Vacations......who's in your party?

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

As a rule, families are different the world over and our families are no exception to that rule. With this in mind, I would love to see more input from the families that are a part of our board, that includes you lurkers too! So, how do you roll at WDW?

Are you a solo traveler?
Do you travel as a couple?
Are you a single parent traveling with your kid or kids?
Are you a couple traveling with your kid or kids?
Do you like to travel with even more family?
Do you travel with friends?

All of these are going to make for a much different experience while you are at WDW. I would love to hear about your family's time with the Mouse.

 

[RAPstar]

I've traveled solo for the past few years, not counting last year. My first two trips, I met/stayed with friends that I knew in the area, except my overnight stay in Denver (to see The Little Mermaid before it opened on Broadway). Last year I traveled with my best friend Chip. This year, I'm solo again.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Usually, I travel with my partner, Corey. She has been to WDW more than 100 times, since she lived a large portion of her life in FL. Even with all of that park time, she still is finding new things to experience and love about WDW. I am the planner of the family. She is the "just show up and enjoy it" type. We prefer to stay onsite. We have done short trips of 3 to 4 days, but we prefer 8 nights or more.

I tried a solo trip to WDW last year in April and it was wonderful. I am going on solo trip to WDW in April again this year.

Last year, in December, we traveled to WDW with Corey's mom. It was not the ideal situation. Her mom has a lot of mobility and health issues and just wasn't up to even 1/3 of the "laid back" touring plan that I had planned for us to follow. It was sad. The one thing that it taught us....we both prefer to do WDW either together or with friends/family for a day, but NEVER again for a whole trip.

I wish that we had young nieces or nephews to take to WDW. That would be so much fun. I spend a lot of time at WDW looking at kids and the wonder in their eyes.

 

[jkCT]

We went with extended family last year (grandparents, my sister/her hubby/their 5 kids, and me/DH/our two girls) and had a blast...partially because we didn't feel like we had to spend every moment together as a big group. Next trip will be just the four of us. My dream is to be able to afford a solo trip. (and to be able to fend off the mommy guilt that I impose on myself long enough to leave the kids behind and go for a solo trip!)

 

[Chuck S]

I'm single, I often travel with my 85 yo Mom, and I'm just happy she is still healthy enough to travel (she loves Mission: Space). Every couple of years we have a big trip to Disney where we provide DVC accomodations for Me, Mom and several guests. Sometimes they are my best friend, his wife, daughter and my friend's brother. Other times it has been long time friends from California, some of whom we've been friends with for 3 generations. And occasionally it has been cousins, or co-workers.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We live close by so we can visit pretty much whenever we please. We do so as a couple.

We do invite relatives that do not live near to stay with us (at OKW or at our home) and then go to the parks. We've had relatives as young as a few months old, right through to the great grandparents. Disney has something for everyone.

We've also taken non-Disney vacations by ourselves and with various collections of relatives. We went to Ireland with five other women relatives and one man (husband to one of the women). It was seven women and one man in our party. We called him Snow White the entire time. He was a good sport and we had a great time.

For the most part, we prefer to vacation with just the two of us, although it usually goes ok to have all or part of the "gang" with us at WDW.

 

[OrlandoMike]

We both travel solo and together, and with friends. Just depends on the vacation and who wants to go...

Now for renting a kid for the day! Oy! I would love that!

I need to kidnap Julia and Jared for an afternoon!

 

[Uncle Remus]

I'm lookin' to meet a few friends there this next trip.

 

[Winue]

We go as a family. My partner and our two children. Last Jan when we went she was pregnant, and this year we are taking the baby. although... we are going with the in/out-laws!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! they are paying for the entire family to go this year, which is 14 people. wish us luck!!!

 

[C&G'sMama]

This will be our first trip (with the exception of our quick overnight this past December) without our in-laws since 1999. Then it was MIL and FIL and in 2005 SIL and BIL joined us. It's always worked out well. We don't try to do everything together. We have always stayed at AS and get our rooms 3 in a row and try to get adjoining with MIL and FIL. We will try to do a couple of TS together. Sometimes we meet up in the parks. FIL has a bad back so when they're ready to go back to their room they do.
It's going to be kind of weird without them. We're hoping to go back April/May of next year. FIL is finally going to get back surgery sometime this fall.

 

[rudetreehill]

Usually, it's me and, at most, another person, usually a friend.

But this year, I'm going with my mom and dad, my sister, her husband and their daughter. It'll be my niece's first trip... she's about two-and-a-half. I'm glad I have a lot of experience with Disney so I can help make the tot's first trip as smooth as possible!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our travel party is me, DH and DS. We have been twice with friends, and I don't do well with group travel.

We typically meet up with some families from the clique thread on the DISigns board. This year at least 3 other families will be there at the same time, and we are going to do a group dinner at Cape May. Hoping 2 or 3 other families might go ahead and book trips for August - they are thinking about it.

I LOVE to be able to meet up with friends for a bit, hit some rides or have a meal, then everybody goes their own way. No big expectations, no hurt feeling, just whatever works out. Attempting to travel and tour with other people for the entire trip makes me nutso.

 

[zeitzeuge]

Are you a solo traveler? I've never traveled to either of the parks alone, in fear of my life being snuffed out by my partner if I even ATTEMPTED something like that. I found my match when it comes to being a Disney Dork.

Do you travel as a couple? We've made 5 trips together as a couple which we seem to prefer.

Are you a single parent traveling with your kid or kids? N/A

Are you a couple traveling with your kid or kids? N/A

Do you like to travel with even more family? My experience with Ex's parents was a nightmare. I'm glad we're ex's. Although a couple of days ago, my current partner's mom asked if she and her best friend could accompany us to DLR in October. They're a BLAST to hang out with so we're looking forward to going with them. They've never been and it will be exciting to show them around, point things out, tell them the history, etc. Plus, they will be cool with us doing our own thing at times, or giving us time to ourselves.

Do you travel with friends? We took my best friend with us last year for his birthday. His first time to DLR and it was amazing to see him be a kid again. He had been going through a rough patch not having a job, being without medication for his HIV, depression, etc. He became the old friend that I knew before all his troubles started happening. I love taking people who have never been to DLR or WDW before.

 

[soulmates]

We've always gone with family. My parents when I was younger...as an adult, we've taken the children. Now, that I'm with my partner, this next trip, will be her first EVER to Disney, and my first trip without children!! So, honestly, it's my first trip as an adult, as a couple!! Next year, we are planning on going with my DP's sister & her family, my children and their signifigant others. I'm hopefull that we don't have to be connected at the hip. Disney offers SO much, for everyone!! I am however, going to predict, that my preference is, just SHE & I. Who better to go with, than the love of your life?!!

 

[Tony-NJ]

Chris and I have gone alone and with MIL. Both are fine. I have found myself there a couple of times on my own though - usually for business. It's always a little sad when I'm there and Chris is home.

 

[PghLybrt]

It depends.

We used to take her little sister everywhere (fla, England, Ireland). Now she has a serious boyfriend and a job. : (

Sometimes we are alone.
Sometimes we take my mom and sil and nephews.
Sometimes we go with her mom and uncles.( Gotta love gay uncles )
Sometimes we go with her entire family.
Sometimes we go with my Dad.
My favorite, when we go with friends!

 

[donald...really]

Sometimes it's just us. Sometimes it's us with the immediate family (sometimes his side, sometimes my side). But we usually travel with our BESTEST friend Pam.

This is a picture from our last trip in January to celebrate Pam's birthday at the California Grill. Scott is on the left, Pam is in the middle, I am on the right.

 

[daannzzz]

I do not have a SO at this time. I have been to WDW 10 times (11 in March). I have alone two times. 6 times were with my elderly parents or my siblings. Once was with some Disneyland friends and once with a boyfriend. Boyfriend was a newby to Disney parks and said he didn't like musicals, roller coasters, dolls or cartoons!!! Since it was a short trip, I took him to Epcot and the AK. I think he had a good time. All of my siblings (in our 50's) and Ma and Ma like Disneyland and WDW quite a bit and it is an easy trip with them. I do enjoy the trip alone as well.

 

[mykidsintow]

We both travel solo and together, and with friends. Just depends on the vacation and who wants to go...

Now for renting a kid for the day! Oy! I would love that!

I need to kidnap Julia and Jared for an afternoon!

November 15-20th.... pick your day

 

[OrlandoMike]

November 15-20th.... pick your day

And Lucas too?

Anyone want to chip in on a day of Beauty for Beth while we take Julia and Jarod on the trip of their lives?

So many Uncles, so little time!