Have You Done a Family Trip (Children/Grandchildren)to WDW?

[The Mayor]

Our first family trip to WDW was in 1985 (FT. Wilderness Cabins). WDW turned out being our vacation destination of choice. Our son was 5 and our daughter was 3. We went many more times over the years as a family and my wife and I have gone together many more times alone. We love it there even with all the changes and cost increases over the years. We have our things we enjoy doing and like to try to do something different each trip. With that being said, once our children got married we started thinking and hoping that one day when we had grandchildren we could bring our them all for their first visit to WDW. Well that happened in October 2022 and it was the best vacation watching our grandchildren's eyes light up when we walked into MK and every time they experienced something new. They were ages 5, 3, 3, 2. While they missed out on some rides they were plenty they could go on. The trip was such a success (despite the stress of planning for 10 people) that we are all going again in August 2025. A lot was learned planning and going on the first trip so hoping it will be less stress this time!! We are going to surprise the grandchildren with this for Christmas. We can't wait to see their expressions when we tell them!!!

Has anyone else here done a big family trip with their children and grandchildren? If so, how did it go? Have you or would you do it again?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Yes I have, Steve. Not 10 people, but 4 of us. Natalie and her two boys and me. I took them in 2013, 2014 and 2017. And that was sadly my last trip there. Not because of them, haha, but Marie and I were care givers for her now recently deceased 90 tear old uncle who had dementia. Then COVID, and now I question my own physical ability to do it. But those 3 trips were great. Progressively better as they got older. First trip they were 4 and 6. Last trip they were 8 and 10. I'd love to do it again, if capable.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Our first family trip to WDW was in 1985 (FT. Wilderness Cabins). WDW turned out being our vacation destination of choice. Our son was 5 and our daughter was 3. We went many more times over the years as a family and my wife and I have gone together many more times alone. We love it there even with all the changes and cost increases over the years. We have our things we enjoy doing and like to try to do something different each trip. With that being said, once our children got married we started thinking and hoping that one day when we had grandchildren we could bring our them all for their first visit to WDW. Well that happened in October 2022 and it was the best vacation watching our grandchildren's eyes light up when we walked into MK and every time they experienced something new. They were ages 5, 3, 3, 2. While they missed out on some rides they were plenty they could go on. The trip was such a success (despite the stress of planning for 10 people) that we are all going again in August 2025. A lot was learned planning and going on the first trip so hoping it will be less stress this time!! We are going to surprise the grandchildren with this for Christmas. We can't wait to see their expressions when we tell them!!!

Has anyone else here done a big family trip with their children and grandchildren? If so, how did it go? Have you or would you do it again?

We've done several, all with our 3 granddaughters. The ultimate was last year, when my in-laws were staying in a nearby airbnb (Mom had a stroke the next morning, got flown to assisted living in Lindenhurst, Illinois, when she could travel-but that's a whole other story). We fulfilled 2 dreams-1.Take the grandchildren to Disney and 2.stay in a grand villa. And this fall we did it again, and this time DH fulfilled a personal dream-to golf at WDW with his granddaughter.

 

[goofyernmost]

I did that with 11 back in 2008. Over the years when my girls were young 6 & 8 in 1983 and we went as a family of 4 many times. They grew up and got married and like magic these little kids started showing up in rapid succession. I'm not rich but over the years I saved up and finally decided the time was right to do the big crowd thing. Man, it was a lot of planning. It was easier then because I could buy the tickets at any time, didn't have to make reservations ahead of time. There were way to many of us to stay onsite if I planned on my tending to the habit of eating regularly when it was done with. It took a year and in the year we planned, as a group and would get together for a meal, or cook out and run through everyone's thought on what they would like to do. The kid watched the Vacation Planning Video from Disney over and over again.

.

We stayed in a 6 bedroom Villa just a half mile from the WDW entrance. Since I paid for the round trip transportation from Vermont to Kissimmee and back to Vermont. Purchased 7 day, non-expiring tickets for everyone and the Villa rental/car rental, it was the only way I could afford it. It wasn't necessary to stay onsite. The Villa was so spectacular that the excitement of that alone was more than entertaining. It had a huge kitchen and living room, laundry, Play room with pool table and air hocky, a huge screened Florida room housing our own full sized swimming pool and jacuzzi. I don't have to tell you how much fun we had. Sometimes we would eat out, sometimes, like breakfast, we would just stay in. There was a gas grill in the Florida Room.

