Need to vent

[shoppie]

Sorry but I need to vent to people who understand the value of planning.:

I have spent the last 7 months researching, reading, asking for advise from fellow DISers. We had our first group meeting (DH, brother, Best friend & her Husband). Everytime I tried to explain what I found, I was interrupted with:

Does Disney has a nudist beach or is there one nearby? (not that any of them have the you know whats to go to one)

Is there a strip club in DD?

What happen if it rains the whole time? (you can't be serious - maybe showers here or there but the entire vacation??)

We are stopping to grocery shop? (stop yes - major shop no- it's vacation people!!!!)

I was so frustrated and upset. It seemed the more upset I got, the more they goofed. The only person to say thanks for the research was my friend - my husband has since thanked me.

Maybe I'm just a baby - but thank you would have been nice.

sorry to vent... Thanks for listening (reading)

 

[ValerieK]

I have a friend who is going and she wants me to help plan her trip. Well, I have emailed her several web sites and book suggestions and she hasn't looked at any of them. She says it is too much info and she wants me to take care of everything. She will ask me the same question over and over again. She is from So. CA and keeps relating everything to Disneyland. I keep telling her that WDW is sooo much bigger than DL and, well I am getting frustrated even writing about.

I can feel your pain!

 

[Sarahsmom85]

I keep getting the same here. I just asked DH if he wanted me to get Vouchers for lunch at Rainforest if he got a steak meal that is the way to go. He says how will I know who hungery I will be 60 days from now at 3 o'clock.
I kept trying to get my family involved in what I found and they are like "we'll do what ever you plan". They are just happy they are going. I tryed to included them in what days to do which park, but they don't care what park we do when. So I will do the planning and they will do what I want and will think its all great because they will not know the difference. LOL

 

[HaleyB]

I don't mind that nobody takes an intrest like I do in making plans around my house. Too many cooks spoil the soup.
When you get there and they start to comprehend how much there is to figure out they will fall right in line and do whatever you tell them to. If not ditch them!

 

[kilee]

DH used to give me a hard time about PS's too. I have learned to just make them-- he appreciates it that day after he's already had his fill of counter service for the week!!

Also, this past fall we took a trip w/ my family (12 people all together). On the trip 9 of them were newbies (that was everyone but me, DH and DS). Anyhow, they weren't interested in the planning phase at all. I just kept planning. Then every 4-6 weeks I'd send out "Disney Newsletters" . They outlined our daily plans plus any changes. I also sent everyone an estimated cost sheet for the essentials (room, airfare, tickets, meals). They were provided w/ the best options, but were free to go their own route. They all took my advice. Other than the PS's. I didn't specifically book or buy anything for anyone. This made them all partly responsible for their own trips too!!

In the end, there were only minor roadbumps. Everyone say's it was one of the best vacations they've had!!! They all thanked me in the end for all the planning, and they're hoping to do it again in a few years!!!

A strip club in DD-- that made me laugh though!!

 

[dts718]

Honestly you should consider yourself lucky. We are going next month. Myself DW DD15 DS3 DD1.8 and 7 various in-laws all of whom have varying opinions on what to do,where to stay,where and when to make PS on what days etc.... It has been a nightmare for 3 months. Im sure they were messing with you and will appreciate all your effort when the time comes.

 

[dts718]

when we went in june of 2000 it rained for 6 straight days. Sorry

 

[mudnuri]

LOL in my family, they find out what they're doing when I tell em where doing it!

I actually have told DH and the DD's about the PS's and character meals etc... and they know where we're staying...but thats bout it

DD's have read brinbaums for kids by kids, and know what they want to do...

DH has no desire to plan...when he went to Amsterdam with his brothers, I planned his trip, itinerary etc.. they were glad to have it, but didnt want to plan it...they just did what I told them to do, and I was here!

Brandy

 

[Bete]

I am a planner. I think the best idea is to have info whether from books, video or internet available. If you are experienced with Disney World then take the lead. Get everyone a packet of info. After a little while of digesting all the info, send out polls on possible activities and tally everyone's vote. If there seems to be total disagreement then there can be times you go your separate way. At some point after gathering everyone's likes and dislikes, you create an itinerary. Release this plan to all and let it fly. If it needs to be tweaked a bit then do so.

I like taking the lead because usually it means I will get to do most of what I like to do.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

And all the reasons you mentioned are reasons why I only go with DH. He's so easy and just goes with the flow. So long as I have one sit down meal planned a day, then he's fine with whatever else goes on around that.

 

[Belle1962]

Next time be prepared:

Does Disney has a nudist beach or is there one nearby? (not that any of them have the you know whats to go to one) yes--all the water parks require that you be no more than 20% clothed.

Is there a strip club in DD? yes--but only for ages under 21. Since Disney is geared to families they decided that no alcohol be served hence, it is the only under 21 club on the property. They strictly enforce the age limit to ensure that grownups don't interefer with the kids fun.

What happen if it rains the whole time? (you can't be serious - maybe showers here or there but the entire vacation??) Disney will gladly refund our money and we can try to visit later in the year. OR they will bus us over to Fort Canaveral and put us on the Disney cruise.

We are stopping to grocery shop? (stop yes - major shop no- it's vacation people!!!!) yes--one of the services provided at our lodging is butler, cook and maid service. Since the cook does not know our personal preferences we will shop but she will prepare it.

