So your friends say they're planning a DLR trip...

[hurleysweety]

How do you respond?

So many times I've had friends, including my parents, tell me about how they are planning a trip to DLR. They get really excited about things that I take for granted...like how they read about "this really cool thing called Fastpass that will allow you to 'skip' ahead other people in line..." Or they think they got a really good rate at a hotel room or that they will be there during a less busy time of year. Its so hard for me just to be excited for them and not to "DIS" them with a bunch of disney dorkiness that I have come to know...like holding my tongue back to suggest a touring plan!!! I try my best to just be happy for them...

So am I the only one? Do you guys help your friends and try to help them with tips and tricks , or do you just sit back and listen when they rave about "tips and tricks" we probably take for granted?

 

[Sleepless Knight]

What I try to do is offer tips and tricks that they haven't mentioned and tell them something new. Most of my family is going in December, so I'm getting some questions from my brother about assorted things since I work with him and he knows when I go down.

What I try to do is let them decide what they want to do and then offer advice about when to do it. For instance, my brother and I were talking about our upcoming December visit and I recommended that we do Fantasyland first thing in the morning before going off to Pirates Lair. My 3 year old nephew will love a lot of things there, so I'm trying to minimize our waiting in line time by thinking through our plan of attack.

 

[Disney Dreams]

"oh you are going to have so much fun! Fastpasses are cool! Here's another fun little DL tip. (insert any tip you like here)"

See how they reply. If they are appreciative, I offer more, if they clearly didn't want to hear it, I ask, "So, what else are you excited about for your visit?"

 

[bumbershoot]

None of my friends want to go to DLR!

 

[jlparedes]

So funny you posted this. Just last night, DH was on his laptop while I was reading a book. he kept interrupting me to tell me things about DL and/or our trip. I finally said "Look I've been planning and researching our trip for months. I already know aobut everything you are telling me (ie; child swap, fastpass, etc). So can you just let me read my book? Next time we plan a trip maybe you will get more involved sooner." LOL. He just laughed at me and kept reading online.

 

[Leash]

When my friends or family go to Disney they always call me and ask me to help them plan their trip!

 

[*BTMRR*]

I just refer them to the DIS!

 

[pixiewings71]

I refer them here too. LOL I also give little tips and everyone so far has been very grateful for them.

 

[Sherry E]

What is hard to do is bite my tongue if I hear someone's plan and it is not a good one - like if I know they are doing something in such a way that is going to have them stuck in long lines or not getting the most for their time and money. Some folks will actually come to me and tell me their plans in hopes I will tell them a few 'tips,' but others just want to talk about their plans, which they are happy with. I sometimes kind of listen and secretly think, "Okay, that is a terrible plan, and they should do it this way instead." Normally, my tips go over well - I recommended several rides and Goofy's Kitchen to a friend who had not been to DLR in ages, and those all were very popular. She was on a very limited schedule and had to just target some key things in her short time. She followed most of my instructions and did most of what I suggested. But a couple of things here and there she did not do, and ended up wasting more time than she had, and she later said, "I should have listened to your advice."

 

[shoppingmom]

We have had family members go to the complete opposite that when they hear our plans they ask "Why would you do a Character meal?" or "Why would you pay for Fantasmic seating?" This drives me absolutely battey it is our vacation and if we want to spend money on those things then we will, if we want to stay on site that is our business. When I hear of someone going to Disneyland/World, I get excited for them and I reccomend this website and tell them if they want more info just ask.

 

[fairycat]

Everyone knows that I am one of the Disney experts in our group, but I rarely get asked for information. That is mostly because we are locals and most everyone grew up with Disney (except one friend who is from Chicago and still mad from when I told her about Grad Night hahah!). But occassionally I get to lead them around or give advice, especially with DCA which many people I know have not visited.

 

[trodrigue]

Oh, I just ask them when they are going, and then I research and plan the perfect trip for them and send it off. They can take it or leave it. Of course, I always ask for details when they get back and am catty and unkind if they have not followed my excellent advise.

