We're Dreaming of a WL Christmas! DEC 2010 INTERACTIVE PTR NEW: 12/9 BYE-BYE!

[BippityBoo]

Hi everyone!! School has started in full force for me and my kids!! Like most of you, we are beyond busy. I appreciate all of the kind notes you left for me during my second short absence

*Photo from google search*

Tonight I am going over to my in-law's house for our first of many Disney vacation meetings! While I am very excited, I am also nervous because most (ok...ALL) of the planning falls on my shoulders. I have put together folders for each of them including the following:

*Dining Plan Brochure
*Touring Plans Crowd Levels
*Itinerary with dining ressies
*Holiday Events (MVMCP, Osborne, etc) and explanations of all.

I was wondering if any of you have any suggestions of things I am forgetting? I want to start off slow with the information because they tend to get a little confused with all of the crazy details to remember. This meeting will be to confirm what days we are going where. Any advice would be more than appreciated!!

UP NEXT: Candlelight Processional Dinner Package booked!! Did we get Le Cellier like we wanted? Stay tuned

 

[999ghostslover]

No advice here but I am following along as I am planning a similar family-style trip in May. I want to know how to do it. We have gone on several tour-type vacations to Europe and my family does best when herded like that. Although, we all like to have some free time too so I know striking a balance will be key. Good luck!

 

[BippityBoo]

No advice here but I am following along as I am planning a similar family-style trip in May. I want to know how to do it. We have gone on several tour-type vacations to Europe and my family does best when herded like that. Although, we all like to have some free time too so I know striking a balance will be key. Good luck!

HI!! Thanks for following along I agree--balance is key! I am hoping to get a better idea of what they want to do tonight so that I can adjust my schedule. I will start posting about our Day 2 (1st park day) tonight or tomorrow! Hopefully I can help you a little and vice versa!

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm in charge of planning our January trip. Whenever I ask my mom her opinion about something she just says, "You know best, dear." NOT helpful!
It sounds like you're well-prepared!

Amanda

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Hey! Haven't posted in a while but I wanted to comment on your Disney trip meeting!!! I would be doing the exact same thing as you! Trying to prepare them by giving them all this information!

Since they are letting you do all the planning and you obviously are the most knowledgeable on the trip, be prepared for them to either be so overwhelmed that they just don't care...or just don't care, period! It might make it worse to force all this information on them if they are clueless. It might be better to just plan it, give them the basics and then they can just follow you around once you are there.....on the other hand, (playing devil's advocate!) if you DON'T tell them what the plans are in advance, there is potential for them to blow off ADRs or decide they want to go here when the plan is to go there.....

So tough! I don't envy you!

When DH and I went for the first time together it was his first trip and my, maybe 14th! I tried to involve him in the planning but it just confused him more than anything. He couldn't even watch the planning videos. It definitely made me worried but once we were there, he knew enough to know that he didn't know anything and basically just did whatever I said we were doing!

 

[BippityBoo]

I'm in charge of planning our January trip. Whenever I ask my mom her opinion about something she just says, "You know best, dear." NOT helpful!
It sounds like you're well-prepared!

Amanda

OHHH if it were only so simple for me!! They say those exact words, but when we get there, they want to do their own thing. I want to get on the same page before we start off for the trip! That should help.

Hey! Haven't posted in a while but I wanted to comment on your Disney trip meeting!!! I would be doing the exact same thing as you! Trying to prepare them by giving them all this information!

Since they are letting you do all the planning and you obviously are the most knowledgeable on the trip, be prepared for them to either be so overwhelmed that they just don't care...or just don't care, period! It might make it worse to force all this information on them if they are clueless. It might be better to just plan it, give them the basics and then they can just follow you around once you are there.....on the other hand, (playing devil's advocate!) if you DON'T tell them what the plans are in advance, there is potential for them to blow off ADRs or decide they want to go here when the plan is to go there.....

So tough! I don't envy you!

When DH and I went for the first time together it was his first trip and my, maybe 14th! I tried to involve him in the planning but it just confused him more than anything. He couldn't even watch the planning videos. It definitely made me worried but once we were there, he knew enough to know that he didn't know anything and basically just did whatever I said we were doing!

Hey Nikki!! Words right out of my mouth! DH and I both said the same thing. Tell them just the basics/what they NEED to know (park days, hours, etc) and then just gently "guide" them in the right direction. I am pretty much a walking schedule so I will have our plans in my "head" and my iPhone...they will have no clue!

 

[SoonerGirl]

I think you are very well prepared for your Disney meeting, and you are going about it perfectly. Give them the basics, let them know what you've planned so far and don't overwhelm them.

I'm dying to hear what restaurant you got for the CP package!

 

[BippityBoo]

I think you are very well prepared for your Disney meeting, and you are going about it perfectly. Give them the basics, let them know what you've planned so far and don't overwhelm them.

I'm dying to hear what restaurant you got for the CP package!

Thank you!! I am dying to tell you what we got I will try to update about the meeting and my Day 2 (epcot day) tonight!

 

[Charlefours]

I've been in charge of planning this trip, as you know. Just a little note of forewarning: my family's trip is fast approaching and NOW they decide that they want to read. They think they are Disney experts (they being mainly my DMIL) and think they are going to change my plans. I told her that she is more than welcome to do what she wants, these are the plans DH and I made and you can come if you like. The others are being vocal about choices now in the last days, but I told them the same thing. Moral of the story: be prepared to stand your ground if it is something you really care about.

I hope it goes well!! Keep us updated.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Hope your meeting goes well! As much as I'd love to take a trip to WDW with my entire family, I don't know if I could. After taking 2 trips with just DH and DD, I've realized how much I love it! I love being the main planner and I know my mom would try to take over.

 

[mom2mek]

Hope your meeting goes well, Katie. I'm sure it will!

My piece of advice would be to listen carefully. If your family is anything like mine then they will say very little and just be like "we will do whatever you think is best" blah blah blah. However, if they happen to mention something in passing, or kind of "what about this or that" kind of way....try to press a little further for more details. I found that my sister especially, was a little "passive aggressive" about things during the planning stages, meaning she didn't say much but what little she did say, she was secretly hoping I would do or change the plans around for. Nothing major, but I feel like it might have helped me during planning to know for sure that was something she wanted. I should have asked more follow up questions. Everyone was very non-chalant and most everyone was glad to just follow around, but I had the most disappointed feelings from her after the trip - just felt like she was missing out on some fun feeling.

In hindsight, it was more her than me, but I keep thinking back to the planning stages and wondering if there was anything I missed.

Planner's guilt, I guess!

Sara

 

[klacey1]

I think you're presenting them with the perfect amount of information, Katie. Any more and I think they might get overwhelmed-- tell them what they need to know and share more if they seem interested about something. One tip-- when you're going over the Dining Plan, make sure you tell them that they can get many more snacks than just the "popcorn, ice cream bar..." list provided in the Dining Plan brochure. I have a friend who planned two trips for her little family and didn't realize until after the second trip that you can get almost anything with a snack credit!

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

It sounds like you're approaching things pretty well when it comes to planning for the big group! I'm planning for my wife's family for this trip and it's their first time. I've given them some general info and I'm meeting with them over Thanksgiving to iron out final details. By that time, there won't be a whole lot we can change around, but my planning style is pretty flexible anyway. I'll just be looking to hear from them what their must-sees are at each park. We'll see how it goes. I hope your meeting goes well!

 

[moparop]

Gope the planning meeting went well!!!

 

[dismagiclover]

I hope the meeting went well too and you'll give us a great report!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I love that you're having a meeting to plan your trip - that is so up my alley. Although I'm sure planning a trip for that many people would be pretty stressful. I hope it went well - I can't wait to hear!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Looks like you have the planning details to share well in hand!!! Have fun!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Great update!! I wonder if you got your CLP ADR?!!! We called the day of and we even had trouble getting Les Chefs for the day that we wanted so I hope you got what you wanted!!!

 

[BippityBoo]

Photobucket problem

 

[BippityBoo]

Thank you all for your helpful advice!! It really came in handy for my meeting last night.

My family was in good spirits and all 8 of us were able to attend. They listened and asked questions without being too pushy. I was really pleased with the progress of the meeting. The main thing they are having trouble understanding is the Dining Plan (mainly my MIL and FIL). We will go over it again at our next meeting. We had the dining plan with them when we went in 2008. They had a few Counter Services and one Table Service left over because they did not understand the idea of the DP. I want to make sure they get it right this time

ON TO DAY 2!

After a relaxing check in day with no ADRs or park plans, we are off to EPCOT for our first full day at WDW!

We will have the luxury of getting a later start (we plan to meet in the lobby at 10am) because of our Give a Day/Get a Day vouchers! We will use these as fastpasses on rides such as TT and Soarin, so there is no need to get there early You can walk right up to the fastpass line and use the "magical fastpass" we get from customer service.

So--10-10:30AM we will meet at Roaring Forks (Counter Service) in the WL. We all agreed that we should get a bite to eat before heading to the parks each day. This way, none of us will be cranky or desperately searching for food when we get there!

We will then take the bus to EPCOT and tour Future World for a few hours, making sure to go on a few of our favorite rides~

Soon, we will be in World Showcase!! After a quick picture by the pretty Christmas tree, we will head to our CP Package lunch ADR at....

LE CELLIER!!!! Because of our party size, we were only able to book lunch. I was a little upset at first because I had my heart set on dinner. Now I am really excited! I like the idea of going to the ADR and then having lots of time in between to tour. Otherwise, the entire night would be filled with dinner, waiting in line for the CP and watching Illuminations. This way, we will have a good balance of touring and seeing the incredible CP!

After our amazing lunch, we will continue the tour through the UK, France, Morocco (stopping for hummus at the Tangerine Cafe!). We are also really excited to see all of the Christmas extras in the park.

Next up--Pick a Pearl with the girls in the family at Japan! Can't wait to use our carriage necklaces!

We will arrive in America right in time to get in line for the Candlelight Processional. Our narrator is Steven Curtis Chapman! We are beyond excited, I bet he is wonderful at it!

After the CP, we will make our way to Norway and Mexico (some of our faves!) to ride Maelstrom and to do a little shopping in the Mexican Marketplace.

Soon it will be time for Illuminations!

Hoping to get a nice spot at Mexico. Does anyone know if the new Counter Service restaurant will be open then? Could we get an outdoor seat to enjoy the show?

After the park closes, we will hang back for a while and enjoy walking around the park while everyone runs to the bus/monorail. We stayed for about 30 minutes extra last time and it helped a lot! No crazy crowds to fight.

UP NEXT: Exciting "changes" to our trip that may help extend the Disney magic and Day 3 (MK) plans!