No one will help me pick!

daisyduckie

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
How do you pick a resort when the rest of your family won't help? I'm trying to plan a trip for 7 of us, and no one else will offer a firm opinion! I'm getting a lot of "All the resorts are nice" and "It doesn't really matter to me" and "Wherever is fine". Grr.

The only think I know is that one of my family members is not that fond of the values, but will stay at them if pressed. Another family member really likes them! And another family member is fairly tall, so anything with a queen bed (family suites or moderates and deluxes) would be good.

Do I just toss all the resort names into a hat and pull one out? :banghead:
 

ginadee

Well-Known Member
Those all sound like good answers to me. You get to pick what you want. Seems easy. If you want a firm opinion from 7 people they are probably all gonna be different and then its stress and frustration time. Sounds like you got it made right now. Pick whatever you want and no one is gonna be able to complain if they don't like it because you did ask. I would actually love for no one to want to help if I plan a trip. LOL :)
 

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
As much as I want to say...say to heck with them all and pick for you...you'll likely have to hear about it during your trip if any of them aren't pleased with your selection. You don't need to be hearing it when you're trying to enjoy your trip...so, here's what I'd do.

I'd definitely start by making a short list of the resorts that interest you the most and then start weeding them out based on group preferences. I mean, even if they won't give you any real opinions, you surely know the people going and can make some considerations based on their personalities. Ex. if I were picking a resort for my family + my parents + my brother...I'd narrow it down to my top 3 for me, and then I'd start making a list of the pros and cons I could see for my dad and my SIL- i.e. the two pickiest ones in our party.
 

daisyduckie

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Maybe the problem is that I'm so indecisive, which is not like me at all! CSR is nice, and they have the door that sections off the sleeping area from the beds. I'm the only one out of the group that has stayed at POFQ, so it would be nice for the rest of them to try a new resort, and I know my sister would like the small size. I just don't know which way to go or how to decide!:arghh:
 

jlsHouston

Well-Known Member
If you are thinking a mod, I would pick CSR and request Cabana Section

If you are thinking a deluxe I would pick an EPCOT resort for if you are going during summer or F&W, otherwise I would pick AKL or WL.
 

unkadug

Follower of "Saget"The Cult
  • Make a list of all the resorts that you would like to stay at someday.
  • Cut the list into individual names and throw the names in a bowl
  • Pick ONE name out of the bowl
  • Problem solved
 

stevehousse

Well-Known Member
I would pick one value, one moderate, and one deluxe and then give them the option to choose from those 3, prices included. That way instead of just flat out asking where everyone wants to stay(with over 20 resorts I can see that might be why they don't care, that's a lot of resorts to choose from), they can make a choice from a smaller list. Give them a timeframe to choose and is still no one cares or replies, choose which one u want to do the most! If they complain, o well. U have then plenty of time to choose...
 

Nubs70

Well-Known Member
I would pick one value, one moderate, and one deluxe and then give them the option to choose from those 3, prices included. That way instead of just flat out asking where everyone wants to stay(with over 20 resorts I can see that might be why they don't care, that's a lot of resorts to choose from), they can make a choice from a smaller list. Give them a timeframe to choose and is still no one cares or replies, choose which one u want to do the most! If they complain, o well. U have then plenty of time to choose...
In addition, I would also supply a general price for each option. That way the noncommitted can see the cost associated with their noncommittal.
 

stevehousse

Well-Known Member
I would pick one value, one moderate, and one deluxe and then give them the option to choose from those 3, prices included. That way instead of just flat out asking where everyone wants to stay(with over 20 resorts I can see that might be why they don't care, that's a lot of resorts to choose from), they can make a choice from a smaller list. Give them a timeframe to choose and is still no one cares or replies, choose which one u want to do the most! If they complain, o well. U have then plenty of time to choose...

In addition, I would also supply a general price for each option. That way the noncommitted can see the cost associated with their noncommittal.
 

MaryJaneP

Well-Known Member
Had the same problem with getting 7 families to decide where we wanted to stay as a group. Never reached a consensus. Eventually we just had everyone choose their own resort since they would be responsible for their own costs and because stays were not exactly concurrent.

