What do I even say to them?

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I don't think it's worth saying anything to them. People like that often want to be unhappy and focus on the negative because they simply like to complain, it will likely only frustrate you to try and change their outlook.

I don't think that everyone that complains about Disney is a focus on the negative person. I think many of them genuinely have negative experiences. My parents certainly didn't want to be unhappy. But unfortunately they did everything that resulted in ending up with us in long lines with heat related problems, tired, frustrated, and not having all that great a time of it. They'd forgo the conveniently located hotel to save a few bucks, arrive late, eat breakfast during the morning park hours, insist upon doing shows that could be easily accessed later and by the time we got to things like Space Mountain, there was a two hour wait (No fast pass back then.) It wasn't because they liked to complain. And my experience is why I harp on planning today to anyone that will listen. It makes a huge difference.

 

[Mcert01]

Well the reality is the first planning most people do other than booking a room or making an adr or two is when they open their map right underneath the railroad bridge at 11am the first time they walk in. They inevitably end up in long lines, and they get tired and frustrated. Often, they don't want to go back and will think anyone that likes long and frustrating lines with gobs of people crazy. It just isn't in their input vector that these long lines can be avoided. And contrary to the ads, characters just don't walk up to the kids and give em hugs. There's a line for that too. And it's sometimes longer than for the rides. As far as the other area attractions, the good ones are going to have lines too. The memories of Elvis waxwork, uh not so much.

Very true. I remember before our first trip a friend admonished me to plan everything and know what you want to do and when BEFORE walking into a park. The best advice anyone ever gave me. To not plan at Easter ... recipe for disaster, especially with 5 little ones. Of course nobody will admit it was their fault, so Disney is to blame.

 

[WizardLarz]

One less person to fight for an ADR

As PPs have said, no matter what you say, it probably won't make a difference anyway. My brother is going in June - hasn't made a single ADR, hasn't looked into EMH's, or even bothered to check park hours. I have a strange feeling I'm going to be hearing many of the same comments about what a horrible trip he and his family had.

to BearcatsFan: Please intervene, if you brother won't listen to you maybe is wife/SO will welcome your help.

I have had a couple of friends ask for help knowing that I've been several times in the past few years. But if people don't ask advice can not be given.

 

[Allison]

There is no reason to say anything. Their experience was their own and they have their own opinion. That's okay.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~I would probably just ask, to find out what went wrong, if anything. Then, I would inform them, how I would have done things differently, and the amount of planning needed. But if I determine, they're just complaining or difficult to please, I would say, "awww, that's too bad, I love Disney and have always had great vacation's there but understand it isn't for everyone."

 

[larryz]

Invite them out to lunch, and walk them thru their trips. Find out what they did(n't) do, and offer tips and tricks for their next trip. Maybe, by the end, they'll buy YOUR lunch....

 

[WDSearcher]

I have two friends who just returned from family trips to WDW. Both hated it! One only spent one day in the parks and decided not to return. Opting for other area attractions instead. The other spent several days, but swears it was the worst experience of their life. The second is a total drama queen, though. So, it's probably more for show than anything.

I'm tempted to say something snotty, like maybe a little planning would have helped. One quick Internet search would have warned them that Easter break probably isn't the best time to arrive with 5 little ones in tow.

It's just so frustrating listening to them go on and on about what an awful place it is...

I would say, "I'm sorry you didn't like it. We love WDW and have a great time every time we go, but it's not for everyone. Hopefully you'll find some other destination you like just as much as we like Disney!" and leave it at that.

Don't try to tell them what they did wrong, or how they could have done it better. They can't go back and fix it ... their trip is what it is. Smile, nod, and keep planning your own trip!

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm in the "Say nothing" camp. I haven't always been there. It took me years to accept that not only is Disney not everyone's top vacation destination, but I'm not going to convince them to like what I love if they don't - and it's not up to me to do it. I love sushi. I know people who gag at the thought of it. To me, same thing.

