I'm dreading my next trip....

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I'm so sad!!! We are going with all my in laws (10 adults,10 kids) and renting a house for a week. We will be there June 17-23!!!!! With WOC opening the 11th (I think that's the current date), TS3, plus AP block outs....I just want to stay home!!!!! My oldest SIL is bringing her family for their first trip (her DH and 4 kids ages 7-13), and I'm so excited for them and would love to share a big family trip with everyone (LOVE DH's family) but this is the worst time to go... Someone please convince me I won't leave this trip hating Disneyland!!! DH is already disney'd out after 3 trips in the fall, I just hope he'll want to make a trip to WDW sometime in the next decade after this upcoming fiasco!!!

 

[BlueBayou]

I would say just plan and realize this is not a normal family trip. 10 adults and 10 kids is crazy (I am an only child). But it can still be a good trip and family experience. Just don't consider it a trip to Disneyland.

One year we were going to DL (we live 6 hours away) to meet up with friends of my DH from Iowa who have girls our girls' age. Sounds like a great plan. We were doing SOCAL together. San Diego Zoo, etc.

All of a sudden my DH's brother's family from the south was going to be there because their son was at USC. Totally unplanned we discovered we were going to be at DL the same day. How crazy is that? It was parents weekend or something. Now, we love spending time with them and my girls adore their Aunt, Uncle and teen cousins. We had met them at DL before when they were checking out USC. It was our DD now 9s first trip to DL.

How the heck do you balance touring? I finally decided this was not really a trip to DL... it was two odd reunions in a very public place. We were bouncing between parks like a dude trying to balance two prom dates.

Here is how the morning went - started at DCA, spent the first two hours in the Burr-bank ice cream place and shopping at Greeting from California. I HATE shopping and every ounce of DISer in me could not handle wasting key touring time. Then, somehow, when going to get FPs for TofT... (TofT was new at DCA) ended up on the the ride. Now understand that I like thrill rides - but have been stuck on elevators 5 times - one time requiring maintence to get us out. While I wanted to ride TofT... I wanted to "warm up" with a fun ride on Soarin' and/or California Screamin'.

The standby line was 10 minutes and the other DH (who I really did not know) said "let's go." He and his 6 year old had gone on TofT 6 times one day at WDW. My DH does not like thrill rides but does not have my irrational fear of heights or elevators. I could tell he did not want the drop. I said I would go. So it was a guy I did not know with his 6-year-old, me and my 5 year old who was barely tall enough.

Did I mention my then DD5 was afraid of POTC?????? Why the heck was she all of a sudden okay with TofT???? Talk about pier pressure. All of a sudden this 6-year-old she barely knew said it was fun...

While in line the friend of my husband kept talking to me. I was so darn nervous I just wanted him to shut up. I had no desire to be on Tower of Terror at that point of my life. I finally told him to shut up. Seriously, I think I said "just stop talking to me" at some point in the boiler room. It was akward... but he didn't say much after that.

We rode and my 5-year-old claimed to love it and wanted to go again. I said no and we moved on.

At the end of the night we have a picture of my DH with a sleeping 3-year-old on his shoulder in the Toy Story ride. He looks pale and has a vacant stare. I recall visiting with our out of town family on Main Street following the parade and my DH having our youngest sleeping on his shoulder.

As a DISer - I look back on the trip it was a TOTAL disaster. But really, it was a nice visit with two different groups of people in a kind of stressful place.

If we had never been to DL - it would have been horrible. But we were DL vets.

I would strongly suggest you look at this as an opportunity to show the newbies a good time. Make the focus them. If the focus is helping them have a good experience vs pleasing everyone - you should succeed.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I'm so sad!!! We are going with all my in laws (10 adults,10 kids) and renting a house for a week. We will be there June 17-23!!!!! With WOC opening the 11th (I think that's the current date), TS3, plus AP block outs....I just want to stay home!!!!! My oldest SIL is bringing her family for their first trip (her DH and 4 kids ages 7-13), and I'm so excited for them and would love to share a big family trip with everyone (LOVE DH's family) but this is the worst time to go... Someone please convince me I won't leave this trip hating Disneyland!!! DH is already disney'd out after 3 trips in the fall, I just hope he'll want to make a trip to WDW sometime in the next decade after this upcoming fiasco!!!

