Traveling with extended families

[Dis4the1sttime]

I have seen a few posts that have included statements that traveling with large groups or extended families is a nightmare...

I need positive stories about traveling to Disney with a large group. We have a trip planned Oct.28-Nov.3 for 13 people.

Me, DH, DS(6), DS(14 months)
My Mom, My Dad
My sister, her fiance, nephew(7), twin neices (5)
Mother-in-law, Father-in-law.

We have all ready discussed the need for seperation. We are planning only 4 meals over the 6 days together (as a total group). We realize that we all have different expectations out of a vacation.

I was really looking forward to this experience, but now after reading some people's experiences I am really nervous.

I am looking for advice and positive stories about other large family vacations.

Thanks!

 

[Vickie46]

your vacation is what you make it.. just enjoy it and everything will be great!

 

[bethbuchall]

I think that as long as everyone is on the same page about the need for separation, you'll have a wonderful trip.

We went with:
My family of 5 (dh, me, ds10, dd7, and ds3)
My parents
My brother's family of 5 (DB, DSIL, Nephews11, 4, 2)

four years ago and had a terrific trip. We made sure to schedule several meals together over the course of the trip. My father didn't come to the parks, because he was happier playing golf. My mother came with our family one whole day at MK and then a couple of hours here and there. DB's family we bumped into on occasion at the parks but didn't try to stay with them. Their family didn't go to the parks as much as we did either. (I guess we're the only Disney nuts of the bunch.) I was worried about the trip before we went, because I like to do Disney MY way. I still basically was able to do that. We just planned in some meeting times, too.

Beth

 

[cocacolamom]

I understand you how you feel because I am planning a trip for my husband's family with us. Their will be 33 of us going (My husband is the youngest of 9), but I've also stated in all of the emails and all the discussions that we've all had about this trip, that we don't have to all be together all the time. Just to let you know that 13 the family members are under the age of 10!

What I have done is sent out an "Trip plan" that my DH, DS's (8 & 4) and myself are doing for each day. This will give them an idea of what were doing, BUT telling them that this is not what their locked into. I have planned a few family meeting places, such as, 2 character breakfasts, a time for a family picture in front of the castle and a day where we're celebrating all Nov. birthdays. We have 7 in Nov. and my father-in-law's turns 73 while were in Disney, so it was a great way to celebrate and do something as a family.

I'm so excited about all of us being down there! I just have to remember to keep in mind that this is a vacation for everyone and everyone has their own idea of what a "Disney" vacation is.

I hope this helps. Keep the questions coming! I love to hear about someone else planning a family vacation.

 

[tlbwriter]

We had a great time last year with my parents, my sisters, and our kids (10 people total). The key, as you already know, is not trying to do *everything* together. We started out at the same parks on the same days, and we had PSs together on most nights, and then we just let things flow from there.

 

[mommystieg]

We did a trip in June 2004 with DH's extended family and it was enough fun that I would do it again. We planned 2 meals with the entire group (14 of us in total) and then we did some smaller group meals. We also met for Wishes, Fantasmic and Illuminations. We had scheduled a Grand Gathering Wishes cruise but it was canceled due to lightening. It was everyone else's first time so my only regret was not getting together a little more often and hearing about what everyone else saw and did. I tried to organize a get together after we got back to see everyone's pictures and talk about everyone's experiences but one SIL never finished getting all of her film developed.
Before our trip I ordered each family a PassPorter to help each group decide what they wanted to see, do and eat. We met right before the 90 day mark to discuss meals and explain the PS/ADR system. We met a couple of times after that and I helped each family with their itinerary. Go and have fun -- it can be done

 

[Jynohn]

I was one of the people who posted about a negative experience traveling with extended family, but please don't let that scare you. I enjoy having my own space, and I just made the mistake of feeling like I had to "stay with the group" all the time.

Traveling with a large group and traveling with just your immediate family are two completely different experiences. I spent too much time comparing my last trip with DH and not enough time just enjoying the trip I was on. I think as long as you set expectations well ahead of time that you don't plan on staying together the whole vacation, then you will have a wonderful trip no matter how many people you travel with.

Have fun!