We had three rental cars so we traveled together or not. We all had cell phones (a fairly new thing back then) so we could coordinate lunch get togethers while in the parks. We had 7 adults, 4 kids (three of the kids were under 8 years old) and everyone got along. Like I said we had many planning meetings and laid down the ground rules to insure that everyone had a good time. We all agreed to pay for our own food but at some point we each bought a meal for everyone. (unplanned, it just happened) We ate our primary meals offsite to save money with the exception of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. That was the only big meal that we ate onsite (my treat). I will have memories of that trip for whatever life I have left. Those three kids are now in their early 20's and still have many memories of it. I'm so glad I waited until they were all old enough to remember a lot of it.

 

[tachyonbb]

I had no interest in going to the land of the big rat. My wife talked me into taking our two daughters in the mid 90's. I was blown away. We stayed at the contemporary, Unlike vacations in the past I did not have to worry about safety, where to go, where to stay or where to eat. Every meal was good, the place was clean and the attention to detail was amazing. We enjoyed the rides and shows. We went back every year usually staying at Port Orleans. Eventually we decided on doing DVC, buying at Grand Floridian then resale at Bay Lake Tower. Now we have two teenage grandsons and we go a couple of times a year usually with all 6 of us. We have visited Hilton Head twice and loved it. I am glad our son in law is also a disney fan.

 

[disneyseniors]

Yes I have, Steve. Not 10 people, but 4 of us. Natalie and her two boys and me. I took them in 2013, 2014 and 2017. And that was sadly my last trip there. Not because of them, haha, but Marie and I were care givers for her now recently deceased 90 tear old uncle who had dementia. Then COVID, and now I question my own physical ability to do it. But those 3 trips were great. Progressively better as they got older. First trip they were 4 and 6. Last trip they were 8 and 10. I'd love to do it again, if capable.

Dan, if you are able you should do it! If we wait too long at our "older" age, then we might not be able to go "later".
My husband can't go to the parks anymore due to nerve damage. I still want to go to the parks and am still able. I have gone on 2 trips with my son and daughter to Universal, most recently last November. I felt guilty for leaving him at home, but he was happy to see me be able to go to the parks. He said I should go to Epic next year, and I should continue until I can't go anymore. He is happy to stay at home and do what he can around the house. He understands that one day I won't be able to navigate the parks anymore.
Like you, we took our kids and when they were grown we took the grandkids. We had a total of 10 on one trip. It was a wonderful, manageable time for all of us. Lots of great memories.
I move slower and take more breaks now than I used to do, and I don't spend all day at the parks anymore, but I enjoy what I can do. If I had to I would use an ECV to get around.
All this to say that I hope you are able to work out how to go to the parks again.

 

[goofyernmost]

Dan, if you are able you should do it! If we wait too long at our "older" age, then we might not be able to go "later".
My husband can't go to the parks anymore due to nerve damage. I still want to go to the parks and am still able. I have gone on 2 trips with my son and daughter to Universal, most recently last November. I felt guilty for leaving him at home, but he was happy to see me be able to go to the parks. He said I should go to Epic next year, and I should continue until I can't go anymore. He is happy to stay at home and do what he can around the house. He understands that one day I won't be able to navigate the parks anymore.
Like you, we took our kids and when they were grown we took the grandkids. We had a total of 10 on one trip. It was a wonderful, manageable time for all of us. Lots of great memories.
I move slower and take more breaks now than I used to do, and I don't spend all day at the parks anymore, but I enjoy what I can do. If I had to I would use an ECV to get around.
All this to say that I hope you are able to work out how to go to the parks again.

You made that sound like it was almost illegal to use an ECV. I found out that it totally changed my attitude for visiting WDW once I used one, The only thing that was different was that my feet weren't sore and I could stay all day and into the evening just like I once did when my back and legs were more cooperative. Then they went and priced me out. Sometimes you just can't win. If you still can afford to do it, I strongly suggest the ECV route. It is terrific and almost makes one feel young again.

