Welcome to planDisney, Alexis! I love it when my fellow North Carolinians stop by with their vacation planning questions, and I see you've got quite the group traveling with you on your upcoming visit. I recently planned a trip for a group of 12 that was made up of my childhood best friends and their families. We had an absolute blast, but there were some key decisions we made that helped us manage our experience. I'm ready to share this expertise with you to ensure you have a magical visit. Let's get this vacation planned, friend!
The first thing we decided was where we were all going to stay. Our original plan was to see if we could book a grand villa that accommodates up to 12 people, but the ages of our children were different and we ultimately agreed that separate spaces for each family was a better bet. Eight people from the group stayed at Disney's Art of Animation Resort, and my family had a room at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. Since we were in separate rooms, we could each follow our own nap schedules, come and go as we pleased without interfering with one another, and, perhaps most importantly, control the TV remote in the room. You can book multiple rooms at the same resort or search for a room that will fit a portion of your travel party. If you plan to book multiple rooms, it's easiest to
call the Hotel Reservations line and speak with a Cast Member who can help you search for availability.
The next essential planning step is to purchase park tickets and talk about your park day strategy. The
My Disney Experience app will help you organize and assign tickets, purchase and book Lightning Lane Passes to skip long attraction queues, and see maps, operating hours, wait times, and entertainment schedules. It's an absolute must-have for your vacation. You can create profiles or connect existing My Disney accounts using the
Family & Friends List feature in the app, and this will help you make and manage plans together. Our group of 12 was all connected in the app, and we could book Lightning Lanes for particular people who wanted to ride while others split off for a dining reservation. One of my top tips is that not everyone in your group has to be doing the same thing at the same time. Interests differ when you have a group that big, so we decided to do a few core things together, like riding Tiana's Bayou Adventure, then we'd split up for a bit and arrange a time to meet up for a meal, snack, or attraction. See what attractions and entertainment your group is most interested in, then create your itinerary from there. It is possible to manage a large group if you set expectations prior to your visit!
Finally, consider all the amazing extras that are available across Walt Disney World Resort.
The holidays will be in full swing when you visit in November, complete with seasonal parties and tons of festive decor and entertainment! I'm meeting up with a huge group this November, and we're planning to attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. I can't wait to see my besties and enjoy the holiday magic across the parks and resorts.
You may find the
family vacation planning guide helpful as you begin to envision your trip, and we're always available here at planDisney to answer any new question you have. Please stop by if you have more curiosities or are seeking additional tips and advice, Alexis! It's our pleasure to assist.
Stay magical,
Scott