POLL/DEBATE: How does your family tour the parks - together or separate?

[DisneyKidds]

Rumor has it that the family unit is not what it once was.

In the most un-scientific of ways, let's see what is typical of a DIS family unit, and see how they enjoy the Disney parks.

Walt always intended that families enjoy his parks together, but what exactly does that mean? Does it mean that the whole family is in the same park, or does it mean that the whole family is in the same place in the same park, or something entirely different?

How does your family tour the parks?

ps - mods, a little leeway? I do have an agenda, and this does relate to one of our friendly sanctioned debates . Thanks!!!

 

[All Aboard]

We are a family of three, so splitting up would mean that someone goes solo. As such, we never split up on a large scale. Now, my wife does sit out some attractions that only Natalie and I enjoy. Mad Tea Party and Astro Orbiter are examples. She also doesn't care much for Test Track or Space Mountain. When we are enjoying those, she's generally in a near by gift shop. There are times that I venture off into the park early in the day while they are still asleep, or when Nat was napping (in the old days. )

 

[raidermatt]

We tour as a family, and actually with a few friends as well. We only split up at some of the thrill rides, but we use FP and hook back up immediately after, so the split-up time is minimal. As my son starts meeting the height requirements, which he should be by our next trip in May, we will be splitting up even less.

My wife is a bit motion averse though (as is my friend's wife who also goes with us), so we will always likely have a little bit of splitting up. The Tea Cups is interesting, because my 4-year old son loves them, and has since he rode them at DL on his 2nd birthday (with no extra spinning). My wife, however, avoids this ride like the plague, so she takes pictures of us riding.

One of the many things we like about WDW is that there are so many attractions/shows that appeal to all of us. That's one of the major disappointments about DCA (though its certainly not the only one), and its why we would usually rather see money spent on family attractions as opposed to attractions that rely on motion to thrill you.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Let's say that one or two people sitting on the side or browsing a gift shop for a short while waiting for others in the group to ride something does not constitute "splitting up". I would consider "splitting up" to be dad and junior riding Space or Splash, while mom and peanut go off and do Dumbo and Pooh.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Our exception is also the thrill rides, as DD3 is too little. We often start the day in different sections and work toward each other. From 10:00ish on we are together, but DS10 has gotten a couple rides on the thrill ride of whatever park and DD3 has done some of the "baby" stuff. One of the reasons we choose Disney when Six Flags is in our backyard is that we can enjoy things together. Quite a feat to entertain a 10 year old and a 3 year old at the same time!

 

[disneychrista]

We stay together for the most part. Occassionally, if my mom comes with us, we may split for a few attractions that my oldest DD wants to do that the youngest doesn't. But most of the time it is me and the two girls, so there is no way to split up.

As for what does a "Family" park mean. Well for me it means it is a park that the entire family can enjoy. There is something there for everyone. It is not necessarily where every attraction will be enjoyed by everyone but there is something there for every member of the family, from the baby to grandma (or even great grandma).

 

[Bob O]

I would agree with disneychrista idea on a family park!!! Not every ride has to be boring so while the crumb crunchers get excited the rest dont have to fall asleep and hope for it to be over.
We do most attractions with all 5 of my family members together!!!! My son who gets bored (17 yoa) will go on his own after awhile but the rest of us will stay together and the only time we will separate for a time is if me or one of the kids wants to ride a favorite ride several times in a row. This works very well in the disney/universal/busch parks but doesnt work as well at SF parks where we separate more often.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Our first trip was in '95. At the time our boys were 15 & 12. At the beginning of the trip,we hit each park as a family.After that the boys went their way,DW and I went ours. The boys loved the grown up feeling those room cards with charging privledges gave them.

The following trips they spent less and less time with us. Last trip they made with us they brought dates,so we were rarely saw them except for a MANDITORY dinner at Tappenyaki.

Now DW & I go by ourselves,looking forward to taking grandkids in about 10-15 years.

 

[Planogirl]

We do both so I wasn't quite sure how to answer. I always find time to hit a few thrill rides and do a little shopping on my own and my husband, who is a bit Disney-challenged, likes to go offsite to check out other places. My son even enjoys going to the kids clubs a few times so he can play with kids for a change instead of just Mom.

But we do spend the majority of time hanging out together.

 

[hopemax]

Let's say that one or two people sitting on the side or browsing a gift shop for a short while waiting for others in the group to ride something does not constitute "splitting up".

I can't agree with this. Walt "sitting on the side" while watching his daughters riding the carousel is what started this theme park nonsense in the first place! It's one of the things he was trying to avoid! And now we're supposed to consider it NOT "splitting up."

BTW, we tour as a family pretty much, although there are times in the afternoon that my husband and I will go one way and my parents will go another for a few hours. Usually it has to do with stamina, and how much DH can handle the in-laws .

 

[HB2K]

We don't split up. As a family of three (1 four year old) and one more on the way, I'm looking to experince our family vacations as a family, which Magic Kingdom, MGM & to a lesser extent EPCOT provide.

 

[MineeBaby]

In the past I have always gone with my family as the eldest of 4 kids. We all show up and have breakfast together, then we would visit the park as a family at first, and then we would either split up for a few hours with my and my brother taking off while my parents and the two kiddies of the family relaxed and did their own thing. We would usaually meet back somewhere, and then, when the kids started getting tired, they would go back to the room while my brother and i stayed until park closing. Other days when my parents wanted to relax at the resort for the day, my brother and i would take off and park hop..so we would stay together until the little kids got tired or wanted to wait 90 minutes for dumbo, and then my brother and I would do our own thing...so my vote is for a little bit of family and a little bit of splitting up

 

[Barb]

Our sons are now 20, 22 and 24. We've always done WDW together and still do. From our first trip as a family in 1985, when our youngest was just 3 1/2, to the present. Yes, we do have at least one who will sit out a ride now and then, but for the most part we stay together for everything. The person sitting out will either use the bathroom or grab a drink while the others do the ride. The boys never even asked to go off alone. For us, the fun of going on vacation is doing things as a family. It's one of the few times when we are actually all together.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I think a lot depends on the ages of the kids and how often you go to WDW. When my kids were little, we stayed together all day. Now that they are teens and older, I find that we all stay together if we haven't been to WDW in a while. If there's been a short time since the last trip - they usually take off for a while and we all meet for dinner.