Did planning used to be easier?

[chiburple]

So you started your wdw trips post-FP+?

No, started my trips pre-FP+, but I didn't feel like FP+ by itself added a lot of difficulty for me.

What I feel makes planning more difficult this time around, even since they added FP+, is that they're making a lot of announcements and adding new features, it seems every few weeks. I feel like before, I would already know all the options by this point and have my plan and everything booked except FP. That is no longer the case.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Right but you don't have to do these things to have a good time. The need for them is self imposed. As an example. You could send us to Disney World tomorrow with no ADRs and no FastPasses and we would have a blast. We wouldn't eat at CRT or get into BBB but so what. We might even have more fun than someone who planned those things 6 months ago. People go all the time w/o doing these rare things but some take it upon themselves to have to plan them. I'd bet many guests don't even know BBB is an option but many out here consider it a must-do.

Yes, many people can and do enjoy unplanned vacations. I am not disputing that at all.

However, for those of us who do plan, it is harder then it has been in the past. I was thinking of a "last minute" trip in Oct. unfortunately I can't get an Epcot resort room because October is no longer a slow months.

We've been going for many years and know what we like and don't like. We are not chasing some internet driven "fad".

 

[Aurora0427]

So you started your wdw trips post-FP+?











Took our first Disneyland trip when ds was 17 months. Ok it was just one day hit we were on a 2 week trip to San Diego.

We discovered that stroller naps were something he wound do (we didn't have a stroller of any kind at home so we had no idea). He also slept in the mei tai baby carrier. Nursed on POTC. (That was fun to get out of the boat when he fell asleep) Nursed near the hippo enclosure at the SD zoo. Etc. I still planned stuff, then if he was asleep I worked with that and still did our plans.

Worth a thought.

!

Thanks, but I'm not a big fan of the stroller nap. She'll only sleep about 20 minutes in the stroller. Which means she's cranky very soon and ready for bed by 6. I'd much rather go back to the hotel after lunch, she gets a good nap, big sister gets some pool time, and we are all refreshed for dinner and a little bit of evening time at the parks!

 

[DeterminedOne]

For those who feel planning isn't necessary, I am curious to know how many things you have done at Disney beside the parks and the water parks.

 

[MrInfinity]

I was thinking of a "last minute" trip in Oct. unfortunately I can't get an Epcot resort room because October is no longer a slow months.

If it's any help, I just checked some dates in Oct (Columbus day wkend and Halloween week) and both YC and BC have non-club as well as club rooms available!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

If it's any help, I just checked some dates in Oct (Columbus day wkend and Halloween week) and both YC and BC have non-club as well as club rooms available!

I had checked with my TA and checked again myself just now. Oct 23-27 BC, BCV, BW, BWV, and YC Sold Out.

 

[MrInfinity]

I had checked with my TA and checked again myself just now. Oct 23-27 BC, BCV, BW, BWV, and YC Sold Out.

Are you doing something different than me? I put in those dates picked Beach Club and I can get clear thru to check out with a Standard View room in my cart.

 

[jpeterson]

Are you doing something different than me? I put in those dates picked Beach Club and I can get clear thru to check out with a Standard View room in my cart.

I'm not sure what you are seeing, but I just tried it and I see nothing at all for any EPCOT resort.

 

[mesaboy2]

Right but you don't have to do these things to have a good time. The need for them is self imposed. As an example. You could send us to Disney World tomorrow with no ADRs and no FastPasses and we would have a blast. We wouldn't eat at CRT or get into BBB but so what. We might even have more fun than someone who planned those things 6 months ago. People go all the time w/o doing these rare things but some take it upon themselves to have to plan them. I'd bet many guests don't even know BBB is an option but many out here consider it a must-do.

They may be throwaways for you, but for some guests these are important. If they don't plan for some of them, they won't be doing them.

 

[fbb]

For those who feel planning isn't necessary, I am curious to know how many things you have done at Disney beside the parks and the water parks.

