I need cheap ideas for a sort of magical gathering!

[tinkerbell of winter]

This post will probably get moved but here is the background. I am a DVC member, I own at Saratoga Springs, I am planning on getting a 2 bedroom for a vacation with several family members next February during President's day. So far the party will consist of myself (28 yo female) and my DD age 8, my aunt (40) and her daughter (13), my mom (50) and my grandmother (75). My aunt wants my other aunt and uncle to go as well but i'm quite certian they won't, and that would be ok because they are kind of wierd anyway, and all they would probably do is golf. So basically i'm looking for ideas of things to do as a group that aren't terribly expensive. My aunt wanted to do hoop de doo revue but i'm not really interested in it and I really don't want my mom and grandmother to pay 50 bucks a pop to see something they might not be too interested in. I'd rather shell out some money for all of us to take a fireworks cruise or something like that. I'm already going to be buying my mom and grandmother's park tickets, I was going to ask my aunt to at least buy my grandmother's plane ticket, (after all i've got the lodging taken care of) and I'm not sure but I may just buy my mom's plane ticket. I'll be working a lot of hours at my second job to cover all this, but it will be worth it. So I need ideas of inexpensive things to do as a group while down there. We will be eating most of our meals in the villa since I don't want my mom and grandmother all freaking out about food prices, and maybe one nice meal out somewhere one night. They all think i'm crazy since I love going to disney, but they are the type (my mom and grandmother) that don't really take vacations, and my grandmother can be the world's biggest nag, but I really think they need a nice vacation, it would be nice to do something all together. I only hope that my 13 year old cousin can refrain from bothering my daughter during that time period, my daughter has already asked me "do they have to go to Disney, Kate always picks on me." And she really does, I love my aunt but she has raised a couple of rude, free ranging children who have never known discipline, only "I want it and I get it." So either I will have to or she is going to have to talk to her daughter before we go because I will not stand for any of that crap at Disney. That's another reason I have the group going that is, if we all want to do something different, my daughter and I can do something, my mom and grandmother can do something, and my aunt and her daughter can do something if we need to take a break from each other. My daughter and I are going to be extending our vacation a few extra nights once they go home to have alone time at Disney.

So to beat around the bush if anyone has any ideas about things we can do together that aren't terribly expensive please let me know!

 

[sunie]

I don't know of any inexpensive activities at Disney (May will be my first time back since I was six), but Southwest has a "ding" feature that alerts you when inexpensive fares come up. There was a thread started here that you may want to check out to lower the cost of the plane tix. I also know that you can get park tix through ticketmania for $273 5 day adult hopper and $232 5 day child hopper if you are a mousesavers member. I don't really know if those prices are good though compared to the DVC prices. There is also a thread called free stuff in the parks, and I cut and pasted the info. that was there, then posted it for everyone as a list. Hope that helps!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I should think your best bet would be to get park hoppers, and spend most of your time in the parks. That way you could also take a break from each other sometimes, and maybe less feelings would be hurt in doing so. Then you could set a time to meet up again (esp. if you have cell phones) the older guests might want to take more breaks in the middle of the day, too. It is less expensive, maybe if you spend a day at the resort pool/grounds. You could also resort hop. Probably one nice PS meal would be a good idea. Maybe at the Wilderness Lodge - you know, some place fun, but not too exotic to please everyone's tastes. Downtown Disney is also a good place to split up - if you need a break from each other.

 

[minmate]

Not to burst your bubble, but this has "family disaster" written all over it. Take this with a grain of salt... from an outsider. I only know what you've posted here, but I would suggest that you plan for LOTS of separate time... allowing everyone to plan their own schedules and then meeting up once or twice a day. Maybe plan out what YOU and YOUR dd would like to do, then try to work some of your meals or activities into a group plan... then either let your aunt, mom and gmom do their own planning (or not) or help them plan something suitable to them... allowing them to coincide their plans with yours whenever they feel like it.

If you have your own plan as a "master plan" from which everyone else is encouraged to deviate from and link back up to at various times, you may find a more workable/tolerable situation.

Sounds like you will def. have to encourage aunt to go to HDDR on her own/with her fam w/o you. But DO give everyone else the opportunity to go if they want to and are willing to pay for it. I think you're going to have to consider some meetings btw now and your trip to do a LOT of communicating about everyone's expectations.

With that said, consider the dining plan. May work out, only having to count "points" on the plan as opposed to every cent and how much everything costs! Also, some "cheaper" things to do include:
*watching Wishes from any of the monorail resorts
*Mini golf
*Carriage rides at POR (think I read they're only like $40 or so... not sure how many can fit but prob 4-6pp per carriage).
*Strolling boardwalk
*Downtown Disney
*Renting a boat for Illuminations Cruise or Wishes Cruise would be reasonable if you split the cost. Could even look into the Magical FW Voyage where a dessert buffet and meet&greet (w/Peter Pan characters) is included. Need 8 ppl to do that, but looks like you may have that. It's 32.99 adults and 14.99 kids... a bit pricey but cheaper than HDDR.
*Campfire and movies at FWCampground is free/cheap... buying marshmallows/s'mores stuff.
*Mickey's Backyard BBQ could be fun... though you'd have to read up on the latest reviews as I've read mixed ones on that and haven't done it myelf.

