Planning for the less than enthusiastic

[SnowWhite33]

I'm currently in the midst of planning what I want to be an "all magical first trip in over 20 years" adventure for my Mom. But it's becoming less and less fun as I go on. We will be there from 11/15-11/25 staying at the WL. It's so hard to explain the magic to someone who hasn't been there and done that. At first she was excited or so it seemed. Now she's worried about being away from home that long and some of the early mornings that I have planned. She currently works a 2nd shift job and is afraid it will be very hard for her to make the transition. She's also saying that she can't ride anything even though I've explained countless times that the majority of rides are not thrill rides. Should I just make the plans and hope that she has a change of heart once she's in the middle of it all?

I do realize that 10 days is a long trip, but we planned it long so that we wouldn't feel so rushed.

What do you think?

 

[sters]

By all means, continue planning! But, maybe only a couple of early mornings since that's what's stressing her. How about a spa treatment or something really relaxing? Some nice dinners.. view the fireworks from afar, not in the crush of the crowds. I'm hearing that the Contemporary resort offers some fine views with the music piped in, and also along some of the walkways near the Grand Floridian, or at least that's what I've read on the boards. Don't let it ruin your magic, just take care of the details so it's no hassle for your mom. Once she's there, I'm sure she'll have a great time and not want to come home.

 

[MJwritestuff]

We must be sisters!
Seriously, you are a good daughter. I have a mother like that, and we just came back from a week at the shore. Suffice to say that although I love her dearly, the Jersey shore was a bit small for such different personalities and I kept telling my husband "My real vacation is in November in Disney World"!

To make it easier on her and you, why don't you plan a few things separately, like the earlier poster suggested. A spa treatment might really relax her. Some people just have a difficult time leaving the pressures of the real world behind, but with all the money and planning, it's a shame if you don't.

Good luck, and remember that if you have kids, you're being a great example to them for doing this for your mom.

PS: If she's a shopper, you could always tempt her with the great shops, too.

 

[Elysiannn]

Wow - how great! These are my thoughts - since you're going for such a long time (boy, I wish I could go for 10 days!!!! Want to pack me?!) - once you get there take the time to relax and get into the "swim of things." That way she can get use to the Mouse magic at a more leisurely pace. I would plan something the first 3 days but not over plan. The first time I did WDW I was with my brother and his "commando" style of taking on amusement parks. I would of appreciated a more leisurely approach. In subsequent trips I make sure my first day is me getting on "Mickey-time" rather than my usual pace - it makes for a more enjoyable trip. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[SnowWhite33]

I'm feeling the life being breathed back into this now. Would you guys mind looking over the itenerary and letting me what you think? Oh and keep in mind we are on the Silver Plan-in case you are wondering why so many restaurants-I wanna get my wishes worth!

11/15-Our flight arrives early-9 am, which mean we will have been up since 4 am!! So the plan for this day is to check in, have breakfast at Chef Mickey's and then head back to the WL for swimming and napping once our room is ready. May do DTD if everyone feels rested, but if not we'll eat at Whispering Canyon.

11/16-AK, I think this will be Mom's favorite and HDD for dinner.

11/17- Whispering Cayon for breakfast and then to MGM w/Brown Derby Fantasmic dinner package.

11/18-MK-Crytal Palace for breakfast and LTT for dinner-Spectro is on the schedule.

11/19 Epcot for EMH, Garden Grill for lunch and then back to room for rest/swim. LeCellier for dinner at 7 and Illuminations.

11/20 Breakfast at Castle (Only day I could get it) and then free day. DH and son will most likely do TL and Mom and I will have a mother/daughter day ! Oh Cirque is tonight!

11/21 Late breakfast at Ohana's and on to MK for whatever we missed on the first round.

11/22 ???-What's left??? Maybe that mini-golf that comes with our Dreammaker Package!

11/23-MY BDAY!!! Will try to get to MK-my favorite! Ohana's for dinner and then DH and I have PI for tonight!

11/24-Back to Epcot for what we missed and maybe the Luau show tonight.

11/25-We have to check out at 11, but our flight is not until 9:30 pm-so we'll probably hit DTD, play on the water boats and we will have dinner at Whispering Canyon before we head home.

OK, hit me with what you would change-I REALLY need the suggestions!!!

 

[deadheadbelle]

I think this schedule looks great!! We spent our first evening at DTD on our last vacation & my mom loved it!! It looks like you have a fairly flexible schedule which I'm sure your mom will appreciate. My mom likes to spend a lot of time by the pool, so you might want to tell her if she doesn't feel like hitting the parks everytime you do, she can stay & relax by the pool. Maybe if she doesn't feel like she has to do everything you have scheduled, she'll relax a little more. Anyway, it looks like you have a lot of nice dinners planned (my mom loves the dining the best!) and I'm sure she (and you) will have a great trip!!

Have Fun!!

 

[Jcricket Fan]

Been there, done that and doing it again Jan.04!

