Please review a family of 12 itinerary!

[cboz111]

Who:
Me: been to DW 22 times
FI: DW 1 time
FI brother, DW and 2 DD ages 3 and 5: first timers
FI sister, DH, 3 DS and 1 DD ages 3-15: first timers
COMMANDO STYLE

As you can see, I have plenty experience but don't want to miss anything for them!
Friday evening-arrive at Poly
relax, swim and get a late dinner

Saturday: Epcot
8-2pm do Epcot no Showcase
2pm-BB or TL if we can get in
7-9pm MK and watch Spectro/Fireworks

Sunday:MK
8-9am ride Dumbo, carousel and Pooh if we have time
915am-Cinderella's breakfast
Afterwards what do you suggest? What lands to start from? What will be least crowded and when?
6pm-PS's for Canada in Epcot
watch Illuminations

Monday:MGM
this will probably be an all day event
where to start first?
Fantasmic dinner at Brown Derby
PI for adults that night while the little ones are fast asleep

Tuesday-AK
do AK in the am and then go to a water park
Dinner at the rainforest at 8pm
Marketplace

Wednesday-FI and I say our goodbyes
The family will be there until Saturday but they will take it easy and do things over again

 

[jordanyosh]

I know you would like all the first timers to see as much as possible. However, with several small ones, an afternoon nap is in order. Maybe try to ;factor that in. If you still want to do the commando thing maybe have 2 of the wives or maybe 1 couple a day take the kids back for sleep. No fun having cranky, hot kids while in the theme parks. Like you said they will be there longer and be able to see everything.....

 

[cboz111]

Napping-I tried to include that but the little ones will not nap!
They try to put them down all the time but they do not nap at all!

Although, it might be a different situation once we are down there. If so we will include the naps!

Thanks

 

[Miscrapper]

When are you going? Your itinerary looks somewhat like ours!

I would recommend going to MK on Sunday until noon or so (it will get crowded) then going back to hotel for rest before heading to Epcot. I would not attempt 3rd park with those youngsters. Even if they don't nap as in actually lay down and sleep, having time in the pool or air conditioned room and being off their feet will help - for everyone!

I think you can stay at MGM all day if you don't get there too early and it is not too terribly hot. The good thing about park is there a lot of air conditioned shows. The thing that forced us to take a break on our Sept trip in 2000 was the Hunchback show - it was soooo hot DH said he had enough and wanted to swim and shower before dinner and Fantasmic. I wanted to see Muppets. Oh well... that will be a must see this trip!

 

[wdwobsessed]

Please, please take the nap .. or a rest of some sort. Even if you don't think they need it! I have young kids of my own and I have taken tweens and teens on a group trip ... they ALL needed that rest. In fact one day I gave them the choice of staying or going back to the resort to rest and they chose going back.

I can tell you with a group of 12 people it will be slow going no matter how much you want it not to be. I had 36 people total and we split up into 4 groups each day for touring. It only took one slow poke to hold every one up.

I would def. designate "alone" time. Split up and go your sepearte ways for everyone's sanity.

I don't mean to sound like a downer .. I'm just speaking from experience! You will have a great time but I learned so much on my group trip I just wanted to share!

The kids WILL slow you down, period. Potty breaks, drinks, whining, wanting to look at something forever or ride something twice. "I'm hungry" .. "I want that" .....!!

Go with the kiddie flow! Whatever you could get done as two adult people - cut it in 1/2.

I'm jus' being honest! If you are prepared for the difference you will have a better time!

wdwo

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

You probably already know this, but flexibility is probably the key. The plan looks ambitious, but if you won't be crushed if you have to change some things then I'd say give it a shot!

On our only trip to WDW with kids we found that it was impossible to get them to take a nap. I know all kids are different, but after that trip we looked back and observed that one of our mistakes was going back to the room to try naps. Our kids were 9 and 5 at the time, a little older than some that you'll have with you. I like the idea I got here on the DIS of riding the monorail with a little one who doesn't want to take a nap. They may fall asleep and even if they don't at least they're off their feet!

We're going with a similarly structured group the first week of November. You'll have to post a report after your trip!

 

[susy]

You don't have kids, do you?

Here are my recommendations:

Friday- check-in to Poly. Swim, get dinner at Capt cooks, relax by pool. Get to bed early.

Sat- Epcot- leave by 12 or 1 at the latest (the trick is leaving BEFORE the meltdown).

swim at Poly pool. Once the kids see it, forget it. It's all over! Maybe some of the older ones will like the waterpark. Dragging the little ones will be waste. After swimming have the kids lay down in the room to watch toon disney(on 24hrs). Some days my son sleeps, some not, but they need time away from the stimulation and crowds.

Go to MK at around 6.

Sunday- MK EE- try to do as much as you can of F Land.
After breakfast split up- Mountain People/Toonetown Crew
Pool break around 12-1pm/Naps-rest

Le Cellier-6pm- great for everyone! Be aware that the first explosions of Illum. might freak the little ones out. Have a plan in place. You don't want to run out of the park (like we did, reinforcing the fear). Have an adult take the scared little one over to FW to watch "from a distance". Meet back at the Poly.

Monday- MGM-all day for those who want- little ones will be fine with half a day (not much for them in this park, anyway). Two groups- RnR &TT/Playhouse Disney.
pool/nap
dinner at Brown D (our son did good here at 4yo!)
fantasmic- be aware of the fright factor here, too. Have a plan.

Tues- AK
In my opinion, AK, water park and DTD is way too much ! Rainforest is so not worth it! Maybe AK, waterpark or pool and just hang out at the Poly. Do dinner at Ohana or Chef Mickey on your last night together.

Stroller definitely for 5 and under.

Take turns taking care of the kids. Moms need a vacation, too!

 

[julfre]

Be prepared for cammando style to not work in group with at least 3 kids under 5. Reminds me of my first group trip to WDW. Myself, sister, BIL, niece and mom all went. I was the planner and had it all layed out to see everything. About 1 hour into the trip, We went on Mr Toads wild ride and my niece(5 at the time) pretty much freaked out in the section that went dark and simulated a train coming at you. After that all plans went down hill and she didn't want to go on any ride. Even IASM scared her. Be prepared for plans to fall apart and not to expect everyone to want to do the same thing at the same time. ANy idea of how many potty breaks there will be with all those kids??

WDWobsessed also had good advice about scheculing time apart for the families who may need some time away from the larger group.

My advice is plan, but be flexible and not upset it someones idea of a good day is sitting by the pool all day or watching TV for a few hours.