plans for 14 of us, wide age range...help me please!

[mudnuri]

Here's what I'm thinking so far...and here's what we've got for ages etc.
February 16-22nd POFQ- Grand Gathering

girls- 7,8,9,13
boys- 9,13,15
adults- 7 of us- 3 brothers, 2 wives, and a mom (my inlaws)

None of us have done anything "other than the parks"...and pool etc. here are my thoughts

II am thinking that the parks etc. will be much more crowded the 19-22,

we'll most likely try to do the main stuff the 16-19th...going to AK on the 19th (saturday) the 20-22, we'll do DTD, pool/water park mouseboats etc.

the girls- 7,8,9 I would LOVE to do the cooking experience at GF. Is this available on Monday or Tuesday?

The 13,9,13,15 will love Disney Quest... I am thinking of having them and the guys- go there one night- and myself, DSIL, DMIL and the girls 7,8,9 do HoopDeDoo.?? Thoughts??

I am going to try to get a PS for all the girls (big and small) at CRT one of our mornings...start trying for the 17th...we will use a wish for this, the boys- will be on their own and we'll meet up with them later on at MK.

We're all sitting down this weekend to discuss the trip, and what we want to do etc. Since none of them really KNOW wdw like I do (or really- the dis does LOL) any advice on things to do, or not do, is greatly apprecaited. All of our other extended family trips have been to all-inclusive resorts that havent required much pre-planning.

Thanks guys!

Brandy

 

[Scoootch]

I am going to try to get a PS for all the girls (big and small) at CRT one of our mornings...start trying for the 17th...we will use a wish for this, the boys- will be on their own and we'll meet up with them later on at MK.

Sounds like a nice plan, best of luck! Be sure to call at exactly 90 days out from the date you are looking for at exactly 7am when the dinning line opens. CRT fills up it's PS's within minutes of the dine line opening

As for everything else, sounds good. Have a great time!

 

[momxx5]

Your plans look great. You may want the check out Magical Gathereings for helping in booking some of your events.

I also thing that splitting up and meeting later is a great idea. That way everyone will have some special times together and some special private times. It is hard to keep everyone together and get to see everything.

Maybe have everyone write a list of "important things they want to see/do". They make a plan, day at MK together, day at Epcot - split up and meet for lunch, etc.

Wishing you a magical family trip.

 

[mudnuri]

I have all the planning guides- even the brinbaums 4kids by kids..which will be given to the different families to plan etc.

I'm hoping that they will look BEYOND the parks since I understand the crowds/timing better than they do.

Thanks for the goodwishes- this is beginning to feel real!

Brandy

 

[crisi]

I'm also going to encourage splitting up. Moving 14 people through the parks as a group is going to be difficult. Having your MIL spend time waiting for teens to ride RnRC (unless she is a roller coaster person), when she may perfer shopping in Epcot with you or your sister in law may also be problematic. Develop a "master schedule" for your family and let people decide to be in the same park as you, doing the same things, or not. Encourage them to follow the same park schedule (because you, of course, will plan to crowd management), but split up inside the parks.

One thing I'd consider - if your mother in law is the "poke through Epcot" type - and your DH and BIL and SILs and you plan on spending a lot of time with your families, you might want to extend the invitation to HER sister or a close family friend of HERS. We did this with my MIL - brought her sister along to keep her company - and it was a stroke of genius! We got to spend guilt free time taking our preschoolers on Goofy's Barnstormer (which Grandma enjoyed watching - once. But my kids enjoyed riding three times over the course of a week), while she spend some amount of time enjoying her grandchildren enjoy Disney, and part of her time enjoying herself and the company of her sister at Disney - and doing "boring" things like the Riverboat and the Hall of Presidents.

The other thing I'd recommend is to schedule one thing a day to do "as a family." It might be a character breakfast or a meal. It might be a Grand Gathering. It might be "today, from 1:30 to 3:30, we are hanging by the hotel pool" It might be "everyone wants to ride the safari together" or expensive Cirque tickets.

 

[TerriBelle]

I think your ideas sound great!

When we have traveled with a big group, we try and make a PS for one big meal a day and a general park plan. We get suggestions/request from everyone. When we get there we give everyone a sheet that list all the PS for the trip and which parks we are doing each day. Usually we all manage to meet up for the big meals and some rides.

Comments:
1) Some of the guys might like Cindy's breakfast. I noticed quite a few gentlemen having their picture taken with Jasmine!
2) The Hoop de doo is a lot of fun for a group. Yes it is corny, but if you go to have fun I think everyone in your group might like it.
3) Spend an evening on the Boardwalk - rent bikes, watch the entertainers (magicians are really good!), hair braiding, face painting, few games. Your kids might enjoy dinner at ESPN on the Boardwalk.
4) Try the miniature golf courses
5) Counting on waterparks is iffy. We have been in the winter months and you never know. Usually you have a few warm days but you can't count on when in the week they fall. We have always managed to swim in the hotel pools but not always the parks. Even though the water is heated at the parks, you can spend a lot of time out of the water getting to the slide.

 

[mudnuri]

I think the only "planning" they are going to do is what park what day. Generally I think we'll all plan to be in the same park in the AM, but what happens after that happens. sPlitting up is always good!

My thoughts on my MIL (she's a good one!)...she's never been, hasn't a clue what WDW entails. She LOVES to watch her grandchildren having a good time! We do all the local and state fairs with her etc. She's not a rollercoaster type- but she loves shows, and rides like Peter Pan, Buzz light year etc. she will enjoy.

From talking to her today- she's going to split up with us "kids"...each of us getting her for a day...LOL..and she said whatever night we wanted to go to DTD as adults- she'll stay back with the kids in the arcade, or pool etc. like I said- I've got a great MIL.

The older 3, and the 9 boy- will more than likely hang together...my 2 and the 9 girl, are close (only 3 girls this age LOL) and they are going to be more into the characters than the other 4. my neice whose 13 is a wicked tomboy-(she plays football for a fall sport LOL) so she'll fit right in with her brother and cousins.

I'm going to book the HoopDeDoo for us all once I am firm on our dates. We will be doing the reserved seating for the fireworks through Magical Gatherings as well. This is where we will meet back up at night.

I am thinking of Monday- spending the day at DTD/Disney Quest- I think all the kids and adults will LOVE that. If we "women" want to shop we can and leave the guys with the kids in DQ..

Any other thoughts or ideas throw them at me...thanks guys!

Brandy