Why don't they plan?

[jjarman]

I just found out one of the attorneys I work with is going to WDW on his honeymoon. They are getting married this weekend. I don't think they have planned anything. All I know is they are staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort. What should I tell them? They have made no plans that I know of.

 

[OhMari]

I wouldn't say a word. They are on their honeymoon-maybe go get the mouse ears with the bride and groom on them as a fun going away gift, with a little note attached about small perks.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

They don't plan because they don't know to plan. The first trip I made to WDW I didn't plan either. Boy, you can bet I did the second time (and the third, and the fourth, and the fifth, and the...)

 

[luvsTink]

Maybe also on of the smaller versions of the unofficial guide...maybe "the unofficial.....without kids". I am sure they are too busy now, but maybe on the plane or something

Anne

 

[Mortlives]

I would think that the one time you would definitely not want to be tied in to any itineraries would be your honeymoon.

I think they've chosen a lovely hotel for it, so they must have done some research.

Perhaps you could give them a UOG as a wedding gift. That way, if they have any questions, they'll have answers. Otherwise, just emphasize the importance of reading the materials they're given. They should be fine.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

They don't plan because they don't know to plan. The first trip I made to WDW I didn't plan either. Boy, you can bet I did the second time (and the third, and the fourth, and the fifth, and the...)

Same situation for our honeymoon. Neither of us had been to WDW in YEARS. We didn't really plan anything out and missed out. Although, I'm not sure if I would have listened to anyone's advice prior to the trip anyway. Perhaps if I were given a good guidebook (like the Passporter), I would have woken up to the possibilities. I'm grateful I found the DIS.

 

[Jillpie]

What I do with everyone I meet (even strangers at the public library once!), is take one sheet of paper and write down the top five or six things to absolutely not miss...they include:

l. Fantasmic
2. Spectromagic parade (find out for them when it will be showing, write it down)
3. Festival of the Lion King
4. Wishes
5. Illuminations

Tell them to use the early entry parks. Get up early.

Let them take it from there. But if they don't know the really good things to see, they'll never see them if they "just play it by ear".

 

[Tigger&Belle]

What would they need to plan for their honeymoon? I think they have their hotel so they've pretty much covered any planning. Or is that "uncovered" any planning?

T&B

 

[stinkerbelle]

I don't think you necessarily need to plan everything to have a good Disney vacation. We've "gone by the seat of our pants" and had great trips. (our september one, we didn't plan 1 thing, didn't make 1 PS...and had a great time.)

sometimes, if you over-plan, you get to the point where you have such a structured day you feel as if you are just running around checking things off a list...much like running errands at home. That's not a vacation to me.

Yes, we have quite a few things planned for our trip this week (as we are taking DH's family with us and want them to expierence certain things)...but we have some days with NOTHING planned...

JMO

 

[missypie]

Getting up early...on a honeymoon? Not likely. The good thing is that the parks shouldn't be too crowded. If anything, tell them about FastPass.

 

[crisi]

I might warn them that it may be difficult to stroll into a restaurant in WDW without a reservation. Don't know about anyone else, but on a honeymoon I like something sit down.

I might, at this point, mention that the parks are pretty big - it might not be a bad idea to pick up the maps they will have at the front desk of their hotel or a guidebook to read on the plane and decide what they will do the next day the night before.

Personally, with a week to plan - Birnbaums. UoG is too big and intimidating. Passporter is for planners (it will make it seem like they can't have a good time). Birnbaums is relatively small, lots of pictures, and really upbeat (perhaps too upbeat).

 

[PratersloveDW]

sometimes, if you over-plan, you get to the point where you have such a structured day you feel as if you are just running around checking things off a list...much like running errands at home. That's not a vacation to me. JMO

I have to agree with this. Not all the time, mind you! I do like to have a game plan; however, for our honeymoon we didn't plan anything until we got there. Your honeymoon is not the normal Disney trip. You never know what you are going to want to do from one day to the next. I would let them know some things that they may really enjoy, mention a few nice restaurants and make sure they know that each day they would like to go to a nicer restaurant, they make priority seating that morning and tell them it is there honeymoon. This way, they can play it day to day but still have some planning. Also, letting the host know it's their honeymoon, Disney usually will do something special or at least give them are GREAT seat. And one more thing, remember you can always mention the DIS. They can get some great ideas from many wonderful people - I know I have learned a lot form everyone on here!

Disney is a great place to Honeymoon! Hope they enjoy!

 

[oogieboogie]

Do we know for sure this is their first trip to WDW ever?

If they've been there prior to marriage, maybe they already know what they're going to do. If it's their first time I can see how they don't plan because they can't concieve of the necessity in some planning.

I would simply mention to them some of the top things to do and remind them to make their PSs and be done with it.

Perhaps they're going thru a travel agent and the agent is making their itenerary for them.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I agree, I always avoid reccomending UOG to newbies, the cartoons alone would put me into a negative frame of mind!(they alos make me slightly nauseous but that is a whole nuther thread!)
At this point give then Birnbaums for the airport!

 

[HenDuck]

I would just say, "Hey I've been there a bunch of times. Let me know if you need any help or suggestions." Or "I love ___". Just drop a few hints, but don't overwhelm them because they're probably already overwhelmed with the wedding. If they don't take the bait, don't worry about it.

I often have to hold my tongue when I hear what my friends have planned (or not planned) when they go to Disney. I just don't say much and let them tell me whatever they want. If they ask for help, I give it. If not, not.

Like other posters have said, they're on their honeymoon, so maybe they have special "plans" of their own.

 

[kylara]

If they haven't asked for your help, I would just start offering them suggestions. As someone else mentioned, ask if they would like some suggestions of what you think are "must see" items. It could be they don't want to plan since it is their honeymoon.

I know that when I went for my honeymoon (years ago), I didn't plan a thing...didn't want to plan a thing...and couldn't have concentrated on planning anything since the wedding took most of my time. As a present, my mom got me and my (now ex) husband the official guide and we looked at it on the way down. She has also talked to our TA (yes we did the TA package plan) and made sure that she supplied us with information about Guest Services so we could make PS's when we checked into our hotel...right after check-in, we went to guest relations and took care of the PS's for places that looked good in the book. But besides those PS's nothing else was planned and we just did what we felt like doing.

Another suggestion for a guidebook would be WDW for Couples...it has a nice section on romantic things to do.

 

[Chuck S]

Some people hate overplanning trips. I'm personally amazed that there are so many detailed and expert planners that post about it here.

We usually wake up in the morning, decide what park we want to go to, and call Dining to see if we can get a PS at one of our favorite restaurants around lunchtime. We're usually, but not always successful, and when we can't get into our 1st choice of restaurant, we've always been able to book a 2nd or 3rd choice...so no big deal.

As far as the honeymoon couple, ask them nicely if they have a "special" restaurant in mind or if you could help them with any PSs for their trip. If the decline, don't push the issue, they may prefer a more relaxed style of vacation.

 

[mom2rb]

The only book I read was "Disney for Couples" before my honeymoon. It is also the only book I would have read at that time. There where no pictures of kids ( my life has changed). The book is small enough to read on the plane and it has lots of info. They can make PS when they get to their room. They can eat late so it shouldn't be too hard. I would buy the book and give it to them a little bit before the wedding so it won't get lost.

 

[Chicago526]

I would at least find out if they know what Fast Pass is. If they don't, then explain. If they really haven't planned anything, Fast Pass could make or break their park touring days.

 

[Mymatisse]

One thing I enjoyed most about our honeymoon is the fact that we weren't bound to a ridgid schedule. If you want to be helpful I think the best thing you could do is give them the restuarants guide or just a list of some nice romantic places to eat and make sure to clue them in on priority seatings. The dinners on our honeymoon were wonderful, and we even got free desert at Artist point to celebrate!