Help me Help a Disorganized Friend Plan His Trip

[Mike Bartenhagen]

My family has been to Disney several times and because I am a type A person I spend many hours reading and planning our triips. I have a recently divorced friend who will be going to WDW in August. They will be 4 days on land and 3 days at sea. It will be Sean and his 3 girls who are 5, 9, and 11. He isn't one that will sit down and search forums and websites like many of us do. I would like to help him plan and it will probably be in the form of us visiting over a few drinks. What is the most basic information that I should let him know? If you were to make the most basic plans what would they be? Would you just decide before you go which parks to visit every day....possibly look at some maps and get an idea of the rides that you would like to go on? I will let him know about the Fast Pass. Any books that would be a good read for basic info?

Mike

 

[dreamalittledream]

It sounds like you are a good friend to try to help out a newbie! I have helped friends in the past, but I found it is best to just give him a little to start with and see if he asks for more. I have an email I send out to my friends that ask with the links to a few basic sites, like DiS and Deb's allearsnet for ADR dining info, menus, and park info.
I'd go over FP and EMH with him and the importance of breaks and staying hydrated. Warn him about the crowds and tell him the merits of arriving early to the park and at least planning a little. review the tickets and park hopping (assuming he doesn't have the tickets already) and give him your favorites.
good luck

 

[fakereadhed]

Hand him a Passporter. http://www.passporter.com/wdw/ That's what I did for my friend. It got her interested and then she called with questions. She and her DH thanked me and said they had a fabulous time.