Stay Together?

[Princess from Tennessee]

So we leave for WDW in 16 days!!!!!!! My question is would it be better to all stay together while in the parks or go our separate ways? My parents want us all to stay together but with there being eight of us, and so different in age, would it be better for the older "kids" to go ride the bigger rides that the two younger kids can't?:confused:

[ginny57]

When my youngest was not old enough to do the 'big' rides with his 2 older brothers, we'd split for a specific time frame. Sometimes we'd do it 1st thing in the AM and meet up @ lunch or split right after lunch and regroup around 3:00. That allowed us to spend most of our time together while also avoiding the frustration that can occur from waiting for the entire group to get to what only a few can do....and also avoids the standing around that occurs when waiting for some of the group to get off of a ride that not everyone can / wants to ride.

[LVT]

Maybe a compromise> all in adventureland with a certain bench to meet and regroup at. The older ones can pair up to run off for short times.

[kakn7294]

It can be difficult to move a larger group along in a timely manner. In my vast group travel experience, somebody always lags behind, nobody can make a decision, and time is wasted. Still, it's great to experience things as a group. I'd do both but create a loose plan for the things you'd like to do as a group and what you'll do on your own.

[faline]

With a group diverse in ages and interest, it often works better to split up. The older kids might not be happy riding It's A Small World while they'd rather be on Splash Mountain. The younger kids won't be happy if they have to "hang out" while the older ones are doing the more thriling rides.

We only had a family group of five when we went with my brother's family last year (which included a 5 year old) and split up quite a bit. They tended to get to the parks later in the morning than we did. The 5 year loved Splash Mountain and they went on it multiple times but one ride satisfies me. He was not tall enough for some rides that my husband and I enjoy so we would do those during times of separation. We kept saying "That's what cell phones are for"! There are times we did travel as a group and, during those times, we tended to go at the 5 year old pace but we only had the one child with us!

[Princess from Tennessee]

Thanks for all the responses :mickey: I'm thinking that when we get there and they realize that the older kids (13,19,19,20) do not want to ride the same rides as the two younger ones (2,9), they will let us go off on our own.

[SBETigg]

Thanks for all the responses :mickey: I'm thinking that when we get there and they realize that the older kids (13,19,19,20) do not want to ride the same rides as the two younger ones (2,9), they will let us go off on our own.

I'm thinking you might want to be proactive on this and make a plan in advance instead of waiting for once you get there. Your parents might not realize how this could go down, but you do and if you wait, you might end up with some chaos and missing out on doing some things all together once people splinter off.

Maybe look at each park and decide on a few places/attractions where you will meet up and do things together, and which ones you might attack in smaller groups separately. That way, once things do end up the way you envision, you can reassure your parents that you will still have plenty of together time because you're meeting back up for a, b, and c even though you are splitting up for d,e, and f. Spontaneity is great, but with larger groups, having a solid plan in place often works out for the best.

[buzznwoodysmom]

Thanks for all the responses :mickey: I'm thinking that when we get there and they realize that the older kids (13,19,19,20) do not want to ride the same rides as the two younger ones (2,9), they will let us go off on our own.

Also, don't be surprised if the 9 year old wants to do the same rides as the older "kids". By the time my kids were 9 they had been riding every ride in the parks for a few years. Unless the 9 year old is timid (or really short) they will be tall enough and old enough to do all the big rides too. I highly doubt the 9 year old would want to hang with the 2 year old on the "baby rides" all day! LOL.

[BigRedDad]

I see a very long, painful, and stressful trip if you all stay together all the time. The older kids are going to need their freedom. The best thing to do is make plans of things that will be done as a family and when. This way you can meet up at those locations at that time. The question after that is which age is the cutoff to go off alone for a while?

[DisneyDawgette]

I agree with the other posters! Definitely, splitting up is going to be the easiest way for everyone to stay happy! But I'm sure for your parents, they are going to be happiest when they get to spend time with their WHOLE family... Or maybe even go with the big kids to ride some bigger rides! Talk it over with them before you go, that way you know what everyone wants to do and you can make a list of "family attractions" to do all together! After all, it does seem family vacations are most fun when everyone is happy and involved. :)

[the other micki]

We don't have a huge difference in ages on this trip, but teenagers always like to have a little freedom. Our plan is to tour together until after lunch. Our teens, who are very responsible, can roam around on their own all afternoon and meet back with us at dinner. Of course, we'll be flexible even within this plan. Have a great trip! :mickey:

[MargaretMessler]

Let the teens go off on their own for specified amounts of time to meet up later, perhaps for lunch.

Try to do small pockets of "everyone together" time as well. Like, if you go to MK for the day, stay together for the morning, have lunch, and then split up for the afternoon.

[irishpixies]

Try to do small pockets of "everyone together" time as well. Like, if you go to MK for the day, stay together for the morning, have lunch, and then split up for the afternoon.

