Going with Leary "first timers", need advice

[ImagineEar]

Booked our trip months ago, got a call a few days ago asking if we would mind if our freinds join us for 5 days. We are neighbor's and good freinds - all get along well, all easy going so no problem there. I feel we can all return still speaking to one another.

BUT they are only going b/c the kids have been begging them for years. They thought it would be ideal to go with us so we could show them around... Thats my problem. I know the ins and outs but will they like what we like? She wants to leave all the park planning to me...I am afraid if they have a bad time it will be my fault. Their kids are 9, 7 & 5 but are short and some of the thrill rides will be off limits - I can just see the tears now.

I get excited when ever someone tells me they are going to WDW. Even if it someone who I meet in line at the grocery store, I can't help wanted offer any advice that would enhance their experience. I want them to see it as we do ------any advice????

My plan is to reccomend "a hit the hightlights tour." The must do's for each park tailoring it to the kids wishes, and trying not to rush them too much. What do you think?

 

[Big V]

I would have them get a tour book such as the "Unofficial Guide" and have them pick out some of the things they would like to see. It's not fair to you to have to be their guide, unless you want to be!

 

[Gluman11]

Looks like you guys have been to WDW a thousand times which translates to me "No need to Rush"..............therefore, your plan sounds great.................Hit the highlights, don't rush them and let them make decisions based on your suggestions...........that is exactly what we did on our last trip with my parents.........my dad was in a wheel chair, so rushing was not an option.......we just slowed down and let them decide what they wanted to do, based on our "educated" suggestions........................

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Originally posted by ImagineEar
They thought it would be ideal to go with us so we could show them around... Thats my problem. I know the ins and outs but will they like what we like? She wants to leave all the park planning to me...I am afraid if they have a bad time it will be my fault. Their kids are 9, 7 & 5 but are short and some of the thrill rides will be off limits - I can just see the tears now.

Are they wanting to tour WITH you? As in you all go to the same places at the same times? This could cause a problem, especially when mixing newbies with seasoned DISers.

I say make a seperate itinerary for them and present it as such "To help with your trip I came up with a plan for YOUR family to use as you tour. " You can plan some meet up & tour together times, but I think by giving them their own, seperate itinerary, it will allow them to discover the magic on their own, take some of the pressure off of you and keep the newbies from slowing you down and taking away from your trip.

 

[abitjaded]

I like to give friends a copy of "The Unofficial Guide", too. ONLY I work it over well before they ever see it. Get four color high-lighters. Do pink for every do-not-miss-you-all-are-old-tall-enough rides. Then blue for the second choices if there is lots of time. Then yellow for those with height restrictions that you can talk about and scare them away from. Then green for food-don't-miss. Make a couple PSs each day, then cancel as everyone whines and eats junk. That way if they do not have time or the willingness to wade through the entire book, they only have to read the most important stuff. And this way they will know what to expect from you. Like are you willing to do Dumbo-or-Die?

Carla

 

[sunking]

we are seasoned dis'ers that like to hit the parks somewhat commando style...we like to see and do it all...we took my sister and her family (husband and son) with us during our xmas trip...during the planning phase, they kept saying "you plan it, we will come along"...well that is just what we did...and boy did they have a miserable time...my sister did nothing but complain, her husband got nothing but drunk and their son missed out on a lot of the magic that was there for a 5 year old...we came home talking but it was very stressful...i don't think i would ever go to disney with anyone except my immediate family...

hopefully, things turn out better for you and your trip...i do like your idea of a highlights trip...see the big things and move on towards the things that the kids want to see...i also like the suggestion of getting them the unoffical guide so they can get an idea of what is there and what the adults might like to see.
good luck!!!
sunking

 

[peanut67]

I know were you are comming from, my other half has never been to wdw but has been to dlp, which I told him was very different from the 'real' world. He will listen for very short periods to plans but his attention goes very quick....he is very very willing to let me do all the plannning. I keep saying to him one thing you will have to do is get up early

