Has anyone helped friends and family plan trips to DW

[glavine47]

I was curious who has helped. I always get asked questions about DW. What advice do you offer? Also, what is the most important advice you offer? A couple from our church was traveling to DW this week I asked if they had ADR's and they said they wanted to "play it by ear" . I could not believe it.

 

[lisadisney2003]

I get asked all the time. I usually just refer them to a few good websites and make a couple recommendations on resorts. I'm with you, they are CRAZY not to have ressies!!

 

[pigget74]

I get asked and called all the time. I let them know if t hey have any questions let me know. If I don't know the answer I will find it. I have even planned enitre trips for people from resorts, tickets, and helping with ADR's.

 

[Seahunt]

There is another post over on the community board posted by "princess pumpkin" about this that you should read before helping too much

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1253975

Am I being oversensitive or is my friend insensitive?

My friend asked me to plan her WDW trip for her and her family. For week, I have researched everything. I booked her room (AAA rate), airfare (got it even cheaper when the rates were reduced and had the difference credited back to her CC), and ordered her MNSSHP tx for her.

I sent her to our local AAA office to get her park tx. When she got there, she spoke with a travel rep and then called me to start questioning me about the things that I had booked for her. When she left the office, she called me saying that the AAA rep gave her information about transferring her ressie over to them. They discussed the form that is needed to transfer the ressie and everything. I said GREAT, go ahead (and not sarcastically, I really meant it). At that point, I had alredy had it with plannng this trip (every few days, she would call to ask if I got something cheaper, did I get a Ding, she "heard" about a free this or that. She was driving me nuts!).

So, today, she calls to tell me to book her tickets online because AAA only has hoppers (and she doesn't want hoppers). I say "either go to the website or have the AAA rep do it". This leads to a lengthy discussion about how i feel about the recent turn of events. Dh says "after all you've done, she's gonna transfer the ressie over?!" She says "i was just finding out everything that I could. I never said I was thinking of transferring.....".

Her trip is in 9 days and she's still finalizing stuff. I quit! Is it me or her that's tripping?
I'm strong, i can take the criticisms
Thanks

 

[eeyoregon]

I usually advise my friends/family to skip ADR's unless there is somewhere they REALLY want to eat. That is primarily because the folks I know don't have small children and aren't interested in the "high ticket" dining experiences such as princess meal, etc. In addition most of my friends/family go in the "off season" and you rarely need ADR's - we have alwasy just checked availability when we arrive at the parks. Lastly we are from the West Coast so when we are hungry, it's the "off peak" dining hours and almost never have difficulty getting seating.

Aside from ADR's my best advice is to familiarize yourself with the parks. Know the layout and what attractions there are and have in mind what interests you.

I tell friends/family NOT to go overboard in the planning department. Know which park you are going to on which day and prioritize by what is important to you. Go with the flow and you won't be disappointed if you miss item #62 on the agenda.

Last but not least (and most importantly IMHO) stay on property so that you can utilize early/late magic hours in the parks! You can accomplish more in the 3 extra hours after the park closes than you can in an entire day during normal operating hours!

 

[marcyinPA]

I get asked and called all the time. I let them know if t hey have any questions let me know. If I don't know the answer I will find it. I have even planned enitre trips for people from resorts, tickets, and helping with ADR's.

Yup, me too! I do the itinerary and everything! I LOVE it!! I also refer them to the different websites I know, and they always thank me. Imagine, I could get paid for doing this! LOL

 

[ndgqmiller]

I had so much fun planning our trip. If anyone ever asked me to help plan theres I would. I would also make sure and tell people to have ADR! We just got back we went 10/06-10/15 there was a family trying to get reservations during the week and theere were none to be found everything was booked up. For us the character dinners and great meals were half the fun. We even had a "Magical Moment" at the Liberty Tree resturant. I can't wait to go again!

 

[2sweetangels]

my mom helped me plan my WDW trip this past september since it was the 1st time I was going, she is now helping me plan my next trip for 2007

 

[blessedby3]

I absolutely LOVE helping people plan their trips and am asked all the time at church. People call me Ms. Disney. I never approach anyone, but willingly help anyone who comes to me for advice and suggestions. I always start with giving them great websites and my Ulitmate Guide to Disney to borrow. I tell them to be sure and lay out their park days or at least where they want to start each day and then if they want to hop because of crowds or something to do that. I also have helped families choose dining options especially with the free dining. I have one friend who had been twice before, but said that she never felt like they got to do anything but wait. After we had many planning session, they went and got more done in this trip then the previous two. She even called me every other day to check in and let me know how they were doing. I have helped 3 families get $29-$35 dings on SWA and discount codes for rooms at the parks. Helped another with a car rental for their vacation. My family says I should go into this full time
I just love planning WDW vacations- even if they arent mine!!

 

[Twingle]

I've helped a few friends and family members, but I ALWAYS make sure that they are involved with it. What *I* enjoy about Disney may not be what others are looking for. I helped my cousin and her family, who INSISTED that Disney was just an amusement park. They would not do any of the parades, shows, or entertainment other than rides. They had a blast, but IMHO they totally missed out on what Disney *is*.

I have a dear girlfriend who is disabled, and has thought for years that she would not be able to go to Disney, that it would be to difficult with her physical limitations. Since she and I have gotten to be such good friends, and she knows I am a Disney nut, she is planning her first trip with my help! I'm so excited for her and her family, and I know that they will have a GREAT time.

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

I always help friends and family plan thier trips. The perk to this is that they usually invite my DD and I to go along with them. It helps both families out because I then share some of the expenses. It's a win win situation for me.

I love being able to introduce WDW to people. I get more joy out of helping others experience the magic than if I was to go alone. Most of my friends now say they will not go with out thier personal tour guide.