Family Group visiting DL

[itsatype]

I just joined the forum and first off, I'd like to thank everyone here for posting awesome advice, information and experiences ! Our entire extended family will be visiting DLR on 8/23 to 8/26 and staying at the PPH . We'll be 6 families, including grandparents, parents, kids, toddlers; in total about 30 people.

I'm wondering whether anyone has gone with a large group of all ages in the past, and what advice they can offer for experiencing DL & DCA in a manner that everyone has the best possible experience. Any advice and tips for the making of a smooth and magical trip are welcome!!!

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

I just joined the forum and first off, I'd like to thank everyone here for posting awesome advice, information and experiences ! Our entire extended family will be visiting DLR on 8/23 to 8/26 and staying at the PPH . We'll be 6 families, including grandparents, parents, kids, toddlers; in total about 30 people.

I'm wondering whether anyone has gone with a large group of all ages in the past, and what advice they can offer for experiencing DL & DCA in a manner that everyone has the best possible experience. Any advice and tips for the making of a smooth and magical trip are welcome!!!

We love going with family....our annual trip always includes my parents, siblings and their kids. My kids love being at DL with their cousins. While we spend a lot of time together, both on rides and at meal time, we also spend time apart. The 4 of us (me, DH and our kids) enjoy being by ourselves for part of the trip, as it is easier and faster to get around (there are less opinions about what to do with 4 people instead of 12). The first trip I felt a bit guilty when we were seperated, but not anymore.

Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Welcome to the Disboards!

I haven't been with that large of a group but we've gone a few times with a group of 10 people that were all different ages. One thing that we've done that has helped is to break up into smaller groups for the first few hours. I'm assuming you're planning on being there when the park opens? If you weren't planning that, you should. The first few hours are the best time to get in lots of rides before the big crowds come. What we've done with our larger group is break up into smaller groups, at least at park opening so that everyone can go to their highest priority thing first. So for the little ones we went to FL while the bigger kids went on space. We would all go together on rides like IASW and the DL Railroad.

And we would meet up for meals. You might have to do smaller groups with meals too though since that is quite a large group. Maybe you could try assigning different groups for each meal?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Disneyland is so huge it's easy to get scattered and not see everyone as much as you'd like. Cell phones are our friends for getting everybuddy to meet up somewhere. One thing our extended family did was to get together for dinner offsite. Restaurants were cheaper and food was often better, and there's so many restaurants to choose from. The families could take turns choosing where to eat, and for a large group like yours, make sure you make reservations ahead of time. Some of your group might not want to leave the parks for dinner. Perhaps you could all get together for breakfast at the PPH or elsewhere before the parks open. Aladdin is in a huge theatre and your group might want to see it together at an appointed time. It's a fun show for everyone, and it's air conditioned.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We went last summer with 10 of us.....ages 80 to twin 3 yr olds. We'd start every day as a group for rides & breakfast. We'd stay together until around noon time. At this time, we pre-arranged who would be on babysitting duty each day. Who ever was assigned that day, would take the twins back to the motel for their naps. Sometime's another 2 would take the 5 & 9 yr old back to play in the pool or we'd break up & allow the others to either do rides, see shows, go back to the motel for a nap/rest or shopping. We had a dinner ressie each night where we'd all gather back up together for. The twins would go back each night by 7:30/8pm for bed. Again people were able to do what they wanted.

We found with all the different ages, likes, dislikes, interests, etc that this allowed us quality time as a family but also time to play in the park in our own way & at our own speed.

Keeping the youngest on a schedule was a great way to keep them happy & prevent meltdowns from kids that are over tired, too hot, over stimulated, etc.

We did 2 meals a day & they were always together. We found spending time in the mornings worked out best as the crowds are lightest early in the day.

Have a great time on your upcoming trip!!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We did a family trip with 20 last summer. We actually stayed together most of the time, but I wouldn't suggest it. I like the idea of starting the day together and letting it go from there. Have an afternoon/evening meal or show to meet up at. One day we met up on Main Street for the parade, another day we did Aladdin together.... Meals were a bit more challenging, but we were able to easily get a reservation for Goofy's Kitchen. Be sure to call at 60 days out and you'll likely have to get a manager approval.

 

[itsatype]

Hey all! Thanks for the info. It looks like meals will definitely be spent together, and that the key is every family gets their alone time. Too much of a good thing, I guess....

 

[disneydreamer74]

My family is planning a big trip in Oct. and we have decided that the 2 seniors in the group will pretty much tour the park with me and my DD4 since we will be going on the same type of rides and all enjoy the shows and parades. My sister and her hubby will take the older kids/teens to tour the park at a faster pace and ride the more thrilling rides. We have set reservations for breakfast and dinners, which is when we will meet up again. And yes..Cell phones are a life saver!!

 

[cyclenut]

We did a family trip with 20 last summer. We actually stayed together most of the time, but I wouldn't suggest it. I like the idea of starting the day together and letting it go from there. Have an afternoon/evening meal or show to meet up at. One day we met up on Main Street for the parade, another day we did Aladdin together.... Meals were a bit more challenging, but we were able to easily get a reservation for Goofy's Kitchen. Be sure to call at 60 days out and you'll likely have to get a manager approval.

I second this view.

We met up with extended family and spent just a few hours together in the park. We were a group of 26 I think. We ate at Goofy's kitchen together, which was fine. But moving through the park in such a large group was difficult at best. Even finding room along the parade route for such a large group turns out to be a chore.

At the start of the day, decide who is going with whom. Meet for lunch and decide if you want to change it up some. Then meet one last time for dinner to decide who is going back to the hotel and when and who is going to stay for later into the evening. This mix and match approach has worked better for me with large groups.

Keep in touch with cell phones and make sure you have an "emergency" meet up spot designated.