We wish you luck, but it is something I would NEVER, EVER do.

Jack

 

[MG3G]

If it were up to me I would attach myself to the kids who have never been there before and live the magic through their eyes. With your knowledge of the parks you should be able to show them a far better time then they would have had trying to figure it out alone. I have 3 suggestions for you though -

#1 - DON'T try to force the group to stay together!!!
(I have only been a few times - once as a teen with a LARGE group of family (somewhere around 20 of us) and my mom tried to make everyone stay together. It sucked and no-one got to do what they wanted to do. There ended up being a fight and my dad took half the group renagade

#2) Put the kids in charge of deciding what to ride. My favorite memory is of my then 5 year old with the map leading our group through DL.

#3) If you can afford it take one of the tours! We did the Discover the Magic Tour and it was BY FAR the best time I have had on any vacation! We were a mixed group of adults and children from age 4 to 60 and we all enjoyed it. It was a crowded day too and the CM's take you on several rides where you skip the lines! TOTALLY worth the money.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We are definitely NOT staying together the whole time. More like meeting up. The main reason is our kids are at different age ranges. Here's the cast of characters:

FIL & MIL (also AP holders, went with us in October)

SIL(1)& BIL (only SIL has been to DLR, their kids are 7,7,11,13)

SIL(2)& BIL (kids will be 21mo and almost 3, were last in DLR when the youngest was 2 mo and the older one was scared of ALL dark rides)

SIL(3) & BIL (newlyweds, no kids)

And US (AP holders our 4th trip since Sept, our kids will be 8,5,almost 3, and 18mo)


I think I've decided to avoid WOC entirely, unless they have some sort of special seating available and then I'll do it on one of our kid free nights (the 3 parents are trading off staying at the house at night with the kids so the adults can go to the park kid free)

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

#3) If you can afford it take one of the tours! We did the Discover the Magic Tour and it was BY FAR the best time I have had on any vacation! We were a mixed group of adults and children from age 4 to 60 and we all enjoyed it. It was a crowded day too and the CM's take you on several rides where you skip the lines! TOTALLY worth the money.

I'll look into that!! Thanks!

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I was WONDERING why you weren't chatting it up about your upcoming trip!!
Okay so here are my thoughts:
1. While there are hoards of crowds at WOC stay in DL and ride the rides that were busy during the day.
2. Wake up early get down there as early as you can and then head "home" for lunch and naps I hear mid afternoon is the busiest and warmest part of the day. Head back for dinner there and park fun. Plan around the Parades and stuff so that you are already in the side of the park you want to ride rides on.
3. Go knowing it's going to be frustrating and know that you've already gone three times this year so it's a bonus what ever rides you do get to do.
4 Check out if there are any beaches in the area and maybe one day head over there for most of the day and do the park in the evening?
5. Lots of water and snack and let your Disney knowledge lead you through smart choices!! Girl your a pro if anyone can do a packed DL it's you!! Get your team together and go with a game plan! Plan A Plan B and just in case Plan C.
6.Don't forget to take lots of mental notes so that I can pick your brain when you get back. I too would like to DL in summer at least once!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

DH (and his family probably) think I'm Disney-planning NUTS !!! But they have conceded that I'm also the guru!! They've pretty much given me all the planning duties.... Which is a good thing, but also a bad thing if things go wrong...

Here's the game plan so far:

Day 1: We arrive in the morning, enjoy some "quiet" disney time, check into the house, get groceries, go to bed early (its grad night). SIL(2) will arrive late that evening.

Day 2: AM with SIL(2) enjoying FL with our little ones. Rest of the family is driving down that morning and will arrive early afternoon. When they get there we will head to the park and do a few rides as a big group. Since it'll be mid day, I'm thinking jungle cruise, POTC would be a good introduction to the Disney magic with the newbies, plus we can all ride together!

Day 3: Dinner we are splitting up boys vs. girls. Girls are heading to Ariels Grotto for dinner, while the boys will be hitting ESPN Zone.

Day 4: Father's Day!! Brunch at Goofy's Kitchen for everyone!!!

Day 5 & 6: will be the crazy days and I'm thinking of planning something for the mornings before it gets crazy, because who know what will happen with capacity issues in the PM.

Day 7: Go home!! We aren't going to the parks but some of the others may be?

