Disboards. Too much of a good thing? LONG

[TaylorsDad]

Last year was my first trip to Disney. At age 37 I was finally able to live out my childhood dream by taking DW and DD 7 to Disney.That being said I was extremely overwhelmed and slightly disappointed. I had in my mind built the place up so high the reality for an adult could not possibly match the ideal. I still had a good time, just not the vacation of a lifetime I had imagined. Possibly the reason for this was without an attack plan there was no way to experience the best each park had to offer in a limited time. DW and DD still loved the parks so much that this year we are going back and will be leaving in just 48 hrs
I have been reading posts obsessively the past 2 months. I have to admit I have gotten as much enjoyment out of the boards as I did the Parks Thanks to all the great posts I have learned several great tips such as 1. Make at least 1 ADR a day 2. Be sure to get to the parks early. 3. Ways to best take advantage of FP system. 4. The busiest rides and attractions to hit first.5. Dont plan everything so strictly that last minute changes or variables would ruin your day. 6 Great suggestions on which shoes and sandals are good for all day walking.Plus many, many more. I have heard from several great posters here and hopefully am much better prepared to have a great vacation this year. I have to say I am already starting to miss rushing to my PC after work to see if I can gleam any more great tips for my trip
I guess I would love to hear from other Dissers who have spent a lot of time reading here and planning to know if all this added up to a more enjoyable trip or if it only served to raise your expectations to a level which the actual trip could not compete. Also any last minute tips would be greatly appreciated
If anyone wishes I will try to give a report on actual trip when I get back.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Relax.

What you experienced is fairly common for first timers, particularly those who's first Disney trip is as an adult. It's like some other "first time" events .

You are correct about one thing; it is important to manage expectations, and the DIS cuts with a two-edged sword in that regard. On one hand, there is information that is extremely useful and can help make your WDW trip a happy one. However, it captures so many differing opinions - positive and negative - that it can lead to someone thinking that, unless all these uncommon magical things happen to them, the trip will be a disaster.

Fortunately, you are going back. You know what WDW is, and what it ain't. Your children had fun the first time; now that the pressure is off all of you, you can enjoy the here-and-now of WDW without worrying about every detail.

IMHO - YMMV - Be well!

 

[StacyPop]

My best tip is to try and enjoy each little detail of Disney, rather than to try and rush around and get to everything you can. I go 4, maybe 5 trips a year, and I realized that if I only go on 2 rides the whole day, I still have a great time, because I am spending time with my family, and not worrying about work or anything. As soon as I hit Main Street, I leave all the stresses of my job, etc. behind me, and just focus on my family. It is the one true time I do not think of anything else, except them.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Also keep in mind WDW is not to be discovered in 1 trip. It is normal to feel overwhelmed the first few trips because you read these boards and you think "look what I missed" but actually you did not miss anything! Have the "where you ae is where you are supposed to be" attitude. Also the first few trips WDW will seem H-U-G-E, but once you know your way around and know the best days, it will become a lot smaller and easier letting you to relax more and not feel the need to rush.

We have been so many times to WDW and we are still finding new stuff!

Be careful! WDW is addicting. The more you go the more you want to go.

Have a great trip! You will enjoy this trip more than the last one.

 

[magicaldisney]

Unfortunately, for those of us who don't live close to Florida, we can't make 4 or 5 trips a year. The trips we make are overwhelming and becaue of the cost, you do try to fit in anything and everything, because you don't know if you'll be coming back.

The first time to WDW is great, but believe me every trip after is so much better. I think I feel safe to say that I PROMISE you'll enjoy yourself more on this next trip.

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

last minute tip:
Don't forget to stop and smell the roses every now and then (cheesy, but there is a reason this advice is still around) and I mean this literally.

Sometimes "newbies" are in such a hurry to get everything done and keep to itiniraries and the like that they run themselves ragged and then go home more tired then they left and are so frazzled that they might never want to go back. And the magic can really be lost.
I know this is your second time but to me that's still considered newbie. Enjoy youself, you've been once, hopefully you'll go again, and the great thing about Disney is that although a select few attractions come and go or get rehabed, in general Disney stays the same, especially the atmosphere.

If I went to Disney for one week and ONLY went to the MK I would be in heaven.
My favorite Disney memory (out of 20 or so trips to Disney parks) is of me, my husband, and our son, eating ice cream outside the ice cream parlor on main street just sitting at one of their tables relaxing. There were rosebushes planted nearby that were extremely fragrant, so that combined with the atmosphere of mainstreet and the people watching made it so surreal.

My second favorite is of having my son AND DH picked for Belle's story time. Another non-hurry, relaxing, sit down event.

My point: while the rides are wonderful, sometimes the best part of a trip can happen while you're not in a hurry to get somewhere or do something and just spending time with your family.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I discovered these boards before my trip last fall. A LOT of information I did find that what I learned here helped our trip to be more focused, the ADR's for instance and I knew what would be crowded, when and that taking advantage of EMH was awesome. However, I was so hyped, it had been several years since my last WDW trip and I had been a lost puppy trying to navigate then, that when I first walked into MK, the magic wasn't there and I was so disappointed! Eventually I got over it and we had a good trip, but the wow factor never hit me. This time, it will be my DH and myself alone and I have high expectations, but only of us walking hand in hand and taking it slow, enjoying the World together. I think this trip will be much more enjoyable than my last

 

[Disneyrsh]

Ok, I think you definitely need to build in one day of Drinking Your Way Around The World at EPCOT.

