Anyone else feeling like a newb all over again?

[monkeybug]

Our last trip was in 2011, and I'm feeling like much less of an expert planning this trip than when I was when planning that one. So much has changed! It feels like I'm starting from the beginning all over again. New Fantasyland, magic bands, FP+, BOG, A&E, memory maker (whatever that is), and probably 200 other new things/policies that I'm not even aware of yet...ugh! Looks like I'll be spending some quality time on the dis getting caught up!

 

[ashleyfallis]

Same here - it's crazy isn't it?!

I used to think I knew a heck of a lot about everything Disney but now I feel like I'm right back at square 1! We have lots of lovely people to help us through though monkeybug.

Not that much can have changed really...can it?

 

[tanyaandallie]

Our last trip was summer 2012 and things have changed a ton!! On our last trip we were dealing with fastpass return time enforcement! This time, far more new things to deal with. However, I have read and read and read and am hoping we are ready!!!

 

[monkeybug]

Same here - it's crazy isn't it?!

I used to think I knew a heck of a lot about everything Disney but now I feel like I'm right back at square 1! We have lots of lovely people to help us through though monkeybug.

Not that much can have changed really...can it?

Yes, I am so thankful for the Dis! Right now all the changes are a bit frustrating, but I'm hoping that once I get a handle on everything they'll make for a better trip.

Our last trip was summer 2012 and things have changed a ton!! On our last trip we were dealing with fastpass return time enforcement! This time, far more new things to deal with. However, I have read and read and read and am hoping we are ready!!!

I forgot all about the fastpass return time thing! No more showing up late huh?

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

Yes. We went March 2013, pre FFP and Magic bands and we really felt we had Disney trips all figured out. It was smooth sailing.
I'm working on a March 2015 trip now (took a year off since we had another baby and have been busy) and I'm having to read and learn so much.

 

[hoosll]

We are taking 2014 off so that Disney can stabilize things, I can't pay the big bucks to be a lab rat.

 

[suzimar57]

our last trip was 2008, so you can imagine all i had to "catch up" on!!

especially like the MB and FP 60 out - the "planner" in me likes these changes!

 

[monkeybug]

our last trip was 2008, so you can imagine all i had to "catch up" on!!

especially like the MB and FP 60 out - the "planner" in me likes these changes!

You do? I guess I might be more of a strategizer and researcher than a planner. I am missing the old days when we could get to the park at RD and collect fastpasses all morning to use (well past the return time) in the afternoon after a nice pool break. We rode so many of the headliner rides over and over, and we almost always had fastpasses to give away to poor souls stuck in standby lines in the afternoon. That doesn't seem likely to happen with this new system. One benefit I do see though is that we will be able to RD one park and then hop to a new one and have FP's for there.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

our last trip was 2008, so you can imagine all i had to "catch up" on!!

especially like the MB and FP 60 out - the "planner" in me likes these changes!

This post could have been written by me word for word! Same year and everything. We've snuck a few overnight trips here and there but never the full weeklong trip we go on next month....and I loved the planning/educating myself about everything. Challenge accepted WDW!

 

[Mikie]

Our last trip was in 2011, and I'm feeling like much less of an expert planning this trip than when I was when planning that one. So much has changed! It feels like I'm starting from the beginning all over again. New Fantasyland, magic bands, FP+, BOG, A&E, memory maker (whatever that is), and probably 200 other new things/policies that I'm not even aware of yet...ugh! Looks like I'll be spending some quality time on the dis getting caught up!

This could be my post - years and all. We knew in 2011 we would return in 2014 to see new Fantasyland and due to our kids' ages. I felt like little miss well-informed to have that much figured out (in addition to general trip experience). Now it's like I've never been - maybe even more confusing sometimes because I get old and new a bit tangled up in my mind. . . I think I'll like the changes, I just don't like feeling "new" all over again!