 

[disneyseniors]

You made that sound like it was almost illegal to use an ECV. I found out that it totally changed my attitude for visiting WDW once I used one, The only thing that was different was that my feet weren't sore and I could stay all day and into the evening just like I once did when my back and legs were more cooperative. Then they went and priced me out. Sometimes you just can't win. If you still can afford to do it, I strongly suggest the ECV route. It is terrific and almost makes one feel young again.

Um, not really. Anyone can use an ECV, but some people are reluctant to do so, even if they need it. I don't like to, but use it if needed. LOL, it does make you feel almost young again!

 

[goofyernmost]

Um, not really. Anyone can use an ECV, but some people are reluctant to do so, even if they need it. I don't like to, but use it if needed. LOL, it does make you feel almost young again!

Me too. I don't like to mostly because I am trying to convince my brain and body that I am still 25. If I didn't have to I wouldn't either. The trick for everyone is to recognize when they need one to enhance their life. That took me a long time, but once I did it. I was sold on the concept.

I saw a sign the other day that said "My brain thinks I'm 25, My sense of humor is around 12 and my body may have died during the civil war. That is so me!

 

[miksicnarf]

Yes! In fact we refer to it as the BFT--Big Family Trip. We'd been a Disney family forever, living near DL and vacationing with our 3 kids at WDW since 1997. I wanted to take my first granddaughter to WDW almost from the moment she was born in 2017...LOL...but we did it in 2022 with 9 of us. It was a major event, flying across country from Los Angeles first to Tampa, from there to Weeki Wachee for a week then on to WDW for another week. One of the biggest challenges was arranging transportation from TPA to WW, then WW to WDW for such a big group, including carseats. We had a great AirBnB in Weeki Wachee and as DVC members we had a Grand Villa plus studio at OKW. It was all great until the very end, on the next to last day 5 of us got Covid. I used my time during isolation to make a photo book of the trip and ordered copies for everyone. Our granddaughters were 2 and 4 at the time, they're now 5 and 7. Just recently when I was babysitting we got to talking about the BFT and they went straight to their bookshelves and pulled out the photo book and we reminisced about every picture. So glad I made those books to help keep the memories alive! Can't wait to do it again!

 

[The Mayor]

Love reading all the stories about your trips. @miksicnarf I did the same thing and made a picture book of the trip. All the grandchildren love looking at the pictures. I'm sure after I tell them at Christmas the books will be out again!!! I'm also stealing BFT for our trip!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Um, not really. Anyone can use an ECV, but some people are reluctant to do so, even if they need it. I don't like to, but use it if needed. LOL, it does make you feel almost young again!

Boy, I wish I'd understood that last sentence before I rented an ECV. I was definitely in the "reluctant" category. But one day my back really rebelled, so I rented one, but then called home (solo trip), crying to DH about what I "had" to do. But that last sentence is so true!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Dan, if you are able you should do it! If we wait too long at our "older" age, then we might not be able to go "later".
My husband can't go to the parks anymore due to nerve damage. I still want to go to the parks and am still able. I have gone on 2 trips with my son and daughter to Universal, most recently last November. I felt guilty for leaving him at home, but he was happy to see me be able to go to the parks. He said I should go to Epic next year, and I should continue until I can't go anymore. He is happy to stay at home and do what he can around the house. He understands that one day I won't be able to navigate the parks anymore.
Like you, we took our kids and when they were grown we took the grandkids. We had a total of 10 on one trip. It was a wonderful, manageable time for all of us. Lots of great memories.
I move slower and take more breaks now than I used to do, and I don't spend all day at the parks anymore, but I enjoy what I can do. If I had to I would use an ECV to get around.
All this to say that I hope you are able to work out how to go to the parks again.

Thanks for your encouragement, @disneyseniors, but I have rented and used an ECV, from Buena Vista Scooters, for at least my last half dozen or more visits to WDW. And yes to several prior posters here, agreed, it's a whole new world with an ECV. However, with spinal stenosis like @goofyernmost above, along with spinal arthritis and heart and lung issues, I have a hard time standing for 5 minutes without a several minute sit down. And even with the ECV, there can be a lot if standing at WDW. But, as said, an ECV fir those who need one, are wonderful. I wouldn't be able to walk from/to the bus dropoffs/pickups without one.

 

[FastPasser.]

Living next door to WDW and working there, we didn’t have to do family trips, the families came to us.

