Family of 6 traveling with extras

[Pixeldust Fairy]

Just a fun question for everyone. I am traveling with my family of 6 to WDW in July. My Brother his family, my Mom and her husband have all decided to join us. Question. Would you go for broke and do disney in style or would you be modest and just enjoy the time with your family? I am in a funny situation, because I did not anticipate them joining us, our ADR's have already been made. This was supposed to be our last hurrah before our DS17 graduates. Other family members decided that it was a good idea to join us. This is our first Family vacation with all the characters in tow. I am really excited about this trip. We have 2 nights that we can do something big especially since we will be celebrating DD birthday. Any suggestions for a party of 13? I was thinking maybe the Grand Gatherings fireworks excursion?Any suggestions are welcomed.

 

[jenseib]

I'm not sure what you mean being going broke and going in style as opposed to moderate. Do you have accomadations already? ARe you staying onsite? Some people can go broke just staying at a Value. LOL! I would say I would stick with your origional plans, and if you extended family wants to join then you can add them on to your ADR's if you want, but I would still do a night or 2 without them as well. My DH would actually be mad if my family decided to join us! It is supposed to be our time and my family can be "bossy" at times.
I would also do what you want and have planned with maybe 1 or 2 big things to top it off. But I think you can have fun without blowing a ton of money too. To me being there is great in it's self!

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

I'm not sure what you mean being going broke and going in style as opposed to moderate. Do you have accomadations already? ARe you staying onsite? Some people can go broke just staying at a Value. LOL! I would say I would stick with your origional plans, and if you extended family wants to join then you can add them on to your ADR's if you want, but I would still do a night or 2 without them as well. My DH would actually be mad if my family decided to join us! It is supposed to be our time and my family can be "bossy" at times.
I would also do what you want and have planned with maybe 1 or 2 big things to top it off. But I think you can have fun without blowing a ton of money too. To me being there is great in it's self!

I didn't mean go broke, Im just talking about having more sitdown meals, character meals, maybe scheduling a eveing fireworks cruise. I dont do debt so while we are staying at CSR I have budgeted and gotten the most for my money. I am also pretty inventive with raising money. I raised 3000.00 for last years trip between March and the end of June. I just think that with such a big group of people gathering at one time we should try to make a bang of it. I dont know if we will ever get the opportunity to go and be together like this again and I want to make it memorable.

I agree that we will be spending time alone with my 6 family memebers. After all it is our vacation too. My extended family is not staying as long as we are either so that gives us some family alone time. I was just looking for input as to what you or other Dis memebers would do in this situation.

 

[beccalines]

I say, if you like being with your family and can afford it, do the whole nine yards. Personally, I don't want to do Disney with in laws. To much trouble.

Feel free to pass on some of those tips on "raising money". I'd love to go to Disney sooner.

 

[jenseib]

No Doubt!! Pass the tips on raising money!!


Are you doing the dining plan?

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

No Doubt!! Pass the tips on raising money!!


Are you doing the dining plan?

No I'm not on the dining plan, I found that last year I did much better just paying for it with out the whole package deal.

We had convention rates at a moderate, convention discount PH tickets, and I got an amazing deal on flights. We did a dinner show, and 2 character meals last year and still had money when we came home.

Now about the money raising, I am the female version of " A Jack of all Trades" If I put my mind to it, I have convinced myself I can do anything. I give that credit to my mother. Any way
Since my son was traveling to compete at a tournament we had a few sponsors that sponsored him alone for his portion of the trip. As for my portion of this disney trip
Lets see

I sold fresh home made tortillias
I dj'ed a few dances
My son sold breakfast burritos at school in the morning, and I went to local drycleaners, offices etc and sold them there. They called me Burrito Lady
We sold candy from the fund raiser kit at Sams
I took photographs of kids that couldnt afford Sr. pictures from the school.
My boys did lemonaid stand. We had a garage sale. I made enchilada dinners and sold them. My boys cleaned alleys for neighbors, I just got creative. I made the boys help raise money also because after all we are a family and a family works together.right
I knew that we did not have the funds to take a trip of this nature and when my son's coach said he would sponsor a portion of his expenses to go to this tournament, I had to get busy to cover my portion. It would have been a huge dissapointment if he didn't get to go because of that. We raised 3000.00 in just 4 months with a whole lot of work. It wasn't easy but it can be done with enough blood sweat and tears. This year we are going again for tournament and we are in full fundraising mode. Hoping to raise 3000.00 again

 

[beccalines]

I'm very impressed!!!

 

[Pixeldust Fairy]

I'm very impressed!!!

thanks I appreciate your nice comment.

 

[jenseib]

I thought you were just raising mone yfor yourselves. So you were doing fundraiser stuff. I can see that. It is alot of work though. You are a very dedicated person.