Planning with a large group

[TwoGirlsandDisney]

We are probably out of our minds, but our first DVC trip will be with my DH, and two DD. Then we asked 4 other family members to come along. We have a grand villa, so we will all be together. How do you go about planning? I don't want them to feel like they have to be with us every second, and I kind of don't want them to be. I really want to take my girls to breakfast at Cinderella castle, and since it is so hard to get, a reservation for 8 may be impossible, would it be so wrong if I got it for just the four of us?

Just some ideas on how you handle large family trips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[msabol01]

I've only done a trip with another family but am planning a major trip with all my out-laws - my wife's parents, her three siblings and their respective families- a total of 17 people. My approach is to give everyone an outline of my plan and allow them an opportunity to join us or do their own thing. I tell them they need to decide by X date if they want to join in on anything that requires a reservation and if they chose to cancel, they pay for any incurred fees. So for example:

Monday - hang out at resort all day - character dining for Brunch
Tuesday - Magic Kingdom - afternoon visit to BB Botique
Wednesday - Resort - Character Dining Breakfast - Dinner Boma
Thursday - Animal Kingdom
Friday - Hollywood Studios - Dinner Brown Derby - Fantasmic

I also encourage private time as to not get on each others nerves. Rather than book a Grand Villa we decided on a 2 bedroom and 3 studios. We can use the 2 bedroom as a central meet place for meal we take in. And guarantee ourselves (you can read that as me) some alone time.

 

[vwlvette]

This is our 3rd year with a large group, 15 this year, We are in one 2-bed and 2 Studios in VWL, and a campsite a FW. before we made ADR, we talked to everyone, we all decided to eat together, we are all on the DDP, so I made all the Ressies, When we are at the World, some stick together some go off on there own, but we all meet for meals. It has worked out great in the previous two years.

We go in Nov, 4-10 this year.

Just make sure you talk about what everyone wants to do. Express that you want some private time. There is nothing wrong with that. We do that also.

Best of Luck,

 

[TwoGirlsandDisney]

Thanks so much. I love the idea of the outline and then asking everyone if they are in. I am such a planner that will work well for me.

Our trip is in May, so I have plenty of time to talk to everyone and see what they would like to do.

 

[GranddadTom]

I think you'll find that a group of 8 is something that all Disney restaurants can handle easily - certainly the CRT can. There is a "group telephone number" that you call for making these kind of ADRs. They may break you up into smaller tables but they do a pretty job of keeping you all close by. We will be at the BWV the week before Christmas with 22 of us - our four children and the grandkids. We're doing a GV and two studios. When you have a large range of ages it's impossible to stick together in the parks because the smaller kids want to do one thing and the older kids something else. We do all go the same park each day and we have an ADR each day so we gather for that. In between, various sub-groups form sort of spontaneously. I would advise you not to overplan because I don't want you to get upset when detailed plans don't work out.

 

[SwhJess]

Many years ago I traveled to WDW with 11 friends...we took the approach of scheduling certain times at certain attractions or restaurants. (Although, we did eat a lot of counter services due to budgets.) I think it's important to lay out what people CAN do, if they want to participate with the whole group, but to emphasize that one meeting place for lunch might not fit into everyone's plans...and if so, there's always a dinner meeting place or for a park the next day, for example. That way, one person doesn't get stuck with always being the "organizer", if the schedule options are shared with everyone. Even the planner needs to be able to deviate from the schedule if she wants to!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[bub]

Many years ago I traveled to WDW with 11 friends...we took the approach of scheduling certain times at certain attractions or restaurants. (Although, we did eat a lot of counter services due to budgets.) I think it's important to lay out what people CAN do, if they want to participate with the whole group, but to emphasize that one meeting place for lunch might not fit into everyone's plans...and if so, there's always a dinner meeting place or for a park the next day, for example. That way, one person doesn't get stuck with always being the "organizer", if the schedule options are shared with everyone. Even the planner needs to be able to deviate from the schedule if she wants to!

Hope you have a great trip!

