Help! I'm a compulsive planner travelling with free spirits!

[countingmomma]

Our extended family of 9 will be in WDW May 26-June 4. I LOVE to plan. I'm telling you I'll have a iteniary just as soon as the park times are announced (when are those coming out??!!!!). SIL and BIL love to "fly by the seat of their pants." I'm going to be crazy. I'm thinking of booking at least one PS per day and saying, "We'll catch you at the restaurant." The real problem is that they won't decide which park they're going to until that morning. UGH!!! Its not like we're going off season. This is Memorial weekend and SWW! Any suggestions?

 

[Okiemom]

I think it would be a good idea to meet up for a PS for a meal. like dinner. That was you can each do things the way you want to. If your personalities are very different, and you like different things, I would think it would take some of the fun away. You could get together at meal time and enjoy each other that way.

 

[Ahrizel]

You have my sympathy, as a compulsive planner/commando. I've traveled with 'free spirits' before, makes me nuts. Suggestions, make some ps that don't require a deposit or cc for the total number in the party. Tell them when they are, if they aren't there by seating time, you tell the server the other folks didn't show up and enjoy your meal. And don't wait for them past the time either, you're trying to be nice here and still enjoy your own trip. Unless the family has suggestions on where they want to eat, simply pick those you think are best. As for the parks of the day, go where you think is best and let have the 'free spirit' experience of wandering into a park that's jampacked with special event that day. Give them your itinery of what parks and restaurants you're doing, if they want to find or go with you, they can. And just do your own thing. Sorry if this sounds a little harsh but I've traveled with others like this and they make me crazy plus you can't convince them there is a reason you do all this planning. I know you probably want to spend some time with the whole family, but realize that may not happen easily unless you want to follow their path. Go for a little togetherness, just not too much.

 

[estherhead]

but too free of spirits do drive me crazy. Why can't a group of 6 people all go to the bathroom at the same time? Why must we all go at different times 5 minutes apart? And why couldn't we put sunblock on at our room? And why do we show up without eating breakfast and then can't decide what to eat and everyone has to go to a different place to eat? Sigh.

My husband's family call me the amusement park Nazi, however they were also shocked that while following my plan one day we had all the major attractions out of the way by 11am? Shocked and confused. How did that happen? Why was it 11 and we had the rest of the day to be free spirited? Suddenly I was the amusement park Nazi who was the new leader for the rest of the week.

Meeting up for PS is a good idea if in addition to different styles you have different interests and age kids. But if you are all similar in interests, why not ask to spend one day together and say just this one day we can follow my itinerary. They may actually like it. But you will have to agree in your little heart to take it easy on the potty breaks. Leave plenty of time. They won't convert that easily.

Esther

 

[the kabuki]

Best idea, don't tell them you're planning anything. My family still hasn't figured out that our days are planned out ahead of time. They just think all rides have no lines, restaurants are always able to seat us, etc.

Or, you could at least tell them, this day is this park, this day is this park, and explain why, that those days are usually less busy than other days. They might understand better why you plan what you plan when they understand the reasons behind it, not that you're just trying to be in control of everything.

I too am a park commando, but I did have to let go with the potty break thing. One thing I just couldn't get into my itinerary!!

 

[minkydog]

Being a somewhat free spirit myself, all this planning would make me crazy! Even going with someone who had it all planned out would make me anxious. I book one PS per day and we do pay attention to the EMH schedule. Otherwise, we just figure out what we have to see and do fast pass. We usually pick our park the night before. If one of the kids is having a bad day, we can easily shift gears. We have even skipped the parks altogether when things are falling apart--and no one gets mad, we just go to the pool! I usually don't go in the summer, but even if I did i don't think I would change. We have learned how to actually have a relaxing vacation at Disney World.

 

[Tinkerbellmom33]

I'm not a big planner myself, but I did plan what park to go to for the first four days and then played it by ear for the rest of the trip. I made one PS per day, just in case, and if we decided to go somewhere else, I called and canceled. I agree with the other posters, make the PS's, if they show great, if not oh well. Plan your days and if they decide to go with you even better. I wouldn't push for them to follow all you do though. When we were there for the "magical" gatherings, I couldn't believe all of the arguments overheard and some yelling too! It's too stressful at times to plan all of your days together. I think it's good to split up some of the time and meet later in the day. Enjoy your vacation and don't let how they do things ruin it for yourself. Maybe their way will work for them and if not, maybe next time they will listen to an experienced Disney vacationer!

 

[Bellefan66]

I'm feelin' your pain girl. I am a plan freak! I'd simply explain, if they want to have a decent meal, and NOT wait, then let you make the PS,if not, guess what? They WILL find out real quick, that w/out a PS, it's going to be pretty tough, especially during a holiday! You could always make the PS ahead,expecting them to participate. If they decide no, then when you get to your restaraunt,tell the hostess, the number in your party. I guarantee you, it will only take a day, for them to realize that PS ARE a lifesaver. Good luck

 

[mshrm]

If not than plan your little heart out!

Im going in a group too. Only 2 of us have been there before and several times. The others are newbies...most of our party is great with all the planning since its their first time and they really want to get the most for their money. BUT there is one(isnt there always?!) who wants to just be a free spirit and not plan our parks and schedules. I quickly added that noone in the group has to follow the schedule and since their paying they should do what makes them happy.

We will be there for a week together and too much togetherness can get on everyones nerves. I plan to plan away and then let the others know where I will be. If they want to come fine, if not we will meet back at the hotel.