Would you do Disney with another family?

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We are going next month with some friends. We have never traveled with them before, but we get together fairly often. We have been to Six Flags together and didn't have any issues at all. They don't have kids, and our DS is almost 10 so he can do "big" rides and doesn't need the maintenance that a younger child would (diapers, naps, whatever). We are all staying at AKL and all of our ADRs are together, but I think that will be fine.

DH, DS & I have been to Disney twice since January '05 so we have a good idea of what we like. Our friends have been 2 or 3 times in the past few years, so they have a pretty good idea of things as well. One of them loves thrill rides, the other gets motion sick. With 5 of us there will almost always be some riding and some sitting out. DH doesn't care for some of the rides DS & I like, so now he will have someone to wait with! I have a bad back and I don't like to get wet, so there will be some rides that I skip while the rest of them ride. One of the reasons our friends wanted to come with us is because they feel like they miss a lot when they go just because they don't have the time to research like I do. I think they will get to see a lot more this time than they have in the past.

 

[MyZoeJane]

Myself, my sig. other and our two year old daughter went together for the first time (we had each been years and years ago but it was a first in a looong time for both of us, and the first for our two year old)... Anyhow, we went with a friend of mine, her DH and their DD3. Her DH and mine had only met once or twice before the trip. We got adjoining rooms and everything went off without a hitch. We did EVERYTHING together. Okay, maybe a few things apart... but my friend was our "guru" (she sent me here to the DIS and got me hooked!) and we followed her like she was Jesus himself. If she had told us to drink questionable Kool Aid we would have...

We had a great time. Sure, the girls got a bit pissy with eachother a few times.... but there was no tension... that I know of! (She might post differently! )

Now, they are heading back two weeks before we are. I'm looking forward to taking my family alone. I'm looking forward to using all the info I've learned from the DIS and TGM and it will be nice to be alone as a family... but it was great to have friends with us, too... Especially since the girls were able to play together, and there were two sets of adults to watch the kids if another pair wanted to go ride something...

Thanks to Heidi I'm a Disney addict. I'd say our trip was great! I think it's nice to go with friends AND to go alone as a family. Don't know it til you've tried it!

 

[donac]

We have met up with my sister and her family several times. We go with the understanding that if we want to do separate things then go for it and we can meet up later. Sometimes we will have dinner together or lunch and then go off on our own.

I have gone with a friend and her kids. The first time it was just us and 4 kids. It worked out great. We did hang together pretty much because we were staying at the same campsite so we really went as one family. The second time my husband and other son joined us and she had the rest of kids, a friend of the family and her husband joined us later in the week. What a mess. She felt that this was the as vacationto Disney since the kids were getting older and she wanted to get a lot in before her husband got down so that they could have a relaxing weekend once hubby got down. She ran her kids ragged from sunup to sundown. They never had a break. It just ended up being easier for us to say we'll meet you later. We thought that my husband and the older kids could go off by themselve but she wanted the kids together at all times(This didn't sit too well with the kids). A couple of times we went off and met my sister and her family because it was less stress.

I think this is the reason that my husband has soured about going to Disney soon. I think he is also worrried that this woman would want to go with us again.

 

[mking624]

Hmmm, for us it would depend on who we're going with.

With my parents and siblings, they've only been to MK for one day...and they're very open to EVERYTHING so vacationing with them would be a breeze. My DH and I agree that we'd enjoy going to WDW with them.

My inlaws are a different story. My MIL, GMIL, and I guess "Aunt in law" went on an all girls trip to WDW a few years ago. Found out they barely spent time in the parks...because GMIL spent most of the tmie complaining about this and that...so they spent a lot of time playing cards in their room (which was fine by MIL and AIL). No thanks...I'm not spending that much money to sit in my room and play cards. And it's not like we could do something while they were in the resort...GMIL will play the abandoned victim if we were to dare do something different.

We were with a group of friends for Star Wars Weekends back in 2003 because we were marching in the parade...never again will I go to the parks with them. After the parades were over and we had gotten back to our room to shower, it was about 1pm. Then they had to spent all this time deciding on a park. By the time a park was chosen and we finally got there, it was about 4pm. But then of course, we had to eat...so no exploring was actually done until about 5pm...and every 15-20 minutes, the chain smokers had to stop and smoke. NEVER again.

Back in 2001 we 'loosely' vacationed with some extended family of mine. A few of them always stuck together (primarily because my aunt & uncle were in charge of my cousins...their niece/nephew as their parents were doing an anniversary cruise). We met up with them for eride night and for a few meals, that's about it. My late grandfather was there too and he treated us out to lunch and we spent time with him in DTD. I enjoyed that trip immensely.

