2009 Discussion-We'll make time fly by!

[arkansas mom]

OK. I'll pick one mistake to share first.
Always check and double check your bag or wallet or wherever you keep your park tix. On a recent trip I assumed I had our tickets on us. Got to the MK and then realized, no tickets!
I blame this on carrying my bag with too much stuff that I really didn't need and being so overwhelmed with stuff, I didn't realize my tix were missing.
We had to go all the way back to Pop to get our tickets. So much for EMH!

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I can't think of too many things I did on our first trip that I wouldn't do again. Maybe that I overpacked. I used one of those packing list you find and didn't take everything on there but still took more than I really needed. Also, next time I need to be better organized with receipts and such. Some things we had sent back to the resort, others we shipped home and a little went to the front of the park. Keeping all those receipts in one place would have really helped since I was in a panic half the time trying to find the right one in order to pick up our packages.

 

[POOHLUV69]

I don't think we made any big mistakes on our last trip. The only thing we are doing differently next time, is taking a day or so between parks. We did all the parks right in a row and that was very exhausting. Next time we plan on maybe doing 1 or 2 parks, then a day off, and do the rest, something like that. It all depends on how many days we go for.

 

[sandym718]

Hmm... mistakes....well, we definitely won't drive straight through home on the way back, that's for sure. We left at about noon, intending to drive until 10 PM, but we just kept going and got home at 6:30 AM. Kids had slept, but we had not. It was miserable, LOL! Re: Disney- I can echo not planning too much. I knew that in advance and planned a pool/nap break into each day. I still thought we'd do more in each park - esp. MGM and AK. We weren't really thrilled with those parks though, so we just had more pool time. I think the KEY is to just be flexible!

 

[Maddie2]

I think the KEY is to just be flexible!

Boy, I can sure echo this one! I had it all planned out -- pages and pages. We left home to drive an hour to catch our flight and half way down the road, I realized that I FORGOT my "PLANS"! Weeks and weeks of research, ADR numbers, maps, coupons, everything left at home and no time to go back to get it.

I was pretty bummed that first evening -- and frantically trying to write down as much as I could remember .... but that all went out the window a few hours later when DS9 started in with a fever (that eventually went up to 103), as well as trouble breathing, etc. We ended up at the Celebration Clinic as soon as it opened the next morning ... and with a sick child for the duration of the vacation .... and ALL 4 of us on Tamiflu.

SO, I guess it was GOOD that I left the plans at home .... FLEXIBILITY became our mantra. DH and DS12 toured parks, etc while DS9 and I hung out in the room and by the pool a little. We did get out some, but we did much more people watching than participating in activities. He was pretty weak the entire time.

Lesson learned: We did buy Travel Insurance, but didn't use it because we thought DS's flu would run its course in a few days ..... it took much longer... and in retrospect we should have gone home on Day 2, filed a claim and recouped some of the $$.

Other mistakes .... Universal & Sea World -- okay, probably NOT mistakes, but now that we've been there once, that's enough.

 

[CANDICE]

Speaking of things done wrong...took my first trip dec 2005/jan 2006 with DH adn DS then 6...left 11 month DS at home (that was NOT a mistake)...I planned and planned for months, wanting to take advantage of every minute I was there since I had waited so long to go and it was so much money (stayed at WL)...did not work in breaks and time away from the parks and hit a brick wall by day three...we were all so tired on NYE that we left MK at 9:00pm and went back to the room and watched Ryan Seacrest on TV (he was at MK and we missed seeing him there)...but guess what??? we did not care because we were so tired!!!! I was not prepared for how tired we would be. I must say that all of the guidebooks and online forums had prepared me for the crowds, so that did not bother us...we will go again during the holiday season...I had planned most of our meals ahead of time and made ADR's, so that was no problem....DH thought I was so stupid for all that planning those 9 months prior, but he graciously thanked me after our first couple of days...we did fly and did not rent a car and we were fine with disney transportation...WL buses were not bad at all...maybe it was because it was week between Christmas and New Year's...hope that helps someone

 

[sandym718]

....DH thought I was so stupid for all that planning those 9 months prior, but he graciously thanked me after our first couple of days...

Yes!! For all those with DH's that are not huge Disney fans - do not let them dissuade you from doing some planning!! I think going to the parks on the best days was good for reduced wait times. I knew generally where things were, which was helpful, too. I knew in advance which rides DD could not ride - that way there were no disappointments. She and I or she and DH just did something different (in Epcot that meant a lot of Nemo rides- she LOVED that ride!). I think DH mostly thought I was nuts for making ADR's at 180 days - BUT we got all the restaurants we wanted AND at a good time for our 2 young ones to eat. Can't do an 8 PM dinner with them. He overheard at CM, CP and LeCellier that they were taking NO walk-ups on those days. THEN he was happy I had done it in advance!!

 

[daisy_77]

Is it too late to join the thread??

Our next trip is going to be May 2009. I graduate on May 18th and we are outta here on the 19th. Our last trip was January 2007...over a year ago. It was a really magical trip...we got to open the MK, got Dream Fastpasses at AK, and it was our DD's 1st trip.

We have always stayed at Pop but since we aren't going this year we are pooling that money for a stay at the Polynesian or WL! I am too excited and I know that time will FLY!

 

[tikkipoo]

Is it too late to join the thread??

Yes, it is too late....we stopped taking applications at 12:00pm EST February 1, 2008.

 

[arkansas mom]

Yes, it is too late....we stopped taking applications at 12:00pm EST February 1, 2008.

