so confused.

[Christy LOVES Disney]

If this is posted on the wrong boards mods please move it. I know DVC people know A LOT about what to do because of years experience at Disney so here goes.... June 5-11 we are going to the world with 21 people. A studio, a 2bdrm and a grand villa. problem is I have know idea how I'm going to do dining reservations. We don't mind going to the same restaruants and sitting at different tables but I'm not sure if we can do that. I also don't know how to make ressies with 3 different reservation numbers. Third I have thought about doing the grand gathering dinners to make it easy for so many people but I haven't ever heard anything about them or how the food is or anything. What I thought would be fun planning has now turned into OH NO! what am I going to do and is everyone going to have a good time and enjoy the food. We wanted to go to Cindy's Castle but people have issues getting in with a few people muchless 21. We also wanted to do Coral Reef, but once again not sure if there will be any room. I don't feel like there would be an issue with the Polynesian Luau just because when we went last year the set up seemed easy enough to fit 21 people close. Ugh just someone help and tell me any experience they have had with a large group of people.

 

[disneynutz]

We had had experience with a large group of people (10) and it was all bad. Some still aren't talking and the vacation was two years ago.

No mater how many hours you put into planning, coordinating, and leading, everything that goes wrong will be your fault and few will thank you for all of your work.

Not everyone will want the same food, park, or rides so your in trouble before you start.

Your best bet is to let everyone do their own thing and meet up for a couple of special events. They will naturally team up into groups that get along and have similar tastes.

Provide them with web links so they can do their own research and don't touch any of their money, let them pay Disney directly.

We have decided to keep WDW to ourselves as our magical place so we don't invite others anymore.

 

[Christy LOVES Disney]

I have tried to tell them hey tell me what you want and we dont have to go do the same things.... the think i probably should have added is IT'S ALL FAMILY!!!!! I keep telling them hey, I don't know if you will like this and that and they're all fine with it and saying oh no we will do whatever you plan you're doing a good job. So I don't know what else to do. I've tried to break it into individual families and they all say that they all want us to be together. Kinda to break it down my dad and I bought DVC, my dad's big thing was to be able to bring his brothers and their kids. Last July my dad passed away so I felt that I needed to plan a trip with my uncles, aunts, cousins, mom, sister, grandmother, my fiance and his kids. Well the trip is planned and for some reason now everyone wants to be together...not sure how to do it if I have already told them they can plan what they want and I will even reserve it for them if they want to be together with the family.

 

[kimberh]

Hi Christy,
I have taken 15 to Alaska, 28 to the Caribbean on a cruise, 14 to Disney... one thing we did on each trip that did work for us was: give each family the option for their " free" time each day, then meet back for dinner. One thing is you have all different ages and energy levels. We had small children, teenagers, they do not like doing the same things or at the same pace. Now, if they don't want to separate, then fine, but at least they were given the option to leave, even if for a few hours, especially at Disney. You have roller coasters and childrens rides, ex: Hollywood studios, ToT, RnR then Bear in the Big Blue House. This is where we really had to split for a while. We all stayed happy. Everyone shared back at dinner what all they did while we were apart.

On the cruise, it was a church group. I was a nervous wreck. It was a wonderful trip. It took me a day to unwind and enjoy it. I had planned the whole trip, payed the cruise line etc. Then at dinner, guess who didn't get to set where they wanted? Me! I set with people I didn't even know and made new friends. It was great. We are still friends. The cruise line split me and my husband up, I couldn't believe it, but he was great also.

As for Disney, find out what each person really wants to do, try to work that in.

 

[Christy LOVES Disney]

Thanks for your advice. The only thing I'm planning is what park and whats for dinner because we do have a wide span of ages, from our 4 year old to my cousins and sister who are in their late teens and early twenties to my unlces who are in their 40's but i guess my main problem is, is that everyone is ok with what im doing now, im trying to get them involved but im afraid once they get there the complaining of how they didn't like something would begin and then it woud be my fault. I keep trying to get my aunts involved and they say theyre cool with whatever i do. but man that is a lot of responsibility. only good thing is none of them have to pay for a room.

 

[disneynutz]

Our trip was all family too! Of course they want to be lazy and let you do all the work, who wouldn't. I'm telling you that it isn't worth it for you personally, and you will have a horrible, tear shedding vacation.

