extended family trips - what do you like to do??

[slk537]

In 2008, we'll be going on our first trip ever with people other than just the three of us. It'll be my brother, SIL, niece, nephew, DH, DS, and my dad and his soon to be new wife (who we all like very, very much). We have three rules:

1. Thou shalt not stay in the same rooms: DH, DS and I will be in one resort/room, Dad and wife will be in another, and DB and DSIL, et al will be in their own as well.
2. Thou shalt plan group events to spend time together.
3. Thou shalt plan much alone time with own family as well.

Other than the fact that we will be going in June or July (gaaaack!!!!), we are very excited about this. I want to plan Magical Gathering events, dinners, afternoon tea for the ladies only while the men hit ESPN, adult time with the kids at the Neverland Club (ages 6, 8, and 10), adult time with DB and DSIL while grandparents take the kids to dinner, etc.

So for those of you who have gone with groups - what fun things did you do?

I have 2 years to plan, but I'm a DIS planner so you know I can use all the time I can get

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We go EVERY year with the extended family.
2) There are up to 19 of us each February.
3) The general rules are
. . . the group eats the daily scheduled group breakfast or dinner together
. . . everyone starts at the same park, and stays at least 4-hrs
. . . all must meet at the designated times and places
. . . purchases/charges to rooms must be settled at dinner or breakfast
. . . individuals can break from the agenda, as long as they notify others
. . . breakaways must be in groups of 2-3 minimum

 

[DVCisME]

I would recommend Chef Mickey and Hoop Dee Doo Revue.

 

[kaybird]

We also have one meal scheduled together a day. Next summer we plan on all touring epcot on the segways (this trip we have one too large to take advantage, no flames, he's just a big guy!) We also like to do the family raft ride at BB as a large group or two, just great fun! Another great group activity was the movies at the campground and somemores, What fun!!

 

[RyMickey]

I would agree with a lot of what the RustyScrupper said. Every third time we go to WDW it's with a group of 14+.

- Set the ground rule at the very beginning that "Just because we separate, doesn't mean we don't love each other." Our first trip with many people, my grandmother got so upset that we wanted to go our separate ways. The second trip was much better when we told her that we would be separating from the get-go.

- We do plan (generally) for one sit-down meal a day. We don't do the dining plan because we feel like we don't eat enough as a whole to justify that. Still, there are times when this deviates -- for example, the girls going to Cindy's for lunch and the guys going to ESPN.

- We generally plan to start the day together. If we start at AK, we'll be there together for several hours, come back to the pool and then possibly separate for the evening. With our group, many don't like to do EMH evenings, but our family of 5 does. We'll often separate for that.

- We generally plan to be together the most at the beginning of the trip and then have more alone time towards the middle and then plan more things together at the end.

- With this many people, you've got to have a plan as to what is high on the list for people to see. If Fantasyland is important, you've got to get there for am EMH (You can literally get almost every ride done by 9:30am if you do this -- even during the summer). Even if your group is more "night-oriented," get up and go in the morning, leave the park by 2pm, nap, and then head back at night.

- With a group that size, I'd recommend the Fantasmic dinner package. True, the seats aren't the best in the stadium, but I think the view is just fine. Plus, you won't have to wait in line during the hot summer months hours ahead of time. However, if you're night owls, the second show of Fantasmic has never been crowded for us (in June, July, or August). If you arrive 20 minutes early to that one, you should be fine.

- Be willing to separate in the parks -- even if you're planning to all go to MGM one day, realize that some will want to do Playhouse Disney, while others will want to do ToT. Try to plan it so that while someone is on ToT, the others can be watching Playhouse Disney (for example). This way little ones don't get bored waiting for the big ones to get off the rides and big ones don't roll their eyes at Playhouse Disney.

Big groups are fun...but it can get tiring. Just try not to get in a fuss about anything and remember that you are there to have fun.

 

[dbenlee]

Make sure you get several group pictues together. Use Photopass of get another tourist to use your camera, but make sure you get several and even get them at different locations. These photos can be great souviners. We did this with my parents this summer and really love the group photo.