Our family is planning a reunion at Disney World next year. There will be 17 of us, ranging in age from 3 to 74. Any tips?
Walt Disney World is a prime destination for family reunions. No matter what your age, there truly is something for everyone. But saying that there's something for everyone doesn't mean everything is for everyone. The following tips may help you make sure the trip is equally fun for your whole family, from toddlers to grandparents:
LODGING
• If at all possible, stay on site. Having the use of the Disney transportation system makes it much easier for everyone to go their own way, on their own schedule, at their own pace. Families with young kids can return to the hotel for afternoon naps, older family members can turn in early, late-sleeping teens can join you at 11 A.M. in the parks. If you're trying to coordinate your comings and goings in cars, it can rapidly become frustrating for everyone.
• Villa-style lodgings can be downright economical if everyone pitches in, and also allow you to cook some meals at home. If you suspect too much togetherness might get on everyone's nerves, request adjoining rooms at a hotel. Book rooms well in advance to ensure you can get as many connecting rooms as you need.
PARKS
• Face facts: you probably won't be able to stay together once you're in the theme parks--nor should you, since there is likely to be a big variation in the stamina and risk tolerance of the family members. Shows, meals, parades and some rides are fun to do as a group, but a fair number of the rides are quite age-specific. Forcing a terrified five-year-old onto Big Thunder Mountain or a humiliated 15-year-old onto It's a Small World in the interest of family togetherness is guaranteed to cause one tantrum per hour.
• If you do split up, have well-designated meeting times and places. Vague locations like, "At the castle," make it likely you'll wander around looking for each other. It helps if you meet up at out-of-the-way places like the flower stall on Main Street.
• Because big groups tend to scatter, pagers and cell phones can be invaluable for getting everyone assembled when its time to eat or head home. You can rent pagers through Guest Services in the theme parks.
• Have everyone wear the same color T-shirt or hat each day. A tour guide operator passed along this tip, which makes it much easier to spot your people in a sea of faces.
DINING
• If you'll need a table for 17 for dinner, it is imperative that you arrange priority seating for all your sit-down meals well in advance. Be prepared to split into smaller groups to eat, but even a party of six needs priority seating.
• If the adults plan to head out for a night, an in-room sitter is less expensive than drop-off child care when more than three kids are involved.
BEFORE YOU GO
• Consider a cruise. The Disney Cruise Line is a popular choice for extended families; eating and bunking together is no problem, the kids can only scatter so far and activities are planned for every age group.
• Talk to your travel agent. Sometimes large groups (especially if they're headed for the Disney Cruise Line) qualify for discounts.
FINAL WORD
• Plan a day "off" in the middle of the trip. A Walt Disney World vacation, to put it mildly, is an active vacation. It's easy to find yourself so swept up in the bustle of the theme parks that you don't really stop and visit with the people you've come so far to see. Why not spend one day out of the parks, sleeping in, hanging around the pool, playing miniature golf, shopping or eating at a special place?
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Originally published in November 2000 Updated March 2006.
