WDW for MIL that hates crowds and rides!

[DannyDisneyFreak]

Okay, my mom-in-law says she would hate WDW and I know if we took her and did the parks like I have in the past she would not enjoy it at all. She is into the lay on the beach, 90 degree weather, take her time, no people in her way kind of vacation. So, how could we take her to WDW so that everyone would enjoy themselves?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Leave her at the resort to lounge by the pool why you go to the parks.

 

[lillygator]

Let her relax by the pool or water park and maybe have her meet up with you for dinner?

 

[lorrainesy]

I'm thinking separate vacations might be better for her

 

[bleeps]

Ummm, leave her home and wait for a different kind of vacation to take her along? Of course having her hang out at the pool resort is an option, but then it's not much of a family vacation....

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Leave her home!

 

[Quinn222]

She might enjoy Epcot, a nice stroll around World Showcase, the gentle boat rides of The Land and Mexico.

 

[queenarmadillo]

I agree that she probably is right that she won't enjoy it, so not taking her would probably be your best option. However, if you really want her to come:
-Onsite, the Carribean Beach Resort is reasonably priced, and has 1 pool for each 'island' so there is some chance of a fairly quiet time as long as you dont go to the main pool near old port royale, and she could do this during the day whilst you are enjoying the parks. There is also a small island in the middle of the lake, and a reasonable path for gentle walks as well as bikes available for hire and boats on the lake. These could keep her occupied during the day whilst you hit the parks. Definitely avoid the all-star resorts etc., as even the pools here get so busy during the afternoon that she probably wouldn't enjoy them.
-In the evenings, meet up for meals, and then see if she can be persuaded out to experience the parks then, when they have calmed down and it is not quite so hot. This would mean that she wasnt forced out into the heat and crowds, but you still got to do some things as a family.
-Typhoon lagoon is the least busy waterpark, and if you arrive early you can get beds in the quieter areas (although don't go at the weekends as it is much busier). Dont go for the ones near the main wave pool, or a big attraction, I think there used to be some that were quite quiet near the shark diving tank thing (although I could be way-off). If she intends to ride anything here, do it early morning before the crowds pick up. Castaway creek is especially nice (and almost empty) in the first hour after opening.
-If you take a car, perhaps you could also make an excursion to somewhere non-disney that she would like to go (a nice beach or something (I always go for intensive disney holidays, so not sure what the beaches around there are like, but am sure others will be able to suggest something).
-World showcase at epcot is also not stupidly crowded in the mornings as soon as it opens (11AM?) and might be something different for her to do one day.

 

[paladin]

She's an adult; if she doesn't want to go, let her stay home. On the other hand, she might like it if she gave it a try - has she watched the planning video or looked at pictures of the resorts? If she should decide to give it a try, she could hang around the pool during the day and maybe go out for dinner (as others have mentioned, Epcot at night might work out for her).

 

[Maxie86]

If it's in your budget, stay at the Poly, GF, BC, or any other that has a beach. She can spend the day at the beach and join you in the parks in the evening. Go to a park that doesn't have an emh that day and it won't be as crowded. She may just find that the crowds don't bother her as much as she thinks they will. I don't like crowds much, but at Disney they don't bother me at all. I guess I'm just so relaxed that I don't even notice them.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

My DM is one not for crowds and to wait in lines, however, she has been to WDW twice and have "sucked" it up for the sake of the kids and grandkids.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Why put her through it? Do you think she will be a convert if she actually saw the place for herself? Will you be disappointed if she doesn't love it once she has been there? You are probably better off planning a beach vacation if you want to spend a vacation with your MIL. How about adding a few days at the front or back end of your vacation and meet up with MIL at Siesta Key or Captiva? If she is feeling really sporting, she may agree to join you for a day or two at the World before heading home (or to the beach if you do the beach part of your vacation second).

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

We want to take her because she thinks she would hate Disney but I think if she goes she would find thinks she would love. Seperate vacations are not an option, she doesn't like to venture out of her comfort zone too much (i.e. home town) she is alone and we would like to take her to WDW, she would enjoy seeing her grandaughter at WDW for the first time if we do take her.

 

[jsmla]

If you don't want to leave her at home there are ways to make a WDW vacation more enjoyable for her. My DH is a camping, hiking, canoeing kind of guy, not a Disney fan and absolutely hates crowds but we still manage to have a good time.

Some stuff I do to please DH:

If at all possible $$wise I stay at a Deluxe with DH. I enjoy the bustle of a place like Pop but it can be overwhelming if you're not the Disney type. DH really likes the ambiance at AKL.

