Boy, did I get a lot of crap from people who traveled with us...

[IvyandLace]

Ahhh...this thread is so bringing back memories! I, too, have "been there...done that". It's really tough to travel with family...period. Everyone has a different opinion on what "vacation" means. Unfortunately, even when you do *try* to get newbies to plan before you go, I've learned that this is NO guarantee that they will 1). agree with that plan once you arrive and/or 2). follow that plan when they actually step foot in the parks. It's almost a guarantee for chaos and frustration for at least one person in the group.

WDW is such a special restorative place for DH and I that I'm afraid we've become sort of selfish with our vacation plans. It's very hard for us to *share* it with anyone else...it's just not a place that we want to tarnish with frustration and annoyance. I think it's really tough to plan for a large group; for us, my inlaws were exactly the same way as described throughout this thread-wanting to "do it all" but not understanding that that meant being a bit commando which IS NOT in their vocabulary. It's hard to *see it all* when you mosey on to the parks around 11am...and they just couldn't understand that.

DH and I *do* commando when we are showing newbies around as many times it is their "once and only trip"; however, we've been to WDW several times in the last few years and have learned to enjoy our WDW vacations as vacations...including sleeping in at times!!

Just wanted to join in the therapy session!! I totally understand.
IVY

 

[mickeyholic]

We will be going in July with 18 people ranging from 6-62. I have been so excited about going back to disney, that I have not really thought much about how everyone will want to tour the parks, my general thought now is, with two-way radios and cell phones, everyone is on their own with the exception of the smaller ones. I have looked forward to this trip for two years, and there is no one that is going to ruin it for me. I WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME OR ELSE!!!!

 

[John Dobbertin]

Mickeyholic: It can be done with 18 -- but not "together." Radios & cellphones will not help -- they are just enablers so no one ever has to be any place at a designated hour. "Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Where are you? Where are you? We're running late -- see you in an hour." And radios are still a challenge at WDW with too many folks walking all over each other's signal. Meet everyone somewhere for lunch -- and then sit at several tables, don't try for "a table for 18, please." You'll need ressies. Pick an hour -- say 11:45. Those who make it, make it. Those who don't you'll catch up with later. Then meet again for an evening event -- fireworks, whatever. Pick a place & gather there. You're sort of a "mob" at 18. No way to keep together in the Parks, even if you're in the same one. If you're all staying at the same place, you'll find a place there to catch up and laugh later. Have fun!

 

[floridagirrl2]

DH and I never plan and never hit the parks early. We're spontaneous, lazy or active as we want to be. We never make PS.

We did a beach trip with another couple once and they were very annoyed that we didn't get out to the beach until noon everyday. They thought we should be on their schedule!

 

[Got Quattro?]

We are a laid-back, "wandering aimlessly" type family. Your "plan every minute" style would definitely set me off.

Same here. We may plan what park we go to on what day. But that is only so we can get PS for food.

So, our plan may say go to MK on Monday morning, have lunch at Liberty tree tavern, then go to EPCOT for the night.

But that's it. When we get to the park it is just go with the flow. We like walking in every shop and smelling every rose.

 

[John Dobbertin]

We're all for everyone doing their thing! The more folks who arrive at the Parks at Noon with no ressies & no plan, the better.

 

[3redheads]

We're all for everyone doing their thing! The more folks who arrive at the Parks at Noon with no ressies & no plan, the better.

LMAO!

Thanks for all of the responses. I didn't expect such a response but this must have struck a cord with many.

My new motto: Go it alone (with hubby and kids, that is)

Kim

 

[goofy4tink]

