What advice do you give to others about planning?

[Mkrop]

Ok here is the situation:

the admin asst at my son's school is going mid June to WDW with her family for the first time. Her kids are 13 and 15. She is not staying onsite, she is staying at the Buena Vista.

So today she was looking at my pictures and from talking to her I gather she has not planned a thing. She kept asking me hot it is going to be. And she has not made any ADRs yet.

So this was my advice to her so far:

Make a plan soon on which park on which day you want to go to and which rides you really want to go on and understand FP system thoroughly.

Since she is not staying onsite I told her to avoid the EMH days when she chooses her parks.

I also told her to make some dining reservations so they can have some sit downmeals and if they would do later ADRs she might be able to get some. I suggested Coral Reef because she does not think her kdis will want to do character meals (I disagree but fine)

I am emailing her the 800 number later anything else I should mentioned.

Oh yeah I told her about mister fans and sending herself a case of water.

I am not sure what she all absorbed of that today.

Thanks I would like to help her if she wants me to and if I can, I know I cant make her do Disney they was I would.

 

[Parla]

I always just mention the 180 day ADR rule (and gently push them to make ADRs if they haven't) and then tell them to come to the DISboards.

The last couple I totally convinced to come here and the next time I saw them they were all, "We love the DISboards! We've totally changed our plans!" That made me feel good to know that they are going to enjoy their vacation even more with a little guidance from me.

 

[Mkrop]

Yeah unfortunately they leave June 15. I guess she doesnt get that this is not a typical vaction. You need to plan. I recommened the UOG and she keeps saying she is going to get it.

I guess I just get bummed for these people because it is always the ones that dont plan that come back saying that they did not like WDW. With some simple planning it can be so magical and I guess I want that for everyone.

 

[Parla]

Yeah unfortunately they leave June 15. I guess she doesnt get that this is not a typical vaction. You need to plan. I recommened the UOG and she keeps saying she is going to get it.

I guess I just get bummed for these people because it is always the ones that dont plan that come back saying that they did not like WDW. With some simple planning it can be so magical and I guess I want that for everyone.

Yes, we went for our Honeymoon in 1993 and ended up spending most of the week doing other things. We came back thinking that it was cool we got to do WDW but we weren't all that impressed. Before our last trip a friend from a non Disney board mentioned checking this board out and the information I gathered must of been great because even DH says he wished that there had been a DISboards back in 1993 (of course I have no clue how long it's been around but we certainly didn't have access to the Internet back then). He has never read a single post on here but when people he knows say that they are going and they don't have any ADRs he just shakes his head and runs home to tell me about it.

 

[DanenRox]

I think every neighborhood has their self-designated Disney adviser. I have decent section of Warren, Rhode Island under my jurisdiction...always glad to guide the newbie, to assist in everything from what to bring, where to sleep, what to wear on your feet. I admit it's excessive but the truth is... I can't help it. Lately though, I've made a point of giving less advice.
Part of the magic of WDW for us has been stumbling upon secrets or shortcuts, figuring out easier ways of doing things. You know what I mean? Anyway, now my basic advice includes:

• Buy good sneaks and wear them for a couple of weeks before your trip to break them in.
• Know what a fastpass is and how to use it.
• Go off season when possible.
• Don't go commando through parks. Take your time, slow it down, enjoy. Don't try to see everything in one trip.
• Plan to return.

 

[Anything Disney!]

All you can do is advise, encourage and offer support.

 

[dbarker]

For one going that soon, I would recommend the Birnbaum guide book. It is a much easier read w/ lots if pics.

Suggest that they read the DISboards. A little info gleaned is better than none at all.

Suggest that they read up on allearsnet.com, maybe even join TourGuideMike.

Suggest they at least familiarize themselves w/ the rides and attractions before they get there.

Some people just don't get it. I gave all the above info and then some to my extended family and they did not research one bit. I even gave my mother my brand new guide book. She never even looked at it. Needless to say, they did not care too much for WDW. I could go on and on and on. But, you get the gist of it.

What's that old saying? "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".

