Am I missing something here?

[newchic99]

We are headed to Disney on May 17. Gonna be there a week.Staying at Pop Century.
We didn't get meal vouchers or plan what parks we are doing on which days. We have no reservations for dinner or character breakfasts.
Do I really have to plan that much? Can we just wing it when we get there? Our schedules are so strict now, I was looking forward to just being able to" fly by the seat of our pants " .
Please tell me it will be OK. Thanks!

 

[krissy3483]

I would definitely try to at least have a general game plan of things you want to see and do at each park. And I would try to get a basic plan for which park you want to go to on which day. I dont know if you have hopper passes or not, but that would definitely factor into your decisions as well. Some people will plan out practically every moment of every day. I definitely don't think you need to go that far. I think you will have a much better time if you take the Unoffical Guide out of the library and look through it. This way when you get there, you have an idea of what rides everyone wants to go on and what restaurants you want to go to. If you get there with no plans, you may find yourselves wandering around miserably while there are long lines for both rides and restaurants.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[mickeymule]

It will be fine. Unless there is something that you "really" don't want to miss, but that is how we do it. The only PS we made in december was Cindys, everything else was off the hip. It lets us enjoy our time more.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

If you go in June, July, August, Christmas, or spring break, you need to make as many plans as you feel comfortable with. Some people are comfortable with more, some less. But from what I've read about attendance in mid May, you don't need to do any planning. I've been second week of January once, and we just did what we wanted when we wanted with no problems.

We're going in July for 5 days/4 nights on the Dream Maker Silver. I have almost every meal PSed (I left two meals up in the air) and every day planned out with some flexibility built into the plan. It's the only way we can see everything and make the most of the silver.

My only suggestion is once you decide that you want to go to a particular restaurant and you have an idea of when you're going to be there, call for a PS just to make sure you have as little wait as possible even if you are already in the park. Otherwise you could just walk in or you could have a long wait, but you won't know which until you get there.

 

[bizwiz24]

My parent's were never much planners, always doing what felt right. Hence, every time I went to Disney I never even knew which park would be for which day. We still had the best time and I have so many wonderful memories that fill my heart with joy.

Now that I sort of know the system and I am planning, I have the ability to plan out exactly the way I want it. In July I will be going with first timers and I want them to have an unforgettable experience. For that reason I have planned religiously.

I think that even though you didn't make priority seating 90 days ago or planned which park for which day or even created a rough budget, you are going to have a terrific time. I honestly believe it is almost impossible to not have fun at Disney. Now that you kind of know the types of planning people do, maybe on your next trip you will desire to know exactly where and when you'll be eating. Have a safe and wonderful trip; I know you will just fall in love with the experience.

Bizwiz24

 

[Schmeck]

If you want to go to a character breakfast, you should definitely have a PS. You don't say if you will have children with you or not, but don't get their hopes up about 'eating with Mickey', only to find out you can't get seated when you hoped to, without a PS.

With all the early entry/extra magic night, etc, going on, you should at least decide which park to go to each day for the first days of your trip - do you plan to get up early? Or sleep in? You might find out the hard way that the park you decided to visit that morning had EE and it's so crowded by 11:00 AM that you can't get on any of the rides you wanted to...

 

[auntpolly]

Is this your first trip? I only ask because I think back to year ago when I didn't know as much about the parks and didn't plan much. I really think I enjoy the trips more that I make PSs and have a general itinerary. We change it all the time. If we're over at AK and don't feel like going back over to EPCOT for our PS at Mexico or whever, I ask a CM if I can use their internal phone system and call and say we aren't coming. (I've read it really doesnn't even mater if you call because they aren't reservations.)

 

[newchic99]

Thanks everyone! I think it will be OK. We do kinda know what rides we wanna do. I do have the Birnbaum book. Our tickets are for 5 days at Disney and up to 5 at Universal.
DH had gastric bypass surgery and is not a big eater now. That is really why I don't think we will do sit down places much. Counter service seems easier.
This will be our first big vacation in 15 years.We haven't done anything but weekend get aways since then. Getting away from Ohio is gonna be the best thing. We are also celebrating our 25th anniversary. Disney is all I talk about. I am so excited.
We have a friend that lives in Winter Haven. She is coming over for a couple days.We haven't seen her in 2 years . She has no idea what DH looks like now so that should be exciting.