For me, some planning is necessary. But things like golf and spa services are no harder to plan than they used to be, while (for me) FP+ makes in-park planning much, much easier than it used to be. The combo of the Express Bus service and getting extra fast passes on my phone is a game changer, for me. It's never been nearly this easy for me to have exactly the vacation I want.

So in the aggregate, it's much easier to plan (for me) than it used to be.

 

[MrInfinity]

They may be throwaways for you, but for some guests these are important. If they don't plan for some of them, they won't be doing them.

I wouldn't call them throwaways, that's your words not mine... I happen to love those and have booked them many times via a call or online. It was really easy. If it's a priority, booking them is easy. If not, they're not required.

For me, some planning is necessary. But things like golf and spa services are no harder to plan than they used to be, while (for me) FP+ makes in-park planning much, much easier than it used to be. The combo of the Express Bus service and getting extra fast passes on my phone is a game changer, for me. It's never been nearly this easy for me to have exactly the vacation I want. So in the aggregate, it's much easier to plan (for me) than it used to be.

Exactly. If you used to book golf, then it's no harder to book golf today. If you used to book a carriage ride, you can book that by calling WDW-PLAY and give them your dates and times and you'll be booked. It's no harder today than before. There are more options today, and that's awesome. But none of them are required -- You can pick and choose exactly what you want, or none at all.

 

[mesaboy2]

I wouldn't call them throwaways, that's your words not mine... I happen to love those and have booked them many times via a call or online. It was really easy. If it's a priority, booking them is easy. If not, they're not required.

You dismissed them with a "so what". Others may not be so cavalier with experiences that they love.

 

[MrInfinity]

You dismissed them with a "so what". Others may not be so cavalier with experiences that they love.

Heh "cavalier". You're trying everything to try to paint this negatively. Not sure why. I love pizza. But if I don't have pizza today, my day won't be any worse. Do you not... have things you love, but you don't have to have all the time? You could send us to Disney World tomorrow, and if we did not get into BBB, "so what" applies because we'd be having too much fun enjoying everything else. That is not dismissive of the love for them nor of them. That is saying that Disney World is so easily fun that not doing select things that might enhance one trip doesn't detract from another.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I wouldn't call them throwaways, that's your words not mine... I happen to love those and have booked them many times via a call or online. It was really easy. If it's a priority, booking them is easy. If not, they're not required.

Exactly. If you used to book golf, then it's no harder to book golf today. If you used to book a carriage ride, you can book that by calling WDW-PLAY and give them your dates and times and you'll be booked. It's no harder today than before. There are more options today, and that's awesome. But none of them are required -- You can pick and choose exactly what you want, or none at all.

I asked because someone implied it takes 30 minutes to plan a trip, and that is simply not true. One could spend 30 minutes on hold simply trying to make a tee time.

 

[k5thbeatle]

It seems to be more a matter of having to "micro-manage" your vacation these days? That's the drag of WDW vacations these days.

 

[Disney_and_Wine]

Heh "cavalier". You're trying everything to try to paint this negatively. Not sure why. I love pizza. But if I don't have pizza today, my day won't be any worse. Do you not... have things you love, but you don't have to have all the time? You could send us to Disney World tomorrow, and if we did not get into BBB, "so what" applies because we'd be having too much fun enjoying everything else. That is not dismissive of the love for them nor of them. That is saying that Disney World is so easily fun that not doing select things that might enhance one trip doesn't detract from another.

