Thoughts after Whirlwind Trip w/Teens & In-laws

[theLavers]

We're a Florida family, & we go to Disney World at least once a year. We were there a few weeks ago & wanted to share with you some info and things we experienced on our trip. Who went? Me, 41yo mommy and wife, DH 46, DD 19, DS 16, DD 14, DD 5, father in-law and his wife.

The In-Laws
This was their first trip ever to DW! We were there only four days, so we did each park each day. I can't over-stress one thing about traveling with extended family--only do it if you really enjoy spending time with them. I've read some trip reports on this board about crash & burn vacas that just scream "I can pretend for awhile I like these people, but really I can't stand them". If this is the case with a family member, don't vacation with them. That's just asking for a family rift.

That being said, I really genuinely love my in-laws! They're fun people, are physically fit enough to keep up with our teens, and flexible. All these things helped. If they couldn't handle it physically, we could work around that. But the other two things, fun-loving and flexible, are really crucial to traveling to DW.

I knew before the trip that I would be a tour guide of sorts, and that was fine with me. I enjoyed sharing our fav rides and shows with them. We did rope drop every day, and if they were tired, they went to the hotel in the afternoon to rest. We went out again in the evenings. We ate lunch & dinner together most days, but did breakfast in the room while they ate in the resort counter service. This worked out perfectly.

Everything was dutch treat except that they took DH & I to dinner & LaNouba (so much fun) one night while the kids went to the fireworks in MK. We treated them to lunch our last day at 50's Prime Time Cafe. We had the BEST FUNNIEST waitress--this was a highlight of our trip for me.

We really are pretty commando. We did at least 10 attractions in each park, and DH's parents were great sports. They didn't ride everything, but didn't mind if the teens did, and we seperated a few times so the teens could do things the rest of us didn't want to do. It made for a really good use of time.

Teens and Money
As our budget was tight, this trip we ate counter service almost exclusively so I decided to make food money envelopes. Before we left home, I made an envelope for each day of the trip for each teen w/$23. Every morning I handed out these envelopes to the kids. This was $ for lunch, dinner & a snack. Because we have DD who's 5, we took a stroller each day & had a soft cooler w/drinks in it. In our resort room, we also had snack food, fruit, oatmeal, breakfast bars, drinks, crackers, etc. The rules for the money was this: it had to be spent on food, not souvenirs. This was the perfect amount of money for the teens for CS. However, had I not had drinks or extra snacks, it would not have been enough.

The kids each had spending money saved from their allowance (I told them months ahead that if they wanted spending $ for DW, they needed to save it). Worked great! I held DD5's $ for her and told her what she could and could not afford when we shopped. Very low stress.

Disney Resorts
We stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter which I really loved! It was small which is great for tired legs in the evening. It has the boats to Down Town Disney which are a plus, pool w/slide for the kids, hot tub for the adults. The beignets were a fun treat in the morning and the theming was beautiful. Right down this southern bell's alley. Shweet hotel.

We always stay on property. It just makes traveling with teens much easier. For example, the day we were in Epcot my DS16 got wet and needed to change clothes. I gave him a cell phone and his ticket and sent him back to the resort to change. No problem! I wouldn't send my DD14 alone, but I could've sent her with her brother or older sister. The three of them can travel via buses to other parks or the resort with a cell & DH, DD5 & I can do other things. DHs parents could travel back & forth to the resort without worrying about getting lost. It was wonderful. One caveat - we were there in off-season. May not be so peachy mid-summer.

We always book two connecting rooms for DH myself and the kids. We can keep an eye on them, everyone sleeps better and we have total privacy at night. Totally worth the $, and you'll keep your status w/your husband. mmmhmmm


Fiscal Responsibility (what a concept)
I made food $ envelopes for DH, DD5 and myself together & that worked fine, too. I even made a $ envelope for the TS meal. We paid for the resort & FL annual passes before we left home & paid for gas w/debit card. JMO I'd rather go on a shorter trip that I can pay w/cash than deal w/the debt. Just sayin...

In Summary
All in all we had a really wonderful trip! I rode two roller coasters I'd never riden before, the teens got to go on Toy Story Mania & the roller coaster simulator in Epcot for the first time and we all made some great memories with our extended family. DH's parents said they were definitely coming back, so sounds like they were happy to go. They needed a rest from the trip afterward, but hey, so did I! Work hard, play hard, take a nap!

MaryPat

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

Thanks so much for your trip report! I am glad your whole family had so much fun and I enjoyed hearing all your budget tips. We also plan to take snacks down with us. Did you eat breakfast in your room? If so, what did you eat? We stayed at PoR once before and checked out FQ and thought it was beautiful. I think our girls liked the slide there better!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

What a great report. WE are taking my MIL this spring break. It would be a first for her. I am pretty excited for her. I would take my FIL too but he is much to grumpy

 

[sk!mom]

DD 19, DS 16, DD 14, DD 5, father in-law and his wife.

We always book two connecting rooms for DH myself and the kids. We can keep an eye on them, everyone sleeps better and we have total privacy at night. Totally worth the $, and you'll keep your status w/your husband. mmmhmmm
[MaryPat

How do you handle sleeping arrangements with 3 girls and 1 boy in the kids room? I ask because we often book two rooms, as well but usually do a boys room and a girls room.

 

[theLavers]

Thanks guys! I'm glad you liked the report.

Thanks so much for your trip report! I am glad your whole family had so much fun and I enjoyed hearing all your budget tips. We also plan to take snacks down with us. Did you eat breakfast in your room? If so, what did you eat? We stayed at PoR once before and checked out FQ and thought it was beautiful. I think our girls liked the slide there better!

Yes, we did breakfast in the room. We used one coffee pot to make oatmeal, herbal tea & hot cocoa. We also had fresh fruit and breakfast bars. One morning we got beignets to eat, they were yummy and inexpensive. The mini-fridges in the rooms made it easy to keep cokes & juice cold, and kept the kids happy.

How do you handle sleeping arrangements with 3 girls and 1 boy in the kids room? I ask because we often book two rooms, as well but usually do a boys room and a girls room.

We always put the oldest daughter(19) with the youngest daughter(5). My dd(14) & DS (16) share just fine. I tell them if it's weird, put a row of pillows between them. They're sooo tired after a day of running the parks, they don't care! The curtain at the sink area makes it easier for changing, and DH & I share our bathroom in the connecting room with them in the morning.

Peace,
MaryPat

 

[theLavers]

What a great report. WE are taking my MIL this spring break. It would be a first for her. I am pretty excited for her. I would take my FIL too but he is much to grumpy

Aw, I hope ya'll have a stellar trip! I love DW, and it's so much fun to share all your favorites and hints with someone else--like sharing a great juicy secret!

Marypat