We have since watched other large families at WDW and we really enjoy their misery. Last year at a SSR bus stop a large family was meeting up to start their day. A couple of the women were discussing how the planner had ripped them off and charged them too many points for their rooms. Then a couple more in their group commented on the stupid restaurants that the planner had them eat at the day before. Just then the planner showed up with her family and everyone was all Kissee huggy. Brought back bad dreams of our previous trip.

 

[Christy LOVES Disney]

ugh that doesnt sound good at all. i will try one more time to let them make their own ressies.... but we will see how that goes. how would they make their own ressies when they have kids staying in the grand villa with me and the adults in a 2 bdrm??? immediate families split up because me and fiance who are still young, im 24 are with all of my cousins and my aunts and uncles are in the 2 bdrm and my mom and grandmother are in the studio??? how would you make the dining ressie with different room reservation numbers??

 

[disneynutz]

I would think that they could all use there own phone numbers for their ADR's and keep them separate that way. The last ADR's that I made on line didn't even ask me for our reservation number.

 

[pumpkinfish]

I currently have a group of 12 family members I'm planning a trip for.

I pretty much gave the basic itinerary and said I'd like us to get together for a dinner ONCE. Any more planning than that WILL fall through. Also, we all plan on taking full advantage of Food&Wine Fest and will likely meet up and tour the different countries/kiosks.

 

[jpeka65844]

OP...don't worry. You're going to do your best to plan a nice vacation and what will happen will happen. We took a group of 11 a few years ago and had a great time! We're all still talking, hugging, and kissing......

As for the ADR's, how about picking two restaurants and booking half the group at each? It might make ADR's easier AND it will give people some variety/choice/say in what they do????

 

[DeeCee735]

Hi Christy. I never planned a trip for more than 6 people, but I do have a couple of ideas/suggestions.

If it were me and my family going and I was the planner, I think I'd start with some sort of very broad idea of an itinerary offering different things to do and places to eat. I'd explain that it's a huge job to plan for so many and feedback would help make for a better trip for all. Maybe even make a poll type multiple choice like questionnaire for each family and ask them to answer some questions (without giving them too many choices, sort of a way to keep the control you need over the planning) such as:

Would you like to eat dinner together as a group:
a)Twice during the trip?
b)Three times during the trip?
c)Every night during the trip?

Do you have any interest in a character breakfast meal?
Yes or No

Would you like to spend one day at the pool and NOT go to the parks?

Check out wdwig.com dining section to see menu's and restaurants. Consider booking only one or two huge group dinners, and doing one at Boma and/or Hollywood and Vine. These are buffet dinners, billed at the same amount of money per person (excluding alcohol), and not table served. You get up and get your own food and a waiter comes around only for beverage orders. This way you're not all sitting there waiting for everyone to decide what to eat and worrying about getting poor or slow service, or running the risk of confused dinner orders, or confusion (or people getting upset, like if someone orders steak at a high price, and another orders a salad at a lower price) over splitting the bill.

Perhaps you can also plan the night you would eat at Hollywood and Vine as a Fantasmic Dinner Package. This way you'll all get to see Fantasmic together. That's one night down, with something for everyone. Spend the day at DHS, do the early dinner at Hollywood and Vine, top it off at night with Fantasmic! That would be a good way to keep everyone together and get the park, the meal and the show in.

Teppan Edo in the Japan pavillion might be a good idea as well, since the chef cooks right there in front of you and the tables seat 8 to 10 at a time, (even a party of two ordinarily would be seated with 8 strangers - like at Benihana's). So for a large group you could take up 3 tables and still be together, and have the entertainment of the chef cooking at each table. Also, the menu offers things that are closely priced to each other. You could book this dinner in tune with Illuminations time, and watch it as a group from the outside second floor "balcony" of the Japan pavillion. (the dining room is not in the front facing windows looking over at the water, it's in the back, but everyone can come out after dinner and watch the fireworks together). This could be Epcot day, and everyone could be on their own park touring schedule, with meet up time at the restaurant.

You could suggest a day spent at the resort, with hanging out at the pool. You didn't say where you are staying, but if it's say Y&BC, you could plan a late character buffet breakfast, followed by the day at the pool and then maybe order in pizzas and salads at the grand villa for everyone for dinner, followed by going over to Boardwalk to see the entertainment and enjoy a walk around crescent lake with great photo opps (like at the gazebo between Y&BC and BWV) for the whole family??

Just some ideas to help you get started.

You could consider a sort of sign up sheet for different non park activities on non park days, thereby giving people a choice of things and a sense of thinking they aren't "following you around" for every part of the trip, such as:

How many are interested in going to DTD for shopping and how many would prefer to stay at the resort and hang out by the pool on Wednesday?

