Touring with 14

[Paticake]

Our family gathering has now grown from 10-14. All different ages from 3-53. Anyone have suggestions for our diverse group? We are there the week following Thanksgiving.

 

[oldkicker]

We had 19 in our group a couple of years ago.

My best advice is to go with the flow and to not try to keep everyone together all the time.

Plan some events that everyone will attend (a few nice meals perhaps), but past that, let folks follow their own muse. Touring with a large group, especially a diverse one is really difficult. I would guess you're going to have some thrill ride enthusiasts and some who will want to pass on them. With a little bit of planning an flexibility, everyone should be able to see and do what they want to do and still enjoy everyone else's company.

When our group went, we saw the Hoop De Doo Review and ate at the Rose & Crown and viewed Illuminations from the veranda together. We also spent the day together at Typhoon Lagoon. We had an adult night out at Pleasure Island. We stayed at Fort Wilderness in the cabins there so we also had a cookout there with everyone.

By the way, you are going at a great time of the year. The parks and resorts are decorated beautifully. Be aware that the parks do close early then. That should give you plenty of opportunities to spend tiime together with your group mates!


Most days, but not all, we all went to the same park. If your do plan to split up, transportation and adult supervision have to be considered.

Have a GREAT trip!

 

[vicb]

I have to agree with Oldkicker, don't try to stay together, it doesn't work.

I just returned from 5 days in Las Vegas with my family group of 12 and it was hard to move in a group of 12. We were very casual about it and only tried to come together in the evenings for dinners and shows, during the day everyone was on their own. More often than not, smaller groups of similar interests formed. We also didn't always try to sit at one big table for meals, we would mix up and sit at two tables of 6.

We talked about doing the trip at WDW but DH and I balked, WDW is our favorite vacation spot and we didn't want to do it on a big group's terms. Vegas was a good alternative. We have also done Toronto as a group of 12, learned some lessons that worked better this trip.

Good luck.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We did this 5 years ago and are doing it again in October. Our group will be 13 and range in ages from 8-67. It will include 3 teenagers, so we are planning to do one thing together at the same park at the begining of each day. At AK it will probably be the Safari and Festival of the Lion King. Then everyone will split up into smaller groups from there. We expect the older kids and a couple of adults will do the thrill ride loops, and the "oldsters" will ferry the younger kids around. The nice thing is that all will have some sort of hopper pass, so we will probably have a plan to meet for specific events at specific parks. We did this with this group 5 years ago and it worked great! The problem this time, is that there are 3 teens! Somehow, I suspect they wont be as prompt at arriving at the meeting places this time.

 

[DisneyMim]

I agree with oldkicker, do not, I repeat do not, try to stick together like glue. This will only end in lots of headaches and maybe an argument, both of which you do not want!! You really have to go with the flow. We find that dinner together is nice and some time together riding rides, etc., but really if you have different age groups and lots of people everyone doesn't want to do the same thing all the time. And it's ok. After all it is everyones's vacation and all of you should enjoy it how you see fit. I think the key is to talk beforehand. Maybe have a family meeting of some kind. This way everyone knows in advance and there will be no hard feelings. You will have a blast. Some of our best times have been with family. Be sure to get at least one group picture together. Trust me, it will become a treasure.

Have a Wonderful Vacation!!!