The Walt Disney World Resort is the most popular vacation destination in the entire world, so it is no wonder that it also is a great option for bringing together families that are scattered across the Unites States and beyond. Family reunions are popular at Walt Disney World because of many reasons; not only are there accommodations and unlimited attractions that can fit into any family’s plans, no matter how large your group is, but Disney actually caters to large groups with group sales and activities just for large parties. In fact, family reunions and gatherings have become so popular that they gave them a name – Disney Grand Gatherings!
A Disney Grand Gathering is a group of eight people or more, ages three and up, who are staying at select Walt Disney World resort hotels and have access to exclusive receptions, dinners and gatherings that are only available to these groups, as long as eight people participate in the activity. Among the special activities available to you are: the Illuminations Dinner and Dessert Reception, a Safari Celebration Dinner, Good Morning Character Breakfast, a Magical Fireworks Voyage and many more custom events. Your group will also have access to Grand Gatherings Travel Planners, who will help you arrange priority dining and dinner shows, tours and activities and photographic services. Finally, you will also be able to order a personalized T-shirt for everyone in your family to keep as a souvenir – or to help you keep track of everyone inside the parks!
While Disney Grand Gatherings are a great option for family reunions, we also understand that some families would rather save money and organize the reunion themselves. This is a major undertaking for any one person to do alone, but it is possible and has been done before; in fact, you are already at step one of your family reunion planning, and you probably didn’t even know it! While reserving your hotel rooms for everyone is one of the most important pieces to beginning your vacation planning, obtaining your theme park tickets is an even more integral part of your vacation details – and often the most expensive aspect as well! That is why we are here – at OrlandoFunTickets.com, we offer the best deals on discounted Disney tickets anywhere, whether it be for a party of two or 22! Don’t just take our word for it, though – click here to see these discounted deals for yourself!
Once you have your tickets and hotel reservations in order for everyone coming to your family reunion, there are several things you need to keep in mind to make sure things stay organized. Communication will be key to keeping everyone in order, so be sure before you leave that everyone has a master list of everyone’s phone numbers, as well as everyone’s itineraries for coming and going. You may want to set up a “family meeting” on the first night (and every night thereafter) of your family reunion as well, just to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the next day’s activities, meeting places and times, etc.
When it comes to plans and activities for family reunions, you may want to limit those to half-day or even just evening activities. Going to the theme parks with a large group, for example, can be more of a hassle than it is worth, as everyone wants to go on different attractions and everyone will want to eat, use the restroom, etc., at different times of the day. So, if you let everyone loose for the majority of the day to do whatever they want, you can then plan for a large family dinner and possibly one activity after dinner each evening to be sure you get in your family time. Group dining with an exceptionally large party can be difficult, however, so be sure to call exactly 180 days prior to the date you want to make reservations to ensure that everyone will get in. You may get separated into smaller parties at smaller restaurants, but the buffets and restaurants like Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort or the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds can usually accommodate your requests. To find out which restaurants can accommodate your family, and to make these priority seating arrangements, call (407) WDW-DINE.
While all of the above may sounds like a lot to take in, you just need to remember that planning a family reunion at Disney should be a fun experience and that Disney is accustomed to catering to large parties, so anything you want, they can do! For help with your family reunion, you can also call Disney’s group sales department at (800) 327-2989, and they can assist you with setting up things such as blocks of adjacent rooms or group transportation. And most importantly, don’t forget to get your family’s discounted Disney tickets right here at OrlandoFunTickets.com!
