Group Advice

[pgcmoo]

Hi everyone

We're DVC members and this year we're planning to take the extended family to WDW as it we will be celebrating a 40th and 60th birthday in 2012. There will be 10 of us in total across 3 generations. We have been many times before but never in a family group of this size and we're expecting reservations and planning to be a logistical nightmare!

Does anyone out there have any good hints and tips for planning with a group of this size or suggestions for things to do for all the family together?

Thanks

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Are you able to book your ADRs at 6 months out? If so, I would think that you would be able to reserve a few meals so you can all eat together.

I have never been with a large group but you see plenty around It may be good to arrange to meet some days in the evening for a meal so you can have some free time during the day if you want to do different things.

I have also read about Grand Gatherings before where you can arrange special events if you are touring with a larger party. Have you seen anything on this?

 

[pgcmoo]

Thanks for your reply Mrs D.

We're all going to be on the Deluxe Dining Plan. So we are planning to eat together in the Signature Restaurants most nights otherwise we will end up eating all day. We will be making reservations as soon as they're available which as you mention is 6 months prior although I have heard that some restaurants insist you call for large bookings - which sounds like a nightmare rather than using online bookings.

We had heard about the grand gatherings and were going to try the one in Epcot, can't remember it's name.

I think we will probably arrange to be in the same parks but split up as everyone will want to do different things. Although for one set of parents it will be their first visit so they may not feel confident enough to wander off on their own too much - whilst at the same time we dont want them to miss out on the big attractions which they may do if left to their own devices.

We're sure everyone will enjoy themselves but feel somewhat responsible for making sure they do!

We will just have to plan very carefully!

 

[Shazzie B]

Feeling your trepidation we're travelling in a group of 12 this year! However most have been to Disney before, our family of 4, friends family of 6, plus 2 partners of grown-up children (the 'newbies').

 

[Tinkerbellgal]

Hi there

I've never done a party of 10, 6 at most and that was difficult enough

You might be better to do multiple bookings, as I don't know many places that will sit parties of ten without moving tables, unless you sit through the phone and book and arrange with them that way.

I'd also recommend making a day to day itinerary with a list of what everyone would like to do that day, which means that everyone will know and in case of you all splitting up they won't be missing out on something they wanted to do.

I think the bottom line will be plan plan plan, but to be honest I feel that it's one of the best parts of the trip is planning what you'll do each day. Have fun!

 

[queendisney]

I know what you mean about feeling responsible for them enjoying themselves! We went as a party of 9 and like you it was across all generations. We were the only couple that had been before. We did ADR before hand for a few places and it worked out fine but we also just winged it a couple of times and although we had to wait for a while we managed to get seated together. We all split up a lot of the time and just met up for lunch in a CS restaurant...
Before we went I throw a Disney party so we could all sit down together and make sure we all knew what we wanted out of this holiday, ie the nephews wanted to do the water parks, others didn't etc and we sort of planned our days. We are not planners in general and just go with the flow, but when you have a larger party it needs to be done or you end up standing about trying to decide while you are there wasting time. Having said all this, it was the first and LAST time we did Disney in a large group.

 

[flortlebap]

Best advice I can give is have realistic expectations. Chances are youll all want to do different things and there will be a lot of arguments and compromises. I don't think I'd do a big family trip again - this time we are 7, which is enough