It's Starting already....

[browniemtb]

Well we planned a trip for 20 11 months ago for the first part of November. Now we find out that the other family members that are going only want to visit the parks a few days, not sure why money?. Maybe I am crazy but when we go to Disney it tend to be about the kids and we spend as much time in the parks as possible. On top of that from a 4 day to a 7 day park hopper the price difference is only $24. My kids have been looking forward to showing their cousins around the parks and having fun, now that time may be gone. My DW is a little upset that they are taking advantage of a free stay at the BWV. Not sure if I can look at it that way.......

 

[twinklebug]

If you haven't had cancellations and special requests coming your way, I think you're doing awesome!

I learned we have to allow space for each family to just be themselves - no expectations, no demands. It may be that they're just leaving themselves a bit of wiggle room without coming out and telling you that they don't want to be by your side all day every day Just go with it & enjoy having them with you!

 

[ccgirl]

Well we planned a trip for 20 11 months ago for the first part of November. Now we find out that the other family members that are going only want to visit the parks a few days, not sure why money?. Maybe I am crazy but when we go to Disney it tend to be about the kids and we spend as much time in the parks as possible. On top of that from a 4 day to a 7 day park hopper the price difference is only $24. My kids have been looking forward to showing their cousins around the parks and having fun, now that time may be gone. My DW is a little upset that they are taking advantage of a free stay at the BWV. Not sure if I can look at it that way.......

Some people want to relax during vacation and not run around crazy visiting all of the parks. I, myself, am a commando tourer but I always feel like I need a vacation from my vacation after. Maybe they want to sit around the pool and enjoy all the amenities the Boardwalk has to offer. It's funny...I always say we do this for the kids as well but when I ask and listen they really just want to go to the pool for the day. We are going to try our next trip as a relaxing one so we shall see.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If the adults in the party don't want to enjoy the parks, is there a way you and your family could encourage them to at least get the kids park tickets?

 

[Tigger031266]

I think its ok for not everyone to go to the parks too. Trying to do anything with a group of 20 is difficult. Your only asking form trouble.

My advice... 3 groups:

Active: Parks, Fast Rides, Jet Boats, Swimming... Gets in at 2AM
Kids: Parks, Slow Rides, Kid Pool, Comunity Hall, Swimming, Fireworks..
Calm and Boring: Dinners, Shows, Movies, More Dinners, Fireworks....

Meet up for some meals (Dinners), People can jump groups....

Let people do what they want, just have meet up times/

 

[supersuperwendy]

We used our points for my best friend and her kids to join us last year. We gave her a great 1 bedroom at Kidani and I had everyday planned so they could see as much as possible since they'd probably never get to WDW again. Well...after day 2 they decided to stay by the pool instead. I realized, hey..everyone vacations differently. I'm a park commando...she's a pool lounger!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree about the meeting up at specific times too. We have always done that when we have larger groups. Our usual is to pick a specific attraction EVERYONE in the group can enjoy and then meet there at a specific time. We find the group tends to automatically break up from there into the thrill ride seekers, the shows and parades only group, and those who want to do and see all.

 

[jekjones1558]

I am not at all surprised by this. We will be doing our third big family trip in a few weeks (21 people this time) and we learned during the first trip that not everyone is concerned about seeing and doing as much as possible in the parks. Subgroups in our family make plans that work for them. Kids always seem just as happy hanging out at the pool as they are visiting the parks. We get everyone rooms and then we just let the vacation happen. It is good to have each family responsible for making its own fun (and that means fewer complaints!)

 

[hakepb]

Personally, I would drop Hopper before days, so you may want to contemplate that.

I feel rushed if I have fewer than 8 park days, although most people have a hard time contemplating that you need at least 4 days in Disney.

Overall, is it so bad that they enjoy your DVC "home" more than the nearby parks?

