Depressed Amateur Disney Travel Planner

[lucincia]

The last WDW trip planning took me into the depths of Disboards and I learned a lot. Among our friends and relatives I have become a semi-Disney expert (or fanatical planner - depending on how they word it) Someone would tell their friends/relatives going to WDW how much "knowledge" I have and would proceed to ask me various questions.

Sad part of all this is most of the time, they come too late to me, only after they have made all their own "plannings" and waited until last minute to ask me questions.

Like today.

Got a call from parental-units-in-laws. They have couple friends taking 5 grandkids (cousins and siblings mix) to WDW. They have purchased the tickets and booked an on-site resort. They heard from my in-laws how we had enjoyed the dining plan so they asked us if it would be worth it to them.

I proceeded to ask the normal questions, like how old are the kids and would they be interested in character dining, if so what kind of character dining. And I said it shouldn't be too much of a problem to upgrade the room-only ressie to a package deal with dining plan, as they only need to purchase a 1 adult 1 day ticket (which they can use later), considering they have bought their tickets separately already. Then I asked if they had made any ADRs.

"ADR what?"

Oh, oh. Have you made any dining reservations?

"You have to make reservations?"

Double oh, oh. Uh, when are you guys going?

"Next week."

And you want character dining.

"Yeah, like in the castle."

O-kay.

Oh the tragedy!

What's the point of the post? Nothing. Just venting.

 

[Msslaydbug]

I have a friend who is going to Universal in June and will not take her kids to Disney because she thinks it is for "little kids" I keep trying to tell her there is NO WAY it is just for little kids . UGH !!

 

[puddleduck]

I've got you beat. My sil, her dh and 4 kids arrived in Orlando last night. They decided in Jan that they wanted to go, because we took a trip in Dec and they had to go now. I kept trying to give her advice, because I don't know, I did spend 8 months planning our trip and it turned out great. She knows everything, so I gave up. They left w/ only reservations at a Howard Johnson's, no other plans other than what parks in Orlando they wanted to go to. They showed up at Sea World this morning, found out the tickets would cost $320. Sil told kids no way and took them back to the hotel to swim. I tried to tell her to get the tickets to WDW early, tried to tell her about the two sites w/ a slight discounts on tickets. She tells me that the guy she spoke to at the hotel said it was cheaper to buy them at the gate, she was going to save $300 by buying them at the gate instead of online. I can't wait until tomorrow when we get the report on the heart attack she has when they tell how much tickets are. I mean, at the very least know how much tickets are going to cost you before you leave. I can only imagine how disapointed her kids were when they went up to the gate at Seaworld, but didn't get to go in.

 

[Dizzyworld]

I know how you feel. I have a friend who is taking the family for a convention he needs to attend at Easter. What a nightmare. I gave them lots of tips and things to try to do now for dining etc. I'm afraid since it will be so crowded and they have no plans that this trip will not work out well and they will think we are batty for going so much. I just know they are not going to get it.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

The flip side to this is that sometimes last minute planning DOES work out. It's just the luck of the draw. I do believe in pre-planning, and as evidence, I've already made all our plans, even the planned dining, for our trip in December 2006. The rooms are booked, the annual passes ordered, etc. However, a few years ago, we had an exchange student from Russia staying with us. She kept talking about wanting to go to an "amusement park" while she was here, and it was November. Well, there's not an amusement park open anywhere near us in Louisiana in November, so on a whim, I decided on the Sunday night before Thanksgiving that we were going to Disney. I got last minute deals on flights and we left the next morning for Orlando, with no room reservations, no rental car, no nothing! There were three of us... my daughter, Irina (our exchange student) and me. We waited for a no-show at the car rental desk, and lucked out. While we were waiting for a car to show up, I called the Disney Visitors Center in Ocala and asked if they had any specials for on-property stays. They had a discounted room at CBR, which I booked immediately. I also called to see what dining ressies were still available and made those. I was diligent about calling several times during the day to see what ressies had opened up. In all, it was a delightful holiday, and actually a bit more relaxing and free-spirited than many we have taken, where the planning seemed to suck all the fun and spontaneity out of it. Of course, because we went in with no expectations whatsoever, everything that did work out gave us absolute joy! ~Ev

 

[fizz13]

No story to share but I totally sypathise with you frustrated planners out there, why don't people listen?

Claire xx

 

[mjmcca]

I frequently go with no plan but I have been many times and I dont expect to get into the castle for lunch either. I go a lot so if I dont get a certain ressiie this time i may get it next. There are no real must eat places for me. A newbie going with that attitude is dead.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

No story to share but I totally sypathise with you frustrated planners out there, why don't people listen?
Claire xx

Because they think they can do better and know it all. I take pleasure in letting people like that crash and burn.

