Planning a Trip for 10!

[Taylorbell]

Hey everyone!

As you can see, I'm a newbie! I've actually been lurking on the boards for awhile and reading some of the funniest trip reports I've ever read, read some fantastic tips on touring and planning trips. So, now I guess I need to officially get some advice!

We are planning our 2nd official family vacation in July. Our first trip was in July 2002 and we had a great time. This time we have my brother and his family going as well. So, there will be ten of us total. We are arriving July 15 in the afternoon and are staying at WL. Touring in our group will be: Me, DH, DD (8), DS (6), Mom and Dad, Brother and SIL and there two kids DDs (2 and 7). This will be the first trip for my brother's family. We are only staying 9 days and trying to get in a trip to BB or TL and maybe an adults trip to PI. We will have the MYW tickets with PH and the options.

Our first family trip I had us running ragged and was totally commando. This time I want to take it easy, but realize that since there are so many of us that we need to have a game plan. They all say that they are open for anything and want me to be "the guide". Yep, they're crazy, but I'm determined to do the best planned non-commando, something for everyone vacation.

So, here are a few of my questions.....I would appreciate any and all advice!

1.) Should we attempt to go to a park on Friday or just hang out at the resort or go to DTD? My first two thoughts were to either go straight to MK and have dinner at CP and then stay for the parade and wishes or hang out at the resort, dinner at Chef Mickey's or O'hana's, bed early.

2.) Since I've read that MK is not a good idea on Saturdays, we were thinking about hitting AK or Epcot on Saturday - maybe an early Breakfast at Donald's Breakfastasaurus and tour the park, leave mid afternoon and go to EPCOT that night and see Illuminations or plan the entire day at EPCOT?

3.) Would MK be okay for Sunday? This is actually my neice's bday and thought that would be a great to spend her bday at MK.

My main concern is that since its my neices first trip, they will really want to go and see the castle on the first day (Friday night or Saturday). It is horrible to make them wait until Sunday to go to MK? What other plan would you suggest?


Alright, I hope that's enough information to get some good suggestions.
Thanks in advance for all your help!

Amy

 

[jenks0718]

I say go to MK on Friday night and have dinner with the family. I know when we went the first thing we wanted to see and experience was "the castle". Its just something about that first glimpse of it that sets the mood for the entire vacation. Even if you are only at MK for a few hours that first evening, you at least gave everyone their castle fix until later that week. GOOD LUCK

 

[WaltD4Me]

go to MK on Friday night and have dinner with the family. I know when we went the first thing we wanted to see and experience was "the castle". Its just something about that first glimpse of it that sets the mood for the entire vacation.

ITA! If possible, seeing the Castle is a first "thing to see must" for me. It really does set the tone and get the magical feelings flying!

I just went with 10 family members in December and one of the best things I did was plan a decent amount of "free time" -- we all went to the same parks on the same days and pretty much hung together, but there was an afternoon, evening and morning for everyone to do whatever they wanted with no plan. I never said we HAD to do anything or be anywhere at a particular time except for our Character Meal PS's (which everyone agreed to ahead of time) and MVMCP. It was hard sometimes not to go into commando mode so we wouldn't miss something, but I controlled my inner-commando and we all had a great time!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Best of luck to you................ you may need all the luck you can get!

 

[kyirish25]

My first thought was to take it easy the first night in and do Chef Mickey's and DTD. But then once you mentioned not going to MK until Sunday I say go ahead and do CP on Friday and watch Spectro & Wishes. You may even be able to catch a few rides as well.

Your plan for Saturday sounds perfect!

 

[Taylorbell]

Thanks for all the great advice!

I guess we will go for MK on Friday! I think you are right and that it will set the mood for our trip. During our last trip, we were only at MK one night and didn't ride any rides, so it will be something new for our kids, too!

I know we will also definetly have some time apart. I think everybody will need there own famly time and I know that since we are spending so much that everyone needs to do what they want to do instead of me programming their days for them.

Thanks again! Ya'll have really eased my mind about the first couple of days of the trip! I knew I had come to the right place!