How to help a coworker plan his trip when he doesn't think he needs help?

[FSU Girl]

My coworker is taking his one-year old son to Disney for the first time and the last time he actually went was like a decade ago. He doesn't get that you need to plan something in advance and you can't just wing it. I'm trying to help him, but he said there's no way to know what they'll be doing with a baby to be able to make fast passes. I don't have kids that little so maybe he's right? But I feel like he should make something, it's not like it will cost him anything if he doesn't use it. How do I convince him to make fast passes? They are going for only three days. I just know he's going to come back and complain the lines were really long and couldn't get anything done. I want him to have a good time.

 

[LYSE]

Let him know he should make fast passes for when he thinks they may be able to do it, he can always cancel them and find something same day.

But ultimately if he won't listen let em learn.

 

[Christine]

There's not much you can do when people have an attitude like this. I would probably keep talking to him about the FastPasses and let him know "hey, they are free, you've got nothing to lose." If he doesn't use them, he doesn't use them. But some people are REALLY adverse to planning and you can't do much about that.

 

[Klayfish]

You don't. You've advised him what you think is best, and he can make his own decisions. There's no "right" or "wrong" in how you spend your day. I wouldn't agree that you must make FP+ in advance. You absolutely can wing it. We do it all the time. Yes, we're veterans, but even a rookie can wing it if they want. I know you're coming from the right place, with the right intentions. I'm actually in the same boat, a coworker is going for the first time in years. I've told him about many things, but what he does with that info is up to him.

 

[LandonDunes]

My coworker is taking his one-year old son to Disney for the first time and the last time he actually went was like a decade ago. He doesn't get that you need to plan something in advance and you can't just wing it. I'm trying to help him, but he said there's no way to know what they'll be doing with a baby to be able to make fast passes. I don't have kids that little so maybe he's right? But I feel like he should make something, it's not like it will cost him anything if he doesn't use it. How do I convince him to make fast passes? They are going for only three days. I just know he's going to come back and complain the lines were really long and couldn't get anything done. I want him to have a good time.

The first advice I would give him, is “don’t bother taking a 1yr old.” LOL

The second thing I would do is show him the MDE app wait times and ask him if he wants to wait 90 minutes for rides. Although how much can a 1yr old really ride? Not much.

 

[tlmadden73]

I mean .. he just needs his expectations set in order to have a good time.

Just tell him to make Fast Passes .. no penalty if you DON"T use them.
Tell him to make them in the morning so they can be flexible the rest of the day.

I went with a 2 year old. Fast Passes were key .. the less lines you have to skip (even for minor attractions like Aladdin's Flying Carpets) is just very helpful. We even got a 4th, 5th and 6th fast pass .. we didn't really wait in many lines all day and that made the trip enjoyable .. but still very flexible.


But, in the end, some people don't like to super plan (like we do) and that's okay. I am sure they will have a good time just doing whatever they come across (sometimes those are the best experiences anyway).

 

[AngiTN]

You don't. Honestly. You don't try to force help on someone that doesn't ask for it. If they want it, they'll ask.
All you can do is say "hey, I know you are heading to Disney. I go all the time, if you want some help I'll be glad to give you tips." And go from there. I often type up a list of pointers tailored to that families demographics and let them use them, or not, as they see fit. All I can do is provide the knowledge. I can't force it down their throats.

 

[AngiTN]

The first advice I would give him, is “don’t bother taking a 1yr old.” LOL

The second thing I would do is show him the MDE app wait times and ask him if he wants to wait 90 minutes for rides. Although how much can a 1yr old really ride? Not much.

I'm sorry but this is horrific advice. A 1 year old can ride almost all the rides. Very small percentage has height requirements at Disney.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

His wife will know the baby's schedule if he doesn't. So they could easily make a couple dining reservations around that. And he could make FP because he could cancel them.

But you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink as my Step-MIL says so if he doesn't want to make any sort of plans there isn't anything you can do about.

Maybe show him the app and how to use it? And also show him the wait times for attractions - maybe that will have him making a few FP. And you could show him how low the day of availability is for sit down restaurants which would get him discussing that maybe.

 

[cel_disney]

Suggest he make FPs for kid friendly attractions at times when his 1 year old is usually awake (not typical nap time) and he can always change them when he gets there.

MK :
- Small World
- Pooh
- Peter Pan?

EP:
- Journey Imagination
- Character Spot
- Frozen

DHS:
Disney Jr
Tony Story if available

AK:
Safari
Lion king
Navi?


Remind him that it’s easier to have something and change it vs nothing at all.

You can also help him by making sure he knows where a 1 year old could run off steam (or another list to get a nap)
- AK : boneyard / dig site
- MK : splashing falls near Splash Mountain, Dumbo Play area, and the Splash Pad
- EP : the Splash Pad, the Imagination Pavilian etc
- DHS - ?

The last suggestions I have is to help him with MDE. If he has it and has tickets linked - see what happens if he tries to get FP for later today or tomorrow. He should see what the choices are for short notice vs 30 days from now.

