My husband and I go to WDW usually once a year. Our children are now 7, 6, 5, and 4 mos (all girls). We are going in September with great friends (they have two daughters - 10 & 12), and this will be their family's first trip. I am starting to get really concerned. Have any of you ever vacationed at WDW with another family? They are great people and so much fun to be with, but I am concerned that our interests are very different (i.e. - our girls will want lots of character experiences, they don't). I don't like thrill rides, the other family does (as well as my husband, 7 yo, & 5 yo). Any advice on how to have a great time without spoiling anyone's trip or losing friends? Thanks!
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Need Advice - WDW with another family
- Thread starter ELopez
- Start date
sambahat
Member
Plan for time apart
Is your relationship strong enough to plan for time apart? Are you comfortable enough to talk to them about these concerns? If so, you might have a shot at pulling this off. Honesty is the key.
Also, you might want to plan on splitting up into smaller groups from time to time. Let the husbands take some of the girls for a while... then switch up.
Finally, if you can swing it, try to do the things as a group in the morning. Then, split up sometime after lunch and meet up back at the hotel - AFTER DINNER. You'll be refreshed in the morning. At dinner time, the youngest have a tendency to drive the tempo (at least ours did). Hope this helps.
Good luck!
Is your relationship strong enough to plan for time apart? Are you comfortable enough to talk to them about these concerns? If so, you might have a shot at pulling this off. Honesty is the key.
Also, you might want to plan on splitting up into smaller groups from time to time. Let the husbands take some of the girls for a while... then switch up.
Finally, if you can swing it, try to do the things as a group in the morning. Then, split up sometime after lunch and meet up back at the hotel - AFTER DINNER. You'll be refreshed in the morning. At dinner time, the youngest have a tendency to drive the tempo (at least ours did). Hope this helps.
Good luck!
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Cheryl
Member
We too are going with another family to Disney this Summer. They have made it clear that they are looking to "not go broke" on this trip whereas we usually do the character dining and go for nice dinners. Another difference is that they want to be up at the crack of dawn and out to the parks whereas we are taking this vacation more "relaxed." 
Basically, they told us that they're here to make their own memories and although we're going together, they're not anticipating spending every waking minute with us. :lookaroun I have to tend to agree with this statement. There are days that we're going to want to just hang out at the pool or go to a waterpark and they don't want to. I guess it would be the best to talk to the other family and politely say that we're not big "thrill seekers" and we're hoping to do a few character dining meals or meet-and-greets with the characters and if you're not interested in doing that with us, we'll just meet up with you later or we'll get together for some fun the next day. All in all, I think you'll both have a great trip with lots of lasting memories!! My advice is to open the lines of communication and get your expectations out early as they may feel the same way but don't want to say anything to hurt your feelings.:wave:
Basically, they told us that they're here to make their own memories and although we're going together, they're not anticipating spending every waking minute with us. :lookaroun I have to tend to agree with this statement. There are days that we're going to want to just hang out at the pool or go to a waterpark and they don't want to. I guess it would be the best to talk to the other family and politely say that we're not big "thrill seekers" and we're hoping to do a few character dining meals or meet-and-greets with the characters and if you're not interested in doing that with us, we'll just meet up with you later or we'll get together for some fun the next day. All in all, I think you'll both have a great trip with lots of lasting memories!! My advice is to open the lines of communication and get your expectations out early as they may feel the same way but don't want to say anything to hurt your feelings.:wave:
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3fordisney
New Member
We have traveled there with family. At the time, our son was 2 and my sister's daughter was 1. We all rode together to get to WDW & my sister was pregnant. Our kids were on different schedules. We got up early and they were late risers. During the trip we split up and did our own things and set times to meet together at some point during the day. She couldn't ride all the rides and they took a slower pace than we did.
We have been there with them prior to having children and we did the same thing. We would plan to meet to see one of the shows or to eat dinner together. That way we had time on our trip together and time apart. You just never really know someone till you travel with them! LOL
You may want to discuss it prior to leaving. Discuss what you and your family would like to do and what the other family would like. Where it differs, you may want to bring up going your own direction some so that everyone wins and no one feels like they missed out on something. I would definitely talk about it prior to leaving. Hope it helps!
