NEWBIE HERE....Please talk me off a limb.

[djm195]

Hey Everyone.

I'm new here but not new to vacationing at WDW. Here's the thing...this May we are celebrating my son's graduation from professional school. I have invited 17 family members to join us as our guests including my 79 year old mother who needs a wheelchair.

I don't know why this is so difficult to plan but I think I bit off more than I can chew. We are staying at Bay Lake Towers in one of the Grand Villas, also another room for overflow since the Villa only accomodates 12.

Does anyone have any ideas about planning for a group this large? Any concerns frustrations, complaints, recommendations, precautions from other members that have traveled with a large group?

Your help would be appreciated.

Best,
David

 

[lovetoscrap]

GET OUT OF THAT TREE!

Okay, now that you have climbed down and are on solid ground and off that limb, take a deep breath.

You are in the perfect place to help you plan this. You will find information on everything you need to know here.

Here is the most important thing that you need to remember: You can't control everyone and everything. I think the advice that you will hear most often is that you need to allow the members of your group to split up and do their own thing. Plan where to meet for Breakfast or dinner and then let everyone form their own groups and do what they want to do. Just make sure Grandma and any small children don't get forgotten! You may have a group that wants to go on the "thrill rides", some that want to focus on the slower rides, some that want to move at a fast pace and some that want to stop often to rest.

You need to decide how many sit down meals you want to do, and get those booked ASAP. Disney has a Grand Gatherings department that will help you with this. They also have some special opportunities for groups that you might want to take advantage of.

You need to figure out if you want Park Hopper tickets or not. They are a little more expensive but they will give everyone more flexibility. You could designate which park the group will go to each day, but be prepared for some to decide they want to do something else.

Relax. You have a place to stay. Make some meal reservations. And then remember this is a fun vacation and let everyone do what they find to be fun.

 

[djm195]

GET OUT OF THAT TREE!

HA! *climbs down, takes deep breath* <grin>

Thanks LTS. Alot of good advice here--especially the Grand Gatherings part. I will definitely look them up.

Erm...when you said: "you can't control everyone and everything" does that mean I shouldn't sweat it if Grandma doesn't want to do Tower of Terror with her wheelchair?!?!?

djm

 

[disneemama]

I am also new here, and I am learning a lot more since I joined. Lovetoscrap is so right, you are in the right place to plan this. Remember don't feel everything needs to be set in stone, and perfect, stay open for to some last minute changes. I had 17 family members for my daughters graduation celebration week, 3 years ago this May and everything worked out great. I had not discovered the boards at that point but picked up a lot of help from other sites. Started reading Dis about that time, info on here is priceless.

 

[churchpilot]

Come often to the boards and you will find all sorts of wisdom and ways to do things as only experienced Disney freaks can. Have a wonderful celebration.

 

[lovetoscrap]

HA! *climbs down, takes deep breath* <grin>

Thanks LTS. Alot of good advice here--especially the Grand Gatherings part. I will definitely look them up.

Erm...when you said: "you can't control everyone and everything" does that mean I shouldn't sweat it if Grandma doesn't want to do Tower of Terror with her wheelchair?!?!?

djm

But you may need to exercise a little control if she decides she wants to ride It's a Small World 47 times in a row. That could get ugly. . . .

It has been a while since I have looked into a Grand Gathering but I know at one time they had some special things you could do (for $$$). I want to say there was a special Breakfast and Safari Ride at Animal Kingdom, and an Illuminations Desert party at Epcot, and maybe one of the Fireworks Cruises. But even without any of that just planning a few meals together that will appeal to everyone will be plenty of fun and togetherness!

If you all go to the same park you could pick an attraction (show or ride) that would be fine for everyone to go together and make a meeting time later in the day to meet there and all enjoy it together. But I would only give about a 5-10 minute grace period for late comers and then just go in. That will save some anxiety and stress.

The good thing is that you can get pretty good cell service throughout the parks so you can always use that to keep in touch.

And God bless you-- I can't think of more than about 4 family members I could stay under the same roof with! Congratulations on your son's graduation.

 

[Metro West]

 

[djm195]

But you may need to exercise a little control if she decides she wants to ride It's a Small World 47 times in a row. That could get ugly. . . .

I have to laugh because our family has a little tradition that we started when our children were little. Allow me to share...

When my daughter was 3, middle son 5 and oldest son was 9 (he is now 25) we were at WDW enjoying a family vacation. I had saved all year for this vacation and it truly was magical.

One night we were out to dinner and the table next to us had three children about the same ages as ours. The kids were clearly over tired and complaining about everything. They complained about the food and they complained about the toys they were playing with, they complained about how hot it was, etc, etc. (you get the drift). It was obvious that the parents were miserable trying to control the kids and at one point they lost their temper. It wasn't pleasant.

After they left and we were eating our dessert, I calmly told my kids that we had a new family rule. "NO ONE IS EVER ALLOWED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING WHILE ON VACATION, I DON'T CARE HOW MISERABLE YOU ARE". The punishment for getting caught complaining: The person has to go to the nearest flag pole or closest public area and sing "It's a Small World" before anyone is allowed to continue with what we are doing.

To this day, it remains an unwritten law for us while we are on vacation. We have had more laughs over this but, to be honest, I can count on one hand how many times my kids complained over the years. Works like a charm. And yes, before I get asked, I stood in front of the fountain at EPCOT singing one year. LOL!

Seriously, it's amazing how my kids have gotten around this. One night while at Illuminations, it was very cold...practically could see your breath. My son who was 12 at the time looked over at my wife and I and said...."Okay...this is NOT a complaint but an OBSERVATION. Is anyone else freezing their butt off?" LMAO! At least he wasn't complaining. (He's graduating from law school this May--he'll make a good lawyer.)

 

[Mrs D]

I have to laugh because our family has a little tradition that we started when our children were little. Allow me to share...

When my daughter was 3, middle son 5 and oldest son was 9 (he is now 25) we were at WDW enjoying a family vacation. I had saved all year for this vacation and it truly was magical.

One night we were out to dinner and the table next to us had three children about the same ages as ours. The kids were clearly over tired and complaining about everything. They complained about the food and they complained about the toys they were playing with, they complained about how hot it was, etc, etc. (you get the drift). It was obvious that the parents were miserable trying to control the kids and at one point they lost their temper. It wasn't pleasant.

After they left and we were eating our dessert, I calmly told my kids that we had a new family rule. "NO ONE IS EVER ALLOWED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING WHILE ON VACATION, I DON'T CARE HOW MISERABLE YOU ARE". The punishment for getting caught complaining: The person has to go to the nearest flag pole or closest public area and sing "It's a Small World" before anyone is allowed to continue with what we are doing.

To this day, it remains an unwritten law for us while we are on vacation. We have had more laughs over this but, to be honest, I can count on one hand how many times my kids complained over the years. Works like a charm. And yes, before I get asked, I stood in front of the fountain at EPCOT singing one year. LOL!

Seriously, it's amazing how my kids have gotten around this. One night while at Illuminations, it was very cold...practically could see your breath. My son who was 12 at the time looked over at my wife and I and said...."Okay...this is NOT a complaint but an OBSERVATION. Is anyone else freezing their butt off?" LMAO! At least he wasn't complaining. (He's graduating from law school this May--he'll make a good lawyer.)

to the DIS!

I love this story and may employ this tactic myself!

Here's a little info about Grammie in the wheelchair. My Mom rents an ECV (we rent offsite at Buena Vista Scooter rentals)for every trip now. She could walk it, but would go much slower than she (or is it me) would like. She would have to take frequent rests and couldn't do it multiple days in a row. Now that she has discovered how EASY Disney makes touring in an ECV she won't go with out one.

You can do ANY ride/attraction in Disney using an ECV/wheelchair. Some you need to be able to get out of the wheelchair and into the regular ride vehicle, while others you can wheel right onto a special ride vehicle! When you go to the entrance of an attraction ask that very first CM how to proceed with a person in a wheelchair. They will direct you to where you need to go. The CMs are truly wonderful in how they assist guests with mobility needs.

You can find LOTS of info on the disABILITIES forum.

HTH!

 

[djm195]

Mrs D, thank you for the very nice welcome and for your wonderful post.

Last night I was talking with our children about having their grandmother with us and the whole ECV thing. They decided that maybe it would be best if I took my Mom ahead of everyone else when we traveled and then meet them at our destination. My kids are sensitive to the "privilege my default phenomenon" that occurs with parties of handicapped members. They are very sensitive to that.

Mom has offered to stay back at the hotel while we are at the parks. My kids won't hear of it and told her that they really want her to be with them. (As long as I'm the one doing all the transferring and assisting...geesh. Wait...did that sound like a complaint?) Shhhh.....

To be honest, I can't imagine that she'll go on any rides but I know she'll love to see us carrying on and laughing. (We do that rather well...LOL!!!). My kids told me that I just can't act like I know them when we are traveling or if Gramma decides she wants to go on SOARIN'. (Have I mentioned how I used to like my kids alot more when they were little?)

djm

 

[disney2mom]

 

[Disn3y]

Welcome to the DIS!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Hello! Sounds like you are going to have an AWESOME trip! You definetly have the right attitude. We have done family reunions, but at DLR, not WDW. My kids have the best memories from those days!!!

 

[MommyBell08]

You are in the right place and you can do it! I would say to make a list of questions you have and you should be able to find your answeres on this site using the 'search' or posting new threads. Good luck!

 

[mk199]

welcome!