 

[californiamomof4grls]

What about Haunted Mansion What if one morning you all go and ride TSM together! That would be a lot of fun you'd probably fill up both sides of the que!! But that one is so fun! That would be good to show them the Disneylove! That and I hear Grizly rapids is a good first thing in the morning ride. Don't forget to show the newbie kids Bugland!!! She'll love it! Payton LOVED it that was about all she loved except for parts of Fantsyland! LOL!
Maybe for your Dn (3) and your little ones plan on do Playhouse Disney when it starts to get crazy? Will Alladin still be there?
So then did you do your ressie already?
Fathers Day is a good time to go! I like that!
Oh and put out a disclaimer. Yes! I am the Disney guru! But due to conditions out of my control, the opening of WoC will make things crazier then usual for summer time! Thanks for coming! Love you all! Throw a few Knuckle bumbs in there and your good!!!!

 

[wdwfan22]

I have been to DW with a large group and it is not as bad as you think. If fact, it is pretty great. IF... you mostly plan on meeting up at meals. Your itinerary looks pretty great so far. Being flexible is the key. We really thought we would want to do a lot of rides together, but it just didn't work out. Everyone goes at such a different pace that it is pretty hard.

Start out your early mornings together, and do your rides together that you want, then split up as you want and meet up for lunches or dinners at set times. That way it really is not that different than going on your own.

Plus, you never know, if everyone is at CA watching WoC, maybe DL will be empty???

 

[rentayenta]

We did WDW with 15 of us and it went pretty smoothly. I think the key was not insisting we all stay together and be willing to split up but also be willing to split up within our own core family. Good luck! A trip with a large party is far better than no trip at all.

 

[MVBowers111]

I'm definitely in the minority here...we always go to Disney with a big group. We usually have four adults and ten kids and we love staying together. It's well known that I'm the guru and the planner so I always have a touring plan put together and then review it with my sister (the husbands don't care) then we all drive down together, caravan style. Stay in adjoining hotel rooms and tour together. We have a blast and wouldn't do Disney any other way.

I think your plan sounds very reasonable and I hope that you guys have a great time. Everyone has given great advice so far. I wish we were going this summer but we're opting out this year til we see what the WOC does for crowds and how they are managed. We're going next year when maybe the crowds aren't so ridiculous.

Sending magical thoughts to you and your family!

 

[heatherleigh]

To me, the bright side of it would be that DL might be freed up a bit because all the crowds will be crammed into WOC at CA. The other bright side, is that you may be able to convince your hubby that WDW is better because of the lack of local AP holders and crowds in comparison.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Maybe for your Dn (3) and your little ones plan on do Playhouse Disney when it starts to get crazy? Will Alladin still be there?
So then did you do your ressie already?

Good idea on Playhouse Disney. And yes we will all see Alladin together.
My 60 days isn't here yet, and I'm definitely calling AT 60 days with this big of a group!!!

Start out your early mornings together, and do your rides together that you want, then split up as you want and meet up for lunches or dinners at set times. That way it really is not that different than going on your own.

Good idea!! Most of us (if not all) will be heading back to the house for lunch, naps for the little ones, pool time, etc.

The other bright side, is that you may be able to convince your hubby that WDW is better because of the lack of local AP holders and crowds in comparison.

I can only HOPE!!!

I'm definitely in the minority here...we always go to Disney with a big group. We usually have four adults and ten kids and we love staying together. It's well known that I'm the guru and the planner so I always have a touring plan put together and then review it with my sister (the husbands don't care) then we all drive down together, caravan style. Stay in adjoining hotel rooms and tour together. We have a blast and wouldn't do Disney any other way.

I love the idea of going as a group, its just our timing that is horrible (WOC opening, TS3 opening, blockout dates). It was the only time we could all go. My niece and nephews get out of school the 18th so we couldn't go earlier, and my BIL is a firefighter so his busy season starts the end of June. I was really hoping for July, but my BILs schedule prevented that.

 

[6Smiles]

Hi 3Minnies1Mickey-

We will also be going the same week as you. This is our first family trip/vacation anywhere. My husband and I were last at DL when we were twelve. I am expecting and preparing for the worst, but am hoping for the best. We are also doing brunch at Goofy's for Father's day after our MM.


Chin up its gotta be better than doing .

Kris