Planning for my sister's family

[riopooh]

Despite some bumps, our family reunion is still going to happen - only it might be just My sister & family and my family- 8 total. But they are driving and will be arriving a day before - late evening on a Sunday and my flight comes in at 2pm on Monday. My BIL wants to wait until we get there to do anything - I think that is ridiculous!! But what should I have them do?

I need to plan their first evening and first day. They saw the WL show from the Travel channel and thought Whispering Canyons woudn't be their cup of tea. We are doing Chef Mickey's as a family on Monday night. I feel that I should send them to the MK but it will be the Mon of Pres Week & very crowded plus I would love all the kids to go together on Tuesday ( or Mon nignt). I'm thinking AK , but I'm afraid it might be really crowded also. Their boys are 6 and 4 - very high energy.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!!

 

[gigi1313]

how 'bout something simple, one bus, nothing complicated... downtown disney? they can walk around, boys can play at the lego playground, lots of restaurants to choose from (w/or w/out ps') and some shopping to get in the mood...

my second recommendation would be to tell them to just hang at their resort, have dinner and explore... where are they staying?

for monday, while waiting for you to arrive i would suggest having them head over to the campground... maybe trail's end for breakfast and then the petting zoo, walk/play on the beach, bike riding or boat or golf cart rental?

 

[riopooh]

Thanks - we are all staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I bet the boys would love the Ft Wilderness campground and my BIL won't be traumitized by the crowds. Unfortunately we probabale won't get in until late, I hate to have them lose an entire day waiting for us. They only have 5 days.

 

[kda]

If you give them the options and pros and cons, it's their choice. They may decide on their own that they want to go to a park on Monday and meet you later, although they will probably have purchased their tickets ahead of time and will have to decide then how many days they're going to the parks.

They may be tired out from their drive and enjoy doing the pool and video arcade. If each parent wants to ride with one of the kids, there's the small boats ---- we LOVE these, although the $$$ can add up. Be sure they know they can go over to the part of the lake and see the MK, CR, Poly, and GF. They can also get on the MK boat and just go for a ride (can also get to Ft. Wilderness for bkfst or lunch, if they want to do that). Once they get to MK, they can ride the Monorail (asking if it's possible to sit in front, since there's just 4 of them) and get off at any of the other MK resorts if they want to look around.

 

[gigi1313]

i was suggesting that they do the campground w/out you, while waiting for you... imo that's not a "waste" of a day, yet not too overwhelming, will help to get them into vacation mode, not cost anything/much, and not too hard to navigate (esp coming from WL) for a newbie...

 

[Mic]

I suggest they spend the first night getting familiar with the resort, and maybe doing Chef Mickey's for dinner(since the contemporary is fairly close). Then Monday they could sleep in a little, then head to the campground or Downtown Disney. Since they have boys, I think Legoland is a must-do(my son has to race those little cars every trip, and he's 12 now!). After playing(for free)at Legoland, they could all shop for you a nice gift at the World of Disney! I'm arriving a day earlier than my family in a few weeks, and I plan to spend that day shopping for gifts for my neices and nephews!