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

[LandonDunes]

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.

Sure he/she can but why even go with a 1 year old if he’s the only child you’re taking? Now we’re getting off topic but Your day will be so unpredictable and the kid won’t ever remember it. IMO, why spend the $ and brave the parks with a baby, unless you have an older child going, as well? I know I’ll catch heat but I don’t understand why people take kids that young. I’m not saying you can’t or shouldnt. But, hey, I also don’t understand why adults w/o kids wait in lines for hours to see characters either so, I guess I’m the minority here.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Sure he/she can but why even go with a 1 year old if he’s the only child you’re taking? Now we’re getting off topic but Your day will be so unpredictable and the kid won’t ever remember it. IMO, why spend the $ and brave the parks with a baby, unless you have an older child going, as well? I know I’ll catch heat but I don’t understand why people take kids that young. I’m not saying you can’t or shouldnt. But, hey, I also don’t understand why adults w/o kids wait in lines for hours to see characters either so, I guess I’m the minority here.

I took my oldest at that age because DH and I wanted to go. We had a fantastic time and so did he. He won't remember it, but we do! And he had a blast taking in all the sights, the parades, the characters, etc. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Nancyg56]

Sure he/she can but why even go with a 1 year old if he’s the only child you’re taking? Now we’re getting off topic but Your day will be so unpredictable and the kid won’t ever remember it. IMO, why spend the $ and brave the parks with a baby, unless you have an older child going, as well? I know I’ll catch heat but I don’t understand why people take kids that young. I’m not saying you can’t or shouldnt. But, hey, I also don’t understand why adults w/o kids wait in lines for hours to see characters either so, I guess I’m the minority here.

I am not sure you are in the minority, however your first piece of advise, "leave the kid home", is pretty ill advised. Every family is different and their expectations for a WDW vacation are as well, so when offering advice it is important to determine how the family vacations, and what they want to do. Honestly, if adults have a little one in tow, and they want to go on attractions that the child is not able to go one, there is Rider Swap, which is great option for parents. One of my favorite pastimes in WDW is watching little ones interact with the characters. Oh my gosh, they are so much fun at that age.

My DGD is going to be 17 and if we waited for her to be able to go on every attraction we would still be home. That girl cant do thrill rides, or anything that spins whirls or has big drops.

 

[Nancyg56]

OP- my advice is not to help your coworker. Some folks are content to wing it. You offered so at this point let it be.

 

[Klayfish]

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.

Find out what the hard way? Not everyone has the same mindset that you "must" plan everything 30, 60, 180 days in advance. It may not be your way, but it's not a wrong way. Maybe they will come back miserable. Maybe they'll come back having had the time of their lives. Maybe their goal isn't as many rides as possible. Not only that, if you understand some basics (who knows if they'll do that research), you can get tons in return without any planning. I'm not a planner. If I had to plan at 180 days, follow a spreadsheet, follow a structured plan I would absolutely refuse to go on the trip. That style just isn't for us. Maybe OPs friend will feel the same. Give them the info and let them do as they please with it.

 

[Nancyg56]

Find out what the hard way? Not everyone has the same mindset that you "must" plan everything 30, 60, 180 days in advance. It may not be your way, but it's not a wrong way. Maybe they will come back miserable. Maybe they'll come back having had the time of their lives. I'm not a planner. If I had to plan at 180 days, follow a spreadsheet, follow a structured plan I would absolutely refuse to go on the trip. That style just isn't for us. Maybe OPs friend will feel the same. Give them the info and let them do as they please with it.

I scared someone away from a trip because I overloaded him with the "must do" planning involved in a WDW trip. I promised myself I would never impose my own personal preferences on anyone ever again. I still feel badly.

 

[LandonDunes]

I am not sure you are in the minority, however your first piece of advise, "leave the kid home", is pretty ill advised. Every family is different and their expectations for a WDW vacation are as well, so when offering advice it is important to determine how the family vacations, and what they want to do. Honestly, if adults have a little one in tow, and they want to go on attractions that the child is not able to go one, there is Rider Swap, which is great option for parents. One of my favorite pastimes in WDW is watching little ones interact with the characters. Oh my gosh, they are so much fun at that age.

