How do you explain PS so early to newbies?

[beattyfamily]

Well, we invited my BIL and his family to stay with us at BWV this December.

They've never been on a vacation let alone WDW so everything's new to them. He even mentioned he's never tipped anyone in his life besides waiters in restaurants!!

I emailed them to tell them a couple of PS were coming up in August that I'would be making.

My BIL proceeded to ask my DH (not me, the planner/expert) why I'm so axcious (sp?) to book restaurants so early and that he thought we could just wing it when we got there???

I just laughed. I'm pretty sure I already explained it to his wife before.

I'm just going to do my thing, and if they don't reply that they want to come with us, then they'll just have to miss out.

I was planning CRT, Chef Mickey's, LTT (before MNSSHP), and H&V for Fantasmic.

Has this ever happened to any of you when you've invited a newbie who just doesn't have a clue?

I may call his wife a few days before Chef Mickey's PS time comes up and see what she wants to do. I don't care if they dont' want to eat with us. Not a problem. I just feel bad that they may and their children (boys - 7 and 10 years old) miss out because they don't get it.

Thanks for letting me vent here!!!

 

[buckeye]

Could it be the money involved? Maybe they just want to spend an amount more in line with counterservice?? That's the tricky part of traveling with another family. Sometimes it's hard to feel each other out. Also, I've found when traveling with other families, it's not a bad thing to have some separate times...Maybe they will want to pick one or two PS's to do together. All you can do is what you've already done and make them aware that if they want sit-down (and expensive ) meals, then they have to plan months in advance. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Buckeye

 

[beattyfamily]

Yes, it could be money. But what's weird is I told his wife my plans and she said "we'll do whatever you guys do".

I explained the PS and why they are necessary etc.. and she knows about the PS for LTT for MNSSHP.

Now all of the sudden her DH thinks there's no need for PS and that he and his family can play it by ear.

I'm just a bit frustrated. I really don't mind them not eating with us it's the part where they don't seem to understand the importance of PS so early I'm worried about.

I don't want them disappointed when we do these character meals and they cannot go with us. Especially the Fantasmic package.

As long as I can explain this to them and they understand and say they don't want to eat sit down meals with us, then there's no problem. But I think my BIL doesn't get it and that's what I'm worried about.

 

[fantasia73]

I have run into the same problems with family and friends that I have travelled with to Disney. They can't understand why a Disney vacation isn't more spontaneous. I usually just take charge (I'm a teacher so I'm always taking charge and they know that) and make the reservations for everyone. I explain that I'm an obsessive-compulsive trip planner and it makes me happy to have everything planned ahead of time. Then I tell them that if they don't end up liking my plans and we get there and they want to change things, I won't be offended. A quick stop at the hotel front desk and any PS can be cancelled or the number of people can be changed. Very rarely has anyone said to me that they want to change my plans. In fact my family is headed to Universal in Orlando with my parents in November. My parents now just ask for the schedule of places we're dining, happy that I do all of the planning for them!

 

[beattyfamily]

I was thinking of just booking PS for 9 and then scaling down when we get there if necessary but I wasn't sure how easy that is.

I know it can be very hard to add a person when the restaurant is booked up like CRT or LTT on MNSSHP and MVMCP nights. I tried to add my niece to my LTT and it was a no go.

I would do this for all except CRT since I must put a deposit down for 9 people! I'd want them to be sure about that one.

Maybe if I explain there's no money involved beforehand (except CRT) and PS can be canceled at any time, and also about how booked up WDW restaurants can get, they'd understand better and go for it.

 

[crisi]

Just went through the same thing with my mother in law. After months of saying "we need to sit down with your book (Birnbaums) and decide where we want to eat" only to have it put off week after week, the 120 day window was fast approaching. I sat down with my hubby (who knows having taken several Disney trips), we made some dining plans (keeping her in mind), and I called for what I wanted at 120 days.

She was a little shocked that you'd plan this far in advance, but I explained that - really we didn't, and if she wanted to change, we could see what we could do - but for some things, i.e. the Pirate Cruise I had PROMISED the kids, it was best to make reservations as soon as possible - and as long as I was on the phone, I made reservations (and I always call them reservations to newbies) for some other dinners so we could eat at a convienent time - we can always try to change them later, but at least we won't be stuck eating every night at Pecos Bill's.

Her issue is that she is a procrastinator. The trip will sneak up on her before she knows it. She also isn't much of a planner and prefers to do things by winging it. It isn't the money, as we will be picking up every bill.

I don't think for most things Disney is too disappointed if you show up with LESS people than you were anticipating - especially if you tell your brother in law he can decide the night before and you will call in the change to a smaller party.

