Hiya, Mary, and welcome to planDisney! I couldn't be happier that you're here today with this great question about your upcoming vacation to Walt Disney World Resort with a large group! I love traveling to the Most Magical Place on Earth with a big crew - the more, the merrier!
Mary, I love that you're already thinking through your
plans and considering how to keep your group together as much as possible during your visit. It sounds like you're aware that holiday crowds can often feel heavier, so taking advantage of
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party or
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a great idea. I can tell you that, from my experience, visiting an after-hours party with a large group can be easier than visiting a Disney Theme Park during a normal day with a large group. While my experience might be totally different than yours, I'm happy to share my thoughts with you!
When we travel with a large crew, it's typically a multigenerational family group that includes Guests from babies to grandparent age, so we juggle everything from feeding times to nap times to bedtimes. That being said, we all love the Disney Theme Parks and want to experience as many attractions together as possible. Since you can book Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lightning Lane Single Pass for up to 20 Guests, this is possible! The first few selections are easier, but then navigating the rest of the day (especially when it's a busy holiday), can be more difficult. My family has decided that we also like to have one
Advance Dining Reservation where we're all eating at the same restaurant at the same time, even if we aren't sitting together. This helps keep us on the same schedule.
We recently attended Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as a large group. With lighter crowds, it felt much more possible for us to stay together, and we didn't need to juggle Lightning Lanes. I did prefer this pace and would absolutely recommend it to other Guests in a large group. You can do so much during these types of events, especially if you arrive as early as possible (usually 4pm) and stay the whole time.
Your decision should absolutely be based on your group's dynamics and what you all feel would be best. No matter what you decide, I just know you're going to have an amazing time together! If you have any other questions about your vacation, please don't hesitate to reach back out to me!
See you real soon!
Jennifer