Help! Planning Grand Gathering-Any advice?

[HDJA]

How in the world do you plan a WDW trip for 11 people (6 adults and 5 kids ages 7 yrs. to 15 yrs.)? Out of the 11, my family and I are the only ones who have been to WDW and I am a total organizational freak when it comes to planning. I love for every detail to be planned out. Here's the deal: my family of 4 and my bro-in-law's family of 5 are totally different vacationers. (My mother and father in-law don't really care what we do). We are up and at 'em, adventurous and go, go, go while my bro-in-laws family takes their time (esp. in the morning), strolls along, and flies by the seat of their pants. I had to convince them that ADR's were absolutely necessary for WDW!! If it were up to me, I'd have everything lined up by now (our 90 days is coming up March 21), but now I am having to wait on them to come up with their dining ideas. They don't think about which park they'll be in and to make their dining plans accordingly. It is absolutely driving me crazy! I've sent them emails with ideas, but I'm afraid they think I'm being pushy and planning their trip for them. Any ideas on how to handle this?

Also, has anyone done the Good Morning Character B'fast for Grand Gatherings?

 

[koolaidmoms]

We do a Grand Gathering for 10 every year. Some of the things we do:

- Plan together time with the large group and separate family time. Too much togetherness makes everyone cranky.

- Remember to get your family group together for pictures (usually best first thing in the morning while everyone is awake and clean!) in the parks.

- Don't try to eat every meal together but maybe one meal a day. Buffets and family style work great for us because they can generally seat us if not together at least near each other. Having that large of a group they will generally seat you in 2 or 3 groups if you are in some of the regular restaurants.

- You mentioned your family was up and DB's family tended to sleep in then maybe meet for a late lunch and a few rides before everyone separates for awhile.

- If they are planning their own meals not with you and really don't want to make ADR's you let them go and hope for the best. You can't do it all for them. You can suggest, implore, explain the implications if they don't plan but in the end it is up to them. They will learn.

- HAVE FUN! Utilize the Grand Gatherings people to plan special things like the Illuminations cruise. They are very helpful.

Hope this helps some.

 

[a1tinkfans]

How in the world do you plan a WDW trip for 11 people (6 adults and 5 kids ages 7 yrs. to 15 yrs.)? Out of the 11, my family and I are the only ones who have been to WDW and I am a total organizational freak when it comes to planning. I love for every detail to be planned out. Here's the deal: my family of 4 and my bro-in-law's family of 5 are totally different vacationers. (My mother and father in-law don't really care what we do). We are up and at 'em, adventurous and go, go, go while my bro-in-laws family takes their time (esp. in the morning), strolls along, and flies by the seat of their pants. I had to convince them that ADR's were absolutely necessary for WDW!! If it were up to me, I'd have everything lined up by now (our 90 days is coming up March 21), but now I am having to wait on them to come up with their dining ideas. They don't think about which park they'll be in and to make their dining plans accordingly. It is absolutely driving me crazy! I've sent them emails with ideas, but I'm afraid they think I'm being pushy and planning their trip for them. Any ideas on how to handle this?

Also, has anyone done the Good Morning Character B'fast for Grand Gatherings?

as far as adrs' plan those YOU want with them included and IF they do not plan or choose something else, change'em. But it would be a shame to not plan for your family and miss out because someone else does not care.
Good Luck.

 

[LPNmom]

We did a grands gathering with 9 last trip in 2006, (3kids ages 2months to 9 yrs., 6 adults). I am a big planner, did all the reservations for my family. I got lucky and everyone just followed my plan, they were very thankful for me doing all the research and planning their day. I hope it all works out for you!! My group really liked Boma, Ohana during our last trip, the atmospher was great for large groups. We did take a day off during the trip to give people the chance to plan their own day, and we just met for dinner. The biggest thing I learned was that on our next trip we are staying at one park a day, so that it is less confussing for the group.

 

[lorac4disney]

We are doing a GG in June with 11 people. I am sharing a cabin with my husband, my two kids, and my nephew while my stepdaughter is staying in another cabin with her husband, her two children, her mother, and her sister. I am doing all of the planning and reservations. I run the plans by the others. So far, everyone is agreeable to what I have planned.

I have left our plans very flexible (which requires much more planning to accomplish). Basically, our only structured time as a group will be when we meet up in the evenings for our dinner reservations and when we have group pictures taken.

We are planning to be in the same park on the same days, but that's about it. If we feel like hanging out together, we can meet up. If not, we can go our own way.

 

[michael's mom]

I'm planning a GG for 14 myself and it isn't easy, let me tell you. As far as ADR's ask them if they want to be at every meal with you. If they say yes, tell them that you know you are sounding pushy (I had to say this many times) but you know that the restaurants book up VERY EARLY and with a group so large, you need to call on 3/21. If they don't want to dine at every meal, book them for a few with you, and make the rest of your ressies w/o them. I asked my sisters where they wanted to eat. I booked at least one choice for each of us and then some of our regulars as well.

There is a link in my signature for my pre-trip report that is a bit more detailed with the plans. But, if they aren't morning people, book some character breakfasts for you and your family and meet up with them in the parks later in the day. We have a few days off during the week for people to do with as they choose; sleep in, hang by the pool, shop, ???

Good luck. Remember, you can't control everything...I've hit some major speed bumps that took the magic right out of it...but only temporarily. I've also been fortunate enough to deal with some truly amazing CM's who have sprinkled pixie dust on me through the phone and returned the magic to me.

The one thing that I keep reminding myself is that this is my vacation too and that if I let things get to me, it'll ruin the vacation I've been "planning" for 2 years.

Good luck!