How many days of LLMP please?

[Nick6300]

As the PP said, focus on everyone having a good time, not seeing everything. When my daughter was 4, we did one day at MK, rope drop to 6 pm. And everyone had a great time. She never saw fireworks from inside a park until she was 10, and the grandparents will probably never stay for fireworks. None of us set foot in AK until she was 11, and we didn’t even ride FOP. Trying to do everything will make everyone miserable. Find out what everyone’s favorite ride or character will be, and prioritize that. The littles are unlikely to make it all day, especially if there is no rest break. And that’s ok.

Thank you for this. I think the pressure I'm feeling is trying to balance the expectation of them experiencing as much as they can as this is a once in a lifetime trip for the fam of 5, my sis in law's. While also not killing them. They have multiple times said they expect to easily see/do everything within 6 days based on reddit posts, likely from more experienced families of 4 who actually move at a normal pace and don't have to do absolutely everything. I've tried to pare expectations but failed. It would be great if there was another trip down the road for them, but they've already said they can't afford it/don't want to return. In terms of maybe they won't know if they hit everything or not, they made lists of all the attractions in order of priority but won't share with me. I've asked if there are at least some things we can skip such as Hall of Pres. and they essentially want to try everything and then after finding out if the kids can't do roller coasters or certain rides, we won't repeat those. Most of us have certain rides we prefer not to ride and typically skip. For us it's Mission Space, Astro Orbiter, MF, some others. We won't be able to do that. While not a huge time crunch to go up Swiss Fam Robison Tree, or Dumbo/Aladdin, Goofini, it could add up. Luckily we currently only have 4 ADRs including Crystal P which could take 2 hrs.

They want to do a lot of character greets with individual/family photos, autographs, all shows/rides at least once. TL on 3 days. And we will likely have some very rainy days in Sept. There's only been once Sept trip where we had virtually no rain for a week w/a hurricane 2 days before clearing out the storms.

 

[Nick6300]

This is the root of your issue. Since they consider you the expert, then give them expert advise -- they cannot see/do everything in one trip (smoothly or otherwise). It's simply not possible. Get them to pick out the highlights in each park that are "must see/do" and consider everything else to be gravy. As the "expert" you need to set those expectations and make it realistic; you are currently trying to get them that "see/do all" experience which is unattainable.

I have tried quite a few times, but I think they don't believe me or think it's just a move to convince them for paying for more LLs or getting up earlier, moving faster at the parks. I have asked for their must dos and then moved to what can they live without. Both no responses. The only list that I've gotten is their list of must do characters, many I've never met since we don't usually do many greets. The 2 families had their flights get changed and the opportunity to change to earlier arrivals without a cost on Sat (2 flights earlier, several flights later on departure day), but they just wanted to accept the auto changed flights.

 

[Nick6300]

I’ve been going to WDW almost yearly since 2006 and have never ever seen RD. I know, I know! You get SO MUCH done! I’m sorry but there isn’t enough coffee in the world to get me up & out at that hour let alone the whole family. And yet I’ve always managed to do & see everything on my list without it.
IMHO you need to seriously downgrade expectations. Pick 3-4 must dos in each park and anything else is gravy. Are they gonna miss stuff? Yup. Are they gonna know what they missed? Probably not unless you tell them!

Let this be their trip then go commando on another trip without them.

I have tried to make this trip centered around my sis in law's family because I would personally RD every day and stay until close, but that's what I personally like. I have a friend who has been going for 50 years and never RDs as well. There was a year where I went every single weekend for 50 weeks, and I still RD every time. We are planning on APs (live in IL) even though we have limited vacation time with our current jobs, just to help me cope with next month's trip being a tour guide. But really, the stark difference between my usual racing around and our pace next month will be good for me since I've recently had 3 surgeries June/July and 5 this year plus a stroke to my motion center left cerebellum. I get dizzy just walking short distances or bending down and getting up, when I used to run marathons. I bought some anti nausea meds just in case I can't handle some rides.

The kids don't do well with long lines and waiting, not unlike others. And initially without many LLMPs, I thought RD is where we could try to fit in a handful of key attractions until 10 am and then slow down and relax more. Until I heard that they wanted to sleep in and still go back for naps. I normally wouldn't have so many MK am's (3), but that's just for 3
of 4 parties to hopefully help with the crowds without LLs.

