Any MISTAKES made on past trips?

[lucialovesdisney]

Thinking you can just go once. I think I'm hooked for life. Disney is a pretty expensive hobby too!

 

[quagmire0]

Not being religious about mid-day breaks. The trip really grinds on adults and kids and without taking the appropriate breaks, you can end up at each other's throats. The couple days we didn't go back to the condo for breaks/naps, were the crabbiest days of the whole trip.

 

[allmylife]

Apply sunscreen to your eyelids and behind the ears. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way

 

[DanInMN]

When my son was little (I think it was 1985) he and I flew down to Kissimmee in our small plane at peak summer vacation time, perhaps August. It was terribly hot and crowded. After a few days we gave up and flew to the Bahamas to go swimming.

Around 1995 my son and I had again flown to Kissimmee in our plane. We stayed at a "Best Western" hotel in Kissimmee (might be something else now) and it was terrible! Bad smells, bugs, dirty... we checked out the next morning and moved somewhere else. I have not stayed in a Best Western since!

Two years ago our return commercial flight was cancelled for two days due to bad weather up north. Our condo at Bahama Bay was booked, so we couldn't stay on there. We went to the "Quality Inn and Suites" near I4 and 27. It was run down - not at all where I want to be on vacation, or any other time. We checked out the next morning and went to a WDW Value that night, which was okay.

In January of this year I got sick the day before we left home. I was miserable the first 2 days of our 5 day trip, and stayed at the hotel while my wife and our exchange student went to the parks. I was a little better the last couple days, but not much.

 

[LSchrow]

Spending too much time texting on my crackberry and keeping in touch rabidly with the bf left at home. That relationship didn't last, and now I have a bunch of PP pics with me holding that dumb phone like it's the most important thing in the world, instead of the precious family time.

that is, sadly, probably the biggest mistake i see people make at WDW. fantastic vacation and family/friends memories are passing them by, and they don't even realize it.
it gets worse when there are children involved, who tend to wander, climb lampposts and garbage cans, eat "things" that other guests discarded (we've seen kids pop found candy in their mouths, lick cig butts from an ashtray, etc ). mostly the parents miss what everyone else saw, sometimes they only notice after the child is lost, has fallen, etc.
imho, long texting sessions/calls while on vacation (excepting when back at the room, off-times) tells the people one is with, that there are others more important than them

 

[hardrocker1]

Plagued with insomnia about a couple weeks before our trip, my doc switched sleep meds on me and told me that although I would be very drowsy the first week or so, that would wear off and I would be fine for our trip. Uh, WRONG! I was so tired in the mornings that I literally couldn't get out of bed until noon, so we missed out on a lot of stuff and my poor hubby and son had to wait on me every day. The one night I tried to not take it, I was up all night and very cranky the next day.

So, don't start new meds right before you go on your trip.

Blessings, Michelle

 

[pampam]

I totally agree with hardrocker1. I started a new med on one trip and was exhaused the next day. Of course, I had been traveling, I should be drowsy the next day I reasoned. The following day, we got up and plodded on. I was exhaused, but why shouldn't I be, I had been walking all over the parks the day before, and I wasn't used to it, I reasoned. The third night I wet the bed.


Needless to say, I cut wayyyyyy back on that new med. I just can't handle it.

 

[Asc341]

Not taking enough nap/relax breaks on our 7 day trip. By day 4 of being at the parks from open-close, I was totally swamped and CRANKY. Next time we'll take it easier, and relax at the resort more.

 

[Disneymommyof4]

I have to agree with Mrevildrporkchop2u.....
We took my mom on our May 2012 trip and it was the worst mistake EVER !!! Don't get me wrong, I love my mom, but she made the trip miserable for me and My family. She complained the ENTIRE time. She hated POP and so we had to move resorts after the first day. She noticed a rat trap box in the brush outside our room and refused to leave the room till we were moved hotels. We ended up at CBR and I fell in love with that resort. She made my kids miserable yelling at them for being excited and jumping around doing what kids do. My husband said never again...lol !! We missed so much of Magic Kingdom because after 2 hours and a rainstorm my Mom was ready to go back to the hotel. Then she proceeded to stay in bed the next 3 days. We went on to the parks as planned but I lost $ because she didn't use her tickets. So, Disney was definitely not a magical experience for my Mom but lesson learned. We are going back May 2014 ,staying at CBR and my parents and in-laws are not invited. ...lol

 

[PrincessMinnie38]

That was our biggest mistake too. We brought my mom on our last trip 3 years ago. She had never been to Disneyworld before, so really wanted to go. But she didn't enjoy it. Never wanted to go on a ride more than once. Never wanted to eat even though we were on the dining plan. My husband and I have three kids and they love their grandma but even they were miserable with her on that trip. Never again.

We are finally going back in September and we are planning an amazing two week trip to make up for the last one.
Minus my mom. Can't wait!

