Communication is Key While at Disney

We’ve all had been there on vacation, where, it seems, that ever member of your group has different set of things they want to do, leaving you with a decision… how do you manage the chaos, while ensuring everyone is safe and has fun. Each decision you make will ultimately affect your sanity, and will determine if the trip is a success.  

To use a page from Michael Scott, there are 5 different styles of conflict…

Lose/Lose: With this scenario, nobody gets what they want, and the conflict is resolved.  Pretty much, you would cancel the vacation because dealing with your friends and family is way too hard and not worth it!

Win/Lose: This is a compromise.  You get to pick which rides, shows, restaurants, etc. and everyone has to deal with it, as they follow you around the park!

Lose/Win: You do whatever everyone else wants to do, and everyone sticks together.  The burden falls onto you to make your family happy, and you find your happiness through their joy, and MAYBE next year you get your win.

Win/Win: This is a good scenario and most groups follow this today… each person writes down what they want to do, and then determine what everyone has in common.  Plan to do at least one thing together in the morning and then see each other at night.  This is really scary (especially with teenagers), as you don’t know where they are at or what they are doing until you see them at the end of the day or when park security calls you.  But everyone gets to do what they want and you do get to spend some time together.  But now you will be worried about the missing hours!

Win/Win/Win:  Do like the win/win scenario, but include a communication plan and set meeting points throughout the day in case there are issues with the plan. Here is a good list for you and your family to start to have the best worry free, vacation:

1.     Plan out what each person wants to do while on your vacation.  Identify rides, shows, parades, fireworks, kind of food, places to eat, and any other goals they may have.  Prioritize and list out what is common.

2.     Pick milestone events throughout the day that everyone will meet together.  My suggestion is meals (everyone needs to eat).  Make reservations or determine time and place to eat together.  Since meals usually occur every 3-5 hours everyone will know how things are going.  I also, would suggest, giving a set amount of money at each milestone, forcing kids (and adults) to check-in to get their next portion of their “allowance”.

3.     Make sure everyone has a cell phone that has all important numbers programmed.  For kids, a pre-paid phone is a great way to control usage to just emergencies.  A texting or data plan would work the best, since during the day the cell networks are saturated making it impossible to make or receive calls.  During those times text messages, e-mails, or even tweets back and forth will get through on low bandwidth.

4.     Walkie-Talkies are a good fall back plan, as most have a large range.  Be aware, that the range limits are based upon clear, unobstructed access to one another.  Also, your conversations aren’t private, as other people maybe utilizing the same frequency and channel.  With tens of thousands of people in the park, this will happen.

5.     Emergency meeting locations are a great way to meet at when all else fails, and you can’t talk to each other or you miss check-in times.  Pick a location close to the entrance of the park that won’t be crowded, and is easily found at night.  Suggest a comfortable place with chairs and air conditioner.

You will need to discuss each of these items before you leave on vacation and solidify the plan in the morning before you get started on your adventure.   It is important that everyone has fun on your family vacation, but is more important to be safe!