Newbie Not Wanting Advice

[ThinkTink721]

My family & I have taken several trips to WDW in the past few years.
We have had numerous friends & co-workers who have decided to visit & they have asked us for advice in planning from time to time.
Recently, my hubby had a co-worker who decided to take his family to WDW for the first time.
When my hubby began to give suggestions on places to dine, etc...the co-worker said that his wife wanted to plan the trip with no help at all.
My hubby tried to give some pointers, but they were not taken, so he just gave up.
I remember planning my first family trip to WDW...we actually contacted a travel agent & got tons of suggestions on dining, resorts, etc.
I still take advice from people when planning WDW trips...that is one reason why I use these boards.
Unfortunately, the co-worker's wife made an error when booking an ADR for 'Ohana...she typed in a party of 2 instead of a party of 4...I told my hubby to tell them to keep the reservation, call & explain...they may have been able to keep it...but, they cancelled it instead...now they have no ADR for 'Ohana.

Has anyone else had a similar situation?

 

[Master Yoda]

Has anyone else had a similar situation?

Yep. It use to bug me, but now I just let them burn and use the Sheldon Cooper phrase "I informed you thusly" when they come back complaining.

 

[ddbowdoin]

My mother-in-law swears she'll only return to WDW if she has me plan her trip... her husband is certainly a more shoot-from-the-hip guy. He doesn't realize you can't just stroll into a restaurant and expect a table, albeit a wait or not.

In a positive news, they recently sold a piece of property and "are considering DVC for when grandkids come around"

I'm pretty stoked on that!

But, I get my fair share of people who just know it all, then come back and complain DISNEY isn't that much fun.

 

[WDWmazprty]

I'm not listening! I don't need your help. NO HELP!

 

[JIMINYCR]

When folks return home and they either say, " I wish I had taken your advice" or "Boy, you were right, I'm glad we took your advice" I smile and say "Yup, it pays to listen to someone with experience". Ultimately, those who refuse to listen have to learn the hard way.

 

[ddbowdoin]

When folks return home and they either say, " I wish I had taken your advice" or "Boy, you were right, I'm glad we took your advice" I smile and say "Yup, it pays to listen to someone with experience". Ultimately, those who refuse to listen have to learn the hard way.

" I mean, all we ate was chicken fingers and fries the the whole week..."

still want to make fun of me for calling 180 days in advance...

 

[NYwdwfan]

But, I get my fair share of people who just know it all, then come back and complain DISNEY isn't that much fun.

THIS is what bugs me. I don't really care much one way or the other if they take my advice. It's their vacation and they can plan (or choose not to) and it really doesn't affect me one way or the other. But when they come home complaining Disney is exhausting and asking WHY ON EARTH does my family go back every year, I can't help but respond that it's NOT exhausting because we know what we're doing!

 

[Mawg]

I had some friends going to DCA, I told them get in the fastpass line for Racers as soon as the park opens, it will move fast once it starts moving no matter how long it is. They came back and I asked how was Racers, "We never rode it but we got some nice pictures of it", Why didn't you ride it. "The fast pass line was too long and we weren't going to wait for a long time just for a FastPass, so we decided we would go straight to the ride, the line was already over 1.5 hrs". Well why didn't you get the Fast Pass the second day. "we got there even earlier right at rope drop and thought we could beat everyone to the ride, when we got to the ride it already had a 1.5 hr wait."

 

[Weather_Lady]

I can't imagine how anyone who is spending thousands of dollars on a vacation wouldn't want to find out all there is to know about how to maximize the value they're getting in return.

Perhaps these advice-shunning newbies are just a new kind of hipster! You're just not edgy enough to appreciate their style. They want to tour Disney World in their own way, not "selling out" by relying on actual maps, guides and the advice of other human beings, like their fathers did. They won't make ADRs: instead, they will mosey around until they discover "obscure" restaurants that don't even take ADRs (don't even ask - "you've never heard of" those restaurants), will purposely restrict themselves to visiting unpopular attractions, will swear that their skinny jeans are totally comfortable on a 90-degree day, and refuse to use extra magic hours because "everybody else is doing it". When they get home, they'll write a crappy indie rock song about what a miserable time they had.

 

[ddbowdoin]

THIS is what bugs me. I don't really care much one way or the other if they take my advice. It's their vacation and they can plan (or choose not to) and it really doesn't affect me one way or the other. But when they come home complaining Disney is exhausting and asking WHY ON EARTH does my family go back every year, I can't help but respond that it's NOT exhausting because we know what we're doing!

people think I'm crazy... I've about quit explaining myself

 

[luv]

As someone who has a lot of experience with this, I'd advise you to stop trying to help people, especially once they say they don't want help.

If they come back with complaints, just say, "That's too bad."

If they press you for why you like it, say, "I go enough that I expect that to happen and plan around it."

You'll save yourself a bunch of unfortunate emotions this way.

