Do you do Disney Commando??

[Leonsmom]

I've read the UG from cover to cover. I plan to have a plan!!
I plan to do Disney Commando style. Since I've never done this before, i'd like some tips from other Commando type Dissers.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

Im 43 and and my DD5 and I do WDW in serious commando mode twice a yr(or more if DH pays!! ) SERIOUS commando.......and love it. We are both die hards and are in the parks from sun up to midnite plus EVERY day, EVERY trip. She naps in disneys easy to steer but hard to nap in strollers. What do u wanna know.?

 

[yecats]

I do disney commando when I generally do a smaller trip of just 4 days then I try to cram in as much as I can. Those type of commando trips I only choose to work in my absolutely favorite rides or shows and allow time to reride those things especially when others are attending the parades. I have had 3 to 4 day trips in the past where my day from morning until night was nearly all planned out so I could get the most of the trip. Now since about 2000 and the fact that I went into my 30's and could extend my trips from 6-10 days, I find the commando pressure no longer as strong to push in as much as in smaller past trips. You'll probably find that when your in commando mode, your day and trip will fly by and you'll return home feeling like you need a vaca from the vaca. If your on a longer trip, say 6 or more days, leave some time say 1/2 day on at least 2 different days to relax at your hotel and just lounge around the pool or enjoy bike riding or boating at your resort. Try not to make every moment a commando one. Breathe at some point. You can always plan for a future trip should you not work in everything in this one.

 

[Andy B]

No I waer underpants!

 

[DaisyLynn]

No I waer underpants!

 

[Wildflowerz]

No I waer underpants!

That was exactly my first thought. I couldn't figure out why there'd need to be a thread about people who did Disney w/o the underwear!

 

[firsttimer03]

My family and I pick a park each day to do, we don't do ADR's for every meal. We eat when we're hungry (we pack along snacks and sandwiches).
We go to Early EMH's and LOVE THEM!
We have upgraded ourselves to Park Hoppers so we have the freedom to move about the world whenever we want.
I do not believe that DH or DS could stand a moment by moment itinerary, nor could I.
Have fun, do what you want when you want.

 

[Leonsmom]

No I waer underpants!

I KNEW that was coming!

 

[delmar411]

well first thing is you need to know whether your child can handle commando style touring. If they are going to melt down and have tantrums, it's best to slow down because once the tantrums start they are hard to keep at bay.

Also having a plan of where you are going to start, who's going to dash off for fast passes, do you need to do kid swaps for rides, when you want to eat and where..all these things factor into the overall plan.

And don't get so tressed about hitting every ride that you ruin the trip for yourself.

 

[Leonsmom]

Im 43 and and my DD5 and I do WDW in serious commando mode twice a yr(or more if DH pays!! ) SERIOUS commando.......and love it. We are both die hards and are in the parks from sun up to midnite plus EVERY day, EVERY trip. She naps in disneys easy to steer but hard to nap in strollers. What do u wanna know.?

What are your best tips? Does your DD normally take naps at home?
I thought of the nap in the stroller thing but I have two strikes against me on that one. 1) DS5 does not nap at home so getting him to nap at the parks will be difficult. I already explained to him that we will probabbly head back to the hotel for a rest break. But I know I won't want to do that every day.
2)DS5 is quite big for his age already and he will be turning 6 while we are there. I don't know if he could fit in a stroller.

I do disney commando when I generally do a smaller trip of just 4 days then I try to cram in as much as I can. Those type of commando trips I only choose to work in my absolutely favorite rides or shows and allow time to reride those things especially when others are attending the parades. I have had 3 to 4 day trips in the past where my day from morning until night was nearly all planned out so I could get the most of the trip. Now since about 2000 and the fact that I went into my 30's and could extend my trips from 6-10 days, I find the commando pressure no longer as strong to push in as much as in smaller past trips. You'll probably find that when your in commando mode, your day and trip will fly by and you'll return home feeling like you need a vaca from the vaca. If your on a longer trip, say 6 or more days, leave some time say 1/2 day on at least 2 different days to relax at your hotel and just lounge around the pool or enjoy bike riding or boating at your resort. Try not to make every moment a commando one. Breathe at some point. You can always plan for a future trip should you not work in everything in this one.

We will have 7 Park days I was thinking I would treat it as 2 sets of 3days with 1 leisere day in the middle, but I like your idea better of 2 halh days.
Do you return to the hotel for breaks?

That was exactly my first thought. I couldn't figure out why there'd need to be a thread about people who did Disney w/o the underwear!

Ha ha! You know I was thinking of using a different title for the thread but I figured this would attract more people. I wanted to make it more interesting. I am starting to get a complex as I can't seem to get people to read what I write. Either I am really boring or I am just a thread-killer. I can't even get people interested in my PTR. LOL

My family and I pick a park each day to do, we don't do ADR's for every meal. We eat when we're hungry (we pack along snacks and sandwiches).
We go to Early EMH's and LOVE THEM!
We have upgraded ourselves to Park Hoppers so we have the freedom to move about the world whenever we want.
I do not believe that DH or DS could stand a moment by moment itinerary, nor could I.
Have fun, do what you want when you want.

