In-laws first trip and they can't understand why we need to plan

[MDJones]

My DW, DD and myself will be spending five days with my mother in law, father in law, sister in law and her 3 kids (ages 5,6,9). We will be spending June 10th thru 14th in parks. We will be arriving and leaving one day before and one day after. We just can't make them understand the importance of educating themselves before we get down there, much less trying to formulate some type of plan. Really have no idea how to get them to understand the size and complexity of WDW. As a matter of fact, they believe they will be able to see everything in those 5 days. I've explained to them that they need to do some research and decide what are "must-sees". On top of that, neither mother or father in law can stand to do a lot of walking. Trying to get them to rent scooters, but they really think they can handle it. We have been to WDW many times, so I'm not too concerned about us missing something, and I know we will be back in the future. This will probably be the in-laws only time. Any ideas on what I can say or do to convince them that to at least educate themselves about what there is to see and do?

 

[Master Yoda]

In situations like this you pretty much have 2 choices.

1. Plan for them. This is usually the easiest thing to do. The only real problem will be with credit card guaranteed dining reservations. If you make any ADRs that require a credit card I would put them at day 2 or beyond. You should be able to get a sense if they will use them based on what happens on day 1. If it looks like they look like they will not keep them, cancel them.
2. Let them burn. Don't plan a thing for them. Make your own ADR's and let them deal with a 9:00 PM dinner at Marrakesh for 3 nights in a row.

If you like you in-laws and wish to save them from themselves go with option one. If your in-laws make your life hell, go with option two and relish in the "I told you so" moment that will happen about halfway through day 2.

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

From your second post, explaining a bit more, it sounds like they haven't and won't learn from their own experiences. All you can do is figure out how you think you'll react to what you expect their behavior will be. You can lead a horse to water, but don't beat your head against a wall when it won't drink.

 

[Obi]

Buzzcrush, we have already talked about some points you mentioned. This trip really is for the in-laws and nieces and nephew. Our daughter is 16 and has spent 31 days in WDW. We did most of the character meals when she was little. Also, my in-laws are footing the bill for themselves, sister-in-law and her kids. Budget is a concern, so most (maybe all) will be counter service. That makes the planning quite a bit easier.
At this point, I'm asking them to let me know which attractions are a must see for them, and trying to tweak customized touring plans to eliminate as much walking as possible. My wife, daughter, and in-laws visited my parents in FL a couple of months ago, and my FIL couldn't make it around Gatorland without taking several breaks, yet he thinks he is going to walk around WDW.
Luckily, we are staying at Art of Animation, so we can (and will) go back and take afternoon breaks. I don't mind being the fastpass runner, so that will also help. Honestly, however, we could be at MK at the front of the crowd for rope drop, and 99% of the crowd is going to beat us to our chosen starting attraction. We live in the Greater Cincinnati area, and they all really think that WDW is really just a glorified amusement park ala King's Island. Can't even get them to understand the difference in ride philosophies, i.e. don't want to ride anything too jerky, or fast, or upside down.
So far, my favorite comments have been FIL, "We will have time to sit down and rest on the rides, right?". FIL, "Will we have time to take the kids to Gatorland?". FIL, "We want to see everything". Sister in law, "I don't understand why you have to plan, why can't you just show up and go?". I say these not in meanness, this is just what I'm running up against.
Actually, my wife and her family are not prolific decision makers, either. If we don't have a touring plan, I could see us being one of those families who stand smack dab in the middle of Main Street trying to decide on what to ride first. I wind up being the decision maker by default way too often, aw heck, who am I kidding, almost all of the time. That is another reason why we need a plan before we get there.
Enough of my ramling, it will be fun, and we will have a good time, I just wish I could get them a bit more involved.

born and raised in cincy.... been to kings island many times. sadly, i don't live there anymore and i do miss many things, including larosa's...
it's hard to explain to someone, who hasn't been to disney world, that it's not like kings island or any of the other amusement parks....

i would try to plan as much as you can for them. might try going to a book store and getting a disney world travel guide book for them. there are several good ones that may help them to understand how planning ahead can make for a much better, and more relaxing, trip to disney world.

 

[Rob562]

I'd show them maps of every park and the property in general. Tell them it's twice the size of Manhattan and tell them if you don't plan things like ADRs you'll be eating fast food for the entire trip.

My suggestion on trying to get the scope and size of WDW through to people is to go on Google Maps, print out an aerial view of the WDW property (or at least the main parts of it). Circle the theme parks, Downtown Disney, maybe a few other key points.
Then find an area on Google Maps they know themselves very well, presumably their hometown. Zoom out on the map until it's about the same scale as the WDW map and print that out.

Lay both of them down in front of them so they can compare. It's one thing to say "Disney World is 42 square miles", it's another to say "if the Magic Kingdom was downtown Anyville, Epcot is downtown Elsewhereville, the next town over" and that there's just trees and swamp in-between.

-Rob

 

[HouCuseChickie]

While I've never been quite in this situation, I have had difficulty getting through to my own parents about how much planning is involved. Which is really kind of funny when you think about it, since they took my brother and I MANY times between 1985 and 1997. Still, I was trying to convey to them a whole different world of WDW planning...between staying onsite, EMH, ADRs, hopping, etc.

