The idea of a large group trip can be appealing. Sharing a special trip with family and/or friends is an amazing way to make memories. But with these tips, let’s hope those memories will be cherished and not traumatizing! LOL! So be ready to soak in this advice, as I share some of my top tips for traveling with a large group and surviving!
Be prepared for everything to take extra time.
When I think of putting together and executing travel for a larger group, the top thing that comes to mind is setting the expectation that everything from departing your resort to grabbing lunch is going to take time. Getting all the ducks in a row at the same time and getting from point A to point B is not going to be the same as a smaller bunch together. My best suggestion here is to have one of your leaders in front and one in the back of the group. Also, before you begin your trek from one place to another, make sure everyone knows where you are headed! This will cut down on losing people and 1000 questions during your journey!
Don’t be afraid to split into small groups of similar interests then designate a time to meet up later.
It’s important to remember what Abe Lincoln once said…..it is impossible to please all the people all of the time! And that goes for traveling together as well. While your group has agreed on your destination, many times folks will have different interest points or goals within those destinations. Don’t be afraid to split into smaller groups so each group can accomplish what they want to see/do! Pro tip: Set a clear time and meet-up point after you complete your separate activities. This will cut down on the stress of waiting or hunting for folks!
Staying at the same resort helps with navigating timing!
Now, this is not a requirement by any means, but especially with a property as large as Walt Disney World Resort, staying in the same resort as your group can be very helpful for executing your travel plan. Setting a meeting time at your transportation spot each day or at your return transportation at the end of the day again can reduce the stress of keeping track of your herd! Pro tip: At Disney, you cannot take transportation from resort to resort (in most cases) so staying in one resort can allow you some pool and hang time together at your resort at your leisure!
Plan ahead but be aware, flexibility might be your friend!
While I am a huge advocate of utilizing my services this is especially true of larger groups. Having a general outline of your plans, clearly communicating these, and executing them are all held in the hand of good planning! But, as with expecting things to take longer, you may want to take into consideration everything might not be as smooth as possible as far as cooperation, etc can go with a group. So, have an open mind for a bit of flexibility if needed!
Be courteous to fellow guests!
Whether alone or in a huge group this is always a top tip! Navigating thru a resort, theme park, or attraction a group takes up major space. Always try to be aware of this and stay to one side and together. Be aware that other guests are trying to navigate their vacation as well and being courteous to your fellow man can only enhance your vacation experience! Pro tip or pet peeve(you be the judge): Don’t walk with your group in a line that is completely across both sides of the walkway! Treat your walkways like roads! There are two directions going and when they are functional, getting around can be so much easier!
Have a designated leader for each sect of the group so communication is more efficient!
This is essential not only in my role but within your group as well. There’s nothing worse than a bad game of telephone, right? Each sect of your group should have a leader. And I also suggest a main point of contact for the entire group. It makes the flow of information so much smoother when there are fewer people on the line! Each leader can communicate with that group “leader” and it is so much easier to keep track of important info!
Pack all your patience and best attitude!
Whether you are going with your group on a relaxing tropical vacation or to the hustle and bustle of a theme park…..the two things you cannot forget to pack…your patience and a good attitude! Humans are humans and even with perfect planning issues can arise! These are the moments within a trip where you choose how it’s going to play out! If you are short on patience or sportin’ a tude, you can contribute to the outcome of the situation and not in a good way. Pro tip: Take a deep breath, and remember to cherish your time! Count to 10 and try again! This is your time with close family or friends who are traveling with and you want good memories!
I know that most of these are not some secret rocket science, but sometimes these types of tips don’t jump to mind when you are in the throes of planning a major vacay. No matter what, travel is an investment of your time and money and you want to make the most of every moment! Keeping these tips in mind while doing group travel, just might change the tide for your entire experience!
