Planning extended family trip--Logistical Help?!

[mom2grace]

We are planning for October 2008. DH & I & our kids will probably be at WDW 8-10 days, will be joined by my mom and step dad---and my dad and step mom for parts of the trip.

DH and I want each set of grandparents to be with us separately..........they get along fine, but have totally different styles of touring the parks, what they like to eat, etc!

We are planning to rent DVC points...........original plan was to get a 2 BDRM & sharing with the grandparents of the "moment", now thinking everyone gets their own room, but all at the same resort.

My gut is that my parents might want to stay longer than their "Allotted" time with us, and this would give everyone the flexibility to do what they want! Plus, if I can arrange it to overlap, I would plan a grand gathering event.

So, now I need your suggestions of what to say at our first planning meeting, or how to prep them. My dad and his wife have been to WDW several times in the past few years, they stay in central Florida for the month of March, and visit the parks, so they are familiar with the latest stuff. My mom hasn't been to WDW probably since about 1988, I don't know about my step dad.

Some of my thoughts are for each group/person select their favorite restaurant and those would be our TS restaurants. Also, their "can't miss" attraction, etc.

Our kids will be 5 & 7, they don't really get a say in the above, but will guide us as far as attractions, etc. This will be DD's 2nd trip, DS's 1st.

My dad will be a great "be there at rope drop" type touring guy, my mom won't. So, we are thinking about having dad come 1st, so when it's mom's turn, we will have seen many things, and be more relaxed, and won't feel like we are "wasting" time. We will have "Catch up times/locations" for my mom.

Are you still with me?!

Now, what have you done that has worked, not worked, wished you had done, etc?!

THANKS!

 

[mom2grace]

Anyone this morning?!

 

[mericletwins]

We are planning for October 2008. DH & I & our kids will probably be at WDW 8-10 days, will be joined by my mom and step dad---and my dad and step mom for parts of the trip.

DH and I want each set of grandparents to be with us separately..........they get along fine, but have totally different styles of touring the parks, what they like to eat, etc!

!

Do they know that they have different times that they are to go? Will that go over well? We have done extended family gatherings and all with different touring styles and it has worked out very well. Everyone did their own thing so to speak and met up at the the very least for dinner.

You could all get together and plan your resort. You could all plan your dinner ADR's and also plan what park to go to on a certain day. After that, all bets are off. Some of us were rope drop people, while others were not. The rope drop people got up and went to the park when we were ready and the others would join when they got to the park. Cell phones are a life saver when it comes to this arrangement. Also, our group was not high maintenance. If someone wanted to go to Epcot and shop the countries on the day that we were supposed to do MK, that was ok. No one got offended. We also didn't feel the need to be with each other 24/7. It was so nice. Everyone had the mentality that "these are the plans for my family and if it meshes up with your plans great, if not, see you at dinner". More times then not, everyone's plans meshed, but no one felt like that it had to, which is probably why it worked so well.

 

[mom2grace]

Do they know that they have different times that they are to go? Will that go over well? We have done extended family gatherings and all with different touring styles and it has worked out very well. Everyone did their own thing so to speak and met up at the the very least for dinner.

You could all get together and plan your resort. You could all plan your dinner ADR's and also plan what park to go to on a certain day. After that, all bets are off. Some of us were rope drop people, while others were not. The rope drop people got up and went to the park when we were ready and the others would join when they got to the park. Cell phones are a life saver when it comes to this arrangement. Also, our group was not high maintenance. If someone wanted to go to Epcot and shop the countries on the day that we were supposed to do MK, that was ok. No one got offended. We also didn't feel the need to be with each other 24/7. It was so nice. Everyone had the mentality that "these are the plans for my family and if it meshes up with your plans great, if not, see you at dinner". More times then not, everyone's plans meshed, but no one felt like that it had to, which is probably why it worked so well.

Yes, they know it is separate, they want it that way. This way, the 2 sets of grands aren't fighting for the kids attention.

I am fine with people doing their own thing, but I think/know my parents are going to want to be with the kids most of the time. All of the adults are ride riders, the kids are too!

I think planning a night with each set of grands when DH & I can do something alone is a good idea.......I want to see Cirque..........to give the adults a break from each other.

We will do a variety of sit down meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner), but not more than 1 x day. Sit down lunch are DH & my preference.

I think your point of saying that we don't have to be together all of the time is good as well.

 

[mom2grace]

Bump!

 

[LadyShea]

Although we have never toured WDW with a large group, I have taken a 10-day SoCal vacay with the extended in laws and a cruise with 12 people. Absolutely, positively do not try to plan the whole of each day together!

1 meal per day as a group. Perhaps a whole or half day for the kids and each set of grandparents to spend together, while you and DH tour on your own. Meet up for fireworks or some special show you all want to see and other than that everyone do their own thing.

Anything else turns into wasting a lot of time. Just because you planned X ahead of time, doesn't mean everyone will feel up to it, or be in the mood for it when the time actually comes.

Have a blast!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think one meal per day and which park would be good. I am a Grand and I think giving the grands some time alone with the kids is a wonderful idea! I would call each and ask if there is anything in particular that they would like to do and then try to reserve that.