HELP! Planning a Magical Gathering, family thinks I'm NUTS!!!

[CJK]

Okay, I admit it, I'm VERY excited about our Magical Gathering trip this August. We just rebooked our trip to take advantage of the free dining offer. As a part of that deal, we're going to enjoy more table service meals than any of us have had before. When I try to talk to my family about possible restaurants and therefore, itinerary so that we know where to eat which days..............they think I'm NUTS! That's right, they don't want to get into details. I try to tell them that without advanced dining reservations, we may not be able to eat at our favourite restaurants. They just sort of dismiss me (lovingly of course!), as if to say that I'm just being typical me........disney obsessed!! How can I convince them that I'm NOT crazy to want to make a few reservations??? Help!!!

 

[SonyaD]

Well you could do what I did. I called made all the ps and printed out info about all the places and said this is where we are going on these days. Everyone was excited. I figured we could always change them if we needed.

 

[SamanthaL]

YUP! They had fair warning and chance to help pick places to eat! I say go where YOU want if they complain remind them that you asked for their input!

 

[Eeyore2003]

Well, ya gotta sit them all down and say "We gotta do this NOW", or just make the reservations "with their best interest" in mind. Some people just don't understand the "you'll have a better time at Disney with a little planning" concept.

 

[3lilprincesses]

my grand gathering isn't until january, but what i am doing is putting together a rough itinerary or where we will be eating w/ descriptions of each restaurant. i'm gonna send it to everyone and ask for feedback. then i can make any adjustments. hope it works!!

 

[WonderWomanDC]

Just make all the decisions and hand out an itinerary when you get there

 

[Kellybell]

I am going thru the same thing right now and I understand your frustration, but I have to agree with most of the posts, just plan according to what you want to do and then at least you'll get all of your favs, and if they don't want to join you they can try and make thier own plans when they are there, but I think they will quickly find out how much easier everything goes when you're well prepared! Good luck!

 

[gigi1313]

you could always make one ps for each park for each night and wherever you end up you'll have a ps... of course, cancelling the ones you do not plan to keep... and that would not work for the restaurants that require credit card to reserve...

 

[CJK]

Wow, thanks for all the replies! We made a few ADR's based on feedback we've gotten throughout this last year (ie. Sci Fi). Then, the other reservations are our suggestions. We got the family to agree to discuss the trip this Father's Day weekend since we're getting together anyway. I have to remember not to be too intense during the discussion! Light and breezy is the only way to go with these people! They don't seem to "get" my disney obsession!

 

[gigi1313]

they may not get it now, but they will appreciate it then!

 

[dreamalittledream]

Been there.... planned that..... I feel for you!

and they thought I was over the top when I handed out mini printed schedules in ziploc baggies to keep them dry on the water rides.

I TA with the advice to plan the ADR for each night and even double plan the ADR's for a few nights and then cancel the ones you don't plan to keep, that way you are covered. There is nothing worse than standing around playing the "where do you want to eat, I don't care, where do YOU want to eat?" game! Have fun!

 

[robinb]

and they thought I was over the top when I handed out mini printed schedules in ziploc baggies to keep them dry on the water rides.

Doesn't everyone do that?!? I handed out a "pocket guide" for our last trip so everyone knew our meal plans.

To the OP ... just make reservations where you want and let them either join you or fend for themselves. I have BTDT and as long as you don't take it personally when someone doesn't want to join you. you're fine.

FWIW, I think the table service restaurants will be especially busy once the free dining starts and there will be many disappointed people who will not be able to eat at the spur of the moment. {Note to self ... make more ARs tomorrow}

 

[WaltD4Me]

Just give it up...or give up on them actually, and go ahead and make your PS's and then let them know when you get there. Believe me, they will be GLAD you did!

I planned a Grand Gathering and TRIED to involve everyone in the planning, but got the same as you. Everyone dismissed me with alot of eye rolling and didn't offer any help. I finally gave up and just planned everything and made the PS's and let me tell you once we were there everyone was like "OH! I get it now!" "Thank goodness you didn't listen to us and did all this work even though we thought you were nuts!"