Magic, Magic, Magic!!!!!

[mousiemom]

we just got back from a great week in disney 11/11-11/19. i found out today, that me, dh, and 11yr dd are being hired to be tour guides for a family of 29 for the week after christmas. (i know it's going to be crowded).
they are paying for everything!!!!! this is what we have in store for us:
-staying @ the Beach Club
-hopper tixs
-deluxe dining plan
-private bus
-paying us to be their tour guides.

this is one of the most magical days of our lives. we've always stayed value, we have been 25 times to disney so we know it inside and out. i'm freaking out about the dining ressies cause i'm one of those that makes them 180 days out. i need advice from the dissers. i will be calling tonight for the ressies. should we advoid the emh at the parks or does it matter during this week? i've never made ressies for this many people, i will probably have to just ask what do you have availiable? oh, we also have concierge service, what does that involve?

 

[Harlemgirl720]

First off. Congrats. What a great opportunity. I would call Disney direct and tell them that you are part of a grand gathering and let them help you out.

 

[mousiemom]

great advice! i will for sure do that!

 

[TDC Nala]

A group of more than 30 needs group dining. And you should call them as soon as possible because there may be limited availability at this time if any availability. You are going on the busiest week of the entire year, and you are trying to make reservations for a large group only a month out. I definitely wish you luck with that.

You can try Group Reservations at

Group Reservations
(10 rooms or more)
(407) 828-3318

and see if they can tell you where to call about dining.

You can also try contacting some of the Downtown Disney restaurants directly (only one DTD restaurant, Cap'n Jack's, is operated by Disney) and find out if they have availability for your group; but if the group is on the dining plan, a lot of the DTD restaurants don't accept it.

 

[mousiemom]

oh, i know, i personally would never go this week but no complaints here! i will definately call that number thanks. we've done all the restaurants in disney so we know the good ones and i so wished we could get some of the 2ts. i know the really popular ones too so does raglan road not do the plan anymore?

 

[Quin]

Aside from the probable lack of availability for such a large group at this late date, to me the next issue that comes to mind is logistics. Including your own family, it's 32 people. 32 people don't move quickly. And somebody - likely several somebodies - are not going to be 'morning people'. You'll probably have to cross any early morning EMHs off your to-do list. Even with a private bus, the best you'll be able to do is get them to see the RD show at MK one morning.

If you're staying club level, at least the early risers can get a quick bite that way. If not, suggest snacks from the various bakeries be taken back to the rooms at night for the morning people. For meals you're probably looking at later-morning TS breakfasts and then 2-TS dinners & shows, as many as you can get. This is the trip for the SoA Luau and the HDDR. And Mickey's Backyard BBQ if there are many little ones. Get that F! package seating at HBD.

Can/will you and DH act as independent tour guides? Because I'm also thinking that there will be at least some days where you will want to split into 2 groups; one goes to H&V to dance with the Disney Jr characters while the other takes the thrill-seekers to ToT & RNRC. Based on that, you may have some mornings where the group breakfasts together (Captains Grill?) but then splits up for dinner. You also may have a night where some have dinner, say, at WCC while the others eat at AP, then meet back up for a horse-drawn wagon ride at Ft. Wilderness. Or a night when one guide takes the adults on a monorail drinking tour. Almost certainly the group will split for evening EMHs, too, and you will again need to be 2 tour guides.

But what a wonderful opportunity, and what a testiment to your Disney skills that you can and will pull it off!

 

[TDC Nala]

Raglan Road does take the dining plan but it is only one of four TS restaurants at DTD that do. Try Planet Hollywood, it's a big restaurant, if your group wants to go out there.

You can try contacting Raglan Road or Planet Hollywood separately (not through Disney), but I think arranging restaurant space for a group of 32 who are on the deluxe dining plan (meaning they need lots of restaurant meals) on the week between Christmas and New Years with only a month's notice, you really are going to need some magic.

You might also be able to contact Rainforest Cafe or T-Rex Cafe that way, but neither takes the dining plan.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Can/will you and DH act as independent tour guides? Because I'm also thinking that there will be at least some days where you will want to split into 2 groups; one goes to H&V to dance with the Disney Jr characters while the other takes the thrill-seekers to ToT & RNRC. Based on that, you may have some mornings where the group breakfasts together (Captains Grill?) but then splits up for dinner. You also may have a night where some have dinner, say, at WCC while the others eat at AP, then meet back up for a horse-drawn wagon ride at Ft. Wilderness. Or a night when one guide takes the adults on a monorail drinking tour. Almost certainly the group will split for evening EMHs, too, and you will again need to be 2 tour guides.
!

I think this is your best bet. Based on the number of people in the group I'd come up with 2 plans for the day. One that you will lead and one that DH will lead. Then people can decide where they want to go and when they want to get up. The private bus will be nice but not everyone will need to take it since there is disney transport and you are so close to HS and Epcot. So maybe work it so some use the bus on days the other group goes to HS and Epcot.

I'd try to get some meals together in the same area knowing that not everyone will be able to or want to eat at the same place. Less well known places like The Wave or Captain's Grill or Kouzzines will probably be able to accomodate larger groups for breakfast even at this late date. I'd look at a few meals at those places together and plan for fireworks and illuminations at parks in the evenings together.

Good luck! It sounds complicated to put together but I think it will be so much fun in the end!

 

[TDC Nala]

also, since you are staying club level, use them. You should have the number for the concierge already. If you don't, get it from whoever booked the room for you. Since you've taken on the responsibility for planning for this group, if they haven't given it to you, they should. Try calling the concierge and asking for assistance as you need to book multiple restaurant reservations for a group of 32 on short notice.

 

[mousiemom]

thanks everyone! great tips here. we are the early risers and at the parks @ rope drop so i'm sure there will be some that will come late. i know that once we get in the park, families will seperate and do their own thing. we will show them the things that we've learned over the last 25 trips. we navigated 15 last week and it worked out great. we did the art of animation class and we got to draw mickey and that was so cool! watching the fireworks from the beach, the french bakery that's a must, stuff that most people overlook or don't know about. once i get these dining ressies made, i can breathe.

 

[mousiemom]

with the magical help from concierge's we were able to get dining ressies for the whole group for the whole week. we are doing the candlelight processional package w/nine dragons
-grand floridian cafe
-fantasmic package w/brown & derby
-tusker house
-artiste point
-the wave
i was very happy that we could get any at all cause i know how it is. now, i can breathe and start adding those magical touches to the trip. like ears and sweatshirts, and backpacks for the group.

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

Wow!! I'd say they are getting their money's worth with you!! Congrats on coordinating that with concierge.

Enjoy your trip!!