GOING CRAZY!! Ahhhhhh ANYBODY help!!

[lilbrimomma]

Well, my name is Ashley! I am 26 years old and Married to a wonderful, HARD working man named Brian (aka- B.A.) We have a silly little 4 year old boy also named Brian (aka- Bri).
B.A and I had our first visit to Disney world in March of 2012 for our honeymoon!! Neither of us had ever even been to Florida!! I grew up in Ohio, and my husband was born and raised in West Virginia where we now live.
We stayed at the POP and LOVED it!! Ever since we left, I have been dying to go back and take our son!
So now we are planning a Disney trip for Sept 2014 Our son will be 5 by then and he REALLY wants to ride a roller coaster, so we are hoping he LOVES them because both me and his dad also LOVE rollercoasters!
We plan to stay at the Art of Animation and are thinking of the nemo suites! Bri has looked at the rooms online with me and although he is a cars fan he REALLY loves the Nemo rooms! We were thinking Sept 1-8 BUT then remembered that is Labor day week! So we're aiming for Sept. 8-15! and we will be adding the Disney quick service dining plan. We had that on our honeymoon and did very well with it!
NOW, for the GOING CRAZY Part. My mom and Dad have been together 30 years but NEVER married! So they are planning to get married next year, and you guessed it!!!! THEY NEED a honeymoon!! And they have never been to Disney, So they thought maybe they should tag along with us! BUT WAIT!! There is MORE!! My older brother(James) lives at home with my mom and dad and his 4 year old son (Aiden) also lives there. So my mom says she would like to take Aiden along! WELL James thinks that if Aiden is going then HE should be the one taking Aiden because neither of them have ever been to Disney! WELL now! Aiden's mom (Devin) would like to go too and she has an older son (Carter). NOBODY will Let me know how they want to do the room's or if they want to stay in a cheaper hotel or what! NONE of them have ever been there so they really don't know much, BUT geez!!
We have also been thinking it might be better to drive back and forth between the hotel and the parks, It was hard enough getting just us two on the buses to the parks, let alone all 10000000000 of us or however many is going!
NOW, what I am wondering is:
should we just get one package (tickets, dining, room,etc.) for all of us? or should we just do us three and my mom and dad their own and James and Devin and the kids their own?

How are the lines and weather the second week of September?

If some of us stay at AoA and others stay at POP can we all go swimming at either place? I know there is a walkway to connect the two!

OK, sorry for the rambling but now I nee your HELP!! any help on any situation will be helpful! as I think of more questions I will ask!! Thank you for listening

 

[darnheather]

For that many people you may considering renting a house off property. You can not share swimming pools at each other's resorts. If they can't give you firm answers book your own trip and let them book their trips separately.

 

[Happyjen27]

When we went in December we booked our own trip. MIL/FIL booked their own trip. SIL/BIL booked their own trip. We linked the reservations so we had a higher chance of getting connecting and adjoining rooms.

When you book all one reservation, I think the payment on all rooms would be expected from one person, and that would just be a pain to coordinate. If everyone has their own reservations, everyone can handle their own payments.

You will be able to book dining for everyone in your party even when you're not on the same reservation.

I am not sure about the pool hopping from one resort to another.

I hear that the lines are short in later Sept once you get well past Labor day.

 

[angelmom27]

To help you from stressing and ruining your time with your DH and DS I would tell everyone to do their own reservations. Even going to the parks as a big group can be fun but not sure how well everyone gets along there maybe times you all would like to do your own thing. Even when I went with my cousin and the family for a birthday party we would split up and do different things and then meet up and do stuff together.

For the rooms maybe your mom and dad could stay at the LM section and then your brother and his GF would like to stay in a suite too and have the extra room. You guys can meet up in the morning at the bus stop or some place else. We are a family of 9 and didn't have any problems with the busses. We had us the kids and 2 double strollers. We did wait a couple of times for the next bus so we wouldn't have to stand.