 

[mediadiva]

Our last trip was in 2011, and I'm feeling like much less of an expert planning this trip than when I was when planning that one. So much has changed! It feels like I'm starting from the beginning all over again. New Fantasyland, magic bands, FP+, BOG, A&E, memory maker (whatever that is), and probably 200 other new things/policies that I'm not even aware of yet...ugh! Looks like I'll be spending some quality time on the dis getting caught up!

You will love it when you go I was so impressed by the magic bands, however my sister did all the FP's for us so I didn't have to think about it but she told me if I wanted to do it just download the app from disney on my phone. Don't even need a computer. I loved it in December I was just so impressed by everything. Its one of the reasons I wanted to go again so quickly. All the new rides I had not been on and new fantasyland is just wonderful, anna and elsa being there now. We are loving all the new stuff! The FP to get into the hotel room is amazing, my kids can open the door now I love it!

 

[GotLabradors]

We are taking 2014 off so that Disney can stabilize things, I can't pay the big bucks to be a lab rat.

I'm glad we put or trip off until fall of 2015. Hopefully, by next fall, the majority of known bugs will have been fixed. I'll be crossing my fingers that there won't be a whole lot of new bugs in the system in the next year.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I did. We went over Memorial Weekend and used FP+ for the first time. It went ok but not great. I felt like such a newbie and messed up how I planned them.

Now that I've done it, I'll be much better at tweaking the plan.

 

[monkeybug]

I did. We went over Memorial Weekend and used FP+ for the first time. It went ok but not great. I felt like such a newbie and messed up how I planned them.

Now that I've done it, I'll be much better at tweaking the plan.

Do you have any tips to share with fellow once-again newbs?

 

[monkeybug]

Now it's like I've never been - maybe even more confusing sometimes because I get old and new a bit tangled up in my mind. . . I think I'll like the changes, I just don't like feeling "new" all over again!

This is how I feel too! I know I'm just being a brat about it right now and that eventually I'll get the hang of it and actually like the changes. Right now I feel like an old curmudgeon complaining about all the new-fangled and confusing changes. Darn Disney whippersnappers, changing my routine!

 

[caroluau]

I'm terrified with all of the upfront planning involved now. Last fall we were part of the test groups with Magic Bands & FP+ but at least we were still allowed to pull paper FP as well. I found I was trying to keep our scheduled FP+ but at least we had the good old FP's to fall back on. Hopefully all the planning for this upcoming trip will be worth it!

 

[nuzmom]

OP - I've been having those same feelings, too. I enjoy planning, but I feel like I'm having to learn a lot, all at once, all over again. Because we're DVC and like staying at non-home resorts, I am used to planning 7 months in advance, but to have to plan "everything" at 180 days out and still not get some things is a strange concept to get used to. Doing FP+ at 60 days is downright WEIRD to me!!! And, I actually really dislike having to keep trying to get a desired ADR or "worry" that my FP+'s will disappear! I want to make my plan, feel great that I'm all set, and forget about all of it until vacation time arrives - knowing that we "got it" and are "good to go".

Oh, and in the past, I've had a hard time with my DH wanting to "go with the flow" and *gasp* change plans sometimes (like to a totally different park than planned)!!! Now, with all the ramifications, I don't know if I will be able to do that. That isn't comfortable for me.

 

[Jennasis]

Raises hand!

I felt like I was taking the SAT's when I scheduled our fp reservations last week. Such pressure!

Been going to Disney almost yearly since 1977, and this is the first time i feel lost and unsure. I'm hoping once there it will smooth out and make sense but right now I'm concerned. I also have little faith in MDE or MM+.

 

[SimonSez]

Our last trip was summer of 2012 and short of opening a new park, these past two years have seen the biggest changes between trips. We'll be there in less than two weeks and definitely looking forward to it, but that element of the unknown is there where it hasn't been before. At least not at this level

 

[agame2323]

Yup. We're not going back until 2015 or 2016. Either way, Im studing now