Did planning used to be easier?

[chiburple]

I feel like I used to be good at this whole DW planning thing. Now it feels 20 times harder.


Used to be I would check crowd calendars, pick dates and parks, book dining 180 days out, ignore the two desert parties (cause there used to be only 2), make a touring plan and book fastpasses at 60 days. Easy.


Now, it feels like every time I blink, I learn about some new feature I have to research and make decisions about: Minnie Van, Magic Mornings, Whatever the two new shows will be at HWS (My trip is late November), checking regularly for HWS desert party, Disney Express Bus, Pandora, New Mission Space track, AK dinner packages and don’t even get me started on Disney Springs.


Don’t get me wrong, I love the pre-trip excitement that comes from planning. But even for me this is starting to feel like a bit much. Is it just my imagination or has planning really gotten harder than it used to be? What else out there that I haven’t come across yet?

 

[cleverclovers]

It's not your imagination.

 

[mousehockey37]

It's what you make of it.

It can still be incredibly easy or meticulously difficult depending on what you're looking for.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I find that it's harder because of FP+, bigger crowds at the times we have traditionally gone, and the requirement of an ADR months in advance for a pleasant dining experience. I don't even worry about most of what you've mentioned.

 

[chiburple]

It's not your imagination.

Thanks. I feel better

PS: Love the tardis!

 

[jkh36619]

Only on rare occasions do we eat at table service on site restaurants anymore. We eat off site or grab some quick service. That alone made planning so much easier for us.

 

[mesaboy2]

Yes.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I feel like I used to be good at this whole DW planning thing. Now it feels 20 times harder.


Used to be I would check crowd calendars, pick dates and parks, book dining 180 days out, ignore the two desert parties (cause there used to be only 2), make a touring plan and book fastpasses at 60 days. Easy.


Now, it feels like every time I blink, I learn about some new feature I have to research and make decisions about: Minnie Van, Magic Mornings, Whatever the two new shows will be at HWS (My trip is late November), checking regularly for HWS desert party, Disney Express Bus, Pandora, New Mission Space track, AK dinner packages and don’t even get me started on Disney Springs.


Don’t get me wrong, I love the pre-trip excitement that comes from planning. But even for me this is starting to feel like a bit much. Is it just my imagination or has planning really gotten harder than it used to be? What else out there that I haven’t come across yet?

It was even easier then that at one point

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

We used to book ADR 180 out but now we only book something if we really, really want to eat there. Last month Saturday 7/22 we didn't have any ADR set so around noon we pulled up the MDE app and had a choice of about 5 restaurants in Epcot. If you can be flexible with your schedule you don't need to plan everything.

 

[RangerPooh]

Not your imagination. I miss our post 9-11 trips of low crowds, cheaper room rates, walk up TS with the exception of a few signature restaurants and character meals. I miss the old FP system because we park hop and frequently change our plans the day of. Now we feel more locked in because of specific rides and the fear of not getting another FP for specific rides. Dining ressies, they don't control our lives, but I'm still online at 180+10 at 5am (my time) to make them.

 

[Wild Roses]

I am feeling the same. So I take breaks from planning. Sometimes an hour, sometimes several. I'd say days, but there's always something that draws my attention each day.

 

[chiburple]

I am feeling the same. So I take breaks from planning. Sometimes an hour, sometimes several. I'd say days, but there's always something that draws my attention each day.

I know exactly where you're coming from!

 

[Parker Clan]

I might be in the minority but I don't find it any harder. We don't use crowd calendars, never have and never will.
We always go in mid to late August & crowds are lower. No troubles getting ADR'S or FP'S. We don't plan every minute of our trip, we take it slow and do lots of relaxing.

 

[djc9699]

Sometimes having too many choices can make things harder. With a nighttime show (sometimes 2) in every park, desert parties, lots of places to eat, several transportation choices, and choosing attractions, it can be overwhelming. I think that is why we go for 2 weeks when we go now - so we can choose more options. How do you decide between a Mickey bar, pretzel, cupcake, cookie and all the other wonderful treats if you only have 5 days. We do leave a couple of days unplanned - no ADR, no FP, no set place to be - so we can just chill and go where we want, look around, and stumble into something cool.

