Do you still hit the parks "commando style" ?

[castleri]

We just discussed this with DBIL last night. When it is just DH and myself we tend to relax and just do the parks a couple of days and then just certain things - he doesn't care about rides but will do them or most of them. When we go with family it depends on what they are interested in doing. One DD and SO prefer to golf and only do parks a day or so. DGD and I will do parks from near opening to close(she's 22 and I'm 65). Other DD wants to be there at rope drop ( have never made that in the last 15 years myself) and do everything with DGSs (3 and 6 this year). We are going in Sept with commando style DD and DGSs but have already told them we will be taking some pool time and other down time even if they don't. Before DVC (pre1997) we definitely did commando style because we stayed offsite on I Drive or 192 and going back and forth for a break just didn't seem like and option.
DVC has provided the best of both worlds. We can go at our pace and others with us can go at theirs and we all get together at times.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That park commando thing is hard to break. We still spend a LOT of time in the parks (yes, even after 11 years of DVC), but we don't hit it as hard and fast as we used to.

 

[TK Brown]

We used to be commando also. We slowed down some when DS arrived, but joining DVC realy slowed us down. I kept pointing out to my DW the last time we went that "We know we will be coming back, dont worry if we dont get to do........" It made going much more enjoyable. It also allowed DS to ride some things over and over again without us worrying about what we were missing.

 

[ADP]

We hit the parks everyday, but only in the mornings and evenings. The afternoons are spent back at our DVC resort enjoying the room and amenities; pool, shops, recreation, etc.

Our APs have really dictated we hit the parks, but we don't feel like we need to spend all day there. If we had 7 day park hoppers we probably would feel the need to stay in the parks all day. With the AP the flexibility to come and go from the parks is invaluable. There have been times where we've just visited a park to hit an attraction or a restaurant and left. It's great!!!

 

[photobob]

We joined in summer of 2006 and immediately banked our points, so we have only been on DVC trips in 07 and 08. We are slowing our touring down significantly. I think having AP's helps my mindset that it is ok to just go to a park for a couple of hours if you want to.

My DW and I did do a three nighter by ourselves this past February and that was great. We did go to every park but really didn't do that many attractions, we just strolled around and soaked it all in. I think we used every type of transportation Disney offers.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have never done commado style touring! With my sons we went every 3 years beginning in '77 and we did leisurely things, like boat rides around the lagoon and we spent lots of time on Discovery Island. We hadn't stayed at the campground, but we did ride the small train that had been there, and we enjoyed many campfires/sings/movies.

I was with friends in '01 who thought that could possibly be their last trip to WDW, and me and my family only saw these 2 at designated times when our large group was eating together. I think I was with them a total of 3 hours in 4-5 days! I was aghast that people could "do Disney" like that. It never occurred to us!!!

I've been back to WDW with these friends, and they've slowed down a bit. I have a DGF's trip planned for next March with them and 1-2 others, ...and I'm hoping for a slow pace, including communal meals in our villa!

Bobbi

 

[bnlbebes]

No Commando for us!

My first trip with DW, she "pooped out" while I was still going strong through EPCOT, so since then, I've been tempered quite a bit.

We usually hop between at least 2 parks each day now, scheduling a stop back at our DVC resort in between for a breather.

This has had its disadvantages, though...

I never got to see "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and haven't done Test Track since my first and only ride years ago. Bu things like that don't make me appreciate our visits any less. I used to be much more concerned about getting what I paid for - trying to see everthing in a park in a single day. Now being DVC members, I know that I'll always be back sooner or later.

 

[eporter66]

DVC definitely changed our touring style (along with our first daughter). When my wife & I first started going to WDW for our vacations, it was do as much as you can. Since joining DVC, we have averaged 1 trip per year (this year 2x), and we also had our daughter.

We have drastically changed our vacations, and for the better. We still try to fit in a good day at each park, but we usually take a day in the middle of our week just to hang at the resort, relax, swim, eat ect... We used to take our daughter back to the rooms for a nap (she might not do that this time), so we always went early, and then went back late in the afternoon.