We have been there with them prior to having children and we did the same thing. We would plan to meet to see one of the shows or to eat dinner together. That way we had time on our trip together and time apart. You just never really know someone till you travel with them! LOL
You may want to discuss it prior to leaving. Discuss what you and your family would like to do and what the other family would like. Where it differs, you may want to bring up going your own direction some so that everyone wins and no one feels like they missed out on something. I would definitely talk about it prior to leaving. Hope it helps!
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tigsmom
Well-Known Member
A few years ago we went to WDW with another family who had never been before. We got them a planning guide and told them to pick out some shows and restaurants they wanted to try. Also to look over the rides (they had kids of varying ages as do we). We got together and planned out meals, shows and the like. Trying to act as a tour guide for 9 people was difficult, but we made it thru. We made sure to have some family time of our own (as did they) and it worked out fine...the key is in the planning, that way everyone knows what to expect.
You don't have to go on every ride they do, nor do you have to spend every waking minute with them. Good luck :wave:
You don't have to go on every ride they do, nor do you have to spend every waking minute with them. Good luck :wave:
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Nemo14
Well-Known Member
We've done it several times, and had both good and bad experiences. I think my best advise would be to plan some things together, but also plan to split up often. We travel with cousins and in-laws every February (we've been doing this for 6 years now), and everyone gets along very well, so we've had very few problems. However we travelled with some former friends a few years ago, and it was absolutely awful! All they did was look for things to complain about, and dispite our planning, they just didn't get it. It made for a very long week!
Let them know ahead of time that you realize their way of doing things is different from yours, then spell out what things are must-do's for you and your family. Ask them for a list of theirs too, then see what things would work best together. It's never fun spending your vacation waiting around while others are having a blast!
Have a great time, and feel free to come back here for advise!
Let them know ahead of time that you realize their way of doing things is different from yours, then spell out what things are must-do's for you and your family. Ask them for a list of theirs too, then see what things would work best together. It's never fun spending your vacation waiting around while others are having a blast!
Have a great time, and feel free to come back here for advise!
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olive10tails
New Member
All I have to say is you are very brave! I don't think I could ever travel to WDW with another family. I see my vacation as my vacation! Have a great time, though!
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goofyfamily
New Member
A friend of my husband keeps asking when are we going and to be honest I couldn't travel with him and his family. We have been to Disney 4 times and this will be our fifth as a family and I cant imagine being stuck to other people. The only advice I have is to be upfront with them before you go and let them no that you will be doing some different things. It is very hard to travel with others. Everyone has different tastes , but be open up front and you should be all right. I have a friend with her husband who we have had this discussion we both agree that if we were to go together we would only do a few things like a water park for the morning maybe meet up at dinner and back at the resort for the evening unless it works out you both are liking the same things for the day. Good Luck.
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tink81
New Member
I get sick of my own family when we travel! My BF and I always try plan some time just the 2 of us, and even try to work in time to be individually alone. A little 'me' time is alwys a good thing!
I would suggest making a plan as to when you will meet up with the other family and when you will be with your own family. I am sure they have some of the same concerns as you!
I would suggest making a plan as to when you will meet up with the other family and when you will be with your own family. I am sure they have some of the same concerns as you!
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CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
The answer is simple - travel with them, meet up with them in the parks (for a meal etc) BUT STICK TO YOUR OWN SCHEDULE.
Nobody likes to be dictated to, or told what they can or cannot do - this will avoid fights, fall outs or arguments.
:animwink:
Nobody likes to be dictated to, or told what they can or cannot do - this will avoid fights, fall outs or arguments.
:animwink:
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MicheleK
Member
Last year we went with friends. Our kids are 15 and 10 (boy and girl) and their kids are 6 and 3 (both girls). We like the thrill rides, they, the characters & Toon Town. We rented a four bedroom pool home a few miles from Disney and it was great! We discussed the differences in our families before we left so there would be no hard feelings either way. We had breakfast every morning together then usually hit the parks together then split from there. Using cell phones helped a lot. For instance, after we rode SM, for example, I'd give them a call to see where they were and say ok, let's meet at Buzz (or something like that). It worked out really well. Also, having a Pool home, we were able to have a few nice dinners together as well. The guys really enjoyed the grill and us ladies and kids enjoyed the pool. As long as you spell everything out before hand, you should have a wonderfull time!:wave:
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sbkline
Well-Known Member
I don't like thrill rides, the other family does (as well as my husband, 7 yo, & 5 yo). Any advice on how to have a great time without spoiling anyone's trip or losing friends? Thanks!
If you don't like them and they do, that's fine. You can sit out the ride while they go on it, or better yet, depending on how long the lines are, you can go do something else while they are doing the ride. Of course, that's also the great thing about cell phones. If you guys have them, then bring them. That way, you don't even have to arrange meeting times. You just go do your thing for a while while they do theirs, then you can communicate by phone on where to meet and what to do together next. :animwink:
If you don't like them and they do, that's fine. You can sit out the ride while they go on it, or better yet, depending on how long the lines are, you can go do something else while they are doing the ride. Of course, that's also the great thing about cell phones. If you guys have them, then bring them. That way, you don't even have to arrange meeting times. You just go do your thing for a while while they do theirs, then you can communicate by phone on where to meet and what to do together next. :animwink:
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SallyShine
New Member
I think money is a huge obstacle. It's hard to travel with people who are really watching their money. They would walk when we wanted a cab, they wanted McDonalds for breakfast and we wanted a nice meal. It started to get to me by the end of the week. I started buying things when they weren't around because I felt guilty. I think it's a much better idea to travel with people who are of the same means as you are.
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PixyDust
Member
CAPTAIN HOOK said:
We've gone with a few first-time-families. We stick to the rule above! Offer to meet up with them maybe for one meal the whole week, and then a couple of evenings at a park. I always work with them prior to the vacation to help them schedule as their family would want to park hop, eat, etc, but then make myself available but pretty much scarce during the actual vacation. We made the mistake once of taking a highly dependent family with us and it was HORRID! I couldn't go to the bathroom without the other lady in there with me. They had a good time as we were tour guides extraordinnaire, but we were miserable!
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Awesome Advice! Thank you all so much! I am really starting to feel more confident now. Before all of your advice, I was feeling badly about thinking we should spend some time apart, but now I know it is a necessity.
We will be traveling together, but staying in separate resorts. We are doing 2 park days together (MK & EPCOT), 3 separate (we are taking rest days - they aren't). I am an obsesssive planner when it comes to Disney, and I also insist on being at the park before it opens! They are pretty different. I was worried about trying to plan with them, but now I think I will plan the week for my family, and then let them choose what they want to join us for.
I am looking forward to my husband having someone to ride the thrill rides with, and I can take our little ones to see characters, and ride Peter Pan over and over!
We will be traveling together, but staying in separate resorts. We are doing 2 park days together (MK & EPCOT), 3 separate (we are taking rest days - they aren't). I am an obsesssive planner when it comes to Disney, and I also insist on being at the park before it opens! They are pretty different. I was worried about trying to plan with them, but now I think I will plan the week for my family, and then let them choose what they want to join us for.
I am looking forward to my husband having someone to ride the thrill rides with, and I can take our little ones to see characters, and ride Peter Pan over and over!
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Dwarful
Well-Known Member
We've gone several times with family. I am now working on trip plans for 2007 with my daughters girl scout troop and adult chaperones and family. This will be an interesting trip, we are doing the meal plan on that trip because I want to make sure all the girls get to eat some nice meals (character meals etc) and have some snacks. I think esp. if your staying at different resorts you'll be fine. Have fun!
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Craig & Lisa
Active Member
I only read one response before I had to add to this post, in Aug. we are going with two people, we are telling them as well as the people that wil be with us in Nov. one thing, if you want to hang with us fine , if you want to go off and explore that's fine too. But our request is that for the meals that we have PS for that everyone please be together as a family. To talk about what we did, what we want to do, etc., it may seem to some but I don't think anyone will have a problem with it because what you may like they may not as well as the other way around too. WDW has sooooooooo much for everyone, in 13 visits the family and I have not seen and done everything, and there are some things that we really don't want to do so when they know they have free rane everyone may have more fun than could be imagined, hope this helps.
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JimboJones123
Well-Known Member
I don't know if my family reads the boards much, so I won't say much, but don't become dependent on eachother. If you have meeting times... make sure they are followed by both parties. There is nothing worse than waiting an hour to meet at the park in the morning because the rest of the group slept in, and you got the kids up when you were supposed to. And, splitting up is OKAY. Be sure that nobody will get offended if some just need to take a break.
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