Help: Anti-Disney friend wants disney planning advice

[nonzerosum]

To make a very long story short, I have a very good friend who hates anything and everything related to Disney. She thinks Disney is a corporate villian. For reasons too long to get into, she is taking her family to Disney and is wanting my help planning as she knows that I know alot about it, although she doesn't have half a clue about my obsession or she'd disown me as a friend. The few conversations we've had, she is very negative, cuts me off and is generally unpleasant. If you were in my position, would you go to the effort of explaining everything to her, only to have her mock and judge you, or would you just leave her on her own to muddle through? She'll no doubt have a terrible time regardless. It's her version of hell. DH thinks I should give her all the info (which would take hundreds of hours, right?), and hope that this gives her some hope of having fun. It also irks me that she is being quietly judgmental of me and perceives me as somehow less sophisticated by associating with Disney. Cracked, huh?

 

[RMulieri]

truthfully, I would sit her down and tell her that if she wants your help than she needs to be respectful and listen to you without negative comments or cutting you off.Or, just give her this website.We'll set her straight

 

[mom2aredhead]

Or, just give her this website.We'll set her straight

That's what I was going to say - send her over!

 

[katybugsmom]

truthfully, I would sit her down and tell her that if she wants your help than she needs to be respectful and listen to you without negative comments or cutting you off.Or, just give her this website.We'll set her straight

I totally agree! If she is a true friend she will listen to what you have to say. Why is she taking her family to WDW if she opposes it so? Who knows, I little "magic" might be good for her! I wish you the best of luck! Here is some pixie dust to sprinkle over her!!!!!

 

[Kim1964]

I'd give her a list of my favorite Disney planning sites and/or a list of my favorite Disney planning books and let her do her own research, with the offer to clarify anything that confuses her. If she can't be nice about you trying to help her, limit your assistance.

 

[LadyShea]

She has no business judging you...at least you aren't hypocritical about it

I have some friends who are kind of snobbish and difficult about whatever they find disdainful (whether WalMart, Disney, plastic water bottles or what-have-you), but it always seem they end up "selling out" at some point or to some degree. Wonder why they bother with all the huffing and puffing?

 

[daisyduck123]

just give her this website.We'll set her straight

This is all that I would do. Planning a trip can be a huge effort & I would NEVER plan SOMEONE ELSE'S trip if they weren't even going to appreciate it. No Way!

 

[Fingerpaints]

You know, if you feel like you need to help her out but don't want to waste a lot of your time being mocked or interrupted, just type out a quick FAQ sheet. Just pertinent info that you feel she would benefit from and let her have at that. I suspect she will come to you for more help later, but let her muddle through a bit before you really help. She may be more appreciative later.

 

[sunsprinkle24]

Sounds like she is going to hate Disney, no matter what you do for her. She's already made up her mind to hate it. When you go into it with an attitude like that, all you're gonna see is the bad.

 

[lmillercrew]

WHY would she go to a place that she hates? Hopefully if she is taking children she at least lets them enjoy themselves. I would try to help her as much as she will let you, but if you are good enough friends with her you should be able to ask her "are you going to listen or not?"
Good luck

 

[inloveindisney]

If it were me, I'd recommend a few things to make her happy and leave it at that.

 

[dbarker]

In a nut shell: I would let her do her own research.

I would nicely let her know that WDW is 2X the size of Manhattan, and there is too much info to be had w/ just a few conversations. With that said, I would then share my favorite WDW web sites with her and let her know that she really needs to read up on as much as she can. I would then let her know that if she has any questions, you would be more than happy to try to answer them for her.

Good luck with this one. It is a no win situation for you. If she does her own research (or not), then she has no one to blame but herself if she doesn't like her plans.