UPDATE to How do you NOT laugh at your friend.

[babar41]

For those of you who asked how my friends trip went, I just found out last night. The conversations went something like this:

"So how was your vacation?"

"Fine."

"Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, but I'm never going to WDW again!"

"Why not?"

"It rained every day, I got soaked on every ride, and those d*** people from South America were horrible! They were loud, rude, and just ruined the trip for everyone. Then there was the guy from China that sat down at our table and refused to leave, just started eating his lunch. We had to move to another table because there wasn't room for all of us. The place was wall to wall people with people pushing in front of you. The heat was horrible. We did have a nice breakfast at Chef Mickey's and a great dinner at the Poly. But other than that, it was horrible."

Needless to say, this is not the trip I was hoping for her. I did tell her if she ever went in the winter months she would have an entirely different experiece. She and I are getting together for a BFW (best friends ((long)) weekend) the end of next month. I'll bring my spreadsheets and books and pictures taken of past trips in hopes of showing her what a little planning can accomplish.

 

[cdrn1]

I know what you mean. I had a friend go last year at Spring Break with her two teenagers, and they did absolutely no planning, slept in and got to the parks at noon every day, stayed off-site, and thought the whole thing was a big waste of $$. I am bound and determined to take her in, say, the first week of Dec and show her what a great time can be had!

 

[babar41]

I wish I could take her on a surprise trip, just so she could see how WDW can be! But unless I win the lottery I don't see that happening. Especially since there are 11 grandkids that would want to be taken first!

But I will try my best to show her the "error" of her ways!

 

[yankeepenny]

I was hoping you would post an update....
I dont know whether to laugh or cry, though.......
did they have any fun?

 

[I Love Pluto]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink! Not like Disney? Isn't that a sin or something?

 

[kaabost]

This thread has gotten my curiosity up. I wonder how many of us on the Dis who obviously LOVE WDW had their first trip during the offseason. I would bet that most of us went during the offseason on our first trip....allowing us to fall in love with the place and continue to have the desire to return. I have talked to so many people over the years who hate WDW and will never return because of the same cimcumstances that your friend experienced. Hmmmm. Maybe I'll start a poll to find out..........

 

[OKWMom]

I think people are more likely to walk away from Disney with a bad taste in their mouths if they have not adequately planned prior to the trip. You can have a good time even during the busy season if you know what to expect and know how to tour the parks. As my husband likes to say, “you either work this place, or it works you”. I wouldn’t love Disney either if all we managed to do all day was wait in long lines in the heat. I know everyone can’t be as obsessive about planning their trips as I am, but it never ceases to amaze me that people could spend all that money and not plan at all, especially when there are so many resources available.

I hope you are able to convert your friend during your trip together. It would be nice for her to then be able to take her family on an enjoyable trip to Disney.

 

[Fitswimmer]

“you either work this place, or it works you

truer words were never spoken. WDW will wear you out if you don't plan properly. I wonder how many of these visitors that don't plan for WDW do when they go on vacations to other locations. I always plan my days out on any vacation, but maybe these folks never do that.

Hey, if they never go back, that means the lines will be shorter for US!!!

 

[Donaldfan81]

I dont think that is totally true. I went for the first time with some friends Fourth of July week last year. We didnt do any planning really, except for adr's, and still were able to do all the big attractions and most of the others as well, without a problem and we didnt even spend the whole days at the parks. Nor did we get there for park opening once, except at epcot, all my friends did when we got to the parks was hand me the map and say u lead the way. I enjoyed it immensely and cant wait to go back in janurary to experience what its like when not a madhouse. Actually twice next year when not a madhouse because i am going in september nextyear as well

 

[klwdisney]

I do have to say that even though this place is "home" to us it really is not to other people. I know many people who have said the same thing. They had complaints or even if they had a great time but that was their one trip. Been there done that and that's it. But I have to say thankfully they're not all like us... or there would never be a slow week!! Let them go to the beaches or whatever they prefer to do and leave WDW emptier for the rest of us to enjoy!!

 

[antree]

I have a brother in law who did the same thing. They went in the mioddle of summer and hated it. The heat, crowds and rain plus they stayed off site. They gave in and went again still in the summer and stayed off site, he now refuses to ever go back. No wonder he should have listened the first time or even the second time.

 

[phyllis1966]

I have to agree with most of the previous statements, and add that everyone I know of that did not enjoy WDW did one or more of the following:

1. Went during the summer, Spring Break or Thanksgiving week
2. Stayed off-site
3. Slept in/got to the parks way after opening
4. Did no planning whatsoever

These are the people who can't understand why we love WDW so much and swear that they'll never go again. I also know people, let's just say extremely thrifty people, who've never been to WDW, but just know that it's a rip-off and only foolish folks waste their money there. To each his own, I guess, and shorter lines for the rest of us!

 

[ktbugsmom]

Funny... I just had to chime in because I have always told my friends what a great time Disney is and they laugh at me.

Well, 2 years ago, I asked another family to join us - knowing that the husband was cynical and Disney was the last place he really wanted to go. But, he agreed to go "for my son" he said and "for the golf". His wife was thrilled...

Well, I did all of the planning including booking them a studio at BWV - which they LOVED. We went in January (great low crowds and had great weather)Then when we all got there, I told them "You can follow my schedule or go on your own. It is up to you." My friend came with us and her hubby played golf, but he met us in the afternoons for some park time and dinner and/or swimming.

They both had such a great time, they called me this year and asked if they could come with us in Jan 2007! So this year we are booked in studios at BCV and I have our dinners booked and the planning is set! We all can't wait. They are total Disney converts now.

Now - since I have shown this couple the "Disney ways" I have several others that want to join us so I can show them how to do it!

Its okay - because I love it... so I believe in 2008 another family is going to join us! How cool is that?!

 

[liznboys]

That's too bad, certainly not surprising though. It's too bad that everyone's first trip to WDW isn't during a slower/cooler time...what a difference that would make! Good luck.

 

[disnut8]

I had a friend a few years ago who went to Disney World with his father-in-law, wife, and two young boys. He hated it. I offered up so much advice but he ignored it. His father-in-law HAD to stay at a Howard Johnson. Fine, there's one on Highway 192 about two miles from Disney World. No, they stayed at Universal instead! They didn't even go to Universal! They had to drive that whole way every day. The father-in-law was a commando tourist, my friend with his two young boys wanted an afternoon break. Like that was going to happen. So now he hates it and doesn't understand why we go so often.

However - I've taken many rookies along with me, planned according to what they wanted to do and their interests and I've converted just about every single one of them. I'm still working on my brother-in-law but there's a rock shop in Kissimmee he likes to visit so that's a plus.