You are doing all the right things by planning; but you also need to remember to stop and smell the roses (you can also do this at EPCOT-be sure to smell the climbing Don Juan rose by the gateway to the World Pavillion).

Seriously, I'm a reformed Disney Vacation Commando; if you don't see it this time, it's a good reason to come back. Ask your kids what they want to see and then build the itinerary around it.

Somewhere on that itinerary you should put the words "nap" and "goof off". My husband always asks "did you put in napping and goofing off yet" when I'm working on the itinerary

 

[MelanieC]

I've been going to WDW almost yearly since 1995. Each trip gets better and our trips have gotten longer over the years.

Last year we had our best trip of all. We really slowed down, smelled the roses, looked for hidden Mickey's, went to the beach, saw a space shuttle launch, went to Busch Gardens etc. We had such a great time my DH actually seriously contemplated staying an extra week. We had already been there for two.

DH enjoys these trips to Disney so much now. It's been an evolving thing over the years. In the beginning I could hardly get him to go a second time, to this year being sad when we almost went on a Disney cruise instead of going to Disney. We ended up going back to Disney instead of the cruise.

The great thing about the DIS is that it allows you to learn the secrets so you don't spend so much time in lines and get more out of your trip. You can overwhelm yourself though so be careful.

 

[Woodcourt]

There are two schools of thought for people with Disneyworld
1. Its such a big, fun, exhausting vacation, so lets go once or every 5-10 years
2. Lets go often and enjoy ALL of the little things there are to offer.

We have decided to do #2. We plan to go always at least once a year. Every year, the kids are a different age and will love new things. Knowing that we will be going back, takes away the stress of having to do EVERYTHING in one trip. We also are planning to take anniversay trip without the kiddos in Sept. We honeymooned at Disney and there is so much to do without kids, we cant wait. We have three young babies, so when we go we know that we will not ride many of the thrill rides which we love, so when we go in sept thats most of what we will do.

One of my favorite memories from our last trip was when our kids fell asleep in the stroller after dinner before Fantasmic and we just strolled through all of the art shops. What we dont get to do on one trip, we dont sweat, because we will be back next year!

Cant wait to hear how your second trip goes!

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

Part of your strategy should depend on how often you can go back to WDW. Living on the west coast means that a WDW trip is not practical every year, so I wanted to maximize my time in the parks. I did a lot, and I don't regret it because I don't know when my next trip will be. Would I love to go back for Star Wars Weekends? Yes, but I have no idea at this point if I'll be able to make it. Flying by the seat of your pants can be risky, especially when a Disney World vacation doesn't come along every year.

 

[DISUNC]

Last year was my first trip to Disney. At age 37 I was finally able to live out my childhood dream by taking DW and DD 7 to Disney.That being said I was extremely overwhelmed and slightly disappointed. I had in my mind built the place up so high the reality for an adult could not possibly match the ideal. I still had a good time, just not the vacation of a lifetime I had imagined. ....... I guess I would love to hear from other Dissers who have spent a lot of time reading here and planning to know if all this added up to a more enjoyable trip or if it only served to raise your expectations to a level which the actual trip could not compete. Also any last minute tips would be greatly appreciated
If anyone wishes I will try to give a report on actual trip when I get back.

TaylorsDad,
Firstoff Congrats, on living out your childhood dream at 37!!!! That in itself is WONDERFUL!!!!! I didn't start until my 40th!!!

Like everything else in life I take what I read on these boards with a grain of salt. After spending so much time on the boards, you become familiar with many posters. Some you pretty much agree with all the time, and some you never agree with.

I have read post from people praising a certain attraction, restaurant, hotel......and then when I experienced it...YUK! And vice versa, posters hating something...and we loved it!

Just plan as much as you can, go with the flow and know that you are going to have a great time. Not neccassarily(?) having a great time doing a specific thing...just a great time in general.

Just the fact that You, your DW & DD are all in WDW together, happy & healthy is a DREAM COME TRUE!!!! Everything else is a BIG PLUS!

Last minute tips......We always have a certain type of scavenger hunt when in WDW.....we try to find Hidden Mickeys, look for certain pins, and Penny presses. These are always fun to do and makes things more interesting. As for me I am a smoker (i know i know) but when I stop in the smoking sections...I always have the greatest converations with other quest! Very interesting people hang out the smoking sections!

OF COURSE WE WANT A TRIP REPORT!!!!!!!! I look forward to it.

Enjoy & HAVE A HAPPY & GREAT & SAFE TRIP!
Andy

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Last year I too lived out my childhood dream of visiting WDW and taking my kids. I was 7 years old when WDW opened and I had been a frequent (4 times a year) visitor to Disneyland as long as I could remember. My father LOVED taking us to Disneyland but never saw the value of flying across country to WDW. Granted, Disneyland was only 30 minutes by car and WDW consisted only of the MK, but I had an unquenchable urge to visit WDW.

