"Friends" just got back and hated it!

[LisaRay]

Well, they aren't really friends but a girl I went to high school with 20 years ago and I am friends with her sister.
The sister had asked me if she could call me and I would give her some info on planning. Which of course I did. I crammed as much as I could in our 1 hour phone call. Helping with hotel choices, pass choices, explaining hopper passes, explaining fast pass, early entry, character meals etc. She had no interest in going to any web sites. She does work in a tax office and was planning this from Feb. till they went in April. When we talked she seemed confused by the fact that there are 4 parks! Just kept saying they were only going to Disney! (she meant Magic Kingdom)!

Well they had one week of vacation and were driving from Il.!! So they were staying 4 nights and 3 park days. She wanted Pop Century. I even called her the night before codes came out and explained them and told her how to call and save about $130! ( all this I might add with no thank you from her!!)

So they are back and her son is in my daughters class and she asked him if they had fun and she said "yeah" and shrugged his shoulders! DD said he didn't sound like they had fun. So I asked the sister (not the one that went) how the trip had gone. And she said "well they won't be going back!" She said they liked the hotel and the grounds were beautiful at the hotel and the parks and the employees were super nice but all they people were so rude and pushy! And the crowds were terrible! She said they had planned on going to MGM one day but decieded that it wasn't worth it and drove over to daytona beach instead! So they only went to the parks on 2 days I think!
She said they just hated it! And said NEVER AGAIN!
There dates were sometime between April 19th-23rd not sure which days they were in parks.
I just hate it when people go and hate it because they don't plan and then come home and talk so terrible about it! I told her that we had no crowds in Jan. and she said " well they can't take vacation then because of tax season!" This was said with an attitude like not everyone is as lucky as me to travel in the off season! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!
I just needed to vent to someone who could understand this sort of thing!!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Totally frustrating!

I can understand how that is upsetting. I can understand that some people don't "get" Disney the way *we* do, but to hate it it unfortunate.

A good friend of mine had a bad experience at Disney over the millenium. They went into MK early, hoping to get thier hands stamped and go back later. Well, on Dec. 31st that's not an option. The park will reach capacity and you are stuck there. After 18 hours in MK with no breaks they were exhausted and spent. No duh! It was the millenium! What did you expect! BUT! He understands that, and won't go during a special event like that again. He is now asking me for WDW info for his next trip. I am hoping that I can help him using the some of the info I get from here and he will enjoy himself more this time.

Some people just don't get it, and they're missing out on all the Magic!

D4D

 

[airhead]

NO WAY!! That's just wrong!

 

[Dalpal]

"She said they just hated it! And said NEVER AGAIN! "

All I can say to people like that is .........
Good, because that makes one less family at the parks. If they HATED going then dont go again and take up space that others that LOVE disney can take.
That means MORE room and less time waiting in line for us!

 

[hygienejean]

How frustrating! I totally understand what you mean. Hey if they want to go during one of the busiest weeks it isn't your fault. They might have just not gotten to parks early enough and the parks were probably mobbed. (If that were my first impression I'm not sure I'd be too happy either!) You did what you could, some people just aren't into Disney like we are!

This has happened to me too. I am always bummed when someone I have tried to help has an awful time. Sometimes it is really hard to understand. How the heck can you have a bad time at WDW? anyway....take heart there are many more people that have a wonderful time than a bad one.....like us!

 

[Gaiusrex]

I can see how people get really frustrated when it's busy. When I wen in April last year, it was packed. It was very hard to make it from one side of FantasyLand to the other. I was a little ready for it, and I was very "low-stress'. I can see how someone who wasn't really prepared would be a little shocked. I can't imagine waiting for 1hr. for the 3 minute Peter Pan ride.

Disney isn't everyone's bag. Even if they're prepared.

 

[cmonroe]

Dalpal,

You're completely right. Disney is not for everyone. I can't imagine it, but it's apparently true. More to your point, that makes more room for us.

There's an old Portuguese saying that fits here. "Mas fica" (pronounced mush feeka)

That means more for me/us.

It's sad that someone wouldn't have a good time there, but we Disney nuts need to find the silver lining!!!!!!!

 

[Dalpal]

sorry double post!

 

[Dalpal]

cmonroe,

"Mas fica" (pronounced mush feeka), Ill have to remember that!
Its a good phrase.

If its not there cup of tea, then dont go again, but dont make the person who helped you, feel bad!
Just say Thank you and keep your bad thoughts to yourself, but if they cant, Then I say "Mas fica"!
You can only do so much for people. They have to make there own fun.

 

[sha_lyn]

reminds me of my cousin. They went to WDW when her DH has a softball tournamant there. I believe they only spent a couple of 1/2 days in the parks after the ball games. Anyway she thinks we were crazy for going for a week... claims they did it all in time they were there. Then when we returned to WDW 2 yrs later she was like "but you've already been there". Hello this is the same cousin who goes to the casinos in Biloxi several times a yr, to the same cabin in the mountains almost every month and to the same condo on the beach every yr.

 

[candykisses]

I can understand your feelings completely. I have friends that just came back AGAIN and said Disney isn't what it used to be. They've made several trips in past years. Maybe going to the parks 2 days out of a 7 day stay. They stay in the Cocoa Beach area. So it's not like a 15 min drive.

They're complaints are:

Too long to get here---stay closer

Too crowded---don't go Easter week

Too many people using past pass making their line take longer....

on and on....then she follows up with, "Boy I love Disney. I wish we could stay on site someday." She's a close friend so I just smile.

 

[Turner5]

I have to admit it that I am concerned. I'm taking my children for the first time this year. I am not a really big crowd person, but I am not comfortable with taking my children out of school to go to Disney.

Believe me, I have been planning and planning and planning. I hope we have a great time regardless of the crowds. I get discouraged when I read about disappointments. I plan to spend time in the parks in early mornings and evenings. Hopefully, this will fix the problem. It also bothers me when I hear about so many rude people. I'm not in to all that push and shove. It's not worth it.

Wish me Luck!!!! I think I am really looking forward to this as much as or more than my 11, 9, and 7 year olds. I really am a big kid at heart!

 

[HollyJoy]

I cannot understand how people could not have a good time in WDW! I have a friend whose husband could care less about WDW, even though they've been once, but she keeps trying to get him to go back! I just shake my head in disbelief! I just brush all the crowds off and have a good time!

 

[don8life]

It is weird how some people just don't like it. My friend just came back with her 1 year old and said they didn't like it. I was flabbergasted. She is a beach in Hawaii person. Wierd.

 

[Cinderella37]

I have friends like candykisses's friend. They (a couple with no children) decided to go for the first time the week after Easter and when they came back they were amazed at how crowded it was. I told them in advance that they were going at the most crowded time of the year. I gave them a list of restaurants and the Disney Dining number. They didn't make PS for any restaurants then were mad they couldn't get in anywhere. I explained to them when they made reservations that you had to do some planning and you must expect crowds. They only went to Epcot and were complaining there was nothing to do in WDW. I just laughed - some people just don't get it.

I can understand people being frustrated if they have no forewarning, but I told them about every aspect of a WDW vacation. If you know enough to plan ahead of time and don't, don't complain afterward (when I tried to help them for months).

 

[FanofG00fy]

I have been helping a "friend" with her trip too. I've been feeding her information, printing out the "allears" newsletter, showing her different websites. Helped her save money on her resort. I'm hoping she comes back with a good report. She is going in 3 weeks, and I explained to her one thing, it was up to her if she has a magical time. I said WDW provides everything to you to have magic happen, but it depends on your attitude. If you go there thinking no wait time in queues, that prices are inexpensive, that everyone will treat you like a queen, well, your going to have an awful trip. I told her, its the number one destination in the world. I told her if someone was rude, just smile and think, "Hey, they spent all that money to have a rotten attitude here, not me!" I think they will have a good time, but I know when I go in October, I'm going to have a Fantastic time! Thank you for sharing what you went through, and I do know how you feel, had family tell me they'll never go back, and my response was "Good, less of a wait time for me!"

Chris

 

[Poohbear123]

One of my Bosses from work is going to WDW......in July of all times. Now, YOU all KNOW, he will complain even though I told him DO NOT GO IN JUNE/JULY/AUGUST---too hot and too crowded! Anyway, I convinced him to stay ON-SITE for the FIRST time! So, guess who has to give him ALL the info?? Yep, ME! Wish me luck.....

 

[LisaRay]

Thanks everyone for your replies! Makes me feel better to know I am not alone!
One of the things I kept trying to explain to her was that if you are going to take your kids out of school for a whole week (which we always do too!) then go at a slower time. Maybe it is just me but to go to the trouble to take the kids out of school (permission slips, extra homework when they get back, and homework to take on the trip) only makes it worth it if I can go when it's slower. That is the the trade off. I think they thought they were getting a jump on the summer crowds by going in April!

You can only warn people so much or give so much advice till they start thinking that you are a bossy- no- it- all! There is a fine line there!

 

[TINK61]

Originally posted by LisaRay
Well, they aren't really friends but a girl . . . .

Some people are themepark handicapped.

 

[cujochurch]

A work collegue of my DH is taking his daughter for the first time. They knew we went all the time so asked if we could help with planning. Well of course I sent him an email with suggestions of how to book, tickets, PS, best airline from here...etc. I also gave him a list of websites including AllEarsNet and this one of course. Told him he could get an answer to any question here.

When codes came out for his time frame I called him and told him to get on phone. He did not believe me that they would sell out so he missed out. His daughter wants to go to Cinderellas breakfast. Well I cautioned him not to promise her anything and then explained how he need to get the PS. Well he did take advise to call 90 ahead, BUT he called around 2pm (Even though I had advised differently) and of course he was surprised that they were sold out.

I have tried to tell him that if he does not do some planning that he will have to eat at counter service all week, stand in too many lines and spend too much money. Told him that the planning makes for a more enjoyable vacation.

HE JUST WON't LISTEN!!! Why ask for help and then ignore it!!

Thanks for the forum for me to vent also. I have been very frustrated with him for weeks. I feel sorry for his daughter. Her parents will be stressed out and in a bad mood because they are not prepared and this attitude will negatively affect the daughters experience.

Thanks for listening.