 

[shellbelle11]

It definitely depends on who you go with. We've gone away with another family the past 5 years and will be again in 3 weeks. We've done 3 cruises on the Magic with days in the parks afterwards, 2 weeks in Hawaii with a 10 day cruise, a trip to CA and then next month back to WDW. The family that we go with are close enough to be family. We all have a great time, we have similar interests and no one is hurt if one family goes off and does something else. We do spend a lot of time together as a group and we have a blast.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I would only do Disney with my sister's family and my mother, which we have doen many times together. That is an entirely different vacation than any other. There is too much planning and too much money goes into it and i would never risk ruining it by going with another family that has no idea how our family does things. We are a get up and go kind of family. We don't like to wait for anyone or worry about stepping on each others toes. We have our way of doing things and there are certain things we want to see, places to eat and places that we like to watch the parades and fireworks. I would be very disappointed if we went with anyone else that didn't understand our way of doing things. We have gone on several trips with other families and it just didn't work out. We were flexible, but we would end up having to wait for them to get ready. They were not organized, they held us up. It really bothered me. I know that i am obsessive, I am organized and i plan out everything. When i am spending my money on a vacation i want things to be my way. I know that sounds selfish, it's my vacation. NOw when anyone brings up the subject of vacationing togther, i just laugh it off because i have learned my lesson!

 

[Laurajean1014]

We've done about 12 trips with various families, some with 4 and 5 sets of families. It's not as hard as you think!

 

[momof2dizkids]

I also think it depends on who you go with... a few years ago, I (along with DD) did the parks with 2 sets of friends and their DD's. Let me say that if given the choice again, I would certainly choose one friend over the other. The "disney expert" in the group would not let us do certain rides, eat at certain restaurants, and do certain parks when we wanted to. Before we left for our trip (our DD's were in Orlando for a cheer competition), she made up a strict schedule for herself and her family and also made schedules for us to suit her. If her DD was scheduled for "down time" - then we were expected to do the same. (my DD did not take naps!) Granted, she was staying offsite and everything, but, if I or my other friend wanted to stay in the parks later -oh you would think that you were committing the ultimate NO NO!! Finally, toward the end of our trip, I had enough!! It was our last day at MK, and I wanted to do things on my own. So, my DD and I went to the parks early and we did our own thing. When she finally tracked me down later that evening, she was not happy! I had failed to call her in the morning and tell her that we decided to do the parks all day instead of having a "pool day". (it was already on her schedule) I had already checked out of ASMo, and I was "expected" to spend the night at the timeshare w/her. (She expected me to pay for cab fare to her timeshare that night and then again the next morning to the airport) I had already made arrangements w/ MARTA to pick me up that night and just take me to the airport. Well, instead, I went to the airport at around midnight and slept there!! When we returned home, I was on her list for a while because I didn't follow her schedule!

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Momof2dizkids, wow I can't beleive that. I am sorry that you had to deal with such a person. I thought i was strict with my schedule.That is so crazy to make anyone else follow it and get mad if they don't. Although i have everything organized and planned out, i would NEVER make anyone else do just what i want to do. My schedule is for my famly, but if people want to join us fine, if not that's ok too, i just don't want to be held back. I would never get mad at anyone for not wanting to do what i want especially since it's their vacation too. That's why we always get two sepaerate cars in case of this reason. That's why i like to go with my sister. My sister and I know each others ways and are fine to do our own thing and then meet up later. Even when we go on vacation with other families I make sure that i point out ahead of time that if there is something they want to do, they should do it and us the same. No hard feelings. Making people do what they don't want to only leads to complications in friendships.

 

[sunnyd11]

Going to Disney with another family is great. You get to share Disney with even more. Just be sure to set aside some down family time throughout your vacation. We always chat about that before we even leave, so both families are on the same page.

 

[cindarella]

We are going as a Grand Gathering in Sept. with two other families!! Can't wait, the more the merrier!!

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have done WDW with my inlaws but have stayed at a different resort. We meet at the park at a certain time and do everything together and MIL plans all the meals, makes the ADR's and tells us what we are doing at all times. It does get to us a bit but we grin and bear it because they travel from the frozen north and we live 3 hours from WDW. Mostly we just stay for a long weekend (and that is not bad at all) but one year we did 10 days with them.......wow that was a bit stressful but FIL knew we needed a break from them (he is the coolest guy!!) so he told MIL to have a few unscheduled days to rest and relax and split up!

Other times we have gone with a ton of friends and stay at the same resort. That has been a blast! We all agreed on places to eat for sit down dinners and we winged it for breakfast and lunch. It was more fun than I thought it would be.

