[mouseof4]

a friend of mine went to WDW from 12/27-1/2 they are a family of 5 but there were 14 of them total

they stayed at POR said it was nice weather was good etc etc.
I asked her about were she ate they had NO ressies for ANYPLACE . she was saying everyplace we tried to eat was full no surprise there. they did not do grand gatherings either which I guess would of been a big help to them.

I said you did not charcter meals or anything -NOPE they ate in there rooms for breakfast and then ate sandwhiches the rest of the time with the exception of a few counter meals. her dh is rather tight with money shall we say so I knew when he saw a beer would be like 5.00 he would choke. She on the other had is not so frugle with cash.

She said it was awesome there but next time they know better. I was telling her what we were doing meal plan arrive on a value date not a holiday rate etc etc. I said if i would of known that you had no ressies set up I would of told you .

You would think though when 14 of you are going out to eat you may want a reservation! especially at the holidays

that old saying applies live and learn

[DereksMom713]

Wow! They'll definitely know better for next time. Did they at least enjoy themselves?

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by mouseof3

You would think though when 14 of you are going out to eat you may want a reservation! especially at the holidays

that old saying applies live and learn

Wow! 14 people and no ADRs during the busiest season? That gives me the willies to think about!

Well I'm glad they had a good time anyway, next time their trip will be even better! (Especially if you help them plan it with your Disney know-how! )

[mouseof4]

they thought everything was really nice . they liked bugs life, and the Nemo show or what have you. she thought it was all really fun but they basiclly ate out of a backpack .

She was telling me her Dh was all annoyed with the air fare being 350.00 a person for 5 people. what do you think its going to be when you do it last minute and don't shop around!

I felt bad for her there little girl never got to have a charcter meal not usre she was bothered by it but I would want to do it and I am 35 yrs old!

Why go on vacation if your not going to spend a little I say, but I have to remember that her Dh again is tighter then you know what!

I used to baby sit for them until there kids were all in school. she paid we every week the same amount. then a few times he would stop and pick up and pay me he would give me the 3rd degree everytime . my god after watching your kids for 4 years do you really think I am going to ripe you off!
finally the wife told him pay her this much and stop with the drilling!

I just can not get over it 14 people and no ADRS that just scares me so bad!

to think your at WDW eatting a pbj sandwhich cause you had no ADRs and your dad won't buy you a burger ! good lord!

[Jen]

OMG ~ 14 people and no preplanning at christmastime?

I couldn't imagine going to disney any time of the year without knowing where to eat, but honetly, I'm only like that because of mousebuzz.

My entire extended family are disney lovers. Three of my mother's bro and sisters are DVC members. But they are still a little uneducated when i comes to planning their trips.

We were all together this past weekend at a party and we were talking about my upcoming trip and my uncles wife says "you get your dinner reservations before you get there?" And they've been DVC members for 5 years!

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by mouseof3

to think your at WDW eatting a pbj sandwhich cause you had no ADRs and your dad won't buy you a burger ! good lord!

Yeah um.......that really sucks.

Good grief, DH and I are 22 and we would die if we didn't at least get a character meal out of a Disney trip!

[mouseof4]

It was also odd when she said well we all did EVERYTHING park wise together. So if everyone did not want to do it then they did not do it -YUCK! sounds like a buss tour group to me not vacation!

they were not inteserested in the 5 year old things so they did not do it. what a ripe off for her! like she wanted to do the same thing the 65 year wanted ? probably not always but she had to I guess. it was a all or nothing either we all or no one.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by mouseof3

It was also odd when she said well we all did EVERYTHING park wise together. So if everyone did not want to do it then they did not do it -YUCK! sounds like a buss tour group to me not vacation!

they were not inteserested in the 5 year old things so they did not do it. what a ripe off for her! like she wanted to do the same thing the 65 year wanted ? probably not always but she had to I guess. it was a all or nothing either we all or no one.

Awwwwww that's a bummer for the little one. Makes me want to take her on a trip and let her enjoy all the things made for kids her age!

[daisyd]

I am amazed at how much ther is to learn about WDW before that first trip--and all the stuff to learn after it!

I suppose the silver lining is that they are going to go again! I can imagine someone being so turned off and frustrated by a trip like theirs and not want to go again (I guess in this case it's a good thing her DH didn't expect to dine out!). Considering the resort rates are the highest when they were there, I bet it still wasn't a cheap trip.

[KarenT]

The first time I went to WDW with DH was early December of 1998. We went for 3 days with no ADRs and then went to Marco Island.
Anyhow we were lucky that it was value season and some places were booked for peak times, but we were able to eat at TS. We had no clue to make ADRs ahead of time.
Now many trips later, we know better!

[llama]

Well - at least she said they had a good time. I hope she'll do some planning next time.

Our neighbours went a few years ago - I offered to give her some tips and was politely refused (they didn't like "structure") Well, you guessed it, they had a horrid time - which of course she inferred was MY fault. Never got to the parks until noon, refused to wait in lines, no character meals. She even blamed me cause it rained! But what really irked me was that she went around here telling everyone she couldn't BELIEVE that we kept going back there (like we were simple or something).

I'd venture a guess that at least 50% of the people at WDW are exactly the same - which makes it kind of good for us - they don't come back.

[ddoll]

At least they had a good time. A lot of people would have been so upset with that, that they would not want to go back. I guess when you don't know what you're missing, you're fine with it.

Wait'll they do it next time the RIGHT way! lol

[DereksMom713]

My best friend and her family went a couple years ago. She refuses to return. She said she had a horrible time and found that there was very little to do. (That part I find hilarious.) And, she too asks me why I continue to go back and what exactly is it that I enjoy.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by packerbeth

Wait until you have a little princess to take to a character meal! We will be taking our dd5 & dd7 to their first princess meals this month. I can't wait! They'll be all dressed up in their princess costumes, after being all dolled up at BBB.

Oh that will be wonderful! Take lots of pics!!!

I am so excited to have a princess to take to character meals!

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by llama

I'd venture a guess that at least 50% of the people at WDW are exactly the same - which makes it kind of good for us - they don't come back.

That's true!