Anyone feel like a good chuckle...

[Davey-D-99]

My DW and I were invited to a backyard BBQ last weekend and we were introduced to a couple headed to WDW for their 1st time this summer...
because we just returned from our 1st WDW trip in May, the hosts introduced us.
I asked when they were going...
"Last week of August to Pop Century"
"Oh so you got Free Dining"
"Huh, No we paid for the DDP"
"When did you book it?"
"In February"

I told them that they should look into that and call WDW, there was a discount code that came out for the DDP for free and there are only a few days left to inquire about it.
Of course, I think they thought I was nuts...
"Why would WDW just give us the DDP for free, when we have already paid for it?"
I asked if they ever check the web or at least the WDW website?
"Nope...Haven't thought too much about it since we booked it"

Anyway..."What restaurants did you book with ADR?"
"We haven't done that yet ...I was going to look some up before we leave, any good recommendations?"
OMG!! I could not stand it anymore
"Do yourselves a huge favour...log onto www.disboards.com for you and your children's sake"
"You need to think about making some ADR's now"
"WDW might be a frustrating place if you are not prepared ahead of time for it, however, if you are prepared you are guaranteed to have a magical time?"

Hopefully, they took my advice and are on the DIS right now reading this!!

 

[mommyaof2]

Some people just really don't know about adrs. My friend has been to Disney every year since she was a child and didn't know how it all worked until I told her. I actually talked to her the other day about Thanksgiving adrs because they are going Thanksgiving too. She told me that she hadn't even thought about where they were going to eat yet. I thought ! Oh well, I didn't say anything except, "Well, you better go ahead and make your adrs because they will get booked up quick!"

 

[disneydreamgirl]

Nice work!!!! It's hard to believe there are people out there who are that oblivious! I just hope they take your advice...

 

[Tigger1]

Its is so frustrating to give advice to those that think they need no advice.

 

[Belle4mygrl]

My sister in law is going July 5th -14th and has not made any reservations! They have never been.

I didn't know they were going until today. I gave her my best advice "call today". She did not buy the dining plan but was wondering if she should. I told her to call and see what she could get and then she could add on the plan if she got enough reservations and would not be picky how times and where.

 

[bdcp]

Our first trip was in 1989 and I bought the official guide and knew about reservations even then. We only made a breakfast character reservation, but at least I knew it existed. Some people just don't plan for anything. I plan for everything.

 

[squirrel]

I don't remember how I found the DISboards, but I was so glad I did.

Not sure but I think my member since is wrong. I don't know how I would have known to book an ADR for CRT in 1999, exactly 60 days out (I think that was how long it was back then). I got through quite easily and got the time I wanted.

I know I spent most weekends on the DISboards finding out as much as I could. Wasn't sure when I would make it back to WDW, so I wanted to see as much as I could. Turned out I only had to wait less than 15 months.

 

[maj42169]

Nice work!!!! It's hard to believe there are people out there who are that oblivious! I just hope they take your advice...

There are many people out there that don't know about booking ADRs 180 days out.........touring strategies.........etc. because a Disney trip is so different from any other type of vacation.

You can't blame people that are uneducated about how Disney works.......it isn't their fault, especially if they haven't ever been there before, or if their only knowledge is from years ago when they were children themselves.

I remember that when we were kids there were no ADRs, heck I remember when Epcot opened.....DHS and AK were not even thought of at the time.........everyone waited for hours for ALL of the rides. You didn't make any reservations to eat, you just walked up and waited in line for a seat.

So, if they are basing any knowledge on past experiences like this, then who could blame them. Plus.............not everyone is a planning freak like most of us here on the DIS............

 

[RMulieri]

I agree that most people have absolutely no concept of what a trip to disney entails.BUT, what I don't understand is how people will research a trip to a local zoo or movie theater, but can't be bothered to find a guidebook to Disney.Then the same people come home from the trip frustrated and negative about the whole experience.Case in point, my BFF.I tried to tell her over and over again, gave her guide books etc.She planned nothing , then came home bashing disney and swearing her whole trip was ruined and how it was totally awful, and she complained to disney.About what you ask? lines at the rides, having people cut in front because they bought that fast pass thingy, no where to eat without ressies, the value resort looked like a motel 6 etc..Her list must have been a mile long .I tried not to say "I told you so"....

 

[goofy4tink]

I truly believe that the majority of first time WDW visitors think of WDW as a big amusement park, not much more than that. I have talked to a myriad of people heading down for their first time. I ask about meals...oh, we'll think about that when we get there. I ask if they know how to get from point A to point B (resort to resort)..oh, we'll just take the buses.
Nope, way too many head to WDW with no idea whatsoever what they are getting into. Even my adult dd had no clue! I took her for her first time, back in January. I bought her Birnbaum's guide ( I don't use it but thought it might be good for her to get an idea of what she wanted to do). When I asked her where she wanted to eat, she said...oh, I don't know. Why plan that far in advance? How do I know what I'm gonna feel like eating on any given day down there? Well, I went ahead and made ARRs for places I thought she would like. She did say that she wanted to see Sci-Fi, so I did make an ADR there. She also didn't understand why I like to try and plan, loosely, what park(s) on which days. Well, on our second day there, she admitted that she had had no idea how vast WDW was, or that there would be so many other people all trying to eat at the same time at the same places!! She now knows better, so she can plan her second trip on her own.