I think that is everywhere now. I remember going shopping when I was a child and we very little choice in type of cereal, bread, pasta, etc. Now going to the grocery store wears me out mentally, just trying to decide what to buy.

 

[chiburple]

I might be in the minority but I don't find it any harder. We don't use crowd calendars, never have and never will.
We always go in mid to late August & crowds are lower. No troubles getting ADR'S or FP'S. We don't plan every minute of our trip, we take it slow and do lots of relaxing.

You make a good point. I think time of year may have a lot to do with it. I'm crazy to be planning a trip at the end of November. But even so, I've done it before, and I don't remember it being so tough.

 

[chiburple]

Now going to the grocery store wears me out mentally, just trying to decide what to buy.

Haha, Good point!

 

[srwarden1928]

Fastpass+ DEFINITELY adds difficulty to the planning process. I'm not saying it isn't worthwhile, but it adds another layer of complexity to the planning.

 

[kathy884]

Yes. Back in 1971 we just drove down, went to the gate and got a ticket to the Magic Kingdom when we felt like it, and stopped by the resort hotels if we wanted to eat at one of those (even Christmas week with no reservations, maybe a 20 minute wait). We would first thing going in to the Magic Kingdom go over to the castle and make a lunch or dinner reservation -- It wasn't character dining, but fun to eat in the castle (good food and reasonable -- three fixed price choices). We'd just walk over after getting into the park same day.

Now:
(1) I subscribe to touringplans.com and put in a dummy schedule and date to see if I even want to go.
(2) I also look at airfares and hotel prices.
(3) If it's a go I book lodging and air.
(4) I decide what I want to do every day I am in Orlando vs. playing it by ear because of advance purchase discounts or the need to get fastpasses, scout out deals, and buy tickets.
(5) For Disney for each park I decide what attractions are must do and make a custom touring plan which makes it apparent what my best FP+ options will be if I can get them.
(6) At the 180 day mark I make dining reservations for any table service meals at Disney I want (none on my next trip)
(7) At the 30 day mark for any Disney parks I do (offsiter), I reserve rides (my three fastpasses)
(8) I update my custom touring plan or plans for Disney park days with my fastpass selections and make copies for everyone in my party.
(9) 24 hours before flying I log on to Southwest and get my number in line for boarding.

It really sounds ridiculous, doesn't it. But I'm a planner by nature. The planning makes the trip more fun (less waiting), so I keep on coming for Disney/Orlando -- usually one four night / three day trip a year lol.

Oh and I also left out checking out rental car deals for mainline car companies and making that reservation. That's because on my next trip, it's a rare time when I don't need to have a car, as my parents are getting one and picking us up.

 

[jsmla]

When we first began there was no home internet, certainly no DISboards. It was guidebooks and pencil and paper. I still have my circa 1988 edition of the Unofficial Guide Sure, there were fewer options to worry about but there was also much less access to information.

I was actually excited when Disney began taking dining reservations (Anyone else remember running for the Castle or the tele-kiosks at Epcot?) via phone!

 

[MolonLabe]

It was even easier then they at one point.

Certainly was. Grew up in FLA and I've even been passholder for both WDW and DL while living in the Midwest. Good

How I miss the old fastpass days and all the other "simplicity" with those times. Speaking of which , doing the original FP in DL last year was so nice.

In any case, the spontaneous aspects are all dead for the most part. That isn't to say I'm done with Disney, it's just a different animal now.

They keep getting our money through. We are headed back in a couple of weeks for 2 weeks and we'll be getting ap's again. That said my youngest qualifies for the DAS and without that the current system would never work for us.

I do feel for first timers or others who simply don't realize how much up front time and effort goes into making a successful WDW in 2017.

I have several friends and colleagues from work who hate Disney and will never do it again because of these last few years.