Uncharted Territory! Help!

meganwdw

Well-Known Member
I need advice/tips on planning a trip with 14 people!!!! Argggghhhh!!!!! April 2016 is in the works for my family and our closest friends! We will be celebrating a birthday, a very late Spring Break, and just our friendship!!! In total we have 6 adults and 8 kids. The kids range in ages from 14-6. Being the Dedicated Disney guru I have been put in charge of the majority of planning. So far, I have booked our resort with building requests and requesting rooms close in proximity, and added the dining plan. I have also basically mapped out our dining choices with alternatives and date changes in the event of no availability. But, how hard will it be to book dining for that many people? Is it going to be easier to call the dining line? Should we try to book seperately and then ask for tables together upon arrival? Finally, for the days we will be together in the parks, how on earth do I handle FP+ for those of us wanting to do stuff together????
 

DarthVader

Sith Lord
Your best bet it call for reservations when your date opens up for ADR. I think if you try to have a single table for 14 people it will be difficult to get you seated in one table. I'd look to break it up into groups.

Can't the adults make their own FP+ so you don't have too?
 
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Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
If you don't mind, I'd like to offer some general tips on a multi-generational, larger-party trip, as we did one recently. Your group is wise to appoint you the leader, as this will keep everything far simpler!

The Shamelessly OCD Woman's Guide to Planning a Large-Group WDW Trip:

1 - With that many people, the dining plan was a good choice. Call the dining line to get what you need, as they'll have options (like reserving "split tables" when it looks like there's no availability) that the online system can't give you.

2 - Lead an organizational meeting. My background is in law/education, so I am the Queen of Binders and Handouts, which came in very handy. Before the ADRs had to be made, we had everybody over and watched the Disney Vacation Planning video together, as some of our party had never been to WDW, and others hadn't been in years. Then we discussed: (1) daily schedule and generalized itinerary, which included pre-planned mornings with FP+ that everyone would be free to take or leave as they desired -- our motto was, It's okay to depart from the plan or go your own way -- we just need to have a plan in the first place!; nap breaks that everyone could take or leave as they desired; and table-service dinner reservations that we would all commit to attending each day so we could all catch up; (2) dining preferences and desires, including allergies and aversions, so I could make group dinner ADRs at places people would like, and recommend appropriate CS options; (3) how the DDP worked, including daily credits, kids' menu, and what a "snack" symbol looks like, and a discussion of how we were going to split up dining gratuities; (4) an overview of Magical Express, baggage transfer and the Disney transportation system; (5) an overview of attractions, plus taking notes on things like kids' heights, "Aunt so-and-so can't do spinners," or "Uncle so-and-so won't ride coasters or simulators," so I could make FP+ that were appropriate for everyone; (6) an overview of MagicBands and how they work, and taking notes on what color/name each person wanted on their band; (7) because we were flying and some of our party hadn't done it in awhile, copies of our reservation information, airline baggage restrictions, the 3-1-1 rule, how to get through security with a minimum of fuss, as well as airport parking rates and arrangements to carpool to the airport; and (8) distribution of a sample packing list for infrequent travelers, and a discussion of who-is-packing-what (for items we could share, to avoid overpacking). It sounds like a lot, but we did it in 90 minutes and by the time it was over, I was able to make reservations and FP+ without fear that anyone was going to be disappointed.

3 - Just before you leave, create a little folder for each family or hotel room, to help keep the whole group literally "on the same page." Inside, put things like: (1) a rough copy of your proposed itinerary for each day (e.g., which park(s) you suggest visiting that day and which lands you propose to tour, with FP+ and ADR information, as well as times for any fixed-schedule shows or parades you plan to see -- again, always with the understanding that anyone who wants to do something else is free to do so, and can look forward to catching up with the group later; (2) the schedule for park hours and EMH for each day of your trip; (3) park maps; (4) hotel map, with transportation info. on how to get to each park or other planned destination, from your hotel; and (5) important phone numbers (cell numbers for each person in your party, plus your hotel front desk, park "lost and found" numbers, stroller rental, Kids Night Out babysitting, taxi, etc.).
 
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J_Krafty24

Active Member
Years ago when we got married with a group about that size I had to use a special large group number to make dining reservations. That was before online dining reservations.

With a group that size I would recomend scheduling a few activities each day as a big group and break into smaller groups the rest of the time.

A group breakfast reservation followed by a group photo in front of the castle and an a attraction or two together before splitting off one day.

A dinner reservation, couple attractions and fireworks together the next.
 
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CaptainAmerica

Well-Known Member
IMO, this is a recipe for disaster. Different families tour different ways, and planning for such a large group is bound to make the planner stressed out and at least some subset of the rest of the group unhappy at any given time. I had a coworker just get back from a trip with her sister and her sister's family, and they were at each other's throats by day three. I would advise having everyone plan their own piece of the trip with certain "meet up" points. Maybe a dinner reservation with everyone every other day. Trying to sync up 14 people for fastpasses, transportation, and meals every day for a week or however long can lead to major interpersonal strife.
 
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meganwdw

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
If you don't mind, I'd like to offer some general tips on a multi-generational, larger-party trip, as we did one recently. Your group is wise to appoint you the leader, as this will keep everything far simpler!

