When You Take A First-Timer With You . . .

[donna in Oz]

. . . . . do you generally make an effort to show them ALL the attractions?? (Within reason . . . I wouldn't make a 50-yr-old ride Dumbo!! )

We almost always have someone in our group who is new to WDW, and I can never decide if I'm doing them a favor by showing them Disney's best at a slightly slower pace, or if I should allow them the privilege of choosing their own favorite attractions and try to hit them all while pushing them along . . . . . When asked, of course they say they want to see everything. They just don't realize how BIG everything is !!


Thoughts??? Anyone been a first-timer in this situation??

 

[wdwnut]

hi: we've taken many first-timers with us. depending on the ages, we usually just give them a birnbaum's guide well in advance and ask them what in particular they want to do. we adjust accordingly.

 

[SeaWitch]

When I went for the first time (almost 8 years ago) I was in my late 20's and my DH and his entire family had been to 'the world' many, many, many times (you know those DVC'ers!)

They asked me what I wanted to see... what types of rides I liked and reminded me that I WOULD be coming back! Although I did make a few of them get up early for EE days and move a bit quicker than they normally would... I think the fact that they went at MY pace was the best part of it.

As DVC members ourselves, we have had opportunities to take along many 1st timers. Although I tend to overload them with information... and probably get a bit too excited we try to move at their pace and do the things that interest them... and it seems to work well. So have fun - the best part about taking 1st timers is just seeing the look on their faces when they see the castle for the 1st time or the characters, etc. - PRICELESS!

 

[mcnuss]

We are taking SIL, BIL & their 3 kids in October. My BIL has been to WDW once -- in 1974!! The rest have never seen it. We have been there more times than I can count bc my mother lives just an hour away. I was just on Amazon and ordered them several guidebooks. We've told them that we are at their command. We have nothing that we **have** to see anymore, and we want them to have a great time.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

I make an elongated trip report every time I go, more than anything as a diary sort of thing.

We always try and talk someone into meeting us for a couple of days. We're meeting a couple from Georgia in June. I'm greedy and want to do what I want to do. So I got them 3 day hoppers from Ticketmania. I sent them copies of my trip reports, and of course links to this board, plus Mouse Planet and Deb Willis's site. Finally, I sent them my old Passporter. I also sent them my agenda, so we'll do what they want to do, but not disturb my plans (that's the greedy part).

I've asked them to read through the literature and tell me which days they'd like to join us, and what they'd like to see that's not on those days. I also make suggestions on what they should not miss. And I try to plan a PS those days (usually lunch) that I think they'll like, as I find most people haven't a clue about restaurants until they've been there once or twice and caught "the fever" enough to research the restaurants.

This couple is about our age (40ish) and will join us two days plus one on their own. They went to MK ten years ago (nothing else, just MK for two days), and want to see "the new stuff." So on Sunday we're taking them to Epcot and we have a 12:30 PS at La Cellier, plus reservations for Behind the Seeds tour (all my wife's friends are biologists). I'll take them for a tour all morning and then cut them loose for an hour at 11 am. We'll eat lunch and spend the rest of the day together, winding down with Illuminatiosn.

Monday we'll take them to MGM, with a PS at the Prime Time 50's at 1:30. Again, I'll cut them loose for an hour (noon) and meet them for lunch. We'll play the afternoon by ear, do Dinner at the Brown Derby at 5, then see Fantasmic (I hope!).

In both cases, I've noted things they want to do, and things they didn't mention but I think they'd like to see. Where it differs from my regular plan, I fit it in.

Tuesday we'll meet at TL. Wednesday, they're off to AK. I think that's a fairly simple park to do on your own, and the nature walks are fantastic for these biologist types!

Hope that helps,

Pat

 

[maciec]

Dh and I went with a first timer several years ago and we decided that we DO NOT have the patience to every do it again. They just wouldn't listen to anything that we had to say about things to do.

Examples: We told them to go see Fantasmic .... never did .... we couldn't believe it. Everyone should see Fantasmic on their first trip in our opinion. Second example, they just flat out couldn't make up their minds what they wanted to do. We wasted more time waiting for them to decide.


There were other things that we suggested that they do on their first trip and they didn't listen to ...... they wanted to wing it. No guide books, no research, just show up and do Disney blind.


What it boils down to is if you don't have patience I don't suggest going with a first timer!

 

[eeyore65]

I agree with the patience. We went with first-timer's BIL & SIL with little kids...2 and 4. We told them to be sure to do EE to Magic Kingdom. You can do all the Fantasyland rides in that first hour - no waits - important for that age group. We had our 2 yo with us and were planning to do the same thing. "we will meet you at Dumbo at opening time" We were at different resorts. Well - they never showed, never showed. DH and DS did all the rides while I waited - it was also a holiday. Well - they show at 9:30!!!!! "We just couldn't get the kids out of bed. Why are all the lines soooo long....we can't wait that long!" ARRRRGH! I could go on and on what a disaster this trip was, missed PS's with no call from them, long waits, ugh, never again with them!

Just went with other first timers with a 2 yo. We had our now 3 yo. They followed our lead to a T - they got to see and do all age appropriate activities, even trusted us when we said it was a good idea to get a "fairy godmother" babysitter to enjoy an adult evening. We had a great and magical time, we can't wait to go with them again and they can't wait to come back.

I guess it depends......