Bringing friends ?!

[leslie826]

I'm really excited that our friends are going to join us in the World in January (their first trip). BUT, as all you DISers can probably understand I'm also nervous! Will they want to get up for AM EMH or RD? Will they show up at the park at 11 am and want to ride Dumbo? Or worse, TSMM?? Will they like my choices for ADRs and will they even get the whole scheduling-around the ADR-thing? I have our schedule pretty well set and this definitely can change things. Any advice from those who have done this before?

 

[Verstehen]

Just curious: are your friends staying with you, or will they be joining you from somewhere else?

 

[minnie mum]

So your friends are first timers? Do they know what to expect when touring the parks? Let them know what your plans are, and why you think they will work well for your group. Get a conversation going either in person or online so you can establish some kind of dialogue about the trip. Perhaps recommend a good web site to browse (this one!) and a good guide book like the Unofficial Guide.

You may get lucky and find out that they are rarin' to go, go, go. Or they may be happy to let you lead the way, since you've been before.

If it looks like your touring styles are going to badly clash, then you'll have to compromise. Some Disers with large group experience recommend that the group split up and meet only for part of each day in cases like this. One of the comments that I heard, and experienced first hand, was 'There can be such a thing as too much togetherness.' If they can't do EMH or RD, then you can arrange a time and place each day to meet for meals. Tour on your own during the day and meet for dinner and the evenings together.
That may soothe frayed nerves and hard feelings.

Whatever happens, I hope you all have a wonderful time.

 

[OKW Lover]

You should be talking to your friends about this now. Tell them what your plans are and ask if they are comfortable doing that too. Be sure they understand that some of these plans are not easily changed so if they commit they need to be ready to go on time. In other words, but sure the ground rules are established before you go.

If they aren't comfortable with that then Plan B is to tell them what you will be doing and they are free to either join you or go their own way on their own schedule. But even then they need to know that things like ADR's can't be changed at the last minute.

 

[missesdisney]

We have done this with friends and also family. Best advice - have separate transportation (if you are both on site this isn't an issue). Set the expectation that you are planning xyz together but once they get there they may like different things and it's ok to split up and then regroup. Be flexible and encourage them to do the same. That seems to be the best way we keep the peace. First time large group - we had too many arguments.

 

[Verstehen]

I would DEFINITELY make your plans clear before you go. Don't leave it until the last minute to tell them about all the ADR's because if they aren't into it, that gives you time to work something else out. Depending on how important it is to see your friends, I wouldn't work my trip around them, but you really want to make them aware of what life at Disney is like well in advance.

 

[Jennifer81]

Im facing the same situation. We have 2 first timers coming w us in Sep. I've already told them about rope drop/ADR's/ amount of walking/ etc... They seem cool with it (as of now anyway). Missesdisney has a good point, if everyone is staying onsite, and they get tired, or dont want to get up early, etc.. They can always go back to the room, or branch off and do their own thing.
Just reassure them that you are only trying to help them get the most out of their WDW experience. Tell them they are not your disney prisoners lol, and its THEIR vacation too.
My two friends think im crazy.. already half packed, lime green mickey heads, body glide, mole skin.. but they'll understand when they get home and are planning their next trip to the world!

 

[bcrook]

I'm really excited that our friends are going to join us in the World in January (their first trip). BUT, as all you DISers can probably understand I'm also nervous! Will they want to get up for AM EMH or RD? Will they show up at the park at 11 am and want to ride Dumbo? Or worse, TSMM?? Will they like my choices for ADRs and will they even get the whole scheduling-around the ADR-thing? I have our schedule pretty well set and this definitely can change things. Any advice from those who have done this before?

Oh that TSMM. It really does cause a dilemma. It is difficult trying to explain the concept to new visitors. I had a group of 9 follow me blindly to DHS at Rope Drop and experience the stampede to TSMM. We rode it twice, and they were thrilled. And as the day went on, they realized how difficult it would have been to ride TSMM at all later in the day. Afterwards, they appreciated my planning and insistence of following my crazy ways.

It's also fun to get everybody on ToT and get that group picture, especially if the guests have never been on the ride.