Need recomendations on multi family trip

[allforpooh]

All,

This question is for people who have traveled with multiple families. We have decided to sort of treat ( room only) my DH's 2 brothers and their families. There will be 3 families 4 people in each family. The kids -girls / 19,11 mine & 7, boys are 17, 15, 5..

The family with the younger kids have never been and are part of the reason why we decided to do this.

We are looking at off season, both DBIL's are farmers so there are limited months we can go - Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar....

Considering BCV or BW- might even consider GV if it would be worth it. - I will have 640 points without borrowing.

What helpful hints do you have from your own experiences, we are a pretty mellow group and usually take the parks and the week in general in a relaxed manner.

Any fun surprises or special things I could do to make it a very special trip.

Thanks for any help
Denise

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

With such a large group you should go to the WDW web site and check out the new information on Magical Gatherings. They have specially designed programs for groups of 8 or more. They have a whole planning packet that you can send away for to help you with the process.

Yopu know your family and probably have a good idea whether you would all make it in one GV or not. From what you say, it sounds like you can.

HBC

 

[Dean]

A GV would be great but what is your home resort. You might be able to get a GV at OKW at 7 months out for Jan or Feb, you will need the 11 month window calling day by day for BWV. Personally, I'd get a 2 BR plus either one or two studio at OKW or the same at BWV standard view if you can or a combo of Preferred and standard. This will be about the same points at OKW as the GV and will give you more privacy, beds and the like. The OKW kitchen in the 2 BR will be functional for that group but the ones at BWV or BCV will not unless you get the GV at BWV. For that size group, you should rent a large van or one Minivan plus another car anyway so OKW shouldn't be that much of a deal from a location standpoint. Good luck.

 

[AZKathy]

We just did this this summer! We had three families who were friends, not family members. Five in two families and one family had the mom and daughter. Total of 12.

The first week, we stayed in two two bedrooms at Vistana Resort on the mom and daughter's time share. The second week, we got a grand villa at OKW. OKW GV's are incredible! Just fantastic!
We had some gender issues with the kids and their ages, so we put an aerobed up in the loft for the two eight year old girls to sleep on, it was out of the way and we just stood it up to have a pathway during the day.

We rented two vehicles for our off site stay. We got a mini van and a full size car. All arrived at different times, so we had no problems with luggage except when changing resorts. We put all the seats down in the van and loaded it up with all the luggage and made a few trips for the luggage and then the people. Kind of a pain. We did not think of that problem but got through it. The week we were at OKW, we returned the full size car at the car care center and the van did not move until it was time to head to the airport!

I had posted about getting a grand villa when planning the trip and people warned me about getting on each other's nerves and such for the grand villa. Honestly, we got along great for the two weeks! There was no major scuffles except between siblings! The grand villa was very comfortable and it was nice to have four full bathrooms when it came to shower time!

We made a trip to the grocery store and shared the costs there, otherwise, we paid for our own meals, split the cost for the rental cars and the illuminations cruise (which I highly recommend for your group!!!).

We dined at a lot of different places and it averaged out about the same for each family. I believe the bills averaged $360+/meal for the 12 of us. We tried to get group pictures taken at Chef Mickey's and Mickey's Backyard Barbecue, and both places LOST our photos! Go figure! To compensate, they gave us pictures in front of Cinderella's Castle at no cost for each family.

We are doing another multi family gathering for Thanksgiving 2004. I plan on taking advantage of the Magical Gatherings when I make reservations in December!!!!

 

[WOW]

We had three families at OKW last June and it was great.
We had 2 2BR's for 10 days. It was really great!.. .. We did the illuminations cruise and that was spectacular!!!!!!! We also did the Brown Derby with VIP for Fantasmic---no waiting in line. We were also celebrating my Aunt's 90th birthday and we went to Cinderella's Castle for lunch and they were grrrreat with her. We went to Hoop De Doo and the Polynesian Luau (it has a new name but I can't remember it). We have been to both before but it was a great time. We can't wait to do it again!!!!!!!!!

I think I am redundent with the GREAT, but it really was. Have a great time.

 

[allforpooh]

Thanks for the reply's,

Our home resort is BCV, I was also leaning toward the seperate rooms so everyone would have more privacy or a place to go to escape if needed.

It's starting to look like the vote is for the first week of March which means more points but oh well it will be fun.

Great idea about the van, and the web site. I had no idea that WDW did anything special with large groups.

Thanks again,
Off to planning I go....

Denise

 

[allforpooh]

Another question on Magical Gatherings- the web site says WDW Hotels does anyone know if DVC is eligible?

They also have a great planner you can download, it looks like alot of fun....

Thanks
Denise

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by allforpooh
Another question on Magical Gatherings- the web site says WDW Hotels does anyone know if DVC is eligible?