 

[BearcatsFan]

to BearcatsFan: Please intervene, if you brother won't listen to you maybe is wife/SO will welcome your help.

I have had a couple of friends ask for help knowing that I've been several times in the past few years. But if people don't ask advice can not be given.

Believe me, I have tried! Tried again today after reading this thread. I've offered to both of them, separately and together, to walk through our itineraries. Offered to email good restaurants, info about using FP's and ADRs and EMHs. Tried to explain how the DDP works - they think you can trade 2 QS for a TS even though I've said no 3 or 4 times. Several times I've offered - each time it has been turned down. Finally I emailed them a list of websites (including here) - according to him, they're "too busy to fool with planning it out - afterall, it is vacation".

You can't help the unwilling.

 

[Eeyore98]

Eh, to each their own. I personally can't stand Vegas or cruises, and I know many people love them.

(Then again, I don't go around constantly talking about how terrible my LV or cruise experiences were, either...)

 

[lugnut33]

Tell them, "Hmmm, I've never had that problem on my trips". Then point at them and say in your best Nelson from the Simpsons voice: "HaHa". Pants them then run off.

 

[cannonboys]

When we were there in January, we studied up on closures and completely planned our trip like we do every year. BTMRR was closed and while I waited for my family to go on Splash you would be surprised by the number of people that were looking for the entrance to BTMRR. They were shocked that it was closed. There is this big wall in front of it and the whole family ran over to get fast passes and they were like what's wrong??? Seriously folks, you spend a lot of money to go to Disney...why don't you plan??

 

[acebatonfan]

I can sorta see why the two people had such a miserable time. I went down there a few weeks ago for Festival Disney competitions, and because it was all planned by my orchestra director (who really poorly planned everything. I could have made a cheaper and more enjoyable trip). My hands were, pretty much, tied, and there was little room to do anything but walk around the park doing nothing.

Couldn't make any ADR's because of my so-called-friends'-friends always joining and leaving the group I'm in (it was up to 12 people at one point. God forbid if one of my friend's BFF's swimmer buddies has to eat QS for dinner) and because the itinerary was always changing. One hour, the teacher decides we need to be on the bus by 6 PM. The next hour, it's changed to 5. And then, she notices Festival Disney lasts three hours and not two, so we'll be going back to the parks an hour later. Get the drift?

My friends also had the nerve to do some unfriendly things to me, it getting up to the point of abandoning me at Epcot for two and a half hours, me wasting a good $5 in money trying to text them (they kept playing games with me).


If I was there with my family, who also are avid dis'ers, I probably would have had a fantastic time. I still had fun on the trip, but it was pretty stressful and I was really looking forward to go home.

 

[sam_gordon]

To answer the question...

"I'm sorry you had such a bad time. We always enjoy it there." That's it. If you try to say "You should have done x, y, or z" or "there's a better way to do it", you come off as a know it all. Even saying "You could have come to me for help" makes you sound stuck up (IMO).

 

[HMGar]

I have two friends who just returned from family trips to WDW. Both hated it! One only spent one day in the parks and decided not to return. Opting for other area attractions instead. The other spent several days, but swears it was the worst experience of their life. The second is a total drama queen, though. So, it's probably more for show than anything.

I'm tempted to say something snotty, like maybe a little planning would have helped. One quick Internet search would have warned them that Easter break probably isn't the best time to arrive with 5 little ones in tow.

It's just so frustrating listening to them go on and on about what an awful place it is...

Say nothing to them. They are entitled to their opinions. I'm happy they won't return because that reduces the crowd when I'm there!

 

[mmouse50]

I totally understand - I am having nightmares about this upcoming December. My boss has decided that they need to take a trip and they think it would be great to go the same week as me. I am so afraid that his wife is going to have total sticker shock - I have told them the websites to look at, an approximate cost based on a moderate hotel, tickets and the basic dining plan which they considerate a little steep but then I found out that she doesn't stay at hotels that the door opens to the outside. So changing hotel categories will raise the price even more.

He has suggested that we meet for dinner one evening, I don't want to because I know if she is having a miserable time it is going to be all my fault. I really don't know what to do.

What more can I do to get them prepared for the prices? It isn't that they are poor just cheap!

 

[pigletto]

I have two friends who just returned from family trips to WDW. Both hated it! One only spent one day in the parks and decided not to return. Opting for other area attractions instead. The other spent several days, but swears it was the worst experience of their life. The second is a total drama queen, though. So, it's probably more for show than anything.

I'm tempted to say something snotty, like maybe a little planning would have helped. One quick Internet search would have warned them that Easter break probably isn't the best time to arrive with 5 little ones in tow.

It's just so frustrating listening to them go on and on about what an awful place it is...

I know someone just like this. In fact, they are the kind to complain about absolutely everything so I would have been more surprised if they had actually had a good time. I don't think they know how.

Anyways, they went with no forethought or planning in the middle of the summer.
I wasn't asked for my help, and didn't want to be to know-it-all like so I gave a few tips and stayed out of it. And they hated it. Like everyone knew they would.

I think people can go with no plan at all and have a great time! But not if they are the type to be picky and upset about everything all the time. It's a shame, but hey, it's not for everyone.

 

[pigletto]

I totally understand - I am having nightmares about this upcoming December. My boss has decided that they need to take a trip and they think it would be great to go the same week as me. I am so afraid that his wife is going to have total sticker shock - I have told them the websites to look at, an approximate cost based on a moderate hotel, tickets and the basic dining plan which they considerate a little steep but then I found out that she doesn't stay at hotels that the door opens to the outside. So changing hotel categories will raise the price even more.

He has suggested that we meet for dinner one evening, I don't want to because I know if she is having a miserable time it is going to be all my fault. I really don't know what to do.

What more can I do to get them prepared for the prices? It isn't that they are poor just cheap!

My inlaws are joining us on this trip. I have prepared myself for the reality that they may not like it much. I hope they do, but I can't control if they do.
I simply gave as much info as I could and we all set some ground rules and that is that.
I have no illusions that they will love it as much as we do. But I flatly refuse to take on responsibility for their happiness. If they don't enjoy it, it's not going to change my perspective at all.
So you might want to give them all the pertinent info you can think of. And then let it go. It's all we can do. We can't make people have a good time, and when we tie up our enjoyment of the trip with their reactions it can get ugly.

I know how it worries you though.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I think it all depends on how nasty they're being about it. If they are getting particularly ugly and it's already clouding your feelings for them...I wouldn't be opposed to "biting back." Seriously, if I had to keep hearing insults and nasty comments that were a result of poor planning on their respective parts, I'd probably say something peppered with comments that the miserable trip was due to their ignorance and failure to plan, that they neglected to make any real plans to compensate for the high crowd levels they were informed they'd be going into, and in the end they ruined their kids' trip by failing to plan.

I mean, it's one thing not to like a place...i.e. I have no desire to go on a cruise, but I'd never get nasty with my cruise loving parents and say it's an awful vacation, but to bash a place due to ignorance and poor planning is just pathetic.

 

[princesssatheart]

When we were there in January, we studied up on closures and completely planned our trip like we do every year. BTMRR was closed and while I waited for my family to go on Splash you would be surprised by the number of people that were looking for the entrance to BTMRR. They were shocked that it was closed. There is this big wall in front of it and the whole family ran over to get fast passes and they were like what's wrong??? Seriously folks, you spend a lot of money to go to Disney...why don't you plan??

In my opinion, it is because people expect the world to revolve around THEM, and not the other way around. Planning is key to enjoying all that Disney has to offer, but if they choose not to, then they should only be upset with themselves............Oh, wait that goes against their mentality.....let them stay home and leave the good times to us!