 

[shoppie]

Belle1962:

Love the comebacks!!!

I'm tempted to go by myself. Everyone has opinions but no one wants to do any work. urgh!!!!

Thanks guys, I knew you'd help me through this!!!

If they don't like it - plan it yourself!!!!

 

[WDSearcher]

The next time you get together, tell them that you've done a bit of research regarding the specific questions they asked, and then pass them along a sheet of paper with the info on Playalinda Beach (one of the 'clothing optional' beaches near WDW) and a list of the strip clubs along Orange Blossom Trail. Just hand them over as though you were seriously trying to help them based on their questions. Apologize that there aren't any strip clubs or nude beaches on Disney property itself, but suggest where in your schedule they could take an afternoon or evening off to pursue these interests.

When they ask about the weather, tell them that if it rains the whole time, everyone will likely get wet while visiting the parks. However, there are revolutionary new things called 'umbrellas' and 'raincoats' that will actually KEEP YOU DRY IN THE RAIN! (I'm sure they won't believe it, so have some photos available to prove it.) As for the grocery shopping, remind them that even in a magical place like WDW people have to eat, but that if they would like to purchase all of their meals and snacks on property, they can certainly do that, but should probably bring an extra couple of hundred bucks a person to cover the cost.

I've found that the best way to deal with smarty-pants types is to treat them as if the questions they have asked are totally serious and that you're simply trying to help them with answers. Or, in Harry Potter-ese, treating them as Muggles in a Wizard's world.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Keep on planning yourself. I really find the planning part alot of fun. If they don't want to participate seriously in the planning, then you get to do it all your way!!

When you get the WDW and you know so much more than them just say "I'm DISNEY SMARTER than you are. HA- HA - HA HA-HA HA!!!" That will fix them!!!

Don't let them ruin your vacation. They really will be apprecitative of all your hard work whether they actually say Thank You or not!! All of us plan-aholics appreciate you and love you!!!

 

[JudithM]

Some guests go to WDW & have no idea the size of the property, how much there is to see & do, etc. If you are a planner, then do your planning. If you can answer thier questions, great. If not, then I wouldn't seat it.

One trip we were a party of 13 on Christmas Day. Two months before I was trying to get people to give me some idea of where they would like to eat dinner on Christmas Day. I know I usually don't have a clue where I want to eat on any given day while at WDW, but this was a holiday. I finally got them to make a decision, & I made the reservation.

Last year my sister & niece decied to join us at the last minute. They have been to WDW many times. My sister& I talked about what we thought would be a good plan. Well, once we were all at WDW, our itinerary changed once we looked at the park schedules, once we woke up the first morning. etc.

So, yes it does help to plan ahaed, but try not to be etched in stone.

 

[cjshamrock]

My husband is basically the kind of guy who lets me plan most of the trip to DW as long as he gets to eat at "a steak place" and Sci-Fi diner. He enjoys letting me be the planner although I do ask his opinion when I make PS.
However, he did say "wouldn't it be fun to go with one of your brothers/wives of some friends". And, now I know why I am not sure about the idea. It would be difficult to get us all to agree.
His daughter and fiance will be at a timeshare they own in December when we are there, and I am fretting on when/where we can eat together one night because you never know what someone else will want to do (they live in CA and we are in PA)
I like to plan, others don't so I do it!!

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

I am going in June with 6 15 & 16 yr old Girl Scouts and 4 mom chaperones. One mom is a planner like me, one jsut goes with the flow, and one thinks she can jsut sit and smoke on a bench and "let the kids ride the rides..I'm not into thrill rides". Now, this mom has been there before, to MK, and says there is only a few rides anyway. I asked her how she like POC, IASW, and found that they only went on rides you could "see". If they were inside a building, they missed them. And later, she wants to walk over to MGM or walk past a water park to seee if she would like to go in for a few minutes. The vastness of this place escapes her. Drives me crazy. She is on the internet playing games daily, so I gave her a list of places to check out, like Dis, etc. Naw. Just an amusement park, what's the point? UG!

So I end up feeling like her daughter's (two fo them) good time is resting on me, becasue apparently she is going to be left behind in the dust.

This is truely a trip of a lifetime, with 2 girls who have never been out of the state before and 3 of the 6 have neverflown before. I want them to see, and experience it all, weel, as much as we can in 5 days, but how do you get this across to the stick-in-the-muds? So, I armed the girls with web sites, books, planning videos, and thanksfuly they are old enough to take charge of alot of this themselves.

 

[WDSearcher]

Can't you make the whole planning process part of a "Build Your Own Badge" thing? That would perhaps get the moms involved.

 

[DisneyShack]

I actually plan the trip and DW "reviews and approves the plan". I always sneak some surprises in though. I really like to plan - its a challenge! My DW appreciates it and always has fun plus she provides input when asked.

 

[mommystieg]

We are taking DH's extended family this June so I feel your pain. This will be our third trip and everybody else's first time. I finally had a Disney trip planning dinner party after Christmas to try and help them grasp what was going on. My MIL and FIL still didn't get it so one of my SILs and I sat down and scheduled all their meals and park days.
What really frustrated me was when my MIL told my BIL's GF to "just ask Katerine"(my SIL who has NEVER been to WDW)for help with her planning. Hello which person in this family has been to WDW twice and spends hours and hours researching, reading and planning our trips????? This is the same MIL who said "I don't want to go if it is just a bunch of rides."