They also have a great planner you can download, it looks like alot of fun....

Thanks
Denise

Yes, DVC is eligible. I talked to Magical Gatherings on the phone and I had to make reservations first before I could go any farther, though. Guess I will be talking to them again in December!

 

[Disney Doll]

If you think you cann all stay together for week without really getting on each other's nerves, then a GV would work. However, if you think that a little "space" might be in order, I'd gor for a 2BR and a studio, so that the couple with the littler kids can be in the studio, but you'd still have the full kitchen and the washer.dryer for all to use. The 2BR unit can be the "central" location. We did this last year with DH & I, 2 couples, & a single. DH & I, the single, and one of the couples stayed in a 2BR, and the 2nd couple stayed in a studio just down the hall. Our 2BR was the central meeting place for breakfast etc. The studio couple just came by in the AM, we all had easy breakfast and then went along our way.

The other advice I would give you with a large group is to be willing to split off sometimes. You are not going to be able to please everybody all at once with everything everyone wants to do, so be willing to say "OK, you go here and we'll go there and we'll meet later at wherever". We did that several times and it works out nicely. You have to make sure all the people in the group realize that it's going to be that way though, so no one gets offended.

I'd also look into planning a couple of group events, like the Hoop-Dee-Do Review or the Poly Luau or the IllumiNations cruise...those are fun with a group.

Happy planning!!!!!!!

 

[InstImpres]

I had posted about getting a grand villa when planning the trip and people warned me about getting on each other's nerves and such for the grand villa. Honestly, we got along great for the two weeks!
[/B]

Kathy -

Is your family looking for any extra people? We can't even make it through a planning session without a major scuffle (5 families - 14 people)

I'd even be happy to kick in some of my points so you aren't offsite for a week

Oh well, thank goodness I have a solo trip planned too!
Sandy

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by InstImpres
Kathy -

Is your family looking for any extra people? We can't even make it through a planning session without a major scuffle (5 families - 14 people)

I'd even be happy to kick in some of my points so you aren't offsite for a week

Oh well, thank goodness I have a solo trip planned too!
Sandy

Sandy,
We were kinda nervous about how we would fare, believe me! We met twice at one of the groups' homes for dinner and planning. One family had never been to WDW and DL only once, so they let the other two families plan and they went with the flow! There was little times where we split up, either. One morning my family was just too tired after eride night to get up for the Storybook breakfast, but the other two families went and we met up later in Epcot. Thank goodness for cell phones!

We had such a great time together that we are planning another trip with the three families in 2007 when the father gets done with his physician assistant school; that is also when they are going to jump into DVC!

By the way, we hated Vistana Resort! We were put in the older section and we had many many problems with the villas including terrible cigarette odors that would not go away and iddy biddy ants invading our villa. Will not stay there again!

 

[dianeschlicht]

You have gotten great advice so far! Dean is right on with his asessment of where and why.

We have stayed in an OKW GV with 3 and 1/2 families and it was GREAT! We all get along great, and the OKW GV has plenty of privacy with the two upstairs bedrooms being on oposite end of the "bridge" and very far removed from the downstairs master.
We had one couple and their adult divorced daughter and grandson in the room with the 2 queens. Their son's family with 3 small children took the larger upstairs room with the 2 double beds, and the little one slept on an air mat on the floor. We took the master, and our adult DS slept on the living room pull out.

We were 11 people ranging in age from 4 to 60. We had each family group plan one major meal for the week. They could choose the time they were preparing it, and everyone else would be informed the night before. We planned each day the night before, and planned to start each day together and seperate after we saw the things we wanted to do together. We had specific times to meet for key events and meals. It worked out great, and nobody got lost or was late ever! They did rely on us pretty heavily the first couple of days, because it was a first WDW trip for all of them.

WE had such a good time, we all decided to do it again 5 years later! I am planning that very trip right now! I called today for the first day of our October/04 GV ressie! The oldest child will be a senior this year, so it was a great time to go again!

I will be getting my Grand Gathering number tomorrow when I call for our next night.

 

[allforpooh]

Thanks everyone, it really helps to have input from people who know.

We have decided, 2 bdrm with a Studio- after Dean's suggestion I sat down and worked out the points several times and for BCV it is alot less points then the Grand Villa also a little more privacy.

We also might try the BWV, but we can reserve BCV at 11 months.

I also think illuminations cruise is a must, now I just have to get it.

Great idea about the Brown Derby and Fantasmic...

I am not sure we will cook anything big, more breakfast and sandwich kind of things so the kitchen will probably not be a problem.


AZKathy,

Thanks for finding out about magical gatherings I meant to call today while I was at work, but time got away from me and I didn't think of it until the drive home.

Again thanks for all of your help...

Denise