07-06-2010, 11:32 PM
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#1 |
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DDC
Disney Fans Are Friends now I have some things to plan, I'm going to try to get the Dapper Dans 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: The Shore, NJ
Posts: 5,292
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WDW Commando Club
Welcome All Commando's to The Commando Planning & Strategies Club - To Infinity And Beyond!
This originally started out as a thread looking for other Commando's, I was overwelmed to find out how many of us are out there, Figured a club was in order! I'm sure most of us on other threads at sometime felt like outcasts for planning a full agenda & have been critized negatively, That is not the case here! Fellow Commando's can help each other to fulfill their plans, instead of putting what you would like to do down! If you are mild or extreme, or even a beginner, This is a place where you can kick off your boots and relax while planning your trip, share Commando adventures & strategies, but most of all have some fun doing what you enjoy! Commando Member Role Call: 1- Disney Commando 2- JPGonzales 3- areck 4- jason 10mm 5- bcinohio 6- shmily1 7- Sassagoula Billy 8- JenNel85 9- dudrlydude 10- Planogirl 11- WishAndDream 12- jannylynn 13- starwarsdisney 14- tarheel rirl 15- jake&samsmom 16- MYD714 17- CR Resort Fan 4 Life 18- ntsammy5 19- 3smithboys 20- serene56 21- mortimor 22- Karpkg 23- coreymd 24- Torgue 25- topmonkeygirl 26- sewingmolly 27- bluejasmine 28- onnawufei 29- Dayton Flyer 30- Figment1990 31- blondietink 32- tweedlemom 33- BEANTOWNDR7 34- dizcrazel 35- Fastcars 36- Rekenna 37- disEAR 38- Noel22 39- disneyjunkie 40- Donalyn 41- Sagginit 42- TinkerBellSam 43- Katybug34 44- phnguyk 45- missesdisney 46- always 47- scottishduffy 48- islandbabe 49- mnlibzi 50- tink86 51- AJRitz 52- dvczerfs 53- perfectparanoia 54- Lorilais mommie 55- Goofy Is As Goofy Does 56- stitchywoman 57- Kitikat 58- AlexWyattMommy 59- Plucker001 60- mjp12831 61- afwdwfan 62- princessmom29 63- Sweety tweety 64- Katems 65- ~armywife~ 66- Hooked On The Mouse 67- Tara Bara 68- DoleWhip DVC 69- Minnie Mi 70- scrappinmom 71- icesk8abc 72- mindync 73- Motomom06 74- BabyPotatoHead 75- jmm476 76- DisneyWitch 77- lynn s 78- michellelovesthemous 79- mickeymom629 80- kirby428 81- BigTikiDaddy 82- JennyMPO3 83- adsrtw 84- Cinderella's Fella 85- Perseval 86- TIGGERGUY 87- switch15foot 88- tooh8ful 89- mousireid 90- Ginny 91- Riverhill 92- moviefreak00 93- Coach81 94- Stinger5 95- catho72 96- 2 BEKs 97- Cayenne 98- DisneyPsycho 99- 3Minnies1Mickey 100- HARVEYSGIRL 101- SmellsLikeJapan 102- Infamousmare 103- DisGal520 104- Estella 105- DisneyDadC 106- Big Disney Fan 107- Minnie Lor 108- DisDr 109- mommy2mrb 110- verygfy 111- TINK0998 112- plucky 113- APB513 114- fallen angel727 115- diamondcharl 116- TinkerbellsMom0923 117- Rhongepooh 118- supersuperwendy 119- Rememberingthe70s 120- It'sWDW4me 121- zianha 122- SilverSynchro919 123- BamaGirl 124- knitster 125- kdault 126- dormouse72 127- wdwislife 128- sfarmbo 129- MiceFan 130- ptted 131- jordanmommy2boys 132- justakrazymom 133- *sarah* 134- babydoll 135- ktjohn 136- think-like-tink 137- juliebug1997 138- waynesgirl 139- Dobby 140 - HockeyMomNH 141- Disneyfreak616 142- Wendy&Grumpy 143- ~Tonga Wingo~ 144- bfamily5 145- LoriABil 146- Pink Mouse Ears 147- delaneyc52 148- The 6 J's 149- Kaewin 150- DisDadDoc 151- csmommy 152- shine87 153- cinabug 154- FamilyDisneyLovers 155- Queen Mamadala 156- jecskc 157- Phoenixrising (FKA - BELLEDOZER) 158- shewill 159- LAS321 160- sweetandsour 161- dazednconfused 162- AlexWyattMommy 163- speedo 164- GoHerd1028 165- ilovejsparrow 166- RFrank9504 167- Eddie75 168- WyldLynx 169- MK2010 170- mamaprincess 171- theduck619 172- twokids0204 173- Belle-To-Be 174- MotherofLandon 175- tpettie 176- daleswife 177- kennythepirate 178- danielephant 179- jedi jen 180- standleyent1 181- Bella1975 182- WC*123 183- Curoly06 184- shannonstar 185- Toystoryfan32 186- phillyteamhater 187- AirGoofy 188- KJay 189- bigdaddy511 190- Pmctn 191- mieshie75 192- kolby 193- CarrieR 194- vanillahip 195- dorchrislen 196- Therinian 197 - Rachandgarry 198- disneyshakeygirl 199- MaMudduck 200- Cinderella's slipper 201- huey578 202- DisneyFamilyMomof5 - aka - civilian seal team 6 203- qv09vvp 204- Cinderella16 205- Twin Dad 206- DisneyPolve 207- RelucantDisaholic 208- QueenBeeMB 209- JoJo1980 210- tinkerbella16 211- tbaptista 212- JimmyV 213-Maxim 214- baldy6060 215- redoschi 216- Xclusive2WDW 217- QueenElinor 218 DISNEYSQUIRRELS 219 rescuetink 220 - Tunasled 221- dr&momto2boys 222- brettew23 223- Tinkerkell123 224- songbird123 225- Cdn Gal 226- jbkmac 227- gojoe 228- NuJoy 229- brerdawg 230- paysensmom 231- DisneyFamily7 232- ShannaBanana 233- agavegirl1 234- kmedina 235- scrapgal123 236- happy2go2wdwmom 237- WDW in Pearls 238- WDW Fan since 1975 239- 4under4 Commando Laws - Sometimes 5 minutes of planning can make the difference - Commando planning is not limited to WDW, Commando planning is a way of life! ( MaMudduck)
