The multigenerational family vacation was one of the biggest trends in family travel that I encountered as post-pandemic travel rebounded in 2022. Other travel advisors agree. So many of the families I worked with last year wanted to make their family’s travel dreams come true…together.

Planning a trip to a destination like Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort or Universal Orlando Resort with several different generations can be a complicated matter. This is where I come in, helping to smooth out the planning process and make the experience fun for travellers.

What makes multigenerational trips so complex? Just imagine the factors that go into planning a vacation for a single couple or family. You’ve got to think about resort choice, dietary restrictions or requirements, special celebrations, dining reservations, theme park reservations, and the list goes on. Now multiply these factors to take several families’ needs into account. Some families in the travel group will have children and some will not. You’ll need to think about the ages of any kids who are travelling, as well.

Quickly, you’ll see how planning can get tricky. If you don’t believe me, try bringing up the idea of taking a trip with your extended family, and see where the conversation takes you. I have a feeling the discussion will have you running right back to this article, and to my complimentary planning services.

What is Multigenerational Travel?

A multigenerational family is simply a family is comprised of family members who come from several different generations. The family might include grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins, children and grandchildren. Some multigenerational families include couples who don’t have children, combined with couples who do have children.

In a nutshell, multigenerational travel is simply travel that involves more than one generation within the same trip.

Two examples:

One recent multigenerational family I planned with in 2022 included a set of grandparents, four of their adult children, those individuals’ spouses, and all of their children and babies, a total of fourteen people. They loved their stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Another extended family is going to love staying in a newly refurbished Family Suite at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort in early 2023.

In another group who are planning a 2023 Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Cruise Line vacation, there are grandparents, their two adults children, those individuals’ spouses and again, their grandchildren. One couple has kids and one does not. There are lot of different needs to consider!

Here are just a few of the aspects of vacation planning that you’ll need assistance with when planning a large family vacation to a destination such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort or Disney Cruise Line.

Resorts for a Multigenerational Family Vacations

Each family in your group will likely require their own hotel room or stateroom. Sometimes, two families want to share a larger suite with separate bedrooms and some shared living space. When considering which ship or resort to book, you’ll need help understanding the various room categories and bedding configurations in each. Different hotel rooms at Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, for example, can accommodate a certain number of guests. Some rooms can accommodate up to four guests, while others can fit a family of five or six guests.

Families also usually want to have their hotel rooms situated nearby to one another or adjoining/adjacent. While these arrangements can’t always be guaranteed, they can usually be accommodated. I always make sure Disney or Universal knows when a multigenerational family is travelling together, and do what I can to ensure rooms are located nearby to one another.

Multigenerational Families Need “Kid Gear” (and Sometimes “Grown-up Gear”)

Strollers and cribs or pack ‘n play layards come to mind when I think about families travelling with multiple young children. While the theme parks do offer stroller rentals, these must be returned at the end of the day, and there’s nothing worse than having to haul a sleeping child out of a stroller before heading back to the hotel.

Scooters are another piece of equipment that are often needed by members of a multigenerational family during travel. I can assist you with stroller and scooter rentals from reputable companies that will deliver and pick-up a wonderful stroller or scooter that you can use as your own, and take in and out of the theme parks.

Getting from the Airport to Your Hotel Together

There are many options available when it comes to coordinating transportation from the airport to your hotel. Not all members of a multigenerational family may arrive at the same time or on the same flight. There are several different options I like to suggest for my clients, including shared shuttles such as the Sunshine Flyer, and private transfers. If everyone arrives together, we can even charter a large van or small bus to get you to your destination together.

Booking Dining Reservations for Larger Families

Booking a table at one of Walt Disney World’s most popular restaurants can be a challenge for even a family of four. Getting reservations arranged for larger families is also challenging, especially because most restaurants don’t accommodate parties of more than ten guests at one table. There are some strategies that can be employed to assist your larger family group with your dining wish list.

Payment Plans and Arrangements for Multigenerational Family Trips

With larger family groups, there are typically several bookings to manage, which means there will be more than one deposit required upon booking, and there could be multiple payments to manage throughout the months ahead of the trip itself.

Sometimes one family member will be paying for everyone, and sometimes each family within the group will pay for their own package. Sometimes it’s a combination of these arrangements, where the grandparents pay for a portion of the package only. I’ve written more about payment plans for family vacations, and this service is even more valuable with multigenerational family trips.

The Travel Advisor Can Be the Point Person

You would hire a party planner or a wedding coordinator to guide you and your family through a large, celebratory event together. Why not consider a travel advisor, especially when these travel planning services are complimentary?

Having “too many cooks” involved in the management of a big family vacation can make planning more complex than it needs to be. Getting a travel advisor involved as the leader of your group can definitely help smooth out the planning process, and can also help you avoid hurt feelings or making one family member feel more responsible for the planning than others. Family dynamics vary widely, but in my experience, being able to point family members to the travel advisor for questions is the way to go.

Are you ready to start planning your multigenerational family vacation? Whether you’re thinking about a luxury multigenerational vacation or trying to find the best family vacation options for a family with elderly grandparents, I can help. Multigenerational family travel is right up my alley. Let’s make your family’s vacation dreams come true.