The vast majority of people just have no idea what they are headed into...then they complain that they couldn't find a decent place to eat, or they had to wait in line for an hour to ride Splash Mt!!

 

[Belle4mygrl]

I truly believe that the majority of first time WDW visitors think of WDW as a big amusement park, not much more than that. I have talked to a myriad of people heading down for their first time. I ask about meals...oh, we'll think about that when we get there. I ask if they know how to get from point A to point B (resort to resort)..oh, we'll just take the buses.
Nope, way too many head to WDW with no idea whatsoever what they are getting into. Even my adult dd had no clue! I took her for her first time, back in January. I bought her Birnbaum's guide ( I don't use it but thought it might be good for her to get an idea of what she wanted to do). When I asked her where she wanted to eat, she said...oh, I don't know. Why plan that far in advance? How do I know what I'm gonna feel like eating on any given day down there? Well, I went ahead and made ARRs for places I thought she would like. She did say that she wanted to see Sci-Fi, so I did make an ADR there. She also didn't understand why I like to try and plan, loosely, what park(s) on which days. Well, on our second day there, she admitted that she had had no idea how vast WDW was, or that there would be so many other people all trying to eat at the same time at the same places!! She now knows better, so she can plan her second trip on her own.

The vast majority of people just have no idea what they are headed into...then they complain that they couldn't find a decent place to eat, or they had to wait in line for an hour to ride Splash Mt!!

I am so worried my sister in law will have this problem. I have been to WDW late June and the crowds are horrible. BUT I had been previously and knew how to "work" the area. I tried to give her tips on eating and how to maximize her time and her response "ok, we will think about it". I am thinking she will have a BAD BAD taste in her mouth and won't realize why we love the place so much. I realize she doesn't want my help. That's ok.

 

[disnut8]

Let's give these "clueless" people some slack.

My in-laws are taking an aunt to Disney World because she's never been and always wanted to go. No other reason. Of course, I got the "you plan everything" from the in-laws and they will not be bothered with anything. They do not want dining reservations although they don't like burgers and fries and counter service. No talking to them about that.

Since the aunt has never been, I emailed her and recommended a few things she could look at. She had no idea she needed to plan anything. So she took her first look at a Disney map. She about fainted. She had no idea how big the whole thing was and why I was concerned about where they stayed because of transportation. Her words were that she thought it was just like any other amusement park and it could be done in a day.

That is the reaction of every single other person I have ever met who has never been to Disney World. Most people make reservations for a vacation and then go. They don't do intensive research on anything. Going to San Diego? Make a hotel reservation that fits your budget, know you are going to the Zoo and that's about it. Why would Disney World be any different?

Let's face it - we on this board are an unusual breed. Can't expect everyone else to be just like us.

 

[bbowers]

Heck, I now plan every trip like it was a Disney trip. Las Vegas, Hawaii, Alaska - every trip has each day planned out, reservations made accordingly... and my DH truly appreciates how smoothly our vacations go!

 

[Corinne]

My sister in law is going July 5th -14th and has not made any reservations! They have never been.

OK, that gave me heart palpatations!

Seriously, over the years my husband & I have had more conversations like the OP's than we could count. When you come across people like that, who think you are crazy, you just get to a point in the conversation when you KNOW they are not going to listen, so you just shut down! Amazing!

 

[nataliela]

I had an uncle who went over easter.

I offered to help and two of his sisters offered advice....None taken... One sister even sent them a planning book...Didn't touch it. They come home ranting and raving about how horrible disney is

About a month after they came home, my husband and I let them in on a few tricks...like Not going to MK on easter sunday! Staying on property for easy trips back to the hotel...simple things...and now they are looking forward to going again! He even said "man, I wish I would have known these things before we went" we tried.....we tried....

 

[DizzDoll]

I have several friends who have been to WDW quite a few times and STILL din't make any ADRs and think they can just walk in to a TS restaurant and get an instant table . For example, they went to MK last July, no ADRs for anywhere, and as they walked (ad nauseum) from TS restaurant to TS restaurant and were turned away each time, they ended up at the Noodle Station and man were they fit to be tied . They couldn't understand why they weren't seated at a TS, and to boot they didn't like the Noodle Station (never tried it myself so I can't comment on it). But the point is, sometimes even those who HAVE been there before are "clueless".

 

[tiggerlvr27]

I have friends going in July...I don't know that they have ever been to Disney?! They weren't planning on ADR's but finally did make them! I so believe in researching the trips no matter where I go...you don't want to miss out on something fabulous!!!

 

[raph_b]

I didn't even know what an ADR was until I found this site!

Thank god I found it more than 180 days before my first trip

 

[PortieOwner]

Thank goodness for clueless tourists, they make my job as tour guide and organizer for my family much easier.

I recall going to WDW around 1990, when the internet was small but lots of useful info was posted to rec.arts.disney and the Unofficial Guide was still fairly unknown. One could save huge amounts of time and money with just a little research in those two sources. Today one must spend a lot more time and buy more information to get an edge.

 

[acourtwdw]

We have been to WDW over 50 since 92. This is the first year that we have made our ADR's before going. We usually just fly by the seat of our pants. We also get almost everything we want the night before or the morning of. You can go without ADR's but you must be flexible. Since we are two adults, it doesn't matter to us if we eat really late.