Bad Disney Advice

[LoriABil]

My relatives went to WDW in November of 2008; my Aunt, uncle, 2 cousins and their SOs and kids. I had lots of advice after reading these boards and going in October! I told them all about free dining and what a great deal that was ( didn't know about pins back then!). I told her she had to have ADRs for dining. I gave her this site and others. Oh, and don't forget fast pass and child swap!

Apparently, my Aunt went through a local TA who was an expert. They only got free dining added after I told them to ask about it. The travel agent told them they wouldn't need ADRs!!! In November! The week before Thanksgiving! They ended up using their free DDP for CS only. Plus, they paid OOP for some restaurants in DTD! They didn't even know that those restaurants were included!

Never mind fast passes! They had a miserable time and don't want to go back. Just look at the websites! The info is out there-by far smarter people than me!

I listened, and I am hooked!

 

[PigletsMommy]

I have a "friend" on FB who went to FL a few weeks ago. The week before she left she was bragging on her FB that she bought her tix for $50 off craigslist.

I warned her to be cautious, that they may be a scam. She proceeded to post how these were comp cast member tix and she was guarenteed that they would be in her name at will call.

At this point, I knew there was nothing else I could say. Some people just know everything.


Well they got back from FL... no mention of visiting any of the parks & no pictures.

I don't know what irritates me more...the fact that she was trying to scam the system...or the fact that she did not correct herself after & now all her FB think they can do the same.

 

[punkin]

I got the impression the person meant for every meal. That would mean getting breakfast offsite, parking going to the park, leaving the park, eating lunch, returning and then doing the same again at dinner. The person would save money on food but not get near the value of the park tickets which are costly.

I can see doing this. I did a very budget trip this year and stayed off site. We would eat breakfast in the condo. Go to the parks in the morning and come back for lunch and a swim in the pool. We would rest (maybe nap), have dinner and then go back to the parks. Now we did not do this every day, but during spring break, with MK open from 8 am to 3 am, it made a lot of sense on the MK days.

 

[MaMa3Princess]

I don't think you should bite your tongue. Just state how you view it differently.

I do Disney on the cheap, cheap because it is either that or not go. I am well aware that many don't want to do Disney the way I do it, but it doesn't stop me from giving my opinion.

I would much prefer to take a cooler of food and eat it in the parks than to travel off-site just for lunch, but that is my opinion. I know many who wouldn't take their own food in if you paid them!

Dawn

We are a family of 7 and this is who we do it! As you said not many people would ever think to do Disney like this but it works for us. My problem is that beyond bad advice is the NO Advice. Like just show up to the park without planning. Most of my family members HATE Disney because they fail to plan. They just book a trip with no clue as what to do they come back grumbling how crowded, expensive and frustrating their vacation was. THen they look us like we are crazy because I start planning next year trip as soon as we get back. But to each its own. Just glad that there are options for everyone.

 

[LGH1946]

Speaking of bad advice, I had a Disney telephone agent tell me that the MK has its own parking lot and she wasn't talking about the Transportation & Ticket center. She said just drive on past the turn for the TTC and you will see it??????
She also said that even if I was staying on property that I would have to pay $14.00 a day at the parks for parking.??

 

[Michigan_Minnie]

My relatives went to WDW in November of 2008; my Aunt, uncle, 2 cousins and their SOs and kids. I had lots of advice after reading these boards and going in October! I told them all about free dining and what a great deal that was ( didn't know about pins back then!). I told her she had to have ADRs for dining. I gave her this site and others. Oh, and don't forget fast pass and child swap!

Apparently, my Aunt went through a local TA who was an expert. They only got free dining added after I told them to ask about it. The travel agent told them they wouldn't need ADRs!!! In November! The week before Thanksgiving! They ended up using their free DDP for CS only. Plus, they paid OOP for some restaurants in DTD! They didn't even know that those restaurants were included!

Never mind fast passes! They had a miserable time and don't want to go back. Just look at the websites! The info is out there-by far smarter people than me!

I listened, and I am hooked!

I have a cousin who was going to FL with her BF and his 2 kids. They said they were interested in going to Disney. I told her many times that before she went she needed to do some research and if she didnt feel like it, I could make her a touring plan since it was all their first time. Did she ask?! No. They got as far as Adventureland and were overwhelmed and left. Then claimed the kids hated the Magic Kingdom. The fact was she couldnt handle it and instead of asking in advance they wasted all of that money and went to Busch Gardens instead. She claimed they all thought it was way better!