For over twenty years we provided free accommodations and park entrances. They just had to pay for food and travel.

Now as a Disney retiree and moving out of state, all that has ended. But that’s ok, I no longer have a need to do the parks.

 

[leebee]

We have been a Disney family since 1998, when DD was 5. She and I have been on far too many Disney trips, and DH has joined us for over a dozen of them. I would guess I have been to Disney at least 35 times... three times in 2024, although only one was a park trip. I had an amazingly successful solo trip in Nov. 2024, with 4 park days (no days off). I had a park hopper ticket and was just amazed at how well I held up, given my replaced knee and being 68. I really was pleased that I could do 9 hours in MK, followed by 3 hours at Epcot, and still make it to AK the next day!

Anyhow... DH and I are taking DD, SIL, and his 8 year old to Disney in May 2025. It's the little guy's first trip (and the big guy's third trip) so we are all pretty excited. Knowing how life is, I haven't made any reservations yet that can't be refunded, but we'll fly down from Manchester, NH and have reserved 2 preferred rooms at ASMovies. We are planning on 2 park days, a day off, and another park day before flying back home. I haven't bought the park tickets yet (that's a lot of money to tie up with Disney if we have to change our plans... I still have over $500 'on hold' from a covid-cancelled trip in 2021) and it's still too early to make dining reservations, but DD and the little guy will go to the Castle for breakfast on our MK day, hopefully. As a family we decided that breakfast for 5 would be too $$$, but it warms my heart that DD wants to take him to meet "her girls." We having told him yet about the trip, but I think we're going to surprise him on New Year's Eve... new year, new adventure. I'm really excited!

 

[weewuvvdisney]

We have been a Disney family since 1998, when DD was 5. She and I have been on far too many Disney trips, and DH has joined us for over a dozen of them. I would guess I have been to Disney at least 35 times... three times in 2024, although only one was a park trip. I had an amazingly successful solo trip in Nov. 2024, with 4 park days (no days off). I had a park hopper ticket and was just amazed at how well I held up, given my replaced knee and being 68. I really was pleased that I could do 9 hours in MK, followed by 3 hours at Epcot, and still make it to AK the next day!

Anyhow... DH and I are taking DD, SIL, and his 8 year old to Disney in May 2025. It's the little guy's first trip (and the big guy's third trip) so we are all pretty excited. Knowing how life is, I haven't made any reservations yet that can't be refunded, but we'll fly down from Manchester, NH and have reserved 2 preferred rooms at ASMovies. We are planning on 2 park days, a day off, and another park day before flying back home. I haven't bought the park tickets yet (that's a lot of money to tie up with Disney if we have to change our plans... I still have over $500 'on hold' from a covid-cancelled trip in 2021) and it's still too early to make dining reservations, but DD and the little guy will go to the Castle for breakfast on our MK day, hopefully. As a family we decided that breakfast for 5 would be too $$$, but it warms my heart that DD wants to take him to meet "her girls." We having told him yet about the trip, but I think we're going to surprise him on New Year's Eve... new year, new adventure. I'm really excited!

Years ago, we wanted to go to the Crystal Palace for the buffet. We found it expensive at the time (on a shoestring budget) so we ate something light for breakfast at the hotel and had reserved the latest brunch time we could at the Crystal Palace, Wasn't crowded. Great interaction with Winnie & Friends. Was a great day!

 

[Becky2005]

Has anyone else here done a big family trip with their children and grandchildren? If so, how did it go? Have you or would you do it again?

I haven't read all the replies but this is fun that you are going in August 2025! So are we with a big extended family. We will have about 17 people. I have started a pre-trip report about it. It will be my sister's grandson's first trip!

We did this similar trip in 2011 (so yes, we apparently are willing to try again!). It is me & my siblings. In 2011, it was Me, my 4 kids, my mom, my sister, her husband & 2 kids plus her son-in-law. My brother was also supposed to go but he bailed on us. So 11 in total with my mom being 70 then and my youngest was 7 (so that was the age spread). We all stayed in 2 different places. My mom was with me at Ft. Wilderness Cabins and then my sister's group stayed at Shades of Green.

