Do you ever regret not slowing down a bit more...

[PetePanMan]

We've been to WDW 5 times with last 3 as DVC owners (most recently from Dec trip). With each trip, we try to slow down a bit more at parks, sleep in more, spend more time at resorts etc. Yet, we are still a bit too frantic chasing another FP or ride or park or whatever. We are getting better and enjoy WDW as much or more than ever but still return thinking we would enjoy it even more by further slowing down. Anyone else like this? Any strategies you use to try to chill out a bit more?

 

[larryz]

Only when I'm moaning and groaning in the bathtub late at night trying to get the sore feet and calves to un-cramp...

If you force yourself to eat or drink something once per hour, it will automatically slow you down.

 

[lovethattink]

We haven't gone commando in at least a decade. We look at the details. Check out new things. DS likes to play SotMK.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I always regret sleeping in. I love Disney mornings. It took a few trip to get us to slow down. Now we take breaks midday. A total no-no a few years ago. We also have no park days just relaxing at the pool. I love the way we do things now. The more trips you take the slower you'll go.

 

[aretha30]

We are taking things slower when we go for our next trip (August 2016). We are taking more off days and adding the WP to our tickets. We want to spend more time taking in the resorts and just enjoying time as a family without the distractions of real life. Do we regret not slowing down more before, the simple answer is no. We've just learned to do things differently since we go every year and we don't have to go-go-go.

 

[LinderInWonderland]

I always regret sleeping in. I love Disney mornings. It took a few trip to get us to slow down. Now we take breaks midday. A total no-no a few years ago. We also have no park days just relaxing at the pool. I love the way we do things now. The more trips you take the slower you'll go.

I'm with you! I love Disney mornings and Disney nights. I am all set with the heat of the day, so I much prefer mid-day breaks in my room or at the pool.

 

[minnie mum]

We were the commando type for the first 15-20 years. Running around the parks like Alice's white rabbit. Dragging ourselves back to the resort every night and trying to repair the damage to our feet; then up at dawn to repeat the abuse. And returning home needing a week to recuperate.

Then we learned to slow down. We started doing a non park day in the middle of the trip. Then we added in mid day breaks. Then we added extra days to our stay, so we didn't feel the need to do as much in one day. Nowadays the crowds slow you down. The long standby lines slow you down. The pace is becoming freakin' leisurely.

 

[Disneylover99]

We've slowed down since buying an AP. That's my best strategy for taking it slow.

 

[loves to dive]

We are one of those families that have never done commando and have always gone kind of slow. We have been known to open and close a park, rarely the same one and always with a break in the middle. Even when my son was little or a teenager, it wasn't about riding as many rides as we could or seeing everything, it was just about enjoying our time and if that meant going to the pool or sitting and eating an ice cream (me) that was what we did. Now we have no choice since my son has a back injury that requires him to rest two or three times a day.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

We also love our early mornings at the parks. We generally have an early ADR for whatever park we're going to and get there early enough to make use of the photographers for our MM.
By being in the parks early we get a lot of stuff done by 10:30- 11 am. We check out all the little darling princesses (and ask them all what land they are visiting from! - lol), get in line for characters we want to meet, and by noon are either grabbing a snack or shared CS lunch.
We then head back to our resort, hit the jacuzzi, and nap for an hour or 2.
We then go to whichever park we have chosen for evening. (Sometimes the same one - sometimes not). We generally have an evening ADR (later) and glide through that park pretty seamlessly. If we are able to get FP+ for an evening ride we take it, otherwise if it's something we want to ride we're willing to wait up to 40 minutes. Remarkably, whenever Disney has 40 minutes wait time posted, we have never, ever waited more than 25.
Nothing makes us crazy. If we miss it this time, we'll see it next time!
We really enjoy our days and evenings with the split time!

 

[djohn06]

I am the same, thinking how can I slow things down more. We normally do 2 or 3 park days in a 6 to 7 day timespan. While our park days tend to be commando, I found that rope drop, followed by 4 or 5 hours at the park coupled with 3 hours at the villa, ending with 3 or 4 hours at night, is the best for us. Next day, we sleep in and enjoy a nice breakfast in a DVC villa. The hot tub is our best friend too.

