Help!! Bit of more than I can chew? Grand Gathering

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

I posted this on another thread but hoped I could get some advice here too..


So my dear sweet Grandmother has decided to surprise the family this Christmas with a trip to Disney in September or October of 2008. She is paying for the tickets, hotel, and flights/cars. I have planned many successful trip for my family (DH, DS, DS) but never for so many.

Here is the Cast of Characters.

Myself
DH
DS9 - High Functioning Autism
DS6 - Sensory Processing Disorder
DD-14 months old (will be 2 when we go)

Mom (mine)
Sister 3
Sister 2
Sister 1
Nephew - PDD-NOS (Autism Spectrum)
Neice - Low Functioning Autism
Possibly sister 1's fiancee

As you can see, we have quite the little group. I have never planned for this many people before and I am wondering what the best way to plan this is. It is a definate must that we stay on site and I am trying to figure out what would be the best Resort and time for us.

Do they have connecting rooms that would run 3 across?

I know that the last few years running they have done the "free dining" is August and September..is there a solid time frame for that (a middle time that you know it will be offered)

For a party this large, am I better off paying for everything seperately and using a AAA discount or getting a package for everyone?

Any tips or help to keep me to as low of a cost would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks so much,

 

[rie'smom]

I posted this on another thread but hoped I could get some advice here too..


So my dear sweet Grandmother has decided to surprise the family this Christmas with a trip to Disney in September or October of 2008. She is paying for the tickets, hotel, and flights/cars. I have planned many successful trip for my family (DH, DS, DS) but never for so many.

Here is the Cast of Characters.

Myself
DH
DS9 - High Functioning Autism
DS6 - Sensory Processing Disorder
DD-14 months old (will be 2 when we go)

Mom (mine)
Sister 3
Sister 2
Sister 1
Nephew - PDD-NOS (Autism Spectrum)
Neice - Low Functioning Autism
Possibly sister 1's fiancee

As you can see, we have quite the little group. I have never planned for this many people before and I am wondering what the best way to plan this is. It is a definate must that we stay on site and I am trying to figure out what would be the best Resort and time for us.

Do they have connecting rooms that would run 3 across?

I know that the last few years running they have done the "free dining" is August and September..is there a solid time frame for that (a middle time that you know it will be offered)

For a party this large, am I better off paying for everything seperately and using a AAA discount or getting a package for everyone?

Any tips or help to keep me to as low of a cost would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks so much,

You could get 3 family suites at All Star Music. I would recommend because of the Autism issue(my friend coming on this trip is bringing her son who is autistic)staying at a less noisy resort. I think 3 cabins at Ft Wilderness would be great. It's quiet and you get away from the hustle and bustle.
Your family could stay in 1. I don't know how the rest of the group is divided-who has the other children, etc but 2 more cabins should work. You take busses to the parks or a boat to the MK.
We're staying at the Dolphin for 2 reasons:
1. We love it.
2. My friend feels that her son will do better in a quieter environment.

 

[pilgrimr]

First, The suites at All Star Music is nice. We stayed there and 6 people, is was nice but crowded. Another option that DVC villas have some that will sleep 12. Some people try and rent points from the board that is cheaper then getting them directly from Disney.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

First, The suites at All Star Music is nice. We stayed there and 6 people, is was nice but crowded. Another option that DVC villas have some that will sleep 12. Some people try and rent points from the board that is cheaper then getting them directly from Disney.

What an awesome idea, how do I go about doing that?

 

[KirstenB]

What an awesome idea, how do I go about doing that?

There's a DVC Rent/Trade Board right here on the DIS. We're DVC members and love it!! Our younger dd has mild ASD, and it's really nice for her to have a separate space to go to when we're back in the villa. Also, there are many off-site house/condo rentals.

With 11 people, I might rent 2 off-site houses right next to each other, if you could find them. As much as I love my DVC, they can't guarantee you rooms right next to each other. Your other choice with DVC and that many people is a Grand Villa. It has 3 bedrooms, and is really nice.

However, again, my concern for your group with 4 kids with special needs is that they get some space to have down time and regroup from all the wonderful stimulus that is WDW. Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful time!!

 

[don8life]

You should book as a grand gathering. It is for parties of 8 or more. You get to do special stuff. You can even order t shirts for your group with your "logo" or group name for like 20 bucks a piece.

We did this last november and had a blast. We rented cabins at fort wilderness, right next door to each other. We had an incredible time. The kids got to run back and forth between cabins. There is a barbarcue at each cabin. It was nice to just throw some hot dogs on the grill and spend some time around the camp ground. At night they have an outdor movie around a campfire. They sell stuff to make smores. I think that is what topped it for me.