 

[NMAmy]

I'm sure they'll have a great time. When you're traveling with a baby, the concern isn't usually about "getting anything done." We took my two year old grandson last year. He was super interested in mulch and was pleasantly surprised by everything else. When the kids are little like that, there aren't exactly long lines for the rides they can go on. They'll be fine.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm sure they'll have a great time. When you're traveling with a baby, the concern isn't usually about "getting anything done." We took my two year old grandson last year. He was super interested in mulch and was pleasantly surprised by everything else. When the kids are little like that, there aren't exactly long lines for the rides they can go on. They'll be fine.

I bet they'll have a great time.

 

[Indio]

Don't do anything else. If he doesn't want advice, don't give it to him. Then when he gets back and complains, you can say I told you so!

 

[bumbershoot]

The first advice I would give him, is “don’t bother taking a 1yr old.” LOL

Ick. Disagree.

Although how much can a 1yr old really ride? Not much.

Tons. Most rides don’t have height restrictions.

When the kids are little like that, there aren't exactly long lines for the rides they can go on. They'll be fine.

Small world? Peter Pan? Pooh? Little Mermaid? Jingle Cruise? Long lines. And that’s 25 seconds of thinking to bring those attractions to mind and it’s just in one park.


I planned even for our one day trip to Disneyland when my son was a year old. Made the best and most of that day!!

 

[Alesia]

He's made it clear that he doesn't want help, so you need to drop it. Trying to "help" someone who has already told you that he's not interested is not only obnoxious, but it's disrespectful.

 

[BalooFan]

If someone asks, I will give them advice (at least until they start zoning out). If they don’t ask for advice, I don’t offer it. Several years ago a coworker mentioned she was going to WDW for summer vacation. I started to give her pointers, like how useful I have found rope drop to be and how much you can get done early. She gave me the old “We aren’t going to get up early on vacation” line. She returned and told me she had a horrible vacation and that when she and her family went to MK it was hot and crowded and they left after only going on one or two rides. I wanted to tell her she should have listened to me, but held my tongue . . . .

 

[Lesley Wake]

My coworker is taking his one-year old son to Disney for the first time and the last time he actually went was like a decade ago. He doesn't get that you need to plan something in advance and you can't just wing it. I'm trying to help him, but he said there's no way to know what they'll be doing with a baby to be able to make fast passes. I don't have kids that little so maybe he's right? But I feel like he should make something, it's not like it will cost him anything if he doesn't use it. How do I convince him to make fast passes? They are going for only three days. I just know he's going to come back and complain the lines were really long and couldn't get anything done. I want him to have a good time.

I totally understand your frustration! My physical therapist went with his family last spring when his daughter's cheer team got into one of those competitions. They are experienced Disneyland visitors, so understand what Fastpasses are, but didn't realize you can book in advance. He knew I was planning a trip later that year, so we chatted a bit, and I tried to give advice about Fastpasses, ADRs (or just general food places), park hours, transport, etc. They also had a younger kid, so I tried to tell him about rider swap too. He wasn't too interested so I dropped it.

When they got back he explained how wasted he felt that trip was. They ate almost every meal at the All Star food courts crazy2, never got a single fastpass, and went on 4 rides. They never even went to Epcot. At Animal Kingdom, they waited for 90 minutes for Kali River Rapids and that was it (didn't even go on the Safari or Everest or anything). At DHS, his fiancee and daughter went on Tower of Terror, while he waited with the younger kid, so he didn't ride. At MK, they went on only a couple rides (including 7DMT with a 2 hr wait). I guess at the end the kids had a fun time being able to run around the resort with a group of kids (I shudder to think about other guests at All Star Sports that week), while the parents were able to spend time with other cheer parents.

After I got back from my trip I explained how I got to eat at so many fun restaurants, go on all the rides, most multiple times, and just have an amazing time. There probably will be future trips with the cheer group, so will at least know for the future. And they also explained they may add a few days on at the end at a nicer resort to be able to enjoy that!

So, I guess the best advice is, to just wait and see. You tried, and he didn't listen, so just let it go, no matter how frustrating it is ! Maybe closer to the trip he will ask other questions, so help him then. Otherwise, just accept they will have to make the most of their trip without planning. Good luck!

 

[FCDub]

He's made it clear that he doesn't want help, so you need to drop it. Trying to "help" someone who has already told you that he's not interested is not only obnoxious, but it's disrespectful.

I would agree with this.

 

[piratepride]

I say let him find out the hard way! Be thankful you are not the one spending all that money and potentially getting very little in return. Some people just have to figure it out the hard way.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As Elsa would say, "Let it go!". I really think the amount of planning we tend to do on these boards is really overwhelming to some people and they just don't want to do it. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I think some people would rather do less planning and just go with the flow on the trip even if that means doing less. We took my DS on his first trip when he was 1 (this was when there were still paper FP+, no MDE, no MB's). We didn't pull a single FP the whole time and I made, maybe, 1 TS ADR per day. My DS much preferred playing in the old Pooh playground in MK than going on any rides. It was a great trip. If he decides he wants help - he knows who to ask!