Disney Trip and Family Question

[Deleted]

The park hours are out for our trip!  Just a little over two weeks to plan my ADRs.

Anyway, we are going to WDW on 12/23-12/30 and staying at the same resort as my husband's cousin and his family.  We heard they were already planning on going and said we want to go too (sort of as a joke) and his wife said we should come and gave us her travel agent's information and we booked.  Going on the trip are some people we know (my husband's cousin's family plus my husband's aunt and uncle) and some people we probably have only met once (husband's cousin's other cousins and cousin's wive's parents etc.).

We've met up once with husband's cousin and his wife since booking and talked about all the fun we will have on our trip and she wants my to sign Ben up for the Pirate Makeover (lol) but now that i have the park hours I feel like I need to decide if we are on vacation near each other or on vacation together.

Should I plan my park days and ADRs first and then see how it compares to hers or reach out to her now? I definitely want to hang out with them but my kids are 1 and 3 whereas hers are 6 so one of us has less flexibility (me!).

WDYT?

[Wines Not Whines]

It's really up to you, but I find it's easier to make most of our plans, but coordinate on a few things, like dinner and a couple of rides that everyone wants to do.

[curbsideprophet]

I would start talking to her now. Figure out how much and what you want to do together do you can plan accordingly. Especially if you want to book any ADRs for the entire group.

[ribollita]

I would try to do mostly the same parks the same days so it's easier to overlap but them make my own plans for the days.

[lala]

Definitely a mix and definitely discuss it now. Meeting up for some meals & pool time is easy.

That week will be extremely busy so it will be impossible (I think) to keep a group of that size together all the time and it won't be fun b/c it will be traveling in a herd. I'm sure starting off together a few mornings or meeting for something specific (parade, fireworks) would be a good idea.

[jeaniebueller]

Are your kids the same age? I would coordinate based on that and maybe plan meals together?

[Awkward]

You are a braver woman than I for even attempting a WDW trip the week between Christmas and New Years. MK is straight 10s on the crowd calendars for the entire week. ADRs will be a nightmare. I think if you want to eat any sit down meals for the week you should book what you want/are able to and see if they overlap as the bigger the group the harder it can be to get a table. Hesitating or waiting could mean a week of counter service.

[curbsideprophet]

If you do want to have a big group meal I would also try for later in your trip at a less popular restaurant.

[Deleted]

Jun 9, 2016 9:38:46 GMT -5 Awkward said:

You are a braver woman than I for even attempting a WDW trip the week between Christmas and New Years. MK is straight 10s on the crowd calendars for the entire week. ADRs will be a nightmare. I think if you want to eat any sit down meals for the week you should book what you want/are able to and see if they overlap as the bigger the group the harder it can be to get a table. Hesitating or waiting could mean a week of counter service.

Oh yeah I don't think we are planning any meals with them in the parks but should I ask her which parks she's planning on going on which day is more what I meant.

I think I'll make my choices and then ask her what hers are before telling me TA.

[ssmjlm]

I would just see about overlapping parks if possible.  I had enough trouble with ADRs for 6 people in early May when it's not peak.

This was my friend's pic from last year during the holidays: