Big Group Trip Tips?

C

Cccarney1

New Member
We are planning a trip to WDW for Mardi Gras '03, for about 35 family and friends. Anyone have any experience with this? We are doing our own room reservations, but what about priority seatings with large groups (not that we'll be together all of the time)? Ideas or suggestions on any aspect of the trip would be appreciated!
:veryconfu
 
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M

Married@WDW

Member
I believe group dining handles reservations for parties that large. If you call 407-wdw-dine, they can put in you in touch with the right people.
Disney is very accomodating to large groups, but I recommend choosing off-peak times or less popular locations for meals and check with group dining right away about how far in advance you can book reservations, then book them THE day they are available, as soon as group dining opens to get your selections. You'd be amazed how quickly things fill up.

And I highly recommend the Hoop Dee Do in a big group. About 16 of us went while we were there for our wedding, and my brother-in-law got called on stage to participate (avoiding a spoiler, for those who know the show, he's a big burly cop and got my favorite part at the end -- my husband and I started laughing the minute he was chosen and the rest of our family thought we were nuts until they found out why!). There's a bunch of audience participation and it's great with a big group because they try to have at least one or two people participate.

The other thing we did that was very helpful to everyone was create an itinerary of everything that was planned, including who was going to what planned events (so if it's a prepaid meal, like the Hoop Dee Do, and someone shows up who didn't say they wanted to go, you can tell 'em, sorry) and times and reservation numbers. That way everyone has the information up front.

Good Luck!
 
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Belle_kg

Belle_kg

New Member
Well, I can't really help you out with the group issues, but seeing as I'm from Louisiana also, and I was in Disney World for Mardi Gras a few weeks ago...I do have one piece of advice for your group:
I noticed that you are from New Orleans...so I'm sure that you have trash bags full of Mardi Gras beads....bring a lot of them!!! We all brought a few grocery bags filled with them, but we ran out soooo fast, because everyone saw we had them on and they all wanted some! It was pretty fun giving them out too everyone, especially little kids! It also gave us something for a conversation starter with just about anyone!
 
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C

Cccarney1

New Member
Original Poster
Hi Louisianian! I've been told to bring MG Beads for sure. A friend went this Mardi Gras and said she actually was given blank fast passes in exchange for beads! I'll def. do that. Any other Mardi Gras in Disney Tips?
 
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Belle_kg

Belle_kg

New Member
beads are a definite...lol....I had a blast giving them out, but some people were very bold and when we would give them some, they would ask for more...or for a better one or a different color one...blah blah blah...lol I just had to laugh...b/c they are just plastic beads to me! :lol: Anyways, other tips regarding Mardi Gras....well, it was pretty crowded this year...but that might have had to do with the fact that Presidents Day was the Monday following Mardi Gras. I guess the crowds depend on when it falls. Despite the crowds, we were able to do everything we wanted to, except Peter Pan...which we just chose to go do something else instead (we had a fastpass for it, but when we went to the fastpass return line....it merged right in with the stand by line @ the beginning of the line....we were pretty aggitated...but that's another story...lol). The weather was pretty crazy too....I mean...I didn't rain or anything, but if you get cold like I do (I'm freezing with any temps under 65-ish..lol), bring warm clothes. The first day we were there...it was hot...but the rest of the days I was comfy in long sleeves and jeans. Oh and I found that the wait times for Rock'n'Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror were much much much much shorter (0-20 minute waits, as opposed to 60 + minutes) in the late afternoon and evenings.
Well, that's all I can think of right now...if I think of anything else, I'll post it!
 
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