Feb. 13, 2013. Too soon???? Nah! Let's do it!!

[Pumba's Truth]

Ok so we were just at WDW for a brief stay with my DS10.

Grandad (my dad) has decided that he would like to get family together for his 65th birthday at Disney. This isn't until Feb. 13, 2013, so we have some time. But in order for eveyone to save the funds necessary it's time to the prelim work.

So the idea here is that immediate family is to be invited and extended family (nieces/nephews and their kids) will be informed of a family reunion type thing.

Kinda scary.

Large Group = 20 - 37!
Can it be done? You betcha!
HOW?!? I haven't a friggen clue

The numbers kind of roll out like so:

Adults (18+): 24
Kids (10-17): 5
Child (2-10): 7
Infant (0-2): 1

That is of course if eveyone goes - it cosists of a total of 12 couples/families so potentially 12 seperate rooms.

Has anyone ever looked at a group this size? Do y'all think it would be possible to get a group discount from Disney for this number of rooms? Thoughts, experiences, suggestions???

Thanks.

I'll be adding back as more information comes available.

I've already looked at the Grand Gathering information about different events for larger groups, and we will most likely take advantage of these options once we our numbers firm up.

 

[mickimousemama]

I'm anxious to follow along your PTR, I was searching out Grand Gatherings for large groups, and how ironic that in November 2012, we are doing a family reunion... on my dad's 65th birthday LOL! Our group will not be quite as big as yours, however it will be the first time that my entire family will be together... EVER!! Here is our crew...

10 adults,
3 over ten kids (16, 14, & 13)
4 3-9 yr olds (9, 7, 7, & 3)
2 (or 3) babies, one due this comming April, one due this comming August, and one planned for summer of 2012 LOL

I've only been to Disney once, and I went with a friend who planned everything, She knows alot of Disney, but I learned that our oppinions differ alot on that trip We were "at" disney for 5 days and only went to MK two times, spent 1 day at DTD, one at sea world, and one at the pool, we stayed at SSR.

My one SIL is a HUGE Disney Nut, they have been to DL countless times and their family of 4 has made two trips to WDW and we are the organizers of our trip. So far we have dates set, and a short list of places we want to eat, and a few things we want to do. We will be celebrating aLOT on the trip, my nieces 16th bday, My dad's 65th, my SIL's 29th, My husband and I's anniversary...

We are going to sign up for Grand Gathering, but not sure what all we will do, we really want to do Tony's the morning of Dad's birthday.
With 5 families going we need to figure out what will work best for everyone, SIL's family will not be staying with the rest of us, as they have a specific room they want, and two of us have 5 or more in our family which isn't allowed, so we are looking at either POR, or renting DVC points to stay at AKL, or All Star Music and putting parents in a room with a couple grand kids, otherwise they will be staying in their Semi (they are truck drivers, and on a previous trip met up with my Bro and SIL's family and Disney said they were fine to keep the truck parked in the hotel's parking lot, so that is where they stayed.

It's going to be crazy fun!!

 

[Pumba's Truth]

So first emails went out last week. Wednesday to be exact.

It only took until Saturday for a phone call letting me know that I may have ticked people off.

Oh well, nothing that a follow up email, a half a dozen phone calls and some pride swallowing didn't fix.

In any case, I sent out another email to additional family members that are invited to go, but not necessarily all involved in the preliminary planning process. I've yet to hear back from any of them, but I suppose I've probably alienated them as well by not including them in the first email.

Sweeet.

I dunno, with the possibility of there being 36 people across 13 families going to this (not including children under 3). I'm getting a little nervous about trying to handle all the personalities.

It's really funny to be honest with ya. I sent the first email to my dad's siblings and his kids, as well as his mother. This kind of being the core group to filter information through - for example my cousins could talk with my aunt & uncle and then we can all come up with a few selections to then pass along for voting/discussing.

But, I guess more folks might want to be involved in the decisions. Honestly, I think that would be too many cooks in the kitchen. Maybe I should re-visit it and open it up to eveyone and get a representitive from each group. That may still be about 10 people making decisions.

Sorry for the ramble. But any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers.