Organising a big group trip ..... quick poll

[*Nessa*]

Hi everyone

Haven’t posted on dis in such a long time but was hoping to run a quick poll with you guys if that's ok ……

Nov 2014 is our 5 yrs wedding anniversary & we were organising an Anniversary Trip. Initially the itinerary I was thinking was roughly around the last Alaskan cruise of the year (Sept) …

• Fly direct to Vancouver & few days to explore
• 7-Night Alaskan Cruise on Disney Wonder
• Staying on board for and cruise the return 4-Night Vancouver to San Diego
• Transfer from San Diego to Disneyland for a week

That said people could join us for parts of it only if they wanted (ie just the week in Disneyland or just the Alaskan Cruise), so my poll questions are:

1) What do you think of calling the trip our “5 yr Wedding Anniversary Celebration” what does that initially say to you? What would you expect? Does anyone have a better name?

2) What do you think of the itinerary?

3) Has anyone ever done DL in a group? I know people usually say 3 days for DL but being my favourite I always stay 5 or more, that said I am a bit worried if others will have enough to do for 5 days. Our group did DTD, AK, MK, Epcot & Hollywood studios in 4.5 days last time & still had heaps left they could have seen. What do you think?

4) I was thinking of sending out little packs to people as a save the date & start saving now kind of thing. I know Sept 2014 is a way off at the moment but it will come around quickly & it will be pricy. I know nothing is certain but what would be a good cut-off date that people need to express interest by?

Thanks in advance for your ideas xx

 

[maryr1oz]

Hi.. We did Disneyland in 2009 with a group of 8 adults. I was the main planner, and I wanted to spend a lot of time in the park. In the end, we stayed in the Anaheim area for about 5 nights. My husband, myself and my sister went into the parks the most, the others varied, and with so any tour options from the hotel everyone had a great time. Some went to Tijuana, Universal Studios and Newport Beach.

Being able to upgrade whatever number of days park admission bought without buying a whole new ticket meant our friends who had never been before could try it and see how they liked it.

How exciting!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

1) What do you think of calling the trip our “5 yr Wedding Anniversary Celebration” what does that initially say to you? What would you expect? Does anyone have a better name?

2) What do you think of the itinerary?

3) Has anyone ever done DL in a group? I know people usually say 3 days for DL but being my favourite I always stay 5 or more, that said I am a bit worried if others will have enough to do for 5 days. Our group did DTD, AK, MK, Epcot & Hollywood studios in 4.5 days last time & still had heaps left they could have seen. What do you think?

4) I was thinking of sending out little packs to people as a save the date & start saving now kind of thing. I know Sept 2014 is a way off at the moment but it will come around quickly & it will be pricy. I know nothing is certain but what would be a good cut-off date that people need to express interest by?

Thanks in advance for your ideas xx

Apologies in advance if these are not quite the answers you were hoping for, but I thought I'd share my honest opinion.

1). I think I would instead call the trip something along the lines of 'A Celebration of Family, Friends and Marriage'. A five year wedding anniversary is really only a big deal for the married couple themselves. When people pay a lot of money to travel across the world for a wedding, they expect everything to revolve around the bride and groom. Not so much for a wedding anniversary unless it's to celebrate something like 50 years. Not saying that you would make the holiday all about you, but that's how your title might come across.

2). I like your itinerary. But I do have to be honest and say that prior to having my son, I wouldn't have been interested in it at all. On the other hand, had I been invited on an Alaskan cruise on a Celebrity boat, followed by 5 nights in Vegas, I would have started packing my bags straight away. I'm not sure of the make-up of your invited friends, and there are of course many adults who love Disney (children or not), but be aware that there may be some people who might not keen to do a whole trip that revolves around the mouse. Perhaps be prepared to throw in a couple of non-Disney options (e.g a tour of L.A.) if not everyone is a Disney fan.

3) Never done Disney as a group, but I'm sure it would be a lot of fun. As above, whether 5 days is too much or not will depend on your friends. The last time I went to DL, one day was enough. Now that my outlook on Disney has changed, 4 or 5 days would probably be about right. WDW, on the other hand, needs quite a few days more.

4) Definitely mention the trip now as people need a lot of time to save for such events. Perhaps put together a little itinerary of the trip with a rough idea of costs and see how many friends are interested in going on the group holiday.

 

[darren123]

Hi
Traveling with a group can be very frustrating to you if you are the planner,
Last years family trip was a bit upsetting to me as I spent hours and hours into planning sat down with everyone and asked what to you want to do and planned things that way.

Come time to do this or that, the answer I got was no I am not wasting my time watching this parade or going on this ride I want to do this.

All the planning I did went out the window, So I would say some may not be as big as a Disney fan as you keep your options open and try not to get to upset if they do not want to do want you have planned.

