Overwhelmed Booking for A Group of 12!!!!!!!

[jsrj21]

So I've been assigned booking fastpasses for a group of 12 for our upcoming trip in August. I've been doing good [at least I think] covering the attractions/rides that everyone wants but I can't stop feeling like we'll be "rushed" through the week. When it's just my family [DW, DS] we do ALOT....and don't feel rushed. We resort hop, park hop, and can be spontaneous. With this group, I'm worried that we won't be able to....

I'm wondering if anyone who's gone with a group has ever felt this way? Maybe I'm overthinking this and worried that people won't have a good time.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We are just like your family - we do a lot. We travel with a group of 8-12 often. We are doing it this summer and this is what I plan to do. I would just ask if there are any must do's that they want. Make the ADRs and initial fastpasses. Make an excel spreadsheet with what the plans are and send it to everyone. If anyone isn't interested they can make changes - even while you are there. We do that often. As long as no one gets upset with the other you all should be good. We went with close friends once that are opposite from our family in energy level. While we were there we were changing fastpasses and ADRs all the time. They were so tired one day that they spent the day in bed and ordered room service. When we went to the restaurant - 2 of them didn't come - they were prepared to pay for the no show - which we weren't charged. We realize that everyone has different ways to do Disney - no one is right or wrong. We didn't get upset at all. Those friends still talk about what a great time they had - tiring but fun. Enjoy!

 

[minera]

I just finished final edits and planning our July trip for a Group of 12. We decided on everything, and I scheduled everything. I made it very clear to everyone travelling with us that here is the schedule, it is done, I have scheduld everything out. However, while we are there I am not a babysitter. If you are not where you should be accordng to the schedule, we continue on without you. No fuss, no muss. That includes myself and my daughter if we decide to divert from schedule, they should not wait for us. It works well for our group. This way, expectations are set early and everyone knows that it is okay to divert from plans, be late, etc... but nobody is waiting on them.

 

[BaseballMoM2007]

We just got back from disney with a group of 50+. 90% of our trip was spent with two other families so a group of 12/13. We were defintley slowed down from the pace we make when it is just the 3 of us. We were prepared for it to be different this time and were fine with that. There are alot more bathroom breaks with 13 people than 3. We had a good spreadsheet going in but had to drop stuff everyday and everyone was fine with that we just did the best we could and everyone was happy. We would divide up sometimes for the bigger kids and smaller kids other times we would do rider swap and the small kids would just wait or meet nearby characters while the big kids rode stuff. You can save some of the rider swaps for later in the week check the dates on them so you aren't waiting on Kids to get to ride something twice.

 

[mindeola]

Having a plan with a large group is important. I am always the one in charge with our gang. I set a plan for FP and ADR's. If we split up or get a late start at least everyone knows where to meet for those. It can be challenge, but I love traveling with my big family.

 

[rwdavis2]

You could always let everyone do their own thing and meet up for some meals. I can't imagine 12 people staying on the same schedule for a week. You need to have a plan when it starts to fall apart.

As was said, at least see what they all want to do. Rope drop or not? Thrill rides? etc.

 

[jsrj21]

I just finished final edits and planning our July trip for a Group of 12. We decided on everything, and I scheduled everything. I made it very clear to everyone travelling with us that here is the schedule, it is done, I have scheduld everything out. However, while we are there I am not a babysitter. If you are not where you should be accordng to the schedule, we continue on without you. No fuss, no muss. That includes myself and my daughter if we decide to divert from schedule, they should not wait for us. It works well for our group. This way, expectations are set early and everyone knows that it is okay to divert from plans, be late, etc... but nobody is waiting on them.

Agreed 100%. We are meeting at my house this Thursday and I am going to give everyone a spreadsheet with the FP plans. I did get everyone's must-do's and I organized the days we're visiting certain parks according to extra magic hours etc. Interesting this year that AK will be open lat so we have to make it back there for an evening. One of the persons has a hip issue so I built in times for us to head back to the resort so he can rest up a bit...but at the same time, while he's doing that, we can continue my family tradition of resort hopping and the like. They've all told me that whatever I do, they'll be fine with. I just hope they mean it because once I'm there, like "minera" said, I am not babysitting!

On a side-note, being that we're going with such a big group and won't have time to be on our own very much, I've added two days to our trip. Our friends are going for a week but we'll be staying for 10 days.... This will be nice and since next year, we're planning on skipping WDW for a trip to the Southwest, it'll be extra nice!

 

[Delirium]

On the first ride each day, I encourage the three of you to take the chicken exit, tell the rest of the party you'll meet them after they finish the ride, use the opportunity to 'accidently' get lost, and then hop to a different park. Hopefully, it will take them 2-3 days to figure out you're doing it on purpose.

 

[Whilykit]

So I've been assigned booking fastpasses for a group of 12 for our upcoming trip in August. I've been doing good [at least I think] covering the attractions/rides that everyone wants but I can't stop feeling like we'll be "rushed" through the week. When it's just my family [DW, DS] we do ALOT....and don't feel rushed. We resort hop, park hop, and can be spontaneous. With this group, I'm worried that we won't be able to....

I'm wondering if anyone who's gone with a group has ever felt this way? Maybe I'm overthinking this and worried that people won't have a good time.