1. to hit the parks
2. to put his p20 suncream on which takes upto 90 mins to Bond.

he is not too great at getting up so I can see that I will just end up leaving him and get him to meet us later...of course that will mean he has missed some of the best bits .

and then theres the problem of him not liking the things I will want to do, I am putting in as much of the things that I think will interest him....but the worry is that if he has a 'bad' time that

1. it will be all down to me.
2. He wont want to go again ( looks like i will be going on my own then *l*)

 

[decker96]

My sister and her family have decided to come with us on our next trip. We are not veterans, not by a long shot, but I have done alot of research and am filling her in on info I learn from the boards, etc. We have both already decided that we're not going to spend every waking minute together. My kids will be 8, 5 and 2 and she will only have an almost 2 year old, so some of the interests will be different. Plus, they are on a much tighter budget than we are so will not be staying at the same resort. I have told her to buy the UG and read, read, read!
As of right now, we are planning on doing most of MK together, most dinners and MNSSHP. Other than that we are both doing our own itinerary and will meet up with each other when they happen to overlap. I think buying an UG for your friend and then making a don't miss list is a great idea. Make sure she is aware of the height restrictions for rides, so her kids will not be disappointed when they get there. I would try to encourage her to plan some of their own things to do, as they may have different interests, ages of kids, etc. Plus, they may want to spend some time alone as a family, just as you probably do.

 

[jennymouse]

I'm sort of in the same situation, but I'm not really complaining because it's of my own making. I have a 2BR BCV booked and part of my family isn't going to be able to go so I invited a friend and her granddaughter to join us. They've never been to WDW before. I'm hoping it all goes well. My friends granddaughter is in the same age group of my granddaughter and her two friend that I'm taking. I've told my friend that they didn't have to go/do everything we do but they say they want to. Actually, I'm thinking it may work out pretty good in the parks as my friend doesn't do thrill rides and she can sit out with any of the girls who doesn't want to ride and I'll go with the ones who do. It was going to be hard with just me since I didn't have another adult to do the "baby swap" with.

 

[riopooh]

I was put in charge of all the planning for our family reunion in Feb and already I'm feeling the pressure. With different age kids and older parents (mine) and different styles, it's alot to think about. The best thing I did was send out our itinerary via e-mail with basic facts (arrival dates and times) and then in Big letters I wrote "Exactly how much time do we really want to spend toghether?!?!" Now we kid about it and everyone realizes that although I will still do most of the planning - there are times they'll be one their own! (there's nothing worse than having everyone turn to you and say whats next?!)

 

[suevee]

When I planned for our large group in June 2001 (17 people) I made a detailed itinerary of things I wanted to do or see. I did make PS reservations for everyone. The first few days I planned it pretty tightly then the last few days I let a lot of loose time for people to rest or revisit favorites. Everyone got a decorated bound copy. I told everyone this is what I would be doing, if they wanted to join me - great, if not then - great. I just asked if they decided to cop out on a PS to tell us ahead of time. Also to be on time for the PS reservations. I even planned evenings where we take turns with the kids so every couple had some special alone time.

It worked great. Everyone said it was the best vacation ever, even the ones who had been to WDW previously. I had a wonderful time planning each day. It seemed to make my vacation longer!

 

[opal]

For a number of years when our kids were younger we did an annual trip to WDW with my brother and his family. Total of four kids with a span of 8 years between oldest to youngest. We too worried about keeping everyone happy and this plan worked for us.....mornings were spent together as a group, usually the early morning entry park or a character breakfast. Around lunch time we would split up, either to do our individual favorites, pool time, water parks, golf, naps or whatever. We would then regroup either for dinner or right after, usually at Epcot. After that some of us would head back to the resort for a snack and swim (weather permitting). As the kids got older some would head to Downtown Disney or mini golf or e-night. The key was not to expect to be glued at the hip the whole time and give everyone the chance to pick their favorites.