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Mom And Son Running through park; RunDisney; incredibles shirt
  • On Feb 22, 2013
    Jocelyn Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hello, I need advice. Family reunion 9/7-9/14. 10 people, 1 is vegetarian. I'm in charge of itinerary coordination and need to make one table serv resv per day. Should I poll everyone from list of restaurants, take requests or just make executive decision?

    Hi Jocelyn!

    I tip my hat to you for taking over the planning responsibilities for your family reunion. For my last family reunion, I volunteered to be the planner, so I'll be happy to share what worked for me.  

    For the dining reservations, I took care of everything. I tried to plan for a wide variety of dining experiences, cuisines, and locations. For the reservations, I made them as if everyone in my family was going to be present (physically, not necessarily mentally).

    After I locked down the reservations, that's when I sent the itinerary out to everyone. To avoid sounding bossy, I told them that I would not be offended if they wanted to opt out of any of the reservations. So, if they wanted to do something different, I asked them to tell me so I could adjust the reservation headcount accordingly.  

    I'm not sure how your family is, but mine can be tough to wrangle in when it comes to simple things like picking a restaurant. For me, it's almost like herding cats. So, looking back on that experience, I'm so glad that I made the executive decisions on when and where to eat.  

    Here's a bonus tip:

    One thing that worked well for us was splitting up throughout the day.  We agreed to meet up at certain times (like at 3:00 for an ice cream break). After the first day of trying to stay together, we quickly realized that we all had different ideas on how to make the most of our vacation.

    Breaking up into smaller groups made it a lot easier to traverse through the parks and it allowed everyone to do the things they wanted. Some of my cousins are adrenaline junkies, so they went on a binge of non-stop thrill rides. Other family members (like myself) really enjoy the classic attractions, so that's where we spent most of our time.  

    I hope that helps. If you think of any other questions, please feel free to send them my way!

    Best regards,
    Derek
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Meet the Panelist: Derek, Virginia

Whether you're traveling with infants or preschoolers, planning a family reunion, taking a romantic trip for two, or even traveling solo - I've been in your shoes.  I'd love to help you make the most out of your next Disney vacation! Learn More About Derek

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