Turning Play Dates Into Disney Travel Dates

A motivating factor for our Disney Vacation Club (DVC) purchase was the ability to vacation with close family and friends. As dedicated Disney fans, we feel it’s our duty to spread the pixie dust! The time has finally come when the impractical has become the practical and we think our family is ready to enjoy Walt Disney World with another family. In other words, within the year, our household will be diaper-free, sippy cup-free, crib-free, and free of all those other trappings of toddlerhood that make travel more challenging.

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

It is important to consider whether you should invite another family on your vacation just because you can. Not much can turn the best of friends into frenemeies faster than vacation stress and conflict.

There is a lot to consider before sharing your Disney vacation with others including finances, schedules, dining preferences, and touring style but today I would like to focus on harmony between the families, and especially the kids.

Personality and Family Dynamic

Personality of the Kids

If you’re contemplating a trip with your friends, it’s probably a good bet that the kids are fast friends. But, have they spent more than a day or two together at one time? My children haven’t spent a whole week with our friends’ family but the children have similar temperaments so we’re pretty confident it will work out well.

Ages and Stages

Who can forget the days of having to find a restroom ASAP for a newly potty-trained preschooler? The parents of a ten year-old! Vacationing at Walt Disney World can be more successful if your children are approximately the same age. Both families will be going through the same stages whether it is the antics of preschoolers or the newly found independence of pre-teenagers. Creating a touring plan will be easier since the kids will have approximately the same interests and heights. If you travel with pre-teens, it’s probably safe to say that Disney Junior – Live on Stage! won’t be a show they want to see.

We’ll have two six year-olds, two four year-olds, and a one year old. Even if the six year-olds are tall enough to ride attractions their brothers can’t, they’ll be “buddies” and can ride with an adult while the others take the little ones to do something else.

Gender

The gender of the children in the families is something to consider, if only to make sure there are adequate sleeping arrangements. You’ll also want to have a plan if your little girl wants to dine with princesses and be made over at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and your friends’ little boy has little interest in either. In our situation, we’ll have five boys, ages six and under (which may be crazy) but there won’t be any waiting on line to meet the princesses at Town Square Theatre.

Plus One

Is there a chance there will be an “odd man out” either because of ages, personalities, or sibling relationships? Think about how the kids in the group interact on play dates. Some kids are naturally drawn to others which could mean one child feels left out at times. It’s no fun to be the odd man out at home and even less so on vacation. Parents can mix up the groups by taking one group of kids on a special adventure while the others play together. These activities and groups can be changed up every day so everyone has a chance to be included and spend time together.

In our situation, the baby is the “plus one” but he will be young enough that he will be more interested in being with mom and dad than a playmate.

Rivalry

Sibling rivalry can rear its ugly head at any time but it can also happen between friends. Will the children compete for the attention of a favored adult or child? Is it all in good fun or could the kids start acting out because even negative attention is good attention to many kids? Consider spending some time alone as a family and meeting up with your friends at specified times. Breaking up the group at times can help take the wind out of the sails of any competition.

Parenting Styles

How similar is your parenting style with your friends? Although each family will parent differently, resentment could breed if one family is more lenient with snacks and purchasing souvenirs than the other. It’s possible the kids will create a chorus of “But it’s not fair – Johnny got a Mickey bar!” or parents may feel pressured to be more lax or strict than they otherwise would be to keep the peace. Be upfront about expectations with your children and explain that your family has its rules and Johnny’s family may have different rules.

Bedtimes

How similar are the sleep schedules of all the children? If the schedules of the kids are very different, it can be tough to coordinate to get to that early morning character breakfast or to stay out late to watch the fireworks.

If the kids traveling together have different personalities and family dynamics differ, it doesn’t mean your trip will be a flop. You may just need to make some adjustments and communicate well with the other family to ensure a great time is had by all.

This article is featured in this months blog carnival only on Dismarks!

Related articles

• When to Book Your Walt Disney World Vacation (couponingtodisney.com)
• 10 Money Saving Tips for your next Disney World Vacation (chipandco.com)

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