Have you visited WDW with your family?

I've taken the following family trips:
#1-myself, husband, mother in law, husband's grandmother (who is the MIL's ex-MIL)
#2-myself, husband, my mom and dad, my grandmother and grandfather, great aunt
#3-myself, husband, my mom and dad, my brother and his wife, my grandmother
#4-myself, husband, husband's brother and wife, nephew

All trips were very enjoyable and memorable and for the most part wouldn't change a thing

I've been a couple of times with my parents (as an adult), and once with my MIL.

Great times!

I've been with my parents as well, and just posted yesterday about a great trip with my mom a couple of years ago. We had such a great time!

I'm not sure how I'd do with a BIG family trip, but 3 or 4 people is great.

We've actually never done a large family trip. There were a couple of half-hearted efforts on DW's side of the family, but nothing came to fruition. It's one of those situations that I'm not going to push for, but I'll go along with it and hopefully enjoy it when the time came!

The problem with family trips is that usually they're pretty go-go-go. It's a very different trip than when we go by ourselves and take it easy. Our families don't go to WDW as much as we do so they like...want to do stuff...

Brad
We have usually gone with my mom when the girls were really young (they are 8 and 6 now). We went with my DH's parents once and are going as a big group this fall... with DH's parents and sister's family.
I am a bit nervous since I am basically planning the whole thing, but have made it clear there is NO WAY all 11 of us can tour the parks together. Meeting for a table service meals once a day is enough. Plus we are al staying in a GV together, so that is enoung "togetherness". I think to tour with a group is tough b/c who gets to decide where to go, when, and why... and if the park is crowded, child and parent melt downs, etc....

AMEN! How are people reacting to that, Dawn? Anyone pushing back?

Brad.... I know, they always want to do stuff!

Dawn, you have the right idea. We went with our extended family for my DS's 10th B-Day... we met for some meals on some days, but mostly, we'd meet up in small groups at a time It would have been IMPOSSIBLE to keep everyone together & happy.

That said, we have traveled to WDW several times with my Parents (they are now 80 & 81 & we took them last in 2007) we have gone with the entire extended family (21 people) we have taken DH's grown son, his wife & our Grandkids & we have taken a trip with my parents & with DS & his girlfriend.

Each trip has been wonderful in it's own way. Even when we go with just my Parents or just Max & his GF, or just Rich & his family,we often split up so everyone can do WDW at their own pace.

I think it sounds like a ton of fun to take a large group (although 21 is scary ) but:

1.) It would HAVE to be "do your own thing and we'll meet for dinner/lunch/etc"
2.) I would probably not feel like I'd had a REAL vacation at the end and want to take another one, or stay past when everyone else left. It would be fun, but not the same utterly relaxing experience that WDW normally is.

Definately has to be do your own thing! That's the only way it works.

Also, when we have gone the past few times with other people, we go for a few days ahead or stay a few extra days after that's just us so we have that precious relaxation time. Even DS & I have done this when we took DH's Godson - Max & I stayed an extra 4 days after to just do our own thing.

No one yet, but the trip doesn't start untl 9/26.... ask me 9/27

I think as long as you are as honest as possible up front, hopefully things run smoothly.

Disney is a family fun place. Mostly I visited to Disney with my family members or relatives and I think it is the most preferred place for family tour. There are lots of varieties and our each trip was pleasurable and unforgettable. I and my all family members are really love the Disney and would like to enjoy there together.

Best Regards,

I'd like to hear more about peoples' trips with family members and how each trip differed (with different members of the family/group).

I've only been with family once as an adult and it was really wonderful. I took my mom and adult brother who is disabled. They had never been to WDW (like me though, both had been to DL many times), so it was fun to show them around and introduce them to all my favorite things. The pace on this trip was just right. We kept things moving since there was a lot for them to see and do, but my mom wanted to do plenty of relaxing as well. We did a lot while there, but had enough time to chill out. Mom got some extra relaxation while my brother and I visited the water parks. At the end of the trip, they went home a few days before I did so I had the big villa all to myself. Was a great way to end the trip.

LifeIsForLiving, if you don't mind my asking, do your brother's disabilities affect his mobility? Very interested in how people who's family members have trouble getting around handle the parks.

Yes and no. He is not physically disabled but does get tired very easily. He also has trouble staying focused on one thing for long and sometimes easily loses interest. Funny thing, that was never an issue at the World:)

When I was about 12 years old my immediate family and aunts, uncles, cousins, all went. There were 27 of us. We were a HUGE Hoop Dee Doo table (my older cousin got to be Davy). While it was fun to have a cousin my age there to go on rides with, it was just too much. Who is hungry? Who wants pizza? Who wants salad? Who has to pee? Who doesn't like that ride....

We split up one or two days and did solo family stuff but most of the time we were together. While we agree it was great to share the magic together once, none of us ever wanted to do it again!

27?!?!?!?!

That would have been impossible to coordinate! I would think that even a group of 5 or 6 should break up and just get together for meals or some such. Did you guys really all go ride rides together and stuff?

We were there for 10 days. 5 with and 5 without. Yes, we went to attractions, dinners (often at split tables), dinner shows, the pool, and DTD together. Sometimes we had to wait for other busses. Most were adults which made it a bit easier since they went where the kids wanted to go. Sometimes the older, teen cousins would go off on their own.

We spent 5 chaotic days together and then 5 on our own when they left.

I remember it as fun. My mom calls it "Nightmare on Main Street" because coordinating was difficult. None of us have volunteered to do it again since. But I'm glad we did it once.

We had a food system. Each day a family picked the place. No arguments. That worked well.

That sounds crazy!!! Wow!!! What an experience!

So, when you went on rides and the CM asked, "how many in your party?" did you guys just say... "27!"

LOL! Only on rides that can accomodate big groups! Mostly, we'd stay in 5s or so. As kids we had ride buddies and we always rode together. If we wanted to ride w/ a special aunt or uncle we would trade. I believe for the Jungle Cruise we said 27. I can't remember if we all got on or not. I know we said that for Tower of Terror but minus 6 or 7 people who did not want to ride. It's a fave family photo of us all taking up an elevator.

That's a really bold plan by your family Jess. Did they realize what a dangerous undertaking they were getting themselves involved in?

I think they did, Brad. But they are all Disney fanatics. They go down a few times a year. They wanted all of us kids to get to experience it together and have big family memories there. Rough for them but so fun for us!

Sorry to keep grilling you on this, but it's such an interesting story.

Did you guys stay on property? I'm sure the Treehouses weren't built yet.

We all stayed at Port Orleans but not in the same buildings as we made reservations as separate families.

Ride buddies is a smart idea! Someone must have been a camp counselor back in the day. Would love to see that tot photo!