Realities of vacationing as part of a large group in WDW and Universal Orlando
Thinking about traveling to Orlando theme parks (namely Walt Disney World and Universal Studios) with a large group? I come from a family of four children. Add in significant others and our own children and we are a group of just about 20. We have traveled as a group several times to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. In this post we will talk thru the things you need to know before you begin your adventure.
Your group needs to designate one person (possibly two who can work well together) as the coordinator(s) for this vacation. This person will run point on collecting all necessary information and make some decisions on behalf of the group to begin to map out an itinerary.
Keep in mind that you are traveling with a group of varied needs and interests. Not everyone is going to want to do everything you want to do or want to do it at the same time you do. This is FINE. A group this large does not have to do everything together for the entire vacation. Real talk, it is sometimes better if you do not do everything together.
Before you embark on this adventure take some time to educate the group (if they are not already aware) of the range of experiences that will be available to them once they arrive in Orlando. Talk through the types of attractions they want to experience. Discuss the types of cuisine they might want to sample.
Determine the priorities of the group. Have each member of the group submit their list of top 5 “must dos” and offer up a suggestion or two of a place to enjoy a family meal. With the wide range of options amongst the WDW and Universal properties alone there should be something that piques the interest of everyone.
Why a family meal? No matter how much you may love each other, at some point during your trip you will need a bit of a break. Priorities will diverge and for you all to have the vacation you want you may need to split up into smaller groups. Again, I recommend that you do. I also highly suggest that you meet up to have a family meal a few times during your vacation. This will help maintain a sense of “family”. You will have the chance to tell each other about the fun things you have been up to, share each others experience and joy.
For the purposes of this discussion let’s say that you have already determined the budget you have for this vacation. We will discuss budgeting in more detail in another post. From this budget you have decided where you are staying and for how long. From the list of priorities put together during the planning process, you can begin to plan your itinerary. Those priorities may be centered around solely Disney, solely Universal or a combination of the two depending on your group. Waterparks, pool time and shopping at Disney Springs may also be on the list. Maybe you are traveling with a group of foodies and will do a resort crawl trying tasty treats at several locations. All are great options.
This is your collective vacation. For some of you this will be a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. My advice is to stay in Orlando for as long as you possibly can. This may mean that you do not stay at a Deluxe Disney resort. Your vacation will not be any less for it. This may mean that you stay at a bit more affordable Universal resort. These resorts are also great options. We tend to stay for 7-10 days each time we visit. With the numerous days I have spent in WDW and Universal I still have yet to do it all.
I want to mention here briefly about staying off property. It is true there are many even more affordable options of hotels and motels that are not located on Disney or Universal property. Try and choose an option that offers some sort of shuttle to the parks that can accommodate a group of this size. Disney and Universal properties offer “at no additional cost” transportation to and from their parks to their resort hotels. Factor any additional cost into your budget when necessary.
Due to transportation issues for a group of this size (even more complicated with “littles” or those with mobility issues) I would recommend that you stay as close to the action as you can. Both WDW and Universal offer free transportation from their resorts to their parks. If you plan on splitting your time among Disney and Universal Parks, you should also split your stay amongst Disney and Universal resorts. You can spend the first three days of your trip at Disney and move over to Universal to finish off your itinerary.
Let’s talk about dining as a large group. I would suggest that you build into your plans one- or two-family meals. These can be for any meal of the day. These can be at either quick service or a sit-down restaurant. Please keep in mind that reservations at a sit-down restaurant will need to be made 60 days in advance for a party of this size. (Sometimes last minute reservations are available. Check the park app for more information). You should also be aware that they may need to split your group up among several tables. Generally, your wait may be a bit longer, but they will do their best to have all of you seated near each other.
Suggestions for restaurants that should be able to accommodate larger parties:
Quick Service
Flame Tree Barbecue-Animal Kingdom
ABC Commissary-Hollywood Studios
Backlot Express-Hollywood Studios
Connections Eatery-EPCOT
Regal Eagle-EPCOT American Adventure
Rainforest Café-Animal Kingdom
Table-Service
Whispering Canyon Café-Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Liberty Tree Tavern-Magic Kingdom
The Diamond Horseshoe-Magic Kingdom
Biergarten Restaurant-EPCOT Germany Pavillion
Buffets
1900 Park Fare-Grand Floridian
The Crystal Palace-Magic Kingdom
Chef Mickey’s-Contemporary Resort
Now for that itinerary. Depending on your group, this will be the toughest part. Plan out your days making sure you time in each park that you will need to visit. For some groups you may want to visit them all, others maybe only some of them. Plan in those family meals we talked about. A good suggestion would be to gather for breakfast for most of them and a special dinner experience (signature dinning or character buffet) at the end of the vacation. Rest periods (or rest days depending on the length of the trip) are a must. Spend some time at the pool or exploring a resort or two. Remember that your itinerary is just a guide, plans change. Priorities may shift once you arrive. Somebody may come down with a stomach bug. Weather may intervene. Stay flexible. This is another reason why those rest periods are helpful. They build in some “free time” into the game plan that can be shuffled around as needed.
Vacationing as a group is an opportunity to opportunity to strengthen bonds, spark joy, and create stories that linger long after the park gates close. With careful planning, open communication, and a willingness to adapt, you can ensure every member of your party leaves with a smile and a heart full of memories. So gather your loved ones, map out your adventure, and let the magic begin.