If you all have a non-park day, it might be fun for you to make up clues about different "out-of-the-park" areas and go on a family "scavenger hunt." Arm each team with a digital camera or camcorder and supply the clues (obviously, you'd have to be a neutral party just along for the ride since you'd know the answers) -- and give clues about diff. resorts, statues, hidden Mickey's, specific restaurants... maybe 5-6 clues... or however many you want to make it as long as you want. Then each team has to figure out the clues and go take a picture or video of the location in question. You could figure out a fun (inexpensive) prize on your own to give the team that wins or finishes first.... maybe the last clue has them all arrive at Spoodle's and the winning team gets free ice cream!

Whatever you do, good luck and I hope that your trip turns out way better than my initial hunch when reading your post! Hope I'm way off base as I really don't know you or your family members!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As Minmate said, you appear to be looking at a family disaster.

At least two problems I see in addition to interpersonal relationships are:

1. Why do you want to use your vacation to cook two meals a day?

2. You would probably have to persuade your GM that she will need to rent and use either a wheelchair or electric convenience vehicle because of the amount of walking involved. If she did not, either she would slow the entire group down considerably or after the first day she would just want to stay in the room.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Just caught the wheelchair comment--based on availability...you can get them for free AT the resort. We found this out on our last visit and got my mother a free chair at the All Star resort--handy for her when making the rounds at DTD and not having to worry about walking the resort. She does rent an ECV at the parks though.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

I really don't understand why everyone thinks i'm looking at a family disaster. I had already planned on getting a wheelchair for my grandmother so she won't have to walk so much so that's not an issue. I got the two bedroom so that we could cook dinners and breakfast in the room and save some money, my mom doesn't have a lot of money and my grandmother is on a fixed income so i'm trying to make it easy and affordable for them to go on a much deserved vacation. As for my cousin if she acts up well then I just won't see them much, my daughter and I will take my mom and do something and they could take my grandmother with them, it's not going to be an issue really. Besides my daughter and I will have a couple of days after they leave to enjoy ourselves before heading home, I think I might finally make that Animal Kingdom Lodge reservation. Well if anyone has any ideas of fun things to do as a group please let me know.

 

[buffett010]

I like the Mickey's Backyard BBQ idea, as well as the campfire at FW where you make Smores.

The scavenger hunt sounds nice as well, but maybe it could just be located in the DTD area or your resort or whatever, and the winning team gets a pin, or a Mickey bar, or whatever.

What about going to the Poly to watch the Water Pageant and staying to see the fireworks from there? Or going to the Contemporary and watching the fireworks at the far end outside - on the same level as Chef Mickey's (we love this view!).

How about renting a couple boats and taking a ride during the day - you know the kind you pilot yourself.

I don't know if it's still there, but you could call the Disney Wilderness Preserve at 407-938-0002. It's 40-60 minutes south of WDW (don't know if you'll have a car), and is a wetlands restoration area. Open from 9-5, admission is only $2 for adults, and Sunday afternoons have "buggy" rides for $7 adults.

If I think of anything else, I'll post again.

Have a great trip!

 

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

I'd look into the $25.00 Majic Kingdom tour. I think it's 2 or 3 hours and every reveiw I've read has been positive. After everyone could splitr up or whatever but it would be a no brainer because you wouldn't have the stress of making sure everyone is entertained yourself.

 

[fkj2]

I haven't been to SSr yet, but are there grills there that you could plan a cook-out for one of your meals and enjoy the amenities--pool, tennis courts, etc.? Then, if Grandma got tired, she could retire to the room and the rest of you could stay up and watch the evening fireworks.

You might want to call Member Services and let them know you're bringing a larger group, travelling with an elder, and see if there are special arrangements you can make ahead of time to sit together in the stage presentations at the various parks, like Lion King at AK? I know from taking my mom, who had to frequently ride in a transport chair, that the cast members seem to take special care to make sure the group was all together. (There were 10 of us in all.)

 

[elan]

I am planning on taking my family (including DM) and my great aunt (77) next jan. My aunt is a walker - no wheelchair for her. She is pretty active and has taken many day trips with us. I am planning on one rest day between every active day for her. (she lives this way now). I would not buy her a ticket for every day you are there.

Your DM and DGM might like the relaxing boat ride to DTD and shopping.

If you don't want your DGM to stress about the prices for food - sit her down at the fast food places so she can't see the prices. (A child meal might be more than enough for her too). For a sit down try a buffet, they have no menus so she would have to look for the prices. Are you an AP holder? I'd think about getting the DDE card.

When DGM stays behind to rest can she start dinner? She can have the lasagna in the oven and you can finish with salad and bread when you get back.

Please try not to put too much stress on yourself. Ask everyone before hand what are one or two things that are their must dos and try to incorporate them into a plan (even if they do them by themself). Make sure you plan some time away from your family with just your DD. I think it is very special what you are trying to accomplish. Good luck.