Any other dvc folks frustrated with VACATION PLANNING NOW???

[edk35]

I sure am!!! We decided to just go in Aug. and use our 150 points instead of putting them into RCI since they expire the end of Aug (that's another story). OMG… I am so overwhelmed with the planning planning planning. We are NOT getting AP's instead we are getting 4 day military discounted park passes with water parks so we have 4 regular park days and 4 water parks and more days. Now I have to decide which days of our trip we will be going to which parks in order to secure those coveted FAST PASS reservations. Then figure out which days we will be at the water parks in order to ONCE AGAIN SECURE the coveted fast passes on the regular park days. . We were at Disney last March and August and for the first time in MY DISNEY GOING YEARS… (which happens to be a lot) I am COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. I almost feel like THROWING IN THE TOWEL and placing the points in RCI.

Can I book fast passes to the POPULAR RIDES closer to the time? Will I lose out if I wait? What are the chances of me getting good times on have rides if I switch something the day before???

 

[supersnoop]

You'd have better luck in the Theme Park forum with your questions.

As for FP+, in my experience, the inventory is very fluid, with cancellations and Disney adjusting inventory on the fly. I got a 7DMT the night before, and one CM helping me at a FP+ booth had just snagged an Anna&Elsa day-of (with standby times over 200 minutes). I've found some "tricks" to help get what I want, but you'll find a wealth of information over in the Theme Parks forum.

I find it pretty easy to plan in advance. Just pull up a crowd calendar and pick the days you want to be in each park. Water parks are less crowded on the weekends. Schedule your dining and then your FP+.

 

[erionm]

Can I book fast passes to the POPULAR RIDES closer to the time? Will I lose out if I wait?

With the exception of the Anna & Elsa M&G at the MK and possibly the 7DMT, you shouldn't have much issue getting FP+ selections for most attractions if you wait.

 

[bwvBound]

I was extremely frustrated planning our May 2014 friends/family trip. I found it very difficult to plan when other households were dragging their feet creating their MDE accounts, buying/linking park tickets, etc. I was nearly at "throw in the towel!" -- yes, I hit "overwhelmed" and that really bugged me as an experienced WDW planner/traveler.

I made plans, best I could, and set FP+ for those who were actively participating. I was later thrilled to learn that the late-joiners were successful "copying" our plans and piggy-backing on our FP+ once they later linked their park admission media. Very cool.

In the end, I was more "happy" than "harboring resentment" and counted the experience as good. So ... hang in there ... the MDE-stuff is "new all over again" and you WILL overcome! I hope your trip is completely successful.

 

[JasonDVC]

I think all the planning is fun

 

[edk35]

I was extremely frustrated planning our May 2014 friends/family trip. I found it very difficult to plan when other households were dragging their feet creating their MDE accounts, buying/linking park tickets, etc. I was nearly at "throw in the towel!" -- yes, I hit "overwhelmed" and that really bugged me as an experienced WDW planner/traveler.

I made plans, best I could, and set FP+ for those who were actively participating. I was later thrilled to learn that the late-joiners were successful "copying" our plans and piggy-backing on our FP+ once they later linked their park admission media. Very cool.

In the end, I was more "happy" than "harboring resentment" and counted the experience as good. So ... hang in there ... the MDE-stuff is "new all over again" and you WILL overcome! I hope your trip is completely successful.

THANKS…. right now I am not feeling the magic. LOL

 

[edk35]

I think all the planning is fun

I have ALWAYS loved planning and loved going to Disney…. been on Disboards for 10 years..but this last min. trip so to speak is KICKING MY bum.

 

[Unyeah]

I'm not so sure what's different every time I go I seem to always get whatever I ask for.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Two adults...planning was not bad. Still TSMM went down, so we missed it one day. I was scheduling water park time too!

Sometimes, we decided to go to a different park than originally planned, and we were able to get FP+ for interesting things.

I like this system, we don't want long days, and I like that you get to pick your FP+ for a time period.

Bobbi

 

[disneynutz]

We vacation at WDW a couple of times per year. A few years ago I would carry a binder with all of our plans, now Disney has MDE.

A couple of years ago I made a change, we don't plan our vacations anymore and they are much more enjoyable.

Special events or special meals are planned for but other than that we do what we want, when we want and change on the fly.

WDW isn't going anywhere and if we miss something this vacation, we will do it on our next vacation.

