Anyone ever been with a large group?

[CrazyforDisney]

I go to WDW twice a year with my husband and now my son. I know WDW like the back of my hand in my sleep. But I am going to cross an issue, planning an itinerary for 7 adults and 4 kids 2 of the kids being only one. I need help. I am soooo used to planing for just adults. Its going to be me, husband, son,my best friend, her husband, his sister, my sister in law, her boyfriend, my nephew, and my two neices. HELP!

 

[mickey12810]

If you call Disney's Grand Gatherings at 1-407-939-7526 they are wonderful and can help you with all your questions. They can also book everything for you. They also have special events that only Grand Gatherings can take advantage of. We are going in July as a grand gathering (14 of us). We have booked 2 dinner events. One is a Safari dinner at AK and the other is an International Dinner at Epcot where you get a special seating for Illuminations. Cannot wait. Hope this helps.

 

[think tink]

last year we went as a group of 9. me, dh, 3 dds, mom, dad, uncle, and grandma. we made all kinds of plans before we left, but when we got there we probley kept half of them. it is hard to plan with that many people. everybody kind of wanted to see and do things at their own pace. for example my kids HATE epcot, but my mom and grandma spent hours there. and visa versa with magic kingdom. also traveling with 2 very young children will present its own challenges. my first suggestion would be to talk with your friend about what her kids normal schedules are and try to stick to them. i would also just make a very general schedule for which park you want to go to on which days and maybe a few meals. other than that have a great time and try not to fight with each other too much. lol. vacations have a way of doing that to people.

 

[CrazyforDisney]

I have to book three bedrooms. Goodness why do I have to do all the planning. I know its gonna be a blast but I am seeing $ $ in my eyes. LOL But I can't wait to see my neices face when she gets to see Cinderella.

 

[iloveokw]

We have done two BIG group trips - 15 people and 19 people. My recommendation is to stay onsite and use the buses. Plan on one or two dinners together and then let everyone do their own thing. I passed around WDW books and web sites to the adults going - not everyone likes the same things and also different budgets can cause problems. Just my two cents.

 

[MinMouse]

We have done two BIG group trips - 15 people and 19 people. My recommendation is to stay onsite and use the buses. Plan on one or two dinners together and then let everyone do their own thing. I passed around WDW books and web sites to the adults going - not everyone likes the same things and also different budgets can cause problems. Just my two cents.

Great advice. We've been to Disney many times. Usual crew is me, DH, 2DDs, GMa and Gpa. WE travel well together and everyone likes that I plan everything. A few years ago our group swelled to 14. Two of my cousins went along with spouses and kids, along with my aunt and uncle. Our first night in the park was for MVMCP. We did that as a group and had a ball but keeping 14 together --- very hard and very slow moving. We planned a few meals together and I printed an itinerary of what our family would be doing (our usual group of 6). That way everyone knew our plan . . .join us or not. Having been several times before I felt it went well. I know one of my cousin's wives was hoping we would spend more time together. But her kids didn't want to ride (big riders at my house). I didn't want my kids staying off rides because someone else wouldn't ride. Did one morning of that and had enough! To expensive a trip to not do what we like! It's fun to share the magic but remember to carve out some time for just your family! Have fun!

 

[MinMouse]

We have done two BIG group trips - 15 people and 19 people. My recommendation is to stay onsite and use the buses. Plan on one or two dinners together and then let everyone do their own thing. I passed around WDW books and web sites to the adults going - not everyone likes the same things and also different budgets can cause problems. Just my two cents.

Great advice. We've been to Disney many times. Usual crew is me, DH, 2DDs, GMa and Gpa. We travel well together and everyone likes that I plan everything. A few years ago our group swelled to 14. Two of my cousins went along with spouses and kids, along with my aunt and uncle. Our first night in the park was for MVMCP. We did that as a group and had a ball but keeping 14 together --- very hard and very slow moving. We planned a few meals together and I printed an itinerary of what our family would be doing (our usual group of 6). That way everyone knew our plan . . .join us or not. Having been several times before I felt it went well. I know one of my cousin's wives was hoping we would spend more time together. But her kids didn't want to ride (big riders at my house). I didn't want my kids staying off rides because someone else wouldn't ride. Did one morning of that and had enough! To expensive a trip to not do what we like! It's fun to share the magic but remember to carve out some time for just your family! Have fun!

 

[jimmalru80]

Our AAU basketball club is taking their 10 year old team to WDW on Sunday, and they recently made an ADR for 53 people!!!

 

[BlindTyldak]

I have to second making a few plans together and then everyone doing their own thing. we went for a Magical Gathering in 2004 with my mother and father (50's), myself (30 at the time) my DH (33), my sister (26) her DH (28) and four children (7, 5, 5, and 2). We would get together for a TS every day and made a couple of plans for specific things (enter the MK together for a group shot in front of the castle, Illuminations, a safari ride, etc.), but other than that we divvied up the kids amongst groups of people for whomever wanted to go back to the pool, or go on the thrill rides, etc. It worked out very well.

