Going With Disney Newbies

[lclark0621]

So here we are planning a trip with a family of Disney virgins! I thought Disney newbies were just some urban myth! But apparantly there are actually people who have never been to WDW!

Ok seriously...

It will be DH, DS & myself (DS is 2 & this will be his 3rd trip). The other family will be a husband & wife (who have been to DL once) & their DD. We will be celebrating their DD's 3rd birthday while we are there.

Now I dont want to overwhelm the other family. They are "excited" to have a couple of "Disney experts" that can "plan everything for them".

Now I am happy to plan everything if they really want it. I have given them the websites, they have a couple of Birnbaums. I asked them to look through the resturants & see if there is anything they want to do. The wife says they are "up for anything".

I know they are really excited to go. And so are we. But as everyone knows, planning a trip to Disney can be a lot of work. I feel like I need to keep emailing them stuff & asking them things. But then again I dont want them to think I am being some "crazy vacation nazi" or something...

They were shocked to know you could make ADRs so far out. Granted we only booked this trip last week, and are under 3 months away. But luckily I have had no problem getting the ADRs we want.

So any tips, suggestions, hints for Disney newbies? What we can do to make this trip extra special for them? Any advice for going to WDW with people who have never been there?

I am also trying to build in some individual family time into the trip. I think we will all need a little bit of time apart with our own families during the trip. But we will be doing all the dinners & most of the day together.

 

[AJKMOM]

To get the true Disney feel, I would take time out of the day and go resort hopping, at least a little. Maybe walk to the Boardwalk from EPCOT, or leave MK one day and take the monorail to the resorts.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We are also going with newbies. We booked the Family magic tour at MK. We have never been so we thought it would be a special treat for everyone. Look at the t-shirt designs forum (down at the bottom) for some special shirts to make for everone. Get them as much reading material on the bussing system. Our friends will actually be there before us and are staying at a different resort. We were concerned about them not getting how the buses worked so we got a Passporter for them which has a bus route layout in it. As for too much togetherness, we are splitting up during parts of the day and connecting at meal times. That way we can do our own thing without stepping on anyones toes.

BTW, we are on the DIS of course we are WDW vacation nazis!!!
Most people don't understand that going to WDW isn't like hopping in the car and going to 6 flags. I think I have scared the daylights out of my friends husband but I'm fairly sure that they will thank me for making this trip as smooth as possible.

Good luck in your planning!

 

[harleyquinn]

We're going with our BFFs (see signature) in January. They've been to Epcot and MK, but everytime I ask them if they went on x ride they're like what? So I consider them newbies.

I think taking a tour is a great idea if you all can afford it. the Keys to the Kingdom tour is AWESOME for newbies and pros (that's us).

Our friends love to eat out so I talked DH and them into the dining package, so I know that will make them happy. we're going to Cali grille cuz one of them loves sushi. We've known these two since high school, so I've decided I know them enough to just make decisions.

You goal is to get them to enjoy themselves enough that they want to go back without you. I think it's easier to just make an executive decision than to keep pestering them for their opinions. Tell them that you want them to be honest with you about what you decide on the trip. That way, if they don't like something, find out why and suggest something that they might like instead.

Be flexible! And remember it's your vacation too!

 

[Eeyore2003]

We took my brother and family, it was DH and myself, age 50, Brother and wife, late 30's, thier son 11 and daughter 7, a year ago last July for their first trip to WDW. First of all I have to say it was absolutely awesome to see it all through their eyes for the first time again.

I planned the whole thing. My SIL really is not a planner and didn't care at all. I used the early AM-afternoon break-dinner/show type schedule, but like you, I just felt they should be involved. A year in advance we decided to rent points from a DVC owner for two studios at OKW. They wanted to do the least expensive, and I'm, well, sorry, but I like deluxe. So we got $110.00 a night, which I didn't think was bad and neither did they. So that was done.

Like you, I gave them some books to look through, but then did my own planning.....which days what park, extras, well, you know, just "the planning" stuff we do!!! I told them they would eventually have to tell me what rides they REALLY want to do, so that I can pencil them in and make sure we do them.

