Not Following DisneyWorld Suggestions out of Spite?

[WDW-LUVR]

Back in 2005 my Husband and I brought a party of 10 to WDW, my sister being 1. I did all the planning ressies ADR's. I tried to include my sister in the planning and she would just clam up and made comments to our mom "I don't understand why we have to plan everyday and have ADR's, why cant we just wing it?" Party of 10 winging it:ROFLOL:The trip was a blast,so much fun and lots GREAT memories that my husband and I brought that same party 10+2 more back last. So again I had was doing all the Planning but this time my sister was all on board for the planning and even was explaining to people that if you don't Plan and make your ADR's you wont get done everything you want to.

 

[disney4life2008]

Yes I have experienced and it makes me had. I have went as far as to plan several family trips for friends day by day/minute by minute. I give them every piece of advice I know. All of them have went against my suggestions and then complain about everything. So now, I do not offer assistance anymore. If you ask, I will suggest people have to learn the hard way.

I envy those that think they can attack WDW in the dead heat of summer and have a great time without sticking to a prepared plan. I am not that person!!

 

[nepalostparks]

Imagine the gall, wanting to plan their own vacation! What's wrong with these people?! Seriously...Isn't exploring and discovering the parks with your family part of the fun? Sure you could save them some time here or there but there's something to be said for spontaneity.

Same here with spontaneity we didn't plan a thing. We stop and ate when we got hungry sometimes it was at 3pm other times it was 2pm with sometimes not at all lol.

Never waited more than 20 mins in line, never had to wait to eat lol but then again the places I ate was the "fast service" places outside of Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe.

But maybe it's because I went at the last two weeks of October. If you guys don't mind me asking but for this big planning trips when are you guys going to WDW?

Spontaineity is a good thing. Unfortunately, at Walt Disney World, especially in the summer or during holiday weeks, is not all that conducive to being spontaneous... at least with everything.

Planning isn't for everyone, that's sure. And people can OVER-plan their vacation to the point it ends up being an endless march from one place to the next. But with Walt Disney World being 4 large theme parks, 2 water parks, over a dozen resorts, many with entertainment and dining options, 2 miniature golf courses, Downtown Disney, etc... to show up with no planning can lead to a lot of disappointments, whatever the time of year.

A lot of people I've spoken with (but not all) who didn't put any effort into planning complained how they missed so many things, were often hot and tired, argued about where to go or what to see next, etc. A little pre-planning would have done them a world of good.

As for not accepting advice, especially in the original poster's case, all you can do is laugh it off and tell them "hey, I tried to help"! :lol:

 

[disneycouple07]

Oh my goodness you are so right. My mother-in-law told my hubby last trip that she would never go on a trip with me because I plan things and it is too stressful to actually decide in advance where you will eat. It made him really apprehensive about the trip... afterwards he told me he didn't know Disney could be so fun and that it was great to know that at a certain time we would sit down, if he got drenched he had dry clothes, what park he would be going to each day, etc. He thought the planning made the trip less stressful... go figure! And now he is the one who says we will never take his family with us on vacation because they don't know how to plan!:ROFLOL:

First, all mother-in-laws must be the same. Sounds like one of the many reasons I don't invite my MIL on our vacations :lol:. Anyway, I love to plan our dining reservations. I feel like it gives us a "structured plan". There's so much to do in such little time, I need a plan so I won't stress out or walk in circles through the parks. We get the most out of our once-a-year WDW trip!

 

[UberPlannerMom]

For all the spontaneity people out there- you should know that what I do is what I call loose planning. We know what park we are going to. We know which areas we would like to accomplish (based on what is going to get us to our ADRs without going out of the way.) We know where we will have our sit down meal and when. We also have our clothes in ziplock bags as entire outfits. I do this with all the outfits, both what we will put on in the morning and what we will bring for if we get wet. That bit of planning makes those zombie mornings actually work... just grab a bag and put on what is in it! HAha! We are loose, but I don't say at 9:02 ride Dumbo, 9:07 get peter pan fastpasses, 9:08 ride it's a small world, etc. Just saying, you can have spontaniety AND planning!

 

[UberPlannerMom]

First, all mother-in-laws must be the same. Sounds like one of the many reasons I don't invite my MIL on our vacations :lol:. Anyway, I love to plan our dining reservations. I feel like it gives us a "structured plan". There's so much to do in such little time, I need a plan so I won't stress out or walk in circles through the parks. We get the most out of our once-a-year WDW trip!