 

[Karenj2]

My problem is that beyond bad advice is the NO Advice. Like just show up to the park without planning. Most of my family members HATE Disney because they fail to plan. They just book a trip with no clue as what to do they come back grumbling how crowded, expensive and frustrating their vacation was.

I have a cousin who was going to FL with her BF and his 2 kids. They said they were interested in going to Disney. I told her many times that before she went she needed to do some research and if she didnt feel like it, I could make her a touring plan since it was all their first time. Did she ask?! No.

I have a BIL that lives in CA with his wife and her two kids - they go to Disneyland all the time. When they decided to take a trip to WDW, I told them "WDW is different than DL - you'll want to plan your trip a bit." I gave them various sites and suggestions. They ignored it, saying "They're close enough to the same..." They got on three rides a day (TOTAL), and missed out on going to restaurants they wanted, because they didn't do ADRs - they just wanted to "wing it".

I've already told DH that we're never going to take a trip to WDW with them - they'll suck the magic out of it!

 

[kbgutknecht]

As far as the leaving the parks to eat off site. I think you have to figure in the opportunity costs. Time is money. If you take the total of your vacation divided by the number of touring hours, you will get what an hour in the park is actually costing you. Let's just say a family of 4 pays $1600 to go for 4 days and they have a total of 40 hours of possible touring time. Each hour is costing them $40. To leave the park and lose 1-2 hours to go save a couple of bucks eating at McDonald's, which they can do at home is really costing them $40-$80 in lost time. So I do think it is bad advice to tell someone to leave the park for lunch. . .breakfast and dinner not so much, if they are done outside of the time they would normally spend in the park. Just the way I look at it.

That's the best way I've heard it put, but we are also the "soak up every minute" type people. Call me crazy (you wouldn't be the first), but I don't like to think about the outside world when I'm at Disney. I'd rather stay at a value resort at Disney than a 3BR condo offsite for the same price, just because I like feeling like we're in another world while we're there and I don't like to leave.

 

[luvsJack]

That's the best way I've heard it put, but we are also the "soak up every minute" type people. Call me crazy (you wouldn't be the first), but I don't like to think about the outside world when I'm at Disney. I'd rather stay at a value resort at Disney than a 3BR condo offsite for the same price, just because I like feeling like we're in another world while we're there and I don't like to leave.

This is us too. When folks ask me for advice or tell me they are going, I tell them "you can do it this way...., or this is the way we like to do disney...
" And I explain they can stay offsite, eat offsite, etc and that they should figure out how much they will save that way (adding in the amount of time/gas spent traveling to and from the parks. BUT, that we prefer to stay at Pop, use Disney transportation and use the ddp for all our meals at disney. I know that not everyone will want to be immersed in the Disney magic 24/7--but that is just part of being there for us.

 

[disneygirl 17]

I got the impression the person meant for every meal. That would mean getting breakfast offsite, parking going to the park, leaving the park, eating lunch, returning and then doing the same again at dinner. The person would save money on food but not get near the value of the park tickets which are costly.

Yes their advice was to eat every meal offsite - I understand Breakfast - that is obvious and then I would do dinner if I was leaving for the day.

I can see doing this. I did a very budget trip this year and stayed off site. We would eat breakfast in the condo. Go to the parks in the morning and come back for lunch and a swim in the pool. We would rest (maybe nap), have dinner and then go back to the parks. Now we did not do this every day, but during spring break, with MK open from 8 am to 3 am, it made a lot of sense on the MK days.

Yes this makes sense and as I said it my OP - would I do this...no because I stay on property and like to take my break around 3 (after lunch) but it doesn't make this advice bad. It works for many people. I feel a break is very important especially with children. It is the leaving - eat lunch at a fast food place and come right back I think is crazy.

 

[ceecee]

We must be in the minority, but I don't think the food at the parks is that expensive. Compared to some local amusement parks around here it's a bargain...we just paid $16 for a Subway turkey sub this summer and the drinks are $4.00, so Disney to us isn't that out of line. Plus we have our favorite spots and you can't visit those off site. We did off site once, then we tried onsite and for the past 13 years haven't left! We LOVE not driving and parking.

 

[goosedwn]

My old boss, who was notorious for being wrong even though he swore that he was right, tried telling me there was only Epcot and "Disney World". So when I got back he'd ask "did you go to Epcot or Disney World?" and I'd say "there are 4 parks now actually and I did all 4" And he'd ask again"....so Epcot or Disney World?"

Secretpantssam, I think your old boss is my old boss's husband. Drive me nuts when I talked Disney with her! I have the exact same conversation with my boss and I quited talking with her about Disney.

 

[deedeetoo]

We go all the time, we own DVC. My dh still calls Magic Kingdom "Disney". He knows there are four parks and he calls them Disney, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM. I know what he is talking about so I have given up trying to correct him.

 

[jaci-h]

Mother in Law:

I heard that buying those quick pass things is really expensive, so be sure to avoid those and just wait in line.



I tried to explain it to her and father in law, but they didn't get it.

They're considering buying into DVC now... well because they're expecting grandkids from us at any time now........ they didn't ask us when of course but its hilarious they were like "we'll buy into DVC!" when they expected us to start poppin' out babies.

 

[DawnM]

Heck, I'd be willing to pop out a baby or two for free DVC!

Mother in Law:

I heard that buying those quick pass things is really expensive, so be sure to avoid those and just wait in line.



I tried to explain it to her and father in law, but they didn't get it.

They're considering buying into DVC now... well because they're expecting grandkids from us at any time now........ they didn't ask us when of course but its hilarious they were like "we'll buy into DVC!" when they expected us to start poppin' out babies.

 

[gnargle2988]

A friend of mine was planning on going to Disney with his girlfriend this summer. He asked me for info on the parks and discounts. I told him what I knew and never heard about it again. This summer, middle of July we were talking and he tells me they are going to Florida in mid August. Staying off site at a hotel that the website said was 1 mile from Disney property. He said how great a deal it was and it was so close they could walk. Well I just about fell over......and then explained to him that 1 mile from Disney property is not 1 mile from the parks and if he made it onto Disney property without getting hit by the multiple lanes of traffic, he probably would not make it to whatever park he wanted to go to. Thankfully he listened to me and took the hotel shuttle to the park.

 

[mdsd8700]

I just love reading all the stories about those Disney 1st timers who won't take any advice. Then say they didn't like it. I agree that the best way to insure a magicial trip is to have a plan of some kind. Now that will be different for everyone. We are rope drop people and park hoppers. We spend the first few hours of a morning at one park and then leave for a break. Going to another park for dinner and a leisurely evening. My BIL likes to get up about 10 am and get to parks when he gets there. However he does know he wants to accomplish during the day. We equally love our Disney Trips even though they are totally different. As long as you know what to expect and how to work that to fit your family, then I think you will be good. Thanks for smiles.

 

[erincon23]

I couldn't imagine going ANYWHERE that costs me a bundle o'bucks without doing some research -- looking at maps, getting a guidebook, whatever. In fact, I like to know something about a place I'm going even when it's relatively cheap! It's amazing that people are willing to do the equivalent of taking a thousand dollars and tossing it up in the air and saying "wherever it lands, we're just fine with it!" And then they see other people picking up their money and running, and they decide that someone else made the mistake, not them. These days, there is NOWHERE you can go that you can't find info on. We're not major planners, not necessarily there for rope-drop -- but we know about it, we know how much we have to spend and how much it will cost us. We've made plans to go less than a month before we leave, knowing that we may have restrictions, and we've made plans a year out. Honestly, these days, I don't feel sorry at all for people who do no research, make no plans, and come back and say they had a lousy time. (of course, if you do no research, make no plans and come back and say you had a great time, then more power to you!)

 

[Purseval]

We must be in the minority, but I don't think the food at the parks is that expensive. Compared to some local amusement parks around here it's a bargain...we just paid $16 for a Subway turkey sub this summer and the drinks are $4.00, so Disney to us isn't that out of line.

Comparing something that is expensive to something else that is expensive is doing nothing other than confirming that they are both out of line. So the person who won't buy a $12 WDW sandwich wouldn't just turn around and say "Oh gee, this is a deal compared to that $16 sandwich we didn't buy at the other place," they would skip the food at both places.

 

[Phlip]

Too true!! Just the other day "Price Club" popped out of my mouth when my dh asked where I was headed.

It will always be 'Price Club' to me.......