Any MISTAKES made on past trips?

[KristiKat]

Not taking an afternoon break to nap on MK evening EMH day. The kids were so tired and so were we. My DD5 nearly fell asleep during the fireworks.

Still haven't gotten around to doing Fantasmic. Always say we will but don't want to stand in the line that long for the show.

Not buying DD a balloon. I just don't know what we will do with it when it's time to go home. She will want to take it with her and there will be lots of crying when she can't.

Forgetting our light jackets in the room. The wind made it much cooler than was forcasted.

I've read a few posts about going with family and I'm happy to report we had a blast when we went with my sister's family and we hope to get the chance to do it again. So, to those of you worrying now that you've read this thread, don't. All families are different. Just because it didn't go well for others doesn't mean it will be the same for you. That being said, don't be afraid to split up and do your own thing if needed.

 

[EsmeCullen]

My biggest mistake was buying new shoes just a few days before my last trip. My feet were ready to fall off by the end of my trip. They were comfy when I tried them on, bit they definitely lost their comfort as I spent 3 whole days walking around the parks. This time around, I bought new athletic shoes 2 months in advance and I wear them almost everyday. They are much better.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Still haven't gotten around to doing Fantasmic. Always say we will but don't want to stand in the line that long for the show.

Have you thought about using the Fantasmic Dinner Package? It gives your family a priority seating ticket that you can use to avoid the line and have a guaranteed seat. I say let all the other suckers wait in line for two hours! We LOVED Fantasmic last year and now will do the package every year. We tried the line in 2010, and it was out and down the road two hours before the show. No thank you.

My biggest mistake was buying new shoes just a few days before my last trip. My feet were ready to fall off by the end of my trip. They were comfy when I tried them on, bit they definitely lost their comfort as I spent 3 whole days walking around the parks. This time around, I bought new athletic shoes 2 months in advance and I wear them almost everyday. They are much better.

I could see this being a problem with most shoes. I find that with Crocs it is the opposite though, for those of us who love Crocs. If I wear them too much before a Disney trip I am in pain. Funny how everyone and each kind of shoe are so different!

 

[SingingMom]

I second the suggestion of the Fantasmic Dinner package. I will never attend Fantasmic again unless I have it. First time we blindly got into that line - waited FOREVER. And, since we ended up being seated in a congested area, the exit was frightening. I've never felt so out of control in a crowd - close to a mob scene. I told DH to hold onto DD with his life and I would meet him at the boat dock. Scared the heck out of me -all the pushing and shoving.

With the dinner package, we entered at a calm pace, and were able to situate ourselves to make for a safer departure!

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I second the suggestion of the Fantasmic Dinner package. I will never attend Fantasmic again unless I have it. First time we blindly got into that line - waited FOREVER. And, since we ended up being seated in a congested area, the exit was frightening. I've never felt so out of control in a crowd - close to a mob scene. I told DH to hold onto DD with his life and I would meet him at the boat dock. Scared the heck out of me -all the pushing and shoving.

With the dinner package, we entered at a calm pace, and were able to situate ourselves to make for a safer departure!

The only way I would wait for Fantasmic in line is if I came across a short line and it was close to starting. What do you think the chances of that happening are???

 

[Disneymooners4eva]

When I went to WDW with my parents on the free DDP we didn't make any plans or reservations, now that I'm all grown up and while I was planning my honeymoon I did lots of research and compared prices!! So that we could get the most out of the DDP. Lesson learned!

 

[Disneymooners4eva]

My biggest mistake was buying new shoes just a few days before my last trip. My feet were ready to fall off by the end of my trip. They were comfy when I tried them on, bit they definitely lost their comfort as I spent 3 whole days walking around the parks. This time around, I bought new athletic shoes 2 months in advance and I wear them almost everyday. They are much better.

Good point!! For our vacation in August, I was thinking of packing a pair of comfy flats and a pair of flip flops for those rainy days.

 

[hsmamato2]

we are WDW vets but we've made some mistakes over the years....once we tried to 'get there early' so we could tour faster....big mistake for our family! We are so much happier when we let the kids sleep in,and my Dh gets to relax with his bowl of granola and read magazines in the a.m.- arrive no earlier than 10 a.m.- and then start touring backwards from what everyone else is doing that day....We plan time to do this,and it works for us.
What works for some,doesn't work for all....I'd rather see less and enjoy it more!

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

Biggest mistake is that we did not plan things out enough... that's most likely the reason why people don't enjoy their trip to DisneyWorld b/c of lack of planning. I still enjoyed myself b/c I absolutely love all things Disney but it was our 1st time going and we went on a whim so we didn't plan right- didn't utilize fast passes, didn't make advanced dining reservations, etc. This year we are going, hopefully we will get more out of the trip!

 

[gert]

Taking my soon-to-be ex-husband. I booked the trip in Feburary, we separated in July, and the trip was in December to celebrate my 30th birthday and my daughter's 7th birthday. Our divorce was final the following May.

I really thought since he didn't make any indication otherwise, that he actually wanted to go and he wanted to continue to be a part of my daughter's life. I was soooo, soooo, soooo wrong. He was miserable and he let us know it.

 

[ttintagel]

Overpacking. A year later, my suitcase is still half full with unused ponchos, hand wipes, tissues, sunscreen, etc.

Planning for other people. They always say they'll do whatever you plan, then rebel when you get there.

 

[msp2mco]

A few trips back, we were traveling with another family who had been to WDW several times before too. I thought our touring style would be similar, but a day into the trip, it was evident that we preferred doing different things on a different schedule. Fortunately, we are good friends, and we just went our separate ways and met up a few times a day for meals or other activities. As always, flexibility is so important.

 

[DeeSanDisneyFan]

"At least they know who's boss!" Haha...DIS needs a like button.

Love this thread and will come back for more!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

Packing nothing but flip flops. I was a blistered mess.

 

[diznee25]

Here's what we've learned:

1. When you see a really cool souvenir you want, buy it. Don't wait! Some items at WDW are specific to certain stores, and you may not see it somewhere else. Disney World may be the only place where "impulse" shopping comes in handy!

2. Always have rain ponchos on hand. Yep, we've been caught in some downpours!

3. When you see a Photo Pass CM standing around, take advantage and have your pic taken then! Many a times we would be like, 'We'll be back in a few minutes.' Then when we'd return, there'd be a line for that Photo Pass op!

4. At the end of a park day: Take time and browse gift shops or get a snack when the park closes. Fighting through the crowds and rushing out to your bus stop doesn't get you "home" any quicker.


diznee25

 

[Eco]

DD & I went to DL for a Mom-n-Me trip. "Mommy, I'm having the time of my life!" But on the last day, her stomach acted up-- after we'd already checked out of the Disneyland Hotel. The hotel let us go back in our room, but had to check out by 1pm. I should have paid for an extra night and dealt with the change in airline flights. But I didn't. I thought she just had motion sickness from the morning of last-chance rides. She was really in no condition to fly and I failed her by sticking to the travel plans. She was green the whole way home.

But this Friday (now 3 years later), I have a chance to redeem myself-- we're flying to Orlando and our whole family of 4 will spend a week at WDW for the first time! This time, we're all healthy, and she'll be using dramamine.

 

[Beaniesmg]

My mistake last time was too early of a flight. We had to leave home at 5am or so. This time I scheduled a 10am flight and it's been changed now to an 8am flight. So we have to leave here around 6am.

The kids were so cranky last time. And on our arrival day I have Pirate League, Chef Mickey's and then the Pirates and Pals Cruise planned. There may not be a room ready or time for any naps in between. I think the best plan is make the next day a sleep in day. Im worried though, and the kids are my grandsons and I'm not a disciplinarian. Lol

Leaving in 13 days!

 

[SpacedOut]

1. When you see a really cool souvenir you want, buy it. Don't wait! Some items at WDW are specific to certain stores, and you may not see it somewhere else. Disney World may be the only place where "impulse" shopping comes in handy!

Absolutely! I saw a backpack I really liked last time I was there at one park, and then scoured throughout Hollywood Studios to find it on my last day!

Of course, once I bought it, I found it at every other store. I think they just mess with me...

 

[Payne]

Getting the dining plan and not making reservations... We had 9pm dinners in less popular restaurants.

 

[diznee25]

Absolutely! I saw a backpack I really liked last time I was there at one park, and then scoured throughout Hollywood Studios to find it on my last day!

Of course, once I bought it, I found it at every other store. I think they just mess with me...

lol I didn't say in my other post, but it was my first trip to WDW back in 98' with my family. I saw this really cool, tiny crystal glass figurine at a gift shop in MK. My dad advised me not to get it, because we still had a lot of park day left, and he thought it might break in my handbag. He said we'll do our gift shopping on our last day at DTD. Well, I couldn't find it at DTD, and we had no plans to revisit MK. So I had to settle for something else...

Now that I'm a "seasoned" WDW person, I now know that I could have had my package sent to the front of the park. (We were off-site guests.) Live and learn!

diznee25