Seeking tips for multi-generational trip!

[kpgriswold]

Next August we plan to attempt a Grand Gathering at WDW: my parents (65 and a very fit 73), 4 adults sibs/in-laws, DH and me, and our kids (15, 12, 6 and 3).

I've gotten as far as reserving rooms and getting us tagged as a group, but can't get my head around any other specifics.

I'm looking for advice and tips from those who have done this before. Do you tour together? Do your own thing during the day,then gather for a table service meal each night? Are some restaurants better than others for this? View Illuminations and Fantasmic together on specific evenings? Are any of the special grand gathering events worth the price.

I welcome your collective wisdom!

 

[disney_family_1247]

We've been with a large multi-age family group before and plan on going with dh's family next year.

My family would be upset if we tried to split up during the day; my parents and siblings enjoy seeing our kids fun. My dad (71) got tired about halfway through each day last year, so he would just head back to the room and relax.

In talks with dh's family, we've just realized that they plan on splitting up and meeting back for dinner. We are now wondering if we even want to bother setting the entire trip up with them. We will get to Disney whether or not they come, so we are starting to think that it would be a waste to do it with them if the cousins won't all be together. None of the cousins have ever been, so we were looking forward to sharing it with them.

My advice would be to talk things over with your family and see what they think. If they would want to stick together, you'll have to plan for activities that encorporate all of the ages.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

We did this 2 years ago. Our graoup was smaller than yours. We had 10 ranging in age from 6 months to 62. We had a few days together for the whole day, but we found that for most days splitting up during the day and getting back together for dinner and fireworks was most convenient. (also one evening Poppy babysat and DH and I had a nice dinner).

 

[DWGal210]

We did this a few years ago. It was me, my Aunt and Uncle and their kids, my aunt's parents, and friends of my A&U and their 2 kids. We all stayed at SSR but in separate rooms (of course) and during the day, we each did our own thing. I think this is best for sanity for everyone! We planned a few dinners over the course of the week so we could all get together and talk about our day, but we pretty much just did our own thing. We also weren't sitting around 1/2 the day, saying things to each other like, "What do you want to do?" "I don't know, it doesn't matter to me, what do you think?"

 

[star sweeper]

I've never done this at WDW, but my extended family would meet at a park in OH each year. I had one aunt that always wanted things her way if we were touring together as a group. I highly suggest having your own plans and meeting up for specific things (fireworks, character meals) to keep the peace and make sure everyone has time to do what is most important to them.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We did a GG last year. There were 16 of ages were 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 21, 23, 24, 28, 29, 31, 33, 50, 51, and 80! DH and I gave the kids and grandchildren the trip as a Once In A Lifetime Christmas gift so we did the planning.

We picked the resort (BC). Then we gave everyone the Disney official and unofficial guides and let them look through them for a couple of months. When it was close to time to make ADRs I asked everyone what restaurants they definitely wanted to try. DH and I made a list of a few restaurants where we definitely wanted everyone to go. I then showed them our schedle and asked what ones they wanted to join us at. So some nights we were all together, some nights everyone was out on their own, and sometimes half the family was at one restaurant and half at another. This all worked out really well.

With the parks we gave everyone our schedule and told them when we would be going. It was up to them whether they wanted to come with us or venture out on their own. Only the first day at MK was everyone together.

We had a great time, everyone was still talking to each other at the end of the week, and the kids and granchildren are still talking about it as the best vacation they ever had!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We've done 3 extended family trips to WDW. My best advice- sit everyone down ahead of time and agree that it's OK to NOT be together 100% of the time. Yes, you're going to be together, yes, the grandparents love being with the kids, yes the cousins all like being together... logistically speaking though, a large group together all the time will drive you nuts. (Even little things, one has to use the rest room, the others wait. One needs to get something to eat, the others wait.... just the more people you have, the more the little things add up.) I think it's something you can expect to do things together but all day is trying!

We planned a little bit and then let things go from there. For example, we might all go to AK, go on the safari together and walk around a little, then split up. Sometimes it would be my immediate family went one way, brother's went another. Sometime (princess time, esp!) the girls went one way, the boys the other. The grandparents took turns taking one or two of the grandkids off for a while. Everyone had time with everyone else- just not ALL the time.

The first trip we took, a couple people felt we had to be all together 24-7. As much as I love my family, that's alot. We all agreed the next year it was ok to say "we're going to do this today instead".