How do You Keep Planning for WDW Exciting??

[toystoryduo]

My DH, DDs, and I have been to WDW twice in the last year and we had a fabulous time both times!

We decided that we would ask DH's family if they wanted to go to WDW this year and they said yes! There are 14 of us in all and 10 will be WDW Rookies. We want to make sure that they have a good time, but no one except my 13 year old niece is excited. Plus, no one (except 13 year old niece) has even started saving for their trip yet. It's in December of this year!

My question is this.... when no one else seems to be excited about your trip, what do you do to stay motivated to keep on planning? Obviously, with a group this large, planning is a must. A necessity if you will. I want to make sure that everyone has a great time because it will be their first trip to the World and because they are not used to spending this much money on a vacation. Any tips or suggestions? Thanks for !

 

[Eeyore2003]

I have been planning our trip to WDW since last July for us and brother and family, as you can see from my ticker, it's their first time. They were not real excited either until lately. My 7 y/o neice thought it was "just so far away" until about last month. We made our resort reservations a year ago. I wish I'd have talked them into a 2 bedroom rather than two studios. I think now they are really excited and would have agreed the extra cash worth it.

We discussed various things, but mostly it was me searching and looking for stuff for all of us and getting tips etc. from here and my books. I decided which parks/what days etc. and got that all in order. For little "prizes" throughout the year we gave my neice and nephew "Disney dollars" that we got at the Disney store. That was nice I think.

We mainly started planning with "everyone" at the 4 month mark. I told everyone to look over the books and if they see any rides or attractions they REALLY want to do they should "mark" it. Then at the 4 month mark we all got together and went through the rides and attractions.

I made up a "mini" list of restaurants I thought they would like. For example: they picked a country at EPCOT, they wanted Chef Mickey and CRT (the kids heard about these from other kids), one night was Hollywood and Vine for the Fantasmic package (I picked that since I don't like the other two),we had one more meal left to pick, so then I went through the "fun" restaurants with them like the other character meals, House of Blues, O'hana's, ESPN Club, Sci Fi, 50's Prime Time OR I offered them nice "adult" restaurants, Le Cellier, Artist Point for example. After we discussed these few, they decided on O'hana's.

Then I made the ressies on the right 3 month day, figured out a mini daily plan and sent them a copy to look over. The kids liked that. I told them when we were deciding on rides etc. that they couldn't do everything and we were able to eliminate quite a few since we talked my niece out of the "twirly" rides and we have several of us that get sick on the simulator rides. But if the ride was something that was "iffy" for all, I put it in or out at my disgression. Also, if there was a ride I thought we really should fit in I did that too.

With that many and I'm sure age groups your going to have to get creative. I know that most important thing I need to do is make sure we take breaks and enjoy ourselves. I found that it's so tempting to want to "share it all" with them, but then no one will have a good time. I am having them go off on their own a couple times while we save seats for the parade or Illuminations and I think I might just tell them a couple suggestions. I think part of your first time is the discoveries you make yourself too. I do have an afternoon break scheduled for each day.

I guess if I were you, I'd take advantage of that 13 year old right now and get her involved in some of the early decisions, I think the rest might come around as the time gets a bit closer. I did really have to say "Ok, we MUST get together now and make some ride and restaurant choices". Even at the 4 month mark, they still weren't that excited.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I saw your trip was in December. Make sure you discuss MVMCP and get that done, also the CP when you can make ressies for that. I think you really have to be in charge of getting it all together. I know my SIL would have no idea where to start. Luckily, she doesn't mind me doing allot of this and I LOVE it!!!

 

[LuvTigger]

I was in your situation a few years ago when I was planning a group trip with a few friends. Eeyore offered a lot of great tips.

One of the first things I had to realize is that not everyone is excited about planning as I am! (Difficult to cope with for someone like myself!) However, keep in mind that they probably will get excited (eventually), even if the planning part doesn't excite them.

If they live close enough to you where you can plan a get together, maybe you could plan a few between now and the trip? One thing that we did was watch the vacation planning video together. I also pulled out old maps. My friends had no idea how big WDW really was!

I agree with Eeyore's suggestion about getting input on restaurants, particularly finding out if anyone has any strong dislikes. Also, be sure to work in some alone time for each family. Being together for an entire vacation can sometimes take a toll!

Shortly before you're scheduled to leave, create an itinerary and print it out for everyone. Don't do it too early, or they might lose it! You might also want to work out beforehand what your plan is if you get separated, and maybe even discuss how much "alone time" should be scheduled?

You will have a great trip, and everyone will be in awe of what an expert you are!!!

 

[Eeyore2003]

LuvTigger makes a VERY good point. Not every IS excited about the planning!!! I actually felt I was "depriving" my SIL of SOOOOOOO much fun and asked her several times if she minded that I was doing the planning and scheduling. She just laughed. She just doesn't find any of all this that much fun and is really appreciative that I'm trying to make their time so special. Amazing as that sounds so ME!!! I just can't IMAGINE NOT being right in the middle of all the planning and decisions!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tiffsix]

Eeyore, best of luck with the plans and i hope everyone has a GREAT time. i am the same way, I have to plan EVERYTHING.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Thanks tiffsix, I told my husband today that I think I'm "all planned out", and in December (it will just be the two of us, kids are grown) we're going to sleep late, eat meals when we feel like it, take afternoon naps and go wherever we feel like at the time.

WELL, I already have my MVMCP tickets "in hand", and when I told him this he said, well, we at LEAST better make dinner reservations and what about the CP package, you can ALWAYS cancel!!! I guess I have him trained pretty good too!!! LOL

 

[cooldisneymom]

toystoryduo - not everyone gets this whole DISNEY thing like we do. Since it's their first time they have no idea, except what they have heard, what kind of "magic" is in store for them. Like the other posters have said, keep your niece involved and maybe her excitement will rub off on the others!!!! Who knows, maybe after this trip the rest of your family will become "one of us".

 

[Tasha+Scott]

My DH and I just got back from our Disney, SW, US, IOA trip about a week and a half ago. I also planned the trip far in advance and my DH was of no help. He did not want in on the planning at all. He also acted like he had no interest in the trip at all...which was extremely frustrating. It cost too much money to worry about whether he would even enjoy it.
But, about a month before our trip, he started getting very excited. He even started looking at some of the Disney sites w/me and giving me his input. By then, the whole trip was planned, and all he had to do was tell me if their was anything specific he wanted to do, such as a show.
So, don't worry. It just takes some people a little longer for the whole concept of "Hey, we're going to Disney World! All right!!" to sink in. Just plan the trip by yourself and maybe w/the help of your 13 yr. old niece, since she seems to be into it, and don't worry so much about everyone else.
When the time gets here, they will probably start to get more excited and will thank you for all of your efforts!
BTW, my DH had a great time! But, I am now in the process of planning another trip for next summer, and once again, he wants nothing to do w/the planning.