How do you open up a newbies eyes to prepare them for WDW?

[Girls Scout Leader]

You can imagine the amount of time I spend here on all the boards, etc, getting ready to take my troop to WDW in June. It has become an obsession, the details, the schedules, the food, etc nothing has escaped my scrutiny. The choices are vast, the girls and adults with diferent tastes, etc. I am jsut trying to make everyone, especially the adults aware of whate's there so they will have the best time ever. To me, knowlege is power.
The rest of the adults, and most of the girls, too, have did alot of research, too. We comapre ideas, news, etc.
All but one mom. She is under the impression that you go to the park, at, oh, noon or so whenever you get up, take your daughters (she has 2 going) and sit on a bench with a cigarette and smoke while the kids ride, like she does at the county fair or something. I have offered the planning DVD that I got in the mail, my Birnbaum's 2004 Guide, a list of great web sites (this one is at the top, of course!!) but to no avail. I am worried that her daughters will ditch her (they are 13 and 16 and no, she would not care ) and she will have a rotten time. So do I end up babysittting her? Or her daughters? This is a once in a life time thing for them. How do I get her to see what she may be missing? We have tried to talk to her about the different dining options like PS 's , or park opening times, or special shows. She jsut roll her eyes and says "Its a vacation. Dont' push it". Do I jsut let her go and kidnap the daughters?

 

[Kallison]

I've helped so many people plan trips, you can't force someone to be prepared (sorry for the G.S. pun!) Just do your thing and maybe drag the girls along with the rest of your group. All you can do is say -- here is what is available. I can't wait to hear about your trip, we are thinking about doing this in a few years. Did your girls raise the money themselves? Did you do it by cookie sales. We are such losers with the cookies - lol! Have a great time.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Yes ,the girls are raising the $$ themselves, which has been a council nightmare.

I am looking foreward to having most everybody having a momm along for two reasons...one, is that I figure the more adults the better, and two...so I can spend a little one-on-one quality time with my own daughter and hope the rest will do some of that, too. I really don't want to have totry to keep the whole troop together, because the ages, interests and personalities vary that it would be nice to have a chance for them al to split up to do what interest them. Some like thrills, some like shopping, I have 2 who would rather jsut eat themselves around the world. But if some moms would rather jsut sit, and not get out there with even thier own daughter, that won't work very well!

 

[DawnCt]

I actually had a former friend join me at WDW at SoG, after we had been there a day. At the time I had my niece with us for her first visit. Her attitude was the same; I am on vacation. I countered with, "so am I" and this is when we get up. She wanted me to leave my niece behind so she could sit by the pool, get a tan and not be by herself. My answer was, "no, her parents didn't buy her passports so she can swim. she can swim at home". You just have a stick to your agenda, invite the daughers and mom, and who wants to come, comes. Usually people who assume that attitude are sorry when they get home but please, don't let it dictate your vacation. I didn't and I am not sorry. P.S I am no longer friends with this particular person but it was only after a laundry list of whiney, selfish behavior.

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by Girls Scout Leader
I am worried that her daughters will ditch her (they are 13 and 16 and no, she would not care ) and she will have a rotten time.

Of course her daughters will ditch her. Whether she has a rotten time or not is not worth worrying about. Maybe she will like staying in the room by herself (perish the thought for me to do that!!) but if she has an awful time then it's no one's fault but her own.

I would just ignore her. Make sure the girls have maps and know how to use Disney transportation. I wouldn't change one iota of my own planning to accomodate her.

You are so wise not to try to keep everyone together. I often split up with the person that I go with even when there are only two of us if we have really different things that we want to do in a limited time.

If she wants to meet up later (and you are agreeable to that) have her meet up with you (not the other way around). If she doesn't show up - just go on with your next activity. You will be furious if you let her ruin your vacation.

 

[DawnCt]

Arkanasas Minnie, Is that YOU with President Bush?? WOW!!
I am impressed. Is he as nice in prson as he seems?

 

[arminnie]

Yes it is. He was SO nice. He was having his picture taken with a lot of the volunteers when he was in town and he was so gracious to us. He was just as nice to us (if not nicer) as he was to the people that paid a fortune to be there.

 

[Micca]

What impresses me about WDW is that it is for everyone. If she ever loved a Disney movie, or ever loved watching one with her children, or reading one of the Disney stories to her kids(or read one as a child) the essence of all of that is at WDW. If she has never had any of those experiences, she might not like it at all
Hopefully she won't ruin it for the kids. Maybe you can get a map of designated smoking areas for her.