Planning a trip for five adults

[nancyjane]

My kids are over 21 and we haven't traveled together in years. I'm trying to plan a trip for five adults, including one very shy GF I don't know very well. I'm hoping it will be a bonding opp since DS appears to be serious about her.

So far they're all happy to let me plan the trip like I used to. But I know they're going to have their own ideas once they see all the possibilities. I'd rather get their input now rather than have to discuss it when we get there (when we'll have only one car).

Any tips for how to get to many people to participate in the planning? I never see them all at the same time, so should I call a meeting or what?

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I would definitely call a meeting. Since you are used to doing all the planning, maybe make a list of possible things to do, places to eat at, etc., then get their input on which of those things to do and when. Also, it doesn't seem like it, but five adults is a lot of people to try to make happy at once so if people want to break off and go on their own (especially DS and his DGF) so be prepared for that without getting upset about it. For example, if you want to get up for rope drop and the others don't, just have them meet you there. I would tell them that the only time we all have to be together is for the meals that we've already booked. That way, if you end up together the whole time, it will be a pleasant treat! If not, no reason to be upset!

Good luck!

 

[nancyjane]

I would definitely call a meeting. Since you are used to doing all the planning, maybe make a list of possible things to do, places to eat at, etc., then get their input on which of those things to do and when. Also, it doesn't seem like it, but five adults is a lot of people to try to make happy at once so if people want to break off and go on their own (especially DS and his DGF) so be prepared for that without getting upset about it. For example, if you want to get up for rope drop and the others don't, just have them meet you there. I would tell them that the only time we all have to be together is for the meals that we've already booked. That way, if you end up together the whole time, it will be a pleasant treat! If not, no reason to be upset!

Good luck!

Good ideas. It DOES seem like it would be hard to please five adults at the same time. I guess that's why I want to get them involved early. Our biggest challenge is that we were planning to have only one car. I figure if we can work out some contingencies ahead of time, there will be fewer problems later on. I really want to get to know my potential DIL, but she is so shy. I'm afraid she might not speak up about what she'd like to do. Maybe she and I can talk about it ourselves, even if the boys are still too busy.

 

[Honeymooners1021]

I am doing something similar except I am planning a trip for my mom, her 2 sisters, a friend and my grandma. They are all in their 50's except my grandma who just turned 80.

To get them all excited about the trip I assigned each of them a park to study the maps for attractions, dinning, & entertainment. This way I am not doing all the work and they can figure out what interest them. Since we are on property people can take the bus if they are not interested in hanging with the group.

Since my group isn't that internet savy I am providing them with guide books but your group is younger give them websites and have them check out some trip planning podcasts.

Grandma and I of course have the final say! Good luck with your trip planning

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

I just got back from an all adult trip in October. It was my partner & I and my parents. I learned a lot about planning a group for more than just my partner & I.

The things we did beforehand that were good:
+ Have a meeting together and making lists of the top 5 expereinces that were important to us - top 5 resturants, rides, expereinces, etc.
+ In that meeting we outlined how many days/tickets we had and priortized the parks.

Then I made all the reservations and filled out the official schedule.

Now, sadly with my trip several things went wrong. I would do several things differently.
+ My mom needs an ECV but said before the trip she would do without. She changed her mind when we entered the park on the first day. If I had known, I would have done a better job of planning how to make that easier for her.
+ My mom and dad thought we would think they were "old" if they didn't go lightning fast through the parks. My partner and I don't do that - we like to go very slow. I wish we had a conversation about that beforehand - like about pacing (b/c our feet were terribly sore running after my parents).
+ We needed more couple time rather than doing the whole trip as a foursome (partially because of the pacing issue).
+ Some of our top 5 lists fell apart once we got there. My dad started to change his mind about things he wanted to do and several of my top 5 were sacrificed for that. I think there needed to be more openness to both flexiblity but also providing time for must-dos.

Regardless, because it was Disney, even with the snags - we had a great time. I just would have done things differently.


I hope that helps some with your planning!

 

[Judy in Texas]

As long as you are staying on property, transportation isn't an issue. Make sure everyone knows how the bus service works and you are all set.

Be flexible. There is no way I would expect everyone to move as a single group through the parks. If they don't want to participate in the planning, put your own itinerary together, share it with them with the understanding that they can go with you for any or all of it. If you are all at Epcot and some want to go on Mission Space and others don't, plan on meeting up in an hour or 2 at a set place. Cell phones will help with the communication.

I was at WDW in November with a group of 9. It would have been a nightmare if we had to do everything together.