Any nuggets of advice for family arriving today who made "zero" plans?

[Nutmeg2016]

Hello everyone-

An acquaintance and her family arrive today. It was a very last minute trip; they are "winging it and hoping for the best."

She said she's grateful for advice, but I honestly don't know where to start. We haven't been since Covid, and I don't want to overwhelm them with info. Maybe a dining pointer, since they'll need to eat (!)? Does the rope drop/midday break/go back in the evening strategy still make sense? And I'm not sure if I should even mention genie+ . . . .

Here's some info:
-Staying at Hilton Bonnet Creek
-She said they did make park reservations (I don't know which parks/days)
-Kids are 10 and 15 (or thereabouts)
-They seem pretty laid back (I don't think they're types to cram in as many rides as possible)

I'm very grateful for any core tips I can pass along to them.

Thank you!

 

[rangerxenos]

May the Disney gods be with them, bad week for winging it.

Just tell them to be patient, and check for last minute meal reservation cancellations if they want a sit down meal on Disney property.

 

[tano]

Hello everyone-

An acquaintance and her family arrive today. It was a very last minute trip; they are "winging it and hoping for the best."

She said she's grateful for advice, but I honestly don't know where to start. We haven't been since Covid, and I don't want to overwhelm them with info. Maybe a dining pointer, since they'll need to eat (!)? Does the rope drop/midday break/go back in the evening strategy still make sense? And I'm not sure if I should even mention genie+ . . . .

Here's some info:
-Staying at Hilton Bonnet Creek
-She said they did make park reservations (I don't know which parks/days)
-Kids are 10 and 15 (or thereabouts)
-They seem pretty laid back (I don't think they're types to cram in as many rides as possible)

I'm very grateful for any core tips I can pass along to them.

Thank you!

Rope drop (early entry) should get them a couple of good rides without long queues every morning. They can try Genie+ one day to make their own mind about it (wouldn't recommend Epcot or AK unless they have extra money to spare).

Note I haven't been since G+ ; above advise is based on other postings

 

[Jonfw2]

- Rope drop.
- Stay at park of choice til close.
- CONSTANTLY check the app for last minute miracle reservations.
- Come to terms with the fact that you'll basically be SOL between about noon and 7pm every day.

 

[chris benton]

Plan to eat meals at "off" times in order to avoid trying to get food at the same time as 200 other people who didn't make plans, and thought they were probably one of only a few people that likes lunch between 11am and 1pm in a busy theme park during a holiday when every school is off. Hopefully they have a great time.

 

[katyringo]

Mobile order and rope drop.

ask if they are willing to payfor genie and lightning lanes and show them the very basics of it..

 

[ChanaC]

Lines are going to be long everywhere this week. Tell them to pick 1-3 rides in each park that are “must dos” and focus on doing those first (or maybe right at park close). Anything else is just a fun unexpected bonus. With these crowds they will be lucky to just get their favorites in. And without genie the only ride they’ll really need advanced planning for is the Remy boarding group.

 

[Orsino]

The good news is Genie+ is much kinder to last minute wing-it types. If they had done this in the era of FastPass+ they would have been completely hosed with no chance of overcoming it.
They can wing-it the first day and make a decision if Genie+ is something they want for day two. Or they could jump right into the Genie+ right away. That's one good thing about Genie+, you don't really have to pre-plan it to death. In fact, you can't.

 

[Gehrig1B]

Rope dropping MK will help as Adventureland and Frontierland are not part of early entry, otherwise, rope dropping will be of little benefit as all the standby lines will already be populated by Disney resort guests before they are allowed in.

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

My advice would be that they enjoy themselves. They should have no problem having a blast without stressing out about having to accomplish things on their vacation. If there are one or two things they miss out on that gives them a reason to return and prepare more next time.

 

[Nutmeg2016]

Thanks so much for the tips, everyone-much appreciated!!
I hope they have a good time- they really are just going to have to roll with it.

 

[Colson39]

May the Disney gods be with them, bad week for winging it.

Just tell them to be patient, and check for last minute meal reservation cancellations if they want a sit down meal on Disney property.

We just got done with a 6 day trip just winging it. Had a blast, rode tons of rides, no issues at all.

 

[Tom_E_D]

Rope dropping MK will help as Adventureland and Frontierland are not part of early entry, otherwise, rope dropping will be of little benefit as all the standby lines will already be populated by Disney resort guests before they are allowed in.

If they want to rope drop, they can. Hilton Bonnet Creek, officially Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, is one of the "other select hotels" that qualifies for early entry.

 

[DWillowBay]

Lower your expectations. Sorry, but this is not the week to hope for the best.

 

[Ikaikalani]

Prepare them!!! Let them know it will be very yrev (for my Twin Peak peeps) crowded. Let them know the ride lines will be extremely long and tell them other things they can do instead of just attractions... cavelcades, shopping, hidden Mickey hunts. Let them know how to get food when rezzies are gone. I think if you set their expectations and give them alternatives theyll have a great time!!!

 

[MrsPete]

We just got done with a 6 day trip just winging it. Had a blast, rode tons of rides, no issues at all.

Yeah, but you weren't traveling over Thanksgiving. Even on a normal year, Thanksgiving is super-crowded.

Lower your expectations. Sorry, but this is not the week to hope for the best.

Exactly what I was going to say. Assume you'll be able to hit three rides, anything more is gravy. Assume you'll wait in line for meals, etc. If things are better, be pleased.

 

[Colson39]

Yeah, but you weren't traveling over Thanksgiving. Even on a normal year, Thanksgiving is super-crowded.

We literally left the day before Thanksgiving so yes this was mainly Thanksgiving week. And it was awesome and we rode tons of rides. It really wasn't that crowded compared to the past.

 

[Bullseye]

Other than TS dining, as long as you have park reservations you're not at any disadvantage as far as winging it now that there's Genie+. Other than that enjoy the Christmas ambiance and just roll with it. Since they are laid back that will be good. They'll get some rides in. Plus that Hilton Bonnet Creek has an awesome pool area!

 

[JenLT]

Hello everyone-

An acquaintance and her family arrive today. It was a very last minute trip; they are "winging it and hoping for the best."

So how did their “winging it” trip go?

 

[_19disnA]

No amount of advance planning is going to make Disney any less crowded regardless of when you go. The only thing they must do ahead of time is make daily park reservations. That is something you didn't use to have to do. Not clear if this is their first time at Disney. Eating off-site from Disney will certainly be less expensive depending on what they like to eat.