Planning a family reunion trip, here's what I have so far. Can you help please?

[hallie]

Hi all! I'm in the process of planning a family reunion trip for this spring. Since I'll the family Disney expert they have put all the PS planning duties on me. I'm a little nervous though because I'm planning for people other then my kids and DH. Here's what I have so far, can I get your opinions please?

We're staying at the Contemporary through SOG.

Arrival day, Saturday- dinner at Chef Mickeys at 7pm. I figured since we're staying there and I don't know when we'll arrive yet this would be a good choice. Plus I think it would be a fun way to kick off the vacation.

Sunday-I have nothing yet but I think we'll be going to the MK that day. Any suggestions for there, I know I have to wait to the 60 day mark still so I have awhile to decide.

Monday- Dinner at Le Cellier at 7pm.

Tuesday- Breakfast at Donalds in AK.

Dinner at Boma.

Wed- Ohana's breakfast at 8am. I'm not sure of this one because I don't know what park we'd going to. Is this a good breakfast or should I try for Chef mickeys again?

I think we'll be going to MGM that day. Any suggestions for dinner there?

At night my Sister and BIL are eating at the Coral Reef.

Thursday- Nothing.

Friday- My parents and sister/BIL are going to the California Grill. We'll probably just do a counter service with the kids.

Sat- Late breakfast at Princess Storybook breakfast. I called the other day and got this! I was shocked, I thought for sure it would be sold out!

At night Fireworks cruise for my sisters B-day.

Sunday- Dinner at Ohana at 7pm, I've never been there.

Monday- check out day.

Any suggestions are welcomed please!

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

 

[travelitis]

I just did all the planning for our mini-reunion over Thanksgiving. You can read my lengthy reviews. We had 3 groups with a total of 9 people, so it's not a big reunion. My dh's parents are from MN and like meat and potatoes. His sis and her dh live in NYC and like to broaden their culinary horizons. Everyone enjoyed 50's PT Cafe at MGM. All of us enjoyed character meals, and Le Cellier was a hit with the adults. I'd do something different rather than repeat Chef Mickey's, but it's a great way to kick off the trip or to end it. We did a character meal and a monorail ride before we started our drive back, and it was a perfect ending. We'll do that again, because it really felt like we extended our trip.

We did an MK fireworks cruise for Thanksgiving and it was the perfect way to view the fireworks.

 

[hallie]

We did an MK fireworks cruise for Thanksgiving and it was the perfect way to view the fireworks.

Hi! Can you tell me a little more about the fireworks cruise? My DH and I did it back in 95 but it seems different from the descriptions I've read now. What level cruise did you get? What did they serve on it? Thank you so much!!!!!!

 

[travelitis]

We had a pontoon boat and driver that was $120 for about an hour. We also tipped her $20. There is no food served unless you do the b-day cruise. You can take Disney food with you, but you need to have the receipt. I tried to pay extra for them to serve dessert, but they would not do it. We sailed by the monorail resorts to the other lake and saw the hidden bear face at WL. Then we headed back for the fireworks. We could see the castle and Tinkerbell's flight, and the fireworks reflected off the water. Our driver let both boys take turns driving the boat. They had a couple of blankets for us, but we could've used at least one more. Because we got there a few minutes early, we got a longer cruise than the other folks. If you have any other questions I'll be happy to try to answer them.

 

[Grumpy92]

How many are in your party? It sounds like a large group.

Suggestions:
Hoop De Doo would be fun.
Whispering Canyon is another fun one that most families enjoy.
MK- The only good restaurants are LTT & Plaza.
50s PT Cafe
Biergarten - Big tables

 

[Pa@okw95]

Grumpy92 has some great suggestions. I have been there done that what you are trying to do, trust me do not plan too much. You can make reservations that don't have to be prepaid but don't get too involved beyond that. You will find that the group will do what you suggest for a day or two but rather go on by themselves. You can not please everyone. You will find just to get from point A to point B will take you longer. You will not believe how many times people will have to go to a rest room, want to buy a coffee, soda, ice cream, etc. My suggestion is to plan one or two meals and play the rest by ear. Do not over plan??

 

[simonmunro]

I agree about the Hoop Dee Doo would be fun on the MK Sunday! You could just break from MK and hop your FW boat over about an hour or hour and a half before your show/dinner time then come back for more MK after. We've done that and it's great! For MGM times I wouldn't miss Hollywood Brown Derby or 50's Prime Time but don't know if you'll be there twice this vacation? We also adore Palio at the Swan (very romantic), Yachtsman Steakhouse and EVERYONE but me seems to have been lucky enough to try Flying Fish. It gets great reviews and I really must go there!

 

[hallie]

How many are in your party? It sounds like a large group.

Oh it's just 8 people this time, we have a small family. Thanks for the suggestions I think we'll do the Prime Time Cafe, we've never been there before.

Grumpy92 has some great suggestions. I have been there done that what you are trying to do, trust me do not plan too much. You can make reservations that don't have to be prepaid but don't get too involved beyond that. You will find that the group will do what you suggest for a day or two but rather go on by themselves. You can not please everyone. You will find just to get from point A to point B will take you longer. You will not believe how many times people will have to go to a rest room, want to buy a coffee, soda, ice cream, etc. My suggestion is to plan one or two meals and play the rest by ear. Do not over plan??

We did this back in 98 with 12 people and they stuck together like glue which drove me nuts at times-lol. They wouldn't make a move without me-lol. We had my 3 grandparents in wheelchairs and out of state cousins with us last time and that made things harder. This time it's just my family, my parents and SIL/BIL which should be a blast! They're very easy going people it's just me, I want everyone to be happy, I know I shouldn't worry but I do-lol.

travelitis- Thanks for the info!!! Do you have request the B-day cruise? My SIL and BIL are both celebrating B-days when we'll be there, that's why were doing the cruise. Thanks again!!

 

[texmom]

Last Feb there were ten of us (We were at Shades of Green) and I planned all PS's. This is what we did...

We tried to plan one meal together each day, other than that we just went on our own. My kids were the only kids on this trip and it took us longer to get ready in the morning so the others hooked up for the breakfast buffet at SOG most mornings but we mostly ate breakfast in our room. There were a couple of mornings that Grandma and Granddad took one or two kids to breakfast while DH and I got ready.

We all went our own ways during the day pretty much. My siblings wanted to tour separately from the kids most days so they could move faster. Usually the meal we ate together was dinner, it was nice to hook up and share our days but sometimes my kids were tired by then so that made it tough to enjoy a couple of the meals.

We did take the kids to Neverland Club one night and have an "adults only" dinner. That was at Chefs de France and we thoroughly enjoyed sans children! In fact, that was my fave meal because I was with my kids all day every day.

For the adults, our favorite meal for food was at Morocco in Epcot. my Dad enjoyed the Biergarten in Germany but it was VERY LOUD and made it hard to chat. We also enjoyed the Prime Time Cafe at MGM. The Sci Fi Diner is hard with a large party because you will be split in two cars and the seats all face the screen so it is hard to chat between rows.

My kids hated Morocco, even the kids meal chicken and beef was spiced differently and they did not enjoy that. The night we went to Biergarten, we ended up bringing in food for my DS who has to be the pickiest eater alive, there was not one thing on the menu that he would eat.

I would say ask everyone to check out menus at wdwig.com and see what you can come to a consensus on.

Good luck! It is quite a project but you sound like you are on top of things. we really had a great trip although we split up more than we had planned and I would have enjoyed more time with my siblings and not as much with my kids. LOL

 

[hallie]

Thank you for all the ideas Texmom!!!