 

[cruising spud]

My opinion:

I am the Disney expert in my family. We did one Disney trip that included my family and my sister's family. Other trips that included my children and their families.

I seek opinions on-hotel rooms-theme and budget. Magic bands or not. Any special restaurant they want to try. Disney Springs or not. Things like that.

Otherwise, if I am the expert-then I am experting. I organize which days we do which parks. I set up the schedule of rides, etc for the day. IMPORTANT-do they trust you or not? If so, then they need to let you do the planning even if they don't understand WHY you are doing the things you are doing. There is no way you can get input from everyone about a trip this size. They will not understand the sheer size of the parks, the reason it is important to do rope drop, how park hopping can really cut into your park time.

With Lightning Lanes now in the picture, I would also say that everyone has to agree to do LL. If not, it will be impossible to keep your group together. You can be budget conscious to a point, but you also want to enjoy your vacation, and LL helps you do that.

If a family does not want to do rope drop, fine, I am doing rope drop, text us when you arrive at the park. Someone wants to leave early-no problem, go ahead and leave. You want to go your separate way for a few hours-go for it. Don't want to do a ride, hit a nearby gift shop while the rest of us ride.

For me-organizing a Disney trip for a largish party takes months to do right.- similar to putting together the pieces of a thousand piece puzzle.

Good luck.

 

[glocon]

I agree with Cruising Spud.

Make the plan the way you know you can get everything in and show it to them. If you need EE for that, include it.

Then let them come and go as they like- having a visual seeing what they are missing out on by sleeping in and taking breaks.

They will have the choice of doing everything they want or resting. It’s up to each individual/family.

They want you to make the plan, then make the plan. They can decide to follow it or not.

To some relaxing will be more important and to others doing it all will be more important.
Neither way is “wrong” but one way you do and see more, the other way you rest more.

Maybe some days they decide to sleep in and others they get up or don’t leave for a break.
It’s not all or nothing.

People who haven’t been there can’t understand what a difference it makes to get there early/not leave for a break.
It’s not bad to take it easy (we do that a lot) but expectations of number of rides and shows is definitely diminished by not being in the parks.

They are lucky to have you to help them with this trip!

 

[Nick6300]

My opinion:

I am the Disney expert in my family. We did one Disney trip that included my family and my sister's family. Other trips that included my children and their families.

I seek opinions on-hotel rooms-theme and budget. Magic bands or not. Any special restaurant they want to try. Disney Springs or not. Things like that.

Otherwise, if I am the expert-then I am experting. I organize which days we do which parks. I set up the schedule of rides, etc for the day. IMPORTANT-do they trust you or not? If so, then they need to let you do the planning even if they don't understand WHY you are doing the things you are doing. There is no way you can get input from everyone about a trip this size. They will not understand the sheer size of the parks, the reason it is important to do rope drop, how park hopping can really cut into your park time.

With Lightning Lanes now in the picture, I would also say that everyone has to agree to do LL. If not, it will be impossible to keep your group together. You can be budget conscious to a point, but you also want to enjoy your vacation, and LL helps you do that.

If a family does not want to do rope drop, fine, I am doing rope drop, text us when you arrive at the park. Someone wants to leave early-no problem, go ahead and leave. You want to go your separate way for a few hours-go for it. Don't want to do a ride, hit a nearby gift shop while the rest of us ride.

For me-organizing a Disney trip for a largish party takes months to do right.- similar to putting together the pieces of a thousand piece puzzle.

Good luck.

Thank you for your input! I was starting to see it your way before reading this. I think some of the lack of feedback isn't just lack of trust, but being overwhelmed by data and info (i.e. thrill data for GotG), not knowing what to respond with, and my sister in law is sort of shutting down. My mother/father in law wouldn't respond because I'm not asking them for input, they've gone with us 2 times (every 5 years), and we had just gone per my plans without input before. Mother in law hates waking up early, but she grumbles about a lot of things but ultimately complies. And they are likely to come with again in the future (we also didn't have any kids then). It's my sister in law and fam who won't return again.

I had asked yesterday another time of can you give me a list of your must do attractions or a few you aren't as enthusiastic about, even 1-2 per park. I also asked confirmation about LLMPs tentatively for the last Fri (MK/EP), Sat (AK/HS) days so that we have a sample of all 4 with LLs, and the 2 LL days are the final 2 full park days to end on a high note. As expected, no responses.