 

[DianaPrince]

Biggest regret...er...mistake? Staying at WBC and not at a disney resort. Alot ppl love that place,but, it was tough not being in the "disney bubble",lol....no offsites agian!

 

[peel]

Over doing it the first two days. On our Honeymoon DH and I got up at 2 drove the 7 hours, did DTD, checked in got changed, went to MK for 3 hours, then did Artists Point, and back to MK for fireworks. Then the next day we made it to DHS for EMH, had ADRs for Coral Reed at 2, epcot for a little bit, then EMH at MK where we met up with my parents. Of this was also the middle of August so it was humid and nasty. We where DEAD by the 3rd day. Thankfully we now will have little ones to slow us down and enjoy things.

In 1996 my boyfriend (now DH) and I made this mistake too. We had other vacation plans that fell through, so on a whim we decided to go to WDW. I hadn't been since I was a kid and he had never been. We drove from CT non-stop, each driving halfway while the other one slept, found a coupon for a $10/night (NOT A TYPO) room in the back of one of those newsprint-material trip guides you find at truck stops while we were driving through Virginia, checked into the motel (not as bad as you would think a $10 room would be), changed clothes, and headed straight to MK. I think we were there for half an hour before we were dying to get back to the motel and sleep. We slept for 16 hours and missed out on the entire next day of park time. Not too smart!

Oh, and we did it this way because we were completely broke, and yet we spent SO much money that we didn't have on souvenirs!!!

By the time we were ready for our next trip I had found the DIS, thankfully, and now I am an obsessed WDW trip planning expert.

 

[texasroni75]

Although I fell in love with Disney on our very first trip, that trip wasn't smooth sailing because of our travel party. My sister, her husband and their young son came along too. They had been there a few times already and thought they'd be perfect to guide us along as first-timers. NOT! At the last minute they upgraded to Deluxe resort (we were at ASMo which had just opened), which in turn meant we spent a lot of time waiting for them to meet up with us at the parks. BIL is not a morning person so we basically lost half our days because they wanted to show us what THEY felt were the most important rides etc so we really couldn't tour at our own pace and see what WE wanted to see. I wish I had spoken up when we realized they were huge time-wasters who really just wanted to go to the pool, take a few pictures and eat a leisurely dinner at the most expensive restaurants (Because they had already "seen and done it all"!).

So - Never again will we travel with another party - we might meet up with them for a dinner or two, but we need to have our own itinerary the rest of the time.

** And also - bring disinfectant/clorox wipes for the rooms. We had one trip where everyone came down with a Norovirus type bug, one after the other we all got sick. Since that trip, all door handles, remotes, etc get a good cleaning by ME before I let the kids touch anything. And so far we haven't gotten sick on a trip since then. (knock on wood!)

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Never, ever again will I go on a trip to WDW without being the one who planned the trip. I went in 98 with two cousins. I came aboard at the last minute and was at their mercy for the entire 8 days.

 

[gaunce78]

I will never go to Disney during the summer months, now that we have done spring time, which wasn't too bad. The best has been October, especially doing a party night. It's awesome not having to wait for a ride! We are going back Dec 1st and we can't wait!!

 

[chrisjulesmom]

1. Not making an ADR for the Wishes Dessert Party during a busy summer vacation....how I forgot to follow the "open date" for July, I'll never know

2. Making ADRs at different parks - did this years ago and it is a rookie mistake. Going to and from parks for lunch and dinner can be pretty taxing, especially on young kids, in the crowds and heat. Plus you really can't follow a decent park plan to maximize your rides.

3. Vacationing at WDW at the end of August. I know lots of people love it at that time, but between the heat, the crowds, and the daily monsoons (we actually had water up to our ankles one day in AK), I will never travel to WDW at that time again. Although heading there during 4th of July may end up making this list, too.....!

Now, thanks to DIS Boards, we have avoided making additional mistakes!

 

[bluezy]

Taking the boat from DHS to EP. Never again. I'll walk or take the bus next time.

 

[lnh'smom]

Taking the boat from DHS to EP. Never again. I'll walk or take the bus next time.

Can I ask why or what happened? Just curious. We have done it a few times because my kids love it.

 

[bluezy]

Can I ask why or what happened? Just curious. We have done it a few times because my kids love it.

Nothing bad happened...it was unbelievably hot in the boat (it was June) and sooooo sloooooowwwww...and HOT....did I mention that it was HOT in the boat? We had never taken the boat between the parks and that was our "something new" that day. We weren't on any time line, but we weren't expecting it to take us nearly 40 minutes to get to Epcot and that our transportation would be more uncomfortable (temperature-wise) than being outside and walking. The ironic thing was that they were doing the trial of park-to-park buses at that time and we chose to walk right past the bus going to Epcot to go on the boat (which we were expecting to be a relaxing ride with a nice breeze.)

 

[jadelane1]

1) Going during a cheer leading convention, ugh. I will always look up events before our trip now!