I agree with this. Plan something each day to bring the group together, but remember that people have different ideas about time and activity levels while on vacation. Our extended family's approach to Disney varies from commando to extremely laid back. When we've gone in a larger group, we have planned a few group meals, and then let people do things together or apart as they wished. Cell phones are helpful for linking up mid-day at a park - the early risers can meet the ones who sleep in for lunch and a few attractions, then go their separate ways. The GV works well for time spent together in the middle or the end of the day and it can be very relaxing to have that time away from the parks.

Also keep in mind that a trip with a larger group may not always be about you. Enjoy your activities with the group even if they would not have been ones you would have chosen. You will definitely wait around more and get less done with more people, but it can be really fun to have multiple generations or cousins experiencing Disney together. "Making memories" (remember that old song?) is great, but stay realistic and flexible. Some of our favorite memories are of times when we didn't follow the plan, or when things did not go well. Later, you get a good laugh out of this. You can always "do it your way" on your next vacation with just immediate family.
Enjoy!!

 

[Modog814]

I'm in the same boat, with 16 of us coming down in October, however I'm planning it if it were just DGF and I going, and letting everyone know what we plan on doing and where we plan to eat, and if they'd like to join us at a particular time or place great, if not, then we'll see them another time.

I feel like it's hard for a large group to get a lot done (esp. my family where we seem to have always have to wait for somebody), so I'm personally planning on a casual vacation to soak in the atmosphere of the F&W Festival and Halloween Party instead of rushing from ride to ride.

I also decided to go with the seperate studios for each family so we're forced to have our own private time.

My advice (intentions for my trip) is to:

Be flexible.
Be courteous.
Be patient.
And just enjoy the time your spending with loved ones, as a DVC Member you always know that there will be another trip not too far down the road.

ENJOY.

 

[TwoGirlsandDisney]

Thanks again for all this advice. I love that Modog814 said
"And just enjoy the time your spending with loved ones, as a DVC Member you always know that there will be another trip not too far down the road".

So right.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

This is a great thread - we're looking at a huge group for our January trip this year - it could be upwards of 30 people.

We're going to plan several different itineraries - for those who want a plan to follow and anyone can do whatever they want. We will plan one thing each day for everyone to do (if they choose) - a meal, drinks, late night swim, etc.

I am definitely looking at tips - I am planning this with another friend - we are so excited.

 

[mello]

I agree with this. Plan something each day to bring the group together, but remember that people have different ideas about time and activity levels while on vacation. Our extended family's approach to Disney varies from commando to extremely laid back. When we've gone in a larger group, we have planned a few group meals, and then let people do things together or apart as they wished. Cell phones are helpful for linking up mid-day at a park - the early risers can meet the ones who sleep in for lunch and a few attractions, then go their separate ways. The GV works well for time spent together in the middle or the end of the day and it can be very relaxing to have that time away from the parks.

Also keep in mind that a trip with a larger group may not always be about you. Enjoy your activities with the group even if they would not have been ones you would have chosen. You will definitely wait around more and get less done with more people, but it can be really fun to have multiple generations or cousins experiencing Disney together. "Making memories" (remember that old song?) is great, but stay realistic and flexible. Some of our favorite memories are of times when we didn't follow the plan, or when things did not go well. Later, you get a good laugh out of this. You can always "do it your way" on your next vacation with just immediate family.
Enjoy!!

We just returned from a GG with 17 people, and we approached it just this way. We kept our personal expectations very low, and just focused on enjoying each day and the people we were with. The whole thing turned out far better than we expected it to, and we all had a blast!

 

[Woodcourt]

We are planning a visit with 20 people and have traveled with family before! We do the same thing where we plan meals together...not every night but most. That way we have a meeting place and can go our own ways but come back together! Works well!

You have to let everyone know that this is their vacation and they wont hurt your feelings if they want to go in another direction and you hope that they understand if you want to go your own way.

We have found that getting it all out there ahead of time is the best way to go...otherwise you get hurt feelings. Truth is, most will do whatever we tell them because they feel we are the experts