Disney World Tips For Large Families

Visiting the “Most Magical Place on Earth” feels like it has become a family rite of passage.

But there is so much that goes into planning a Disney trip, it can be overwhelming.  There are apps to download, planning tips to learn, and theme parks to navigate, and it can all be a little bit overwhelming. That gets even more complicated with large parties, so what do you do when you’re traveling with a big group? Well, we’re breaking down our best tips!

Whether this is a multi-generational family reunion with family members numbering into the double digits, or if you happen to have more than the 2-child average family, if you’re traveling with a larger family, we have some tips that can help you make the most of your Disney vacation.

Divide and Conquer

You’re there as a family to make memories together, right? Well, there’s a great way to find the balance between togetherness and claustrophobia. The first thing we need to talk about is splitting up! It may seem counterintuitive when your group likely all came to spend time together, but trust us — sometimes it’s definitely worth it. The larger the group, the more opinions, and it’ll be near impossible to make EVERYONE happy at once.

Especially if you’re traveling with a variety of ages, it can be challenging for everyone to go on (or enjoy) the same rides or attractions, so divide and conquer. The little ones can enjoy a spin on Dumbo while the “big kiddos” go over to Space Mountain. You guys can all meet back up together later, and everyone will be a lot less cranky after they got to do what they wanted!

Plan those split-up times in advance. Designate specific hours for “separate adventure” hours. For example, plan to spend the mornings together, then after lunch, when little ones might need a nap or want to enjoy some attractions more on their level, allow the older kids (perhaps with a parent) to venture off to get in their own thrills with a meetup time later in the day, maybe for pool time or before dinner. Your mileage may vary depending on the age and independence -level of your kiddos, but with cell phones and the relative security of the Disney bubble, this is probably one of the safest places to let your teens flex those independent muscles a bit.

This could also work well if you have multiple family units joining on the same trip. Allow some time with the whole group, but also plan some breakaway time for just those smaller family nuclei to have more intimate time together. We suggest planning to enjoy some of Disney’s shows in your larger group, since you’ll all get to sit together and won’t get broken up as you will in separate ride vehicles. And work those in each day, so the whole group can enjoy Muppet Vision 3D, Carousel of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, the American Adventure, Impressions de France, the Festival of the Lion King, or Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! and then have time to explore the rest of the park.

CHANGES Come to Cirque du Soleil’s Showtimes in Disney Springs

Dining Requires Flexibility

If you’re all hoping to eat together, you may face some challenges. It can be difficult to find reservations at table service restaurants for large parties, so you will need to plan to be split up into smaller groups or call Disney to get those sorted out the way you like. And this is another instance where it’s perfectly okay to split up if your group has different priorities! (Not everyone may be interested in a character meal.)

But we do have a recommendation for those large groups that want to stick together. Consider Biergarten, in EPCOT’s Germany Pavilion. This restaurant has large tables seating up to 6-8 people, so you can definitely fit in more folks at this spot. And since it’s a buffet, even picky eaters will find something they enjoy.

If you’re heading to eat at a quick service spot, make sure to look for a place that will be accommodating. You’ll need somewhere with a varied menu for all the different palettes, but you’ll also need to find a spot where there’s plenty of seating for your group. Each of the four theme parks has at least one restaurant like this, so we recommend spots like Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Connections Eatery, ABC Commissary, or Flame Tree Barbecue.

The Best Walt Disney World Restaurants for Big Groups!

Managing the Budget

Disney vacations are EXPENSIVE.  There’s no way around that. And if you’re traveling with a large family or group, whether you’re footing the whole bill or it’s getting split up, you’ll want to consider the cost of how every little thing adds up.

If this is a multi-family trip when you’re traveling with a large group, everyone may not be prepared to pay Grand Floridian prices for rooms, shell out cash for Genie+ every day, or eat at the fanciest restaurants. You’ll need to decide before your trip where you stand on these issues so that no budgets — or hearts — are broken!

If you just happen to have a large family unit, then those hotels where the rooms only comfortably sleep 4 might not be the best for you (or your sanity). This is when you might want to consider the Disney Vacation Club Villas or Fort Wilderness Cabins and Campgrounds, to see if those might suit your needs (and budget). Or even look at renting a vacation home for your trip for more space, your own kitchen, and more bathrooms (those precious bathrooms!). You may have to pick up the cost of a rental vehicle, too. But there are ways to make it balance out.

The Best Disney World Hotels for Large Families

Do Your Homework!

Going to Disney World as a novice is challenging enough, but it gets even harder when you’re a newbie in a group full of other newbies! Make sure to check out the list of rides in each park, the dining options, and the basics of planning a Disney vacation beforehand. If you’re trying to figure everything out “on the go,” then it’ll take you twice as long to get anything done. And we probably don’t have to tell you — time is a VALUABLE asset when you’re in a large group because everything seems to move slowly anyway!

Prioritize Your “Must-Dos”

After you’ve done all that research, have everyone in your group submit a list of what’s most important to them. Are there rides you want to do and shows you want to see? Write them down! Make sure to get opinions from as many people in the group as possible so that you have a good sample of what your trip should look like. And when everyone is involved in the planning, then there’s less likely going to be confusion, frustration, or irritation in the ranks.

Making that list of priorities will help you decide when to split up and how to plan your day. As we mentioned above, if you’re standing around making decisions, you’re wasting precious time in the parks. Plus, taking suggestions from the group ahead of time will make everyone feel like their opinions have been heard — and that’s a good start for keeping up morale!

Set Expectations!

And our final tip may be the most important of all! When you’re traveling with a large group, it’s easy for things to get lost in translation or for some members of your group to miss important messages. It’s important to have clear communication with your travel party on pretty much every aspect of the trip and manage those expectations and clear the air early. No matter how close your family is, no one is a mind reader, so set out those expectations before leaving home. Having a clear method and system for communication will save you so much stress in the long run.

Set out those plans like:

• What time will everyone be getting up to hit the parks in the morning?
• Does each member have a souvenir budget? If so, how much?
• Will any older siblings be responsible for looking out for younger ones?
• Daily park plans, pool plans, and independent time (if any).
• Delegating vacation responsibilities (who’s in charge of making sure everyone’s mobile device is charged? who’s in charge of carrying the park backpack and restocking it each day? who’s in charge of My Disney Experience for Virtual Queues or Genie+ reservations?) Everyone has skills to do something, so it shouldn’t all fall on one person.

And that’s just some starter ideas. The earlier you set the tone, and address concerns in advance, the more prepared everyone will be.

It’s also good to make important decisions together, like establishing a meeting spot in each park and deciding who’s responsible for watching children (if you have little ones in your group). Keeping a text group between the adults can be extremely helpful for these purposes.

Above all, remember to be patient. This trip will likely not progress as quickly or as smoothly as it would with a smaller group, and as long as you know that going in, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself and relax. Keep in mind — it’s still a vacation, so treat it like one!

For more tips on navigating the Disney World parks and planning your upcoming trip, stay tuned to AllEars. We’ve got you covered!

10 Tips For Surviving Walt Disney World With a Large Group

Are you planning a trip with a large group? Tell us in the comments!

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