I think the funniest one anyone shared on the boards was when this guy was bragging in the line how he was going to take his daughter to see the princesses in CRT or something blah blah blah and then after all that he gets up front and finds out at the desk you don't get in without a ressie. HEHEHE...

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I proceeded to ask the normal questions, like how old are the kids and would they be interested in character dining, if so what kind of character dining. And I said it shouldn't be too much of a problem to upgrade the room-only ressie to a package deal with dining plan, as they only need to purchase a 1 adult 1 day ticket (which they can use later), considering they have bought their tickets separately already. Then I asked if they had made any ADRs.

Ummmm...no. They would need to buy one 1-day ticket for everyone in the room, not just for one adult. Everyone in the package has to buy a ticket thru Disney in order for it to be a package and qualify for the dining addon.

As for the ADRs, well, maybe they'll get lucky and there will be a cancellation at Cindy's. And it's not too late to make ADRs for other meals. There are many people who visit WDW everyday that don't plan down to the minute. They still manage to eat and have a great vacation. Do they miss out on a lot? Yes. But they are blissfully unaware that they did. That is, until ulitmate planners like you and I start asking them did you do "this" or see "that". Then you see the "?" appear above their heads.

I've gotten to the point where I don't offer too much help unless asked for it. And for those who ask too late, I tell them that they'll have a great time and to not stress out over the little things.

 

[Lilo312]

I knew a couple of families who "winged" it. No planning, no guide book, didn't even look anything up on the internet. One family had a semi okay time, the other family had a miserable time. The family who had a miserable time when in Aug (Very Hot & very Humid) didn't know about fast pass and couldn't get any ressis. They said they wasted all that money to spend lots of time at the pool. They could have saved money staying home because they have a pool at home.

How could anyone spend all this money for a disney vacation and not plan??
Or any other vacation and not plan??

 

[pepperw23]

The last WDW trip planning took me into the depths of Disboards and I learned a lot. Among our friends and relatives I have become a semi-Disney expert (or fanatical planner - depending on how they word it) Someone would tell their friends/relatives going to WDW how much "knowledge" I have and would proceed to ask me various questions.

Sad part of all this is most of the time, they come too late to me, only after they have made all their own "plannings" and waited until last minute to ask me questions.

Like today.

Got a call from parental-units-in-laws. They have couple friends taking 5 grandkids (cousins and siblings mix) to WDW. They have purchased the tickets and booked an on-site resort. They heard from my in-laws how we had enjoyed the dining plan so they asked us if it would be worth it to them.

I proceeded to ask the normal questions, like how old are the kids and would they be interested in character dining, if so what kind of character dining. And I said it shouldn't be too much of a problem to upgrade the room-only ressie to a package deal with dining plan, as they only need to purchase a 1 adult 1 day ticket (which they can use later), considering they have bought their tickets separately already. Then I asked if they had made any ADRs.

"ADR what?"

Oh, oh. Have you made any dining reservations?

"You have to make reservations?"

Double oh, oh. Uh, when are you guys going?

"Next week."

And you want character dining.

"Yeah, like in the castle."

O-kay.

Oh the tragedy!

What's the point of the post? Nothing. Just venting.

I wouldn't sweat it too much, I had a friend that decided to fly to Orlando to see her Mom for her 70th B'day and take her to the castle for a nice B'day lunch. She called, booked, got the slipper, and was sitting there the following Sunday. So see, luck does happen.

 

[milmore104]

I feel your frustration. My ex-step mother is planning a quick trip to WDW during Easter week. She has made NO ADR's and I keep telling her too. She says she's staying at CR and that seeing she's a guest there she will have Priority Seating first to those who are NOT staying there. All the years I've been to WDW I never knew that!!!LOL!!! I have tried my best to reason w/ her that this is not the case and she will be rather shocked to find it hard to just walk up and get a table.
I just hate it when people ask for your help and really don't want to listen. Or think you may know what your talking about!

 

[Kimberly815]

My fiance and I 'winged it' our first trip, and it was just wonderful. We missed a lot of the rides and shows and didn't have a sit down meal (inside WDW at least- we ate off site a lot) at all the entire week. We took our time and just enjoyed being there and seeing what we could.

However, I do like to go with a bit more of a plan now! I make a few ADR's and we usually pick what parks for what days. . .and a basic idea on how to tackle the park, but thats about it. We still like to go with how we are feeling the day of! Having a general plan just makes me more relaxed going into it. Once we are there, I am fine if we want to change it.

 

[fanofdisney]

I have a friend who is going to Universal in June and will not take her kids to Disney because she thinks it is for "little kids" I keep trying to tell her there is NO WAY it is just for little kids . UGH !!

Those poor kids! I'd almost be volunteering to take them myself!