Traveling with a Large Group

[Cait8383]

Good Morning! We are in the early stages of booking a trip November 2015 with a large group of friends and their kids. Right now we are at 13 Adults and 9 kids totally 7 rooms. We are leaning towards a Moderate resort probably the Caribbean or whatever one is included in any discounts that may be released. Does anyone know the best way to try to get our rooms somewhat close together at these large resorts? Group Getaways? Linking Reservations etc. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much!

 

[jperrot1]

Make the request to have all rooms connecting or adjoining at the time you make the reservation. Then, I would call the resort 5 days or so before arrival and just let them know you are calling to make sure they still have that request for those 7 reservations. Now, the resort would need 7 rooms in a row checking out on the same day to get this arrangement.

With a group that large I would also suggest preferred rooms so that even if you are not right next to each other, you would all be very, very close to the main pool or food court. That way a meeting point could be main pool or food court which make things easier for everyone.

I have done 4 room extended family WDW vacations and I can tell you preferred rooms is a great thing in these circumstances. Someone is going to meet up early, and someone is going to meet up late. That makes for someone waiting for someone a long time. Waiting IN the main pool isn't really waiting, and waiting at the food court.... well... you could just eat before the late ones arrive. Then you could have a drink while they eat.

Now, I think choosing a moderate for a big group like yours is a good idea. Moderates are very nice resorts, and not too pricey. Once you find out which moderate you will be staying at, you can post your questions again.

 

[Grendalynn]

I have some advice in regard to planning, parks and doing your own thing.... Not sure if its what you are looking for, but we have traveled a few times with people other than just our family of 5.

First and foremost, I suggest that you all sit down (mostly just the adults) and having a discussion about weather or not you expected to be together eating, sleeping/napping, doing the parks and everything together on the same schedule. Not knowing the ages of the kids (or parents) involved, its almost impossible to keep everyone going on time or at the same rate of speed.

We recently traveled to WDW with my sister and her family. It was not our first time, but it was theirs. My kids are quite a bit older and wanted all the thrill rides and moved at a much faster pace. DS's kids were toddlers and couldn't do everything that my kids were doing, let a lone keep up. Even though my sister and I were on the same page, DBIL wanted to be together all the time. It caused quite a bit of stress and tension. Once we talked, we finally broke off the last couple of days and did what we wanted to do, and then met up for dinner (or not), everyone was much happier.

I think its important to have collective time together as a group having fun and making memories, but I also really enjoy a quiet nite at the room/resort or a family dinner for just us, too! I think its a reasonable request and think most people can appreciate it!

Good luck!

 

[Cait8383]

Thank you both, all very good advice. We have sat down and i know we won't be doing everythign together. We may do one big group meal and then maybe try to pick parks that most people would want to go to based on the hours of operation, however all the kids are 6 and under so we will need to take mid day breaks. We don't necessarily all need connecting rooms, but in the same vacinity would be great and make life easier. Preffered rooms may sound like the way to go if i can convince some of the others to splurge.. Do you think if we all just requested the same village we could all end up there? If it helps we are going Early november before thanksgiving. Thank you!

 

[Grendalynn]

Not sure what everyones budget or comfort level is - but affordability wise - have you considered a couple 3 bedroom villas? Or are you looking for your own rooms/space?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

We did several large group family trips with multiple cousins and generations. We made the HUGE mistake of staying in a 3 bedroom unit with 11 of us on one trip. We all get along and love each other, but we all also have different intrests, stamia, spending money, patience, etc.

I promise you there is NOTHING like getting back to your own room and having your own space. Now, when we travel together, we don't always even stay withhin the same resort. We plan, in advance, what we want to do together, what days we want to just hang at the resort, what meals we are getting together for -- and now we all enjoy the trips much more.

Tom

 

[Cait8383]

We did several large group family trips with multiple cousins and generations. We made the HUGE mistake of staying in a 3 bedroom unit with 11 of us on one trip. We all get along and love each other, but we all also have different intrests, stamia, spending money, patience, etc.

I promise you there is NOTHING like getting back to your own room and having your own space. Now, when we travel together, we don't always even stay withhin the same resort. We plan, in advance, what we want to do together, what days we want to just hang at the resort, what meals we are getting together for -- and now we all enjoy the trips much more.

Tom

I completly agree.. the consensus is all seperate rooms. Disney said to call ahead and note on all our reservations our requests to be near one another and hope for the best If i can convince people to book prefferred we may do that. All in all just being at the same hotel will be helfpul. Thank you!