I actually got along really well with my mother-in-law for a long time, but there are jus some things that we do NOT have in common. Hubby did tell me today that he thinks we could handle a Disney cruise with them since we wouldn't actually be together for anything and if they showed up to dinner or the shows, well great but otherwise who cares?! HAha!

 

[cmatt]

pfft - the only planning we do is around our bellies in the evenings and also what day we are visiting - the rest is done by sauntering till find find something to do.


anything else - is, in my mind - not a holiday and sounds more like hard work. Getting so worked up that you were unable to control and dictate to someone how they should take their holiday - is pretty childish.

 

[Rora]

For those who offer help to others. Do they actually ask for your advice? I ask because I've tried giving unsolicited advice before as well. And when they ignored me I realized that I can come across as a know it all when it comes to Disney. I'd probably ignore someone like that too. Now, I just say that I know a lot of things that might make their trip easier. IF they want it. Or I suggest the trip planning books, or the internet. That way the ball is in their court, and I don't have to waste my time/breath. I think some people get a charge out of being a know it all though.

 

[GMRO]

My advice is not solicited. Never is.

I'm usually somewhere and a newbie says, "Hey you guys have been to Disney a lot - can you tell me: where's a good place to eat; what park should we hit first; and where's a good place to stay? Where do you stay?"

About 1 min into the first answers the conversation changes. Usually the conversation changes to "we'll we are not going to hit all the parks anyway. Bla bla bla bla on their side."

OK fine, don't I never said you had to. So I just don't offer anymore and keep very general. I never say YOU GOTTA PLAN THINGS TO THE 10TH DEGREE. REMEMBER you asked me. I never jump in and say, SO you’re headed to Disney - let me give you some pointers...

Now-a-days I just tell them where we stay and since we don't travel with kids my advice would not fit their needs. Personally I could write a book on what NOT to do with kids after seeing all the magic run out at 1PM per cranky kids in strollers at the parks.

So really don't ask if you don't really want good info from folks who have had really great vacations and experiences at WDW. YES it's your right to not follow any advice given so you can explore and experience it all on your own. BUT don't come back and tell me what a bad trip your family had per the crowds and all about the pricey items. You only have youself to blame...

 

[L Fisher]

Someone asked me for advice one time and of course didn’t comprehend all that was said and came back complaining. Any how from that point on I decided not to even bother helping anyone. However a good friend of mine was taking her kids to WDW and wanted some advice. She hasn’t been to Disney since the 80’s and knew I’d been recently and wanted to meet for dinner to get help planning their trip. I was so shocked she had all the park maps printed off, list of restaurants, etc ..They were staying off property so I did explain off/on perks so she was aware...However she wrote all the info down that I suggested. What rides to hit first, adr, etc. I received an email from her after they returned from her trip and she was very grateful for all the advice and did everything I suggested. She plans to go back in a couple of years. She even said if you don’t have ADR you’ll have to wait.
I’ve learned from experience never to help plan any trips for extended family members because they always think they know it all.
When my family goes down it’s 13 of us. My sister her family, mom/dad, and my family. My sister and I do all the planning. However I’ve learned you can plan but you can’t plan the outcome.

 

[cowanfamily]

I'm not going to drop $4,000 on a trip and not plan a little. Especiallyif this is a first trip.

 

[L Fisher]

I'm not going to drop $4,000 on a trip and not plan a little. Especiallyif this is a first trip.

That is so true. When we go on vacation we not only do WDW for 8 or 9 days we stop at St. Augustine, Kennedy Space Center, Seaworld, and next time we're adding IOA to the list. However we do all the others before WDW because we don't want to leave park property to go to another park.

 

[Master Yoda]

I'm not going to drop $4,000 on a trip and not plan a little. Especiallyif this is a first trip.

You would be surprised at how many people do exactly that and then blame Disney for their bad time.

 

[NYwdwfan]

Family and friends always mock me - and yet call me incessantly for advice when planning. My favorite was friends that cound not comprehend making ADRs 180 days in advance...and then called me flabergasted when the only open time for Chef Mickey was at 11:30 am (they wanted dinner). They called in June, for an August trip, 3 days AFTER free dining was announced in August. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?!?!?