We traveled to WDW in '01 with another family. Our dd's are the same age and we are good friends. The other mom is a full time working mom so asked me to do all the actual planning. We had many get-togethers to discuss what we wanted to do and where we wanted to eat. Everything was fine until we got there. The other dh just wanted to sit by the pool and have a beer while his dd swam. Only problem was....he was the only one who wanted to do that. He continually said.."Oh great, hurry up so we can get to another line and stand around and wait awhile longer." He had a huge problem with getting going early. And then, we had tickets for Cirque. He wanted to go to the bar and have a drink, so he told us he would meet us there when we left to catch the DTD bus. Well, we couldn't find him. We looked all over for almost 30 minutes. Finally his wife said.."Leave his tickets with GS and I'll leave him a phone messege to meet us there!!" As we were walking to GS up he strolls. Seems he was in the arcade...but we never saw him there!!! All I can say is it was a good thing I took their dd off because that wife tore into that man like nothing I've ever seen. She was furious. We did get to Cirque and loved it. But, we had arrived on Sat afternoon, were together on Sunday, on Monday the men played golf while the moms and daughters went to MK. On Monday night is when the 'Cirque incident' happened. We went to Epcot on Tuesday and after lunch we parted ways. The moms had a ladies day planned on Wed so the men had the girls, but other than that we were only together about 3 hrs a day after that. The other wife was so upset that her dh was impacting our trip like that. She finally told him, at the airport going home, that he could go to a Holiday Inn, with a pool, and have just as good a time as he did at WDW!!!

But, the mom's are going back in Oct '06 to celebrate the girls turning 13. No dads are invited although my dh is very nicely behaved. In fact, on our last night in WDW, with the other family, he asked if we could do the whole thing over again, but only our family this time. I guess you really have to know the other personality types before going to WDW.

 

[Luv4Disney]

For me personally...I hate winging it. I don't like "not knowing." Once hours and EMH and all that jazz come out I make a plan. I figure out which park, which day and plan my PS's. My boyfriend and I like it and it works for us. I also think it's easier to really plan like that with only two people, rather than say a family of 5 or something. It helps that we like to do all the same things and have the same way of thinking.

 

[pixiedust23]

I've learned very well from my parents who were making excel spreadsheet itineraries before most families even had a computer! When I went down with friends to our DVC home a couple summers ago I had somethings with def plans and left some things up to chance and they were extremely happy to have me with them. I had set up Narcoossee's to see WISH's which they were amazed by (wow how did you know that woiuld be happening now? yea it's called a schedule people!) I made them pick parks and rides the night before we would go and then we had some other PS's. I think we were the most organized 21-year olds in the world that week! And my one bff who has issues getting up before noon wanted to be up and off by 9am. I was in amazement. Some people just need a little motivation!

However I am thinking of going down in Oct solo for some R&R, where there will be no scheduling, which is also nice. There needs to be a compromise!

 

[John Dobbertin]

Goofy4tink: You hit the button. Why spend thousands to go to WDW if you're exclusively going to sit by the pool & not take in the attractions? You're right -- just go to the local Holiday Inn, or equivalent -- spend a whole bunch less money & "hang-out" if that's your idea of a vacation. And there are a lot of folks who believe that is what a vacation is all about-- sleeping, lounging, hanging out. What a waste of $$$$ for those folks to go to WDW.

 

[pixiedust23]

John I beg to differ a little. I'm going to Disney in Oct (hopefully) and using DVC points. I won't be going to any of the parks but I want to stay in a nice hotel. So I dont see how that would be wastin ga ton of money

 

[Linxzy]

I learned in Dec. '04 trip that I can't go to WDW with kids and with my sister. I can't stand pushing the strollers. I was used to go to the rides with mom and we get along just great in the parks (home is another story). But my sister whines alot, my nephew being a teenager was worst. And my little nieces (both 5 at that time) cried all the time, but claimed they were not scared. *shrugs*

I'm semi-comando, I like to go on everything but also take my time with things. We never do PS, maybe when arriving to a park we go and do one, but not all the time.

edit: Forgot to add that my sister critized everything that I did. She told me to plan, I planned. The only thing she liked was that I knew the parks without maps.

 

[John Dobbertin]

Pixiedust23: It sounds as if you are DVC members. So are we. A lot of these posts appear to be folks who are going to WDW for The Big Trip. Sure they can enjoy the hotels/resorts. But they are paying a premium to stay on-property at WDW. OK, so you can find deals. You can find deals in New York City, San Francisco, the Bahamas, Cancun. I heard one unhappy lady at the front desk at the WL say to a CM: "I know this isn't the Ritz, but I'm paying the same prices!" And to go all the way to WDW for The Big Trip & not take in the attractions? I don't understand that.

