Bad Disney Advice

[disneygirl 17]

I had a friend plan a last minute trip with the dining plan. She said she would never again do the dining plan because you had to go all the way back to your hotel to eat. And she kept telling people that you could only eat at your resort on the dining plan and it was a pain because you could not eat in the parks. I kept trying to tell her she could have eaten in a ton of places and then gave up because her trip was over anyway, would have only made her feel worse. I told other people around though that she could have eaten in tons of places and probably never got the brochure.

I have heard this before as well....

 

[clanmcculloch]

I had a friend plan a last minute trip with the dining plan. She said she would never again do the dining plan because you had to go all the way back to your hotel to eat. And she kept telling people that you could only eat at your resort on the dining plan and it was a pain because you could not eat in the parks. I kept trying to tell her she could have eaten in a ton of places and then gave up because her trip was over anyway, would have only made her feel worse. I told other people around though that she could have eaten in tons of places and probably never got the brochure.

I don't see how it's possible that she never got the brochure. Whenever we have a dining plan, the flyer is in our check-in packet and the CM at check-in makes a point of pulling it out to show us and asks if we understand how it works and if we have questions about it.

 

[csharpwv]

It depends on what you compare it to. For example you can get a subpar meal at Cinderella's Castle for $50+ per person or you can get a nice meal offsite for less than half, easily offsetting the price of gas. Comparing a CS meal to McDonalds will still save you money, just not as much. It may not be the best advice but it's not bad advice at all.

I have to agree with Disneygirl17 on this one -

Let's us Magic Kingdom for example....
If you have kids - and you are on vacation - the LAST thing that you want to do is 'pry' them away to the front of the park - exit the park - wait for transportation back to your car (Boat or Monorail) get off at the TTC - hop on a parking lot tram - get to your far - find your car - get everyone and everything loaded in - get the car cooled down from the scorching summer sun - exit the parking lot - find a place where everyone wants to eat or where the budget says you have to eat - and then finally get out of the car - get everyone into the restaurant - get everyone situated - drinks ordered - menu selections - meal arrives - finish dinner - pay the bill (gratuity as well) - everyone makes a quick run to the restroom - then back to the car - everyone buckled in - AND THEN - back to the park - park the car - wait for a tram - wait for the bus/monorail - go back to the park - get everyone's tickets situated - take your bag BACK through security - and Then from Main Street you make your way back into the area of the park you left or the area you want to go.

NO THANKS!

If you are NOT going back into the parks that day - or you are just going back to your resort to relax - OK - then eat off property. We did it this past May when I had earned a bunch of Gift Cards for a specific restaurant. But we don't even have kids - but have spent enough time around Niece and Nephews to know that when things are going well.... don't change anything! LOL Let things go along as you need to!

Plus - I really can't eat all of the average WDW serving - so often time DW and I will share a breakfast platter - or a chicken/rib combo meal (like at Starlight Ray's). Yes - Disney food is expensive - BUT - what is more valuable - time or money???

Each person will give a different answer!

For me time is more important - so leaving the parks for two meals a day is a horrible use of time - but may perhaps save you $$$$

So in my opinion - it's bad advice!

I'm worn out just thinking about it!

 

[csharpwv]

I don't see how it's possible that she never got the brochure. Whenever we have a dining plan, the flyer is in our check-in packet and the CM at check-in makes a point of pulling it out to show us and asks if we understand how it works and if we have questions about it.

That's why it is so much better for a 'non Disney Nut' to use a TRAVEL AGENT!!!!

That way they have the ability to plan their trip in advance - and make the best use of their vacation resources - BOTH time AND money!!!!!

 

[csharpwv]

That's about the worst advice ever! Why would anyone risk getting kicked out of the parks & have their vacation ruined just to save a few bucks on a meal!?

That is just absurd!
I doubt they would make it more than 50 feet before someone stopped to ask why they were there. PLUS - how in the WORLD would someone FIND the cafeteria????

That's just absurd!!!!!!

 

[here757]

I don't see how it's possible that she never got the brochure. Whenever we have a dining plan, the flyer is in our check-in packet and the CM at check-in makes a point of pulling it out to show us and asks if we understand how it works and if we have questions about it.

just because they got it.. doesnt mean they lo0ked at it! LOL
i see that alot.

 

[tripplanner2]

I have heard this before as well....

That shocks me! I kept thinking that I misunderstood her but then when she would tell me her days, she kept saying how much time she wasted and how hungry the kids were when they got back to the resort. I was like this!

 

[tripplanner2]

I don't see how it's possible that she never got the brochure. Whenever we have a dining plan, the flyer is in our check-in packet and the CM at check-in makes a point of pulling it out to show us and asks if we understand how it works and if we have questions about it.