According to the crowd calenders sept is a good month for low crowds.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Pool hopping...only allowed within "sister" resorts. So, the All Stars or the Port Orleans. I think BLT at Contemporary can use the CR pool, but not the other way around.

If swimming together is a big deal, choose to do a waterpark day <or> of course same resort <or> as pp stated, offsite condo/home.

As for the packages, let each family pay their own. You and your family have already made your plans, so go with it. If the honeymooners want to go, let them make their own hotel, tickets and dining. As well as the others. You could offer to make the large group ADR (if you are sure you want that responsibility..don't forget to cancel those held by cc), but they need to tell you their preferences by a certain date.

I was planning a similar trip and at first it was hair pulling because we were trying to please ever person. The grandparents wanted to eat all meals together and stand in every line (don't want to ride that coaster, but we wouldn't want to be apart for a minute)...Then I found an article on passporters about planning for a group. As soon as I said every person was responsible for their own, everything went from demands to just coordinating meeting times.

 

[Zooshoveller]

I would let each core family plan their own details, but I would offer to help. Grandparents may want to splurge on a deluxe, brother may want to stay off site, etc.

 

[detarica]

As long as you stay at the same hotel, they can "link" individual reservations to each other, so that they are placed near each other at the resort. Having been my family's travel agent for the past 10 years, I can tell you that this works best when people make their own plans and then invite each other to join on a "no pressure" basis. Send out the places that you would like to eat and then ask people to let you know if they would like to join you so you can put them on the reservation. Remember with that many people that it is important to give people the freedom to do their own thing and don't try to make everyone happy...its your vacation. Do what makes you happy and invite everyone to join you.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

Sounds like a total hot mess!! Luckily, I've never had to experience this. My DH's family is not really into Disney and my own family likes Disney but they don't go out of their way to take trips there.

Book your trip as you planned. Let everyone know what you have chosen to do and offer to help them book theirs if they so choose. But by no means, take charge and do everything! You will want to stay home if you're dealing with the chaos of planning a trip for almost 10 people after all is said and done.

I've been twice in September and both times went the 3rd week of the month. The 1st time the weather was comfortable and the lines were short. This was in 2002. We went again 4 years later in 2006 and it was scorching hot with temps in the 90's but felt like it was over 100 and the lines were longer than I expected them to be. After that trip, we said we weren't going during that time again. The next time I go in the Fall, I will go the 2nd or 3rd week of Oct. We had a blast when we went the 1st week of December 4 years ago. The weather was wonderful - in the low to mid-80's almost the entire week and the crowds were almost non-existent.

 

[Crazie4daMouse]

In 2006, we took my husband's family for Christmas. Parents, grandparents, brother and his family, along with my hubby, myself, and our 2 kids. We came back with a LOT of hurt feelings. My hubby and I had planned the entire trip because we are major planners and no one gave any input. We made all the reservations including dining. We got one package with the dining plan. Oh, and we also bought MVMCP tickets. As it turned out, every family wanted to do something different each day and we didn't spend much time together at all except for meals, which we had reservations for, and then they all complained about the times for the meals, the restaurant and the food. It was a nightmare. We had asked them several times prior to the trip if they had any preferences on what we did or where we ate and was always told, "whatever you all think is great with us!". Not so much...

My suggestion to you is to make the reservations, but separately and put them in their names (this way you won't have to worry if they got the right hotel and package) and send them the information. I would definitely let everyone do their own thing for most of the trip, you can meet up at specific places at specific times, like at the front of the castle steps an hour before a parade or something like that, so you will still get to experience the special things as a family. I would also have everyone get together and decide what type of dining and where you want to go BEFORE you make reservations. Everyone may not want a character meal or not want to go to a table service restaurant at all.

We went a couple of years prior to the 2006 trip with another family who has 5 children. The trip was great because we all planned it together and didn't leave it all up to either family, that way everyone had a say in what we did. Don't go with the expectation that everyone is just going to go holding hands, skipping down main street, because it's probably not gonna happen. You absolutely CAN go and have a great time with your family, I would just keep the expectation that everyone is going to stay together, be happy, and get along great the entire trip to a minimum. When you have that many people together there are bound to be differences of opinion about some things and if you aren't responsible for all the planning (which is a HUGE job for that many people), it won't bother you near as much.