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 Me DH (43),  DW (42) ,   DS (7)1976 Contemp, 82 Contemp, 86 Contemp, 8/03 Honeymoon Off Site, 7/05 Off Site. 11/08 Off Site, Halloween till 11/08/09 ASM w/ Free DDP, Dis Dads Dec. Trip 12/5 - 12/11, 2010  8/11 ASM, 8/12 Off Site, 11/12 ASMDis Dad Member #393  WDW Commando Member #1 Last edited by Disney Commando; 06-10-2013 at 09:10 PM. |
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07-06-2010, 11:57 PM
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#2 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 248
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Sadly, I am the commando of the group. As soon as the reservations are made I make a "down-to-the-minute" agenda for each day, including meals.
Usually, I have to become a little flexible cause the DH and youngest DD start pooting out before lunch. Then I feed them ice cream and we are off again. What are you strategies? Can't wait to learn some new tricks. |
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07-07-2010, 05:48 AM
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#3 |
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Earning My Ears
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 43
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My husband is a committed commando. However, he doesn't plan one minute of our trips. All the best laid plans go out the window once he sets foot in a park. With no regard for what anyone else in the party wants, he's on to the next adventure
 . Quickly. No time to waste. When someone has the audacity to go against his wishes, he pouts and becomes irritated. This is when we get to see who is "heir apparent" . I tend to go back to the hotel and prefer pool time. My youngest son (13) is of the same mindset as my husband. I wish them the best. We'll regroup for dinner.Our last trip had to be the best (as far as plans were concerned). The two of them commandoed to their heart's content. We crisscrossed each morning in the parks. I was happy to take lots of pictures and check out the overlooked attractions. They were in thrill ride heaven. Nobody had to wait for anyone! The afternoons were spent by the pool with a book and a cocktail for me. Evenings included night time entertainment enjoyed together. Perfect day! |
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07-07-2010, 07:34 AM
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#4 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 261
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Trying to NOT commando our next trip. Only 2 days allotted to WDW, but with park hoppers it COULD be done.......
...must resist! |
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07-07-2010, 07:34 AM
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#5 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Akron, Ohio USA
Posts: 1,322
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We leave in 2 days for WDW and I'm the planner. We always go in the summer and never wait very long for anything. You have to have a plan. My cousin is going to be touring with us for the first time and he told me he has his running shoes all ready to keep up with me. I laughed.
 We don't run. My plan is always get the big stuff done early, always have a FP, and then do your shopping and site seeing later in the day when the crowds pick up. You can get a lot done in the first few hours.We can not wait. No one has been sleeping very well the last few nights because we are to excited. 
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 -ME,  -DH,  -DS(19), DS(16) |
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07-07-2010, 08:16 AM
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#6 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: GA--not far from WDW!
Posts: 4,861
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I've been trying to not go commando every trip since 1973.... I've only done it a couple times. Not that I plan every single minute because I don't but because I want to get up early and go to bed late so I don't miss one single minute of fun! We've been so many times and done so much and I still find myself running from place to place so I don't miss anything!! My kids have been so many times they give directions to their friends on the cell phones when they are down there.
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Mickey Mom's Club member
me DH  DS23  DD22 DGS3  DGS |
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07-07-2010, 08:24 AM
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#7 |
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Bring Back JII!