I continued to visit DL as I grew up and even worked in the 'Pieces of Eight' shop just outside POTC when I was in college, hence the screen name. These boards helped me make the best first trip to WDW that I could have imagined. I had help from several sources, including each 'unofficial' guide from 2002 on (you're welcome, gentlemen), All Ears, Mouse Savers, and the PassPorter. We never would have enjoyed a fabulous lunch at CRT or the free dining plan if I hadn't been a member of these boards. I never would have known about bunkbeds at WL. Worst of all, I probably would have pool-hopped.

I am thankful for these boards and I love the wide array of perspectives and opinions.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

You are correct!! These boards really do help to enhance your experience. As a first time visitor, with no prior advice, you are going in blind and unaware of many tips, time saving techniques, fun little known activities, and most off all you lack experience. Experience is what you will obtain bit by bit on your successive trips to WDW. But, these board help you put together your A-game before you arrive. I have noticed that since I joined DIS over a year ago, each successive trip has become more magical and more relaxed than ever before! I find reviews of hotels and restaurants, which places to stay away from...which to enjoy...where fun little known activities are..what is the best time of day/year to enjoy the parls..how do I get there, etc. These board have a wealth of knowledge...and I am SO happy for you!! Have a Magical Vacation...and don't forget a trip report!!

 

[mumzie2three]

We just visited WDW in May of this year and this board helped to make it a fantastic trip. Was it perfect? No, but it was far better than our visit eight years ago. This board (along with my own previous experience) helped me to take what was important to our family and devise a travel plan to suit our wants and needs.
There were some things I read about on the boards that made me nervous; too many ECVs, line cutters, rude teens, etc. I saw/experienced none of those things. So that was a relief.
We won't be returning to WDW for another 5 or so years and I'll be here then to aide in my planning.

 

[snusnu]

This thread makes me feel so much better I can't even tell you. Our honeymoon trip in 2001 was so hurried and so crammed that I don't honestly think I enjoyed it. I was so disappointed that Walt himself didn't wake up from his cryogenic sleep and usher us through the park personally that I felt cheated. Well, you know what I mean. I had untenable expectations about that trip. We had the land/sea package, and it was too much to do and not enough time. Coupled with the lost hours from the West Coast, the fact that we were broke and couldn't afford to eat at any of the nice restaurants and my burning anger over having to sleep in separate beds as they couldn't give us a king made for a less than spectacular trip. I've never not gone commando to a Disney park, and I think our upcoming trip may break those rules. I work two jobs, as does my husband, so this trip will be about taking all we've learned and making a very efficient but unhurried trip. My expectations will be only that we are together having a good time. That's all that matters.

I have to say, though, that I had absurd expectations for our Panama Canal Disney Cruise, and they were met and even exceeded. Tough act to follow.

 

[pafer]

I have used many tips from this board in planning my trips and while in the parks. Without this board I would not have known about watching the end of the AK parade without the crowds. I would not have known about decorating the tree in the shop in MK and getting a certificate and an ornament for a momento. My dds enjoyed this part of the trip and still remembers getting to decorate that Christmas tree.

I have been watching the boards in anticipation of my trip and looking for information on the crowds and the new attractions. I leave in a few days on the 13th to be exact. It will be a long days drive with stops on the way and the excitement of the wait just gets worse the closer we get. I cannot imagine feeling disappointed on arrival. For us disappointment is always the feeling we experience upon having to leave.

 

[thunderbird1]

I think the Unofficial Guide was talking about WDW with little kids (but it's good advice for everyone) when they said something like "the amount of fun you have in a day is not necessarily directly proportional to the number of attractions you can experience." The biggest mistake people make (and I've been guilty of it myself) is to try to do every single attraction in any park in one day. That's what other amusement parks are for. Disney is special--so many hidden gems and special moments that you only get to experience if you slow down and just enjoy the here and now.

Ironically, being prepared, knowing what to expect, and having (at least a few) ADR's are essential to be able to enjoy the spontaneity. But without taking time to enjoy the little things, you might as well go to Six Flags.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

It sounds like you have picked up many good pointers for this trip, and believe me, you'll come back to these boards and continue to find helpful advise for even the next trip. Just one last suggestion, relax, and enjoy the family and live your dream. We'll be waiting for your report, and a few pictures. Have fun

 

[kellyg403]

I too was able to take that once in lifetime trip with my children in Dec 05. We went not expecting to come back so we had our attack plan in place with alot of help from the Dis! We got there and realized the one single most important thing was that we didn't kill ourselves trying to do everything! We had such an enjoyable time that we are going back during free dining, a whole year earlier and taking a couple of the new grandbabies with us. And there are about 400 things we didn't do last time!

I guess the magic for me was watching the magic for them! Even dd17 was right out there enjoying the characters! Just the look on some of their faces when we got to the hotel and the man at the gate said "Welcome Home" followed by the little squeals of excitement was enough to keep the magic in place for me!

Kelly