I think you are conflating "having fun" with the OP's question which pertains to planning. If the question had been: "Is it harder to have fun now?", your responses would be spot on. But finding ways to have fun and "planning" are not synonymous. For example, if someone were to ask me is it harder today to plan a day where you have a character breakfast, meet your favorite characters, ride all of the mountains, and finish off with a window table at the California Grill with a view of the fireworks than it was in 1994, my answer would be "Yes and no. It is easier to plan because of computers and apps, but it is harder to succeed in nailing down all of those things that you want to do." But this is different from your approach which is to say: "I don't need to do all of those things. If I don't secure reservations for all of those things, I will just have fun doing other things." But that is like answering the question: "Is it harder to get a Super Bowl ticket now than it was in 1980?" by saying: "I don't need to go to the Super Bowl to have fun. If I don't get a ticket, I will go to the local aquarium and have fun there. Kind of a nonsequitous response.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I asked because someone implied it takes 30 minutes to plan a trip, and that is simply not true. One could spend 30 minutes on hold simply trying to make a tee time.

Agreed. 30 minutes to plan a Disney trip is just hyperbole.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

All this required planning is just a Dis construct. Everyone out here is seeing what each other does and then feeling like you have to plan that too. Someone tells how they got an extra ride on the Mine Train because of a pre-open ADR? Now you "have" to book that. Someone else put in a room request that got them something cool? Now you "have" to book that too.

Planning Disney really takes like 10 min to make some dining reservations and 20 min to do Fast Passes. That's it! All the other stuff is just things Disney is trying to sell you. The driving factor in these sales is the fear of missing out and the having to do something new/paid on every trip.

Hardly.

1) Decide on what days work best for a Disney trip
2) Price shop airlines and schedules to find best time
3) Book Disney hotel
4) Make Dining Reservations
5) Now quite often the park hours aren't out yet when I want to make dining reservations. So I have to keep my eyes on that and perhaps change them down the road. That requires more effort.
6) Book FP's for each day and book them so as not to interfere with dining.

They may be throwaways for you, but for some guests these are important. If they don't plan for some of them, they won't be doing them.

Agreed

Heh "cavalier". You're trying everything to try to paint this negatively. Not sure why. I love pizza. But if I don't have pizza today, my day won't be any worse. Do you not... have things you love, but you don't have to have all the time? You could send us to Disney World tomorrow, and if we did not get into BBB, "so what" applies because we'd be having too much fun enjoying everything else. That is not dismissive of the love for them nor of them. That is saying that Disney World is so easily fun that not doing select things that might enhance one trip doesn't detract from another.

I'm a big foodie so naturally food is a big part of my trips. Sorry but I have no interest in eating at Columbia Harbor House for the duration of my trip.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Yes, it was easier back when you could arrive at Epcot and reserve that day's lunch and dinner at the restaurants of your choice by speaking with a cast member on a video screen. All the restaurants I asked about had availability on the same day. There was no worry that a restaurant would be all booked up for that day. That's a far cry from having to reserve them all six months ahead to have the best choice.

I agree that FP+ is a mixed bag. It's nice to be able to arrive at midday and still get on the popular rides with only a short wait, but it does destroy spontaneity when every hour of every day is pre-planned.

 

[fla4fun]

Agreed. 30 minutes to plan a Disney trip is just hyperbole.

Well, it depends on what kind of trip you are planning.

I have "planned" last minute trips where I went online, booked a room, booked any FP I cared to, maybe booked an ADR or two (again, depends on the reason for the last minute trip and the budget) and could have it all wrapped up in 30 minutes. However, I have been to WDW many times, so I know the resorts well, the attractions well, and know exactly what I do or don't want out of a trip. I have booked resort stays and not even gone to the parks (even though I have an AP). Those trips took way less than 30 minutes to plan.

I'm not saying that 30 minutes is a reasonable time frame for most visitors, but it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, especially if you are a frequent WDW visitor. Obviously, every add on that you choose to purchase that requires a reservation is going to add more time to the planning process, no doubt about it.

The one thing I wish Disney could get together on is the time difference between booking ADRs and FP+. With some FP+ so hard to get, it's rough to plan out all your dining only to have the one day with FoP FP+ available be the day you have CRT or BOG booked at the same time. It would be nice if we could book everything within the same time frame. I typically don't book my dining until after I've booked my FP+ just for that reason. I can dine QS if I have to, but there's only one FoP . . .