Need help for group trip

[Coopsmum77]

Hi Guys,

We are planning a family trip next summer, with approximately 40 people going. It's for my grandparents 50th anniversary. Their anniversary is in September, but they really don't want to pull any of the grandkids out of school. So I have a bunch of questions about all the things I have found out online and I hope you guys can help!!! This will be our fourth family trip, and we like staying at POR, so I'm pretty sure that will be our hotel. Offsite is not an option, as we have teenagers that we can let loose on the Dis transp. system.

How do you think a group of that size would fair during the week of the fourth of july? Would we be able to see the fireworks together, or get dining arrangements, etc? What about the water parks? How busy do they get during that week?

I have seen that on the Fourth, the parks get filled to capacity quite early. If the parks are filled to capacity and you are a resort guest, do they still turn you away? What about transportation times on buses getting back to the resort after the fireworks?

Gram wants to use a motorized wheelchair while we are down there, as she has pretty bad arthritis. Has anyone else tried to use one while down there for the fourth, and how did that work out with the crowds?

Now for the financial side of things. I am working with the group sales, but the ticket prices seem cheaper through the Disney Store, even with the water park option. Is there anything different about these tickets, and could we have them loaded onto our room keys so we only have one card to worry about?

As far as room prices go, has there ever been a discount code that has been for during a holiday week? I was thinking if we waited until the value season kicks in, which next summer is August 5th i think, we could get rooms at about $100/night if a discount code like this years becomes available.

Any advice is appreciated. I want to make sure we have the best possible time, but also save as much money as possible. If no one objects, I want to share your answers with my grandparents, so they can decide what they think is best.

Heidi

 

[Mariaºoº]

Our family normally travels together to Disney as well....anywhere between 30-55 people depending on who goes on each trip. One of our favorite times to go is the week prior to the 4th of July and overlapping the 4th. The parks are relatively low crowds the week prior to the 4th and build up starting on the 4th. We have been able to make ADR's for the whole family to eat together during this time as well without any problems. Of course, they can't seat the whole family at one table, but they do everything possible in making sure you're seated close to one another. Some times they will have to break you off into groups...one group being seated 10 minutes earlier than the other group, but you're still seated near one another and by the time everyone is seated you'll be eating at the exact same time. I do suggest maybe arriving at the parks at the same time, do a few things together, but then split up and go your own ways until time for the ADR's. This will help curb family riffs and tiffs! My brother had surgery on his knee prior to our trip and had to use an ECV. This actually worked out to our advantage as most guests are helpful and understanding. Of course, we couldn't all ride in the same boat or attraction together but like I said above we all split up during the day and only did a few attractions together. After we filled one boat the next of our groups got in the boats behind (thinking of Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean). Depending on which resort you'll be staying at will depend on the Seasonal Rates at each resort. Some have value rates during the week prior to the 4th of July and if your trip extends over to the 4th you keep the same rate as the rate of the first day of your stay. Keep a watch for discounts at www.mousesavers.com

I hope this has helped some!

 

[Mariaºoº]

One other thought, you might want to consider late August time period as this is normally when Disney has the Free Dining Plan. The Free Dining Plan starts August 13th this year. Not sure when your kids school would begin, but my kidlets schools don't start until the day after Labor Day. This could really help out with the budget! Just to give you an idea of the cost it was $435 per adult for Value Resort and this includes room for 5 nights, tickets and 1 snack, 1 counter service and 1 table top service meal each day of your stay. We took advantage of it this year and the total cost for upgrading to CBR and upgraded tickets came to $1275 and we don't have to worry about the cost of food!

 

[Coopsmum77]

Thanks for all the information. I want to give my grandparents as much info as possible before the book. The info on the Free Dining Plan is a great idea, as there are some in the family with tight budgets. Does Disney run this promo every year in August?