 

[MinnieGi]

We always seem to go with a group. We love it!!!!! Our groups have ranged from 8 to 30 people with all different age groups. We go with combinations of family and friends in a group trip. I am usually the lead group planner, but survey the group for activities they really want to do. People who have not been to WDW ever or in many years that are coming with us - I make sure they have ordered and watched the WDW planning kit. I also make sure they get a WDW guidebook and know the web addresses of several WDW trip sites.

For planning I schedule several meet-up meals during our vacation week. We usually do one or two character meals with everyone. This coming trip in July we are doing a HDDR night with the 5 families we are going with. We have done HDDR before with a group and it is always alot of fun. I make sure I print out a copy of all our group planned meals for each family attending along with any other group activities. Other group activities that we have done in the past are - BASS fishing trip, golfing, DTD shopping, Illuminations cruise, Marina time, JellyRolls, Fantasmic meet up times. I also make sure everyone knows my immediate families plans as anybody is welcome to join us but I encourage everyone to see what their family is really interested in.

It has always worked out really well for us. Our groups love meeting up and discussing their adventures and future plans over meals or other group meet-up times. It is always easiest and you see more of each other if you all stay at the same hotel, on-site preferably. However we have had groups going down all staying at different hotels and sometimes with some even staying off-site. All arrangements have worked. But all staying at the same resort really allows some impromptu swim/hot tub time together or a quick counter service meal or snack.

Feel free to ask any particular questions, I'd be happy to help.
Good luck!

 

[RedFamilyLuvDisney]

Is this group large enough for you?

There were 20 of us! 10 adults and 10 children. We didn't really had any problem since before we went to any park, we already know which ride to go to and where to go to lunch, dinner (ADR is the only way for this size of group) and even snacks time. We were never separated at all. And since we all agreed that the kids will get the first says where to go and what rides they want to do or try, the adults just sit back and enjoyed the day and ONE RULE... NO COMPLAINS! and we all have to agree on one thing, and we were there to have fun and that's what we did. Lots of planning and patience going on a group like this. My suggestion is ADVANCE RESERVATION (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

Have fun!!!

 

[CrazyforDisney]

Is this group large enough for you?

There were 20 of us! 10 adults and 10 children. We didn't really had any problem since before we went to any park, we already know which ride to go to and where to go to lunch, dinner (ADR is the only way for this size of group) and even snacks time. We were never separated at all. And since we all agreed that the kids will get the first says where to go and what rides they want to do or try, the adults just sit back and enjoyed the day and ONE RULE... NO COMPLAINS! and we all have to agree on one thing, and we were there to have fun and that's what we did. Lots of planning and patience going on a group like this. My suggestion is ADVANCE RESERVATION (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

Have fun!!!

Yeah I think thats a large group. My sister in law decided we will most likly stay with each other most of the time, but if there arises things that we want to do seperatly we will play by ear. I am soo excited to see my neices face when we do the princess breakfast or my nephews when he kicks my butt at the space ranger spin. i am really starting to get excited now as sept 13th will be my 24 birthday and i can't wait to advertise that to all of disney world....lol.

 

[Goofy4]

Our group had 6 adults and 7 kids. Like Think Tink, we planned everything. Then Wilma rolled through and the daily (if not hourly) plans fell apart (which was going to happen anyway because of different interests).

The major (mostly Grand Gathering) events then turned out to be the centerpieces around which everything else flowed. It worked well -- a major breakfast or evening event every day. Everyone was comfortable with that, and as it turned out, we were together most of the time.

We also rented DVC points and stayed in 2 2-bedroom villas at the Boardwalk. We were nervous about doing that, but it worked out very well. No complaints there anyway!

 

[KarenCPA]

We also recently went with a group of 11. I suggest checking into the 3 bedroom villas. They are available at most of the Vaction Club properties (OKW, Saratoga, Beach, Boardwalk, Wilderness, I think that's all). They give privacy because they do have three separate, distinct bedrooms, but there is a nice living room area and a nice, fully equipped kitchen to share. It is much easier to spend time with each other because of the living room.

You may gasp when you are quoted a price, but remember that you will be saving at least $100 a day on food (if you fix breakfast each day and some lunches and dinners in the kitchen vs. eating in a restaurant each meal).

Also, be patient, kind and calm. Large groups can be difficult sometimes, especially if you are not used to vacationing together. Good luck!

 

[homemaker]

We went as part of a group of 11 (5 children & 6 adults). I found out that not everyone moves at the same pace and grand gatherings are really not wheelchair friendly. It seemed like we had to split our group for parades and shows. They only allow a few people to go with the person in the wheelchair and the rest are on their own. How sad for my mother who wanted to take everyone to disney and she couldn't be with half of us. The other difficult thing was being in the parks as a group. We wanted to stay together and that made it hard to please everyone. I really feel like my boys didn't see/do anything. Meals went well since we had adr for everything. The Sci Fi in MGM was the only problem. They had clean cars and tables next to each other but refused to sit us next to each other. Just remember to make adr or it will be hard to seat a large party at the last minute. Also consider doing time apart in the parks to make sure everyone has a chance to see what they really like. Most of all have fun and enjoy!