Can you enjoy DisneyWorld without...

[Rippington'sFan]

Can you enjoy DisneyWorld without having to run around like a mad man?

My concern (like most people) is the crowds. I know there are certain times of the year to go that are better than other times but with us we have chosen late August,2004 for our 1st trip to Disney and it’s booked. I read the “2004 unofficial guide to DisneyWorld” and it is a great book with lots of information but it is also scary to read about the crowds,long lines for attractions etc…even with fast pass.
What the author is trying to do is optimize your trip by supplying well researched information about when to be at a specific park,what to do 1st,2nd,3rd,etc… That’s fine but
in reality it will be hard to rush around the parks from attraction to attraction with two children ages 8 and 5 not to mention the August heat that we will have to contend with. Like most people (of course) we are doing Disney for our kids sake. Not ours. My wife and I could care less about Disney due to the expense and crowds etc…Maybe once we get to Disney our attitude towards Disney will change. Who knows?

Anyways, I think our strategy is going to be “do what we can do at a leisurely pace” knowing that we cannot see and do it all plus we don’t want to run ourselves ragged being on the "go" day and night. Less stressful that way. The way a vacation is supposed to be. Since it's for the kids if they just want to stay at the hotel pool we will be willing do that. In other words no strict schedule to follow.

Is going to Disney still worth it with this strategy? Any opinions?

By the way this is a great website and extremely informative. I almost forgot to mention that.

 

[Xtine76]

Just going to Disney is worth it! Don't let some of those horror stories get to you, the guide is great but I agree some of those stories scared me as well. Go, have fun and form your own opinions. I know now that my opinions aren't the same as some of the reader comments. I would pick one area to visit first thing in the morning such as tomorrowland or fantasyland and then work your way around the park-we like to go to tomorrowland first my daughter loves space mountain. One bit of advice-never go on a fastpass ride if the line is longer that a 15 minute wait (or whatever wait time you would choose) without a fastpass if they are still available. It is so frustrating to stand in a long line when there are people just walking on the ride ahead of you because they got fastpasses. Definitely get them for peter pan's flight-that line can be very long. I think you will have a great time and I have heard the crowds at the end of august aren't too bad-that is when I am going this year-previously went last october. I too am looking forward to taking it easy-it is a vacation, not a competition, after all.
Also, take advantage of early entry days-I wish I would have but our schedule was pretty set in stone when we went down there due to priority seatings at hard to get restaraunts and special events, but we did have a few days that were options. We will definitely take advantage of early entry this time.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I was there in late august of 1999 and the crowds were not bad.

Really. They were not. I was expecting huge waits but it was actually one of the slower times I've ever been!

 

[liznboys]

Absolutely!! I actually wouldn't go to WDW and do it any other way! Just like you said, it's a vacation, and I am not the type who wants to be on a strict schedule and make sure I do EVERYTHING. I am perfectly fine not doing it all, and just enjoying things that we DO do. I think kids enjoy it more if you aren't on a schedule and constantly having to be somewhere.

When we went last year, we made a list of attractions and rides that we absolutely wanted to do (and it was not a super long list). Then we made a list of things we HOPED to do, but knew before we left that if we didn't, we'd be ok with that. This worked out very well for us. We did everything on our "must do" list and then had plenty of time to do stuff on the "hope to do" list or whatever else we felt like doing once we got there.

Anyway, I think you have the right attitude and you'll have a great time!!

 

[Ms. WDW]

We have no other choice but to go during the crowded times of the year. Personally, I don't think I'd know how to act if I wasn't in a crowded park!

Seriously now.....here's what we do. First of all we always take advantage of EE. We plan out what park on what day and then figure out what rides we MUST DO OR DIE!! Find out in advance which ones are open for EE because not all the popular rides are part of EE. (Splash Mountain is not an EE ride in the MK) Usually around 11 AM we've pretty much done what we want and either have an early lunch or head back to the resort. We'll hit the pool or just relax around the resort. But we do rest because it's hot during July and August. Then later on in the afternoon, we go back into another park to take in the sights. Sometimes it's fun to just "watch" people go by. Or go and visit another resort.

Another thing I do is plan out what day I'm in what park and try to have PS for lunch in that park or in a resort close to that park. This way there's no rushing around across the "world" just to eat. We pretty much eat a good sitdown lunch and leave the dinners to lighter items. I also found the menu's to be a little less expensive for the same item at lunch time than dinner.

I try also to have a day to do absolutely nothing; hang out at the pool or do whatever each person wants to.

But you know what....even when the "schedule" falls apart or the crowds seem too much to bear....I always say "hey, I'm in the most magical place in the world" and things always seem to work out.

 

[DBH]

We went in late August of 2000 and found the parks to not be over crowded. Remember that most of the schools in the south have started. The biggest thing to deal with is the heat.

Have fun

 

[Rippington'sFan]

thanks for the positive responses. I know it will be hot in August but we will deal with it. We chose late August because we know some schools are back in session then making it hopefully a little less crowded. I'm happy to know that not everybody runs around like a mad man at Disney trying to see and do everything. My kids are at the age where I'm sure they will mostly want to swim at the hotel pool instead of being at some of the parks. I would bet money on that.

 

[leighe]

We were there in mid-July of last year and there were times when the parks seemed absolutely deserted - especially MGM and EPCOT. I don't think we waited for one thing at EPCOT and I used fast passes for TOT and RNRC at MGM. The only place that was crowded was Fantasy Land in MK, but we just walked on POTC and Splash, Space Mt. By August so many schools have started that I bet the crowds will be low.

 

[trola2]

On our last trip we took a new strategy. WE took one park map and everyone marked on thing they wanted to do (there were 5 of us) then we just wandered through and made it a point to do those 5 things. We did do other things as well, but when we completed those five, often we were ready to move on to something else. That will be our plan with our next family trip, too! It worked quite well.

 

[wuv tigger]

When we got our Annual Passes we decided to slow down and we enjoy WDW much more now. When DD wants to stop and see Tigger I now just stop and see him

I think that you will do fine in August. After deciding on Park days I would make some PS times for lunch if you are not going back to your resort. It is refreshing to get out of the heat and have a nice meal with ice cream

I would also dress your kids in their swimsuits under their clothes. My kids love to play in the fountains at Epcot and you can ride the river rapids or splash mountain. You dry out quickly in August.

EE is a good idea to ride the rides you really want to do first thing. Some people also like late at night. If your kids are night people the August hours are later and you can do things after the parade/fireworks when the crowds thin out and then sleep in in the morning.

Experiment with what works best for you and have a great time. One of my kids favorite "attractions" is the monorail. If you ask they will let you ride up in the first car with the engineer.

David

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Yes, you can go to WDW without running around like mad. Just go there with the realization that you will not be able to do and see everything the World has to offer. Make a list, before leaving, of the must-see & do's, the things you'd like to see & do if time warrants. The things you miss either due to crowds, timing or otherwise extend to you an reason to return to WDW in the future.

 

[HollyJoy]

I think that if you put yourself on a strict schedule, you may just miss out on a lot of the magic. There's so much to see and do at Disney, that I don't think it's possible to see it all in one trip. We are certainly planning things for our upcoming trip, for there are certain things that are on our Must See or Do list, but other than that, we will walk around taking it all in and seeing what interests us. I want the kids to have a good time, and I don't think they will if we are constantly rushing here or there.

Enjoy your trip and go leisurely!

 

[topcat011]

I used the guide as a map. It kept me one step above the crowd and I knew where I was heading without looking at a park map. I dont run to the rides or show.
I do see a lot of people standing around looking at maps trying to figure out where to go or what to see.
Use the guides and map out your own agenda. it works well when you have a plan.

 

[Valentine]

I have been to Disney when there have been NO crowds and when there have been crowds that stopped you in your tracks.. literally.... I have been there in sweltering heat.. pouring rain.. frigid cold.. and balmy perfect sunshiney days... I have stayed onsite.. offsite... concierge and value levels... I have eaten at the best restaurants... character breakfasts... counter service and out of my cooler... I have rented a car.. taken a bus... used mears.. tiffany town car... taken a tour.... Stayed 4 days... 6 days... 10 days.... with friends.. with family... and alone... All I can say is that I cannot recall any one trip being better or worse than another... I have always felt the disney magic.. and I have always had a Great time!!! So.. the moral of the story is... it's not so much what you surround yourself with.. it's the you that you attend your surroundings with!! Have a positive attitude.. go with the flow.. don't try to do everything all at once.... stop to smell the roses.. and believe me.... you will have a trip that you will remember for a lifetime... although it won't have to.. because you will be back!!!

Kathy

 

[tiberius]

Can you enjoy DisneyWorld without having to run around like a mad man?

Of course you can! I like to think I move purposefully around the park with a plan most of the time. However, some of my best memories come from times we were just relaxing: in a hammock at the hotel, rsting as we move along on the TTA, talking about the day while sitting on the curb eating ice cream as we wait for a parade, etc... The point is to enjoy the parks the way you want to enjoy them.

 

[jarestel]

It's easy to relax at WDW if you're able to get rid of the idea that you have to "get your money's worth" from your park passes. My wife and I went to EPCOT once and just had a drink while sitting on a bench by the lake. No rides at all and it was great! Also, We take a cue from the others in our party ( children, other adults ). You can tell when the heat or crowds begin to take a toll on people, so we return to our resort for some pool & down time.
As long as you know you'll be back to WDW to see whatever you missed this time, it's easier to just relax and make the parks fit your schedule.

 

[wilderness01]

Valentine. Nice post and nicely said!

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

I totally agree agree with jarestel. Even though I'm one of those "do or die" people, I think that part of people's attitudes about the parks revolve around money. Let's say you go to the parks & the kids are only up for a couple of rides & then need to go back to hotel to swim or whatever. If that's okay with you then fine, but some people will say that they have paid X amount of dollars to get in the park divided by how many rides they went on & then get upet because it wasn't worth the money. These are usually the people who say that Disney is too expensive & never want to return. If money is not an issue then I'm sure you will have a great time. August will not be too crowded.

 

[Valentine]

Awww.. gee.. thanks Wilderness

Kathy

 

[Rippington'sFan]

All your responses are exactly what I want to hear. (especially Valentine's...great post)

You know what... " I think I got it".


I understand completely how to enjoy our stay at Disney. That is doing what we can do at our pace and not worrying about anything and understanding that we cannot see or do it all and not worrying about getting full use out of our tickets. Makes sense to me.

thanks!