But you're free not to take the advice!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

It is sometimes SO hard not to give advice... especially when you're being asked for it... but I'm reaching that point with a coworker of mine. Twice now she's said she's planning to take her kids and asked me for advice etc. and twice I've answered and tried to help. This last time (just last week) she was telling me she wants to plan a trip in December. She wants to take her two kids who are 3 and 5 (PERFECT ages). Her in-laws keep telling her they are too young and to wait until their older. For an hour I kept trying to prove to her how wrong they are but I checked in with her Monday and guess what... she's waiting until they are older. I tried to explain that 3 and 5 are the perfect ages for Disney and if she waits much longer the 5 year old is going to hit the "I'm too cool for Disney" stage and won't want to go when her in-laws (apparently) think they should be ready.

I am now at the point where next time I'm asked I'm just going to say "ask your in-laws who haven't been in 20 years."

 

[Phonedave]

Somtimes people want to find things out for themselves. Either they want to be totally suprised when they get there, or they want to do the research themselves and do their own planning. This applies to a lot more than just WDW trips.

I remember my first wedding. EVERYONE was trying to give me advice, unsolicitied advice. If I wanted somones advice I would ask for it. I did not need people tellng me "this is what you have to do ....". A lot of people ed me off leading up to that wedding.

If I hear of people going to WDW, I will say "I have been there a lot, doing some planning ahead can help, if you want to know anything ask me" and I leave it at that.

-dave

 

[Nemo14]

I offer advice if they want it, and I'll answer questions, but I pretty much let people do their own planning.

 

[Phonedave]

It is sometimes SO hard not to give advice... especially when you're being asked for it... but I'm reaching that point with a coworker of mine. Twice now she's said she's planning to take her kids and asked me for advice etc. and twice I've answered and tried to help. This last time (just last week) she was telling me she wants to plan a trip in December. She wants to take her two kids who are 3 and 5 (PERFECT ages). Her in-laws keep telling her they are too young and to wait until their older. For an hour I kept trying to prove to her how wrong they are but I checked in with her Monday and guess what... she's waiting until they are older. I tried to explain that 3 and 5 are the perfect ages for Disney and if she waits much longer the 5 year old is going to hit the "I'm too cool for Disney" stage and won't want to go when her in-laws (apparently) think they should be ready.

I am now at the point where next time I'm asked I'm just going to say "ask your in-laws who haven't been in 20 years."

Now see, this is where you can get into trouble. How well do you know her kids? Better than her in-laws do? My step daughter went for the first time at 7, 5 was way too young for her. She gets very nervous with new experiences. She would not have enjoyed WDW at the age of 5. However at 7 she was more than happy to go, and in no way though she was "too cool". My kids were going since around the age of 1. My kids have no problems with new experiences. You can throw them into any situation and they do fine. It all depends on the kid.

You may be right in this case, or you may be wrong. Her in-laws may not be as knowledgeable about WDW as you, but I hope they are more knowledgeable about her kids.

-dave

 

[Spikerdink]

When people tell me they are going to Disney, I get almost as excited as if I am going myself...

I try to give them some quick pointers, ideas....and tell them if they want/need more information to let me know and I would be happy to come to their house and share what I know.... this past spring I had 5 other people with me (mostly semi-newbies) who said that they never would have seen half of what we did if I hadn't planned it out. One of thier relatives, upon hearing this said that when they go again, I can plan the trip for them!

Guess that's why my nickname is Disney Dave.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Now see, this is where you can get into trouble. How well do you know her kids? Better than her in-laws do? My step daughter went for the first time at 7, 5 was way too young for her. She gets very nervous with new experiences. She would not have enjoyed WDW at the age of 5. However at 7 she was more than happy to go, and in no way though she was "too cool". My kids were going since around the age of 1. My kids have no problems with new experiences. You can throw them into any situation and they do fine. It all depends on the kid.

You may be right in this case, or you may be wrong. Her in-laws may not be as knowledgeable about WDW as you, but I hope they are more knowledgeable about her kids.

-dave

All true... the piece I should've mentioned is she has also told me each of her kids want to go badly and she doesn't feel they are too young. I think she just doesn't want to overrule the in-laws.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I have someone that works for me know that is planning a trip for Presidents week and I tried to get him to sit down and talk a little so that I could point him and his family in the right direction. Well they want to go and wing the vacation and do not believe that a vacation needs to have any detailed planning. So all I can say to him is "good luck and enjoy your vacation".

I remember my first trip to WDW in the early 90's. My wife and I picked up the Birnbaums guide and decided to wing it from there. Well without internet to gather information we were shocked. We had quite the trouble getting dining reservations since we were young and naive. We had never travelled and it was a rude awakening. In the end we dined @ Tony's and Poly Luau with the rest being CS meals. Today is far worse with dining reservation out 6 months and now FP reservations to be starting soon. A trip to WDW needs to be well thought out and planned long before leaving home in order to maximize your vacation which makes it tough for the rookie WDW vacationer if they are not willing to ask for help.

After visiting WDW more times that can remember and being on these boards nearly everyday for 9 years I still learn about new ideas and facts about Disney each day.

 

[Phonedave]

All true... the piece I should've mentioned is she has also told me each of her kids want to go badly and she doesn't feel they are too young. I think she just doesn't want to overrule the in-laws.

Ah, OK. Makes sense. I would still stay out of it though. Maybe her in-laws are paying for part of the trip.

-dave

 

[ddbowdoin]

if you don't plan, and are going during a high season... this is how your trip will go...