My DGD is going to be 17 and if we waited for her to be able to go on every attraction we would still be home. That girl cant do thrill rides, or anything that spins whirls or has big drops.

I get it but I said “don’t bother taking the 1 year old” and what I meant was: wait until the baby is a little older if you are going to be complaining about lines, etc. Wrongly or rightly, I thought of a curmudgeon when the OP described the co worker. So, it sounded, to me, like someone who is stubborn and who isn’t going to enjoy it for the reasons that you and others have. Maybe I read it wrong. Maybe he/she didn’t want the advice because they really didn’t know where and when they would be in the parks.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

Yes, this is frustrating. You want to help and know you can and know he needs it, but for what ever reason he won't listen. I have faced the same thing with a co-worker (we'll call him Pete). Myself and another co-worker (Sean) were WDW veterans, as in at the time we were both going at least once a year. Pete had been once, 20 plus years ago and he was taking is 7 year old son. Sean and I told him about how to plan for the time of year he was going (mid-summer), we told him about FPs, ADRs, rope drop, etc., etc. Pete would sometime listen and other times argue but in the end he did almost nothing that we suggested. They went for a week, spend maybe parts of 4 days in the parks (they had bought a 7 day hopper). When he returned he talked about had bad it was, huge crowds, long waits, couldn't get in to any restaurants and that Sean and I were no help at all (obviously, since he wouldn't listen LOL). Not even sure they looked at a park map and we would ask "well did you ride this or that" and he would start to argue that we must be wrong about what was there as he never saw those attractions. They basically gave up, left parks in mid afternoon on the few days they went and spent most of the vacation getting tanked up at the pool bar.

 

[FSU Girl]

So I printed out a sheet with details on what is currently available and the wait times right now and convinced him it would be a good idea to make the fast passes. Yay!

 

[Nancyg56]

I get it but I said “don’t bother taking the 1 year old” and what I meant was: wait until the baby is a little older if you are going to be complaining about lines, etc. Wrongly or rightly, I thought of a curmudgeon when the OP described the co worker. So, it sounded, to me, like someone who is stubborn and who isn’t going to enjoy it for the reasons that you and others have. Maybe I read it wrong. Maybe he/she didn’t want the advice because they really didn’t know where and when they would be in the parks.

Got it!

I have found that there are just people who really do not want feedback from anyone, and they have their reasons for that. When it comes to children everyone has their own idea of the "perfect" age to bring kids. My niece and nephew are DLR vets and have brought their son countless times. They want to take him to WDW "when he is old enough to go on every attraction." Oh dear...the boy is shy. He hangs back from characters and just observes. He likes to take everything in, but is not fond of participating in anything that is "thrill." Personally, I would take him in a heartbeat and the two of us would have a blast. He is so funny, never misses a thing going on, and loves to talk about what he noticed. We would not need to go on one attraction and we could still keep busy enjoying so much that WDW has to offer, but Dad has his own idea of what is going to occur. He will magically change his personality at 12 or 13, and BOOM!!!! they will get their "money's worth. He discussed his reasoning with me, and while I respect it, I am not going down that rabbit hole...he knows his family, and I am not going to try to make changes in his mindset.

Anyway, I looked at the coworker a a person who knew how they rolled and planned to work it out when they got there. It will either pan out and they will have fun, or they will never go back.

 

[NMAmy]

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!!

Fair enough on Peter Pan and Jungle Cruise. But long lines for Small World and Little Mermaid? We went with the two year old the week after Thanksgiving and neither of these had long lines nor did a lot of other rides he enjoyed. Since he had no idea what he was missing, it wasn't a big deal as to what rides we went on.

What I meant, though, is that trying to plan a park commando day with a small one just is not my idea of an enjoyable outing nor does it seem the goal of the OP's coworker. We took things at his pace so that only meant a couple of rides, some time in one of the play areas, lunch, and then a nap at the hotel. Some evenings we went back to the parks for a bit and others we just hung out at the hotel and had an early night. It was a different kind of trip and definitely way more laid back than with older kids. And it was awesome.

So awesome that we go back in a couple of weeks with the now 2.5 year old and a 3 month old baby. Yes, we have FP's scheduled but those are mainly for their parents.

