Planning with/around extended family

[Tara1988]

We are going to Disney world this October. Me, my husband and our 3 kids are already booked. His sister, her husband and 2 kids, my sister and her son, and both sets of grandparents have expressed several times that they would like to go. But they haven't actually done anything about it. We would love to have them there and to have a meal or 2 together, but we are 200 days out now, so I don't have time to keep waiting around for them. I'm very organized when it comes to vacation planning and they all like to go with the flow and have never planned a Disney vacation, so they don't understand why I keep pushing for a decision. When I make my adrs in 20 days, should I include them in my reservations and just take them off if they back out? Would I be at risk of losing the reservations completely if I did that? Or should I just book them for just us and try to add them on if they commit to going?

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I would send out an email/text and say "hey, FYI, I'm booking dining reservations for Disney on xxx, if you are planning on going let me know so I can add you in, otherwise we might not be able to eat at the same time/place."

My concern would be that you will have trouble getting ADRs for THAT large of a group. You may be able to get a place like BOG for 5, or even 7, but 15 will be tough -- even at the 180 mark -- so I wouldn't go the route of making an ADR for everyone and dropping them off the reservation later, because it will limit the availability for YOUR family, you know -- the ones who are REALLY going!

I've gone with a big group twice and did all of the planning, so I feel your pain. Good luck.

 

[Tara1988]

I would send out an email/text and say "hey, FYI, I'm booking dining reservations for Disney on xxx, if you are planning on going let me know so I can add you in, otherwise we might not be able to eat at the same time/place."

My concern would be that you will have trouble getting ADRs for THAT large of a group. You may be able to get a place like BOG for 5, or even 7, but 15 will be tough -- even at the 180 mark -- so I wouldn't go the route of making an ADR for everyone and dropping them off the reservation later, because it will limit the availability for YOUR family, you know -- the ones who are REALLY going!

I've gone with a big group twice and did all of the planning, so I feel your pain. Good luck.

I usually do the planning when my family goes in a big group, and I've never had this problem before because everyone was always able to go if they wanted to, but now my mom travels a lot for work and she's unsure of her schedule and my sister is in law school. Last time just my little family went, I created a separate account and scheduled some of the same meals for my sister and nephew, but ended up forgetting to cancel one and got charged for no showing. Plus there was a good chance we wouldn't have been seated together anyway, so I don't want to do that again

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I just planned a DW trip for 13 and didn't have problems getting the ADRs in most restaurants. The few that I did - I just called and got them. That being said I would see who was truly interested by your date to make the ADRs and then make it for them. I would do it from one account so you don't lose any. I would then check within 2 months and if they didn't confirm that they are coming I would then change the amounts. I would do this for the hard to make reservations.

I am just like you - a super planner especially with DW vacations. Have fun!

 

[Squggl3]

Just throwing this out there, we travel with a group of 27-32 people (all ages) depending on who is coming. we made out ADRs 180 days out (and some after that mark) We have 5 reservations for 20+ people and another 4 for 12-15 people. We usually call the restaurant directly to make reservations, and some places we have split reservations ( 2-3 reservations of 8 people) it really isn't that difficult. I would include them and then cancel later on. If you happen upon somewhere you want to go and they don't have large availability just book it for your family anyway. I would do as suggested above and send a text that ADRs are coming and you need some info! maybe have everyone get together and have "Disney meeting". My family does this about once a month for about 9-10 months before our trip. helps keep everyone on the same page and allow everyone to have input in the planning process

 

[TXStormtrooper]

We have also called directly to make reservations for our extended family (18+) when we've had combined vacations and had no problem, with the exception of Thanksgiving Day. I would do as others suggested; tell them now you are making them in 20 days; ask who's really planning to probably go; schedule what you can online; call for any others; in a couple months cancel or change any that include anyone who hasn't booked at that time.

 

[jawa7400]

I booked at 180 days out for a party of 15. I was able to reserve both Cape May Cafe and Biergarten online. I know others you have to call the restaurant directly. It just depends on the seating arrangements.

 

[5stljayhawks]

You can talk ADR all you want, but if they dont get on the ball, and get ressies will they be going at all? If you have not family/grouped traveled with them I would set some guidelines and expectations. If they are not disney knowledgeable you will be battling.

 

[Aliceacc]

We were a group of 11 for our last trip: my 5, my brother in law's 5, and my sister in law and her husband. We had no trouble at all getting the ADRS we wanted for our weeklong trip. (Well, to be fair, our travel agent called them in at the 180 day mark.) But we ate at BOG, LaCellier, the Brown Derby to name a few.

I would send out a newsletter: As of today, these are our plans... and lay it all out. "We're booked at ___, we're making reservations Tuesday for the following dates and times, we're planning the following parks for the following days. (And later, we're planning the following fastpasses.) And, as hard as I know it is to believe, if you want the same choices, you'll need to let me know by Sunday night. Otherwise the odds are that we won't be able to share that resort, those dinners, or those rides." Follow up with one phone call Sunday afternoon if necessary. Then make your ADRs and let the chips fall where they may.

I was fortunate in planning our trip: My adult niece is another big Disney planner. So I wasn't the constant nag; we did split shifts and got everyone on board.