Are you a Commando or a Savor the Magic Visitor?

[LisaDKG]

Our next trip will be "savour" if I have anything to do with it (wait...I make all the plans...I have EVERYTHING to do with it!) This is a return to DLR after 2 years at WDW, which we loved in general but I felt like the magic that I remembered experiencing at DL was missing. We added on an extra day to our trip so we wouldn't be rushed to fit everything in. This is my trip to re-capture it and don't NOBODY better mess with my SAVOURING!

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

Our first and only (so far) visit was a bit commando, I guess, in that I didn't really take time to savour the magic like I wish I had (now that I am back I realize I didn't really slow down much.... ), but we were more relaxed in that we went back to the hotel for naps every afternoon, and took things easier later in the day. Unfortunately, most of our "take it easy" time was spent in DCA, so I really didn't experience much DL 'down time'. Next time I will make sure I take more time to enjoy my surroundings than worry about where next to go to maximize ride time!

Notice I say next time - as if it is a forgone conclusion? For me, it IS!

 

[bethy]

We are commando for one Magic Morning through Fantasyland and then Savor the Magic the rest of the time. Our trips are usually 5 days long.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I like RideMax & don't like to wait in lines, but I never actually follow a specific schedule. I just use RideMax for informational purposes.

How has this worked for you? I don't think following schedules and times like do this this this now now now. But we both like rides and hate waiting in line.. If we don't ride something due to a long line we don't mind, but has RideMax worked for you in that sense? Just following certain rides at the times it says?

 

[mom4princesses]

How has this worked for you? I don't think following schedules and times like do this this this now now now.

The first time we used it I wasn't sure how it would work, so I did it for 2 out of the 5 days we were there. So the first time we used it was our 2nd day at DL. The kids fought it at first because they wanted to pick the next ride but after 3 rides with little to no wait (seeing other kids crying and waiting in long lines) they started saying whats next. There was no fighting over who got to pick the next ride (3 girls all one year apart) and no crying about waiting in long lines (no, how much longer, how much longer now, etc.). Then the 2 other days without RideMax were not even close to productive and kids were crankier. We now travel with our laptop and every night we all sit down and choose the rides we want to ride the next day. We love it (even the kids) and won't go to DLR with out it. Hope that helps. Any way I would have we are commandos. But since our next trip is in Dec. for 2 weeks we may savor a little more magic.

 

[ironpig70]

i go full commando in planning so that we can savor the park. i see tons of folks with out a clue on fast pass or priority seating and they waste alot of time just waiting. i know the best times to be in certain areas and use that to my advantage.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

The first time we used it I wasn't sure how it would work, so I did it for 2 out of the 5 days we were there. So the first time we used it was our 2nd day at DL. The kids fought it at first because they wanted to pick the next ride but after 3 rides with little to no wait (seeing other kids crying and waiting in long lines) they started saying whats next. There was no fighting over who got to pick the next ride (3 girls all one year apart) and no crying about waiting in long lines (no, how much longer, how much longer now, etc.). Then the 2 other days without RideMax were not even close to productive and kids were crankier. We now travel with our laptop and every night we all sit down and choose the rides we want to ride the next day. We love it (even the kids) and won't go to DLR with out it. Hope that helps. Any way I would have we are commandos. But since our next trip is in Dec. for 2 weeks we may savor a little more magic.

Wow, sounds so much easier with RideMax!

I'm going to get the 3 month subbie and see how it works. Since we're not so much commando, but don't like long lines, I'll probably print out a couple different plans so we can pick and choose what we want instead of following it to a T..

Thank you!

 

[Sally_fan]

Last year we were in commando mode, this year we plan to savour the magic! We are taking 5 days this time (did 3 last time) & I can not wait!

 

[ACDSNY]

We are into the Savor the Magic stage of life. Our kids are in their early 20s so we've been trying new resturants, tours or shows each trip. Last January we did the DCA Segway tour and in March we did the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour.

 

[stacymomof2]

Started out a total commando....I was almost in a panic, I just knew we wouldn't get to see it all.

After relaxing and realizing that the lines we pretty short and we had 3 1/2 days to spend...we started to slow down and by the last evening, we started just totally savoring it. We just very slowly strolled down main street, taking everything in. The smells, the buildings, the window shopping, the people...everything.

Our next trip, it's gonna be AWESOME!!

 

[Eeyore76]

Started out a total commando....I was almost in a panic, I just knew we wouldn't get to see it all.

After relaxing and realizing that the lines we pretty short and we had 3 1/2 days to spend...we started to slow down and by the last evening, we started just totally savoring it. We just very slowly strolled down main street, taking everything in. The smells, the buildings, the window shopping, the people...everything.