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,302
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Since my last visit was the SO's first trip to WDW, I went commando-style like never before. I regret it slightly, but would have regretted it more had we not covered everything I would have liked to do. Also, the calendar is a factor, and since this was mid-June, I planned for the worst.
I planned every meal and attraction down to the minute. And yeah, it exhausted me, but again... no regrets for this time of year - and this particular trip for a newbie visitor to the World.
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 "Sorry, Rapunzel, you can't see the floating lights. The Sorcerer's Hat is blocking your view." |
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07-07-2010, 08:31 AM
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#8 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 155
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This is SO me. I'm a control freak, uber-organized planner, and the definition of a Type A personality...and a HUGE Disney fan since childhood. I'm headed back to Disney World for the first time in nearly 10 (!) years this August, and needless to say, my travel companions all know what that means!
 I've read several guidebooks (including the Unofficial Guide) cover-to-cover, made ADRs months in advance, printed character maps and event schedules, and pretty much have every moment of our 12-day vacation in WDW, Universal, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and Busch Gardens mapped out. I'm traveling with my boyfriend and my sister, all in our early to mid-20s. We're theme park aficionados who NEVER take a mid-day break, but we're going to be there for rope drop (of course) and, with any luck, tackle the major attractions early in the morning so we can slow down and enjoy lots of indoor shows and air-conditioned rides during the hottest part of the day. I've scheduled one table service meal per day, and we're going to bring our own sandwiches, snacks, and water bottles to enjoy lunch and other breaks cheaply and expeditiously. I. CANNOT. WAIT. 
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07-07-2010, 09:11 AM
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#9 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 275
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Count me in I always walk around the park without undergarments.
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07-07-2010, 09:13 AM
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#10 | |
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Bring Back JII!
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,302
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Quote:
  I was this close to saying it. Darnit!
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"Sorry, Rapunzel, you can't see the floating lights. The Sorcerer's Hat is blocking your view." |
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07-07-2010, 09:56 AM
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#11 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chicago - You wanna make somethin' of it.
Posts: 825
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I agree, but the strategy sharing hasn't really taken off yet. I'll start....#1 rule of going commando is.....what? Well I was gonna say arriving at the parks 1 hour early to ensure that you really are "at" the rope drop and starting your day off right....BUT....if we are starting chronologically, are we starting with packing our park bag the evening before and what to pack???? What's a good starting point?
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07-07-2010, 10:19 AM
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#12 |
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I feel the nerd in me stirring already
Oh well, let's look on the bright side If I hadn't been so wiped out I would have kissed my anesthesiologist 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Frisco,Texas
Posts: 41,141
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We are commando first thing in the morning and then usually until lunch time when we switch to a more relaxed pace. I guess that we're part-time commandos.
As for packing a park bag, I solve that by not bringing one. Light wallet goes in one pocket and cell phone & tiny bottle of sunscreen goes in the other. I try to wear cargo shorts so I can carry what I want without a bag. We breeze right by the bag check area.
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07-07-2010, 10:29 AM
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#13 | |
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Earning My Ears
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 43
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Quote:
That much is in your control.
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07-07-2010, 11:34 AM
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#14 |
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Earning My Ears
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 64
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Good to see there are so many other commandos out there!
We don't plan every minute of our trip in advance.... but only because we're so used to our strategy that we don't have to actually discuss the plan - everyone just KNOWS.  It goes without saying that we will be at rope drop, and there's no debate about what any of our first 3-5 rides will be, lol. We follow the Unofficial Guide strategies in general and it has always served us well. We do generally take a break in the afternoons but my next trip is going to be just my sister and me, and - as the two "real" commandos of the group - we have decided to eliminate the breaks and just go full throttle all day, haha. It's more intense to go commando-style and I can understand why a lot of people, especially those who can visit WDW frequently, prefer to go slower and take it all in, but we don't visit anywhere near as much as we would like so we prefer to see and do as much as possible each trip. Going commando-style allows us to do so. I guess my biggest strategy tip I have to share is to be willing to abandon/change the plan if the situation demands it. It's all well and good to have a detailed plan, but if your strategy isn't working out - people are becoming worn out in the heat, DHS is inexplicably more crowded than anticipated, or there is a sudden monsoon - stop for a dole whip/frozen mickey-popsicle-thing, hop over to EPCOT, or for goodness' sake, brave the rain and ride those major attractions while the the less intense visitors take shelter in the gift shops  . Don't be afraid to improvise. From reading this thread, a lot of you commandos seem to put a lot of time into planning, and that's great; but improvising - when called for - works out great for us.
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07-07-2010, 11:41 AM
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#15 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 98
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I'm sitting here putting all of our ressies, shows, park hours, etc. into Outlook so that I can sync it to my phone. And I'm inviting DH so that it will be on his phone too. I guess I'm not totally comando because I'm not sure we will make it to all rope-drops. We'll stay at the parks as late as they will allow though!
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