 

[ccgirl]

We used our points for my best friend and her kids to join us last year. We gave her a great 1 bedroom at Kidani and I had everyday planned so they could see as much as possible since they'd probably never get to WDW again. Well...after day 2 they decided to stay by the pool instead. I realized, hey..everyone vacations differently. I'm a park commando...she's a pool lounger!

Great post! I have a coworker that owns DVC. THey alternate vacations between parks and pool lounging. There are so many other wonderful things to do around that are often overlooked when touring commando style. Just because it isn't the way you might vacation does not make it wrong for others. I have two friends that took their children to WDW and say they will never be back. While I, myself, cannot every imagine that for me they would rather vacation on a beach somewhere. Different families like to vacation differently.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

The 1st family reunion we had kinda of went that very same way, and even though they had asked me to plan everything, I realized quickly that it was their vacation too and they simply had no idea the time it took to plan things for a Disney holiday. By the same token I wanted them to have all of the wonderful Disney experiences it took me years to acquire in a short trip. Too commando!

Some people just aren"t aware of how Disney works regarding ADR's for restaurants and various activites. Many think that they can just spontaneously get an Illumination Cruise or get into a restaurant (party of 12) without any pre-planning, and that just isn't so! Nor are they aware of the deals you can get pre-purchasing tickets, and how much less the price per day is the more days you purchase.

Everyone vacations differently, you can't sweat it, do what fits you and your kids. You provided the accomodations, now just enjoy what time you do all have to share together and the rest will work itself out one way or another.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Everyone enjoys Disney (and vacationing) differently. My DD would be at the Parks 24/7 if possible. My DS loves the resorts the most.

When we invite others, especially those who have never been before, we usually email them a basic schedule of what our family is planning to do and ask if there is anything they have on their "must do" list. We make it plain that they can join us for all or none....their call. Given the differing opinions of our kids we tend to schedule park days only every second day and resort/pool days in between. Since we tend to cook for some of the evenings we also let them know that.

More often than not, they tend to go with our suggestions, but we don't get upset if they don't. I think that it is to their benefit to use our experience but if they decide not to, that's ok. In some cases we have changed our schedule to do things they suggested....and been happily surprised to add a new experience to future vacations.

 

[JWG]

As the resident family and friend Disney vacation planner, I've learned a few things to keep sane about being a DVC member and frequent Disney guest:

• We always charge something (except immediate family) for the room. This forces committement to the trip.
• We charge whatever that something is shortly after making the reservation.
• We ask ahead of time what people's meal plans/preferences are
• On this last trip, I simply made the reservations my family wanted, sent them out and said "who wants to join which", by doing so 180 days out, I was easily able to add/subtract people
• We make no other plans, people come and go as they please with us

 

[haddybaby]

I can sympathize with you on this, as I have planned several group trips. I found that scheduling some days for everyone visiting parks together, as well as leaving some days open for people to do their own thing works well. It's going to be impossible for a large group to see everything in any park in just one day, but just focus on the things most people in your group can enjoy doing together.

 

[haddybaby]

As the resident family and friend Disney vacation planner, I've learned a few things to keep sane about being a DVC member and frequent Disney guest:

• We always charge something (except immediate family) for the room. This forces committement to the trip.
• We charge whatever that something is shortly after making the reservation.
• We ask ahead of time what people's meal plans/preferences are
• On this last trip, I simply made the reservations my family wanted, sent them out and said "who wants to join which", by doing so 180 days out, I was easily able to add/subtract people
• We make no other plans, people come and go as they please with us

Lol.. We had to start doing the same thing- getting others invested financially in the trip.

 

[browniemtb]

Thanks for the replies everyone.....we just need to relax and let the vacation happen. We do feel bad that the cousins that are coming may never get there again for a long time. But I also don't want their parents to give us all the kids while they schedule other things... Getting them there is most of the battle, we'll take it from there. Thanks all!