 

[xyzabc33]

Going thru this with some friends of ours. (the horse/water thing) Nice ppl dont get me wrong but not the brightest pegs on the light brite board. I had to talk her thru what to do while booking. Made her write it down. SIGH! Did she ask the right thing???? Nope. They wanted to go and stay at the same resort as we were, but wound up elsewhere and with 6 nite and 6 days of tickets. The conversation went something like this.
Why didnt you just get the one more day since you are driving?
It was too expensive.
You do realize it is only like 3 bucks more per ticket and if you only go to a park for a few hours you are still getting your moneys worth.
We have to make some sort of dining things the man on the phone said.
That would be your reservations
Reservations for what?
Reservations for the restaurants you want to eat at.
First you have to decide what park you are going to on what day so you wont be running around everywhere.
Oh we dont know yet.
Well you HAVE to decide soon--like yesterday
Can we come over and look at your computer to see where to go? (they are internetless)
No prob, when?
Tomorrow
Sure
NEXT DAY>>>>>>Phone call in AM
I am sick and cant come over
OK, but you need to do this soon, a lot of the restaurants are already booked up for those dates.
<<<<her hubby in background, "we can just decide when we get there"
NO YOU CANTat least go to the library down the street and check out some of the books so you have an idea.
Maybe I will later this week
NO you need to do it TODAY and call me tomorrow with ideas where and what day.
OK.
<<<it is now 11PM...no call. I give up. I like the ppl but ,,,,,,,

OH. and payment questions she had.
The man told me we have to have this paid off by July 28 but he said too that it also has to be paid off 21 days in advance. That is not 21 days it is more.
That is because you are on a special package and it has to be paid by 21 days when the special starts running.
But we wanted to pay it when we got there.
I told you a few weeks ago it has to be paid up in advance when you asked me

**x makes up excuse she has to go so I dont scream in frustration with her
Like I said, nice ppl but, geez listen to what the Disney fanatic is telling you, it is so you can enjoy and get your money's worth out of this vacation.


OK... I am done venting now but it just sounded so familiar that I had to say something.
My advice. Tell them to listen to you because you are a Disney nut and we usually know what we are talking about. Oh and the sunscreen thing is a must.

 

[Parla]

For one going that soon, I would recommend the Birnbaum guide book. It is a much easier read w/ lots if pics.

Suggest that they read the DISboards. A little info gleaned is better than none at all.

Suggest that they read up on allearsnet.com, maybe even join TourGuideMike.

Suggest they at least familiarize themselves w/ the rides and attractions before they get there.

Some people just don't get it. I gave all the above info and then some to my extended family and they did not research one bit. I even gave my mother my brand new guide book. She never even looked at it. Needless to say, they did not care too much for WDW. I could go on and on and on. But, you get the gist of it.

What's that old saying? "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".

Oh well, less people to go all the time. That helps keep the parks from constant overcrowding.

 

[Parla]

Going thru this with some friends of ours. (the horse/water thing) Nice ppl dont get me wrong but not the brightest pegs on the light brite board. I had to talk her thru what to do while booking. Made her write it down. SIGH! Did she ask the right thing???? Nope. They wanted to go and stay at the same resort as we were, but wound up elsewhere and with 6 nite and 6 days of tickets. The conversation went something like this.
Why didnt you just get the one more day since you are driving?
It was too expensive.
You do realize it is only like 3 bucks more per ticket and if you only go to a park for a few hours you are still getting your moneys worth.
We have to make some sort of dining things the man on the phone said.
That would be your reservations
Reservations for what?
Reservations for the restaurants you want to eat at.
First you have to decide what park you are going to on what day so you wont be running around everywhere.
Oh we dont know yet.
Well you HAVE to decide soon--like yesterday
Can we come over and look at your computer to see where to go? (they are internetless)
No prob, when?
Tomorrow
Sure
NEXT DAY>>>>>>Phone call in AM
I am sick and cant come over
OK, but you need to do this soon, a lot of the restaurants are already booked up for those dates.
<<<<her hubby in background, "we can just decide when we get there"
NO YOU CANTat least go to the library down the street and check out some of the books so you have an idea.
Maybe I will later this week
NO you need to do it TODAY and call me tomorrow with ideas where and what day.
OK.
<<<it is now 11PM...no call. I give up. I like the ppl but ,,,,,,,

OH. and payment questions she had.
The man told me we have to have this paid off by July 28 but he said too that it also has to be paid off 21 days in advance. That is not 21 days it is more.
That is because you are on a special package and it has to be paid by 21 days when the special starts running.
But we wanted to pay it when we got there.
I told you a few weeks ago it has to be paid up in advance when you asked me

**x makes up excuse she has to go so I dont scream in frustration with her
Like I said, nice ppl but, geez listen to what the Disney fanatic is telling you, it is so you can enjoy and get your money's worth out of this vacation.


OK... I am done venting now but it just sounded so familiar that I had to say something.
My advice. Tell them to listen to you because you are a Disney nut and we usually know what we are talking about. Oh and the sunscreen thing is a must.