The other thing to do is to explain the logistics. Disney has a lot of sit down restaurants with a lot of tables. But I don't think they have enough sit down restaurants (especially in the parks) for more than about 10% of the guests to enjoy sit down meals on any given day (this is a WAG, I'm not sure of the real number). When dinner time rolls around, tens of thousands of hungry people start looking for food, and its much easier to have worked the system up front than to wander the WS looking for someplace that will let you get out of the heat while you are starving - only to end up eating at the next counter service restaurant you can find because its either that or start eating your hand. Also explain that, from experience, chicken fingers and counter service burgers get old fast, and that every couple of days its nice to see a side that isn't french fries.

Disney provides a strange paradox for newbies - there is SO much to do that making any decision at all is overwhelming, so they say "we will just do whatever you want to do." At the same time, there is so much that sounds interesting to them, that they don't want to shut doors - and letting you make plans means that they may not be able to decide to do that thing that interests them that they haven't really decided if they want to do, but boy it sounds interesting, and maybe we should just decide when we get there.

(For your specific case, I'd be tempted to make CRT (I'm assuming breakfast?) for your family only and let the other family (which has boys) know, "Its more of a little girl thing, we thought you guys might want to sleep in that morning, or maybe we can book Crystal Palace if you are interested and meet up later." The other PSs I'd make for the whole party and just plan on confirming them with everyone the night before.)

 

[beattyfamily]

crisi, thanks so much for a detailed explanation of your experience with a newbie!

I think I'll do what you are suggesting. CRT for me and my family (and niece we invited) and then BIL family can do what they want that morning.

Then I book the other 3 for all of us and then can skip them if they want. As long as Disney doesn't mind my cutting our total from 9 to 5.

I think they just don't get it and think I'm too organzied and too Disney crazy. They want to go with the flow but don't realize you can't always do that when it comes to sit down meals.

Thanks again for the info and advice!

 

[mrsltg]

beattyfamily- my Mom feels your pain! My husband and I are compulsive planners and we have all of our priority seatings planned out months before we can even book them. Well, my parents went to WDW in July of 01 with NO ps's because my father (whom I love dearly) REFUSED to make plans for his vacation. They wound up eating a lot of counter service, and waiting very long waits for anything else.

This December, we're taking Mom with us. It was a birthday present to make up for the lousy time she had with Dad a few years ago. She is THRILLED to see the excel sheet with all of the days charted out and where we will be eating! Dad keeps shaking his head saying, "it's not vacation if I have to be somewhere by a certain time." It is to me! I like knowing where and when, and I am much more relaxed knowing that I have my reservations in place and I don't have to rush around.

Compulsive Planners Unite!!! (oh wait, we already did, right here on the DIS!!!)

Erin

 

[beattyfamily]

We're going this December too!

I'm very organzied and I can't stand not having some kind of plan so I know what you mean!!!

Thanks for the understanding!! Good thing us overplanners have this support group!

 

[Gillian]

I think it's a great idea to book for everyone and let them cancel if they don't want to go when you're down there. I would think you could even adjust the total # at the restaurant itself. After all, they aren't holding a table for you like with a real reservation. The PS system gives Disney more flexibility.

I've travelled with a group before. I print out menus (with prices) for places I think they'd like. Just a couple so as not to overwhelm them. If they pick a few places, great. If they say anything is fine, I do as well as I can without them, including them in our plans.

I have a friend going in August. She got overwhelmed and is DONE with planning, because it's just too much to think about. I am horrified, but what can you do? She doesn't want my spreadsheet. Luckily they are using Dreams Unlimited and have some PS booked. They'll also get an itinerary from them.

Another friend who goes fairly often thought she liked winging it better. Her husband also didn't want to plan. But I made her a spreadsheet for her trip with a ton of info & blanks for PS. She called & made a bunch of them. They were thrilled with it! Even her husband got into it, asking what the plans were every day.

 

[polyfan]

We just went with newbies, who had said they would do whatever we do. Well, I made all the PS, gave them the list, also suggested they look at the menus from websites with prices. Noone disagreed with any of it. Then the first night we had dinner at Park Fare, and when their bill came I thought he was going to pass out!! After that, they only went to one other PS with us.

 

[beattyfamily]

Well, I just took Gillian's advice and I printed out the menues with prices.

I will give them to my BIL the next time I see them and try to explain how things are at WDW.

I will book what I want maybe for 9 and maybe for 5 depending on what they say.

Thanks for all the tips and advice!

 

[crisi]

Printing out the menu's with prices is a great idea! Don't forget to add in a typical counter service place so they have some idea of what that burger is going to cost if they don't elect to join you.

Its a matter of some controversy, but I always feel that most Disney sit down restaurants are a better value than counter service. You can get by cheaper and faster at counter service restaurants, but for not too much more money, you can get better quality food, more food, and waitstaff.

