Have
you been to Walt Disney World more times than you can count? Can you navigate the Magic Kingdom
without the assistance of a map? If you find yourself responding to these
questions with a very large number and a resounding “yes!”, then you are a Walt
Disney World veteran. Since the
parks are very close to my home, we have a lot of houseguests who want us (resident
Disney veterans) to show them around the parks. This is always so much fun because it is a different
experience with each family member who comes in to visit. Being a tour guide is
something I enjoy, so I am always happy to accompany a newbie into the
park. However, you need to do your
research in order to make your guests’/newbies’ vacations magical.
First,
I always like to find out what kind of budget my visitors have because that
will help me to recommend dining locations for them. Even if you don’t live near the World, you can still follow
any of these practices when helping friends or family plan a Disney trip. Also, it is good to know your group’s
tolerance to the heat. If you know
that some of your visitors cannot handle the harsh Florida sun, you have to
plan for that. It is also
important to do your best to see what the guests really like and dislike. For example, do not waste time on
character interactions if you know that your friends really do not enjoy these
experiences.
On
recent family visits, we have had a number of different age groups represented,
so we had to tailor our park visits to meet each of their specific needs. We toured the park with my husband’s
grandmother, and we know that she really enjoys shows, artwork, and
costuming. She used to work as a
window decorator in a department store, so she can really appreciate art and
excellent theme park design.
Therefore, we made sure to visit as many shows and see as many heavily
themed environments as we could.
She is not a fan of fast rides or roller coasters, so we skipped those
rides. We spent a good deal of
time in the Animal Kingdom because it is just so immersive and so heavily
themed. We also spent time
exploring resorts so that she could admire their beauty. My husband’s grandmother had a
wonderful trip because we really tried to do what she wanted to do.
In
contrast, my sister-in-law and some of her friends came in to visit, and I
acted as their tour guide too. She
and her friends are young, and they really like to hit all of the roller
coasters and thrilling attractions.
She likes to run through the parks without really stopping to
investigate the details of the parks.
This type of park touring is very different than my husband’s
grandmother, but that is okay.
Each park guest will have his or her own wants and favorites, and we
really try to accommodate those differences in opinion when we take people
around the parks.
So,
if you are a Disney veteran who is helping to plan someone’s Disney trip, or
you are a local who enjoys assisting house guests explore the parks, try to
think about what your friends/visitors want to get out their vacations. Every family is different, and each one
can have a truly magical experience despite differences in touring styles. Until next time, have a magical day,
and keep moving forward!