I can see the future.... I think your friends may not be going. They don't sound into it at all!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Another idea might be that she pick up an easy guidebook, like the Passporter for her kids to read on the airplane. That way the kids would know which things they wanted to see. I think people get very overwhelmed by all the Disney choices, so their choice is then to not make a choice. They do not, or cannot give, Disney the planning time it needs so they choose to not plan.

This happened with my girlfriend. They just got back from their second trip. They stayed at AKL which they loved, and she booked all their meals. She made no plans about what to do first, or which day for which park. On the last day she sat down and made a plan to hit two parks and specific attractions they missed. She told me, "You are right. You get so much more done with a plan."

She also realized how frustrating it was to be at one park, having a blast, and having to leave to go to another park for dinner. She did not think about that ahead of time, nor could she really fathom, until she was there, what a big deal it would be. Some folks have trouble visualizing the bigness of Disney until they are there.

 

[Mkrop]

I totally agree with your statement of people dont understand the vast size of Disney. I think this is why you see so many meltdowns and such in the park. You do pay a lot for the trip but if you try to fit it all in (whiich we all know is impossible) you get frustrated. All that can be avoided by planning. I generally think people see this as any other amusement park in their hometown. It is so much more!

A friend of mine could not understand why I was choosing comfortable shoes over a cute pair of sandals I have, I said to her do you know how much walking I am going to do, and she just didnt get it.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

My boss went in '05 and I tried to coach his wife a little bit but she didn't "get it". When they came back I asked him what his favorite ride was and he said Soarin. So then I asked how Test Track was and he had no clue what it was! Of course he said he had no desire to go back.

 

[firsttimer03]

I give them this website address!
What else would you need?!!

 

[Dashzap]

Did she ask the right thing???? Nope. They wanted to go and stay at the same resort as we were, but wound up elsewhere and with 6 nite and 6 days of tickets.

Yikes! I hope you aren't planning to spend your vacation with these people! Because with their lack of planning, they could ruin your trip, too.

 

[xyzabc33]

There is another group going actually with us who are willing to listen to the wisdom of a crazed Disney fan. I felt bad for making plans and apologized to the smart group and the mom said dont worry that she knows I know what I am talking about and will take our advice on things.

I will give the lite brite pegs our itinerary and OH WELL if they dont follow it. It is a loose plan anyway. So we may not see them much. Kinda glad they got a different resort. Bad enuf they wanted to ride all down with us---NOT 2 cars..4 Adults, 2 teens, and one preschooler in the same van. In other words they wanted a free trip gas wise. I have a feeling they probably will wind up not going. Which I feel bad for the kids but I did offer to take the older one with us. They wanted to do it all together. Oh well.

 

[Mkrop]

I give them this website address!
What else would you need?!!

I have mentioned the website, the guide books etc and they just havent done anything. She'll get to it soon.

I dont know her well enough to say more like I said she works at my son's school and we have been talking more than usual because of the Disney trips.

 

[xyzabc33]

Update on the Lite brite pegs....
They have "decided" not to go. Supposedly their girls 16 and 14 said that WDW is too babyish. And the husband was too busy. PPFFTT! They just didnt want to pay their own way down and wanted to not have to pay till they got there. HMMPPFF! I figured since I hadnt heard from them for over a week that is what was going on. Got a bunch of other lame excuses too. Oh Well, at least I dont have to worry about their ADR;s now. I think they realized you had to plan ahead.
Oh! the one excuse was...We are going to go to Sea World instead...
ME: You are going to go all the way to Florida and be right down the street from Disney just to go to Sea World?
No, the one in Ohio
ME: There hasnt been a Sea World in Ohio in like forever
Yes there is it, it is right next to Geauga Lake.
ME; UMM...you do realize that Sea World is no longer there?
Oh I mean that other park in Ohio...Cedar Point
***X shakes head in wonder of how these ppl survive LOL They are very nice ppl just not the plan ahead kind...might explain all the piled up bills. LOL "lets buy everyone cell phones, a new pool, a dog, new clothes, another car and let our bills get behind. YEESH!
Not that I am knocking the fun stuff occasionally(do it myself once in a while) but if you cant afford your light bill how do you expect the pool filter to run without electricity.
I feel better , TY for the rant

 

[Parla]

You're welcome.

I would just like to point out again that I can see the future! Just look at post #10!

 

[xyzabc33]

OH GREAT SEER OF ALL THINGS DISNEY .....Tell me, will I win a nite in the Castle? LOL