We were at Disney 15 years ago. Right after MGM opened. So I know so much has changed.

 

[auntpolly]

newchic -- the only other thing I'd like to say is that we don't go to the restaurants for the food - they are so clever they are like attractions for us!! There is entertainment in alot of them and they are just too much fun!

 

[goofyernmost]

Seriously, in all the times I have been I have only once planned where I was going. I normally stay off site and I never know until after I have gotten up, showered and had breakfast, what park I am going too! Or even if I am going to Disney or not. I might go to Universal or SeaWorld or drive over to the Kennedy Space Center.

It's more like an adventure that way (my idea of roughing it). But I am becoming more and more aware that I may be in the minority on that thought. I never even make hotel reservations. I just find one that I like when I get there. That one throws everyone.

I think it is whatever you are comfortable with.

 

[bengalfreak]

If this will be your only trip to the land of Mickey, I would definately have some sort of plan as you will miss too many things without one.

However, my best trip to WDW was my first trip and the only time we didn't have a plan of any kind. It was our honeymoon and it was a time of exploration. I'm hooked forever.

 

[Grumpy92]

You should be fine. But I would suggest going ahead and making PS for the character meals. Those are very popular year round and the wait time may get lengthy. Which meal to do? Choose your childs fave character as a guide.

You say you have a strict schedule but have made no PS or know which park is EE. You need to fit some flexibility into your plan otherwise you will be miserable. Have each member of your group pick their top 5 must dos and use that as your guide. I also suggest including midday breaks. Have lunch at the park or your resort and then return to the hotel for a swim or nap. Then you can return to a park later, the temps will be better and you will feel more rejuvinated. I also tell guest to find a place in the park and just sit and soak up the atmosphere and people watch. Too many guest miss so much trying to do Disney as a marathon and loose their vacation in the process.

 

[saymama]

I was starting to feel kinda weird for not planning everything. Glad to know I'm not alone. I have learned alot. This is our 4 trip. I made PS for lunch at the castle and breakfast at crystal palace. Other than that, I'm winging it. We are staying at the poly and we know the thigns we really want to do. Like first thing is to ride the train for my ds.

We are going with my inlaws and my 2 boys. Both have autism and the grandparents are treating us to this vacation. We did it 3 yrs ago and everyone but me got sick. Ended up in the ER with one of the boys. So not much was done. It's easier for us to go without a plan as we never know how the boys will react to something and it's just better to let them lead. If they get tired, we leave, if they want more, we do more.

My inlaws don't even want to go to the parks everyday. So dh and I will be able to let them stay at the hotel and swim and we can enjoy the world! We leave in 2 weeks!! I can't wait.

 

[wahoo2]

Don't worry your on vacation! We will be there the same time as you, and I did make all my priority seating, but only because I had more time to organize and because of this site!LOL!! We went 5 years ago for our honeymoon and I had no idea about PS, and we still got to go to Chef Mickey's for breakfast and the poly for the luau(is that how ya spell it?)and we just called from our hotel room. Unless there is something you MUST do or see I wouldn't worry about it! Hopefully the weather will be good when we get there! Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Enjoy your break from Ohio! I'm in the SE corner of OH, and I'd love to get some FL sunshine for a few days......

Steph

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

I have to agree with auntpolly about the restaurants being about more than just the food. I love the stained glass and tall ceilings of Cinderella's Castle. I am looking forward to enjoying the Hollywood Brown Derby, and although I don't care much for the food at Sci-Fi the experience is enough to make us go back every trip. In Epcot WS your server is from the country the restaurant is in. It gives you a chance to use some of your high school French or learn some Italian.

Please don't shy away from these places. You can split a meal at any of these just as easily as you can a counter service. If you have special dietary needs you can make requests with a PS. Don't miss out on the restaurants just because you don't want all that food. But stay away from the buffets.