Bad Disney Advice

[luvmesometigger]

I haven't looked at an Unofficial Guide To WDW in years but they used to have a section called Whose Dream Is It, Anyway? that discussed the benefits of rushing small children from ride to ride and keeping them up hours past their normal bedtime when multiple studies have shown that the best part of a WDW vacation for that age group is the hotel swimming pool.

This made me laugh! My kids are so excited that they will be able to swim!!

I already plan on taking breaks during the day so the baby can sleep and the 2 older ones can go off with their father and do something. (swimming, arcade, whatever) I have no intentions of dragging 3 cranky kids from ride to ride all day long.

 

[luvmesometigger]

Not necessarily bad advice but advice that doesn't work for me.

I have a friend who has been to DW a few times. She prefers the off site condo because it is so cheap. She has one child who is almost 11 who quite frankly likes the pool at the condo more. Her choice.

I prefer to stay in the park. On monorail if possible. I have 3 kids. A stroller. I prefer to be on monorail because I find it easier to go back and forth with the Disney transportation. And be at a close hotel. My choice.

She likes to debate with me the merits of the condo and how much I am spending at the Contemporary. etc etc...

I don't mind spending the money! I like being immersed in everything Disney. I have a 5 yo daughter who is over the moon about meeting the Princesses...or the GIRLS as she calls them.

Like I said. Not bad advice. But advice that doesn't work for me. But she wants to tell me about it all the time!

 

[TandLMommy28]

I get the feeling that a lot of people have NO concept of the scope of Walt Disney World. They probably think it's similar to Six Flags or Cedar Point--parks you can go to without a real plan and still have a pretty good time. There are amusement parks that DO charge for FastPass type things, and usually someone can walk right in to a sit down place and have dinner no problem. They just don't know, and they probably don't even think to ask because they don't know they don't know. If that makes any sense.

I think you even need a plan at a place like Cedar Point, at least if you ahve more than 3 people, anyway. We went with a group of almost 20 this summer (family reunion) and all I can say is DISASTER! But that's just me


I haven't been victim of too much bad advice, although I want to throw something at the lady from my mother's church who insisted that my mother MUST eat at Le Cellier or her trip won't be complete. Mom's been hounding me to get an ADR for WEEKS now and it's not happening! I check 5 times a day! So to me, worst possible advice is telling someone they MUST DO something that requires an ADR after it's too late to get one! GRR!

 

[tlbwriter]

Not necessarily bad advice but advice that doesn't work for me.

Yes, there's a lot of advice that isn't bad, per se, but it definitely wouldn't work for me. Like, take a cooler full of food and drinks. That's a good way to save money, but if I have to be a pack mule all day, I'd honestly rather not even go to WDW. It's great advice for somebody else, though.

 

[luvmesometigger]

Yes, there's a lot of advice that isn't bad, per se, but it definitely wouldn't work for me. Like, take a cooler full of food and drinks. That's a good way to save money, but if I have to be a pack mule all day, I'd honestly rather not even go to WDW. It's great advice for somebody else, though.

That is how I feel too. I am not dragging around a cooler of food and drinks. I will buy as needed. But once again, someone else may like the idea.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Yes, when I go with just other adults, we don't carry around a cooler of food. But when I went with my daughter-in-law and three grandkids last spring, we brought the stroller for the toddler, and it was easy to fit the cooler into the bottom of the stroller to push it around the park. It also made more sense - with five of us - to stay at a townhouse just minutes from WDW. We had breakfast at the house, packed the cooler with lunch and snacks, and came home in time for a late dinner. It worked GREAT - but it's not the plan I'd use for an all-adult trip, or even a trip with older kids.

That's why when people ask me for tips, I ask them about their families, their likes and dislikes, if they are morning or evening people, etc.

Teresa

 

[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.

I could probably just have edited this, but who really goes back and re-reads threads for edits???