 

[*Nessa*]

Hi.. We did Disneyland in 2009 with a group of 8 adults. I was the main planner, and I wanted to spend a lot of time in the park. In the end, we stayed in the Anaheim area for about 5 nights. My husband, myself and my sister went into the parks the most, the others varied, and with so any tour options from the hotel everyone had a great time. Some went to Tijuana, Universal Studios and Newport Beach.

Being able to upgrade whatever number of days park admission bought without buying a whole new ticket meant our friends who had never been before could try it and see how they liked it.

How exciting!

Thanks it is very exciting! my family is a little more excited than me ATM for the first time ever! they have been nagging me to arrange another trip after our last one

I was hoping to find someone who had done DL in a group can I ask do you remember which hotel you stayed in? We have only ever stayed off property once & it was not the greatest experience so I love finding off property hotels others can recommend

 

[*Nessa*]

Apologies in advance if these are not quite the answers you were hoping for, but I thought I'd share my honest opinion.

1). I think I would instead call the trip something along the lines of 'A Celebration of Family, Friends and Marriage'. A five year wedding anniversary is really only a big deal for the married couple themselves. When people pay a lot of money to travel across the world for a wedding, they expect everything to revolve around the bride and groom. Not so much for a wedding anniversary unless it's to celebrate something like 50 years. Not saying that you would make the holiday all about you, but that's how your title might come across.

2). I like your itinerary. But I do have to be honest and say that prior to having my son, I wouldn't have been interested in it at all. On the other hand, had I been invited on an Alaskan cruise on a Celebrity boat, followed by 5 nights in Vegas, I would have started packing my bags straight away. I'm not sure of the make-up of your invited friends, and there are of course many adults who love Disney (children or not), but be aware that there may be some people who might not keen to do a whole trip that revolves around the mouse. Perhaps be prepared to throw in a couple of non-Disney options (e.g a tour of L.A.) if not everyone is a Disney fan.

3) Never done Disney as a group, but I'm sure it would be a lot of fun. As above, whether 5 days is too much or not will depend on your friends. The last time I went to DL, one day was enough. Now that my outlook on Disney has changed, 4 or 5 days would probably be about right. WDW, on the other hand, needs quite a few days more.

4) Definitely mention the trip now as people need a lot of time to save for such events. Perhaps put together a little itinerary of the trip with a rough idea of costs and see how many friends are interested in going on the group holiday.

Thanks for being honest, all opinions are welcome I was hoping to find some good points for & against to help me figure out a few things

 

[*Nessa*]

Hi
Traveling with a group can be very frustrating to you if you are the planner,
Last years family trip was a bit upsetting to me as I spent hours and hours into planning sat down with everyone and asked what to you want to do and planned things that way.

Come time to do this or that, the answer I got was no I am not wasting my time watching this parade or going on this ride I want to do this.

All the planning I did went out the window, So I would say some may not be as big as a Disney fan as you keep your options open and try not to get to upset if they do not want to do want you have planned.

Completely agree, planning group events is not for the faint of heart In 09 I planned our disney wedding & the 3 week holiday across the US all our guests took myself. All the flights, accom, visa’s, tickets, wedding the whole thing. It was intense but it worked out in the end and I think you’re spot on with regards to having flexibility, i found the trick was to let go when you arrive at the airport & just enjoy the ride.

 

[battymum]

Who would be attending, is it family or friends?

I'll be honest, I think referencing your anniversary is a little weird - an anniversary trip is usually something romantic, that others may not want to intrude upon.

but if it has been discussed and everyone wants to "re love the fun" then go for it. However don't be disappointed if when it comes to the crunch people may not be as eager to go as they were for your wedding, People will sacrifice to attend a once in a lifetime event, but will be less willing to do so just for fun.

 

[maryr1oz]

We stayed at the Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites - it's just across the crosswalk on S. Harbor. We really just used the room to sleep in, it certainly wasn't fancy. The price was fantastic for us, and the location was wonderful. The room was clean and neat.

We also had a private day tour of LA/Hollywood/Beverly Hills and Venice Beach. It was organised through the guys at http://discountticketsandtours.com/ - i've used them for many many tours and they've always been fantastic.

Let me know if there's anything else i can help with

 

[aussietravellers]

I would head to the weddings board (even though I think it's mainly WDW). There will be a group bookings co-ordinator. I know I was looking at my 40th at WDW and it looked like we were going to have quite a large group, so I was going to do accommodation and function bookings with the help of an event planner.

They will have event planners there. Where you will be able to make a group reservation for hotels, they may also be able to help you plan some special group meals.

