IIRC, you start out in a tutorial area which is cut off from the rest of the game, but, that literally is done in about 5 mins.
Then you go on to the starter area. All the starter areas are close to the main cities, which in turn have portals to LA which has portals to the other cities.
So just pre-plan which starter area you guys wanna do together and have everybody head in that general direction.

Should total take under an hour to organize unless you get lost XD

Also if you have new friends come in you can get side-kicked down (And they get a little boost) and play with them even if you're a higher level.