How we worked it is we all met in the same park each day and we picked a color for the day, so we matched but didn't have matching shirts. (Guess who didn't exactly follow the memo & it shows in our main picture! That would be me!). We each picked our top 3 rides and then combined where we could. We also met up here and there but in general, we also did our own things too. It was my nephew's birthday, so we planned a private dessert party at Epcot. We ate at Crystal Palace when it was a strategy to get an early morning breakfast reservation. My niece had fairly recently got married, so they went off more on their own as a honeymoon. My mom bounced to hang out with my family & my sisters (my mom lives near me so she doesn't get to see my sister as often so that worked well). We did day 5 where we used the hopper part of our pass and just bounced between parks doing our favorites.




Fast Forward, we are trying this again in 2025! This time we have more people as my sister & I have grandkids! I think we are at 17. My husband is coming this time because due to health he can not stay home alone for a week (he does not like Disney so that's fun), myself, my 3 boys, my daughter & her 2 kids plus a friend. My sister, her husband, her son, her daughter & grandson. My brother, his daughter and her boyfriend. Unfortunately, due to work schedules, my brother's group will probably only be there for 3 park days vs. the 5 days we all planned. Our budget for everyone has changed too (lower budget). I am still staying on-site at the cabins. My daughter will be on site. My brother & sister are staying off site but close. Everyone is on their own for getting there and paying their way.

We are going to do the color coded shirts again for each park and if the schedule holds with Disney, we plan on attending one of the early Halloween parties. No private parties planned! We are also doing the pick your top 3 favorites & see who all wants to do what. We also plan to meet up for 1 meal/day but this time it is probably going to be all quick service.

I actually think this trip is harder due to everyone's work schedule and of course, the family has gotten bigger. This is probably the last big family going at once but I could be wrong on that.

 

[BigOnDis]

This thread bring back so many memories, thank you. We went as a family in 2008, with my Mom (64 at the time), Grandma (84), my sister and her children and me, my wife and my children, so nine in total. We stayed in two different places, my sisters family, mom and grandma staying at Shades of Green, and me and my family staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge.



We are missing a couple of boys from this picture, I am sure they thought they were too cool to get their picture taken in front of the castle.

At the time of this trip I remember thinking what a pain it was and that I would never do it again. Everyone wanted to do everything together and to get everyone on the same page was a struggle. But looking back, I am glad we made the trip and I have those memories, because, now my sister, my mom and my grandma are all gone. We still went every year, but just my family and after my sister died my niece.

Fast forward to today and we still go as a family, with my kids now grown and with one grandchild, they still want to go with us to Disney (helps that we pay). For the last two years, it has been me, my wife, my daughter, her husband, our grand-daughter, and our son. We stay DVC, so we can all be together and that makes it so much easier. My kids grew up at Disney so they know their way around, so we don't all have to stay together, if they want to do something else, they do it, or if I get tired, which happens now, then I go back and rest.

My advice, do the big trip and enjoy it, but don't try to make it perfect and stress out on it. Let it play out as it wants to.

 

[The Mayor]

My advice, do the big trip and enjoy it, but don't try to make it perfect and stress out on it. Let it play out as it wants to.

Wise words for sure!!! Definitely tried to make the first trip we did too perfect and stressed quite a bit but lessoned learned and this second trip will be much more relaxing...especially for me!!

 

[zippy2]

Our first family trip to WDW was in 1985 (FT. Wilderness Cabins). WDW turned out being our vacation destination of choice. Our son was 5 and our daughter was 3. We went many more times over the years as a family and my wife and I have gone together many more times alone. We love it there even with all the changes and cost increases over the years. We have our things we enjoy doing and like to try to do something different each trip. With that being said, once our children got married we started thinking and hoping that one day when we had grandchildren we could bring our them all for their first visit to WDW. Well that happened in October 2022 and it was the best vacation watching our grandchildren's eyes light up when we walked into MK and every time they experienced something new. They were ages 5, 3, 3, 2. While they missed out on some rides they were plenty they could go on. The trip was such a success (despite the stress of planning for 10 people) that we are all going again in August 2025. A lot was learned planning and going on the first trip so hoping it will be less stress this time!! We are going to surprise the grandchildren with this for Christmas. We can't wait to see their expressions when we tell them!!!

Has anyone else here done a big family trip with their children and grandchildren? If so, how did it go? Have you or would you do it again?