large family trip-need input!

[kmajk]

Planning a trip for 20 people-ages 10-70. Need info on what to do, where to stay to keep everyone amused. Most of us fall into the 20-50 yr. age group. We've all done Disney while our families were younger, and now want to get together and experience Disney differently. Money isn't a problem (within reason) No camping out here! Anything you could suggest would help. Oh, and this is tentatively planned for 4 days Thanksgiving vaca 2007. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Love the Mouse]

I think that the Boardwalk is a great place to stay. Great access to Epcot (just a little walk over the bridge), a short boat ride or walk to MGM. Plenty of activities on the Boardwalk. We have stayed there the last two times that we have visited WDW.

Wilderness Lodge is Beautiful! But the bus situation is a little long in the waiting department.

Hope you get lots more suggestions! Have fun

Michaela

 

[pigget74]

Check www.allears.net for information on places to eat. Look under the menues and it shows all counter service and table service places. If you have not signed up for mousesavers you need to. Go to www.mousesavers.com. I would recommend Beach Club or Board Walk if you want to be near Epcot. I know my family enjoyed OKW, but there is no hustle and bustle there. Wilderness Lodge is not a bad choice either. Goof luck

 

[mad4mky]

When we went with a larger group, I downloaded the magical gatherings planner from the WDW site. Every family member could plan the trip in one location that is accessed on your desktop you can plan ask opinions of the group and post feedback. We had a fun time with it. You can also book Magical gathering activites etc through WDW that are geared to big groups. Check it out on the WDW web site. I searched "Magical Gatherings" in the tool bar and found it that way to make sure they were still doing it.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

I would also suggest looking into Magical Gatherings. During our last trip we went down with 18. We all ended up doing our own things because it was much too difficult to keep everyone happy. The ages ranged from 1 to 60. We all stayed in separate hotels, depending on our budgets. We didn't get a lot of time to be together, but for US, that was probably best. I We all had a character meat at LLT, but again we didn't sit together.

I'd also say to book your ADR very early to ensure that they can accomodate you all!

 

[ajcolorado]

Remember that Thanksgiving is a super weekend - since you'll have a large group, you'll want to be ready to make your group dining reservations as soon as the 180 day window opens. Use the priority seating calculator on the dining section of the wdwinfo.com section of this site.

We've done a lot of group trips - up to 40+ people. Our friends and family have generally been thrilled ot have us develope the itinerary...which park we visit on a given day. But we haven't planned to stick together as a group all day, everyday. We've generally selected certain meeting points - for example, we gather to see a certain showing the the Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom. A certain number of special meals are often done as a group. We tended to break up in mini-groups for other meals - we spent quality time with the in-laws at Tusker House in AK, a special meal with the kids at Epcot, a fun "adults only" meal at Mama Melrose, etc.

Be careful about volunteering to help with touring plans - it gets overwelming fast. Email www.tourguidemike.com about a group rate. The touring plans in the Unofficial guide are good. Suggest a full service option like www.buildabettermousetrip.com for the ones that just don't do any advance planning. It'll relieve you of feeling responsible to see that everyone has a good time.

 

[ajcolorado]

I don't know how many kids you have in your group - we had a bunch and they were roomed together. So we printed up a civil code that was given to each kid before any problems presented themselves. You're welcome to adapt it, if you wish:

I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." -- Mark Twain


Civil Code 1: You are not responsible for anyone else having a good time – anyone who can’t have fun at Disneyworld should seek professional help. However, you may not do things that actively interfere with another person’s positive experience. This even applies to people we do not know. Examples:
1. Being loud as you walk past other hotel rooms or excessive thumping around if we are not on the ground floor.
2. Making Ruthie, Michaela, or Miss Yvonne feel stupid for liking “It’s a Small World”
3. Being rowdy or obnoxious on rides or in lines.

Civil Code 2: All of the adults on this trip are people we know and trust. You are expected to be respectful and responsive if they give you instructions. However, this many adults means that there is quite a bit of room for contradictory or multiple instructions being given at any time. It is not disrespectful to communicate that your parents have given you permission to do something or that someone else has already asked you to help them with something.

Civil Code 3: We will be spending a lot of time together. We will share small spaces, get tired, and get hot. This is a potential breeding ground for hurt feelings. Please be careful in your teasing. The comment that is taken in fun at home might be taken seriously by a hot, tired, hungry person.

Civil Code 4: Please be responsible for your own belongings. Only take as much into the parks as you are comfortable carrying all day. Our hotel rooms are not large – please be sensitive to your roommates’ comfort and do not spread your belongings everywhere. You may want to store extra spending money or breakable items in your parents’ room.