A little before the 90 day mark out, we went through restaurants. They picked a country, a character meal, and a "fun" meal, and I did the Fantasmic Package with Hollywood and Vine. In all we ended up for 4 days/5 nights.
Their choices:
Beirgarten
O'hana's
Chef Mickey
and they wanted breakfast at CRT
and Hollywood and Vine/Fantasmic
I treated them to Grand Floridian Cafe lunch and Cinderella's Slipper.

When I came up with the meals for them to choose from, I just gave them what I thought was the best several choices, not the whole bunch. If left to their own, it was just too overwhelming!!!

Then we went through rides one day and they told me their, "not to be missed". I made sure we did those first on EMH mornings to get them in.

I planned what night to do what show.

Things did not go exactly as planned and we didn't get everything in, but we had a great time. They did have a couple hours on their own three times and came back SO frustrated and upset. Once while we held seats on the curb a couple hours for Spectromagic, once while we held seats for Illuminations, and once at DTD shopping. If nothing else, they appreciated my planning all the more!!!

Take it in your usual planning steps that you normally do, and I think it's much easier in making restaurant decisions etc., if you feel them out and then give them several choices, explaining about each one, instead of saying, OK, there's 100 restaurants, which ones do you want to eat at!!!

 

[lclark0621]

We did the Family Magic Tour last year & loved it. DS was only 21 months old, but we were with a family that had 2 older boys (4 & 6).

This time DS will be 32 months old & the little girl we will be with, will be a week shy of 3.

I think with basically 2, 3 year olds, a tour will be kind of difficult.

While DH, DS & I loved the Family Magic Tour, we (DH & I) agree we wont do it again until DS is 4. That way he will get a lot more enjoyment out of it. At 32 months, he will just be to antsy & want to go go go on the rides & stuff.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Since there's a birthday involved, be sure to do the birthday things. Stop in at Guest Relations and get a birthday button. If you do a sit down meal that day, be sure to tell the server about the birthday (it may not be necessary if the server sees the birthday button). Make sure the hotel knows when you check in that there's a birthday (I got cards and balloons from both Mickey and Minnie). Maybe even make/get an "It's My Birthday" shirt for the little girl to wear on her special day.

 

[kaabost]

I went to WDW with my parents a few years ago. They hadn't been since 1985 so they were pretty much newbies. Everything was new and special for them. In a place like Disney, you don't even have to worry about making everything spectacular for new people.......Disney does this for you. It was great going with my parents. They know that I know way more about travelling around WDW than a normal person should. So, they just let me lead them around. It was great. Luckily for them, I was considerate of their needs, BTW. They were pretty happy too that they had the benefit of going on a PLANNED vacation without planning themselves.

 

[Got Quattro?]

Let them go the first day on their own. Just say, we will meet you back at the room at 7pm.

Then at 9pm when they finally show up at the room, tell them to follow you around the secnd day. You should be able to show them 10x what they saw on the first day, and you will be a hero forever.

 

[marathonmommy]

Sometimes going with newbies can be kind of annoying - like taking non-believers to the Holy Land or something. If they are the "right" people all works out and it is magical. If not, you wind up answering all kinds of annoying questions and explaining every move you make. I'm probably not explaining myself properly. I'm not a Disney-know-it-all, but some people just don't get "it". Then again, maybe I just got stuck going with an annoying relative who was on my last nerve.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

As a newbie (who is going for the 1st time in 17 days!!), I SO wish I had an experienced person to go with. I am a compulsive planner and have sought out the advice of DISers, friends, and even a "famous expert" at work and think I have a workable plan. But what I would really enjoy is the experienced friend pointing out all the special things I wouldn't notice on my own, and things like the best place to stand for parades and fireworks, what's a good spot for people-watching, explaining this pin-trading thing to me, taking me to the best shops and the best fast food & snack places, and just being there to lend support and take some of the nerves away. Because I KNOW this isn't going to be like a day at Six Flags and WANT to have a good experience so I can become a Disney veteran too!! Does that make sense?

 

[Eeyore2003]

Because I KNOW this isn't going to be like a day at Six Flags and WANT to have a good experience so I can become a Disney veteran too!! Does that make sense?

Yep, perfect sense, I got the message. Where and when did you want to meet me and you WERE paying right???