 

[lilbrimomma]

For that many people you may considering renting a house off property. You can not share swimming pools at each other's resorts. If they can't give you firm answers book your own trip and let them book their trips separately.

I might bring that up to the others to think about! WE will be for sure staying at the AoA.. My little guy is set on them Nemo room

 

[lilbrimomma]

When we went in December we booked our own trip. MIL/FIL booked their own trip. SIL/BIL booked their own trip. We linked the reservations so we had a higher chance of getting connecting and adjoining rooms.

When you book all one reservation, I think the payment on all rooms would be expected from one person, and that would just be a pain to coordinate. If everyone has their own reservations, everyone can handle their own payments.

You will be able to book dining for everyone in your party even when you're not on the same reservation.

I am not sure about the pool hopping from one resort to another.

I hear that the lines are short in later Sept once you get well past Labor day.

I'm thinking the booking our own trips for each family sounds GREAT!!! If we could get our rooms next to each other that would be great! I will look into that!! I don't think we will do reservation dining and just stick with the quick service and kind of go at our own pace and not worry about being somewhere at a certain time! THANK YOU for your input!

 

[lilbrimomma]

To help you from stressing and ruining your time with your DH and DS I would tell everyone to do their own reservations. Even going to the parks as a big group can be fun but not sure how well everyone gets along there maybe times you all would like to do your own thing. Even when I went with my cousin and the family for a birthday party we would split up and do different things and then meet up and do stuff together.

For the rooms maybe your mom and dad could stay at the LM section and then your brother and his GF would like to stay in a suite too and have the extra room. You guys can meet up in the morning at the bus stop or some place else. We are a family of 9 and didn't have any problems with the busses. We had us the kids and 2 double strollers. We did wait a couple of times for the next bus so we wouldn't have to stand.

According to the crowd calenders sept is a good month for low crowds.

Everybody gets along for the most part I thought about maybe doing two suites, we have no problem staying with my parents in the same room. But then again they may want their own room .. My parents are REALLY limited on money so we thought maybe if they stayed in our room it would be a little cheaper? I'm not sure I will have to look into that more.. We might try the buses and see how they go, yea we hated standing and sometimes being separated on the bus.. Thank you for helping!!

 

[lilbrimomma]

Pool hopping...only allowed within "sister" resorts. So, the All Stars or the Port Orleans. I think BLT at Contemporary can use the CR pool, but not the other way around.

If swimming together is a big deal, choose to do a waterpark day <or> of course same resort <or> as pp stated, offsite condo/home.

As for the packages, let each family pay their own. You and your family have already made your plans, so go with it. If the honeymooners want to go, let them make their own hotel, tickets and dining. As well as the others. You could offer to make the large group ADR (if you are sure you want that responsibility..don't forget to cancel those held by cc), but they need to tell you their preferences by a certain date.

I was planning a similar trip and at first it was hair pulling because we were trying to please ever person. The grandparents wanted to eat all meals together and stand in every line (don't want to ride that coaster, but we wouldn't want to be apart for a minute)...Then I found an article on passporters about planning for a group. As soon as I said every person was responsible for their own, everything went from demands to just coordinating meeting times.

No, swimming isn't really a big deal for us. I just don't want my nephew to miss out on the fun at AoA. I think my son and nephew would have more fun at the AoA pools and play area's than any of the other's.. and I know that POP runs a little on the cheaper side than the AoA and I knew that they had a walkway that connected the two , so i wasn't sure how the pools went. But if No pool hopping is allowed then maybe we will try to get us all in at the AoA. Yea I think that is our problem too! Trying to please everyone and reading all your guys' comments, now makes me realize that isn't possible! I'm thinking if we book our trip soon, we can just tell them " Our trip is booked, if you would like to come be a part of it with us then here is the number to our agent" THANK YOU for helping

 

[lilbrimomma]

I would let each core family plan their own details, but I would offer to help. Grandparents may want to splurge on a deluxe, brother may want to stay off site, etc.

