Parenting in the Parks: Traveling With Family: Relatives' Home vs. Hotel

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Traveling With Family: Relatives' Home vs. Hotel by Adrienne Krock

The Parenting Panel shares their opinions on where to stay on a Disney Theme Park vacation: Stay with relatives nearby or book a hotel?

Read it here!

[danyoung]

I have family in the southern California area, and I love spending time with them. But I also love spending time in Disneyland too. It's always something of a tough situation, trying to decide how much time to spend with them and how much to spend in the parks. The last couple trips I've actually resorted to something kinda extreme - I lie to family (OH, THE SHAME!). For instance, I might travel from Texas to Anaheim on a Thursday, but I tell them I'm coming in to town on Friday. And I do the same thing at the other end as well. I don't feel really good about this, but at least it's a way for me to spend some quality time in a place that I love, and then spend quality time with the fam.

Now, I don't have to worry about this on my WDW trips, as the only people I know down there actually work in the World!

[mkelm44]

I live in the Washington, DC area, so at least a few times a year I play host to tourists (and you have no idea how many times I've gone to DC area attractions like Mount Vernon, Smithsonian museums, over the years). But I don't live in Washington, DC, so Chris' point is a good one- unless you are right there, you are going to have to factor in transportation time/costs etc. When you're trying to maximize time, transportation is a big negative. Also, you don't get the obligation feeling you get when you stay at relatives houses- the need to eat meals with your hosts, the need to keep things spotless in you room. You also don't have to juggle schedules- If we want to leave early or come home late it isn't a problem. And huge for me is that when I'm tired, I don't feel like I have to be on my best behavior. My wife is used to me- she knows when I get tired I really don't like to make small talk and that I might just want to sit down and read for a while. I feel wierd doing that at people's houses in a way I don't feel in a hotel I share with my wife.

What we have done with guests here and what I think is a great option is recommend people breaking up their trips- stay in DC for the tourist stuff (I'll come in and join you for things that won't bore me to tears) and then build a day or two to come out and see us. That way when you are seeing us, you are seeing us. DC, like Disney, has so many things to do that you really need to stay for 4 or more days to even begin to scratch the surface so there is plenty of time involved. So if you can spare the time for your trip, do your primary Disney (or DC) tourist vacation and then tack on your family time somewhere along the lines.

[MammaSilva]

Being one of those who do both, stay with dear friends on some trips and hotels on others, I will say that for me when I'm staying with the friends, seeing them is my priority with the bonus of being within a reasonable drive to Disneyland. I've had the pleasure of being one of the few adults allowed to take 3 very special boys to the parks without their parents present and enjoy the time spent with the boys and knowing I'm giving mom a bit of a break at the same time. I think that being an Annual Passholder does make all the difference tho because we all know if something we wanted to do didn't happen we can do it next time, even Missy has that philosophy figured out. I don't think at WDW I'd want to stay off property with family or friends for the same reason AdrienneK didn't. I don't want to come home with any resentments only great memories.

[Jimbo996]

Staying with family and friends on vacation is equivalent to moving in with them. It usually doesn't work that well. Their homes are not designed as vacation lodges. They aren't always clean and you must do your share of household chores to avoid becoming a burden to them.

Don't presume it will work out. You have to negotiate the time period and the bedding. A guest should never take the room of family member. Sometimes, the guest will force a family member to move to the couch.

It is better to stay at a hotel.