My mom had never been to Disney in her 60yrs. on this planet so she and I decided to go just us girls and leave the husbands at home. (we were celebrating mom's 5yr. cancer survivor anniversary)
I have been a rabid planner since birth and having been to WDW several times previous I was guiding the planning. Mom had some concerns with the walking we would do (she had polio as a child), heat, what rides she could stomach and how she would stay up past 9:00pm (somehting she doesn't usually do at home)

I found it helpful to print out information or give her websites (like the DIS!) to look at so she could choose things to do & see & eat. She would go over the info. and then I would offer my thoughts on her ideas. This system worked great for us and she was tossing around "code words" like the best of them

We also went for 10 days and stayed at the GF so we could get to the MK with ease as she decided that was the park she would probably like the most. I scheduled a surprise Illuminations cruise
sharing with some other people from the DIS...It was a great and I cried through most of it getting to share this with my mom. We also had tea at the GF (which I cried during...always happy tears...I cry a lot at Disney) which was great and relaxing. Without the family we were alble to move at a slower pace and even though we had a schedule worked out we just changed it as needed to accomodate her health issues.

Mom was hooked and we take our next 10 day trip this Jan. to the BCV's. Mom picked this out from looking at the web sites and is very excited to try some new things as well as some of her favorites from the first trip.

Do have a wonderful trip! I wouldn't trade my experience to go with my mom for all the money in the world.

Colleen

 

[Strings]

It looks great. My only suggestion is, the EMH at Epcot on the 19th. If she's stressing about early mornings, Emh at Epcot isn't necessary. You've planned plenty of time at epcot. Have a great time.

 

[lonegungirl]

I wouldn't worry about her waning enthusiasm. My DM always starts saying she doesn't want to go about a week before we go anywhere. It used to bug me, but now I just realize that it is her manifestation of travelling anxiety and ignore it, safe in the knowledge that she will have a good time once there, or at least enjoy it in retrospect.

Then I tend to get many iced blended mochas, but that's probably my manifestation of frustration at dealing with her manifestations...

 

[Selket]

I also question the EMH morning at EPCOT. Seems like EMH is best spent at any of the other parks. Is this going to be your only time taking advantage of EMH? I don't know how old your child is but EMH at AK or MK gives them a chance to get on those rides that have long waits later in the day.

Perhaps letting you mom go at her own pace - I suppose she doesn't have to go with you on every visit to the parks - might ease her mind too. She might prefer relaxing at the pool or doing something else while you, DH and son are riding stuff at the parks. The parks have a lot of shows (my mom also didn't do rides...but liked all the shows). Perhaps she can take in some of the shows if you have rides you want to do. And use the fastpass!!! If I hadn't gotten FP's for Mission Space and Test Track I wouldn't have been able to ride them. I got those as soon as we got in the park and it worked out great for me. Have a great trip!

 

[puffkin]

I think your itinerary sounds good. I am taking my mom for her first trip ever in December, and right now she is being less than enthusiastic. The only thing I would suggest is that on the day you have alone time with your mom (when the boys go to TL) I would try to do either the afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian or go get a spa treatment together. It will be relaxing and a nice way to spend the day with your mom!

 

[c4241]

Wow....I'm the "Mother" here....however I have no delightful daughters like those who have posted above.....How sad for these moms.....I'd give anything to share Disney with grown daughters. So therefore....grandpa and myself love doing Disney by ourselves. And we do "DO" Disney. In fact I think we sometimes do more Disney then some of the young ones. Thanks girls though for making this mom very happy to know there are so many wonderful daughters. I'll adopt you anytime.<p>

<MARQUEE><font size=+2 color=red <marquee> ºoº...We are going to DisneyWorld...ºoº</MARQUEE>

 

[donna in Oz]

My MIL is totally blind, and is 72. On top of that, she had just had a hip replacement and needed to use a wheelchair. We really had reservations about whether or not she would be able to enjoy her first trip to WDW with us, but went ahead with our plans anyway.

Well, she was addicted from Day One!! She can't ride the "thrill" type rides either, since her blindness creates a problem with equilibrium. But she does everything else, and just simply loves the atmosphere.

To make a long story short, she's making her 3rd trip with us in just 37 days !! I'm sharing this story just to let your Mom know that if my MIL can enjoy it without being able to see a thing, then she's in for a real treat!!

 

[goofyernmost]

You gave no indication of your Mom's age in the thread. My mother just returned from a trip with my sister. She is 84 and started to have "pre-trip" jitters about a month before. Her concern was that she couldn't move as fast as the rest and would be a burden to my sister.

Looking at your planned schedule, I was getting a little tired myself and I'm just 55. Maybe the thought of that much activity crammed in such a small time frame is a concern. My thought is just to reassure her that the schedule is flexable and make it clear that if she feels tired or "Mickey'd out" she doesn't always have to participate if she doesn't feel like it and that won't be a problem for you.

Because I am currently planning a WDW trip with someone that has never been, the thought occured to me that your desire for her to "absolutely love" the place as much as you do, might also be a worry for her. She might be afraid of letting you down, if she doesn't feel the same about it as you. The chances are good that she will once you get there but since she really cannot imagine the park without having been there, she, in all probability, doesn't understand what the big deal is.

It will all become OK once you get there but do try to sincerely be flexible and not show to much disappointment if she doesn't like things in the same degree as you do. It will be just fine and by the second trip she will see it in a new brighter light.