 

[mma]

You should definitely go in Sept.! If you have gone three times you know how crowded it is. With forty people the time of year you go will either make it a fantastic trip or a horrible trip. We go in Sept. and always take our kids out of school without any problem. A 50th anniversary is a once in a life time event so why not make it the best possible instead of the worst? All of your kids teachers would understand a big event like this. When we went last Sept. the last week of Sept. you could stay on the rides twice if you wanted and I could walk around with my eyes closed and not bump in to anyone it was so empty. Labor day weekend is busy but all the rest of Sept. is great. We are trying the last week of Jan. this year to see if we can find another very low crowd time. Please be smart and don't even consider going during a busy time. Good luck!

 

[mma]

I forgot to add that the free dining plan runs thru the end of Sept. so yall can eat for free too.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

But, there are no guarantees that Disney will offer free dining next year. I personally would never go during 4th of July, but my best friend goes that week every year. With a group of your size, I would say don't try to keep everyone together in the parks, just meet up at meal times. I'm going in Sept. with a group of 23, and there's no way I would try to keep everyone together. We tried that before with 16 of us and it just doesn't work. There are too many age groups that want to do different things, not to mention that trying to move through the crowd on the 4th of July with a group that size would be nearly impossible. You'll have to go through group dining for all of your ADR's, but you don't have to go through group services for your rooms and tickets. We have 6 rooms booked right now, 3 at CSR, 2 at ASMo and 1 at ASMu. We booked through Magical Gatherings so all of our ressies are linked, but everyone pays their own, decides on whatever kind of tickets they want, etc. Have a group meeting with everyone and discuss what everyone's expecatations are. The older folks in the crowd might want to take things slow, while the teenagers and younger adults may want to do as much as possible. You'll have to plan around everyone's needs, so it's best to get those out there as soon as you can. Have fun planning, I hope it turns out great!

 

[Coopsmum77]

We have gone at the end of September before, and I agree, it was super. We do have a divorce situation though, that we think the ex might not allow the kids to be pulled out of school. She didn't have a prob last time, but they were still married.

We normally do our own thing, but we do like to try to eat together a couple of times during the week, esp. since it's their anniversary.

Thanks again!!

 

[Mariaºoº]

We have gone at the end of September before, and I agree, it was super. We do have a divorce situation though, that we think the ex might not allow the kids to be pulled out of school. She didn't have a prob last time, but they were still married.

We normally do our own thing, but we do like to try to eat together a couple of times during the week, esp. since it's their anniversary.

Thanks again!!

I was in the same situation with seperation/divorce. My Ex was fine to pull kidlets out of school while we were married and fine with us going on a Disney Vacation, but when we were in the middle of a divorce he threw a fit that he wanted his son the week that we were planning to go to Disney (over 4th of July). The Judge sided with my Ex and told me that we would have to reschedule our vacation which couldn't be done because this was a month prior to our vacation, our whole family couldn't switch their vacation dates with work, we had rented a house and would lose the deposit that we made, etc... etc... etc... In the end my Ex caved and allowed me to take our son (almost a year old) to Disney with us. However, right after the court my father had a massive heart attack. My father came with me to the court hearing. Thank God he made it through, but that year was absolutely horrible. I feel for your family member going through the same crap. Plan your vacation during the time that your family member will be able to go. This past year Disney did the Free Dining Plan from August 13-Sept 30th. This is not guaranteed that they do this the same time every year, but since they've done it for a couple of years in a row now I would pretty much assume they'll do it again next year. Most kids are starting back to school during that time, teachers are going back to work to prepare for the new year, hurricanes, etc... have kept attendance low so they normally offer either the free dining or offer cheaper room rates. Room rates were dropped even lower a couple of weeks ago for this same time frame.

One thing I would suggest everyone in the family to do is give each other Disney money as gifts throughout the year until the vacation. It's a great way to save money for the trip and a great way for the kids to have money for souvenirs.