The Shamelessly OCD Woman's Guide to Planning a Large-Group WDW Trip:

1 - With that many people, the dining plan was a good choice. Call the dining line to get what you need, as they'll have options (like reserving "split tables" when it looks like there's no availability) that the online system can't give you.

2 - Lead an organizational meeting. My background is in law/education, so I am the Queen of Binders and Handouts, which came in very handy. Before the ADRs had to be made, we had everybody over and watched the Disney Vacation Planning video together, as some of our party had never been to WDW, and others hadn't been in years. Then we discussed: (1) daily schedule and generalized itinerary, which included pre-planned mornings with FP+ that everyone would be free to take or leave as they desired -- our motto was, It's okay to depart from the plan or go your own way -- we just need to have a plan in the first place!; nap breaks that everyone could take or leave as they desired; and table-service dinner reservations that we would all commit to attending each day so we could all catch up; (2) dining preferences and desires, including allergies and aversions, so I could make group dinner ADRs at places people would like, and recommend appropriate CS options; (3) how the DDP worked, including daily credits, kids' menu, and what a "snack" symbol looks like, and a discussion of how we were going to split up dining gratuities; (4) an overview of Magical Express, baggage transfer and the Disney transportation system; (5) an overview of attractions, plus taking notes on things like kids' heights, "Aunt so-and-so can't do spinners," or "Uncle so-and-so won't ride coasters or simulators," so I could make FP+ that were appropriate for everyone; (6) an overview of MagicBands and how they work, and taking notes on what color/name each person wanted on their band; (7) because we were flying and some of our party hadn't done it in awhile, copies of our reservation information, airline baggage restrictions, the 3-1-1 rule, how to get through security with a minimum of fuss, as well as airport parking rates and arrangements to carpool to the airport; and (8) distribution of a sample packing list for infrequent travelers, and a discussion of who-is-packing-what (for items we could share, to avoid overpacking). It sounds like a lot, but we did it in 90 minutes and by the time it was over, I was able to make reservations and FP+ without fear that anyone was going to be disappointed.

3 - Just before you leave, create a little folder for each family or hotel room, to help keep the whole group literally "on the same page." Inside, put things like: (1) a rough copy of your proposed itinerary for each day (e.g., which park(s) you suggest visiting that day and which lands you propose to tour, with FP+ and ADR information, as well as times for any fixed-schedule shows or parades you plan to see -- again, always with the understanding that anyone who wants to do something else is free to do so, and can look forward to catching up with the group later; (2) the schedule for park hours and EMH for each day of your trip; (3) park maps; (4) hotel map, with transportation info. on how to get to each park or other planned destination, from your hotel; and (5) important phone numbers (cell numbers for each person in your party, plus your hotel front desk, park "lost and found" numbers, stroller rental, Kids Night Out babysitting, taxi, etc.).
LOL!! I'm laughing b/c My background is also education/law and I am totally on page with everything you said! I've copied your suggestions so I can get to work! Thank you!!
 
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meganwdw

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
IMO, this is a recipe for disaster. Different families tour different ways, and planning for such a large group is bound to make the planner stressed out and at least some subset of the rest of the group unhappy at any given time. I had a coworker just get back from a trip with her sister and her sister's family, and they were at each other's throats by day three. I would advise having everyone plan their own piece of the trip with certain "meet up" points. Maybe a dinner reservation with everyone every other day. Trying to sync up 14 people for fastpasses, transportation, and meals every day for a week or however long can lead to major interpersonal strife.
I agree that it has potential for being super stressful, but we've also already decided to do our own stuff at certain points, break up into smaller groups depending on where we are and what we are doing. The dining is easy b/c they've given me free reign to pick out ADRs since the majority of them have never been and trust my judgment.
 
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CaptainAmerica

Well-Known Member
I agree that it has potential for being super stressful, but we've also already decided to do our own stuff at certain points, break up into smaller groups depending on where we are and what we are doing. The dining is easy b/c they've given me free reign to pick out ADRs since the majority of them have never been and trust my judgment.
Very smart. I'd also advise getting ALL budget stuff out in the open from the very beginning.
 
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MickeyMomV

Well-Known Member
We were there in Feb with a group of 11, 7 adults and 4 kids. Disney did a great job with reservations. The only place that had to split us up was Be Our Guest. Otherwise we ate at Narcoossee's, Mama Melrose's, Whispering Canyon Café, O'hana, and liberty Tree Tavern with no issues. For FP+ we gave people recommendations but let them do it themselves. We let everybody know what we were doing and when so if anybody wanted group pictures on a ride we could. Different kids want to do different things and need breaks at different times with that in mind meet up for a meal once a day and have no expectations beyond that.

One lesson we learned the hard way and I wish I would have addressed before we went is letting people know that you would love to help them out and plan things for them, but make sure they are aware that this is also your vacation! While you are there to help you are not there to be their personal tour guide that will be attached to them day and night and with that many kids make sure they know you are not a babysitter. This may sound like a no brainer but we now have family that the DH says he will never vacation with again for these reasons.
 
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