I hit a point where I realized it wasn't going to sink in. I made the choice to plan for them and added in contingency plans - just in case - for a few areas of worry. I would think that mobility would be one of your biggest concerns here. While I've never rented a scooter, I know there are several places off site (Walker Mobility keeps coming to mind). You might consider reaching out to them and seeing how easily they could accomodate you if the inlaws decided mid-day that the walking was just too much. I've heard good stories like this with wheel chairs, so maybe they'd be able to do the same with a scooter or two? Beyond that...try and structure ADR bookings and park plans based on things you think they might like...and since it will be June, try and anticipate them not realizing how much they'll need to hydrate, sunscreen, ponchos, first aid kit, etc.

 

[BUZZCRUSH]

Buzzcrush, we have already talked about some points you mentioned. This trip really is for the in-laws and nieces and nephew. Our daughter is 16 and has spent 31 days in WDW. We did most of the character meals when she was little. Also, my in-laws are footing the bill for themselves, sister-in-law and her kids. Budget is a concern, so most (maybe all) will be counter service. That makes the planning quite a bit easier.
At this point, I'm asking them to let me know which attractions are a must see for them, and trying to tweak customized touring plans to eliminate as much walking as possible. My wife, daughter, and in-laws visited my parents in FL a couple of months ago, and my FIL couldn't make it around Gatorland without taking several breaks, yet he thinks he is going to walk around WDW.
Luckily, we are staying at Art of Animation, so we can (and will) go back and take afternoon breaks. I don't mind being the fastpass runner, so that will also help. Honestly, however, we could be at MK at the front of the crowd for rope drop, and 99% of the crowd is going to beat us to our chosen starting attraction. We live in the Greater Cincinnati area, and they all really think that WDW is really just a glorified amusement park ala King's Island. Can't even get them to understand the difference in ride philosophies, i.e. don't want to ride anything too jerky, or fast, or upside down.
So far, my favorite comments have been FIL, "We will have time to sit down and rest on the rides, right?". FIL, "Will we have time to take the kids to Gatorland?". FIL, "We want to see everything". Sister in law, "I don't understand why you have to plan, why can't you just show up and go?". I say these not in meanness, this is just what I'm running up against.
Actually, my wife and her family are not prolific decision makers, either. If we don't have a touring plan, I could see us being one of those families who stand smack dab in the middle of Main Street trying to decide on what to ride first. I wind up being the decision maker by default way too often, aw heck, who am I kidding, almost all of the time. That is another reason why we need a plan before we get there.
Enough of my ramling, it will be fun, and we will have a good time, I just wish I could get them a bit more involved.

Wow we are from Cincinnat also [Anderson Twp] my in-laws live in Middletown. Small world I think you have the right idea, just plan for them - they'll get it once they are there as my in laws did. Honestly the first time we went to Disney we really didn't "get it" either. Even though I read everything I could and like to plan we did not make one ADR. I just figured people were exaggerating that all the restaurants were booked. I'm mean really who makes restaurant reservation 180 days out? [now I know better]. I'll never forget the hosts face when we walked up to Le Cellier at 3pm to see if we could dine without a reservation. HA. Now we know, but at the time we thought - what restaurant would be full for dinner at 3pm in the afternoon?? In October! Our feet were blistered also, we did think to take moleskin. Now we "train" for our trip. Luckily my in laws are pretty go with the flow so I handed them my spreadsheet and said this is what we are doing and you can go to some, all or none as you please. Some days they did it all, some they did nothing. I had asked them umpteen times before the trip if there was anything they really wanted to see and they always so "no". I think they enjoyed themselves and they did say it was nice to go with someone who could be tour guide as it was very overwhelming. I really think whatever you plan for them they'll be thrilled with.

 

[Figgy1]

My DW, DD and myself will be spending five days with my mother in law, father in law, sister in law and her 3 kids (ages 5,6,9). We will be spending June 10th thru 14th in parks. We will be arriving and leaving one day before and one day after. We just can't make them understand the importance of educating themselves before we get down there, much less trying to formulate some type of plan. Really have no idea how to get them to understand the size and complexity of WDW. As a matter of fact, they believe they will be able to see everything in those 5 days. I've explained to them that they need to do some research and decide what are "must-sees". On top of that, neither mother or father in law can stand to do a lot of walking. Trying to get them to rent scooters, but they really think they can handle it. We have been to WDW many times, so I'm not too concerned about us missing something, and I know we will be back in the future. This will probably be the in-laws only time. Any ideas on what I can say or do to convince them that to at least educate themselves about what there is to see and do?

Good luck. Get them a copy of the unoffical guide and HOPE when they see the size of the book they will understand. Make dining reservations now if possible. You can always change them but at least you will have an eating plan.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Oh wow. Like other posts are saying I'd basically just do the best you can to plan for yourself and plan for them. They're in for a rude awakening with no planning! Sorry, i know This is probably stressful. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Hulacat]

I would look up actual size dimensions of WDW & show them. Also, we used our pedometer on our Disneymoon this past April & we walked anywhere between 8.9 and 12 miles per day- and we didn't do anything like crisscross the parks or purposely walk farther than necessary.