what would you do if you

[luvmyfam444]

have a group going of 12?? What are the things you'd feel you must do together (if any) - or would you split up entirely....this is 2 families w/their kiddos & grandparents....all kids are 14 & under

 

[Amirah95]

I would at least one sit down restaurant with them.

 

[MelanieC]

I agree, you have to do at least one meal together. How often do you all get together in aspecial place like WDW.

 

[jx3smom]

I'd do a character meal.

 

[bamajill]

I would have everyone go to Mickey's Philharmagic together. It is one of our favorite things and people of all ages seem to really love it!

What else??

You could all do Splash Mountain in one or two boats. The safari at Animal Kingdom would be easy enough to get all 12 of you on at once and should be enjoyable for everyone....

It sounds like a great trip! I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[Amirah95]

I don't like that theme park idea because maybe your touring plans are different from theirs. How about pool time together back at the resort?

 

[3lilprincesses]

i would do at least a couple of meals together. i would also plan a night to go to Wishes or Illuminations. you can also try one of the grand gathering features -- the wishes cruise w/ captain hook, mr. smee, and peter pan sounds like so much fun.

 

[Nuchi15697]

There is no way 12 people can tour together and everyone be happy. I would split up for the most part, with some meals and shows together.

 

[Little Monsters]

Hi luvmyfam444 we just got back after spending 2 weeks together as a family of 10 me, DH, DD4, DS3, Dmum-in-law, Ddad-in-law, Dsis-in-law & brother-in-law & 2 Dnieces 7&9. We stayed together at a villa in Lindfields and did pretty much the whole holiday together! We had 2 birthdays to celebrate which the first was CRT breakfast - great for getting into the park before anyone else and taking pictures of the family infront of the castle with no-one else around (as long as it is not an EMH).
Followed by family magic tour - ours was we had to help CM to solve Peter Pans clues left for the lost boys to find Captain Hooks hook before he tuned all MK into Pirate land , 2hrs of fun, acting out favourite characters and trying to forget that there was anyone else around!! (skipping, hopping and crawling!) Then to be rewarded by Peter Pan and Wendy with a show of our choice which was Mickey's Philharmagic oh nearly forgot and we were made honorary lost boys! philharmagic was phantastic with Peter and Wendy singing and dancing in their seats!
Second birthday was spent at MGM on a star wars weekend! very busy but amazing, queue's for rides not as bad as you may have thought as most people were queueing to meet the characters the evening was spent at the Boardwalk for a cruise to Epcot for the illuminations - the boat was all decked out in birthday banners and balloons great for attention from passers by and other boats shouting happy birthday to my niece, once we had reached the bridge where we tied off to watch the fireworks we were given a buffett and drinks topped off by a birthday cake what a way to end a perfect birthday!
We did have a few days appart butwe also bought walkie talkies so we could split up in the parks and do our own thing and arrange to meet up again later or keep in touch.
Best stop there! we did a lot more together but dont want to hog the board!
Any questions please feel free to ask.
Nicola

 

[dismom9761]

There is no way 12 people can tour together and everyone be happy. I would split up for the most part, with some meals and shows together.

I agree.We tried to(NOT my idea)and it does not work.

 

[Tiger Fan]

We went in early December 2003 with our entire family of 11. It was us 3 sisters, our families, and our parents. We had a blast. We all stayed at the same resort and saw each other plenty there and then we had a few other things that we enjoyed together. We did Cindy's Table, Hoop Dee Doo Review, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, The Illuminations Cruise, Candlelight Processional and a couple of other meals (Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace for example). We usually did end up touring the same parks on the same days, but we rarely all stayed together. We split up among families and often 1 grandparent would go with one set of grandkids and the other with the other - make sense lol! I have to say that that was one of best trips ever and everyone seemed to like how things were done. I planned the entire trip and gave everyone a schedule and one of the things I kept promoting that was you should do only what you want to do and not feel pushed to follow this main schedule. I think everyone liked not feeling tied down and even one night my dad and two sisters and their spouses all went to Pleasure Island, while my mom, Lynn and I and all the grandkids stayed back at the resort. It worked out great. We all also liked that while we stayed at the same resort we all had our own room and bathroom and that allowed each family some privacy and down time from the rest of the gang. It really worked well for the kids, because as cousins things might be going well all day then all heck can break lose and they need to be separated. I highly suggest large family trips like this and hope you have a wonderful time!
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[lovewdwdvc]

Twenty of us went to the water parks together. It was great. WE got ther early and set up "camp". Then we went together or separate places with big and small groups. THe "lazy river" ride was a favorite for all ages ----babies up to teenagers. We just had lots of fun. We never went to a theme park together. Many evenings we got together for an early meal before heading back to the parks. We did not go everywhere with only "our" children we would switch so that sometimes the girls would go together or some times big kids and little kids etc.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I agree with some of the others-try to plan a few meals together and a fireworks cruise is great as well!

 

[Brikate]

When we go in December it is usually with a large group of family... myself, DH, dds (16&14) and ds24, dd27, ds-i-l & kidlets (6,4,2,1) OR DSis&bro-in-law & their kids and grandkids.

The "rule" that we sort of live by is that each family is on their own vacation, all at the same place and it just happens to be the same time. Too many plans sometimes means too much stress. We usually have just an outline of what we want to accomplish ... all start off going to the same park in the morning and sometimes end up at the same park in the evening. This way, we do manage to trip over each other throughout the day and even manage to do some attractions together.
We *try* to schedule at least one sit-down meal together and always do a character breakfast - if not seated all together then at least in the same restaurant at the same time. We always do MVMCP together as well as the Osborne Lights. We also try to do the nighttime shows together - SpectroMagic, Wishes, Fantasmic and most certainly, Illuminations!

{This year we are going with both above groups of family - as well as 2 of my sisters & their kids (4,14,17) and dd27's in-laws (mil,fil, sil &dh, & kids). YIKES! }
No matter what size group we end up with, we always have a great time.

 

[GoN2WDW]

There were 15 of us in Oct. 2003 and we were the same type of group - kids, parents, grandparents. The best advice I can give is do not try to be "All For One And One For All" or none of you will enjoy it. We scheduled dinner for everyone at Chef Mickey's & LTT and went to the MNSSHP together. Other times, we split up based on who wanted to do what. If my nieces and nephews wanted to do what we were doing, they came with us, and when our DD wanted to go swimming and we didn't, she went with my sister and her kids. Being very flexible and having everyone agree to this way of touring BEFORE you get there will greatly reduce the stress level. We had a wonderful time and I hope you do to. The memories we made are incrcedible!

 

[BeckyH]

My sister and I often overlap our vacations and have 10. Our children love to go on the rides together but we don't like being tied to each other all the time. We usually plan 2 days (MK and MGM) where we meet at the park at opening and tour together until lunch (PS for 10). Then if we still feel like touring together we do but usually we are ready to separate or head back to the hotel and swim. We also try to plan an evening meal or dinner show together. We have the understanding that whenever we are ready to separate - no questions asked. Overlapping works really well for us. It gives each family some alone time and offers the opportunity for a great time together.

Becky