If y'all are early risers hit the parks at opening and leave when they start to get crowded (usually around 11:30 for the MK). Lots of times we will see a park in the early morning, have a nice, late breakfast somewhere and then spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool.

Plan lots of sit-down TS ADRs (we avoid the character meals now that kids are grown, too busy for DH.) Table service meals help DH decompress and provide a break from all the "magic".

Lots of pool time. Many of the resorts have quiet pools and a few (the Grand Floridian and the Swan/Dolphin complex come to mind) have pools that are often surprisingly uncrowded and restful.

Spend time away from WDW. DH likes the beaches and canoeing at the many spring fed lakes and rivers near Orlando. We've also done air boat tours and things like that.

Plan a chill day, or at least an afternoon start one day. Have a late breakfast somewhere nice.

Don't try to do everything. You can always go back on your own another time.

We've taken my mom and DH's dad to WDW several times and have altered our plans to suit their tastes. Compromise is no big deal when you're doing it for people you love. FIL now suffers from Alzheimers and I am so glad that we took him to WDW in 2000. Did we miss a ton of stuff we'd liked to have done? Sure we did. But I wouldn't trade one second of FIL's visit for 50 rides on Space Mt. Looking at the videos and vacation scrapbook I made for him is one of his favorite activities now that he's basically homebound. And guess what? Space Mt. was still there on our next visit.

 

[fabumouse]

You didn't mention when you were planning on going. My FIL despises crowds. And my MIL gets a bit claustrophobic. So - we went when the crowds were less dense, we utilized fast pass and didn't go on rides where the line was longer than 20 minutes and we avoided the parades. We also went swimming a number of afternoons when the parks got too busy. They really liked hanging out on the boardwalk, having a snack from Spoodles. It turned out to be a great vacation for everyone.

 

[stm61]

you haven't said what month you would like to go. If Sept is not a problem, I'd take her the wk after Labor Day or the following wk, this yr it's the 3rd thru the 10th, Mon thru Sun. Heat doesn't bother her so she'd be fine with the hot weather and the crowds are pretty much non-existent. I don't do crowds either, I refuse to stand on lines while my kids whine, and this is the time of yr we go. Plus, this yr you can get the Dining Plan so she'd be able to pick where she wants to eat without worrying about the meal prices.

 

[kmadams]

[We've taken my mom and DH's dad to WDW several times and have altered our plans to suit their tastes. Compromise is no big deal when you're doing it for people you love. FIL now suffers from Alzheimers and I am so glad that we took him to WDW in 2000. Did we miss a ton of stuff we'd liked to have done? Sure we did. But I wouldn't trade one second of FIL's visit for 50 rides on Space Mt. Looking at the videos and vacation scrapbook I made for him is one of his favorite activities now that he's basically homebound. And guess what? Space Mt. was still there on our next visit.[/QUOTE]

This one almost makes me cry! What wonderful memories you'll always have of the trip. This August I'm taking my 72 year old mother along with my husband and kids (who are 19 and 16). I'm so excited to go on a trip with her, I've been to WDW lots of times so there really is nothing I need to see and my little kids are now big enough and very happy to head out on their own. My plans are to just enjoy showing my Mom around and enjoy the moment.

 

[Bill From PA]

DannyDisneyFreak,

I agree that she just might find she likes it. I probably never would have thought to do a WDW vacation but my mom took our whole family when we were in our 40s and our kids were teens and me, the big cynic in the group turned out to be the big Mouse Freak. Even if not, the resort pools, as mentioned before, are a great option. She can hit the parks early with your group then leave to return to the pool when her tolerance for crowds gives out. As for not liking 'rides', a huge percentage of WDW attractions are not what anyone would thonk of as a ride, they're 'Attractions'. Also, Epcot is big enough that it rarely seems crowded and is far more adult in nature. Does she enjoy fermented beverages? A 'Drink Around the World' might be what the doctor ordered and let's not forget PI. Good luck!

Bill From PA

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

There are so many questions =

Is she paying her own way, or even possibly paying for the whole vacation?

Does she enjoy watching the little ones while you adults go out for an evening at DW?

Does she come to your children's events and suffer through hours of watching other people's children just to see her grands for a minute or two? If so she will surely enjoy just watching the smiles on all of your faces. Grandma's are that way.

Is she aware of how lucky she is to have such a loving family that wants to show her a great time even if she does not know if she will like it or not?

She sounds as if she is a really nice person for you to want to share your vacation with her. Go for it! Just do not plan to be together every single minute of the trip and everyone will be happy.

Slightly Goofy

 

[bozley0621]

Hire a "Granny Nanny."

I'm sorry I know that doesn't help, but it popped in my head, and I couldn't resist.