The problem with "Good Advice" vs "Bad Advice" is that it is subjective. For one person to tell another that something at a park/resort is "must do" or to avoid another because of a bed experience or personal preference is absurd. It's not always convenient for one family to cook meals in their rooms, or carry coolers of water around the parks or dine off property in order to save money. but take into consideration the cost of a park ticket vs the time and energy it takes to get to a restaurant off property and it soon becomes apparent that the cost of eating on property is cheaper in the long run AND you get the full Disney experience. Again, that's my opinion.

 

[EMom]

I could probably just have edited this, but who really goes back and re-reads threads for edits???

The problem with "Good Advice" vs "Bad Advice" is that it is subjective. For one person to tell another that something at a park/resort is "must do" or to avoid another because of a bed experience or personal preference is absurd. It's not always convenient for one family to cook meals in their rooms, or carry coolers of water around the parks or dine off property in order to save money. but take into consideration the cost of a park ticket vs the time and energy it takes to get to a restaurant off property and it soon becomes apparent that the cost of eating on property is cheaper in the long run AND you get the full Disney experience. Again, that's my opinion.

That sums it up. We have friends who swear by DVC because they want to eat breakfast, lunch and a lot of dinners in the room. I am NOT cooking on vacation, especially after a day at the parks. I won't be a pack mule for snacks and DH refuses. As I said, we're fairly frugal people, but the older we get, the more likely we are to say, "Forget it.....Just pay for it." I won't leave the park to save a few bucks. It's a hassle. But if someone wants to, more power to them.

For me, a pool is no draw. I'm from Texas and we have pools out the yingyang. We do not have WDW. My time will be spent at the parks, not the pool. But if someone else wants to pick a hotel based on the pool and spend oodles of time at their pool, I can understand that.

I'd rather have a gun to my head than push a kid around in a stroller, but I see plenty of happy people doing just that every time we go to WDW. I'd be miserable.....They're not. Well, some are.....I guess they were not honest with themselves as I was.

Some things are true for all. Fastpasses are free. The dining plan can be used at the parks and your hotel, not just your hotel. The 3:00 parade is really at 3:00. But much of the advice is subjective and my pro may be your con.

 

[EMom]

If you need some help with your Australia trip planning don't hesitate to ask.

THANKS! I may do that.

We still have many hurdles. We have enough FF miles, but the seats available are few. And they only get us to Sydney, while our friends live in Brisbane. So we'd have to pay to get there. Plus, I used to live in Adelaide and I'd like to visit there as well. More $$$. It all adds up.

Not to mention, visiting all those places adds up to a lot of time. We're at 3 weeks minimum. A few days in Sydney, at least a few to several in Adelaide, then I'd like at least 2 in Brisbane with my dear friend. Goodness knows the two of us are trouble when we get together. We'd have to take DD out of school for a week at Christmas just to have the 3 weeks off.

And being there at Christmas and New Year presents its own problems, as I'm sure there are many closings and flights will be booked, etc. Wouldn't you think? Oh well........It's a lot to all have come together.

I'm the only one of us to have been before and since I know HOW MUCH there is to see and do there, I know it's not a quick trip. I absolutely love the country and people. Terribly friendly and hospitable. They reminded me a lot of Texans. When my friend came here for a visit, she thought the same thing. Maybe it comes of having similar histories.

 

[tink576]

We've had friends try to convince us that Small World was horrible because of the "big" drops ???? Ok, whatever you say...

 

[canopynut66]

My old boss, who was notorious for being wrong even though he swore that he was right, tried telling me there was only Epcot and "Disney World". So when I got back he'd ask "did you go to Epcot or Disney World?" and I'd say "there are 4 parks now actually and I did all 4" And he'd ask again"....so Epcot or Disney World?"

Had to say something here as I have been to WDW over 80 times and EVERYTIME people will ask so did you go to Disneyland? I will say excuse me but we went to Florida and they will say--OH I know you were in Florida but did you spend much time in Disneyland? just shake my head and go on with my day..