I like the ideas mentioned above about telling everyone the costs (estimated) and you being the leader by choosing 1 from each category. You could even state why you think there are advantages to the 3 choices you mention. However, they have to commit, with their money, to decide on their resort or you risk never hearing the end of their stay at "your" choice.
 

rnese

Well-Known Member
I like stevehousse's idea. Pick one of each level that YOU like and then let them choose from the three. You win and they still get to choose.
 

zurgandfriend

Well-Known Member
My advice is sit them down explain the pricing and show them the vacation planning DVD or slideshows at allearsnet.com and make them decide then and there and get them to commit. Trust me I speak from experience.
My in-laws did a “grand gathering” a few years ago. I attempted to get everyone in one resort but no one agreed on resorts or more importantly pricing. DW, DS and I stayed at the Contemporary, brother in law #1 and family stayed at the Polynesian. Mother in law and sister in law stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter and brother in law #2 and family stayed at Pop Century, except for his daughter who decided she wanted to stay at the Contemporary with my family.
I’m sure a cattle drive on the Chisolm trail was easier than herding these people together 2 or 3 times a day. Worst trip ever.
 
Last edited:

coltow

Well-Known Member
When ever we go with friends/family we always price out one resort in each category first then we see which works best for everyone. We've done this 4 times. 3 times we were able to go with a moderate and our next trip we opted for 2 extra nights at a value instead
 

WDWoptmist

Well-Known Member
When in doubt go to WL...it isnt my absolute favorite by I dont think I've ever met anyone who was really didn't like WL and are you going with kids or adults? how many? how old? If the group is older than I'd stay in an Epcot resort!
 

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
As an attractive "middle of the road" choice, I'd recommend either of the Port Orleans resorts, particularly if anyone wants to spend any time at Downtown Disney. They are both nicely refurbed and even offer a "sleeps 5" option (the Alligator Bayou rooms with the child-sized Murphy bed) -- it just depends whether you want spread-out or condensed. With a larger group, you'll appreciate the larger rooms, in-room coffeemakers, queen beds, dual sinks, privacy curtains, etc. that are found in the Port Orleans resorts or, in the alternative, Coronado Springs. (If you want "togetherness," don't forget to ask for connecting rooms -- two standard rooms with a door between them that you can open when you want to mingle.)

As others suggested, however, you'll be served well by first calling a family meeting and [forcibly] educating the group about their options. This is an almost business-like occasion in which everybody sits down together, watches the planning video and looks at hard-copy handouts listing pricing and amenities -- so that everyone is literally on the same page, and has a chance to "suddenly remember" particular accommodation preferences when you make the pitch for the resort(s) you think are best. (When I have such meetings with my family, I also distribute Disney planning dossiers to each household, with a proposed rough itinerary of which-parks-on-which-days, a Dining Preferences Survey so I know what ADRs to make for the group and what allergies to note on our reservations, an Attractions Preference Survey for FP+-making purposes, so I know who-can't-ride-what, and even a MagicBands survey so I know each person's preferred color and moniker. Overkill? Of course, but everybody loves it because it takes much of the guesswork and stress out of the planning, spoon-feeds necessary information to the group and gives me a chance to indulge my rampant OCD and my former-teacher tendency of Making. Handouts. For. Everything. ;)) Although you should emphasize to your family that things like park itineraries and even some ADRs are flexible, can be changed later, and can be opted-out-of by anybody at any time, they should understand that the meeting is the time to "speak now, or forever hold your peace" about the resort choice.

My family is the same way as yours when it comes to planning -- for the most part, they like me to make the plans, and their attitude is "I don't care about the details: I'll just show up and have a good time no matter what." This works for us only because when they say, "I don't care -- I'm happy with whatever," they really do mean it. :) I still make them go through the family meeting so they feel invested in the decision-making, and in your case, you'll also want to stave off the potential objections of any in your traveling party who might think, "I'll pretend not to care, but once we arrive then I'll suddenly have an opinion about everything and criticize the plans that were made on my behalf." Then you can say to them in return, "You can't criticize or pretend to be surprised -- it was in the handout." :D
 
Last edited:

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom