Disney With a Crowd

Walt Disney World is a place filled with wonder for kids, and is a playground for adults, too. My favorite Disney vacations have been packed with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. They are fun to plan for others, too! The more the merrier I say! But it also means more need for good planning. With a group of all ages, you need a good travel agent, might I suggest a Travel Elf, to help you tap into the magic and have a trip of a lifetime. Here are a few suggestions for how to do Disney with a group of all ages. 

The top five: Before you go to Disney, you should know what is in store. Disney is always adding something new, changing things around, keeping it fresh. This summer, Toy Story Land opens in Disney Studios with Star Wars Land right on its heels. Disney Springs finished its complete overhaul last year with new restaurants, themed bars, movie theaters and more. The possibilities are endless. In many ways, there is more for adults to take in than children, especially beyond the Magic Kingdom. Parents should be informed on what attractions are best for what age groups. The first thing to do after booking your trip is to head to mydisneyexperience.com to check out attractions for each park. Then, create a priority list for each person in your family. Come up with everyone's top five attractions at each park, or top 10 family overall attractions you don't want to miss. You can't do it all in one trip, and if you do end up with something still on your list, then come home and plan another trip for next year or the year after! 

Dining Directives: In addition to being a great value, the Disney Dining Plan provides a great way for a group to come together after going in different directions during the day. It's unlikely that teens will be heading to Playhouse Disney, and it was years before I could get my kids to even think about Space Mountain. So having a sit down dinner each night is a great way for a family with a range of kids or an extended family to share the day's highlights. The basic Dining Plan gives you 1 counter service and 1 table service meal credit for each night of your Disney resort stay. If you prefer the Quick Service plan, it allows two counter service credits. The Deluxe Dining Plan gives three table service or counter service meals. All of the dining plan options include two snack credits for the not-to-be missed popcorn or Mickey ice cream bar. One tip for families or groups with a wide variety in ages is to choose an early dining time such as 5 p.m. so that anyone returning to the parks for evening activities can do so with plenty of time to spare, and the younger ones can head to the pool or early bedtime. 

Work with an agent: Using a travel agent si the most important tip when planning a group Disney vacation. The more people you have, the more questions you are likely to need answered. Our agency is designated as an Authorized Disney Vacation agency, which means we specialize in Disney destinations. There is no fee for me to set up a Disney vacation, and you can even get help with dining reservations, fast pass selections, attraction information, transportation and more! With your Travel Elf helping with the pixie dust, you are bound to have a magical Disney gathering, no matter the ages of your group. 

A HIdden Gem in Disney

A Disney destination is special because of all the hidden spots and details around every corner. Like a glass blower crafting ornaments. Turn down a small side street off Main street across from the Emporium. It's where you can get your silhouette done. Go into Crystal Arts and you'll find glass blowing and the beautiful results.

Best Place to Watch Fireworks

To avoid the crowds and take advantage of short lines for rides during fireworks, watch from the back side of the castle. You won't see the projections in the castle but you will get a full view of the spectacular bursts of color themed to Disney scores and favorite songs.  @ Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom