Why, oh Why Dont they Listen???

[Turn the Page]

A friend of mine asked me this spring to help me plan a trip to Disney World for her family. It would be a family of 5. The parents and three boys ranging in age from 5 to 9. She was trying to go for as cheap as possible. She doesn't care if it's hot, she wants it with the smallest crowds possible and doesn't care if the kids miss any school. They are planning to drive down and take two days to do it each way. She only wants to take one week off work. She also said she wanted to stay off site because she wasn't paying any more than $70 a night but she wanted a hotel with a shuttle to the parks because she doesn't want to drive anywhere. She wants to leave Friday after work, arrive Sunday evening, go to parks Monday-Thursday, leave Friday and get back home on Sunday. 5 days of driving for 4 days in the parks seems miserable to me but whatever. Also, she wanted to spend no more than $2000.

In those parameters I suggested she go in the first half of September. I said if I were her I would hold off for a bit and see if there would be a free dining offer, which historically there is free dining offered during that time. Given her family size she would need to stay in a moderate because the value rooms only sleep 4 (except the family suites which are expensive) during free dining. I talked her into that and we sat tight for free dining dates to be released.

I stayed on it and the day they were released I spent hours running different configurations of dates and resorts and found the best deal for her. She came over that night and, as you all know how that roll out went. The system was crashing left and right and half the time if the system didn't crash it told me there were no rooms available etc. I finally got the right dates and a good deal and told her if she wanted it she needed to book it now. She says "well, let's wait awhile. I'll book it next week." It ain't gonna be there next week.

She did not end up booking the trip which bugged me since I had spent so much time on it.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I did the same and got the same results. She has now created her MDE account and is searching for herself. She asked me about DisneyDiningBuddy. I just cant justify paying $8 per reservation you want searched when you can search for free yourself. Guess I need to fill her in that you have to have your tickets purchased and linked in order to book those fastpasses at 30 days.

If her happiness is dependent on these reservations then paying 8 dollars is well worth it.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I think A trip is what you make it. If you temper your expectations you will have a good time despite the ADRS. I planned like ancient last time and had every ressie and fp that people find important and had a miserable time. Next time I'm only planning 1 day and I'll have a much better time. I think the mistake is expecting too much.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

We get these threads often.. And what I don't get is why does anyone really care?

Ok we know better.. Well many of us are obsessed with WDW on this forum so naturally we would know 10 times more than your average person about WDW.

I do get the urge to give advice and want to help them.. I get that. I've been there myself a few times and what happens is someone will ask a couple WDW questions and I answer and then their eyes glaze over and I can actually see them disconnect from the conversation. Most people get overwhelmed and then tell themselves there is no way a WDW trip can be THAT involved or complicated and that I am just some uber, crazy planner and they will be ok just doing it their way.

At that point I don't care.. And just let it go. It's their money and their time and maybe things will be ok for them. Not everyone who goes to WDW plans like they are invading a small island country, and many of them end up having a terrific time anyway!

I don't get coming to this forum to tell everyone about this stuff. I'm sorry I just don't. I'm not saying you shouldn't start a thread like this, I am simply saying I don't understand why anyone would. What difference does it make to anyone if someone won't listen to advice about WDW? If you aren't traveling with them and it's not your money does it truly matter at all?
Ok.. Some of us are practically experts at WDW, and if we planned others vacations chances are they would have a truly magical trip .. But.. It's like we need to discuss that in length and feel sorry for the poor souls who don't know better... Lol

poor unfortunate soul

 

[jacksgirl]

Yea, everyone thinks I'm crazy for the amount of time I spend planning our WDW trips. But we are taking my parents down for the first time in November, and I'm confident that we will have a good trip. WDW is overwhelming enough for first timers without having to worry about finding a table at a restaurant or standing in lines for hours unnecessarily. WDW is the amazing vacay on the planet, IMO, but only if you plan well. Otherwise, it can be a nightmare.

 

[Mamato2cutekiddos]

This was my first thought while reading through this. The reason first timers or infrequent visitors don't know this is because no other vacation requires this level of effort. You can put less effort into planning international travel than going to Disney. If it wasn't something you do all the time who would believe you have to know where and what you want to eat 6+ months out and know what you want to try and ride 2 months out? Look at the level of workarounds and tricks that people who go all the time go through to get things and you're surprised that novices don't know what they should do? Even if they ask there is the issue of disbelief and being overwhelmed. If someone doesn't plan and gets there with struggles there is always the chance they are willing to try it again with more planning. The real problem is when you have a new person that ties to plan and things still don't line up where maximum disappointment sets in.

The biggest issue in the OPs story isn't that the travelers don't know anything but that they are paying someone who has no clue how to advise them.

I think this is key. We leave on Wednesday and I have nothing planned. Nope. 1 ADR and that's it. We are staying off property and only doing 4 days in the parks + MNSSHP. Since we are off property I didn't even bother trying for FP+ because I knew there wouldn't be anything left... but that's the thing. I already knew they would be gone. I know if I decide tomorrow to do a character dining I won't find anything. But at least I know that and I can set my expectations accordingly.

We have 2 options- wait an hour to see Anna and Elsa or we don't meet them. But at least I expect this and I can plan accordingly. Advise the kids it's giong to be a long wait (they won't care and we will still wait). Because of the limited FP+ for 30 days out, we just added an extra day at MK to compensate. Easy peasy. We are also doing a stripped down vacation this time. Just parks- no extra frills. We stayed off site for this reason. As much as we love Disney DH and I are both very overworked and need some (a lot) of downtime. Thankfully having our own private pool in the backyard is exciting enough for the kids that we don't have to do 10 days at the parks, like we've done in the past.

I'm afraid your friend will be in for a rude awakening, especially if the travel agent has promised all these great features and doesn't know how they work.

 

[Mamato2cutekiddos]

We have family members with small children heading down next week for their first trip ever. The temps. look like 90 to 95 with 100% humidity and they have made so many rookie mistakes. They have never even mentioned fastpass plus and say they are going to "wing it". The funny part is that we have been going to Disney every year for as long as I can remember and consider ourselves very knowledgeable about Disney World. I haven't said anything because they think they have it all figured out. I will just sit back and wait until the complaints start when they get home. I couldn't believe they didn't ask us one question.

We are also headed down next week and have no FP+ reservations (at least for anything with a long line- they were all gone). I've been monitoring the ride times and the highest I've seen SDMT was 50 minutes at peak hours. They are going during low crowd times, it's not going to be a disaster.

Have you considered that maybe they want to go with the flow and not spend time running all over the park in an attempt to get to their designated FP ride/attraction? Not all people enjoy that type of vacationing. We sure don't (which is why we choose low crowd times to go). Some people enjoy going at their own pace and taking it all in. Just because you don't enjoy it does not mean they are wrong, or that their vacation will be a complete disaster.

As for questions- do you know for certain she hasn't been spending lots of late nights up on pintrest or reading blogs? She may have done lots of research. Just because she didn't come directly to you doesn't mean she is clueless about her vacation. I have a close friend who goes 1-2 times a year and I didn't ask her for advice because her family's vacation needs and wants are different from mine. So I did my own research, paired with previous trip experiences.

 

[WIcruizer]

WDW doesn't require more planning than a lot of other vacation choices. Sure, if you just want to go to Cancun for an all-inclusive, that's easy. But most vacations take a lot of planning if you want the most out of your trip.

Our last trip was a cruise, and took more planning than WDW. (Partly because a WDW trip becomes 2nd nature after a while.) With our cruise, flight times were more important and needed to be more precise. Find a hotel the night before. Figure out how to get to/from the port. We needed to book any signature restaurants in advance, then figure out where/when we wanted to dine each night. What excursions to book. Packing took waaaay more planning, many more wardrobe changes.

Guess what we learned? A lot of people didn't do much planning. They didn't know you needed to book a rez at the steak house, they booked dinner way too early, lots of other mistakes we heard and over-heard that wouldn't have happened with a little research.

My point being, WDW is no different. Some people just don't like planning, or I'm sorry but they're just not bright enough to Google. If you're going ANYWHERE on vacation and just show up, you get what you get.

 

[DisneyGuy758]

People DO get BOG all the time. I've gotten it for 2 trips within a month of the trip. One of which was during free dining. You just either need to be flexible or check often. I'm not sure why everyone thinks these reservations are IMPOSSIBLE?! The last time we ate at BOG, we made friends in line and they had made their reservation the night before for a 6:40 reservation....

I do understand that it's not impossible...but my friend might not know to, or want to, keep checking every day and every hour to see if something has opened up. I have an ADR in October that I consider myself lucky to have.

 

[pmaurer74]

I have had that happen too and people usually come to me for their Disney planning advice but I feel like I am going to be the one out of the loop when I go to Universal in June. I have been to WDW 9 times and Universal none, I will read up on it but I doubt I know everything involved. I will say though for our first trip 5 years ago, I did months of research ahead of time and knew a lot before going in but it is worse now.

 

[ttintagel]

At least you're not going WITH WDW newbs who refuse to believe you about what the parks are like and the benefits of planning some things ahead! Boy, was that trip a shock and disappointment for my disbelieving friend!

 

[dkrauss]

A friend of mine asked me this spring to help me plan a trip to Disney World for her family. It would be a family of 5. The parents and three boys ranging in age from 5 to 9. She was trying to go for as cheap as possible. She doesn't care if it's hot, she wants it with the smallest crowds possible and doesn't care if the kids miss any school. They are planning to drive down and take two days to do it each way. She only wants to take one week off work. She also said she wanted to stay off site because she wasn't paying any more than $70 a night but she wanted a hotel with a shuttle to the parks because she doesn't want to drive anywhere. She wants to leave Friday after work, arrive Sunday evening, go to parks Monday-Thursday, leave Friday and get back home on Sunday. 5 days of driving for 4 days in the parks seems miserable to me but whatever. Also, she wanted to spend no more than $2000.

In those parameters I suggested she go in the first half of September. I said if I were her I would hold off for a bit and see if there would be a free dining offer, which historically there is free dining offered during that time. Given her family size she would need to stay in a moderate because the value rooms only sleep 4 (except the family suites which are expensive) during free dining. I talked her into that and we sat tight for free dining dates to be released.

I stayed on it and the day they were released I spent hours running different configurations of dates and resorts and found the best deal for her. She came over that night and, as you all know how that roll out went. The system was crashing left and right and half the time if the system didn't crash it told me there were no rooms available etc. I finally got the right dates and a good deal and told her if she wanted it she needed to book it now. She says "well, let's wait awhile. I'll book it next week." It ain't gonna be there next week.

She did not end up booking the trip which bugged me since I had spent so much time on it.

I think the issue here is "You" did all the work.......your friend wasn't that vested in it........since she didn't plan it. She gave you parameters (pretty steep ones if you ask me) and "you" ran with it........most likely because you love WDW and really like helping folks plan thier trips. Unfortunately, your friend doesn't feel the same about WDW ....which is how many folks are. I'm planning a trip with my brothers family at this time for Nov 2016. Now my wife and I are going no matter what......but the chance to have my brother and his family (wife, 1 daughter, 1 son) along is so appealing. I'm trying to work out Savannah view at AKV (on me!). The problem we face is I need to get my brother to meet to discuss how we'll do this and to confirm a date, which is hard for him in his business. I have explained we need to set the date now, at a minimum, to secure the DVC Rental in time...........we'll see what happens........but my wife and I are still going. I'm trying to include them (get them vested in the trip) and help them along but when it gets down to it they may be on their own.......or not even go.

I guess my point is you can't make folks love WDW like you do..........they need to come to it at their own pace.......they need some ownership in the planning. You we're being helpful and giving with your time........but in the end you can lead a family to Disney but you can't force them to make the reservation........on your love of Disney alone.

Anyway........with only wanting to take a week off and driving 2 days each way..........they were gonna spend more time in a car then they were on Disney property

Doug

 

[Turn the Page]

I think the issue here is "You" did all the work.......your friend wasn't that vested in it........since she didn't plan it. She gave you parameters (pretty steep ones if you ask me) and "you" ran with it........most likely because you love WDW and really like helping folks plan thier trips. Unfortunately, your friend doesn't feel the same about WDW ....which is how many folks are. I'm planning a trip with my brothers family at this time for Nov 2016. Now my wife and I are going no matter what......but the chance to have my brother and his family (wife, 1 daughter, 1 son) along is so appealing. I'm trying to work out Savannah view at AKV (on me!). The problem we face is I need to get my brother to meet to discuss how we'll do this and to confirm a date, which is hard for him in his business. I have explained we need to set the date now, at a minimum, to secure the DVC Rental in time...........we'll see what happens........but my wife and I are still going. I'm trying to include them (get them vested in the trip) and help them along but when it gets down to it they may be on their own.......or not even go.

I guess my point is you can't make folks love WDW like you do..........they need to come to it at their own pace.......they need some ownership in the planning. You we're being helpful and giving with your time........but in the end you can lead a family to Disney but you can't force them to make the reservation........on your love of Disney alone.

Anyway........with only wanting to take a week off and driving 2 days each way..........they were gonna spend more time in a car then they were on Disney property

Doug

It was very strange. We were visiting with each other one day and out of the blue she said "I need you to help me plan a trip to Disney with the boys." I said sure and we started talking about it and she seemed really excited. I set her straight on some of her parameters like there was no way she was doing it for $2000 and did point out that she would spend more time driving there and back than she would spend actually there but she said she didn't care. She refused to fly and refused to drive through the night.

I'm not sure what the deal was. I'm not sure if she was just dreaming and had me do all this so she could get an idea of budget for a future trip or if she thought I could do all this then wait until the very last minute to actually book it thinking everything would still be available or what. She told me in June that she just bought a house so "I may not be able to take the boys to Disney in September."

It was just strange.

 

[IncredibleboysMom]

So funny to find this thread:
I took a walk with my neighbor yesterday. She casually says she's hoping to talk her hubby into a Disney World trip.....Dec 29-Jan 4 . Furthermore, they are a family of 5 and she wants to go soon before her youngest (who is 8) will be out of the princess phase and "won't think it's cool to eat in the castle." She asks me about how much it will cost including the dining plan and says "2 or 3 thousand?" I gently encourage her to look into staying off site and sent her a few links to Windsor Hills townhomes. Saw her briefly again this morning and felt obligated to say that they should really make a decision as dining reservations are already going to be slim. She says they are waiting to see how much her husbands bonus will be. I ask when they will know...."the first week of December" she says and still mentions eating in the castle. Whadda ya do???

 

[BradChristian]

Why does it bother me? Because this was me in 1976 when I was in 6th grade on our family's only trip to Florida over Christmas. Couldn't find a hotel room anywhere near DW the night before we were to be in the MK, so the four of us slept in our car in some parking lot. It was pouring down rain. We wandered around the whole day, and I think I recall us going on one attraction, everything had like 2-3 hour waits and my parents weren't willing to wait for anything. It's a pretty sad memory for sure. I'm now a big planner and our little family has had AMAZING trips due to all I have learned here. I am so grateful!

Powerful story... Reminder the good ole days weren't always grand.

 

[cisco911]

This is the kind of stuff that makes be upset. Our friends were planning a trip to Disney and my buddy did not want to go at all because all his coworkers said that it would the worse vacation he would ever have. The lines are brutal, can't eat anywhere, its just burgers and fries everywhere, etc. I tried to convince him that as long as he planned it properly, it would be fine. I gave up on convincing him and just helped the wife plan everything. Needless to say they all had a blast and even though he likes to play it all tough that it was an "okay" trip, I know he had fun and enjoyed it. These people all probably went down with no plan, stayed off site, etc and got screwed out of a good experience by themselves.

The truth is that now a days, to do disney properly, you need to plan and book things.

 

[kay1864]

Since we are off property I didn't even bother trying for FP+ because I knew there wouldn't be anything left...

Even trying for FP 1-2 days in advance is better than taking the leftovers on day-of AND better than standing in line at the kiosks.

Plus some people cancel a day or two in advance (if their plans change, and they need to avoid the ADR charge), so some FPs do open up. Either way, better to avoid the kiosk lines.

 

[MrInfinity]

The truth is that now a days, to do disney properly, you need to plan and book things.

If you said The truth is that now a days, to do disney the way I do disney, you need to plan and book things, I would buy that. But since everyone's view of the proper way to do Disney is different, there is not necessarily such a need. Evidenced by so many on this thread that simply do not plan and book to the same extent. I really don't think you have to plan and book things if you're just not into that. I encounter all sorts... from the ppl who will plan every minute, every ride, to the ppl who will show up and walk into the park and pick a ride, or maybe stop and take pictures during the first 10 min. I'm kind of in between.

 

[Accident]

Another coworker then chimes in about going Dec 28 to Jan 5 with her 4 small children. No they dont have a hotel reservation yet or anything else for that matter. And she says, "do you think there will be any discounts for last minute bookings?".... Nope.

The last month there has been nice last second deals and i'm getting almost harassed by discounts. I don't they will be around for that time if they wait longer but right now there is deals for them.

It was AP specific but I almost stayed an extra couple weeks with an insane last second value resort deal while we were there. only reason I'm home is it disappeared before I was ready to take it.

 

[JimmyV]

But since everyone's view of the proper way to do Disney is different, there is not necessarily such a need.

I agree, to a point. While everyone's view of the proper way to do Disney is different, I think we should be able to reach a landing on the fact that there are at least some minimum thresholds that are absolute. Like actually finding a hotel room and not sleeping in a car per Carrie's post above. Or like going to WDW and actually getting in the park as opposed to having it be capacity controlled with you on the outside looking in. Or like getting into the MK and being able to enjoy at least 6 attractions that day, (assuming that this is a first visit and everything is new to you). And while these objectives are easily met 355 or so days a year with no planning required, there are going to be around 10 days where some level of planning and booking is going to be necessary to reach even the most modest goals. I have a friend who told me last year (on December 10) that she was thinking about taking her family to WDW between Christmas and New Year's. I asked her if staying at a nice hotel was a priority because I know the way she typically travels. She said yes. For her, it was Deluxe or nothing. I asked her if waiting in 110 minute lines for popular attractions was something that she was prepared for. Nope. I asked her if eating at the popular restaurants was a goal. Yes. I told her to contact Dreams Unlimited to see if any cancellations had opened up for any cruises during the time she wanted to travel, because her family could have a great time on a cruise, but that she would be miserable at WDW. It wasn't a question of her not being able to replicate any trip that I would have planned. It was a question of her not being able to meet any of her own personal goals. She would have been one of those people who came back and said: "I don't get why people go year after year. That place was awful."