Thoughts on inviting family members

[luvmy2babies]

What's it like when you do other things together on a smaller scale? That would go a long ways towards letting you know what to do.

Have you gone to any other destination where your families were there at the same time or together?

It's different than say being at one another's homes for a few days. My children and I had gone to my sister's for a couple of Thanksgivings (Wednesday through Sunday) and our families really enjoy each other. I know my children would love to be at Disney with their cousins. When we looked at planning such a thing though it didn't take long to realize that for various reasons we needed to do something smaller first. Disney is too expensive to risk too much and you run a risk inviting others to a place you love so much.

I know I'm nervous about inviting anyone to go when we go.

 

[Kathy Haan]

I enjoyed my mom and little sister joining my family on a 10-day trip a few years ago. I'm helicopter mom but my mom definitely isn't....andddd she was watching my oldest while my husband and I went on a ride and she got lost. OTHER THAN THAT it was nice to be able to split hotel room cost and tag-team the kids.

 

[thr33boys]

Just to update, I did end up bringing it up to my sister that we are going in November and wondered if they would like to join us. We both agreed that we would have to split up and do things with our own families if they did come.

I am going to go ahead and plan my trip as per usual and if they decide to go I'll share my plans so she can see what she wants to join us for or when we have free time. She's the type to probably not confirm if they're coming until Sept/Oct.

Thanks everyone for your input

 

[Grendalynn]

I think that when you travel with friends and or family its a different type of vacation that when its just you and your kids... We have been to Disney alone at our "fab5"and we have been to Disney with my sister and here family, and we have gone to Disney with my in-laws (in-laws meaning DH's siblings, parents and grandparents all at once ). While we had many great times and made some amazing memories from these trips, its important to lay out some ground rules a head of time. Most recently we went with my sister and her young family (DN was 2 months old!!)... While my sister and I have traveled to WDW many times together as kids, its different as adults with a family of your own. DBIL was not as understanding of my older boys "wants and needs" and wanted us all to be together all the time... not easy as my boys were all old and tall enough for everything and could do so in a park-comando type style... her kids were in the toddler/pre-K stages. In the beginning it was rough -hip to hip, meal by meal, together all the time. Lots of waiting around, diaper changes and meltdowns... adults and kids. Once we accepted it for what it was, we branched off and did our own things at times and then met back up later in the day. Even though we had brief conversations about this type of thing prior to our vacation, i think some feelings were hurt.... Be blunt, be honest and have some ground rules ahead of time.

WDW is the happiest place on earth enjoy the time and the memories. I wouldn't trade our trips for the world, we had an amazing time each and every time with all of them!! I do, however, want to bring my parents with us before its all said and done. My parents brought my sisters and I many times as kids and they started my love of all things Disney. They aren't going to be here forever - agile and limber enough to do so easily. So, that's on my bucket list!

 

[englishteacha]

We have enough trouble touring a small local amusement park with another family. I'm not sure I'd do Disney with another family. We went with another couple once and they didn't want to do anything we wanted to do. We've thought of bringing our daughter's Godmother on our daughter's first trip but in the end we have decided to just go as a family of 3.

When I was a kid we took a big family trip, and it was a lot of fun for us kids, but we did go our own ways much of the time in smaller groups.

 

[richmo]

Having extended family along definitely changes the dynamics. There's the good and the bad.

You have to decide whether you want to do everything as a group or not and how the other part of the family feels about that decision. Going around in a larger group can be fun, but you're going by what I like to call "the lowest common denominator". Your day starts with the last person up and ready; your day ends with the first one tired. Your meals are dictated by what everyone will eat (and spend). If you're OK and prepared for all that, go for it. If not, either don't invite them or make your time together much more limited...maybe meet for a meal or at the pool, etc.