I have anxiety

[Jupiter]

Just email her with a link to this thread, with the offer to help if she would like it. Then the ball is in her court.

Planning some dining would be really helpful. But if she is with a group that won't necessarily follow, they could get charged a lot of no-show fees. That is the kind of info that only she would know. But at least she would see from a little reading (and not just you telling her) that she is unlikely to find many places to walk up and eat at that time.

 

[Amanda999]

I would tell her two things.

1) The time period around 4th of July is the third busiest time of the year at Disney after Christmas-New Years and Spring Break. There is a good chance that at least MK will close to capacity at some point.

2) Walk up dining will be very difficult to get at that time of the year ESPECIALLY with a large group. She will be wasting money on the dining plan if she doesn't have reservations.

I agree with this PP, and another PP who said that if you try to help, you will be blamed (because it can only 'go sideways' at this point for those travel dates).

Hopefully all 10 are like I was my first trip: I had a great time, I think partially because I had no clue about most things (but, we didn't go at a busy time or do TS or DDP). Maybe - let's hope - they are planning on mostly hanging out at their resort pool, Coco beach visit, and eating at Shutters.

 

[mickeygirl14]

I'm with other PPs...I would warn them about dining and the need for ADRs. And I would direct them to the Disboards, touringplans.com and easywdw.com. If they choose to ignore that advice, there's nothing you can do. And they can certainly still have a great time without the uber-planning that some of us do, but they need to manage their expectations.

 

[FLSarah]

My son's friend's family just went to WDW. They had never been and only had 1 day, so they went to MK...with absolutely no plans. They rode 3 rides, 1 of which I think was actually the train that goes around the park and not a ride. I'm sure they'll never understand why we go so often because their experience was so different than ours always is.

 

[Mousemom234]

Sadly, the days of 'winging it' are gone. This sounds like it'll be a great opportunity for Murphy
I'm a serious planner <lol>, and I've had a few people ask for advice. I rarely offer it unless asked, though.

In your case, I'd quietly mention the necessity for ADRs with the dining plan, and the extremely high chance for things to go 'horribly wrong'; point her in this direction, and to some of the other good Dis infomation sites, and then step back and leave well enough alone.

Murphy's Original Law: If there are two or more ways to do something, and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe, then someone will do it.
Finagle's Law of Dynamic Negatives (also known as Finagle's corollary to Murphy's Law): Anything that can go wrong, will—at the worst possible moment.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would offer a couple of simple tips. Let them know the 4th will be crowded. Send them links explaining magic bands and ADRs. That way you insulate youself from them coming home and complaining. Just tell them, "I warned you."

 

[dancermommy1]

This is the first year I've ever been that we didn't wing it.... Granted , we've never had a party of 10. But they may not care if they all eat together. I'd just let them do what they want to do.

 

[jmkrat]

I think I'd at least tell her about making reservations for dining and leave it at that. She's going at a busy time so it's a must. I really don't see too many people trying to do walk up anymore. It's true is something goes wrong she could blame you, but if you don't warn her about the dining she could be asking you why you didn't tell her. I would only mention the dining part, let her wing it with the rest of the trip.

 

[Greyhound22]

Our families first WDW experience was July 4 in 2007. That day my wife and I would have been divorced if it were possible in the MK. I tried to plan everything and she fought me on every portion of the day. It was a wonderfully miserable experience and we are laughing about it as I type this. Plus, we didn't do DDP & there was only the 4 of us and my BIL.

Please do some planning for me. I'm getting sick at my stomach thinking about standing in those lines to eat and ride a few rides. To make it anywhere worth your while it is a MUST!

For what it is worth, I'll never be back to MK on the 4th. We've done AK and it was managable.

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[rapunzels]

Just email her with a link to this thread, with the offer to help if she would like it. Then the ball is in her court.

well... maybe not exactly this thread.... the OP did call the family high maintenance, high drama.... maybe wait a few days till this thread drops back a few pages... ...may turn into a high drama friendship..

 

[3Gsandme]

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and she said she wanted to take her child to Disney World in a few years. I don't remember exactly how it came up but I said something about how it's really important to research and plan the trip and she said: "It's a theme park. You wait in line and go on rides. What's to plan?"

Well, she's not wrong. And, if this is her expectation she'll probably still have a good time.

 

[magicbob]

Count me among those who would advise them about the DDP. They should know that they need ADRs if they want to be able to get into TS restaurants, as well as the alternative of getting QS DDP if they don't want to make ADRs (of course, they also need to understand that they won't be able to eat at TS restaurants using the QS plan). You're not going to be able to affect anything about the lines at that time of year, but you can at least offer this one tip that will prevent them from wasting a lot of money on dining.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

A friend of mine had this type of trip recently. Her SIL planned the whole thing and wouldn't take any advice from anyone. My friend knew the deal and gave SIL some stuff I'd given her, but didn't want to rock the boat too badly as she was sort of just along for the ride. I will say, she tried. It was a large party also.

Well they paid a small fortune for the trip itself - SIL booked a DVC Villa at full price. They got the upgraded dining plan but didn't book even one ADR. They also got a large grocery order, like over $200 worth of food. SIL's child wouldn't leave the room each day until after 11am and a big breakfast in the room. The whole party waited. Needless to say, lines were crazy by the time they all got to the parks, so they didn't go on many rides. (Classic, right?)

The first night my coworker managed to get them all into the restaurant at their resort, but they were told "it's not going to happen every night"; that they should have made reservations, etc. Fortunately my friend and her brother were able to break off from the main group a bit and eat at a couple of nice places, and learned after a couple of days to leave the room early, etc. They ended their trip, though, with most of their dining credits unused, and a lot of hard feelings.

Funny thing, they're beginning to think about another trip and SIL's husband told my friend (his sister) to ask me again for some of the info I'd given them before.

Sometimes it really is a live and learn type situation.

I agree, though, it is really annoying to hear these people come back and say how much Disney stinks.