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Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Dec 12, 2009
    Victoria from NJ 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.

    We will be traveling to WDW in Feb. It is a surprise 60th birthday celebration for Grandma. We will be a party of 12 ( 6 grandchildren ranging from ages 15 to 5). Any tips for a party of 12? Especially for dining and traveling the parks?

    Victoria:

    What a memory maker your are creating for your family!

    Here are my top tips for big parties:

    • Utilize the Grand Gathering specialists.  They're there to help you make dining reservations  and make recommendations of which restaurants can accommodate you. Make your dining reservations first and then establish a park schedule around your dining. 
    • Don't do everything together.  Last March, our group of about 15 took AN HOUR to move from Test Track to Soarin'.  We stopped for two bathroom breaks, cokes, frozen lemonades, to play with a bouncy ball, and watch the water fountains before getting to our destination!  Break up your group according to age and likes/dislikes.  Let the older kids go with one set of adults and the younger set with another.  You'll cover more territory and keep everyone happy.
    • Plan one group event a day.  For me, it's usually a meal.  This gives everyone time to sit down together and share their day.  Consider making reservations at a buffet restaurant where you are in charge of your schedule and there's lots of choices for picky eaters in the bunch.  HINT:  Eat in the same park that you visit each day (or a nearby resort) to cut down on moving such a large group from one place to the next.
    • Have everyone visit the same park.  This doesn't contradict doing everything together...you're just in the same park.  This makes it easy to gather for a meal, switch up touring parties, and if someone needs to head back to the hotel, you're all within a few minutes of each other to regroup.
    • Take at least one group picture a day.  Either at the beginning of the day, like the end of Main Street or when you're gathered for your meal, like outside of Morocco near its fountain, capture some iconic moments together!

    Wishing y'all a magical vacation!
    Whitney

thumbnail image for Whitney

Meet the Panelist: Whitney, Mississippi

My family of 6 appreciates Disney's value! Although Ft. Wilderness is our second home, we've enjoyed the resorts for business, reunions and romantic getaways. For me, Disney also means dining: last count, I'd eaten at 55 restaurants around the World! Learn More About Whitney

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