I did our group of 17 a few weeks back and literally had a migraine for a week afterward. Then emailed everyone was said - DO WHAT YOU WANT! lol - its too hard!

 

[Peachkins]

I just finished final edits and planning our July trip for a Group of 12. We decided on everything, and I scheduled everything. I made it very clear to everyone travelling with us that here is the schedule, it is done, I have scheduld everything out. However, while we are there I am not a babysitter. If you are not where you should be accordng to the schedule, we continue on without you. No fuss, no muss. That includes myself and my daughter if we decide to divert from schedule, they should not wait for us. It works well for our group. This way, expectations are set early and everyone knows that it is okay to divert from plans, be late, etc... but nobody is waiting on them.

Yes, totally agree. We have a group of ten going, and my brother and I scheduled everything with input from the group. We plan to make it clear that this is the plan we're going to stick to, including being at the parks when they open, but if anyone wants to deviate it's perfectly fine. Almost everyone in our group will be an adult, and we'll all have cell phones with us. If we get separated, no big deal.

 

[Lehuaann]

I take care of our large groups (12-15 this past trip) and always end up with a headache no matter what, lol. Good luck!

 

[bushdianee]

A couple of years ago I went with my 3 sisters, 1 brother in law 2 nieces (3&7) and a nephew (5). 3 of us sisters and 1 niece were Disney veterans and the other sister and her family were newbies. This was before fast pass+. so ADRs were really the only thing we had to pre-plan. I had the sisters over one day and we went over all of the restaurants we were interested in and looked at their menus and mapped out a tentative schedule. We had backups in case I couldn't get certain places. We then planned our parks and days around the ADRs which were almost all dinners. I'm not a thrill ride person so if the other adults wanted to do coasters I'd take the kids to a play area or to get a snack. We ended up sticking together most of the time. A couple of times 1 sister and I would take the kids back to the resort for a swim before bedtime while the other sister showed the 4th sister and brother in law around for more adult rides and things the kids couldn't/wouldn't do. The married sister and brother in law had their anniversary a couple of weeks after the trip so the rest of us took the kids and let them have an evening in EPCOT by themselves. We did pretty good with no arguing or pouting. the main thing was we agreed to flexible if need be. My brother in law took my nephew for daddy/son time while the nieces did BBB with mom and aunts. My sister wanted all of us to experience her family's first time with them.

 

[Indychick]

I always have to plan for everyone too. I make the ADRs, FP, etc. and everyone just follows me around like lemmings. I found with FP+ I had to get FP for things we didn't really need them for and making things as early in the day as possible was the best since you can't pick another until you've used them (or the time has passed for the last one). We found it next to impossible to get anything good after those three were used so the best option is use them when you have them and try to do standby for everything else. Also if there are any kids who don't want to ride you can do baby swap and some people get an extra ride which is great. I just tell people if they don't want to do something they don't have to and I agree with the group, let them change things if they want. They can download the Disney app and can change FPs that way on their phones while you are there (although when I was there in January it could only be changed the day before unless you used a kiosk in the park on the day of which is NO FUN ). That being said, my lemmings don't usually divert from my plan. I also make sure my FPs go in order in the park of how I want to tour it so that I am not running back and forth since it isn't really worth it anymore now that we can't use the legacy FP system to load up . I find others would rather be led than have to make decisions anyhow (we always have a group of 6 to 12 as well). Good luck to you!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I plan a family trip for 12 every other year. I take care of choosing which park each day, adrs and fastpasses. That said, there are blocks of free time nearly every day and everyone is always free to bow out and meet up at a meal later on. Everyone has a copy of the plans.

 

[Kiersten]

I am traveling with a party of eight (six of us adults) and split up the reservations. We did the granparents on their own, me and my boyfriend on our own reservation, then my boyfriends sister, husband, and two kids on their own. We have our planning meetings but everyone has their own confirmation number and will go online to book their own fastpass and dining reservations. Of course, we will make ours overlap some but then they can also book their separate stuff (like leaving the kids with the grandparents and doing a couples date one night).It's a lot less confusing than it seems.

 

[Accident]

Disney started a call in service specifically to help with large groups.. it should be showing up on your mde account if you have everyone linked in with it's phone number. I just checked and I can't easily find it but when I had a multiple trips it was showing in mde.

 

[Lori74]

best of luck to you! im planning a trip for 14 in august. just breathe and expect some things won't go according to plan. I have itinerary's for everyone. I told them what my family will be doing regardless of their decisions, so there are no surprises when we leave at a certain time and others aren't ready, or the reservations we will be going to even if they decide they don't want to at the last min. I try not to have expectations of everyone outside of my own family, we are all different and I don't want to let them down, or be let down. I told them I would like a big family pic in front of the castle and a meal together once a day if we can work it out, but if it doesn't happen, oh well! we are at Disney world! cant be all that bad! have a great time!!

 

[HM]

There are alot more bathroom breaks with 13 people than 3. .

Our motto is, if someone needs to go, everyone needs to go then, whether they think they do or not. It helps cut down on the number of breaks needed.

 

[Elliemay2]

We are going in Dec with 14. What is the group phone number and what do they help with? Thanks!

 

[Sandy Mouse]

I am putting together a February 2017 trip for 10 - all family. Mine are Lemmings, too. I've never planned or organized for a group this big before, so I'll cross my fingers and hope for pixie dust.