Melding families on a WDW trip

[Sillyminny40]

How do two completely different families work out how they do WDW parks? One has done it 5 times the other none.

Kids almost all the same age. We are thinking do our own thing all day then meet for supper and go back to the parks together. Both staying onsite.

Very very good friends and want to stay that way.

 

[BeckityBobbidyBoo!]

We have gone with my brother's family twice and our third trip is coming up in 3 weeks. We basically just plan on being in the same parks the same day and when we arrive we separate, but meet up sporadically throughout the day. As a group, we're 10, that's a lot of people to please. So, knowing that we don't have to stay together is a relief. Parades, fireworks, meals are nice times to meet up.

 

[Mrincredible1980]

My family and I gathered together last June and we were facing the same problem. One group had been many times, while two other groups were going for the first time. We had a total of 21 people and we all thought it was going to be a headache. But the expertise of the veteran family made the trip so much more enjoyable. They were able to guide us through the parks, tell us which rides would be the most crowded at certain times, and showed us how to take advantage of the fastpasses. The advantage of larger groups is that on some rides the cm's will actually help to keep the group together. Like on POC and Small World, we had our own boats. We had an altogther great time but this might not be the case for others.

 

[2poohbears]

I think it's a good idea to meet for meals, parades, Fantasmic, fireworks. You may want to ride a few attractions together one morning, just because it's nice to experience some of those things together.

I wouldn't want to spend my entire vacation with another family - I think it's good to spread the time together around a bit - but I guess that's a personal preference. I know some families/friends stay together the entire time, and have lots of fun.

btw - my friend's family is going the same time as mine in FEB, and we've scheduled some meals, parades, Fantasmic together. We'll do Fantasyland and half day at Animal Kingdom together. We've also agreed if the kids seem to be getting cranky with each other, etc, that we'll separate, with no hard feelings. We both want time with our own families, as well as time together to enjoy the World!

 

[DizneeMommy]

How do two completely different families work out how they do WDW parks? One has done it 5 times the other none.

Kids almost all the same age. We are thinking do our own thing all day then meet for supper and go back to the parks together. Both staying onsite.

Very very good friends and want to stay that way.

Our first trip many years ago, DH, my parents and siblings went with a family that owns DVC and goes several times each year. We'd never been.
We started each day together and got the "tour" of the park of the day from the experts, then went back to the villa at lunch to swim, etc. We had dinner together, then split up every evening. It was nice, because by that time we had our bearings and weren't just wandering around with no clue! We had a great time!

 

[Bibbidi]

We have very good friends who will meet up with us for part of our Disney vacation each time we go. I think what makes it work for us is that we've done the major stuff that we want to see before they've arrived for the second half of our trip. Since you don't have that situation, I would suggest doing mornings alone, meeting up after lunch and then spending the rest of the day together. That way your kids can see the rides that are most important to them in the morning and then you can all decide together what to do the rest of the afternoon. Also, definitely plan a day by the pool together - that is a great break from the parks and a chance for the grownups to hang out with dear friends for a while.