5 Must-Haves for Your Multi-Generational Disney Vacation
The author is Lindsay Ewing
My family of three recently traveled to Disney World, and we invited my dad this time. My son was thrilled to have a “first visit with Poppy,” and my dad had not been to Disney World since the mid-90s when we went during my 6th grade school year. Much has changed since then, of course, and I was so excited to experience new attractions with him and also see him enjoy this magical vacation with his grandson.
Here are my top 5 suggestions for making your trip enjoyable for all ages!
Family Suite or Villa
We opted for a Lion King Family Suite at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort for two reasons - the spacious rooms with a separate sleeping area and two full bathrooms and also the convenience of the Skyliner. Booking a family suite over two (or three!) standard rooms also allowed us to keep everyone on one reservation for planning purposes. Family Suites can sleep up to 6 guests. Both Art of Animation Resort and All-Star Music Resort offer these amenities. For families with a larger budget, there are also 1- or 2-Bedroom Villas at most deluxe properties. These villas also include a full kitchen and laundry facilities!
Lion King Family Suite at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
4 Park Days
We opted for a 3 day park hopper pass because we were confined to certain travel days, and we really wanted to visit all four theme parks. But if I could do it all over again, I would go with a 4 day base ticket to spend just one day at each theme park for a more leisurely experience. Ideally, if you have the time, I recommend a 6 night stay with 4 day base ticket, which also allows you to build in a full day of rest to enjoy the resort pool and amenities.
Memory Maker
This add-on is 100% worth it for capturing family memories! We were able to snap some great shots of all four of us - and some special photos of just me and my dad, and also my son and my dad. The Disney PhotoPass photographers are great! They take time with each family, making suggestions for magic shots, a variety of poses, and even smaller groups or individual photos. And don’t be shy about asking for special requests! You can’t beat high quality photos in front of those iconic spots at Walt Disney World!
Lindsay's Memory Maker
Intentional Rest
Consider the activity and fitness level of your guests. Whether you build rest into the middle of your day, or plan for late mornings or early evenings, that added rest time is necessary. Your feet will hurt! Fortunately, my dad is rather fit for his age so he had no trouble keeping up - but we were all feeling it by the end of our visit. And there is always the option to rent a mobility scooter for those that may not have the stamina to walk several miles each day. Our agency partners with several rental companies in the Orlando area to help you with these accommodations.
Celebration Buttons
Don’t forget to ask guest services at your resort for those Celebration buttons! Whether it’s a birthday, first visit, anniversary or wedding, or any special celebration, you can personalize the buttons - so don’t forget your Sharpie! And wear them proudly during your visit because you never know if they’ll inspire some extra special pixie-dust.
Celebration Buttons
Make Your Next Disney Vacation Magical for Every Generation!
Planning a Disney vacation with grandparents, parents, and little ones? Let me take the guesswork out of planning! Our experienced Disney vacation planners can help you find the right resort accommodations, choose the best park tickets, coordinate special experiences, and arrange additional travel accommodations to make your vacation enjoyable for everyone. Whether it's a grandparent's first visit or a special family reunion at Walt Disney World, we'll help you create magical memories that last a lifetime.
Contact Lindsay for complimentary Disney vacation planning!
Lindsay is a travel advisor for Magic Family Getaways with over 5 years of experience. She is also a high school Spanish teacher, so she understands the importance of curating family travel to compliment school schedules. She lives in central Pennsylvania with her husband and 9 year old son.
She specialize in creating stress-free vacations for families so they can focus on making memories. From Disney destinations, to sailing the open seas, or all-inclusive resorts and hotel stays, She can help you find something to fit your budget and your travel needs. Let's make memories together!
Magic Family Getaways is a family-run travel agency and award winning travel agency in Essex County, NJ. Magic Family Getaways is licensed, bonded and insured to book travel across the United States with its head office in Montclair, NJ.