Confessions of a park commando

[LaurenT]

I'm here in Disney now. Staying at the Animal kingdom lodge (jambo).
I've always been one of those "get to the park 45 minutes before open and stay till close" people. And, I guess I still recommend that for people that can only go once or every few years.
But, for those that go every year and have been going commando, I have some advice!
We are here this year with someone that has an issue with anxiety. It's his first time
to Disney and we wanted to give him the best chance possible for having an awesome vacation and seeng everything that Disney has to offer. So, we decided to takes deep breath - and relax. Some mornings we've slept late! Just spent the day and the pool and them went into the parks for a brief explore and then dinner. Some days we've opened the park, but then left at 1 pm and spent the rest of the day at the pool as them dinner.
I'm not covering every single thing I love in the parks, but I'm really enjoying the down time. It's feeling very luxurious!
So, of you've already seen everything, try taking it easy and not worrying about "getting it all in"! But, I still recommend being at the park when it opens! Even if you're only staying for three or four hours! Then go take a nap and head for the pool!
Hakuna Matada!

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

Welcome to the dark side

This is the only way we tour and we LOVE it!!

Nice to have a little non-commando back-up.

 

[sharadoc]

I'm here in Disney now. Staying at the Animal kingdom lodge (jambo).
I've always been one of those "get to the park 45 minutes before open and stay till close" people. And, I guess I still recommend that for people that can only go once or every few years.
But, for those that go every year and have been going commando, I have some advice!
We are here this year with someone that has an issue with anxiety. It's his first time
to Disney and we wanted to give him the best chance possible for having an awesome vacation and seeng everything that Disney has to offer. So, we decided to takes deep breath - and relax. Some mornings we've slept late! Just spent the day and the pool and them went into the parks for a brief explore and then dinner. Some days we've opened the park, but then left at 1 pm and spent the rest of the day at the pool as them dinner.
I'm not covering every single thing I love in the parks, but I'm really enjoying the down time. It's feeling very luxurious!
So, of you've already seen everything, try taking it easy and not worrying about "getting it all in"! But, I still recommend being at the park when it opens! Even if you're only staying for three or four hours! Then go take a nap and head for the pool!
Hakuna Matada!

That's what we try to do, we decide the day before if we will sleep in or go out early, then we decide what the day will be! We like pool time, and resort time as much as park time. We don't "rush" from one thing to another, we stop and do whatever is on the way and we've enjoyed a lot of things we might not have seen like Jammitors, Off Kilter, Mulch Sweat and Shears. That way we're not down to a few precious "favorites" and each trip can be enjoyable.

My family will say the best thing about Disney is just "being there." It's not a particular park, or attraction, or show. It's about walking around, hearing the music, being together and knowing we're in a special place together.

 

[carrie1626]

I'm here in Disney now. Staying at the Animal kingdom lodge (jambo).
I've always been one of those "get to the park 45 minutes before open and stay till close" people. And, I guess I still recommend that for people that can only go once or every few years.
But, for those that go every year and have been going commando, I have some advice!
We are here this year with someone that has an issue with anxiety. It's his first time
to Disney and we wanted to give him the best chance possible for having an awesome vacation and seeng everything that Disney has to offer. So, we decided to takes deep breath - and relax. Some mornings we've slept late! Just spent the day and the pool and them went into the parks for a brief explore and then dinner. Some days we've opened the park, but then left at 1 pm and spent the rest of the day at the pool as them dinner.
I'm not covering every single thing I love in the parks, but I'm really enjoying the down time. It's feeling very luxurious!
So, of you've already seen everything, try taking it easy and not worrying about "getting it all in"! But, I still recommend being at the park when it opens! Even if you're only staying for three or four hours! Then go take a nap and head for the pool!
Hakuna Matada!

It's the way I do it now, too!!!
repeat visits has it's perks

 

[SaraMc]

That's how we do it now too! We actually take a longer vacation ( usually 9 days) and don't rush anything. We know we will be back.

 

[DVCBELLE]

This trip the heat was just too much for my 20 month old. We had spent the week before at the beach and he caught a stomach bug there and he wasn't quite recovered by the time we reached Disney. Luckily my mom was with us and she stayed with him in the room when he needed a rest.

But we took it easy so he could spend as much time as possible with us...that meant touring at a slower pace, taking afternoon offs and not hitting rope drop...and it was okay.

I wasn't under the stress I am when we tour commando and we hit everything we wanted at least once. My husband said despite the baby being sick it was the most relaxing trip we have ever taken.

We will NEVER go in August again...it was just too stinking hot!! But we will also not go commando again and if we go during our normal touring times of January and February there will plenty of time to do everything!

 

[Mandak22]

This is what we do too! It makes it a much more relaxing trip. We know we'll be back, and don't rush. We rest around 2, swim, rest, and shower then back for more. It keeps the tantrums down in both our daughter and her daddy!

 

[Safari Queen]

We learned that after we became DVC members. We make a list of everything we'd especially like to do, including boat rentals, shows, fireworks, etc, plus places we'd like to eat, and then figure out what makes sense to do in one day. Like sleeping in, renting a boat at the Contemporary, eating at the Poly, then going to the parade and Wishes. Or just seeing all the movies in the World Showcase...amazing how muc more enjoyable they are when your feet aren't killing you.

 

[Arenita]

I am a reformed commando. We love our non-park days and I build one in every third day. We swim and usually do one outing in the afternoon...maybe a monorail tour, one year it was LaNouba. We eat in the room at least two meals, if in a villa or cabin...which to me is much more leisurely than eating out.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

People like you should lover FP+. Make reservations for a few must do's and parades and fireworks and relax the rest of the time

 

[old lady]

I wish I could be a park commando.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Trip Reports board.