 

[disneycrazzzy]

I have a friend I walked with a few times a week who decided to take her twins (aged 8 at the time) to DL for a week. We spent three or four of our walking sessions discussing everything I knew about touring DL. I let her borrow all my books (unofficial guide especially). She planned everything with the info I gave her and they had a wonderful time. I thought it was funny since they only used fast passes a couple of times over the course of the week since everything was a walk on the whole time...they went Monday-Friday in February or something like that...

She thanked me over and over again because she knew some of my pointers made their trip great:

1) get to the park when it opens
2) stay across the street
3) bring breakfast food
4) pin trade with CMs
5) take a break each day
6) get PSs
7) water is free at all places that serve fountain soda

 

[izzydrake]

can certainly plan my trip for me. It is really stressing me out and hubby is NO help!!!! Somebody please tell me what to do. I need all the guidance I can get. There is so much info I am on information overload right now. I am trying to decide if we should stay farther away and then pay to park or get a hotel closer. We are leaning more toward driving instead of walking into the park. So how far away is to far? The greater the distance the cheaper the stay? Anybody know of NICE places that have free meals?

 

[hurleysweety]

Its been great reading through this everyone! Thanks for your opinions and suggestions.

I will keep them in mind for an older friend of mine who has just learned her husband will be taking her to WDW (where he proposed!) for their 20th Wedding Anniversary, without the kids! She is so excited and immediately came to me, so I will be helping her.

Other friends however, could care less about my advice. Its great to know I'm not the only one in this predicament.

 

[Leofoenget]

How do you respond?

So many times I've had friends, including my parents, tell me about how they are planning a trip to DLR. They get really excited about things that I take for granted...like how they read about "this really cool thing called Fastpass that will allow you to 'skip' ahead other people in line..." Or they think they got a really good rate at a hotel room or that they will be there during a less busy time of year. Its so hard for me just to be excited for them and not to "DIS" them with a bunch of disney dorkiness that I have come to know...like holding my tongue back to suggest a touring plan!!! I try my best to just be happy for them...

So am I the only one? Do you guys help your friends and try to help them with tips and tricks , or do you just sit back and listen when they rave about "tips and tricks" we probably take for granted?

Most of the time the tips and hints I offer go over well. What's annoying is, when someone says they are going at a PEAK time, say Christmas DAY, and you say be careful it's going to be packed and could reach peak and they may not let you in blah blah blah. They say back to you, I'll be fine and totally ignore you. THis happened to me yesterday. She said "oh I went few years ago on Christmas and there were hardly any rides open. The amount of rides open I could count on my hand I'll be fine" Still not sure what that was about. I asked her if she went in EE she said no. People cut you off like you don't know squat. My response usually is, fine learn the hard way don't say I didnt warn ya.

 

[fairykin]

How funny. Before we went on our trip in oct. i sent my notes to a friend of ours who is going to disney in january for the first time.

 

[Sherry E]

Most of the time the tips and hints I offer go over well. What's annoying is, when someone says they are going at a PEAK time, say Christmas DAY, and you say be careful it's going to be packed and could reach peak and they may not let you in blah blah blah. They say back to you, I'll be fine and totally ignore you. THis happened to me yesterday. She said "oh I went few years ago on Christmas and there were hardly any rides open. The amount of rides open I could count on my hand I'll be fine" Still not sure what that was about. I asked her if she went in EE she said no. People cut you off like you don't know squat. My response usually is, fine learn the hard way don't say I didnt warn ya.

I wonder if she happened to go to DLR on a day when it was pouring rain? That is the only circumstance in which I could imagine many rides being closed, and even then, they usually are not closed. But I recall that on Christmas Day, 2004, it POURED and POURED heavy, heavy rain. Our ceiling had the spots and leaks to prove it. It was bad. If your friend went then, maybe I could see some rides being closed. Otherwise, isn't Christmas Day pretty much business as usual at DLR? They don't close down like every other place does.

 

[hurleysweety]

Oh yes...the after trip report from the friend is usually the hardest to listen to for me. They rant about all these things I had either mentioned or tried to and talk about how things were "too busy" and "so costly." Oh how I ever went without the DIS and all its helpful information, I'll never know...

 

[renderman7]

i always tell people about disneyland.. even if they are not going.. but i am glad to say it has caused some people to book trips..

i cant help telling people about the place and love talking about the place with people who have been.