Early in the planning, last year, they were unsure on which attractions weren't on the list of do's, and it was sort of try everything for a first round, and skip a ToT/RnR/EE after that. That is still daunting over 6 days with TL and characters mixed in, and etc. as we discussed.

I did say last yr., others could split off and sleep in on occasion during RD and text us when they get to park, or leave for naps. The issue is this family does everything together. For minor holiday gatherings we have to pay to rent a large van for a 2 hr road trip rather than taking our separate cars. For that to work, minimally me or my wife would have to go with them. That is why for the 3 TL am's Sat, Tue, Thurs (for later starts and relaxing in lazy river) , we're all going to TL Sat, but Tue & Thurs I will go to HS alone while my wife will host and make sure they get to the right buses and such. I don't like TL or any water park (or water), and I feel like HS is the park that will get slighted.

But maybe mid trip, they will be comfortable with getting to the bus stop, and navigating around, to sleeping in by themselves and meeting up. We are going to TL on the first Sat, and then DS for dinner, and not going to park (which is what I'd rather do) to help get them more acquainted with getting around and so they're not by themselves on one of their non park days. Crystal Palace is another example of catering to my sister in laws family. We have 4 ADRs and likely adding the BBQ at TSL or something else to help give them breaks in ac. We normally do all QS except a couple of table service lunches.

Thanks again

 

[cruising spud]

Character meet and greets: may I suggest....

The Disney app lets you know when and where character meet and greets are.

If you rope drop, those first two hours of park time need to be devoted to rides. Everyone needs to move it-no gift shops, no stopping for snacks, and no character meet and greets.

Tell the people who want character meet and greets that they will get a chance to meet and greet to their hearts content BUT not at the start of the park day. Save meet and greets for later in the day.

 

[Nick6300]

Character meet and greets: may I suggest....

The Disney app lets you know when and where character meet and greets are.

If you rope drop, those first two hours of park time need to be devoted to rides. Everyone needs to move it-no gift shops, no stopping for snacks, and no character meet and greets.

Tell the people who want character meet and greets that they will get a chance to meet and greet to their hearts content BUT not at the start of the park day. Save meet and greets for later in the day.

Thanks. I did know about the character finder but I've never used it. I definitely intend to wait a bit after 10 for greets. I do think there is a chance that some of the kids will get scared and we could end up doing less of them or opting for certain less scary ones. They do have a large list of characters. Definitely no gift shops during rope drop if we go. I will remind them that they can do that any time later or at DS at World of Disney on an off day (rather than using the time where we got up super early while it's still dark outside).

Thanks to you. With your last post, it motivated me to reach out again today. I told them that I understand that I could have been overbearing on feedback for planning and overwhelmed in general. While reiterating a few things of course. And I was able to get that my sister in law sort of ruled out HM for her and the 4 yr old, and so so on the 6 yr old. And I was able to get an A -ok on LLMPs for last Fri/Sat. She is considering AK to HS Sat by picking the 3 initial and then maybe modifying 2/3 to HS for 3pm and beyond (we have a 1pm lunch adr where we're probably not leaving until 2:30 and arriving around 3 ish to HS.

So with that new info., I initially thought about Tiana's, HM, Indycar for MK Fri. But now deciding between keeping HM since all but 2 want to do it or splitting the 2 to IASW since next door and meeting up at Tangled rest area or just keeping it simple and having everyone at Pooh instead of HM for that selection. Either the 2 would have to ride IASW a 2nd time eventually or the rest of us would potentially be missing HM that day. I'm kind of thinking just pick HM since it's not that long of a wait with LL, and there is that Tangled area next door for them to wait or Columbia Harbor or the outdoor snack area or maybe even HofP. Rather than continuously having split LLs like you were discussing. For AK/HS... I was thinking 3 earliest selections and hopefully Navi/Safari is the first one, and modifying the 2/3rd ones for HS beginning around 3. Not sure I want to risk something like 2:30 with this group. I already warned them 99% there won't be SDD, probably not MF, but likely TSM, MMRR, AS, ST, ToT, and maybe 1 between MF and RnR if that's the early selection for something like 8pm.

 

[pooch]

I gotta say this trip sounds like no fun AT ALL. My family thinks I overplan but I got nothing on you!