Disney Stress!! Need advcie!!

[Ducky4Disney]

I am leaving for WDW in THREE WEEKS and I am starting to stress!

I haven't been to WDW in three years and I am starting to feel overwhelmed, like if I don't SEE EVERYTHING and DO EVERYTHING that I'm going to be dissapointed. I know that's not the case, I will love every second of being there, but I want to see so many things that I missed or have changed since last time.

Food is stressing me out. Eight days is a lot of meals for two people. Should I call ahead for PS for all the nights? Where should we go? What will happen if I try to make reservations once we're there? What about Fantasmic, should I go with the dinner package or not? ACK! I don't want to keep a tight schedule, I hate feeling like I *have* to be somewhere at a certain time when I'm on vacation. On the otherhand, I might miss some things if I don't get PS.

I feel like there is so much more on my mind, but that's all I can think of right now. We are going 10/24 - 10/31 and attending MNSSHP on the 26th. I need strategy people, I need sound advice.

Jen

Coronado Springs here we come! - Again!

 

[Disney845]

Deep breath, in out..... Just relax. Your trip will be magical even if you miss getting Goofy's autograph, or PoC is closed for renovation (not saying that it will be!!!) Besides you can always look at it this way. If you miss something, than it is all the more reason to plan another trip back to the world.

Don't worry about the food. Make a few PSs if you have any idea where you will want to eat on a certain day/time. If not, then it will be ok. You can make them once you get there. Granted your first choices and time may not be exactly available, but WDW has tons and tons of restaurants.

As far as the Fantasmic dinner goes, I know this is just a personal preference thing, but I do not see the point of paying for it. You are limited in where you can eat, and pay a higher price just to have reserved seats. I say eat where you want and then grab an ice cream and head over to Fantasmic for a seat. None of the seats are really "bad" seats as the seating is in a half moon shape around the lagoon. Even if you sit on the very very very far end (which I just did last friday I am talking the last two seats on the left side of the theater) you will still see everything.

 

[wdwrich]

We always make PS ahead of time for dinners and occasionally some lunches, but it's a vacation and if plans change, we just cancel if need be. Since you are going for Halloween (we were there last year), I would recommend getting PS now.
Nobody can see/do everything in one trip, so identify the things you feel are "must-sees" and try to get those done.

Remember that the trip is to be enjoyed and should not be a reason for major stress. Take time out to relax each day and savor the experiences you do have.

 

[Kallison]

Most of us type A planners on these boards panic before the trip. I don't think with 2 people you will have problems getting into restaurants. We went end of August and I didn't make most of our PS that we scheduled. I like to have one sitdown meal a day, but even with five people we were able to get in most places on short notice. If we were going to MGM I would go right to restaurant and see if we could get in and never a problem. I just called last night to make a bunch of PS for me and DH going alone in 3 weeks and got every time and place I wanted. Plus if you don't get into a place, it's not big deal just do counter service and go with the flow. Or call when you get up in the morning and decide what park you are going to. You will come back feeling like you missed something, I know I always do, but just save it for next time! You will have a great trip -- just keep repeating the mantra!!

 

[April76]

Whatever you do - you'll have a great time just because you're in the best place in the entire world!!!

Now, I like eating at WDW restaurants as much as anyone -- but generally Dh and I get so caught up in rides/shows/people watching.... that we don't take time to eat until after we get back to our hotel... then it's something up in our room in front of the tv! LOL!

I agree with everyone else.... don't stress -- do what you can with last minute dinner plans and just have a good time!

 

[Peggo]

I also have not been to WDW in three years. I plan to take in the new stuff first and then do the old favorites.
Take advantage of the EE mornings and the late night Parties, and you should see everything.
I'm being daring and making no ressies, and trying to snag a table for 3 on the spot.
An adventure!
And if we don't see and do everything...well, that's for the next trip. But I do plan on seeing the "endangered rides" and the new ones.
Good luck!

 

[donac]

I went in AUg and I didn't have a single PS. We made one for lunch in Epcot when we walked in that morning at Customer Relations. We made two at 4:30 in the afternoon for that evening by using the house phone at the campsite(yes they have a house phone at the comfort stations for those who have been curious.) We had no problem making them for that day. Maybe they were not for where we wanted to go or for the time we wanted but they were pretty close and would dod this again.

 

[KathyFP]

This will be our third trip in a row this time a year. We usually don't do PS's except for the stuff for DD.

We never had a problem getting in any where that we wanted to go.

We will be at CSR the same time 10/27-11/5.

We are doing MNSSHP on the 31st.

 

[Figment2]

Remember that the Food & Wine Festival will be at EPCOT. You may want to spend a couple of meals grazing around World Showcase.

We always meet up with friends (who live in the area) so sometimes end up with 6-8 people and find that we have been able to make same day PS. You just need to be flexible.

Calm down. You'll have a great trip!

Cyn

 

[Micca]

It's nice to have PS. You don't HAVE to use them(it's nice to call and cancel if your plans change though). I think being at WDW and being tired and hungry with no place to eat (without waiting a long time) is stressful.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

OKAY....STOP....and take a DEEEEEP BREATH!

You're gonna be just fine! 8 days is a lot of food for two people, but it's doable. Last time DH and I visited Disney, we were there for 9 days and 8 nights! By the 5th day of eating...I WAS OVER IT! Don't misunderstand me, the food was wonderful and I enjoyed every place we dined, but I was how much food can my body take???? DH and I had a PS for every single day we were there and I did it for two reasons....1) I didn't want to eat counterservice for 9 days and 2) When DH and I are hungry, having to wait for more than 20 minutes is out of the question! The longest wait time we had was 30 minutes and that was with a PS, but that was because of poor communication by JIKO CMs. You can make a PS the day you need it, I did that twice last time I was at Disney and the times were for exactly when I wanted them.

Who says you have to see everything? I know those that have seen everything and still continue to visit Disney on a yearly basis. As another said, take advantage of EE days, that will help you get a lot of the favorites out of the way before the park opens to off-site guests.

As far as Fantasmic! goes, answer this....would you rather do the package, enjoy your dinner and walk in about 30 minutes before the show starts with guaranteed seating to the right of the theater or would you rather go in about 2 hours before the show starts for the "best" seating and have to sit and wait??? For me, I think this....I didn't pay the money I paid to visit Disney to sit and wait for a show to start 2 hours later. In the two hours people sit and wait for Fantasmic! I could be riding Rock N Rollercoaster, or watching the MGM Street Players, or having a leisurely dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby, or just simply enjoying the sites of MGM.

So do the Fantasmic! dinner package and make a few guaranteed PSs. As said before they are good to have and if you don't need them, cancel them so it opens up to others. You'll be just fine. HAVE FUN PLANNING AND ENJOY!! As far as missing anything....you won't! That will only give you another reason to visit as soon as you can.

Denise