Our next trip, it's gonna be AWESOME!!

So funny! I hope I can be like you! I think I'll totally start out just manic, and then hopefully mellow out and enjoy...we'll have five days, and I am a Disney FANATIC.

I want to see and do pretty much everything!

 

[hlbtimes2]

It feels like we are in comando mode at least the first 1/2 of the day- however, we did try to use ridemax once and felt a little to scheduled, rushed and like we were missing out on the little things that just happen. Little things like meeting a character unexpectedly or seeing some group making music or a show in the middle of everything. We typically do rides the first 1/2 of the day, then after nap time we watch shows, parades, fireworks, etc and take in the magic a little more.

 

[Cinderlala]

How has this worked for you? I don't think following schedules and times like do this this this now now now. But we both like rides and hate waiting in line.. If we don't ride something due to a long line we don't mind, but has RideMax worked for you in that sense? Just following certain rides at the times it says?

We don't follow the specific schedule from RideMax, but it does give you a good guideline for when lines for various rides are shorter vs. longer. I played with RideMax a lot -- until I felt I had the information I wanted.

I don't like to follow set schedules, but I do like to have the knowledge.

[I hope this makes sense---I have a terrible headache & it's making it hard to think!]

 

[fairy8i8]

I'm using Ridemax, too. I like it because I am getting a feel for what to hit first. Last year, my in-laws spent an average of 2 hours in each line for the Fantasyland rides with the grandkids-- that's not my idea of savoring! I think lots of planning will help make the trip less stressful when we get there so we can just chill and go with the plan, or flow if the plan doesn't work out. At least I feel I have an idea of what rides to hit if lines suddenly become long for something we've planned. I think the biggest thing is just getting into the right mindset. I think commando is more of an attitude in touring. I'm hoping I can have my plan but be open to other experiences if they cross my path so I can appreciate them. I also want to be open to the beauty around me as we walk through the park instead of having my nose in a map and my eyes only looking for the next ride.

 

[Hambletfamily]

We try to go during the off season with the kids and for 5-7 days and split the first 3 days going commando and then the next 2-4 days just taking it in. The Second trip it rained the whole time we were there so we had the parks pretty much to ourselves. That was the year we all decided to trade pins, and now we are hooked. Our trip last year was just the parents, kids are grown up now and the trip comming up, just two of us, so we will be wondering around, taking it all in.

 

[cherylgyak]

I believe in Commando Magic

 

[stacymomof2]

So funny! I hope I can be like you! I think I'll totally start out just manic, and then hopefully mellow out and enjoy...we'll have five days, and I am a Disney FANATIC.

I want to see and do pretty much everything!

FIVE DAYS!! That is awesome...I would have loved that! Really with that much time, just relax & enjoy! You'll have a blast!

Have a great trip!

 

[Brenna&Noah's Mom]

This will be our first trip to Disney and I just want to savor the magic.

 

[avalon451]

I'm using Ridemax, too. I like it because I am getting a feel for what to hit first. Last year, my in-laws spent an average of 2 hours in each line for the Fantasyland rides with the grandkids-- that's not my idea of savoring! I think lots of planning will help make the trip less stressful when we get there so we can just chill and go with the plan, or flow if the plan doesn't work out.

This is what I'M talkin' bout.

I don't call it commando, I call it advance planning so when you get there, you know what to do to have a relaxed time.

We do both! We do planned touring in the morning for a couple of hours, collect all our favorite FPs, take a wonderful break midday to swim, eat, nap... come back and use all those FPs and sail right past all the 90 minute lines!

Savoring happens in the late morning or early afternoon, or sauntering around when we come back at night all refreshed from our break. I will never forget that fantastic, sunny March day just hanging out on Paradise Pier with my two oldest daughters, leaning over the railings and watching the terrified expressions on the riders on California Screamin'. Both DDs counting down along with the launch, DD10 hollering, "Say yer prayers!" at the riders. Stopping in Hollywood backlot to listen to a fantastic quartet of acappella jazz singers. Sitting around on the stairs in New Orleans Square Court of Angels and soaking up the ambiance.

I say you can have your Dole Whip and eat it too!

 

[AStamm]

We're pretty hard-core commando about Disney parks, but make it a point to keep from pushing past the point of no return. We've been known to head back to the hotel earlier than expected to recharge if too many days of commando-touring are starting to slow us down.

The one thing I can say for all our commando touring is that we don't miss anything...after a full week of getting to the parks at opening, we usually see it all!