WDW with extended family?

[Fall1]

I'm hoping there are some DISers here that have done WDW with extended family. DH's mother, sister, and BIL want to come to Disney with us. We would all like to stay in the same hotel, but not same room.

DH and I are ONSITE people, but it looks like it will cost a small fortune for 3 rooms for 5 adults and 2 kids. Should we consider Offsite? If so, where? We don't want this trip to break the bank as it's not likely to be the most 'relaxing' vacation we've ever had.

Thanks!!

 

[exwdwcm]

we've been with extended family some- well my parents, my sister/BIL and their child, my other sister, my cousin and my aunt. We stayed on site and usually do. you can stay at a value usually for not much more than off site. plus you have the transportation and can easily run back for midday breaks which is nice if their are kids. heck, we do breaks when it is all adults too.

i see you usually stay in a deluxe, so you know the magic of on site and would probably miss it.

why don't you consider a moderate for everyone. or you guys do a deluxe and they do a value? that way you just meet up when you want to and still get some private time too.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I'm hoping there are some DISers here that have done WDW with extended family. DH's mother, sister, and BIL want to come to Disney with us. We would all like to stay in the same hotel, but not same room.

DH and I are ONSITE people, but it looks like it will cost a small fortune for 3 rooms for 5 adults and 2 kids. Should we consider Offsite? If so, where? We don't want this trip to break the bank as it's not likely to be the most 'relaxing' vacation we've ever had.

Thanks!!

Is one family paying for everyone's trip? I'm sorry if I got it wrong but it seems like that is what is happening when you said "it will cost a smallfortune for 3 rooms".

If one family is paying I would recommend 3 value rooms. If everyone is paying for their own room, ask each what they are willing to spend (value, mod, or deluxe prices).

 

[tzolkin]

We are planning a similar thing with our parents and our siblings. It would be cheap to get a house offsite, but everyone really wants the convenience of being onsite. We can use Disney transportation and go back to the room with a few of the kids if they need naps, we don't have to drive multiple cars to the parks, etc. We have decided to stay at one of the value resorts to have an affordable trip. Depending on your situation it may be best to do different resorts as others have said.

 

[Rylee]

We have traveled with others families.

I definitely recommend staying on-site. In addition to the usual WDW perks, when traveling a group, staying on-site offers the ability to split up with ease... everyone can come and go as they please or need.

I suggest having a family "meeting" (over a pot luck dinner or picnic) to discuss trip ideas and expections. Someone (you?) needs to bring WDW info... price range for resort stays during your dates, ticket info, dining plans and restaurant info or suggestions. When we travel with others, we have one member from each family involved in the planning, so it doesn't seem as though any one person is too controlling.

How about staying at All-Star Music, getting 1 family suite and 1 regular room.

To help make the trip go smoothly and be a little more relaxing...

We stay at the same hotel, visit the same parks on the same days, and make some dining reservations together. *Very important* We schedule "FREE TIME" into everyday! We have a loose schedule for each day...

• Meet at ?am We like to start the day together. (Those that make it do, those that don't, meet up at the park when they get there.)
• Lunch - usually counter service
• Free time - right before or after lunch, we might split up. (Sometime we split up by interest... some choose to stay in the park, others might return to the resort for a nap or swim, sometimes we split up by age... so everyone can experience age appropiate attractions. Sometimes we split up because we are GETTING ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES... of course, we don't say this, and... that's why it's important to have free time built-in... just take a break and go off and do something different... no hard feelings!)
• Dinner - ADR scheduled - (if we have split up, this is when we meet back up.)
• We usually watch the evening shows together.
• Some return to the resort earlier, while others choose to stay in the park.

Have a great trip.