S.O.S. Need Help Planning a Multi-family trip! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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My DBf and I are taking his family (Mom, Dad, and Sis (13)) on a trip in March of 2014. We are currently planing everything to book and get ADRs for our 180 day mark. I need a lot of help!
They are brand new to Disney, his mom and dad have been to Disney land, but it was a long time ago. They are very opinionated about what they want to do (everything in the parks ) and how we should do everything. They only plan to go once and want to get the whole deal. They want to stay together the whole time, and won't separate for anything except one dinner.
I need advice on how to plan a trip for 5, making sure that we get enough done to satisfy everyone, without driving me insane!
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How does your BF feel about staying together the whole time? Personally, I think it sounds quite unpleasant to be figuratively tied to the wrist of opinionated, stubborn people who insist on doing everything together. Maybe it's not as bad as it sounds from your description?
Not trying to be a killjoy, but I think I would personally be spending all 180 days trying to figure out how NOT to be together, and it would sap every bit of joy from the experience.
I could be reading this all wrong, of course, but I'm leaning toward using this as your chance to stand up for yourself and see what happens. Again, sorry about the pessimism, but it sounds as if joining into this family if you eventually marry would be a long, long struggle, unless you can set the groundwork now.
Have you tried telling them this?: I have a very different style of touring and don't want to keep them from seeing and doing everything, so let's just plan to eat one lunch or dinner together every day and see how that works. Or, if you're early birds and they're night owls, or vice versa, point that out as your reason for being reluctant to cramp their style.
Or, if nothing else works, once you get in the park, you could walk either much faster or much more slooooooowwwwwwly than everyone else, so they eventually give up and let you separate now and then.
Anyway, thought I'd jump in since no one else has, and wish you luck.
This is a small group despite varied interests.
First: Get a map to show them the scale of WDW. Identify where you are staying.
Second: plan a rough itinerary taking advantage of early hours, etc for the parks.
Third: Leave some days open if you have time. This allows for second trips to special parks, resort hopping, special meals, etc.
Get a couple of guide books: for novices I recommend Passporter Guide to WDW. It is first time visitor friendly.
Good luck.
That is a tough one. I am wondering how old your boyfriend and you are, I assume you are adults. I would get them tour books as others have said and send away for the free DVD from Disney. It is hard to explain to someone the large scope of Disney when they have never been. I would also (maybe have the BF do it) let them know that some separate time would be good. Maybe take the younger sibling one evening so they can enjoy a dinner together and then you guys can have a 1/2 day to yourselves. Good Luck.
Maybe once there and going around the parks they will feel comfortable enough to go off alone. Knowing what rides are most important in each park and planning on the best way to get these done first in each area of the parks. If they are into the shows then find out times for those and get rides in till show times. Hopefully you all get along together cause it can be stressful for sure. Try doing something like, you go ahead ride TMR while we ride SM. they are next to each other and just pick a meeting place. They may not want to ride all the things.
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) and how we should do everything. They only plan to go once and want to get the whole deal. They want to stay together the whole time, and won't separate for anything except one dinner. 
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, so they eventually give up and let you separate now and then. 
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