 

[princess927]

I'm going 10/3-10/9 with a big extended family group.
They are:
Me & BF
Grandparents
Mom Dad & sister16
Uncle, Aunt & kids(G16 G15)
Aunt & cousin(G11)
Uncle, Aunt & kids(B5 G4)
Uncle, Aunt & kids(B9 G8 G4)
Cousin, wife, & kids(G9 G3 G2)
Cousin, Husband & Kids(B14 B11 B4 G4)

This will be the first trip for some and others have been many times. We are all staying at ASMovies together, but dont plan on spending everyday with everyone. We have one character breakfast planned for everyone but other than that people are making their own plans. With so many people and such a wide range in ages it is too hard to spend everyday together. We do plan on spending time at the pool together though.
I'm sure you will have a great time.......because it is disney and your going with your family.

 

[Dis4the1sttime]

Thank you for all the responses.

I am now back at looking at this as the wonderful opoortunity that I first thought it was when we first booked this vacation. Everyone having the chance for their own vacation, but being able to share the joy and magic of being at Disney together!

Thanks again! I really am so excited now!

 

[poohguys]

We went in 2003 with 10 people. 8 Adults and 2 children both 2 yrs old. At first it was a little fustrating, but once we started spliting up and doing our own things it was a lot better. We did some meals together, but not all. We did go to one of the water parks together (except MIL, SIL and Nephew) We had a lot of fun at the water park. I think the key to a great vacation is like other posters have suggested-do not try to spend every minute together. Hope you all have a great time!

 

[bub]

A trip with extended family can be wonderful, if everyone agrees to be flexible and not try and stay together all the time. We've done it several times with 12 and 13 people, spanning 3 generations. We plan one thing together each day, either starting out together, or meeting up for a meal, a swim in the pool at the hotel, or an evening event. Some days we planned for parts of the group to do meals together - this allowed for some quality time together, but was often less hectic than trying to get all 13 of us at a character meal. We also were flexible enough to bag plans when energy levels or interests changed - nothing was really set in stone.

Our goal for these trips was different than when we travel as a family of four - we wanted to experience Disney with our family, see rides through young cousins' eyes, try things we might have otherwise skipped because they interested someone else in the group. The best part is for the kids to go on rides with their cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. We have fun memories from both trips. Also, the grandparents often watched the younger ones, taking them for snacks or naps in the shade, while we got to go on rides together that we would normally need to "baby swap."

Both of these trips were short - we had 3 to 4 days together, with some families arriving earlier and others staying longer. That gave everyone some alone time. We find that quality of time together is more important than quantity when travelling with a group.

 

[Drizzo67]

I'm so glad I read this post. Now I'm not so worried.

I am the family member putting together all the information for our February trip which at this time includes 9 people (there may be more shortly). As each family involved has different issues (my family has been to WDW 2x already, my DH's parents haven't gone in 15 years and my new sister-in-law will be 6 months pregs) I have arranged general itineraries according to their needs. No one is obligated to follow them, just some tips taken from the Disney knowledge I have acquired from Disboards and other places. We are having a family meeting in two weeks to discuss meals, meeting places, transportation etc. We are planning at least one family activity a day (usually a meal). The rest of the day belongs to each individual.

 

[elaine and the boys]

We're going over Christmas week with my brother's family of four. My DH and 2 DSs plan to "do our own thing", as my kids are teenagers and my brother's kids are younger. We look forward, though, to four sit down meals over the course of the week together. And we're all planning a "down day" on Christmas...just dinner in Epcot, maybe some fireworks. We'll also be doing the Candlelight Processional together. So, even though we'll be away from most of our family at Christmas, we'll still have part of them with us to celebrate. And we've all agreed that park touring is probably best done separately, as we enjoy different things. So, I say, just keep lots of time for doing what you like to do, and then meet up with the others for some special group moments. Have fun!

 

[Camping Griswalds]

We have done this lots of times, just be aware that it is not the same experience as when you travel with just your immediate family!!

Tips, try to stay in same resort...it makes meeting up much easier when you are all on the same transportation

/Cell phones...make an arranged time when you will call each other...parks and rides can be noisy and you might not hear the ring

Geet the pictures from the rides...we have some of the most awesome pictures of a whole boat load of us on Splash and Dinosaur

Have "strangers" take your pictures...too many times we have an awesome picture of all of us and one person ( the pic taker) is missing

We are going in Jan for 11 nights, first 6 just my DH, 2 DS's and DD then my sister and her DH and her 3 kids and my mother and my aunt (moms youngest sister) and her DH and their 2 kids are meeting up with us for 4 days. We've done some variations of this before...the cousins really get a kick out of it. We will range in age from 60 down to 17 months. It is a wonderful, chaotic, marvelous, UNFORGETABLE experience.

