Family trip - for 26 during Christmas Week!

[Betty X]

A friend of mine is going to WDW with her family (age range from 2-72 or so). She has never been and neither has anyone in her family. They are all Canadian.

They would like to rent a house (or two?) close to Disney. They are going on a cruise (I don't think it's a Disney Cruise) for 4 days and at Disney for 3 days during the week between Christmas and New Year's 2005.

Where do they start and what should they do?

Any words of advice?

My husband and I have been going every year since 1999 (without children). This has me stumped because I consider myself a pro at Disney but I just can't come up with any really good advice for her!

Please help!

 

[jlcbshaw]

First things first, if they have access to a computer, get some of them on the DISboards. They will most likly have a ton of questions themselves. Show them how to get around and search and ask questions.

Second, RESEARCH is the key, someone needs to kind of know what they must ride, what they want to ride and what they could skip, because as many know, the time that they are going to be visiting is usually very, very busy.

Third, they need to know and understand the FastPass system and how to get from park to park (Monrail, bus, etc.) and defintaly have a plan. If at all possible, try not to bounce back and forth across the park (unless they have a FP), it is useful to "do" the rides as they come to them.

Fourth, and most important, unless they are planning on spending more than one day in each park, they need to know that they WILL NOT be able to do everything, that is why the research and planning is so important.

The hardest thing in planning for a group is the differences in ages and likes and dislikes. The most family that I have taken down is 13, and although it was nice, some of the nicest times where those where we kind of split up and went our own ways so that everyone could really do and see what they wanted to see.

Best of luck!