Help me help my friends

[Accident]

The best thing to do for friends who have never been is contact dreams unlimuted travel and let them take it from there.

Any suggestions that didnt fit them will have a backlash.

 

[Capang]

Do you have any ideas what made it good? Just it all being new? Or serendipity? Or anything I can suggest?

We were just relaxed and sort of rolled with it. We did as much as we could and it was fine. We made fp the day before our park day and just didn't worry too much about it.

 

[Capang]

Do you have any ideas what made it good? Just it all being new? Or serendipity? Or anything I can suggest?

We also used a TA. She gave us the rundown of how Disney worked and did find last minute reservations for dining. The TA probably really helped.

 

[Tomh]

OP here. The trip is definitely happening.

I suggested heart set on one or two rides since my experience with kids that age is that you can exhaust yourselves with trying to get stuff done and sometimes having very little agenda beyond the first few hours can make for a nicer day overall.

My first suggestion, in the context of wanting to see all the parks was Epcot first day, then HS, then animal kingdom (and plan on making it a short day) and finishing up with magic kingdom. I checked with a crowd calandar and this wasn't a particular bad way to do things. Plus it does avoid all the EMH parks.

I also told mom to get a MDE app to get an account and start thinking about fast passes. She wants suggestions on what rides.

Like many people, she's having trouble wrapping her head around having to decide on sit down meals or not so far in advance!

Coincidentally, we are in the parks too with a group of 7. It's tiring enough with all the planning we've done. I really wish she had decided to stay on site (and fort wilderness is so nice and relaxing) and just done two parks. But, considering two days at magic kingdom is a good idea.

For people that stay off site, is a mid day break just not feasible? Would you ever consider a monorail resort lunch or early dinner reservation for a break? Just trying to think outside my usual planning method.

Even with Same Day Fast Passes, as long as they get to the park early, and are willing to stay at least until mid afternoon, they should be able to get 3 FP+ and hit some other stuff standby, accomplishing way more than 2 rides. Heck, at RD, I can easily knock off 5 or more rides in the first hour and a half to 2 hours.

Offsite mid day breaks, I can't think of any way that would really be feasible. It would take more time and effort than I could ever imagine it being worth. I've done TS meals at lunch time for a break (not often) and I've also gone from MK to the Poly for supper, just make sure to leave enough time to get back to MK for the fireworks, OR . . . valet park at the Poly in the morning, then time supper so that you can watch the fireworks from the beach, and leave straight from there.

 

[DLfan4]

my friend took her 2 kids to WDW for the first time last September 2016 . no ADRS and NO FPs. hardly any planning. They had an amazing time.

 

[lroger01]

I had a work friend who did a short-planned trip during Spring Break. I only had one short conversation with him before he left. I printed of copies of all the park maps. I highlighted in red, the attractions to hit first thing in the morning or FP, and in green the ones that can be done anytime. I also marked off places to watch parades and fireworks, and circled the better QS restaurants.
He came back saying the maps were just what they needed. In fact he'd forgotten it on the way to the bus one day and walked back to the room to get it. Maybe this would help your friends.

 

[RachelEllen]

Thanks again to all for the suggestions. I realize what I wrote (typing on phone) wasn't exactly clear as to one of my suggestions. I meant get their heart set on a ride or two to really rush to get to first thing, then just go with the flow, then leave when the kids are getting tired. Not just leave after one or two rides! Rereading my post I can see how that's unclear.

 

[BalooFan]

I recommend keeping the suggestions simple - read a guidebook or two, get an MDE account, schedule fast passes, make ADRs - and then get back to you with any questions or for recommendations. Let's face it, most of us who have been to WDW many times think our way to "do Disney" is the only way. In truth, there are many ways that work for different people. Also, what happens if you give someone a lot of advice that they follow exactly and have a lousy time? I wouldn't want someone to hold me accountable for their bad vacation.

 

[Tattylou]

They should be fine.

Have them make MDE accounts and set up FPs asap. Look at park hours and avoid parks with EMH if they're staying offsite. Strongly advise them that if they can get up and be at the park 45 min before rope drop, they can get a lot done.

My advice is to get there for rope drop, ride whatever they want, have FP's starting around 11 or 12 when it starts to get busy. If they want to take an afternoon break then they can easily. We always stay offsite and every day we leave the park around 1pm, go eat/shower/nap, then hit a second park around 5pm (with FP's starting around 5/6pm)

If they'll have park hoppers then I'd strongly suggest the same advice in the paragraph above, but instead of FP's starting at 11 or 12, have FP's starting in the afternoon when they plan to return to a park.

This is what I'd suggest too. You can guide them on what rides are best done at rope drop or with fast pass. That way they don't waste time or fast passes on ones that are typically easier to ride on anytime. Also, shows are a great option if they don't have fast passes and lines are long. Maybe you can suggest some of the better ones to them.

 

[anniemae]

When are they traveling, is it this month, next month?

 

[GPC0321]

I'd maybe approach it telling them some of the top complaints of a WDW vacation and how to avoid having those same experiences.
1. If they don't want to wait in long lines and be in a crush of people, they need to get to the parks as early as possible (at opening/rope drop is ideal).
2. To avoid tired, grumpy children (or adults), plan to take breaks and/or not go at a commando pace all day. Since they are off-site, give them some tips on how to take a break in the middle of the day without leaving the property. Shows, TS lunches, resort-hopping, etc.
3. Have them look at the online maps and what is available in each park and decide if they really need to visit all four parks. If nothing at HS is all that appealing, it would be a shame for them to dedicate an entire day to it, get there and be bored after a few hours, and wishing they'd spent the day at MK instead. Personally, for first-timers with young kids, I'd give two days to MK if they don't have hoppers. There's just so much, and it's really the "Disneyist" of the parks.
4. Explain the ADR situation and that eating at sit-down restaurants will require a reservation.
5. Definitely get them hooked up on the MDE app and walk them through how to use it for checking wait times, booking ADRs and FP+

They'll be fine.

 

[mjkacmom]

My older kids did a choir trip last year, got fast passes 2 days before their trip, planned their days with touringplans, and averaged 20 attractions each day. The last time we were there, we were there 6 days, and were at rope drop all 6 days, youngest were 4. It looks like the daily highs will be in the low 80's. That's not very hot. Tell them to start planning!

 

[MommaBerd]

Less than a week away - I wouldn't bother with guide books. Print out Josh's free cheat sheets at easywdw.com and/or the free touring plans from Touring Plans. I, personally, like how Josh's have a bit of written explanation with them.

Teach her some of the FP "tricks" - for example if she can't get 4 FPs at the same time, look for some combination of 4 within the same hour.

I also think it's all about setting expectations. I really like the approach that @GPC0321 suggested. And framing it positively - as in, it's the most magical place on earth; it's Disney World!!!