 

[Coopsmum77]

Wow! That sounds like it was a tough year for you. It would be nice to have a crystal ball to see if they are going to offer the free dining next year.

I have already suggested the Disney money thing to people, and like it or not, that's what they're getting from me. They'll be grateful when the trip comes around.

 

[Mariaºoº]

Yep, they sure will!

 

[AInWonderland]

We had a group of 29 the week prior to the 4th this year and it was great. We stayed at Old Key West in a grand villa and 5 studios. As for tickets the best rate I have found is through the mousesavers link to ticketmania. You need to sign up for the mousesavers newsletter. This way every family can purchase however many days they want. We ate quite a few meals in the grand villa and had a couple of barbeques by the pool. We did have a group meal at Ohana and everyone loved it. Group dining will help you arrange for a large group and you are limited to either the first or last seating of the day. We did have 2 cars but for the most part we used Disney transportation. I hope your family has a wonderful trip!!

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

I agree with the other posters 100% about splitting up the group. It is a good idea to get the height requirements for the rides and measure the kids a week in advance to get an idea of who will be able to ride what ride and then group the kids accordingly. A kid will have a melt down at the park when he finds out that his favorite 2 cousins are tall enough to ride a certain ride & he is not. I am an adult who doesn't ride the thrill rides & I know how miserable it is to waste time at the exits of these rides waiting on the other members of my group. That is why I am so much in favor of separating.

 

[Coopsmum77]

Has anyone bought their tickets at the Disney Store? The price is cheaper there, but my question is whether they will transfer them to your room key so you only have one card to look for. I know i wouldn't be able to keep track of my head if it wasn't attached.

Thanks!

 

[Coopsmum77]

Hey All,

I have a new question, if anyone can answer.

How crowded was it right before the Free Dining promo kicked in? I'm thinking maybe the week right before might be a good idea. All the late hours and benefits of summer, but a smaller crowd.

 

[mrzrich]

We were there the weekend before free dining this year and the crowds were great

I mean not Second week of January great, but great for summer

 

[badblackpug]

Since you are in the North your kids probably don't go back to school until after labor day (like mine) I think the last week of August would be better. Almost all the southern school districts return in mid - late August, so the crowds aren't as bad...and there is that free dining thing! We went one year over July 4th, and it was MOBBED! The MK and the h2o parks filled to capacity early and closed. Of course, if you are on-site WDW guests you are guaranteed admission. Did you ever think of "renting" DVC points and getting a couple of villas that families could share? It may be cheaper than hotel rooms.

 

[goofy4tink]

All things being equal...I would opt for the 2nd or 3rd week in August. If free dining is offered it is usually after the third week if I remember correctly. So, if you aren't going to be able to take advantage of the free dining, then head down at a time of lesser crowds. Schools up here, in NE, head back to school the last week in August....8/30 for my dd. So, that week starting with the 11th or 18th would be decent weeks....the 18th being the least crowded, unless they start free dining at that point.
If possible, have a few people in your group get the AP, then you can qualify for the DDE, gets you 20% off most food purchases. But, each card is only good for a total of 10 people at a meal, so you would need more than one card.

We were there in mid-June one year, and it was hot/humid/really crowded!! There is no way I would go back from mid-JUne until mid-August. Just way too many people in all that sticky hot weather. Everyone got testy, really early in the day!!

 

[Coopsmum77]

Did you ever think of "renting" DVC points and getting a couple of villas that families could share? It may be cheaper than hotel rooms.

That would be a great thing, but I think there would be a Pirates style mutiny as we have "issues" that won't allow certain people to be in the same rooms as others. Kind of sad, as these are all the adults.

 

[Coopsmum77]

If possible, have a few people in your group get the AP, then you can qualify for the DDE, gets you 20% off most food purchases. But, each card is only good for a total of 10 people at a meal, so you would need more than one card.

This is a really good idea, even if it is one person out of each immediate family group that has this. Then we could go back within a year as well. Does this discount apply everywhere?