Would you like to go mini golfing and/or to a waterpark on Thursday?
yes or no

Are any adults interested in booking spa treatments at SSR, if so, coordinating child care would come into play, maybe suggest using the resorts childcare for a few hours so adults could do this....or use child care for an evening and all the adults go to Jellyrolls on BW! That's alot of fun.

I'm full of ideas and love to plan, so if I can offer anything or if you have any questions, just ask. Good luck, try not to stress. Involve everyone, so they feel like it's not all up to you (and thereby cannot "blame" you if they aren't happy during the trip, not saying they would, don't know your fam., just thinking overall), but don't invovle them too much, because ultimately one person needs to be the coordinator.

Also, calling grand gatherings isn't a bad idea to get some suggestions.

Have fun!

 

[DeeCee735]

you could also use some of these ideas and if they aren't happy you could blame "that crazy diane person on the dis boards"

 

[kimberh]

Christy, I had to leave... I want to add, you know your family, are they "a happy to be together family" or are they " a I don't want to see you anymore family" after a few days. Really take this into consideration. My family gets along great, my husbands... well that is another story. They can hardly eat Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. I don't even know why we try and would not try a vacation with them, not in a million years!!

I liked what Diane said, and you just need to relax, plan one day at a time. I would give everyone some space during the trip.

 

[cvjw]

We took a group of 14 a couple of years ago. We had dining reservations together every night. We never had one big table, but had tables of 4 or 6 close together. It worked out fine. Everyone got to eat with different people at night. We did some park time together, but split up some too. It was my husbands whole family, and everyone is still speaking, and had an overall great time.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm just gonna say better you than me!! There is NO WAY I would attempt to coordinate dinner for that many people for that many days! I'd be hard pressed to try to plan 1 or 2 meals together. I really think everyone would be better off to do their own thing on most of the days. Could you have a trial run somewhere at a local restaurant? Just pick one and tell everyone what time to be there & see how they handle it. Pick something new that not everybody has been to before? Maybe just see how that goes over. Who's on time or hates the food, who complains about the price etc.?

 

[wdwnut]

Hi: I've done several trips with larger groups- Disney trips with 15, 27, and 19 people. Planning is always a bit of an issue, and people will complain. Give all your guests links to these forums, as well as the home page. Let them ask about attractions and restaurants they seem interested in. If you don't get much of a response, come up with some tentative suggestions for dining and ask them what they think. Most will have some type of opinion; just be blunt and ask if they want to be included on the reservations. If yes, include them; if no, then they are on their own. We do get differing opinions, and it is essential you plan some "away" time for your own sanity. That being said, we are planning another larger trip- count is approximately 29 right now. We are still trying to coordinate dates. It's a lot of fun. Just remember- you are not responsible for each and every person's happiness.

 

[sportsmom3279]

I have planned trips for my family for the last two summers. The first year we had 23 people. This past July we had 28 people. All Family. We had a range of ages from 4 to 64. We had a great time. Everyone is asking if we can do it again this year. I made dinner reservations for all 8 nights that we were there. Here is what I did:

1. Hold a meeting several months before the trip. Give everyone all pertinent information. I let everyone know there would be no daily housekeeping and that towels would be replaced once during the week. If there are no surprises, then no complaints. Also give everyone input into dining reservations at this meeting. I had menus and ideas on hand to help.

2. Call and get a Grand Gathering number. It helps with the dining reservations and to keep the rooms near each other.

3. Call to make all dining reservations as soon as your dining window opens. You will be surprised at how many places can hold a large group. You may not all be at the same table but they will work with you to keep you near each other. I was able to get us reservations at every place we wanted including Cinderellas Royal Table. We also ate at: Ohana, Teppan Edo, Mickeys Backyard Barbeque, Chef Mickey, T-Rex, Whispering Canyon Cafe, and Cape May Buffet.

4. Make a spreadsheet of each days dining reservation location, time and confirmation number. If anyone separates during the day, it is easy to meet up for dinner.

5. Relax and have a good time. Our group got along great and we all had a fantastic time. I even got flowers from one family as a thank you when we returned and a Thank You card from another family. It is possible for this all to work out. We are a family that enjoys spending alot of time together. Only you know if you are a family that will enjoy this type of vacation.

My family asked me to plan these vacations, not because they were lazy or couldn't do it themselves but because I had been there so many times that they thought I could do a better job for everyone. We talked alot about the vacation and eveyone knew what to expect when we got there.

