So one of my "best" girlfriends just got back...

[Ariel Wanna-be]

...and I am so frustrated with her.

When she first decided to take a trip to DW, she ASKED me for advice because she knew that I had done alot of research for my family's previous trips. This was her family's first trip, and she wanted advice on having a great time, saving money, and avoiding the crowds.

I showed her my coveted Disney Binder (no, it's not a 6"). I am organized to a fault, so everything is very neat, very easy to read, and very organized. I have an outline that I've typed on my computer with almost every bit of information about Disney World / Disney Cruise that I have found helpful. This binder is the result of countless hours of research on the internet (sometimes my insomnia can be a blessing), all neatly put together to make things easy to find. I even have a set of notecards that I bring in the parks, with info on park secrets, where to sit for rides/shows, etc. Thanks to all the information that I've collected, our trips to DW have been close to perfect...we know secrets, we know how to avoid crowds, we know what rooms to request at resorts...since y'all are all DISers, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Anyway, she is not a planner, more of a free spirit, and I knew she wouldn't be interested in all the details, but I showed her the binder anyway. She laughed and said "No WAY am I going to read all THAT!" I told her, I know you don't want this much info, but it would really help to just flip through it to learn some of the basics, such as fastpass, early entry, etc. No, she didn't want to. No problem, I know not everyone is DisCrazy, and planning is not for everyone. We just laughed about how different our personalities are, and that was that.

So after she gets back, we go to lunch and she proceeds to tell me how she and her family had every bit of as good a time as my family does, and she didn't do one minute of planning. She is laughingly telling me how much time I've wasted, and how the whole "you need to plan" thing is SO overblown.

So I'm thinking, "Wow! Have I really wasted all that time?!"

And then this is basically how our conversation went:

Me: Wasn't Fantasmic wonderful?

Her: Didn't see it, we got there ten minutes before it started, all the seats were taken.

Me: Did your DD enjoy It's a Small World?

Her: We didn't ride anything in that part of Disney World...all the lines were 2 hours long and we weren't paying extra for those Fastpass things.

Me: Oh, well did y'all do any character breakfasts?

Her: Any what?

Me: Well, did you have dinner in the castle?

Her: You can't eat in the castle.

Me: Did y'all see A Bug's Life? Wasn't the Tree of Life beautiful?

Her: We were NOT climbing all those stairs.

This went on and on and on. She complained about the lines. She complained about her noisy room at the resort. She complained about not being able to walk to any park from Carribean Beach. They didn't go to Epcot because "you know, it's just a big educational thing." But the last thing she said was "But, overall, we had a great time...and I didn't need to put in all that time that you did!"

She did bring me a Stormtrooper pin, though, so I guess I can't be too mad at her.

 

[TrickyFish]

Oy! Well, to each their own, I suppose. She and her family definitely missed a lot of fun adventures, it seems. I don't understand why people under estimate Epcot so much. I love World Showcase!

Just be smart and know that you get both the most fun and experiences for your time planning! If I were your friend and realized how much I'd missed out, I would be so mad!! (And then have to go back, oh darn!! lol)

 

[robinb]

Well ... IMO you are over-organized . It probably scared the heck out of her. If her family goes back maybe you can start out a little slower with her.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have the same type of friend. Well, it's her dh, not her. When we went together all he did was call me the DisneyNazi!!! He just couldn't get into all that 'preplanning'. Even his wife, my friend, was a little hesitant. But, while we were there, she kept telling me that "Oh, we missed that last time. Oh, who knew you could do this. Hey, this is a great place to eat..what fun." She did thank me profusely. But, dh still didn't get it. He hated having to get going in the morning. He wanted to eat 3 squares a day or sit by the pool and drink beer. So, I feel your pain. We are now planning a ladies only trip for my friend and our dd's who will turn 13 at the same time. I will do all the planning per her request!!!!

I have to say that the preplanning is half the fun. I'm on these boards all the time, just catching up on what's going on in WDW.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

That's too funny!

My first trip years ago with the kids wasn't well planned. I had no clue and although I did have a good time (hey, it's vacation and Disney). My well-planned trips are so much better.

Good for you!

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Well ... IMO you are over-organized . It probably scared the heck out of her. If her family goes back maybe you can start out a little slower with her.

I guess I'd think you were under-organized, lol.

She asked to see my stuff, and then realized that it wasn't for her. As I said, no problem. I didn't expect her to look at it all, she's much more of a "winging it" type. I'm not mad because she didn't take my advice.

I'm aggravated that she went on and on laughing about how much time I'd wasted, and how planning was not needed. Clearly, if I spent 50% less money, and did 90% more stuff, my planning wasn't wasted.

And hell will freeze over before before I help her again! No matter how much she gets on her knees and begs!

 

[Worfthedog]

I wouldn't let it bother you Ariel Wanna-be. I'm very much like you with my planning I have the books, binders and laminates everywhere, but luckily most other people are not like us!

We get to do everything, see all the magic hidden from many people, we get the best seats in Fantasmic!, we get the best parade spots, we ride all the rides-repeatedly!

We also bore people rigid, we get laughed at by 'normal' people, we sometimes forget we are meant to be on holiday and not bootcamp!, we worry about every second of time and on and on...

Different people, different things. I have been in both camps, my first two trips were not planned (I did read a guide book or two) but they were free and easy. We did what we wanted when we wanted without a stopwatch.

Now things are more organised but I realise I was one of those 'Disney Nazis' on my following trips, but on this trip I will try to rationalise things a little better and worry a little less too. There are extremes both ways.

Paul.

