Never travelled w/ a big group b4- does this plan work?

[forgetyourtroubles!]

We will have a group of 9- 4 grandparents and 3 kids and DH and I. I would love to have your thoughts about the plan for a large group. The WHOLE group will only be there for 4 days. They might want to "just be w/ us" the whole time. I'm thinking splitting up might be good for everyone part of the time. ??

Staying at Beach Club-

Day 1(Fri)- Character Breakfast all together (Beach club) , on to Epcot, move as a group until 2:00 Teppanyaki lunch. Then split up until illuminations. Food & Wine snacks for dinner.

Day 2 (Sat)- Animal Kingdom 9 am until lunch at Tusker House, split up after lunch, meet for Spectro @ MK.

Day 3 (Sun)- Split up for the morning, 4:00 group meal at LTT, then MNSSHP

Day 4 (Mon)- MGM
Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I'm leaving soon with a group of 18, so I know how you feel! We have some of the people in our group that are staying for 5 days, the rest of us will be there for 8. That made it really hard, trying to fit in everything that they wanted to see before they leave. I have one ps per day, except our AK/TL day, since some of them don't want to do the water park. I've told everyone that we probably won't stay together, but they all want to be with me, since I've planned everything and done all the research! UUUGGG! I'll do a trip report when I get back and let you guys know what worked for our large group and what didn't.

 

[daisy112878]

We usually go to WDW with at least 8 people and sometimes even more. We have one PS group ressie per day except one day which is considered a free day. Usually the free day every family eats on their own. It works for us. We usually discuss where everyone is going the next day the night before. This way everyone knows where everyone is and if we want to go together no one gets left behind. Usually our park days are planned around PSs.

 

[2tinksmom]

Wow! You get to split up???? There will be 11 of us going in November, 5 who have never been before. We'll have 3 grandparents and 4 kids under the age of 12. I kinda look forward to us all being together the whole time. I love seeing the look on someone's face the first time they see a little Disney magic, both young and old!! Of course, I just hope we're all still talking to each other after the trip, lol!

 

[Laurarn]

We just returned from a week at wdw. We were a group of 13, which included grandparents, uncles, and parents and 5 children ages 3-13. this was our first visit to wdw. We booked one ps a day and that worked out well. The family really enjoyed Chef Mickey's for breakfast and the Spirit of Aloha dinner show. We stayed at the Poly. We went to MK our first morning. Trying to walk around as a group in those crowds, was like hearding sheep...you're constantly accounting to make sure everyone is in tow. the family time was nice and we have great memories, but I think it helped that we did split up for a while each day and do our own thing. It kept everyone happy. Some of us did more parks, others preferred relaxing at the pool at the hotel. In the end, I think everyone got to do what they had hoped at wdw.

 

[rjmom]

For our first two days, we'll be a group of 10 - 2 sets of grandparents, 3 parents and 3 kids (2 age 7 and 1 age 2 1/2). I originally didn't want to waste 2 of my precious 3 (possibly 4) days at Disney with 1 set of the gps since they have never been to Disney, let alone an amusement park, and think they are royalty [can you tell who the in-laws are? lol]

But after rethinking, I also didn't think we needed to spend a day at Sea World so early in our trip.

So we plan on Saturday at MK, Sunday starting at AK and ending at Epcot. We'll use our other days [after 1 set of gps leave] at the other WDW parks, revisiting things the kids enjoyed most or missed and at US/IOA. Our total visit will be 7 park days [3-4 WDW/ 2-5 US-IOA/ Other?] with a possible extra day on our "return home" day.

We'll have MAW/GKTW buttons (and 1 grandparent will probably get a GAC) so I am not as worried about lines and the in-laws probably won't be going on too many of the rides anyway.

As far as meals, breakfast on our own at our respective lodging and carrying some snacks with. I have NO PS' (I guess I should have done my research earlier). I figure we'll need a midday break at which time we could all be on our own for dinner outside of the park or find a place to meet back at.

Any ideas/suggestions are appreciated and welcome. I've been doing so much of reading on this board and research hotel/tix pricing for the rest of the group that I now need to focus on packing and each day's itinerary - rides to hit, etc. I do have the Unofficial Guide to WDW which should help as well.

Thanks!!