Good Luck!!

 

[robinb]

I woudn't do more than 3 dinners in your 6 days there. I would do one "welcome" dinner somewhere fun like Chef Mickey's. I would do one Grand Gathering. We really liked the IllumiNations dinner buffet with dessert during the fireworks. They made a big deal welcoming every single group and some characters came to visit and dance and take pictures. I would finish with a place where all of you can be together. The biergarten will put you in 2-3 tables together and Cape May has a back room that works well for bigger groups.

 

[clutter]

And I wouldn't make reservations for anyone that wasn't on the DDP. With a group that large, who wants to deal with the bill?

Good luck with all that. I'd do what some of the others have said. Plan a couple of meals together, and send them a link to the menus and information about how you have to call so many days in advance. I think your group will fall into the 180 day category, so you don't have the pressure of 90 + 10. Also, you are not limited to the number of people on your reservation when you make an ADR. We travelled with another family and all my reservations were for 6 even though our room was for 2.

 

[Christy LOVES Disney]

Hi Christy. I never planned a trip for more than 6 people, but I do have a couple of ideas/suggestions.

\

Do you have any interest in a character breakfast meal?
Yes or No

Would you like to spend one day at the pool and NOT go to the parks?

\
Perhaps you can also plan the night you would eat at Hollywood and Vine as a Fantasmic Dinner Package. This way you'll all get to see Fantasmic together. That's one night down, with something for everyone. Spend the day at DHS, do the early dinner at Hollywood and Vine, top it off at night with Fantasmic! That would be a good way to keep everyone together and get the park, the meal and the show in.

Teppan Edo in the Japan pavillion might be a good idea as well, since the chef cooks right there in front of you and the tables seat 8 to 10 at a time, (even a party of two ordinarily would be seated with 8 strangers - like at Benihana's). So for a large group you could take up 3 tables and still be together, and have the entertainment of the chef cooking at each table. Also, the menu offers things that are closely priced to each other. You could book this dinner in tune with Illuminations time, and watch it as a group from the outside second floor "balcony" of the Japan pavillion. (the dining room is not in the front facing windows looking over at the water, it's in the back, but everyone can come out after dinner and watch the fireworks together). This could be Epcot day, and everyone could be on their own park touring schedule, with meet up time at the restaurant.

You could suggest a day spent at the resort, with hanging out at the pool. You didn't say where you are staying, but if it's say Y&BC, you could plan a late character buffet breakfast, followed by the day at the pool and then maybe order in pizzas and salads at the grand villa for everyone for dinner, followed by going over to Boardwalk to see the entertainment and enjoy a walk around crescent lake with great photo opps (like at the gazebo between Y&BC and BWV) for the whole family??


I'm full of ideas and love to plan, so if I can offer anything or if you have any questions, just ask. Good luck, try not to stress. Involve everyone, so they feel like it's not all up to you (and thereby cannot "blame" you if they aren't happy during the trip, not saying they would, don't know your fam., just thinking overall), but don't invovle them too much, because ultimately one person needs to be the coordinator.

Also, calling grand gatherings isn't a bad idea to get some suggestions.

Have fun!

Everyone wants to do Cindy's Castle with the character breakfast. I would love to try breakfast there because I was very disappointed with dinner when we were there last time.

We also have a "free day" that has no plans that each family can choose where they would like to go and do what they would like that day.

I also have planned on doing Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Package. We did this last year and the food wasn't bad and not waiting in that LONNGGGG line for Fantasmic was so nice. I saw a large group there last year and it didn't seem too hard to put us in the restaurant.

I would love to go to Teppan Edo because my Fiance and kids LOVE Japanese food and sushi and any hibachi style dining....unfortunately you even mention Japenese food too some people in my family cough*my mom, grandmother, uncle*cough and they immediately say ewww even though there are things not what you would think of as Japanese like steak and shrimp and chicken just cooked in front of you, but im tired of expaining that to them.

We are staying at AKV and our first day there we are going to DTD and doing a boat ride as a family... or let me say a couple of boat rides.

I have asked them time after time what they would want and everyone says im doing a good job, I'm their niece so im not afraid to be blunt and tell them look here if you dont like it then it's your fault because I asked you, and I have already told them that but it doesnt mean im still not going to stress about them having a good time.

I did call Group Dining today and they said it shouldn't be a problem getting
the reservations I want. So that helped me a lot.