 

[disneysteve]

We only go offseason so I've always had a bit of trouble understanding the PS issue. We never plan our meals ahead of time. Only exception was our last trip when 10 of us were meeting up at Boma. Due to the size of the group, we made a PS. Otherwise, we plan as we go along during our stay. I don't know in advance what day we will be at which park. It depends on the weather, the crowds, our mood, etc. I wouldn't want to make a PS in EPCOT and decide to go to MK that day. We have never had a problem getting reservations the day of or day before our meal.

Obviously, the situation is different Christmas week or other peak times. But for offseason I never saw a need to schedule anything in advance.

Steve

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by disneysteve
We only go offseason so I've always had a bit of trouble understanding the PS issue. We never plan our meals ahead of time. Only exception was our last trip when 10 of us were meeting up at Boma. Due to the size of the group, we made a PS. Otherwise, we plan as we go along during our stay. I don't know in advance what day we will be at which park. It depends on the weather, the crowds, our mood, etc. I wouldn't want to make a PS in EPCOT and decide to go to MK that day. We have never had a problem getting reservations the day of or day before our meal.

Obviously, the situation is different Christmas week or other peak times. But for offseason I never saw a need to schedule anything in advance.

Steve

I'm going the first week of December. The meals I'm planning are CRT or Storybook if I don't get CRT, dinner before MVMCP which books up very fast (LTT is already booked solid), H&V for the Fantasmic package, and possibly Chef Mickey's.

Because of the high demand for these places, I'm not willing to wait till I get there.

 

[philaround]

I had been in the don't plan ahead group until our May 86 trip when I discovered PS at Epcot. They used to have a bank of phones near the front gate of FW for the WS restaurants and I made full use of them. On that same trip I also made PS at King Stefan's Banquet at the front gate to MK 1st thing in the morning for diner.
Jump ahead to 2003
I found the DIS in February, joined the DIS in March, became a sponsor in April and discovered the joy of planning ahead.
My DW and I had the best trip to DW ever from 5/25 to 6/7 this year. I will never go again without PS's.
Wandering around Six Flags or Busch Gardens without a plan is one thing, doing so at WDW is maddening to say the least.

 

[crisi]

Steve,

We always go offseason as well, but the last time I went, I was in for a surprise. Far more people than I expected (early Feb). And we have the worst luck at restaurants - places people say "we walked right into" I get turned away - no "the wait is an hour" just plain ole "we can't seat you tonight." Possibly because we are often winging it while absolutely starving, and once I get hungry and tired I become cranky and impossible to please. For us, that all adds up to "better make PSs - even for September, or crisi will be cranky and ruin everyone's vacation."

 

[dvc guy]

Some people are are not planers. Newbie or not , some like to go with the flow and see where it take them. We go every year over Christmas and always plan way in advance. We will be back this year, 12/28 -1/2. The plans are set and I am just waiting to make my PS.

The best story about not making plans in advance happen last year on Christmas Day at San Angel Inn. I was waiting to check in for our 8 PM PS. The lady in front of me asked how long a wait for dinner. The CM responded they were all filled up, the lady then said OK I can come back what time, the CM again said, all filled for the night.

Best plan of action is make the PS and give them the option. After 1 night of being turned away for dinner or eating at 4 PM they will be back pronto!!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by crisi
Steve,

We always go offseason as well, but the last time I went, I was in for a surprise. Far more people than I expected (early Feb). And we have the worst luck at restaurants - places people say "we walked right into" I get turned away - no "the wait is an hour" just plain ole "we can't seat you tonight." Possibly because we are often winging it while absolutely starving, and once I get hungry and tired I become cranky and impossible to please. For us, that all adds up to "better make PSs - even for September, or crisi will be cranky and ruin everyone's vacation."

I didn't exactly mean that we never make PSs. We just don't do it prior to our arrival in Florida. Once we know our schedule, we will call the day or two before to reserve a time. I know that for certain places, like CRT, PS in advance is a must. We are usually not terribly picky about where we eat most of the time so if one place isn't available, we just pick another favorite. We always lunch at Crystal Palace one day - we just book that as soon as we get into the park that morning. I have never had a problem getting in that way. Maybe we've just been lucky.

Certainly if there is a Must Do on your list, by all means schedule it in advance so you don't get disappointed. Better to cancel a PS you decide you don't need than to end up shut out of a place you were really looking forward to.

Steve

 

[crisi]

We've done that as well, with mixed success. If you are picky about when or where, it gets tougher to do it when you arrive - especially if you are looking for popular restaurants at popular times. But its very little additional bother to call when you get there and move things around.

We also tend to get busy on vacation and forget to call. So I like knowing that I have the PS in hand.

Besides, all the planning is a lot of fun.