 

[nunzia]

Thanks for the replies everyone.....we just need to relax and let the vacation happen. We do feel bad that the cousins that are coming may never get there again for a long time. But I also don't want their parents to give us all the kids while they schedule other things... Getting them there is most of the battle, we'll take it from there. Thanks all!

ah yes, live and learn..and learning is a big part. We've taken several groups and would not hesitate to take them again..at no charge for the room. But.. I do have one DS who can't seem to ever get finances together, and asked that when they were ready they let me know a year out and I'd provide the room...great..they do and I do and now, naturally..wrinkles appear..medical, IRS, whatever..and bottom line comes that they do have parkhopper tickets..I already treated for Halloween party and yes, they'll make it...but..car's brakes are acting funny..etc. so I offer to pay for half the train (which has naturally doubled in price from when I first suggested they get tickets for this) and son jumps on this, sure, but of course I haven't gotten the 1/2 back and tickets have been purchased by me. Now mind you, I have already treated them all to a big blow out all expenses paid trip which I have done for all the kids, so from now on they are supposed to pay, I provide room and and maybe a treat (Halloween party, Fantasmic, etc.) anyway, I now am out 1K and guess I'll probably be buying some meals as will my other son who is also going...just venting but sheesh!!! they make more than any of us but just can't get it together..so..I'll learn and this offer won't be given again. What I probably WILL do is just wait a few years and then just offer to take them again..at least I'll go into it with a better spirit that way...

 

[tfc3rid]

It happens... When my wife and I go down, she hates the parks, so we basically hang by the pool all day, she gets a massage, etc...

I, of course, being the huge Disney fan, want to go to the parks but everyone has their likes or dislikes... It stinks sometimes but people have their reasons...

 

[SmilingGrump]

Remember that they can always visit Guest Services to add on more days. Perhaps they don't realize how much fun the parks are. The first time we went to WDW with my brother's family, they only bought 2 day passes because their kids "don't like rides." Yeah, they upgraded their tickets the first afternoon

As many others have said, everyone travels differently. We've had a couple of trips with large groups and here's what we do:
1 - plan for ourselves only
2 - let others know our plans and invite them along if they want
3 - make it VERY clear this is THEIR vacation and they are NOT required to join us, but are more then welcome to
4 - on a park day, everyone that wants to go to that park that day hits the first ride together, then we split up (you just can NOT keep 20+ people together all day without missing a lot of things and frustrating people)
5 - try to plan a meal out as a group ... we usually hit Medievil Times as they can accomodate large groups and this is often the highlight of the trip
6 - try to get together in evenings ... usually over margaritas! ... take this time to answer any questions people may have and just visit
7 - never get offended if you never see people ... even if you've covered their accomodation it is THEIR vacation


Also keep in mind that while the cousins may not get the chance to see everything, you're not their parents. This might sounds obvious, but I've found that differing parenting styles can be one of the biggest causes of friction amongst travellers. I know that my daughters and their cousins would love to spend every day together, but my brother and SIL go out of their way to make sure that doesn't happen. In fact, they've gone so far as to text that they're at AKL for lunch then we find out later that they were in DD ... I think they thought we were going to follow them. Odd, but that's family. You get what you get We don't take offense at these actions, it's just something to chuckle about.


One last thing. You sound like you're a Disney veteran while your relatives are Disney "newbs". Be careful of your enthusiasm. I know that my first big group trip I came off as a bit overbearing, but I was just gushing with enthusiasm and excitement for people getting to experience one of my favourite places for the first time. I had to reign myself in and I apologised to everyone explaining I wasn't trying to take control over their vacation, I was just trying to provide them the best experience possible ... and that's where I went wrong, I should be "helping" them to have the best experience, not "provide" them with the best experience.

 

[crisi]

I'll add one to Grumps. We let them know our plans and invite them along if they want, but we don't let them impact our plans. Late sleepers who want to join us for rope drop are left a note to call us when they get to the park and we'll hook up. People who decide that the best use of that prime 10am timeslot is to see the Tiki Birds are told why we won't join them, but have fun!