 

[WDWFanatic]

I guess i've been lucky so far when i ask if they need help planning. I usually get the OMG I am so glad you told us to do this or that. I even get calls on my cell at work saying "hey we are going to peter pan now, walk me thru how to do a fast pass again"? Im always glad to help.

 

[mp2bill]

Yes people are stupid :shrug:

People are stupid.

 

[LoriMistress]

I let friends and family know that I'm willing to assist them with any planning. If they choose to use my assistance, they'll approach me. If not, I'm fine with that. Some people don't like to "plan" for their vacation, let alone plan to visit an amusement park. If these people like to play it by ear, that's great. I wouldn't get upset over your friends who choose not to follow your advice. Remember, it's their vacation. If your friends start complaining about long lines, not having ADRs, etc. then I would casually mention, "Well, if you took my advice, there would be no reason to complain."

 

[cslafferty]

For all the spontaneity people out there- you should know that what I do is what I call loose planning. We know what park we are going to. We know which areas we would like to accomplish (based on what is going to get us to our ADRs without going out of the way.) We know where we will have our sit down meal and when. We also have our clothes in ziplock bags as entire outfits. I do this with all the outfits, both what we will put on in the morning and what we will bring for if we get wet. That bit of planning makes those zombie mornings actually work... just grab a bag and put on what is in it! HAha! We are loose, but I don't say at 9:02 ride Dumbo, 9:07 get peter pan fastpasses, 9:08 ride it's a small world, etc. Just saying, you can have spontaniety AND planning!

That's pretty much how we handle it . . . although if I did the outfits in ziplock bags thing, my family would probably have me committed!!

If someone asks for my advice/opinions concerning a WDW vacation, I first ask them what kind of experience they're looking for - laid back, spontaneous, counterservice meals when ever they get hungry, or do they want to experience some of the great table service restaurants . . . because you can't have it both ways anymore. If they're looking for a laid back approach, then they don't really need me. I'll suggest a couple of websites, a resort in their price range, any special deals I know of, and a good time to go, and leave it at that.
When we first started going (when my kids were kids) we did it that way, because our first priority were the rides/attractions. Getting food was kind of a necessary evil! We would schedule one or two character meals, but everything else was on the go. We learned as we went, and exploring it on our own was part of the thrill. We would make mental notes of what we wanted to do next time, and that would guide our future planning.
This time we'll be travelling in Aug. with only one of our now adult children, and our focus is not so much on the rides anymore, but trying some of the table service restaurants that we've never had time to try before. That necessitated making ADR's for two meals a day, which really ties us down to a schedule. Not sure how this tight schedule is going to work out, but it's another new experience for us!

 

[mike10]

That's pretty much how we handle it . . . although if I did the outfits in ziplock bags thing, my family would probably have me committed!!

If someone asks for my advice/opinions concerning a WDW vacation, I first ask them what kind of experience they're looking for - laid back, spontaneous, counterservice meals when ever they get hungry, or do they want to experience some of the great table service restaurants . . . because you can't have it both ways anymore. If they're looking for a laid back approach, then they don't really need me. I'll suggest a couple of websites, a resort in their price range, any special deals I know of, and a good time to go, and leave it at that.

Yea my wife would have me committed as well lol. For us it was just wake up throw your clothes on and let's go. Lol, not that quick of course.


That's us right there we don't do any table service since we know that ADR is going to be required and we want a vacation not work away from work. But outside of Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe which both I don't think you need a ADR we really don't do much of the table service.

When I was planning my trip in October I did it in the span of 2 weeks before the plane ride lol that is how much I'm spontaneous. I did ask the CM who I spoke to over the phone how the table service would be and they did say for that time of the year you MAY wait up to an hr but usually about half an hr. I was like if that's the case we wait that long around here for Olive Garden so no big deal to me if it's Disney.

But for your comment if you want a laid back trip then forget the table service I agree with that 100% ESPECIALLY if your planning on going during one of the busy times of year. For me I usually go during the dead time so I never really worry about it.

 

[L Fisher]

I understand IF you’ve traveled to Disney a lot and do the spontaneous things without planning that’s fine it’s what you like to do. However you’ve been there a lot and you know what to expect. My issue is when someone ask for advice that hasn’t been to Disney then doesn’t even bother doing any of your suggestions and then return home to complain about almost everything. I find that irritating. I mean why ask for help?
So from now on I tell people I’m excited for them and make no more comments about Disney. If they really want the help they’ll ask for it, and will have a pen and paper ready to write things down.