I worry about this Disney trip for co-worker

[luvgoing2disney]

A co-worker told me this morning she is planning trip to Disney this summer. This will be her fiancé's first trip and her first in a long time.

I asked when they were going and what their plans are. They will drive the 10 hour trip on Monday, go to MK on Tuesday, AK on Wednesday, Universal on Thursday, then drive back on Friday. The day they will go to MK will be July 4th, so I can't imagine this will be a fun trip for some first timer and almost first timer given the short time there, the heat, the crowds, etc. But I tried to be encouraging, explaining they need to know all this going in, be there at RD and do not leave, just do counter service meals, and to focus on what they REALLY want to do. Anything above that will just be a bonus.

Any other suggestions I should share with them?

 

[Ensusieasm]

Here is a suggestion...... Wait till the last week in January.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think you've said all that you really can say if they are set on these dates. to them!

 

[biochemgirl]

Encourage or even gift some great heat helpful products! Frogg Togg Chilly pads and an external battery pack to power not only a USB mini-fan, but also the cell phones that are sure to die spending all day in the parks.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

Here is a suggestion...... Wait till the last week in January.

Or at least till the week after Labor Day!

 

[Hikergirl]

Tell them about The Dis!

 

[kniquy]

Seriously encourage them to reconsider their dates, due to the heat, crowds and it being a major holiday. 3 strikes right there. When only going there for 2 days it will be a bit disappointing to not see everything.

Yes tell them about this board! If it is just the two adults and really doesn't sound like there are kids -- why don't they try to go in May when the crowds are a little less demanding. That just makes it to be a very disappointing trip. I'm sure to get ADR at this late in the game will be difficult especially for 7/4.

My first trip was arriving NYE -- but i am a super planner when it comes to vacations so despite planning a little over 2 months ahead, we had a great time, but it too a TON of planning and researching.

 

[IrishNYC]

Unless she's asking for your advice, I wouldn't say a word.

 

[Amelia :)]

Unless she's asking for your advice, I wouldn't say a word.

There does seem to be a lot of threads like this, "I'm worried about my friend/families trip" or "what should I tell my friend". Maybe I'm just horrible, but I really wouldn't lose sleep over somebody else's poor planning. Point them in the right direction by all means, but in my experience, people will ask your advice and ignore you anyway!

 

[Vijoge]

I can't see myself worrying about someone else's vacation.

 

[BrownHP800]

For what it's worth, I was there last July 4th and it was not bad at all. Hot yes, but crowds were doable at least until evening when people really started flocking in there for fireworks. We were at AK that weekend too and was talking with a bar tender at the Dawa bar and he said about how low the crowds were. I am thinking we just got lucky and this year it will be crazy again.

Like you said, get there early and knock out what you can.

 

[disnut8]

Unless she's asking for your advice, I wouldn't say a word.

I agree. I would make positive comments about her plans and maybe say something like, "wow, July 4th at Magic Kingdom can be a bear but go and have fun!"

My only other opinion is that she might be, um, disappointed with Universal on her last day - I know I was and so were my husband and son as they said Disney (they were not fans at the time) had something extra that Universal didn't have. But, that's personal opinion.

 

[IrishNYC]

There does seem to be a lot of threads like this, "I'm worried about my friend/families trip" or "what should I tell my friend". Maybe I'm just horrible, but I really wouldn't lose sleep over somebody else's poor planning. Point them in the right direction by all means, but in my experience, people will ask your advice and ignore you anyway!

If you're horrible, I'm horrible. Come sit by me!

But honestly, if I'm planning a vacation, whether it's to Disney, or Europe, or anywhere else, unless I'm asking for advice, I don't want anyone's advice, and I'm just going to roll my eyes and not pay them any mind.

 

[Regan117]

For what it's worth, I was there last July 4th and it was not bad at all. Hot yes, but crowds were doable at least until evening when people really started flocking in there for fireworks. We were at AK that weekend too and was talking with a bar tender at the Dawa bar and he said about how low the crowds were. I am thinking we just got lucky and this year it will be crazy again.

Like you said, get there early and knock out what you can.

The parks weren't very crowded on the 4th last year. Just for the fireworks...

 

[No.1000]

With Pandora open, I imagine AK will be packed with everything else going on.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I'm well known in our offices to be the Disney guy, so she was in my office this morning and was sharing their plans and seeking some advice, so I shared some ideas with her. I'm not "planning" their trip, and they know their schedule as to availability to seriously consider change dates. As we have not gone during that period, I was just asking other Diser's for some advice that I may have missed that might help them.

 

[KimBean]

There does seem to be a lot of threads like this, "I'm worried about my friend/families trip" or "what should I tell my friend". Maybe I'm just horrible, but I really wouldn't lose sleep over somebody else's poor planning. Point them in the right direction by all means, but in my experience, people will ask your advice and ignore you anyway!

You are so right. We all have good intentions but really for the most part just wasted breath. Unless someone came to me and was pleading please help me I know I am in over my head, I would just smile and say have a great time. Just tried to help too many people and it never pays off. They don't listen, do it wrong, and then if something happens in their trip wrong it was because of what you told them.

 

[Lothlórien]

If you must really say something, I would tell them for all the drive time and the crowd levels to seriously reconsider the dates.

If it were me, unless somebody asks my opinion, I do not offer any advice. Most people do not care and want to do things their way. I might offer best parks for them, but that is where I draw the line at sticking my nose in.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm not seeing what's so wrong with their plan? I would have loved to have had a three day Disney trip with my fiancé when we were young, especially on a fun holiday like July 4th with special park stuff going on.

Everyone does Disney their own way and we all had our first time once. It's all part of the circle of life with Disney guests. Give them some of the basics but let them go and figure it out. If they hate it, they hate it. They might just have a great time.

 

[Micca]

This will be her fiancé's first trip and her first in a long time.

So the fiance is going to come away with impressions of ginormous crowding and the hottest heat imaginable. Good luck on getting him interested in returning, but maybe that's not a big deal.

If they ask for help I think you just tell 'em be prepared to deal with long lines and the heat. Beyond that just hope they have a good time.