Unfashionably Late

[UBSHANG]

Can anyone share their successful planning strategies or suggestions for meeting other group members at a certain time in the MK. Unexpected long lines, crowded restaurants and transportation delays can certainly prevent a punctual arrival. Our family tries to efficiently make the most use of our vacation time, but I regret that the other guests in our grand gathering party are rather leisurely and untimely.

 

[Robo]

Can anyone share their successful planning strategies or suggestions for meeting other group members at a certain time in the MK. Unexpected long lines, crowded restaurants and transportation delays can certainly prevent a punctual arrival. Our family tries to efficiently make the most use of our vacation time, but I regret that the other guests in our grand gathering party are rather leisurely and untimely.

Best "fool-proof" solution is Cell-phones. (You could even buy "disposables" for any members of the party who did not already own one.)

Otherwise, I set a meeting place (in MK, its the upper level "porch" of the Main Street Train Station) and set up a SERIES of meeting times.

Example:

I will be at the spot looking for you at 10:00am-10:15am.
If you are delayed, I will be there again at 11:15am-11:30am.
If you are delayed, I will be there again at 12:30pm-12:45pm.
If you are delayed, I will meet you at dinner (if you have ADR's) at "X" restaurant at "Y" pm.

This works especially well if folks are joining you who will be driving in (flat tires, highway bottlenecks, monorail delays from TTC, etc.) and it allows YOU (and guests who may have "just missed you") to still have an hour of "fun" in-between each 15 min. "window of waiting."

So you see how the cell-phone deal would work the easiest (leave a message, if you miss a call) but the multiple meeting times with spaces for "riding" between is a good alternative.

 

[themudd4]

I too would suggest cell phones or 2 way radios.

You could always tell the ones that tend to be late for everything...15 minutes earlier than what time you really need to be there.
Make sure you have ADR's and you might want to let everyone know that a few of the resturants will not seat you until at lest 3/4 of the group is there...some even say the entire party has to be there before they will seat you.
If that don't work...get a string and pull them along behind you!

 

[G8RFAN]

I agree with Robo, cell phones are key, but I would just say if you are not at X by a predetermined time + 15 minutes, I would then mandate that they call us and I'll tell them where they need to go to find us when they get to the park that way those who were on time can still enjoy the park without running back to a meeting spot.

 

[Leota]

I'm afraid my experience has been Cell phones/ 2 ways or lots of waiting. We love our cells. It allows us to split up, meet up & just generally have more freedom & efficiency. We got the Nationwide plan esp. for our travels.

 

[Robo]

I agree with Robo, cell phones are key, but I would just say if you are not at X by a predetermined time + 15 minutes, I would then mandate that they call us and I'll tell them where they need to go to find us when they get to the park that way those who were on time can still enjoy the park without running back to a meeting spot.

My "multiple meeting times" are used in the LACK of cell-phones with the parties in question. (Some folks will simply not "DO" the cell-phone thing.)

 

[G8RFAN]

My "multiple meeting times" are used in the LACK of cell-phones with the parties in question. (Some folks will simply not "DO" the cell-phone thing.)

Gottcha. I can't imagine how people can get by without one now. Hopefully those are the same people who carry calling cards. You can tell them to head to public phones in the park and call you. They might even convince a CM at guest relations to call for them "looking for a lost party member".

 

[Robo]

Hopefully those are the same people who carry calling cards. You can tell them to head to public phones in the park and call you. They might even convince a CM at guest relations to call for them "looking for a lost party member".

That's a very good idea.
The fly in the ointment there is that you can easily miss a cell-call on your end, so I'd tell the other folks (in advance) to just leave a message on your cell telling you where THEY WILL BE WAITING for YOU, when you do pick up the message.

(This "meet you at the park" bit may be one of the most complex of all Disney situations.)