I would maybe contact group meetings and see if they can help or point you in the right direction of someone who can maybe help with group accommodation onsite (or contact the individual hotels for group rates, like HoJo's, they do groups). http://www.disneymeetings.com/disneyland/event-group-services/

As for your questions.
The itinerary looks awesome!

I would gather as much information as possible and definitely send out a save the date, some accommodation ideas, any other vague info that you can give out early.

I've never stayed at DL under a week, so with a large group, I would do more than 3 days. They don't have to go to the park every day, the ladies may want a shopping day at South Coast Plaza or a spa day and the men may way to have a night at the basketball or something.

What fun planning something like this! Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds as time goes on.

 

[*Nessa*]

Who would be attending, is it family or friends?

Good question! I probably should have explained that better I have a big & very close family added to which I would include my parents best friends (2 other couples). Along with their kids we have all grown up together, seeing each other every week, same schools, 10 mins from each other’s houses etc. This is the group that would be going, along with perhaps my husband’s siblings, so it’s technically family & friends.

I'll be honest, I think referencing your anniversary is a little weird - an anniversary trip is usually something romantic, that others may not want to intrude upon.

I’m so used to our family that I forget it can be unusual from the outside looking in we have always celebrated everything together birthday, graduations, achievements, holidays, weddings, anniversaries whatever & we have gone on trips for birthday before, no privacy in our family

but if it has been discussed and everyone wants to "re love the fun" then go for it. However don't be disappointed if when it comes to the crunch people may not be as eager to go as they were for your wedding, People will sacrifice to attend a once in a lifetime event, but will be less willing to do so just for fun.

It’s definitely a case of wanting to “re-live” or perhaps “get to live” the fun. My husband embraced my big family however his family is the complete opposite & this is where it gets interesting. Long story short when key new family members refused to travel for our wedding we swapped it round for a big home reception & small Disney wedding. One of the avid naysayers ended up coming at the last minute & you know what….. LOVED every minute of the trip. Literally raved about WDW, the crusie, how we planned it, the whole thing from the minute their planned took off home at LAX.

Ever since then has tried to get us to arrange another trip & go back with the people who missed out the first time and for those that went to “do it again”. We had planned on a WDW Grand Gathering but since these have been cancelled by Disney the Alaska trip has been the front runner.

Everyone does know about it (it won’t be a surprise or out of the blue or anything), it’s now more about making it work for everone, letting people know how much (both time & money) & the drop outs will be due to $$ when the time comes or changes in personal circumstances (babies, new jobs that sort of thing). This time it's not about getting over the "Disney" hurdle it's about making it work for the majority of people.

 

[*Nessa*]

We stayed at the Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites - it's just across the crosswalk on S. Harbor. We really just used the room to sleep in, it certainly wasn't fancy. The price was fantastic for us, and the location was wonderful. The room was clean and neat.

We also had a private day tour of LA/Hollywood/Beverly Hills and Venice Beach. It was organised through the guys at http://discountticketsandtours.com/ - i've used them for many many tours and they've always been fantastic.

Let me know if there's anything else i can help with

We are splurging on the rooms for the cruises, I definitely want to be thrifty with the Anaheim accommodation. That said as some people may only come for the Anaheim part of the trip I want it still to be nice so it’s tough & I think as close to the parks (as most have kids) is key. We also have an electric wheelchair in the group too, so things need to be disabled friendly as we can’t just lift over steps etc. I don’t know anyone who0 has stayed at Anaheim Desert Inn but will check it out thanks

 

[*Nessa*]

I would head to the weddings board (even though I think it's mainly WDW). There will be a group bookings co-ordinator. I know I was looking at my 40th at WDW and it looked like we were going to have quite a large group, so I was going to do accommodation and function bookings with the help of an event planner.

They will have event planners there. Where you will be able to make a group reservation for hotels, they may also be able to help you plan some special group meals.

I would maybe contact group meetings and see if they can help or point you in the right direction of someone who can maybe help with group accommodation onsite (or contact the individual hotels for group rates, like HoJo's, they do groups). http://www.disneymeetings.com/disneyland/event-group-services/

Absolutely the wedding section is great but they do have a distinctly US outlook on things You’re right I should give the meetings dept a call, I had such a bad experience with the wedding dept I have avoided calling them till now. But it will be DL not WDW this time so I’ll give them a call and see as a single point of contact would be so helpful.

I've never stayed at DL under a week, so with a large group, I would do more than 3 days. They don't have to go to the park every day, the ladies may want a shopping day at South Coast Plaza or a spa day and the men may way to have a night at the basketball or something.

I haven't either I think 7 days was my shortest stay love the basketball idea I think that would be excellent!

What fun planning something like this! Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds as time goes on.

thanks, I think you guys are much more qualified to bounce ideas off as my family are just too excitied & the wedding girls get a bit carried away!