PassPorter Online
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks
Home Florida - Walt Disney World Caribbean - Disney Cruise Line California - Disneyland Resort Anywhere and Everywhere! Travelers Store Message Boards PassPorter's Club Help!
  About Us  |  Customs Office   |   Register Your Book   |   Book Updates   |  Newsletter  |  Articles  |  Photos  |   Follow Us on
Articles Menu
PassPorter Articles
Planning
Disney Dreaming
Disney for Veteran Visitors
Rumor Round-Up
Finding Answers
Best Disney Trip Advice
Getting Your Disney Fix
How Young Is Too Young?
Top Ten Disney Questions
Tipping (Gratuities)
Timeshare Vacation Offers
Disney World on a Budget
Credit Cards 101
Money-Saving Strategies
Preparing Kids For Disney
Taking Toddlers to Disney
Planning Trips for Others
Convincing Others To Go
Importance of Being Lazy

Preparing For Your Disney Cruise
Ten "Must Pack" Items
Touring With A Group
Chaperoning A Group Trip
Traveling
click here to read our travel articles
Lodging
click here to read our lodging articles
Cruising
click here to read our cruising articles
Touring
click here to read our touring articles
Dining
click here to read our dining articles
Making Magic
click here to read our magic articles
Rest of the World
click here to read our general travel articles on U.S. and international destinations

The Gift of a Good Time: Planning Walt Disney Trips for Loved Ones

By Thomas Cackler, PassPorter Guest Columnist

Those who have planned trips to Walt Disney World know just how much time the planning can take. All the components involved in making a memorable vacation can tax even the most studious trip planner. So, what do you do when you find out that a friend or loved one is planning a trip to Walt Disney World to celebrate a truly special occasion? What makes a unique and personal gift? If you have the time and determination, you could plan their trip for them!

What?! Plan a trip for someone other than myself? Absolutely. If you have the knowledge and the will, you can design a trip for that special someone. Creating a custom trip is a great way to say "Congratulations!" or "I love you!" to that person headed to the happiest place on Earth. 

While this article will not look at every step involved in planning a trip to Walt Disney World, it will look at three areas that present special challenges when you plan a trip for someone else. Does that mean it is hard? Not at all -- all it takes is taking the great planning skills you already have, and applying them in a slightly different arena. By determining the desires of the people going, the details of the trip, and the delivery method of the gift, you can help someone have a magical time celebrating that special occasion.

First, you need to determine the desires of the person going. A simple way to do this is to use the old newspaper reporting standard of, "Who, what, when, where, why, and how?" Ask your friend to describe their dream trip. Although the budget might preclude some of these dreams, planning veterans know that shifting a trip even just a couple of weeks can result in savings that might make that dream come true!

It is a good idea at this point to encourage your friend to look at some planning books or the official video from Disney. This gives them a great launching point for discussing their desires and what is likely to happen. You may want to give them one of these books as part of the gift, too. If you do, do not wait until they leave to give it to them. By involving your friend early in the planning process, you will increase their excitement as their trip draws closer.

Although you are taking care of the details, it is important to remember this is their trip and make it a point to find out what their wants and needs are. It is also important to find out what items here are "deal breakers" and which things they may need to forego due to time or finance constraints. For example, the person might consider it vital to go to Universal's Islands of Adventure, or another might demand a couple days at the beach. Remember, you are planning this trip as a gift, so you want it to be extra special. By finding out their desires, you can customize their trip to be exactly what they want.


PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2016 Guidebook

Available for
15%-35% Off!
Purchase includes a free Online Edition!
 

Next, you will need to determine the details. Here is where the planning comes back to earth. Consider everything - from who is going to the time they want to go. You will need to find out the person's budget (or yours, if you are their Fairy Godmother and are paying in addition to planning!) and make sure their desires are realistic. It is also important to discuss the level of detail they want and you think they will need. Do not be afraid to be assertive at this point. While this is their trip, it is your knowledge that they need to tap. If their desires are unrealistic, do not hesitate to say so.

Also, make sure and detail out every part of trip and who will take care of each one. If your friend just wants you to take care of the Walt Disney World portion of the trip but they will book the airfare or rental car, make sure that everyone agrees early on and is kept abreast during the planning process. Nothing ruins a trip more than a crucial item forgotten because one person thought the other one was taking care of it. Make sure to have a written checklist with target completion dates to be certain no one overlooks an important detail, just as you would if you were going on this trip yourself.

Finally, you need to determine the method of delivery. A great way to give them all their information in one location is to use a PassPorter with their tickets, itineraries, and so on in the PassPockets. As mentioned earlier, if you elect to go this route it is important to get them this present before the trip itself so they can look over the descriptions. Because of the journal nature of the PassPorter, it does encourage people to make notes about their trip that in turn, makes more memories.

Additionally, if you use a travel agent to book the hotel, copy your friend on those emails so they can see the progress on the trip. In addition, sending your friend post cards from their favorite character congratulating them on their momentous occasion and wishing them safe travels to Walt Disney World adds a magical touch. Finally, a gift basket with all their details, some Disney Dollars, and other items related to the occasion or the trip makes a great way to kick off the celebration in style.

Planning a trip for someone else does present a certain set of challenges and is not for the novice. However, there is nothing more satisfying than talking to a friend after their celebration and discovering they had a magical time at Walt Disney World. By remembering a few simple steps, utilizing your existing trip planning skills, and a desire to make someone feel like a Prince or Princess, you too can play travel agent for a friend, creating truly magical memories that will last a lifetime.

This article originally appeared in our May 12, 2005 newsletter -- subscribe to our popular newsletter today for free!

Related Articles:

  • The Best Disney Trip Advice
  • Preparing a Child for a Disney Trip

    Return to PassPorter.com | Visit the PassPorter Message Boards
     
     

    Updated 02/10/07 



    Read additional articles from PassPorter.com

    Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, PassPorter News, published for more than 58,000 opt-in subscribers worldwide. As an added bonus for subscribing, you will receive a 20% discount coupon for the PassPorter Store -- no catch!

    E-mail Address:

    First Name:

    E-mail Format:
    -Text/Don't Know  

    -HTML

     
     

    We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber list. Subscribing will not result in more spam! We guarantee it.

    AddThis Social Bookmark Button

    Copyright 1999-2015
    by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.

  •        LEARN MORE
    Learn More With Our Award-Winning Guidebooks


    PassPorter's Walt Disney World guidebook

    PassPorter's Sidekick for the Walt Disney World Guidebook e-book

    PassPorter's Disney Vacation Club Guide

    PassPorter's Disney 500: Fast Tips for Walt Disney World Trips e-book

    PassPorter's Disney Speed Planner: The Easy Ten Step Program to a Perfect Walt Disney World Vacation e-book

    PassPorter's Disney Weddings & Honeymoons

    PassPorter's Festivals and Celebrations at Walt Disney World e-book

    PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World

    PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line guidebook

    PassPorter's Disney Cruise Clues: First-Class Tips for Disney Cruise Trips

    PassPorter Disneyland Resort and Southern California Attractions guidebook

    PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line guidebook

           SPONSOR LINKS