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Ha ha, Eeyore... would certainly love to!! It sounds like you planned a lovely trip for your friends and I hope they enjoyed it and appreciated the effort you put into planning it for them.

 

[poohs_hunny]

Be sure that your friends know just how large WDW is and how far apart the parks are. Last year, I went with my aunt, cousin, and godson (then 5 years old), none of whom had ever been before. It was my mom and my third trip, so we knew exactly what to expect. The newbies' biggest surprise was just how far apart everything is. They were expecting all parks to be within walking distance, etc. I thought that they would have realized this, since I did loan them my Birnbaum's guide. Still, I guess I didn't make it clear enough.
Also, I made all plans myself which was fine with them. I remember a few days before we left when we all got together to go over the plans. My aunt read my schedule for our day at the MK and replied, "And this is for the whole trip?" When I explained this was just ONE day, she knew she was in for a workout. They were able to go back for a midday rest at the resort, however, while my mom and I stayed at the parks. Don't feel as if you have to do everything together. Good luck and have fun!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

To go along with poohs_hunny, we told our friends right off the bat that we usually walk 7-12 miles a day. I took my pedometer on our first trip and I was amazed at the mileage we got. It doesn't feel like it until you have to take the trek from the bus stop to your room. Especially when carrying a sleeping kid.

 

[Ashes8380]

Last year I took my best friend who was a newbie. We were both 21 at the time. We weren't so interested in backstage tours or waterparks, but we did so much else! We hit all the rides we wanted to go on at each park, met practically every character we saw cause we're cool like that, checked out DTD, PI, and the Boardwalk, ate some really nice meals, and resort hopped a bit. We just took a lot of time to stop and smell the roses, like listen to the musical groups and watch the parades. We managed to do all of this in five days, oh the perks of the small January crowds. It was a blast!

 

[Lucky4me]

Sometimes going with newbies can be kind of annoying - like taking non-believers to the Holy Land or something. If they are the "right" people all works out and it is magical. If not, you wind up answering all kinds of annoying questions and explaining every move you make. I'm probably not explaining myself properly. I'm not a Disney-know-it-all, but some people just don't get "it". Then again, maybe I just got stuck going with an annoying relative who was on my last nerve.

Having taken several groups of people, you have no idea how true this is.
I've decided after this last trip, I am either going alone or only taking anyone between the ages of 8 and 12 with me. Everyone else is just too much work.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We went Jan 2004 with some good friends with a child the same age as our DD's. They are very good travelers, but never had been to WDW. We talked about it some much they wanted to come along.

One really good thing about the trip is they are really felxible easy going fun people. The type of people you can spend a lot of time with and not go crazy being around. THey liked the fact we knew just what we were doing so we pretty much stuck together most of the time (we did spilt up some when the occasion called for it.)

It was a great time. At the end of the trip I was a little sad. There were some things I wanted to show them and do and we never got to it. My friend said:

"We had tons of fun everyday, all day. What more could you hope for?"

I think she is a very wise person.

Well on this trip both mom's were pregnant (I was just 8 weeks, she had JUST found out the day she left.) THe next year March we both went again, this time with a 7 month old and a 6 months old. Still lots of fun.

They can't make it this year for $ reasons. We are going. Sometimes it is great fun to be with friends, others it is great to just be family only.

One good thing is our $ situation is rather simalar so we didn't have to worry too much about us spending more or them spending more. That really can be an issue to be careful about.

They do a lot of "world traveling" at least before they had kids. We have decided that they can plan the out of the contry trips when the kids are older. They leave WDW to us.

They also pretty much took our word for things (that we knew what we were talkinga bout.) A few times we have traveled with my SIL who likes to "do things for herself" and has a hard time taking advice. That got a little annoying. She would compalin about something and we wer like "um we told you so" She said "I know I just like to try it my way." It is just who she is. I have gotten use to it.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I also just thought of one more thing that DH had to remind me of at the beginning of the week when I was starting to get stressed that we would not "do" enough. He said, "They don't know what they're missing." I think that's SO true, while we want to show them EVERYTHING, because we think it's wonderful, THEY don't know. They will enjoy the things you DO much better if you take breaks and just go with the flow. As long as they're having fun, it doesn't matter what you're doing.