Trips with extended family?

[Jessie&Buzz]

Do you take your extended family with you to WDW? I've only been there with my family of 4 one time. We usually go with my parents and sister's family. While we have a great time alone, I think it's more fun sharing the magic with my whole family.

 

[octoberbarry]

We went with extended family...total of 8 people, 3 generations, 3 nuclear families...last year. The good thing is the variety of people you bounce off of during the visit, making for a great array of experiences and relationship builders and memories. The trade-off is a lot of compromising and waiting and less time actually "doing" as you wait for this person to shop, that person to get a drink, that person to decide whether they're going on a ride, etc.
Next time we go, it will be my wife and son and I, and we're raring to go, to experience the whole trip at our pace. Not that I didn't enjoy the big trip, but I look forward to going back with a smaller group, to see all of the things we didn't have time to see and do last time due to the size of our group.

 

[polynesiangirl]

I've gone once with a big extended family group (two aunts, two uncles, one grandma, my mom/dad/sister and a cousin,) and we've also gone with one aunt and a cousin a couple additional times. It was a lot of fun, and we got some amazing memories out of it (my grandmother is now way too old to handle WDW anymore so it's really nice for me that I was able to share it with her before she became too frail.)

The only thing that was kind of a hassle with having so many people is that you have to plan differently than when you go with a smaller group. With kids, teens, middle aged people and elderly people we had to try and decide how to break things up so we'd still see everything we wanted to without anyone getting bored/tired.

 

[Nemo14]

We've done extended family (group of 10-12), our own family of 4, and also several "getaways" for just the 2 of us. All have their advantages and disadvantages - it's fun to make memories with cousins and grandparents, and it's equally fun to experience the magic without the compromising involved with a big group. Any way you look at it, WDW is a great vacation!






Now, do I get my free stuff? :lol:

 

[mouselvrmom]

We have twice ( and will on our next trip) taken different sets of grandparents with us to help with our brood. It is nice and I know that it is special for our kids and the parents to have this time together, but it can sometimes be a hassle because you are dealing with different people with different views on what should be done and when. Also I find that the grandparents need to visit the restrooms more than the kids.:drevil:
We are looking forward after our next vacation to have just some time with our family, but I am sure we will do it again.

 

[David]

We have taken extended family on all of our trips, so far. Usually it's us and my wife's parents, but just returned from a trip that also included sister and brother in law and their kids, total of nine.

I have great in laws, but I want to experience WDW without the extended family. So next year, it will be just us. Sharing that news with the in-laws may be a little "interesting" because our son is the first grandchild and the apple of their eye, so my standing may take a little bruising. But sometimes a guy has to do what a guy has to do.

 

[gboiler1]

We will be doing that in a few weeks, kind of... Going w/my sis in law and 2 nephews. While we'll have to accomodate for them somewhat, it shouldn't be too difficult as their only previous trip to WDW wasn't a very complete one.
So excited tough, less than 30 days!!!:sohappy:

 

[TTFN-Tiggger]

I have typically gone in a group of 2 or 4 people. Much easier to navigate the parks. I did go once with a group of 8. I was the only one that had been to WDW before so I was the 'tour guide'. With a group that large you spend more time waiting/deciding where to eat, a couple may want to shop and others don't or many stops for the restrooms. It was a great time to share the experience with them. I think we could have done more at MK with a smaller group though.

 

[Stitch69]

I've gone with ext family and it was great!!! Let everyone make their own schedule( less stress) and meet up for a afternoon or maybe a dinner together and catch up on everyones' day.

 

[sarajo]

Since 1993, I've gone with my husband's family for most trips. The extended family totals 25+... of course, when we first started going, there were fewer people (due to some of the families not being "complete" yet!) And, I've also been there with just my immediate family (prior to marriage and after). Both have their advantages and disadvantages. With such a large group, we often find that we just set times and places to meet for specific things-- aside from that, we're usually somewhat free to do as we please. (thank goodness for the advent of cell phones!) Being with a large group is a lot of fun... and if you have young kids, there's usually somebody who will stay with them while you ride some "thrill" rides (thanks grandma!) Then again, being with just my family is nice too!

 

[Rob562]

I've gone with ext family and it was great!!! Let everyone make their own schedule( less stress) and meet up for a afternoon or maybe a dinner together and catch up on everyones' day.

I agree with this suggestion. Large groups can be fun some of the time, but it can be a hassle being together ALL the time. Perhaps plan things out each day with some "group time" and some "smaller group time". Spend an hour or two in the morning as a group, then split off into separate families, teens/adults, thrill seekers/show-watchers, etc. Meet up again in the afternoon, do dinner together, then perhaps a few more hours in smaller groups (even switching the groups up, perhaps). Then get together again to watch Fantasmic or the fireworks as a group.

If the whole group is old enough to go off on their own, you could perhaps do a "solo day". I often recommend this for smaller groups (especially when it's with people that you're not used to being with 24/7). Plan a day midway through the trip where everyone can go off and do their own thing (ride Carousel of Progress five times in a row, create a photo essay of the themed light poles of World Showcase, whatever) then meet back up for dinner. It keeps the group sane. Trust me!

-Rob

 

[Jessie&Buzz]

Thanks for all your comments. I do know that when my sister's family is watching the football game (I prefer baseball), my parents and I plan on taking my kids and doing something else. I like the idea of splitting up some. We've done this before and sometime we get to each other.