Bill

 

[ThisIsJason]

Kinda....not with anything on Disney's end, but with friends who are going at the same time we are who rented points. He keeps asking questions I don't know the answers to or tell I tell him the answer decides not to listen (his highlights from the past few days):

• 
  'Can I link my reservation to MDE now or should I wait until I have a meal plan added?' You can, but not sure if you should. I'd wait. Seeing he rented points.

• 'Why wouldn't I be able to join you at Top of the World Lounge?' It is DVC members only. He doesn't buy it.

• 'If we decide not to show up for a meal reservation is there a way not to get charged?' This just made me mad. Also the reason I do not want to do table service meals with the man.

The next 10 months are going to be fun.

 

[edk35]

We vacation at WDW a couple of times per year. A few years ago I would carry a binder with all of our plans, now Disney has MDE.

A couple of years ago I made a change, we don't plan our vacations anymore and they are much more enjoyable.

Special events or special meals are planned for but other than that we do what we want, when we want and change on the fly.

WDW isn't going anywhere and if we miss something this vacation, we will do it on our next vacation.

Bill

So do you use the MDE and make plans that way?? We like staying at the dvc resorts and that is the RELAXING PART. That is easy..... but do you use the FP+ now??

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yesterday we decided to go 3 weeks from yesterday! DHS 's Frozen fireworks convinced us there was a reason to go! FP+ for the Dwarf mine were out for Saturday and Sunday, but we got 9 ish ones for Friday, which is great because we arrive at MCO at 4. We were able to get TSMM for Saturday at a reasonable time since we will go to a water park that morning, and did fine with Sunday's passes as well. I got 1 dinner ADR that we wanted, there are CS restaurants we like in MK & AK, so did not try for any there.

SSR had a studio or a 1 bedroom, we went with the studio, have used all but 6 of our 2014 points now!

I hope you are as lucky as we were in getting the things you want to do!

Bobbi

 

[edk35]

Yesterday we decided to go 3 weeks from yesterday! DHS 's Frozen fireworks convinced us there was a reason to go! FP+ for the Dwarf mine were out for Saturday and Sunday, but we got 9 ish ones for Friday, which is great because we arrive at MCO at 4. We were able to get TSMM for Saturday at a reasonable time since we will go to a water park that morning, and did fine with Sunday's passes as well. I got 1 dinner ADR that we wanted, there are CS restaurants we like in MK & AK, so did not try for any there.

SSR had a studio or a 1 bedroom, we went with the studio, have used all but 6 of our 2014 points now!

I hope you are as lucky as we were in getting the things you want to do!

Bobbi

YOURS IS EVEN CLOSER THAN OURS. LOL That is great that you got those. I need to get on the ball and get this ball rolling. We are staying 5 nights in a 1 br at OKW. Then we are staying 2 or 3 in a regular resort room. We are leaning towards Yacht Club. We have never stayed there, Grand Floridian or French Quarter.We can get 40% off with a military discount at a Deluxe and 35% off a Mod. I have to call in an see if they even have that available. I think they block off a certain amount of rooms at each resort for that military discount. My 15 year old really wants to Stormalong Bay.

 

[Chuck S]

I really didn't have any trouble changing fastpasses on the fly using the iPhone app. Sometimes even just minutes before I wanted to use the fastpass. Some of the major attractions were booked, but for the most part it wasn't a problem.

 

[bobbiwoz]

YOURS IS EVEN CLOSER THAN OURS. LOL That is great that you got those. I need to get on the ball and get this ball rolling. We are staying 5 nights in a 1 br at OKW. Then we are staying 2 or 3 in a regular resort room. We are leaning towards Yacht Club. We have never stayed there, Grand Floridian or French Quarter.We can get 40% off with a military discount at a Deluxe and 35% off a Mod. I have to call in an see if they even have that available. I think they block off a certain amount of rooms at each resort for that military discount. My 15 year old really wants to Stormalong Bay.

Bobbi

 

[edk35]

Bobbi

Thanks Bobbi!!!

 

[fishermouse]

we had no problem booking and changing fast pass's on the day we used them. If you do the first one or two and want to change the remaining ones you can. still have problems changing to a different park but Disney is working on it.

 

[edk35]

we had no problem booking and changing fast pass's on the day we used them. If you do the first one or two and want to change the remaining ones you can. still have problems changing to a different park but Disney is working on it.

Oh good!!!

 

[jodifla]

yes, we didn't want to deal with the Fast Pass business. So we stayed at OKW but went to Universal, then used our points for a DVC Dream cruise, then stayed at AKL and went to a water park.

We liked Universal way more than we thought we would, and it encouraged us to go off site more.