What type of food do you bring? Do you find that the parks are more crowded on EMH days? Do you only do the early EMH's?

 

[nemomama]

We do Disney commando style (lol ) and love it! But this is our family's style...we love to be on the go, even our 2 kids. We can take a nap and pool break in the afternoons at home - when we're at Disney we like to be there early and stay until bedtime! However, we don't go to the parks 2 days in a row - we take a day in between to do other stuff. I say do what suits you and have fun!!

 

[Mama of Triplets]

That was exactly my first thought. I couldn't figure out why there'd need to be a thread about people who did Disney w/o the underwear!

Glad I am not the only one that thought that!!

 

[tooh8ful]

DD 5 and I are completely commando (w/underpants ). We both get up early (ONLY at WDW) and stay until they pitch us out of the parks, every day.

Last year my mom would call us when she decided to mosey over to the park and we would meet her for lunch. We had ADRs for dinner every night but other than that and the park planned for the day, we winged it.

This year will be a little different. I will have another daughter with me who will be 15 months old at the time. I am taking a stroller that reclines so she can nap in the parks but I am also taking my best friend to help with the baby. That way, DD 5 and I can continue our commando ways!

 

[srwarden1928]

We tour "commando style". We know what we are going to next. UGs website has even more touring plans than the book. Some of them might work for you. Its only $8. We sometimes slow down or stop for a snack that allows us to rest for a while in the park, but we never leave a park until we are finished with it for the day. We dont hop--too much wasted touring time, plus starting in the middle of a plan ugh. For a longer trip, we might slow down more, but I think I would like the four day commando trip to Disney followed by beach time.

 

[catgirl]

I was thinking in underwear terms too and had a story to tell, but I guess I will save it for another thread

 

[Leonsmom]

I was thinking in underwear terms too and had a story to tell, but I guess I will save it for another thread

aww come on. Do tell.....

 

[little1kry]

My whole family goes commando. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) But we're a bunch of type-A have-to-do-it-all people Our motto for this year is "It is a competition" The important thing though, is that we all enjoy doing that. And on the chance someone is having an off day, we don't think twice about taking it easy (well, maybe just a little....)

 

[DISnutCpl]

My DH & I typically go "Disney commando," as well. We want to see it all and are usually there for only 4-5 days at a time. However, we LOVE to eat at our favorite Disney restaurants while at WDW - so formulating a plan of attack, including ADRs, in advance is important to us! As far in advance as possible, I check out park hours and find out which parks are doing Extra Magic Hours, etc. We usually start each day at the park that has the EMH in the morning. I make an ADR at that park for lunch. Then, after lunch, if we still have attractions to see, we'll do that for a little while. Then, in the evening, we'll move to the park that has EMG that night. I will have an ADR for dinner in that park. Since we're not going back to our resort for a nap in the afternoon, we try to do something relaxing and indoors to get out of the heat and off of our feet. Usually something like Energy or American Adventure at EPCOT, Hall of Presidents at MK, etc. So, that's how we roll. It works for us! Hope that helps.

Good Luck! Can't wait to hear how your trip goes.

 

[DisneyMagick2008]

I also do disney commando style. Even for a longer trip like 10-12 days, I just can't break my commando habits. Semper Fi. But, it's all good, I enjoy it that way. I only get to go about every two years, so when I get my fix, I feel the need to go all the way. You can rest when you're dead.

On top of that, I tend to go off-peak, when ADRs aren't as important and the crowds are lighter so you really feel like you're getting your money's worth. I just refuse to pay the cost of a WDW vacation only to stand in line for an hour or two for every ride and have standing room only at all of the restaurants.

But, endurance is a factor. If your children need naps to prevent the occasional meltdown, you may have to work those in. Vacations are no fun when everyone's tired and cranky.

 

[yecats]

To Leonsmom, I usually return back to my resort on the days when I entered the EMH park. I usually only will go to EMH for MK day only and on those days I would tell you to hit PP, WTP, etc first and get those fastpasses as soon as you enter that part of MK. EMH days do fill up quickly(espec. in the kids area and for the E ticket rides) but it feels that you will get more done earlier so it is a trade off. I usually leave MK right before the 3:00 parade starts (at this point I have been in MK about 6.5 hrs and have done plenty) and therefore I miss the herd that is leaving the park after the parade. I'll go back to the resort and rest and usually end up walking into Epcot around 5:30ish and stay there Illuminations is shown. I very rarely ever walk into Epcot early in the am (generally I always close my days there after being in another park for 1/2 day). You may want to consider also doing AK as EMH as the animals are more awake and moving around in the am before the days heat builds up.

I know there are some people who bring their children back to the resort after being in a park for the first 4/5 hours, then the kids go swimming and then the go to Epcot at night but I know that when I hit the pool I am done for the day.

You also asked another poster about snacks brought into the parks and I usually bring rice krispy treats, individual pringles packets and small peanut packets as well.

Lastly, if your dead tired in the park and just can't cammando it anymore (or have the energy at that time to make it to the front for the bus) then you may want to head for the Hall of President's for a quick snooze (it's cool in there and it always seem to me that about 1/4 of the crowd is snoozing - nothing against the show) so you could walk out feeling a bit refreshed and having a little bit of energy.