Herding Cats

[Chim Chiminy]

How nice you have been able to plan as much as you have!

We have DS and four of his friends going for graduation, then DD and her best friend.
We haven't been able to have a planning session at all, everyone's schedule is so different.
We will be at OKW in a 2bedroom and a studio. All the guys are in the studio, and the girls are all with us in the 2bed. Our waitlist for a GV hasn't come through, and I really don't expect it to.
Right now I have them all getting the quick service dining plan, and we made reservations at Biergarten for dinner one day (DS's choice) and on our departing day a nice breakfast at Cape May Buffet.
We are getting them the special military tickets to keep cost down. Ours is a Sun-Sat trip. I think they just plan to go with the flow.

Please write a trip report and let us know how it went!

 

[JWG]

Bless your heart... good luck!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Deb, that sounds like a LOT of fun!!! I think you are going to have a great time, and so will the kids! I like your solution to breaking the rules too. It will be interesting to see if they all get to see and do as much as they want to plan. My guess is they will all go on the way home saying what they didn't see and wish they would have done.

You are so right that dealing with a group of kids that age is like herding cats!!! Can't be done! Good luck!

 

[Donald is #1]

Wow! Good luck to you. I think that it is awesome that you are taking them for graduation.

 

[OhioDVC]

We did a similar trip with 19 once. I would suggest that you buy matching t-shirts. It is much easier counting 12 blue or green t-shirts instead of checking each face to make sure everyone is together.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We did a similar trip with 19 once. I would suggest that you buy matching t-shirts. It is much easier counting 12 blue or green t-shirts instead of checking each face to make sure everyone is together.

They are already planning on red shirts for that week. And they know what is happening at that time.

 

[dbs1228]

Deb thanks for answering all my questions on the other thread! What a great time. My middle DD graduated HS last year and went to wdw with 3 girlfriends and had a ball. She and her friends (guys and girls) spent the entire summer at our summer lake house and even now they all post on face book that they cannot wait for summer to go back to the lake! They too went in different directions. I told my DD to cherish the time and memories because it goes so fast. Cannot wait for the TR!

 

[Paticake]

Wow what great memories you are making for those kids. Have a ball!

 

[ajf1007]

First I have to say, what a great thing your doing! I'm sure in these tough times the $$ to go Europe is just crazy so to give them such a great graduation trip opportunity is just wonderful! They get a trip after all! You guys are awesome!

I'm sure with the rules established and of course since you know these kids pretty well, it will be a blast! I'm glad to hear though you've carved out some time for just you two to get to enjoy some peace and quiet!

Please I beg of you, do a TR!

 

[DenLo]

It sounds like you have thought of everything. It sounds like a really nice gift for all of the kids including your DS.

 

[bobbiwoz]

That's a great gift to those kids!

 

[riatees]

That is so wonderful of you to do that for those kids. Wish I was your son's friend, I'm going through Disney withdraw right now.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Some of the girls want to head over to the Outlet Mall as soon as possible . . .

1) We have taken the granddaughters and their girl friends.
2) As with you girl attendees, they want the outlet malls.
3) They want a few souvenirs, yes.
4) But, they want to SHOP, SHOP, SHOP.
5) And, not for Disney stuff.
6) Be prepared for much the same.

 

[rigsby25]

We let my son bring 3 friends on our trip for my daughter's wedding as a graduation present to him. She got married at Swan/Dolphin. We had two 2br's at OKW and we just turned the kids loose the moment we got there. They really had a good time. They hung around the pool aftter the parks in the evening - had movie nights, etc. Or just sat on the big balcony and talked way into the night.

 

[QueenTut]

DH and I took our son and six of his friends to Disney when they were in grade 11 and it was one of the best trips ever. Man, they were entertaining. They made their lunches the night before they headed to the parks and usually had them eaten by mid-morning. They played basketball, did a water park, hit up a Nike outlet, flirted with girls at the pool and played some mini-putt. In 2013, it will be the 10 year anniversary and we are talking about heading back as a group! The only present I asked for was to be invited to all of their weddings.