Ooooooh You just missed it daisy 77.
But...we did have that one girl we kicked out for saying she was planning her Universal trip , so technically we have a slot open. Come on in!!!

 

[daisy_77]

Yes, it is too late....we stopped taking applications at 12:00pm EST February 1, 2008.

 

[daisy_77]

Ooooooh You just missed it daisy 77.
But...we did have that one girl we kicked out for saying she was planning her Universal trip , so technically we have a slot open. Come on in!!!

That is to bad for her but,

, for me!

 

[Micka Mouse]

Too funny! Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth: !

 

[Maddie2]

Daisy!!!

What great things you have to look forward to -- graduation AND a WDW trip! And the Poly -- I'm jealous! We are going back to Pop. (we have another expensive vacation this summer NOT to WDW (DH choice -- ya gotta let them have their way once in a while!))

This really is a fun thread. Just earlier today, I was thinking that I should unbookmark a bunch of threads relating to Disney ... sometimes I just spend too much time on the computer ... and thinking about our NEXT YEAR'S vacation (know what I mean?). So tonight I sat down to do just that --- only I just can't delete this one! Too fun! Guess I'll have to find some others.


SHOPPING ALERT!!!

Disney.com has 20-30% off sitewide .... 20% $50 or more, 30% off $75 or more (use code: BONUS) .... this INCLUDES sale and clearance items in both the disneystore and outlet. I bought matching PJ's for all of us for Christmas (plan to go in January -- this may just be how we announce our trip to our kids), sweatshirts, t-shirts ($3.59 -- can't beat THAT!), gloves and a few gifts for people we usually buy for when we go on vacations. Even though I'm spending money, I'm actually SAVING money for vacation. You understand that logic, right? So, then, why can't DH get it?

 

[CJsMom]

My mistake was trying to do so much that we didn't stop and "smell the roses" enough. Yes, we had break days, and we did relax on those days. But on our park days I was so insistent on sticking to the schedule that we didn't slow down enough to see the little details. We didn't stand in long lines, which was good, but we missed some other things that would have been fun (like the dancing fountains in Epcot, or the little shows in the countries in WS, or the street shows in any of the parks). Oh well, it's a reason to plan another trip, right?!

 

[sandym718]

There are so many great little things all over WDW - the detail is just amazing!! I could go monthly for the rest of my life I think and not see it all!

A "little thing" my kids just loved - the ground "tiles" in Epcot (near Innovations) with the lights in them. They thought those were the greatest!

 

[ty&brenmom]

I think that was one of my biggest mistakes also, was trying to do so much. I had spent so much money and time (and still thinking that this was going to be our only trip) that I wanted us to do everything. I had it all layed out what we were going to do on what days and when we got to the park we were going on this, this and this, and if we have time I may let you go to the bathroom. Also if we had to skip a ride or something we were not going back, because it wasn't on the plan to do it later. And then on the third or fourth day my youngest son had a huge melt down at AK, we left the park with him screaming how he hated disney and didn't ever want to go again and he just wanted to go home to his aunt.
This time I am only going to make ADRs and decide what parks we are going to do on what days and just let the rest kinda flow
Oh and on counterservice meals, I pretty much made my sons eat and walk at the same time so we could get to the next attraction. This time I will let my sons eat their food.
Another mistake I made was that I didn't take a lot of pictures and didn't really stop and look at Disney just so focused on getting everything in.
This time I am going to remind myself to stop and look around, take many pictures and of course enjoy all the magic that is there.

 

[daisy_77]

Too funny! Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth: !

Thanks! I am pretty excited about this trip...I think mostly because I have soooo much time to plan (obsess) .

 

[daisy_77]

Daisy!!!

What great things you have to look forward to -- graduation AND a WDW trip! And the Poly -- I'm jealous! We are going back to Pop. (we have another expensive vacation this summer NOT to WDW (DH choice -- ya gotta let them have their way once in a while!))

This really is a fun thread. Just earlier today, I was thinking that I should unbookmark a bunch of threads relating to Disney ... sometimes I just spend too much time on the computer ... and thinking about our NEXT YEAR'S vacation (know what I mean?). So tonight I sat down to do just that --- only I just can't delete this one! Too fun! Guess I'll have to find some others.


SHOPPING ALERT!!!

Disney.com has 20-30% off sitewide .... 20% $50 or more, 30% off $75 or more (use code: BONUS) .... this INCLUDES sale and clearance items in both the disneystore and outlet. I bought matching PJ's for all of us for Christmas (plan to go in January -- this may just be how we announce our trip to our kids), sweatshirts, t-shirts ($3.59 -- can't beat THAT!), gloves and a few gifts for people we usually buy for when we go on vacations. Even though I'm spending money, I'm actually SAVING money for vacation. You understand that logic, right? So, then, why can't DH get it?

Thanks for the welcome! I love Pop! DH and I decided to stay at the Poly because we are saving for a loooong time and we probably won't ever spend the money to stay there again....(riiiiiiiight). I heard that the Poly is addicting. I may have to start playing the lottery after we stay there. I am also looking into WL. AND, today I made the mistake of looking at some of the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas....soooo gorgeous!! Ah, I have almost a year and a half to make up my mind.

Thanks for the info on disney shopping.com!

 

[daisy_77]

You all are right about taking in the details of WDW. There really is sooo much to see. Last year, we did a lot of smelling roses because DD was so young. We spent an hour at the Cinderella fountain just because it is so beautiful and the area has lots of details. It is one of my favorite Disney memories.