Back from 8/26-9/1 trip: UNscripted trip w/UNexpected results!

[eliza61]

Just a quick report to share on our recent Sunday August 26th through Saturday, September 1st trip to WDW - our third trip.

Our trip was fairly loose and free-wheeling in that while we had an ADR for each day, and a general idea of what we thought we wanted to do - basically, we just relaxed and enjoyed ourselves!

It was nice because if a bus was a bit late - no problem. If a park was crowded, we hopped over to another. If we wanted to ride Buzz 4 times in a row, we did it, rather than worrying about "strategies" for the best way to maximize every minute at WDW. If the crowd seemed to be surging one way, we went the other way. MK seems quite a bit busier than other years in late August, so we ended up spending more time in Epcot and really enjoyed the World Showcase.

We lucked into some good things - showing up for Nemo at AK at the last minute got us great seats right by the railing for the second tier. We got the "cowboy" experience on the Great Movie Ride. We happened upon Mary Poppins, Alice, Pooh, Tigger, Chip n' Dale, Peter Pan just as we were walking around, with hardly any lines. We spent an absolutely hilarious 30 minutes talking with the folks at the Boutiki in Poly (we had time) and my DD ended up ringing up a sale behind the counter along with the manager. We went swimming at 10:30 at night and got snacks at Roaring Fork afterwards. We happened upon the glass bridal carriage at GF, being pulled by these darling little miniature ponies led by footmen with white wigs (think Versailles and Marie Antionette) as the bride/groom waved from the carriage. We got a really great table at Hoop-De-Doo (we'd booked Category 3, but the attendance was light that show so everyone sat on the lower level and our seats were pretty darn good).

Now I realize that nothing in that list above is the ultimate magical pixie-dust filled experience, but it was for us. If we had planned to see some of the things we did, we would have driven ourselves crazy by trying to be in the right place at the absolutely right time. IMHO, sometimes you need to step away from the planning and just enjoy the journey.

LOL.

Welcome to the DARK SIDE

I think I may sticky your report under the title "Yes, Virginia it is possible to do disney without plans along the equivalent of the d-day invasion"

 

[CrabbyPatty]

eliza61 - thanks for your post! Your story about the family mutiny in the face of excessive planning really made an impression on me, and I thank you for it! The Dark Side, eh? I like it!