Welcome to planDisney, Jill and thanks for stopping by with your question!
Jill, my grandmother lived in Florida and for years each trip to the
Walt Disney World Resort included a visit, so I appreciate this question. In the scenario you describe, you would have two separate reservations. While this does mean that you'll need to make sure to pack everything and completely check out of your room before visiting your family, the benefit is that you can experience a different resort when you return if you choose!
Trips like this are often perfect if you have been looking at a few different
Disney Resort Hotel options and can't decide. For example, maybe you want to stay at a resort on
the Disney Skyliner pathway but are also trying to be as budget-conscious as possible. You could begin your trip at
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort and then when you return check into
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. Some guests want to stay as close to each park as possible. In your situation, you could choose
Disney's Contemporary Resort with a walking path to Magic Kingdom Park and
Disney's Yacht Club Resort with walking access to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios! There are so many options!
Jill, no matter how you choose to split your vacation, I hope you have a fabulous time at the Most Magical Place on Earth and a delightful visit with your family. Please come on back to planDisney with any additional questions you might have.
Lauren