I know this has been discussed a million times but....

[kangaroodle]

I still can't believe people go to WDW without any kind of plan! Especially during a busy time like Thanksgiving week! Or choosing this busy time to go when their only child is 4 years old and they can go whenever they want!

3 of my co-workers are going to WDW over Thanksgiving (we can get vacation time when ever we want). They know I go all the time and each has come to me saying things like, "I know you go all the time, what should I do? How late is the park open? Where can I get tickets? What is there to do for a 4 year old?"

Another woman went last year and overheard me saying I bought the 10 day non-expiring passes to use over 2 trips. She was amazed because she bought 7 day tickets last year, only used 4 days, and is going again this year and has to buy new tickets. She said she had no idea she could've paid a little extra to keep the extra days!

I just chuckle to myself when they comment that I've really planned things out. I'm not even a super-planner like others on the boards but I have a general outline of what parks I'm going to each day.

I know not everyone plans, but this just irks me and I had to vent to people I know would feel my pain!

[mariepapa]

Those non-planners have no place at WDW. It is made for the obsessive type-A people like us.

[sunburnin]

Shhhhhhhhh.....

Don't give away our secrets! Just let "them" keep doing what they do and we can zig while they zag.

[BenA81]

these type of travellers are what make touring plans successful.

[littleelvis]

Originally Posted by kangaroodle

I still can't believe people go to WDW without any kind of plan! Especially during a busy time like Thanksgiving week! Or choosing this busy time to go when their only child is 4 years old and they can go whenever they want!

3 of my co-workers are going to WDW over Thanksgiving (we can get vacation time when ever we want). They know I go all the time and each has come to me saying things like, "I know you go all the time, what should I do? How late is the park open? Where can I get tickets? What is there to do for a 4 year old?"

Another woman went last year and overheard me saying I bought the 10 day non-expiring passes to use over 2 trips. She was amazed because she bought 7 day tickets last year, only used 4 days, and is going again this year and has to buy new tickets. She said she had no idea she could've paid a little extra to keep the extra days!

I just chuckle to myself when they comment that I've really planned things out. I'm not even a super-planner like others on the boards but I have a general outline of what parks I'm going to each day.

I know not everyone plans, but this just irks me and I had to vent to people I know would feel my pain!

On one hand I totally agree with you! We are planners. We know what to do, when to do it and how.

How did we get that way? We went the first year and had no idea what we were doing. We had the dining plan and thought we would just make ressies when we got there. I had no idea sites like this even existed back then and I probably would have thought you were all crazy for planning. We had a good time but we learned our lesson. Plan Plan Plan

So try not to get too frustrated. Sometimes people just don't know. And even if you told them they would probably think you are nuts just like I would have.

The frustrating part for me is I have seen a lot of people never return because: "it was so crowded" " we couldn't get ressies anywhere" "all of these people had fast passes and it was making me mad". If they would have only known what we know.

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

Originally Posted by sunburnin

Shhhhhhhhh.....

Don't give away our secrets! Just let "them" keep doing what they do and we can zig while they zag.

Totally agree with this....I have learned that I keep my mouth shut....it takes time to make even the smallest of plans and most ppl just plain don't want to do it. I figure....go ahead sleep late thank you very much I will then be able to ride all my hits before you even hit the park!

[goofy4tink]

I've always said that WDW is no place for spontanaity!!!

[Mickeygolf]

I like the idea of keeping it as quiet as possible about the planning, but then I start thinking about our friends kids and how much the trip will mean to them. I can't help but get involved then. And there really is no greater pleasure than when someone returns home and thanks us from the bottom of their hearts for making the trip so memorable.

I guess I'm like the previous poster who suffered through that first trip without a clue and now want to make sure our close friends and family get the best trip for them. It's a pretty good feeling!!!

[DoryDorito]

Seriously?

Who care how others chose to travel. Who made it your place to judge?

So people don't plan and they get their own thread? I don't get it.

Jenny

[Missytara]

A friend of mine went a few weeks ago, with DH, DS18mos., and her in-laws, who paid for the trip. They arrived Halloween night. DFIL didn't want to be tied down to a plan and didn't want any reservations for anything.

I convinced her to convince him to at least make a ressie for the first night, since it was Halloween night suggested T-Rex for their son.. They were arriving late afternoon at THV and were going to spend the Halloween night at DTD.

She thanked me when they got back; she said her DFIL did not realize how packed it was going to be that night - I mean everywhere!!!!!

So I agree - it is helpful to cajole people into at least thinking about it. Now, the first few years I went alone and didn't plan at all; I could very easily accommodate myself for dining, because I mostly went to sit at the bar or at lounges. But now with a group, it is easier to plan ahead.

[robynchic]

I prefer to not have a firm plan. For DH and me, we book hotel, we book ADRs, and our tickets are my CM passes. Other than that, what is there to plan?

[ajpa]

I was pretty clueless when planning our first trip, and what really helped me was someone pointing me to mousesavers.com and the Unofficial Guide.
So anytime I run across someone going to wdw for the first time I always mention either of those. I figure that will lead them the right way if they are planners at heart; if not, they'll just ignore it.

I was surprised this year I was looking for a copy of UG 2009 to borrow before I could get my own, and I asked a mom (our kids do playdates) who just went to wdw this spring if she had a new disney guidebook I could borrow. She said she has a great one she really liked -- and lent me a frommers or fodors (I forget) that was at least 5 years old -- maybe older. I kept it for a week out of politeness before returning it.

[robynchic]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

I've always said that WDW is no place for spontanaity!!!

I disagree entirely. I find it more enjoyable when I don't have every minute planned out.

Originally Posted by DoryDorito

Seriously?

Who care how others chose to travel. Who made it your place to judge?

So people don't plan and they get their own thread? I don't get it.

Jenny

Amen!!

[Mickeygolf]

Originally Posted by robynchic

I prefer to not have a firm plan. For DH and me, we book hotel, we book ADRs, and our tickets are my CM passes. Other than that, what is there to plan?

I understand what you're saying Robyn, but you are in the minority here as a CM. How many of these families will be making that one trip of a lifetime???

It's easy when you are working there and you know you'll be back. I'm all for spontaniety on our trips, but having some type of idea where and when you'll be is a good thing when it comes to vacationing at Disney. You have to agree with that or you wouldn't be making ADR's.

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

I think besides ADRs with kids it is good to have a semi plan....for instance I know that this trip the boys want to ride x, y and z...so we make sure they get to that first and then the rest is gravy and we wander for dd.....If your not having a hopper you need at least some plan as to what parks you will go to on what days to make any ressies...if you don't care where you eat well then you can wing it.

I am a type A control freak but I don't plan every second of our day...just enough to let us get to our must sees and ADRs

I always suggest this site to anyone going to Disney and I say...if you need advice let me know...most people don't ask....and most ppl also have bad tales to tell!