What I found that really was a time suck is waiting for the bus at certain resorts. Left my villa at BLT last week at 9:55 am to catch a 11:30 am Star Wars movie that I already had tickets. Well there were stops at VWL and Typhoon Lagoon along the way. Then, there was the wait for the boat to take us from marketplace to the Westside. I did not anticipate this journey to take 90 mins there and back. In the future, Uber will be my best friend going to DTD.

 

[lustergirl]

Slowed down a long time ago

 

[Sandy Fisher]

We never did race through the parks, make endless reservations for meals, and rarely used the old fast pass, never used the new one. However, when we realized we were selling our home down there and moving back up north, we knew it would be very limited if and when we went to Disney again. (lots of reasons -- age, health, location) What bothers me now is all the things we COULD have done and didn't. We thought we'd be down there "forever" and had time to do any and all activities, tours, etc. We took our good old time and did our favorites, etc. Went frequently but sometimes just for a half day or maybe 5 hours. Wish we'd done more. Not hurried, just done more.

 

[Bullseye]

OP I agree, we've been DVC for six years now and and every year we've have been gradually cutting back on park time for resort time and other activities (DTD, Water Parks). When you're annual/regular visitors you've pretty much done everything so many times you don't mind missing out on some things as you know you'll do them on future trips. Plus I hate feeling like I didn't take advantage of the resort enough.

 

[soniam]

We started out a bit slower, not totally though, on our first trip as a family, since DS was only 6. We then sped up and have started to slow down a bit more lately. Switching between Universal and WDW gives us at least half a day, if not a whole day, outside the parks. Also, DS really likes to swim at the hotel, so I have been trying to plan about every other day to head back early and swim. It's harder if you have a shorter trip. Our next trip will be over Spring Break, so it's not as long as I would like. In the summer, we can go for more than a week, which gives you the luxury of relaxing and not feeling guilty. I also think if you go over incredibly busy times, like xmas, then you are almost forced to slow down if you want to not go crazy and enjoy it some.

 

[chinarider]

I think we are being forced to.... This past trip ( last week) really wore on us hard. We are love EHM ( mornings ) and rope drop...... But getting up at 4 am to get to the bus at 545 after not falling asleep until 11-oclock or so took it's toll . We never closed the parks but did attend the Christmas party, did a 7pm Fantasmic, saw Osborne Lights (on a different night). We were there for 7 days but, tried to really push as much possible into the first few days ( before the crowds got worse). It worked out well because the last few days (we left Christmas Eve), we were able to take things a little slower (but we were also exhausted)

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

We always do rope drop (sorry, sleeping in is for another vacation!), but I try to have a touring plan that takes advantage of attractions that are close to each other so we aren't running around like crazy. We also take breaks in the afternoon back at the resort for a swim, nap, early dinner.

 

[trouttigger]

Oh, you are singing my song! Teen son took led us around at FRANTIC speed this time. (I'm sure it seemed normal for him.) At times, it was on the edge of not fun for me. We had more than one intense discussion about it. Loved being with my family, but I dream of one day sauntering thru a Disney park.

 

[djohn06]

We always do rope drop (sorry, sleeping in is for another vacation!), but I try to have a touring plan that takes advantage of attractions that are close to each other so we aren't running around like crazy. We also take breaks in the afternoon back at the resort for a swim, nap, early dinner.

I agree. This makes sense.

This past trip we stayed at BLT. We made FPs to rides in fantasy land, but made sure to go through adventureland fully at rope drop day one. Then day three, tomorrowland at rope drop fully, Fantasyland FPs later in the am, leave at noon or 1 pm. Eat and nap until 4pm, Epcot and or DHS till 9 or 11pm.

It worked out well for us.

One day we spent the majority of time taking in MK shows and then AK. That day, we ended things at 5:30 pm.

 

[djohn06]

Oh, you are singing my song! Teen son took led us around at FRANTIC speed this time. (I'm sure it seemed normal for him.) At times, it was on the edge of not fun for me. We had more than one intense discussion about it. Loved being with my family, but I dream of one day sauntering thru a Disney park.

Let the kid go to the community center at a DVC resort. He can stay there for a few hours while you have lunch or dinner. I would recommend BWV. He can get a burger at the little stand there or a corn dog. You can enjoy a nice Epcot meal or boardwalk meal without him.