[hiner]

their first WDW trip.

After our trip to WDW in May, my bestest friend in the whole wide world, and her family, had decided to go to WDW. So I gave her The Ultimate Guide and Passporter to read, along with an old planning video because I could not find my planning DVD. They saw the video and returned it with the books, which she did not read. I made her take the books back. This was in August. I have since found the DVD and gave it to her a few weeks ago. Now she calls me last night asking all kinds of questions and wants me to help her plan her trip, but she still has not read the books or watched the DVD. I told her that she needs to research because I did not want to hear, after they returned, what a horrible time they had. Not only that, I want her to get a feel for what to expect. I finally talked her into taking the books to work and reading them at lunch. They are going to watch the DVD hopefully this week. She does not have internet access at home and it is hard for her to get it at work. So she wants us to go on line together.

Ok, now they are huge amusement park people, which I told them that WDW is nothing like those parks. Not as many thrill rides. She is also very money concious, as we all are, but sometimes overboard. We have explained that it can be very expensive depending on what you do, where you eat and things you will buy. We are trying to explain as much as possible.

As for a resort, we were originally talking a Value but after seeing the pull-out pamphlet in the DVD packet, she is not sure where to stay. Again, I told her to watch the video.

For tickets, I suggested the hopper w/ plus option. She is talking maybe 5 days at WDW and a day or two outside days.

I also told her a little about how the PS/ADR works and told her to look into if she wants to go to any certain restaurant and go from there.

Oh, ages are DBF is 39, her DH is 35, and DS is 18 and they are planning on going sometime in Feb 2006. I told her to avoid Pres. week. The week all depends on which one they can get from work between the two of them.

Alright, can anyone give me some suggestions on how to handle this the right, or should I say, the smoothest way. I really want to help her plan her trip, but I also don't want her to come back and say it was the worst trip they ever took.

Thanks!!!!!!!

[mrspooky]

Wow, tough job for you!
I would recommend the dining plan to her, from everything I have heard about it so far, it would be the best value for them.

Before we went on our first trip, I read everything there was to read, and I think it made me more prepared for the stay, and made life much simpler as well. We had a family meeting and discussed things that everyone wanted to do, and made "must do" lists for each park. That way, we weren't standing around so much saying, "what do you want to do next?"

You can help her by giving her the park hours schedule after she picks her week, so she can plan around that too.

Hopefully, she will pick up those books and start reading!

[Dana]

I agree with mrs.pooky. They should get the dining plan. That's pretty cost effective. I also reccomend a moderate, not the value for three adults in one room. You are going to have to get her to read those books...she isn't going to have a great time without doing some research. Go online with her and get her started, but stress the importance of looking through those guides. She should try for the first or second week of February up to president's day.

[llama]

This is always a tricky situation where you can't win. It seems to me that you've done your best - you can't force people to read or plan. Even if you gave her a daily plan and set up all her PS and arranged the resort, you can't be responsible for how much or little they enjoy their trip.

[lovemysons]

Maybe you could lead your friend through some of the websites when you are together. That might convince her that she really needs to read the guide books. Good luck!

[hiner]

Ok, she forgot the Ultimate Guide today, I e-mailed her after lunch. I can't tell all of you how much I stressed to her that she should read the books and she even commented to her DH about me harping on her. I'll even get her DMIL to stress to her that she needs to research this. Her IL's have been several times.

The meal plan is a great idea. Is there somewhere I can get a list of the participating restaurants??

She really took to the Mod resorts, along with (of course) the Deluxes.

Thanks for the suggestions. Keep them coming. I am so use to planning for my family, not for others.

Thanks:)

[Andrea]

You're doing the best you can! If she's not going to take responsibility for her trip, there's nothing you can do.

I can't imagine NOT obsessively overplanning!

[queensmama]

The best advice to give her is to take you along.......

[jk8]

You are in kind of a bad situation. You have tried your best but I might just back off and say "I'm here if you need me".

I know a friend of mine went and did not even know what some of the rides were and did not do much. They just wandered around. Any you know what? She was fine with that. That was just her personality. (I can't imagine )

If she won't read the books then I don't know what you can do for her.

[mickey]

Here are my suggestions:

1. Sit down together, and look online and in the books and pick a resort. One she is excited about and one that fits in her budget.

2. After the resort is picked, take a look at the park passes and the add ons that are available, including the dining plan. You can download a brochure here:

http://www.disneycentral.com/images/diningplan.pdf

3. Once hours come out, and all the stuff is figured out, start planning days in the parks, etc.

I think once people have their resort and other stuff figured, they get excited and it is easier to plan the other stuff around it.

Good luck!

[ddoll]

It sounds to me like she doesn't want to put any effort into this. I've had plenty of friends do this to me. They'll have to learn the hard way if she won't take the time to plan.

Either that, or just do it all for her. Make her a schedule, tell her which parks to go to which days, book her ADR's for her and walk her thru purchasing the tickets you think she needs.

Otherwise, she's gonna do just what you fear: she'll walk around not knowing what's going on and will hate it.

[daisyd]

Good suggestions so far

If you really think that it will cause friction in your friendship if she isn't happy, tell her that. Maybe the two of you can come to some sort of understanding. Or maybe she needs a TA to plan her trip. Someone not involved on a personal level.

If I were in your position, I think I'd hold her hand and help her make a basic schedule, put her on the dining plan and make ARs. Then I'd give her the books, and let her do the rest.

Good luck

[Amelia's Man]

It sounds to me that you did the absolute best thing for your friend! The books and the DVD should be just the things she needs to help her make the most out of planning and enjoying her WDW trip!
Now all she has to do is read them and watch the DVD! Tell her to do this with her family, as I'm sure those of us with families here have done! Also, explain to your friend that half the fun of a trip to WDW is planning it together with your family! I mean, the DVD alone is enough to get anyone excited about their trip, right?!

[Mickey Maniac]

Sounds like you are doing the best you can, but she needs to do the work. I would order her the new DVD and give it to her, so then she has your older one and a new one, maybe have her watch the Travel Channel shows on Diseny, they can be helpful too.

Here is the link for the Travel Channel shows

http://www.bartlett-sloan.net/tv/age...odeagenda=soon

[MissDisney]

hi hiner!!! First, remember that your friend will likely have the vacation of a lifetime, no matter when she goes and no matter where she stays! There are VERY few people who come back complaining that crowds, lines, etc. made their trip the worst of a lifetime -- and nobody hates their hotel! WDW magic comes in all shapes and sizes, and everyone will zero in on the stuff that makes them happy! Your friend can't go wrong here!!!!