 

[Liz]

This thread is interesting to me because we are going to WDW in June with a family who has never been before. I have the role of planning everything (which I'm happy to do because I love it). While we have never traveled with this other family before, we seem to have similar styles. We all like to get up and out early, both have similar opinions on budget, they have made itineraries on other non-WDW vacations, etc.

I'm trying to learn from my past experience a couple of years ago when we traveled to Disneyland with my SIL/BIL & family. We get along great with them at home and do things with them often, but NEVER, NEVER again . . . . did I say NEVER . . . will we go to Disney with them!!!!

This trip I'm going to remember that we have been to WDW many times and will go many more times (hopefully) so we will gear things more towards what our friends want to do.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

at first my girlfriend and my daughter thought I was the theme park nazi, until they realized how much fun they were having, how much they were getting to do, and how little they had to concern themselves with anything at all. That was my job.... the planner. Now they will not go any other way.

but what I did was - I gave my daughter a print out of every ride and attraction in WDW's four parks. I cut and pasted pictures and descriptions for about 5 nights. Then I laid out a format. I told them to put a one on the things they HAD TO DO, a 2 on things they would LIKE TO DO, a 3 on things they WOULD LIKE TO DO BUT WOULD NOT BE BUMMED IF THEY MISSED, and a 4 for things they could care less about.

That way I could give them a sense of control over their vacation, and then it was up to me to make sure they got to do everything they picked out.

worked really well - at first they thought I was a jerk... but then they realized...wow dad is working and we are having an excellently coordinated hassle free vacation.

I am normally glad to be back to work after my kid's vacation hahahahahahhahaha but then when we go to disney it is all about her. I most enjoy just watching her smiles, and hearing her laughs... that is my real vacation... that is what I most enjoy about disney... that... and peter pan. I always put that one in for me.

 

[JDarling]

What I end up doing is planning every second out like MAD (because it's fun for ME). I write it all down and keep a trip journal, asking everyone to jot a note in it whenever we sit down to eat or go back to the rooms to rest. By day 2 we're usually only vaguely following my rigid planning. Afterall, it is a vacation (even if it's the vacation that bites back!)! If the crowds are light, we'll sleep in a little, or if we really need it (afterall, you are only as strong as your weakest link). The important thing is, when we go we know what we really want to see and do and don't waste a lot of time going "What do you want to do next?" If that question comes up, we can always hop back to our plan.

But the couple we're traveling this year is rather... obese compared to us (And I'm not one to talk - but I'm down to my last 30 lbs - probably 20 something now, and I want to lose it before my Decemeber trip - I'll be at 160. I've been losing weight consistantly over the last 3 years, and I'm down from 255lbs), and I remember what it's like trying to walk 10-15 miles every day. My Dh and I are in great shape now, and we're encouraging them to come on long walks with us. We're hoping we're not killing them by then!

I also always make whoever else I go with be part of the planning! I discuss plans with them, get thier reactions, and do my best to make them feel part of this whole expereince. I just finished booking air fare and they've told me about a thousand times, "Jay! You're great! You're making this so easy on us!" All they have to do is come up with the $dough$ and go!

 

[seashoreCM]

Normally there is no reason everybody has to stay together for the whole time.

But sometimes you need all of them to help hold your parade spot or restaurant table(s).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm

 

[skiwee1]

Well I would have had a problem if someone nagged me to be up early and go go go. To many folks, WDW is not bootcamp. Some of us like to enjoy our surroundings and not have to look at things in a blurr as we whiz by them. We never get up before 9am while at WDW much less get to the parks that early! I could never travel with anyone else. especially with those that think everything has to be done in one trip.

 

[sk!mom]

My sister and her family asked to join us on our trip last June. I was apprehensive but it worked out fine. I went ahead and planned the vacation that my family wanted and then told them what we had planned each day. They were welcome to join us or go their own way. It was their first trip and they ended up staying right with us. My sister is not a planner and had done very little research so following me was easier for her. I didn't "make" them do anything though. I would simply tell them what we planned to do and they were free to join us if they wanted. The only concession we made was staying at a value since it fit their budget better and we won't be doing that again. They now want us to go with them next time- DH says its so I can plan them another great vacation.