I know...I can only guess she was distracted. I honestly have no idea. But I made it a point to let everyone else know how wonderful the dining plan can be. It was such a bad piece of info that could make a trip horrible. I was sad I did not know they were going because they would have had a much better trip if I had just given them 5 minutes of advice.

 

[azdoughboy]

I've never been to WDW, but have a trip there in Nov; the best piece of advice I ever got was to read these boards. Period.

The WORST piece of advice I got was to not worry about planning every little thing. I'm (admittedly conceited) a savvy DL guy, having torn up the park by 1:00 and just hanging out the rest of the day. But seeing the scope of this place...it's going to take SERIOUS planning, and I'm glad I didn't listen to that. I'm taking my wife and my folks (none of which have ever been) and I'm on the hook for ALL of the planning. I better get it right.

 

[Belle5]

When I first learned about these boards back in the '97's there was a post about a couple sitting on the MK's City Hall, sharing a cold, can of whole kernal corn!!!

I joined in 99 and I was in on the first page of that famous thread...it was a classic!

 

[csharpwv]

I've never been to WDW, but have a trip there in Nov; the best piece of advice I ever got was to read these boards. Period.

The WORST piece of advice I got was to not worry about planning every little thing. I'm (admittedly conceited) a savvy DL guy, having torn up the park by 1:00 and just hanging out the rest of the day. But seeing the scope of this place...it's going to take SERIOUS planning, and I'm glad I didn't listen to that. I'm taking my wife and my folks (none of which have ever been) and I'm on the hook for ALL of the planning. I better get it right.

Yes, WDW does require a lot of planning - GOOD PLANNING - at that!
However- don't forget to take time to experience the Magic! I have been known to OVER PLAN and almost make my wife want to kill me. I think if I don't do everything I wanted to do - it just isn't a vacation - however- I need to learn to relax a little - experience the magic - and RELAX!

For our first few trips I was totally opposed to going to the water parks - thought they were a waste of time - a water park is a water park - RIGHT?

WRONG!

A Disney Water Park IS head and shoulders above just a 'regular' water park.

I'm acutally reviewing the spreadsheet for our next vacation as I type this! HAHA

I need to schedule in a little more lazy river time!



I hope you enjoy WDW - and if you have any questions about planning your trip - PLEASE feel free to PM me! I'll be happy to help!

 

[SandrA9810]

I knew some one that decided to "sneak to the mouseketeria". She did it once with no problem, and the second time she got caught. Which not only got her thrown out of the park, but banned for over a year.

Even after I stopped working there, there was no way I was ever stepping foot backstage. I miss it... I'd take shortcuts, or spend time in the learning center, or whatever, but NO WAY was I going to risk getting thrown out.

Any one can ask to see your ID, and you're actually supposed to have it visible if you're not in costume when backstage.

Plus the food is horrible, gross, and just as highly overpriced. You can get a kids meal for cheaper in the park. Castasaurus, behind Restaurantosaurus, is about the only "discounted" decent food. They serve regular disney food for cheaper. But even trying to get food when you're not in costume... you can get thrown out. It's soo small and lunch time it's packed with a line out the door. It's not pretty when CMs try to go in there for lunch when they're playing in the park on a day off.

 

[Taja]

Was it called Magic Kingdom before there was more than one park?

I had trouble remembering Magic Kingdom as a name when we moved from Southern California.....where Disneyland was Disneyland and not another name.

Old age....what can I say.

Dawn

Prior to WDW, Disneyland was known as the Magic Kingdom. Remember the Magic Kingdom Club cards? They existed prior to WDW--I recall them from the mid-1960s. That makes two of us suffering from old age! *LOL*

When WDW opened, it was just WDW. When EPCOT was close to becoming a reality, MK was eased into the vocabulary to differentiate between the two parks. I *think* it already was being called The Magic Kingdom when I visited WDW in 1981, prior to EPCOT'S opening.

 

[disneygirl 17]

I knew some one that decided to "sneak to the mouseketeria". She did it once with no problem, and the second time she got caught. Which not only got her thrown out of the park, but banned for over a year.

Even after I stopped working there, there was no way I was ever stepping foot backstage. I miss it... I'd take shortcuts, or spend time in the learning center, or whatever, but NO WAY was I going to risk getting thrown out.

Any one can ask to see your ID, and you're actually supposed to have it visible if you're not in costume when backstage.

Plus the food is horrible, gross, and just as highly overpriced. You can get a kids meal for cheaper in the park. Castasaurus, behind Restaurantosaurus, is about the only "discounted" decent food. They serve regular disney food for cheaper. But even trying to get food when you're not in costume... you can get thrown out. It's soo small and lunch time it's packed with a line out the door. It's not pretty when CMs try to go in there for lunch when they're playing in the park on a day off.

OMG! I can't believe that. When I was a CP I never really thought the food was bad but it was blah...nothing I would risk sneaking back there for.