 

[missypie]

Well, maybe she won't go back and the parks will be less crowded. I do, however, feel sorry for the children of those who underplan...it's not their fault that they can't ride Peter Pan or have a character meal.

 

[MAGGIED]

I hope you don't mind Ariel Wanna-be but I copiedyour post and and sent it off to the other people in my party... there are 10 of us going in April and I have planned everything... from airfare, to hotel, to CRT ressies, Illumination cruise, fishing excursion, and a spa day... and what do I get - remarks about being obsessed and overplanning..... hows that for appreciation..... atleast I will have a great time....

 

[HollyJoy]

Your post made me giggle! I'm sure that one CAN go to WDW w/out planning and having a good time, but why would you NOT want to do any research!? Just think of all the rides she missed because she didn't take the time to find out that Fastpasses are FREE!? lol .. Sad, really. I know a lot of people who avoid Epcot too, because they think there's nothing to do. They think their kids won't get anything out of it. I just love to tell them how much my girls LOVED Epcot! They liked it more than Animal Kingdom!

 

[mickeymom629]

You have to laugh at her comments! That is so funny! I'm sure you are frustrated, though, because I am the same way you are (not as neat, though) and I have a sister-in-law and a girlfriend who think like your friend. When I hear them speak about how they don't think that planning is necessary to have a good time in Disney World, I know they are probably not seeing all they could. And I know they think that my planning takes the fun out of a trip, but they don't realize that my planning and "obsessing" is half of my fun! We don't always follow my plans and keep all my p.s.'s, but I think it's good to have a plan, and I know my family enjoys it.

 

[bonkos6]

This is my first trip back to Disney in 20 years and I have never done as much research and preparation for a vacation as I have for our trip in April. I have learned so many wonderful tips, hints, facts, etc. I'm sure we would still have a nice time on our trip if I had not done all the research, but now I know we will have a much better time since I took the time for the planning. Plus I do think that it raises the excitement level for your trip as well.

 

[tracy51]

I think its great that she had a great time just winging it. And I think its absolutely adorable that she is so clueless on all that she missed out
Really though, to each their own. The main thing is she seems to have enjoyed her vacation. Although I'm with you, I'd be a bit annoyed at her smugness about your planning being a wasted.

I'm somewhere between you and your friend in planning - leaning more towards you though. It's been over 15 years since I've been to Disney and my BF & DD have never been. And this is going to be our first trip as a family. I would rather be a bit over planned and have more information than I need and decide it doesn't matter when we get there than to get there and realize there's more I should have done or learned. Besides, planning this has been half the fun

 

[roadtripper]

Half the people I work with think I'm insane for doing all the planning I do (well, probably more than half ) and the others ask me for advice. One guy is driving me crazy because DVC is so clearly made for him (goes every year, family of four, wants privacy for him and DW but stays in moderates), but what can you do? Another guy who is IN DVC didn't know you could rent points on this board, and almost lost two years' worth!

Planning for travel is my hobby-- I do it for the joy as well as the money savings. If others don't get it, oh well...I certainly don't obsess while there, but it's a lot easier to cancel a PS than to get one during vacation week!

 

[jckdisneybound]

Ariel-wanna-be - I'm like you almost anal to a fault. So I can see how that may frustrate you. Look at it this way, imagine the fun she would have happened if she did look through the binder :lol

 

[virginiamama]

The planning is as much a part of the fun as the actual trip is. We booked in September for our December cruise - sort of a spur-of-the-moment thing. I wished I had had more time to plan, research, shop, and basically obsess about the trip before we went. Well I've got plenty of time now!

 

[BamaTigger]

Well, I think that was really sweet of you to even offer her your binder that you put so much work into it, and if my best friend would of offered it to me, I would of taken it regardless if I wanted to read it or not just for the nice gesture!

Dont feel bad at all. Look at what all she missed out on!!! Her loss!

And dont let her negative attitude towards your planning and organization get you all down. Be organzized and neat all you want!

Planning and getting things in order is half the fun of a disney trip!! I leave in 5 weeks and am already packing and sorting clothes and making lists!!

She is lucky to have a friend like you!!

 

[worm761]

i feel your pain. i am not as bad as you. i look up info and read the boards religously but i dont plan my days. the closest i get is my priority seatings. LOL. but we have a good time and see/do everything that we want to.
my sister went with her ex. his parents are CM's at disney world and toured with them. they kept telling me that they didnt understand why i kept going back or why i went for so long. they went for 3 days. my trips are between 8 and 10 days. she told me that they saw everything. so i started asking questions. like how did you like? and she would say they didn't do that! or what is that! they missed over half the parks, didn't even go to all the parks. and believes that epcot can be done in half a day!!!! we no longer discuss disney. i am an addict and she is a "been there, done that" person. it just leads to my frustration. LOL

 

[Cinderella822]

I have the same type of friend. Well, it's her dh, not her. When we went together all he did was call me the DisneyNazi!!!

Funny, my friend's DH called me the "Trip Nazi" when we all went to WDW together! Are we all really that bad?!

As far as planning, I find the planning almost as much fun as the actual trip. I plan, replan, and then plan again. I drive my family nuts, but in the long run, its worth the effort. I get aggravated when I tell people I'm going to WDW and they start giving me advice such as "dont' forget to purchase your fastpasses". I just nod and say ok, thanks (I hate to show off too much of my Disney expertise!).

 

[sleepyone]

I think planning is fun but if the kids are more interested in a character than a ride, for example, we'll skip the ride. I LOVE PLANNING, THOUGH.

If it really bothers you, something you could have done (or may still do) was to show her pictures of you eating at the castle or doing other things that she said didn't exist/weren't possible. Just an idea.