I can't stand disney transportation. My little one has sensory disorder as well as a host of other problems and I just can't stand at the end of the day waiting in line to get back to the hotels. At the camp ground you drive your car right up to your cabin and walk right in. No finding parking and trudging through the lot with little ones(All stars). Or you can take a ferry right over to MK.

Golf Karts are a must and so much fun. We had golf cart races. There also is a nice buffett rest. with decent prices. I think it is trails end.

The cabin comes equipped with full kitchen.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

I think we finally figured it out. We will be doing an All Star Music suite and 1 preferred room (hopefully nearby). Seeing as we are on such a tight budget, we were going to do three value rooms, but then I found out we can do 6 (+ baby) in the suite, that leaves the 4 for the preferred room. This way, we will have a fridge, micro & coffee maker and a bit more elbow room for the kids (suite living room). We found the best rate through AAA.

I am hoping for the free dining to be offered for the time we are going down. I am trying to see when it has been offered on average for the last few years.

I think we are being booked as a grand gathering, which will open us up to booking one of the GG experiences.

 

[hematite153]

I think we finally figured it out. We will be doing an All Star Music suite and 1 preferred room (hopefully nearby). Seeing as we are on such a tight budget, we were going to do three value rooms, but then I found out we can do 6 (+ baby) in the suite, that leaves the 4 for the preferred room. This way, we will have a fridge, micro & coffee maker and a bit more elbow room for the kids (suite living room). We found the best rate through AAA.

I am hoping for the free dining to be offered for the time we are going down. I am trying to see when it has been offered on average for the last few years.

I think we are being booked as a grand gathering, which will open us up to booking one of the GG experiences.

Sounds like a plan. You may still want to consider a DVC rental.

If you rent points from a member you'll likely find that a 2bdrm plus a studio would give you even more space, plus a full kitchen so that you can have a few "like home" meals for about the same price. Plus, if you went to OKW or SSR, the "quiet" pools are generally quite calm and a nice break from the high energy of the parks (SSR even has a second themed pool that is often quiet). (I actually like All Star Music, but, I find the pool and preferred areas to be rather sensory overloading for me and I can't imagine how hard they must be for someone with sensory integration issues.)

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

Sounds like a plan. You may still want to consider a DVC rental.

If you rent points from a member you'll likely find that a 2bdrm plus a studio would give you even more space, plus a full kitchen so that you can have a few "like home" meals for about the same price. Plus, if you went to OKW or SSR, the "quiet" pools are generally quite calm and a nice break from the high energy of the parks (SSR even has a second themed pool that is often quiet). (I actually like All Star Music, but, I find the pool and preferred areas to be rather sensory overloading for me and I can't imagine how hard they must be for someone with sensory integration issues.)

With the exception of my niece, all of the boys have done exceptionally well at the All Stars. My boys have stayed at ASMo and Pop and my nephew/niece have stayed at ASMo. We are really trying to stay at a budget that my Grandmother has given me, and so far I am at $4100, for 7 nights, 1 suite, one preferred room and tickets for 8 days for 11 people. I am waiting to see what comes out over the spring/summer for deals in September. Like I said previously, I am praying for free dining but not counting on it.

So much has changed since we were there in May of 07 (when I was pregnant with my daughter). I have been researching the Grand gatherings as well as the Photo pass deal with the CD and the private photo sessions you can do at the different resorts. I want so much to make this a special trip for everyone, as we all live in 3 corners of the country, I am in GA, my sister is in LA, Mom and other 2 sisters (nephew/neice) are in New England. Mom hasn't had us all together in years and my sister brought her kids to Disney last year and it was nothing short of DISASTEROUS!!(not due to the kids but to her ex husband that she brought along so he wouldn't miss out on the kids seeing Disney for the first time and he was awful to her and them, very short tempered and no paitence or understanding for Autism and what the kids go through). DH, kids and I have always had such wonderful trips, I swear it's like their ASD takes a vacation as well. They have so much fun and are so excited. This will also be my daughters first trip (she will have just turned 2), so there is just a lot of self imposed pressure to make it as enjoyable and stress free trip for my family.

 

[cmwade77]

Also remember, because it is a grand gathering you will get a planner to help with the trip, be sure to use them to the fullest. If you feel like that may not be enough help, use a travel agent, there are many good Disney ones and they are free to you, I know ours takes the virtually all of the stress out of the trip, she even takes care of all of our ADRs, tour bookings, etc.

 

[cisnbabsn8]

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