By Magic Maker® Vicki Ohlerking

If you’ve ever thought about a vacation to the Walt Disney World® Resort, why not expand that thought and consider a trip for the WHOLE family or even a family reunion?  I have just returned from a third trip with grandparents, siblings and cousins and I can’t think of a better place to create great family memories than at Walt Disney World® Resort.  We literally start counting down the days until the next trip together on the day we get home.

Because so much is offered for every age group, along with exclusive experiences for larger groups, each trip is unique.  From the theme parks, dining and shopping, to fireworks cruises and behind the scenes tours, everyone has something to do.  And the great thing is that we can be together for some things and then go our own direction for others.  So everybody has an incredible time!

Here are a few tips and suggestions for making your family trip magical:

Agree on an itinerary ahead of time.
Park hours are available months ahead, so you can have a general idea of what parks you’ll go to on each day.  And by making advance dining reservations, meals won’t be a pressure point.  Just remember to be flexible and use the itinerary as a guideline to accommodate everyone’s expectations.

Breaking up is NOT hard to do.
Go into the trip with the mindset that it’s ok at times to go different directions.  For example, take a couple of hours where everyone goes to ride what they want to, and then meet back for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon together doing things that everyone wants to do.

Take a fireworks cruise.
There are affordable private cruises that will take you out to watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot® or the Wishes fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom® Park.  It’s a very relaxing way to enjoy the fireworks with just your family.

Say “Cheese.”
Family photos are a great way to look back.  Take advantage of Disney’s Photopass® services.  Photographers are located throughout the parks and at most of the Character Meet-and-Greet locations.  Or bring a handheld video camera and tape Grandma screaming throughout the entire ride on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad® Attraction!

With a great plan, a Walt Disney World® vacation for the entire family can be one of your greatest memories.  And the best way to make it all come together is to have an experienced agent work for you.  As Magic Makers™ with Off to Neverland Travel®, we have vast knowledge of what Disney offers and we plan each trip as if it were our own.  So let us take care of all the details to bring your entire family together for a dream vacation no one will ever forget!