I have to agree with this advice especially if your parents are really looking forward to family time. On our 2 big family trips, we had a lot of hurt feelings because a few people thought that once we got to WDW, they should be able to do their own thing without any together time. The matriarch of the family was very upset that she didn't get enough time with everyone together. It made for a couple of miserable days and lots of tears.

Just be sure everyone is on the same page before heading off WDW to ensure that expectations aren't too high either way.

And have a GREAT trip!!

[Aurora]

Thanks for all the responses :mickey: I'm thinking that when we get there and they realize that the older kids (13,19,19,20) do not want to ride the same rides as the two younger ones (2,9), they will let us go off on our own.

Once my older kids turned into teens, I let them go off by themselves for a couple of hours at a time. During our trip last year, when I went with my sister's family, we had seven kids -- ages 16, 15, 15, 14 and 12, and then two little ones -- ages 7 and 6. The big kids all got to go off and do rides rides on their own as a group and then met up with the rest of us at a certain time. We still had plenty of family together time, rode lots of rides together and had all meals together.

If your parents feel uneasy that they'll be missing what the big kids are doing, you can take a camera or take pics with your phones and show them later so they won't feel like they're missing out on being with you. That's what my kids did and I felt better that I got to see the fun they were having.

Have a great trip!

[Janmac]

And sometimes parents want to do the fun rides too, but can't because of 2 year olds and potentially timid 9 year olds. Sometimes parents are happy to let the big kids have some time on their own, if they also have time on their own - hint hint!

:D

Jan

[Georgesgirl1]

We often travel in large family groups and have always made a point to have some family time and some time to tour the parks on our own. Touring together for the morning and then separating after lunch often works the best for us.
We have even found that our 1 and 3 year old don't always want to do the same things! DH and I made the point on our last trip to each take one of them for a few hours to have some time to do whatever they wanted to do.

[bruin1344]

Another vote for splitting up. I use to do it in my teenage years with my siblings and cousins and it was fun. It worked because we had been so many times plus we designated a place and time to meet up afterwards. Nowadays, people have cell phones in case there is issues.

[SBETigg]

And sometimes parents want to do the fun rides too, but can't because of 2 year olds and potentially timid 9 year olds. Sometimes parents are happy to let the big kids have some time on their own, if they also have time on their own - hint hint!

:D

Jan

Jan, good point. Maybe some of the older kids could look after younger ones sometimes and give parents some alone time. I'm sure they would be very appreciative! Lovely thought.

[joanna71985]

I'm one of 8 kids too. When we went when I was younger, we did both. We had some group time, but then my parents let us split off for a bit as well

[IloveJack]

When I was your age and went with the parents, we would stay together most of the day, but split up for park opening and extra magic hours. That's the time that you can ride the most thrill rides in the least amount of time. Plus, that way the parents/little ones can get more sleep. Just don't plan to meet "in front of the castle" or "by the big ball." Everyone else does that, and it'll be chaos.

[wdwfansince75]

Most of our trips have been with a wide range of ages.. While we try to do some family things, including some meals as a group, most park touring has been with smaller groups. That way, we accomodate almost everyone's wants and likes. DW is their companion, advisor, and (:secret:...their parents don't know), their bank, for shopping.
I can get everyone on their "Must do's"....And when small groups of DGK's can't agree on what to do next, I can usually mediate and implement a plan to accomodate everyone...
While they are becoming even more expensive, Character Meals are a great family event....we have tried to do several on most trips...usually at least one dinner, and one breakfast...

We have seen it from both sides...two of our earliest trips were with DMiL and DFiL...and we did most things as a group...even then, our kids are spread over 11 years, and had varying tastes, and attention span....But rather than slow down to stay together all the time, we created rendezvous points, to allow the older DK's (and me) to ride our favorites, while always giving the in-laws the option to join the group, or to just chill.

DMiL and DD#2 rode and re-rode "If You Had Wings", while DS#1, DD#1, DFiL, and I rode the Turnpike again and again...but we all did PoTC together...DW shopped...but joined us on IASW and Peter Pan...shopped again while DFiL and I took DS#1 and DD#1 on 20,000 Leagues...

Those two trips were special for the In Laws...One of very few vacations they took together...The way we did it helped to make it special. I still remember hundreds of special moments from those trips. Now that we are the Seniors in the group (actually older than they were on those trips), we enjoy the lack of pressure to do it all together, while enjoying the special moments of individual and family events.

Never had a bad trip...never insisted that we stay together constantly...

[Princess from Tennessee]

I think we finally have it figured out to where we will all stay together in the mornings, eat lunch, and then venture off to do separate things! Thanks so much for everyone's help :mickey:

[BigRedDad]

It is good that you are going to separate. It will help for the trip. One thing you did not mention is when you will give your parents time to split away as well. They are going to need a break from all of the kids now and then too.

[Princess from Tennessee]

Their anniversary is Saturday so my friend and I will be watching the two youngest while they go on a "date" in Magic Kingdom! I will also be watching them on one of the nights so they can go to Down Town Disney.:D