day and I certainly don't spend all day shopping. We just accept that we can't do it all, so we do what we want to and I don't push DD past her limits. On our first trip, DD wanted to get a LOT of autographs - she still loves looking at the pictures I snapped of her with all of the characters. Were the memories worth the time? Sure were. For us. The next visit, she was only interested in a few autographs, so we spent time doing other things. Still came home with wonderful memories.

All I'm saying is that a perfectly good vacation can be had without going commando. For some, going commando would probably ruin the trip due to stress levels and kids who lose it after parents don't stop and take a break when the kids need it. If a commando trip works for your family, then by all means, do it and enjoy! Get the memories you want, I'll get the ones I want. Just please don't tell me that not doing it your way means I am wasting my time and money - I won't do it for you.

 

[3redheads]

You know, my MIL appreciated everything because we did 5 parks, a Disney cruise and rode the auto train. This is a woman who has never had a vacation! SIL is a comedienne, or so she thinks. She is the one who called me Drill Sgt., but she would have never seen as much as she did without our having a plan.

We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, Poly and Royal Pacific and the cruise.

I gave them the option of doing something else, but if she (SIL) doesn't speak up, that's her fault.

This was the trip of a lifetime for MIL. At 68, this was her first time at WDW and first time seeing the beach, so I guess I shouldn't be so bothered by my SIL's kidding.

Kim

 

[EthansMom]

I had something of the opposite experience on my last trip to WDW. I'm the planner and went along with in-laws "laid-back" plan.

It drove me nuts that their version of "winging it" meant getting up late, waiting for everyone to get dressed, waiting for everyone to eat breakfast, waiting for everyone to get last minute items to take to the park, waiting for everyone to decide which park we were going to, waiting for everyone to decide which ride we would go on first. There were 13 of us total, including 3 young children, and 15 adults. Everyone else seemed to find nothing wrong with getting to the parks right before lunch and waiting in lines for everything, seeing and doing half of what people wanted to do because no one had planned anything. And then, the consensus was that the kids were misbehaving in the afternoons, when what they needed was a nap and a break. I did some rough calculations after the trip and figured that between the 13 of us, we has spent the equivalent of 2 people's vacations waiting!!!!

Personally, I prefer to be at the parks at or close to opening time and get in some rides while the kids (and DH and I) are fresh. My entire immediate family NEEDS an afternoon break away from the parks. A bit of planning lets us have the rest and relaxation that we need.

We will never go to WDW in such a large group again. And, if we ever travel with anyone to WDW in the future, we will arrange to meet for lunch, by the hotel pool for an afternoon break and/or for dinner and go off on our own most of the time in the parks.

EthansMom (and Molly's too)

 

[kpossible]

I like to travel with just our family. We went one time with the in laws and half the time you spend deciding when to meet or doing what every one else wants. That is no vacation to me. Vactions are getting away from it all.

 

[SammieG]

yes we are fortunate that we spend about 5 weeks a year in Orlando.. so we can be laid back if we want to be.

everyone does things differently.. its important to get done what you need to get done whilst still achieving a pleasant vacation!!!

PS "Going Commando" means something COMPLETELY different in England!

 

[pezpam]

PS "Going Commando" means something COMPLETELY different in England!

Both meanings work over here.

 

[pjshaff]

We travelled we friends and their 2 kids this past Dec, and while we have two totally different touring styles (we're early risers b/c of our 2 kids & they all sleep in) , everything worked out GREAT.

We got to the parks early, when they got there, they called us on the cell phone. We then toured together for a few hours, had lunch and then we broke away for naps for the kids.(well, and us too...who am I kidding ) Ours get extremely crabby later on if they don't nap as we learned last trip there. They stayed in the parks and when we got back in the parks, called them up on the cell and met up to resume touring.

It was alot of fun because we hadn't seen them in a couple of years and the kids had a good time together. I would do it again, now ask me if I will go with relatives... that's a different story altogether


Pam

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

PS "Going Commando" means something COMPLETELY different in England!

What ever you do, don't get the Brits started with "Fanny pack" either!!! And "Going Commando" and "Fanny pack" in the same sentence...look out!!

 

[newholidayx2]

I plan the downtown and the commando time
First few days we're just doing the resorts, mid-late wk we're doing commando for 4 days (one reg morn ea park)
second wk Im planning on lots of pool time and parks at night

 

[starwatcher]

a few years ago i went with my dad, a friend and her mother. It was we had to do everything their way. I swear i spent almost all my time at AK so this year when i go am skipping that park am burnt out. I didn't get to go to Epcot or MK my fave places. My dad was so sweet not complaining even though he loves Epcot we were hardly there. Then My friend told me my dad was mean wouldn't do what they wanted to do. My dad was being nice and my friend was throwing tantrums. This was not 2 people who have not ever been to WDW they had been 3 times before. They left one day before we did so I finally got to do some things like rocking rollar coaster and a brief visit to MK my fave place. This next trip in May just me and my dad doing what we want

 

[MouseGirl]

We're at WDW right now (my husband, our two daughters ages 10 and 8) and my parents who are in their late 60s. We started out at MK together the first morning last week and they said they wanted to stick together for the morning at least. Well, after the first 30 minutes and our mad dash to Tomorrowland for the kids to hit their favorite rides my parents were asking what time we wanted to meet up! They weren't interested in doing Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, etc., and the pace was just too much for them. It worked out very well for all of the parks. We would travel over together, get into the park at opening time and then arrange a meeting place and time just after lunch. We got to do all the rides we wanted to do, and they got to soak in the atmosphere of WDW and enjoy themselves too.

As an aside in the early vs late rising discussion, we went before opening on Tuesday last week. We were there for the rope drop and got to ride Test Track twice, Mission Space, etc. within the first hour or so. We went back yesterday to experience the World Showcase and arrived about 9:30 a.m. The park was already jammed with people and the fastpass return time for Test Track was 11:40 a.m.! That was fine with us, since we'd already had our commando-style day at Epcot and had experienced all the rides with minimal or no wait time. There was a lady behind me in the line for margaritas outside the Mexico pavillion in World Showcase complaining to someone else in line about how they had stood in line for 2 HOURS!! to ride Test Track yesterday and how it so wasn't worth it. Well, I'd have to agree. People just don't seem to realize that they don't have to wait in line if they follow the touring plan. I think our longest line-up in any park was 10 minutes over the past 10 days. As we pass the long lines of people in the standby lines our kids keep commenting on how they can't figure out why anyone wouldn't just go early and use fastpass - lol.