Yes! I think that is best also! I will be going up to Ohio next weekend (where all of them live) and hopefully we can talk about it more and get it all figured out!! THANK YOU

 

[1000HappyWishes]

Have everyone do their own reservations. It will give them their space and privacy and also prevent anyone from going insane!

Also, you are all going to Disney at the same time, true, but I recommend spending time apart as well. It's going to be a very magical trip for your family, because of your son. I say plan a few days together, and plan a few days apart. Say "Well, on this day we will all go to the Magic Kingdom, all together." And ten on the next day say "Anybody can go to whatever park they want today, and separate." Ypu'll go crazy if you don't spend time away from each other! And then perhaps the next day, do this. "We'll all go to Epcot together, and we can break off, but we will meet at this place at this time for dinner."

 

[lilbrimomma]

As long as you stay at the same hotel, they can "link" individual reservations to each other, so that they are placed near each other at the resort. Having been my family's travel agent for the past 10 years, I can tell you that this works best when people make their own plans and then invite each other to join on a "no pressure" basis. Send out the places that you would like to eat and then ask people to let you know if they would like to join you so you can put them on the reservation. Remember with that many people that it is important to give people the freedom to do their own thing and don't try to make everyone happy...its your vacation. Do what makes you happy and invite everyone to join you.

THANK YOU!! I think this is the way we're gonna go!!

 

[lilbrimomma]

I've been twice in September and both times went the 3rd week of the month. The 1st time the weather was comfortable and the lines were short. This was in 2002. We went again 4 years later in 2006 and it was scorching hot with temps in the 90's but felt like it was over 100 and the lines were longer than I expected them to be. After that trip, we said we weren't going during that time again. The next time I go in the Fall, I will go the 2nd or 3rd week of Oct. We had a blast when we went the 1st week of December 4 years ago. The weather was wonderful - in the low to mid-80's almost the entire week and the crowds were almost non-existent.

We are hoping with labor day being over and no other holiday's happening except Patriot's day on 9-11, and with school being in, that lines and crowds shouldn't be too long! My son isn't going to do the long lines to well!! THANK YOU!!

 

[LynnTH]

Since you are the planner and have been there. I think it would be a good idea to price out everything individually for each family. Show them the price of the room (or rooms - you can give them different options). Show them the price of tickets (with and with out park hopper and waterparks if you want). And price of the dining plans. Then let everyone make their own decisions.

I think staying on property and taking the busses with that many people would be your best bet. That way everyone can come and go at different times and don't have to depend or wait on other families. When we went with other families we would always go together in the mornings and maybe do a few things together and then split up and meet for lunch or dinner or parade or something - that's the good thing about cell phones...

 

[jess1662]

We are hoping with labor day being over and no other holiday's happening except Patriot's day on 9-11, and with school being in, that lines and crowds shouldn't be too long! My son isn't going to do the long lines to well!! THANK YOU!!

Actually, the week after Labor Day (from Tuesday on) have some of the lowest crowds all year. In our experience, the lines usually get longer the later in September it gets. Granted, they are September lines, so they're not particularly bad at any point.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

This spells disaster. Make your own ressies, give them the Disney number, or a TA. Everyone is going to have different budgets and expectations. Maybe you want to get the same days or there about's making plans for lunch at one park one day, dinner another day..

Pass around when you get there approx times you will be leaving for a bus to the parks and which park. Other then that your not going to want to wait for nine people to meet up.
Even if my sons family goes with us, we meet for lunch and dinner if at same park, but we do Disney differently. He is a late EMH person until 1:00am, we get to bed by 10:00pm for early EMH.

I am betting one by one they will back out...you should give your Mom a cruise brochure and sell them on the most relaxing, entertaining, best free meals of their life.