Helping others plan a WDW trip rant...

[RNMOM]

The dental assistant at the office I go to and I have always gotten along very well and she asked for some advice on planning their first trip for this June. I actually gave her my last years' passporter and suggested she read it and start there.

Well, of course, she has not. She doen't have a clue and it is really hard to help someone like that. Other friends give her bits of advice too. The kind of people who have gone once, been overwhelmed, and won't go again kind of advice.

So, I guess I will just keep trying to get her to do the research and make her own decisions. I want them to have a great trip but refuse to make any of the decisions for her.

Yes, I gave her this web site, Deb Willis's and a bunch of them.

Okay, I am done. I just needed to spout off a minute or so.

 

[Pop Daddy]

that is the burden (of the people who frequant this site) must bear.

 

[bumcat]

but then there are those that take your advice and have the best time ever and that makes it all worthwhile!

 

[mcnuss]

Some people just don't plan like others do. I am a planner up to the day we leave, then the rest is a lark. We play everything by ear except for 1 event during our trip. To us, it's more fun that way. I personally would not mention another word about it to her. You've done enough.

 

[grinningghost]

There are those who "get" it and those who don't. Unless "those who don't" have some magical epiphany, they'll never get it.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Yes, there are some who just won't listen.

I guess my only advice, having dealt with plenty of these novices in the past, is not to bombard them with knowledge. I mean, there are a LOT of things that those of us in the know would like to share with everyone else, but, honestly, many of them aren't MUSTS. They make for more magical vacations and all, but if someone doesn't want tips about extra things, well, then to each his own.


There are, however, certain things I try to remind any first-timers about Disney vacations, just so they know what to expect, and that's the kind of advice that I think is important. Like Astro-Orbiters, for example. People need to realize that the line moves slower than my father on a Sunday morning. If no one tells an amateur something like that, the poor vacationer will spend way too long waiting in line for a ride that, IMHO, isn't really worth much of a wait, and that'll turn them off from Disney for the rest of their vacation.


*sigh* We do what we can. It's such a noble profession we're in.

 

[ScarlettO]

I know what you mean.....I told my SIL not to ride Spaceship Earth.. and she did anyway. Only "trip report " I got out of her was "I should have listened to you about SE...we were nauseaous for an hour afterwards ".

 

[NeverEnufWDW]

Exactly HOW does one get sick on Spaceship Earth ??

Don't you mean Mission: Space ?

 

[shortbun]

As a former travel agent, I can tell you that few do research
or plan ahead for their vacation. They want a quick 10 minute
lesson to cover everything that is important and then to have
all go perfectly. I was always amazed at how folks would plunk
down loads of their hard earned dough and entirely put their faith
in others for a great vacation. Folks on these boards are rare-
and not just for their Disney planning!
Don't frustrate yourself too much. Your friend is luck to have you!

 

[ScarlettO]

oops....I meant Mission Space.

 

[Micca]

Some of my family went for the first time last year. They didn't ask for any advice( not that they were obligated to). They know we've been dozens of times and that DD is a CM, but they still didn't ask. Another family member went to Orlando last year. They left on Friday, returned on Sunday, so they had exactly ONE whole day(one way travel from here is about eight hours when you factor in arriving at the airport/retrieving your bags). They went to SeaWorld. Maybe they thought these parks are like our little hometown amusement park(where you could ride almost everything in about 2 hours).

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

I am giong in june with my Girl Scout Troop, and there are three moms besides myself. Most of them have memorized the Birnbaum's guide, have decided about PS's, etc. But one is under the impression that she will jsut sit on a bench and smoke for a few hours like she does at the county fair, then veg out from 5 pm til 10 am or so at the hotel. UG!!!! She cannot figure out why it takes 5 days to begin to see all the parks. She says she just will walk around "them" the first day or so and then she figures she wil have seen it all.