<9 days (or less) to go...>

 

[Yensid_MD]

I coordinated a group of 32 people and think you have a very good plan in mind. This way you can say we will see you at dinner and have a good day and not offend anyone.

 

[forgetyourtroubles!]

Thanks for your thoughts. I think I'll propose this as "the plan" and then if some people are getting weary of some other people, "the plan" allows them to separate, just as if it were planned that way all along. No hard feelings. If everyone just wants to stay with us, (which is what I predict IF everyone is being their "nice self" which they usually are), then they can continue to move with us and we will just breiflly split for thrill-riders VS. non-thrill riders.

 

[Terry S]

I didn't read if they grand parents had been to WDW world before? When we took my parents the first time and arrived at MK prepared to go straight to the rides when it was not packed, my mom wanted to stop in all the shops and shop on the way down mainstreet. I was trying to tell her that she would have plently of time to do that later when the lines at the ride were longer and she was a bit bothered that I rushed her. I tried to tell her she could just meet up with us at a ride, but she didn't want to seperate since she didn't know where she was going. After the first day when she realized how the park got crowed as the the day progressed she understood, but it might be a good idea to explain ahead of time that you will skip the shops at first.

 

[mommystieg]

We did a Grand Gathering in June--there 14 of us in total (including 2 grandparents and 5 kids ages 13-4). We were there 8 days so we did a couple of big group meals and we all met up for Fantasmic! the night before the first family returned home. We were pretty much in the same parks on the same days but we did not hang out together. We did an E-Ride Night for the families with kids so they could spend some ride time together. We all stayed at the BCV on the same floor but the rooms were not real close to each other. It worked out great--my only regret was not scheduling a group meal later in the trip so that we could all talk about what everybody had seen and done during the week. Have fun!!

 

[llij]

We've done two big group trips. The one in 2002 was with my family and it included 10 of us. We stuck to each other like glue for pretty much most of the trip. It was a fun trip, but let's just say we were tired by the end b/c it is hard to move as one big group like that (especially with a wide range of ages and interests.)

Our next trip in 2003 was with a group of 24 people and that trip was one of the best we have ever had! My family was still a part of the trip as well as our friends, but we agreed to split up and do "our own thing." We met up each day for a meal (you definitely needed PS for a crew this size!) and caught up on how our days went. It worked like a charm. I guess the key is being flexible and splitting up when needed especially if people in the group have different ideas on what they want to do.

Good luck with your trip and have a wonderful vacation!!

 

[kilee]

Wow! You get to split up???? There will be 11 of us going in November, 5 who have never been before. We'll have 3 grandparents and 4 kids under the age of 12. I kinda look forward to us all being together the whole time.

This was me last year at this time . I was in charge of planning a trip for 12. Of the group 9 were newbies (only me, DH and DS had been before). I really thought we were are going to have this magical trip together, in spite of all the advice I got about splitting up. We had traveled together before and such.

Anyhow, after the 2nd day DH and I were miserable. Everyone had such a different pace that is was hard to "stay together". We weren't enjoying our trip. We didn't know how to "break it to everyone else". As luck would have it-- they were pretty much feeling the same way. My aunt actually was the first to say something. She suggested her and my uncle were gonna go see such and such--- that got the ball rolling. After that point everyone had a WONDERFUL trip. We'd enter the parks together. We'd do 1 or 2 attractions together. Then split up until lunch-- meet and eat together-- do 1 or 2 attractions, split up until the parade, and repeat. It allowed everyone "down time" and allowed us memories together!!! It was the best of both worlds.

We all had such a good time after the "turning point" that we are all going in 2006 and taking a few more newbie family members.

I will be going w/ half the group this upcoming winter and I'm really looking forward to it.

Just wanted to add-- my whole group split up into 2 pool homes. We had 8 in ours (which was a 5 bedroom) and 4 in the other which was a 3 bedroom. They were right by each other. It was wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed having the house-- and w/ that many people going in on it-- it was really cost effective. The other thing---- flying was a lot more fun w/ a large group!

 

[4greatboys]

I suggest Prime Time your MGM day. Usually they are pretty playful with a big group. We had 11 of us when we went in June and had a blast there.
Our group didnt really split up (just 1 day). My bil/sil, neice and nephew had never been before so we were showing them the ropes.