Why?
Disney isn’t just for kids—as evidenced by all the grandparents sporting Goofy hats and zooming down Splash Mountain. Even if rides aren’t your thing, Disney parks on both coasts offer tons of fun at stage shows, parades and awesome fireworks displays.
Smart Strategies
Before you set foot in any park, read Disney guidebooks and scour websites (like disneyworld.com and allearsnet.com) to come up with a list of must-sees. If you’re heading to Orlando, go to disneyworld.com/magicalgatherings to download the extremely helpful Magical Gatherings tools, which help you set up family chat rooms. If there are eight or more in your party, join with other extended families in one of Disney World’s Grand Gatherings, which include exclusive character events such as a private safari and supper at Animal Kingdom, or an international dinner in Epcot, with a private viewing area for IllumiNations, the signature end-of-day show. (Book at least 90 days in advance; call 407-934-7639.)
Crowd-Pleasing Ideas
Housing everyone at an on-site Disney resort shortens your commute and entitles you to Extra Magic Hours, when selected parks open early or extend evening hours, says Rossetti. At Disney World, she suggests what is commonly called a “moderate resort,” like Port Orleans; rooms sleep five and pools have water slides; six-night Magic Your Way Packages for a family of four start at around $1,700, including park passes. At Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, stay at Paradise Pier Hotel; two-night packages start at $389 per person and include three-day Park Hopper Passes with the option to meet characters in Toontown an hour before the park opens to the public (check out wdwvacations.com and MouseSavers.com for more deals).
Success Secret
Make the most of age-spanning attractions, says Scott Avery, father of two from Naperville, Illinois, who has visited Disney World over a dozen times with an extended family group. His faves: Soarin’, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and the Pirates of the Caribbean, newly updated to include characters from the movies.
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