I couldn't imagine how scared I would be sneaking back there....I would look guilty from the start.

 

[derricksonb]

The topic of planning a trip to WDW pops up every so often in the office or on our community website. I tend to have my usual "basic" advice for vacation planning at WDW (I also emphasize the word PLANNING) and refer them to DW who happens to be a TA. Some people have followed our advice and had the time of their lives. Others have listened to what I consider bad advice (stay off property, eat off property, rent a car vs ME from MCO, Don't get ADR's, Wait until you arrive to purchase tickets, go during peak times, etc...) have had a horrible time and vowed never to go back.

We're DVC members (BCV '03) and have been 2-3 times a year since '03. While we, DW and I, don't claim to be experts or to have experienced all that WDW has to offer, our advice on planning a WDW trip is pretty solid if the person traveling wants to be immersed in Disney magic. At the end of the day it's all up to personal preference in regards to what a person is willing to shell out for their version of a magical experience. To me my children will only be young once and I want their memories of our trips to WDW (and other Disney resorts) to be wonderful and so I'm not willing to sacrifice their memories in order to save a few dollars.

 

[999ghostslover]

My favorite piece of advice that I have seen over and over is to buy a ten day ticket for your 5 day trip and just redeem two days worth instead of adding park hopping. First of all to assume that Disney had not figured out a way to prevent this is completely absurd. Secondly, to give out this advice to others before trying it yourself (where you will quickly learn that you cannot do that) is beyond ridiculous.

 

[3boymthr]

I've never been to WDW, but have a trip there in Nov; the best piece of advice I ever got was to read these boards. Period.

The WORST piece of advice I got was to not worry about planning every little thing. I'm (admittedly conceited) a savvy DL guy, having torn up the park by 1:00 and just hanging out the rest of the day. But seeing the scope of this place...it's going to take SERIOUS planning, and I'm glad I didn't listen to that. I'm taking my wife and my folks (none of which have ever been) and I'm on the hook for ALL of the planning. I better get it right.

Plan, plan, plan, read, read, read until your family thinks your nuts. Then sit back and enjoy as you help them navigate their way thru the parks. DH thought I was insane until we got to the parks and because I had done so much planning (I even had laminated itineraries for the kids to look at so there'd be no arguments about what to do next - a tip I got here on the DIS - the best part there weren't any ) we had the best time ever and everyone wants to go back.

It's funny the advice you'll get and how many people who think they are in the know really aren't. I have a co-worker who's gone 2x during October and thinks she knows all there is to know but who when I asked didn't know what an ADR was still hasn't doesn't understand why she needs an ADR.

 

[Planogirl]

I've never been to WDW, but have a trip there in Nov; the best piece of advice I ever got was to read these boards. Period.

The WORST piece of advice I got was to not worry about planning every little thing. I'm (admittedly conceited) a savvy DL guy, having torn up the park by 1:00 and just hanging out the rest of the day. But seeing the scope of this place...it's going to take SERIOUS planning, and I'm glad I didn't listen to that. I'm taking my wife and my folks (none of which have ever been) and I'm on the hook for ALL of the planning. I better get it right.

Serious planning is definitely wise if you've never been before. The nice thing is that in depth planning becomes less and less important as you learn the ropes. We do very little planning nowadays but that's our own comfort level.

 

[sharonmickey]

My favorite piece of bad advice actually came from a local travel agent. A few years ago DD went with her high school band to Disney. The band director booked the trip through a local travel agent that specializes in bus tours, although our group was flying down. The travel agent (who also owned the agency) had an informational meeting for the parents.

He told everyone at the meeting that he had to charge the group $1,000 for bus transportation from the Orlando airport to All Star Music on Magical Express. Two of us told him that Magical Express was free but he argued with us. One mother said she had just used Magical Express for free - he said it was only free to the "expensive" hotels, not the "cheap" ones.

I have always wondered what he did with the $1,000 he charged us for the free bus trip.

 

[tripplanner2]

My favorite piece of bad advice actually came from a local travel agent. A few years ago DD went with her high school band to Disney. The band director booked the trip through a local travel agent that specializes in bus tours, although our group was flying down. The travel agent (who also owned the agency) had an informational meeting for the parents.

He told everyone at the meeting that he had to charge the group $1,000 for bus transportation from the Orlando airport to All Star Music on Magical Express. Two of us told him that Magical Express was free but he argued with us. One mother said she had just used Magical Express for free - he said it was only free to the "expensive" hotels, not the "cheap" ones.

I have always wondered what he did with the $1,000 he charged us for the free bus trip.

He put it in his pocket! Did not think anyone would know and figured he would get away with it. I don't think I would have been so good about letting that go, although I am sure the price per head was pretty low, just the point of it.