Originally Posted By mousegeezer Has anyone had any experience with going with about twelve people. Can you do it without bloodshed over what to do next or where to eat?
Originally Posted By ShivaThDestroyer We don't go to the park with 12 people, we just seem to end up being in a group that size. Does that count? We LP'ers do seem to enjoy each other company. Seriously, it would depend on the people, the age groups and individual personalities. I've been with smaller groups that had 'conflicts" and groups 2-3 times that size where the collective IQ drops down to the lowest common denominator and we have the time of our lives. The worst part about a large group is that, if prime "ride'age" is a major concern, it does travel a little slower...but the fun more than makes up for it.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<Can you do it without bloodshed over what to do next or where to eat?>> NNNNOOOOO!!! there will be bloodshed!! I tried to do this last year(silly me)! Next time we will just meet for meals & discuss our day! Our groups ages were 5-65, some of us go every few years, some hadn't been in 20+ years. Don't try to make everyone happy, you won't! *what's Shiva doing over here?*
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt ...And another thing...when we returned home we all had a contest as to who "ruined" Mother's trip the most! we blammed it on the son/brother/uncle that could not make it due to his Military Service. rotten war!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It is a tough call. The times we take just my MIL with us drive me crazy. But go in a group of 20-30 LPers, and it is awesome! For me, it is always about the priorities of the group. Choose a voting order or appoint a leader for a period of time, then change. That can help.
Originally Posted By -em Rule #1- Take cell phones Rule #2- Discuss in advance the plans and build time as smaller groups. We usually plan to meet for meals or specific experiences (parades/fireworks) but dont plan to spend every waking hour or else by day 2 everyone will be in a foul mood -em
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< The times we take just my MIL with us drive me crazy. But go in a group of 20-30 LPers, and it is awesome! >>> The key difference is that with the LPers, the social aspect of the day is probably the highlight, with the park being a backdrop. It's because you're spending face time with friends you rarely get to see. Compare this to the MIL situation. I think that in most cases, once a group gets to be more than you can count on one hand, it starts to get difficult. I think the thing to do is to set 3 or so meeting points and times each day, and then let the group split up as it naturally wants to.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 I am a fan of choosing a couple of things everyone wants to do together and then let people go off by themselves for a bit with a meet up time to do some more things together. It allows some group time but also allows people to go do the things that they really want to do. For some that is shopping, for some its food and it allows those who want to the time to go on personal favs that not everyone might want to do.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Like A Happy Haunt said, it doesn't work. We were 11 from 5-65, yes my missing son made it less fun, but you can't get 11 people with that age spread to agree on when to get up, what to ride, which park, where or when to eat. Not gonna happen. It was so easy when my 4 kids were young, but when you throw in the age differences, and a couple son in laws.... Best to do your thing and then meet for meals. It was still fun, just not the same as when they were little and we all liked the same thing.
Originally Posted By mousegeezer I am thinking about throwing out some rules to get the ugliness out of the way before we go. 1. Small children remain the responsibility of their parents. Should they become hungry or tired the parents must deal with them and not expect aunts uncles and grandparents to assist. 2. The I don't know and I don't care Restaurants and attractions have been closed. Don't even think about mentioning them. 3. If you don't want to do it don't. But, don't expect the others not to.
Originally Posted By mousegeezer 4. If you have an idea, mention it maybe someone else would like to do it too. 5. If you are going to be cranky, go back to your room! Only ones having fun and getting along allowed.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I did just that last year. There were 11 of us. We all stayed in the same villa off site. We had three vehicles and used them. We all went to the same park on a particular day because of the transportation aspect but after we entered the park we were all on our own. If we wanted to stay together, we did. If not we all went our own way. Cell phones were an absolute necessity in this process. If one part of the group was heading someplace for lunch they would call and let us know. If we were in the same area we would join them, otherwise we just did our own thing. We were fortunate enough to have enough vehicles so if someone wanted to leave early, again they would contact the rest of us and if someone else wanted to return at that time, it worked out. We didn't plan many large group outings. The only one we did was the Hop Dee Doo Review. That also worked out great. When we all returned to the villa, we then would compare experiences, play cribbage, watch TV or watch the kid swim in the pool. Great trip, but it did require some advance group meetings to make it clear what was expected of everyone and what we were trying to do. We didn't have one fight, argument or disagreement. It can be done, just think it out and let everyone in on the decision making process before hand.
Originally Posted By FenwayGirl Great advise Mousegeezer. We have done a lot of large family trips. Some good, some not so good. The "do your own thing" attitude seemed to work out the best
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<Small children remain the responsibility of their parents. Should they become hungry or tired the parents must deal with them >> this really wasn't an issue. 5 yr old had a few melt downs (he's 5)! It was more of a timing issue, some people were up early & then we had to wait around for the late risers.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad <<<I always wanted to go to the parks with a Brazilian tour group>>> Do you speak portugese MPierce? Iknow I don't. Heck I probably didn't even spell it right. But if you ever do I think I might have to come along with you to video tape your adventures. I think everyone here would like to watch you dance and chant