If you realize that with a big group everything takes longer, waiting for rides, eating, potty breaks you'll do fine!!!

 

[anty30]

We just did this in July with 13 people from my DH side. We all stayed at CBR and had rooms next to eachother. We all got together before the trip to talk about ressies for dinners. We had dinner together every night and during the day we were scattered all over. It worked out well. It was nice to see eachother at the end of the day to talk about what we had done. We went to dinner at all different places. Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Hoop dee doo Revue, 1900 Park Fare, Sci-Fi Dine-in, CRT, and Akershus. The kids really enjoyed the character meals. We also all flew down and back together. I think the key is to try not to spend every minute together. Make sure there is an understanding that it's ok to seperate. That way everyone gets to do what they want.

 

[mjh8955]

We (me, DH, DD 11, DS 14) are veterans to WDW and are taking my BIL, SIL and their DS 4 the first week of November, staying off-site at our timeshare. We both have park-hopper non-expiring tickets so we can do as little or as much as we want. They are not planners at all, in fact have never actually been on a vacation before, only to family reunions where they show up and report to wherever they are supposed to report. I have given them the trip planning CD, I have given them a ton of printed off materials from websites, and some books. I gave them a detailed packing list. I don't think they have looked at any of it except the packing list, and are just planning on doing whatever I tell them because I am and always have been the planner of the family. DH thinks he will only join us a day or two, he is not a big Disney fan, and he thinks the other family will get on his nerves after a while (it's his brother, not mine). That leaves me planning everything for all of us and different age groups. I can't just toss them out on their own. They will not know their way around, I'm still trying to get them to understand that there are 4 parks involved. I figured I would have to plan our way through the parks and always have an alternative ready for when the kids don't want to do the 4-year-old's stuff and vice versa. I am really busy at work right up until the time we leave and will really be in need of a vacation myself. Having to make all these decisions does not get me excited. Also, my BIL is the pickiest eater in the world and my husband and I love eating anything new and different. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions to help me? We are meeting next weekend to visit about the trip. They tend to talk while other people talk and do not follow linear discussions. Boy do I need help. Pleas PM me if you have experience with what we are going to do and could give me any advice.

 

[anty30]

You sound like you are just like me. I am the planner. I have to tell you that if it were'nt for me, the whole family would have been walking in circles all day. I too have a BIL and SIL who did not understand that there are 4 major parks. They were clueless, and it became very frustrating because they did'nt seem to listem to me. Even though they had asked! I just had to accept that that is the way they are and let them be. I was determined not to waste my family vaca trying to give guidance to people who did'nt really seem to care. I think you should probably have a sitdown, explain to them to the best of your ability what it takes to make the most of WDW, and plan some meals together. Let them know that they will have to be on the move constantly if they want to experience a lot. If they say that is not what they want to do, then say fine. Save your park hopper passes for another time. Just do the parks for 1 or 2 days. For the last 2 days of our trip my BIL and SIL sat by the pool while we went to the parks. They were wiped out and just did'nt care about seeing any more. "To each his own" as they say.

 

[Huntava]

We are doing an extended family trip in November. Everyone is on their own each day, and then at night we will meet together for dinner. If we decide to do park days together we will probably make those arrangements the day before. Nice to read what worked for other large family gatherings.

 

[lindsey]

We did this last year and it went great.
1 me, DH and DS (teen) with 2 teen friends
2. SIL, BIL, 3 yr niece
3. DS, DS's wife, 2 yr old grandson
4. My Mom & Stepdad

I planned the whole trip and make little books of each park for group #2 and #3. I used old pictures we had taken on previous trips to show rides and guidelines on what the little ones would probably not like.

Since niece was still afraid of characters, we split some and had CRT with her, and Chef Mickey for grandson.

Cell phones were essential!

We had a great time together and time alone.

 

[Dznypal]

every other year my parents take our whole family on a big trip. Last year we went to Hawaii and there were 20 of us!!!

We stayed at am Embassy Suite in Maui and had the best time!!

My mom wanted us together for breakfast and the afternoon cocktail hour.

We usally talked about what we did that day and who was doing what the next day and anyone who wanted to go went with that group.

We did all go to a Luau together though. That sure was fun.

The best thing is spending time with your extended family but not to do everything together!