 

[AngiTN]

Sure he/she can but why even go with a 1 year old if he’s the only child you’re taking? Now we’re getting off topic but Your day will be so unpredictable and the kid won’t ever remember it. IMO, why spend the $ and brave the parks with a baby, unless you have an older child going, as well? I know I’ll catch heat but I don’t understand why people take kids that young. I’m not saying you can’t or shouldnt. But, hey, I also don’t understand why adults w/o kids wait in lines for hours to see characters either so, I guess I’m the minority here.

If you think Disney is for the kids only you are so far from wrong you are in another Universe. Disney is not for the kids only. People take along their 1 year old because they have a 1 year old and they want to go to Disney. They don't want to leave their child home. Many people actually like their children and want to have them along because you know, they enjoy them. They don't take the 1 year old to Disney for the 1 year old to remember it. Surely you can understand that. Next time you go, spend some time watching the kids. Sure, some cry. But you know what, there are lots of lots of 1 year old who are having a blast and are a joy to watch. That's why parents take them. The parents have that memory.

 

[LandonDunes]

If you think Disney is for the kids only you are so far from wrong you are in another Universe. Disney is not for the kids only. People take along their 1 year old because they have a 1 year old and they want to go to Disney. They don't want to leave their child home. Many people actually like their children and want to have them along because you know, they enjoy them. They don't take the 1 year old to Disney for the 1 year old to remember it. Surely you can understand that. Next time you go, spend some time watching the kids. Sure, some cry. But you know what, there are lots of lots of 1 year old who are having a blast and are a joy to watch. That's why parents take them. The parents have that memory.

Where in my posts did I say disney was for kids only? I think you are putting words in my mouth.

And...I like my kids and enjoy them plenty. Thanks.

 

[AngiTN]

Where in my posts did I say disney was for kids only? I think you are putting words in my mouth.

And...I like my kids and enjoy them plenty. Thanks.

You questioned why you would take a 1 year old if that's the only child you are taking. Why else would you ask that question?
People take a 1 year old because they have one and they want to go. For them. Not for the 1 year old. Because they, the adult, like and want to go. If I misunderstood your suggestion to leave the child at home I apologize. I can't think of any other reason to suggest that than you don't want to have the child with you on the trip.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

You don't.
He's been before. Even 10 years ago making ADR's was "a thing" so clearly he is aware of that.
You can get same day FP+ as long as you're flexible and with a baby you have to be.
Leave him to do his own thing and only bring up the lack of planning if he comes back and starts complaining about it.

 

[luvsJack]

I would mention the FP system, offer to help him make them. Mention that it might be nice to have a sit down meal during the day with a little one and offer to help him do those. And that's it.

If they go with the "wing it" attitude, they will probably have a great time. Remember, if they don't know they are missing something, they can't miss it.

 

[DLgal]

So I printed out a sheet with details on what is currently available and the wait times right now and convinced him it would be a good idea to make the fast passes. Yay!

Wow. Why not just let him do his own thing? You are right, you DON'T know what it is like to travel to WDW with a baby. We wouldn't have made Fastpasses either, to be honest. You have to be VERY flexible with a baby. Stick with what you know. Your advice is well-intentioned, but your experience isn't applicable to this guy's trip.

 

[mrcase77]

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.

Plus, do they still have the rider swap thing for when parents have to trade off with a kid that’s too small. I went a few years ago with friends who had a preschooler and that was amazing when he was taking a nap. It let the adults do the big rides in between Pooh Bear and Small World. It sort of compensated time-wise for having him with us. But that was in 2015. Not sure if it’s the same now, but it was awesome then if there are multiple adults in the group.

 

[FSU Girl]

Wow. Why not just let him do his own thing? You are right, you DON'T know what it is like to travel to WDW with a baby. We wouldn't have made Fastpasses either, to be honest. You have to be VERY flexible with a baby. Stick with what you know. Your advice is well-intentioned, but your experience isn't applicable to this guy's trip.

Well he was appreactive so that’s all that matters. I told him how he doesn’t have to stick to the fast passes and they are better to have than not have. Also showed him how he can modify them so if they aren’t going to fit into his plans he can change them. He definitely doesn’t want to wait in long lines and I’m helping him avoid that