I will admit that there are times when we leave WDW that I am bummed about not doing everything I wanted. But, knowing you will be going back often makes it a little easier to handle

 

[aclov]

Nope! Thanks to DVC this is totally not necessary. I did it the first time I went with DH, we were dating at the time, this was before DVC ownership. I thought we were never going to return and I was so exhausted from trying to cram everything in.

 

[jenelope]

If I'm with people who may not be able to return to WDW soon, I'll still pack a lot into a day. But if I'm by myself or with friends in DVC, I definitely slow things down. It used to be that I'd run around trying to see everything in a park in one day, then by 5:00 or 6:00, I'd be dragging my sorry, exhausted butt to a bus stop that always seemed to be sooo far away! My first trip as a DVC member, I actually took the time to sit down by the pool, have a drink and read, just enjoying the sunshine. Huge difference! There were trips before that where I never ventured near the pool.

Aaah! This is the life!

 

[Ms. WDW]

I have to say no. DH and I now spend more time relaxing at the pool or walking to DTD when we're at SSR.

But...when I'm there alone I find that I tend to do a little "commando" especially if I'm at the Boardwalk. The temptation is to great being that close to Epcot and the Studios!

 

[johde]

I still hit the parks commando style. The difference now is I don't do the parks every day. Over a ten day vacation I will do Disney 3 days, Universal 2, Buch Gardens or Seaworld 1 and then have 3 days to relax, swim, roam the parks ETC. I currently buy park hopper passes and use the tickets over several vacations.

 

[james'mommy]

DVC didn't really change our style. But AP's did. Before I wanted to get the most for my money. Now that we go a couple of times a year and have the AP we've become lazy. We will go to the park and just ride a couple of rides and then go back to the hotel. Sometimes we go to Epcot just to eat. Our last day tradition is to head to MK and ride the Buzz Lightyear ride and then leave to drive home.

 

[Laxmom]

We did commando style 2 years in a row and haven't been back in 7 years. We just did our first trip as DVC owners and we did it differently this time! We did use a touring plan but we did a park day, then a rest day, park day, then a rest day...well, you get the idea. It worked great and we can't wait to go back!

 

[snowbunny]

In fact, it is a rarity for us to even go to a theme park...

Same here...the last two trips we have not done anything except a day at Discovery Cove, and commando-style doesn't apply there.

 

[Tiger926]

Nope! DVC has really helped us slow down and enjoy life at WDW more. Some days we only go to a park for 1 hour for dinner, or, a couple of hours to watch a parade or fireworks and we do it all without guilt! Whatever my kids ask for, we can accommodate now as we have APs, so no worries about wasting tickets. We also love visiting resorts, and have eaten at almost every restaurant - all of this due to having DVC!

We love our DVC and the way it has slowed us down - we have even better WDW vacations now as we are all better rested (we always go in July = hot!)!

Tiger

 

[Starshine]

I much prefer improv planning these days. Kind of a "Ferris Bueller Does Disney" style.

I love it!! It's actually kind of what we do- there are a few things that we make it a point to do every trip, but other than that we just see where the wind takes us.

 

[Disney_Villain]

Our first trip together, DH and did a "commando" trip over 2 weeks . . . and we started slowing down a bit after that . . . until we bought into DVC in 2006 and now we really love to take our time with the parks & resorts!

That's why Walt built Disneyland in the first place, for people to enjoy the ambience of his parks as well as the entertainment. I believe that Joe Rhode, the lead Imagineer for Animal Kingdom, said something to this effect as well - that you only can appreciate the park(s) if you slow down enough to enjoy them.

 

[Laneychris]

We small children we have never gone commando style. Not worth the kids exhaustion and bad moods afterward.

 

[jamstew]

I still do commando for the first couple of hours or so every day, always beginning at rope drop. I love being able to get my favorites done before the masses hit. If I can do them more than once, great, but it's not the end of the world if I miss something. Lunch and onward, it's all about leisure, a break back at the resort, and maybe a return to the parks later. I try to hit each of the nighttime shows once during a trip, but if I don't it's no big deal since I know I'll be back