But I can honestly say the best time is when it is just DH and I.......

 

[lisabees]

I wouldn't go with another family. But I do bring my parents down to help with my four kids. Maybe if I had been there a bunch of times and there were only a couple of older children around. Maybe.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

We've gone by ourselves, with my parents and sister, and with a group of DH's friends. I think the trick of it is to know who you're travelling with, and how they like to travel. We did fine with my parents and sister, but the trip with his friends was a disaster. It's the only time in my life I wanted to hurry up and get out of Disney The woman that organized it wanted to do everything on her schedule, could not understand that some people (in a group of 9 adults) might want to do something else. We did not have ADR's, but were supposed to eat at whatever restaurant she picked. If she wanted to go out at night, we were all supposed to. DH and I went back to the house to rest one night, and she didn;t speak to either of us for 2 days.

Moral of the story - know who you're travelling with, and talk before you get there about everyone's expectations.

Jen

 

[dustysky]

I didnt read the whole thread yet but I was just talking to my best friend about this, this morning..........
Our family's has gone together and we have found that it is a great thing to have friends to hang out with when going to dinner or at the pool after a long day but we both agree that being together the entire time in every line for every attracktion etc. etc. is just too hard. Someone always feels that they didnt get to do something they wanted to or that they stood in lines for things they had no use for.

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

I have to say, the way I enjoy myself most at the parks is to go with my CLOSE family (mom, dad, brothers, sisters, and my BIL who is fairly easy going) I have TRIED several trips with friends and there is ALWAYS DRAMA, even when I brought a friend along on a family trip....I dont know why I guess you are used to being with family 24/7and not so with friends...I just came back from a trip that was just friends and while i cant say I had a BAD time, I didnt have as good of a time as I would have if it would have been just me and my mother (we have the same park style so we get along very well @ any park we go to) my friends boyfriend kept insisting to get FP for everything (even tho they were unnessary with waits of about 10-20 minutes or so) just because "They are Free, we might as well take advantage!" uugh I heard that about 20 times that day and had to just turn around and tell him that FREE doesnt mean its NECCESSARY or LOGICAL...We had a pretty hectic day (did all major rides @ all 4 parks in one day) and he wanted to get a fastpass for and hour and a half later when the wait times were 20 minutes, whats the sense of waiting around an hour and a half when you could have done this ride plus at least 2 more in the time you were wating for FP return times to roll around....

I had to get this off my chest, it was annoying me so much! I guess I just ramble on SORRY!

 

[kimis]

We go to WDW every year in Feb and of course we love it. Well now other couples our age (fifties) are asking to go with us. I like the fact we can be alone a couple thousand miles away from home. But we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings so this is what we came up with. We have told the others the dates we will be there and if they come sometime during that time we will show them around. It must be obvious that we enjoy it or others wouldn't want to go. We are counting the next 175 days until we in the magic again.

 

[Groovee]

We're doing DLP in October with 2 other families. We're travelling with one family who will be in a different hotel and then we will be in the same hotel as the other family. We plan to spend one day out of the 4 with them all and the rest of the time doing our own thing. It will be the only way things go ok for us. We hate going on holiday with other people as it means we can't really do our own thing.

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

Vacationing with another family is fine aslong as you meet three criteria:

1. You actually like the members of the other family. Do not attempt if there are already underlying issues that may blow up.

2. You understand each other's priorities during the trip. Do not expect the other family to subordinate their wants and desires to do what you want just as you should not subordinate your wants for the other family.

3. You are not attached at the hip. Be willing go it alone to do what you want. Set aside time each day to let each family do as it pleases and meet up later for dinner or at the pool.

We will be taking our third trip with a third different family in february. As long as you follow these rules (not suggestions);<) everyone should have a great time.

 

[TinkNH]

When we go in Sept. My best friend and her faily are coming too. We are flying down together, but we are staying at the poly and they are at CBR. I had also outlined my trip and made ADRs prior to them decing to go too..and I am not changing my plans...and she knows this. We did make some additional ADRs together, and have planned a few days to be together, but both of us also want alone time with just our family. I have vacationed with her before (sans kids) and the 4 adults get along great...but there are still times when you want to just be with your own family..not a selfish thing at all! We also have very differetn priorities...me and DH are focused on the parks and charachter meals and such and her and her DH are more concerned about where they are eating..even to the point of leaving a park to go to another resort for a meal cause the resteraunt was highly rated in a guide book If I had to spend several hours of my day traveling and eating I'd be cranky! But if thats what they want to do more power to em! We plan to have our cell phones so we can keep in touch and meet up for things like Fantasmic, or dinner or whatever. I think a laid back attitude is key to traveling with others