Does anyone else miss the spontaneity

[Mimarian]

I know that a lot of people love to plan their vacations to WDW right down to the last detail. My DW is one of them. I just wish that we did not have to plan what park we were going to 6 months in advance. I do like the fact that we don't have to stand in lines for FP- anymore and God help you if you got stuck behind a tour trying to get a FP-. So that part I like. It just seems like its not as spontaneous as I would like. We have to decide where we want to eat ahead of time and what ride we are going to do and what park we are going to be at. I am not bashing the new system. I think its a great way to introduce better technology. I just wish there could be a mesh of technology and spontaneity.

 

[SchmittyUD]

Hi! I just posted this in another thread but I just wanted to let you know that I felt like spontaneity was still possible with the FP+ system. I found the hour window made this possible, in addition to the app letting me change times if I needed to.

Your concern was one of my biggest before going. My mom insisted we get ADRs every night, which I understood but I still wish I could have grabbed a turkey leg instead.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm in your camp too. I deal with way too much scheduling and too many deadlines at work. I would just like to go with the flow more when I vacation.

 

[queenofhartz]

I'm with you on this with the ADRs. On one hand, it's convenient, but if you don't have an ultra-planner in the family, it's got to be a little difficult. When people ask me about going to Disney, I let them know that it's possible to go and have a great time without lots of ADRs, but if your kids (or you ) are stuck on the idea of a particular character meal, you better be ready to reserve 6 months in advance.

 

[Mimarian]

I'm in your camp too. I deal with way too much scheduling and too many deadlines at work. I would just like to go with the flow more when I vacation.

Me too!! This is too much work. We have scheduled things and then cancelled those and then rescheduled things. We can go to WDW but before we go we have to schedule everything and now on the ride from home to Orlando we don't get to talk about what everyone would like to do. Instead its this is what we are doing. That was always a fun part of the road trip for us. I am not Debbie Downer though...just saying.

 

[Feberin]

I felt like a few times on our trip we were forced to drag our kids away from something they were enjoying to make our FP+ reservations and a few other times we ignored our FP+ and lost that time because we felt that what the kids wanted to do was more important.

 

[alicat8]

The fact that I'm already worried about what rides I'm going to book for what day for a trip that's 80 days away tells me that I totally agree. In over 20 trips, we never had adrs, so we never pre-planned anything and always had the best time. Hope we still can this summer!!

 

[MightyGitis]

I felt like a few times on our trip we were forced to drag our kids away from something they were enjoying to make our FP+ reservations and a few other times we ignored our FP+ and lost that time because we felt that what the kids wanted to do was more important.

For future knowledge if you miss an FP+ time you can go and change it for a new attraction and time.

 

[Planogirl]

Me too!! This is too much work. We have scheduled things and then cancelled those and then rescheduled things. We can go to WDW but before we go we have to schedule everything and now on the ride from home to Orlando we don't get to talk about what everyone would like to do. Instead its this is what we are doing. That was always a fun part of the road trip for us. I am not Debbie Downer though...just saying.

I compare it to the notorious tour groups that visit Europe. I've heard about those where you have someone giving you an hour to see this museum and telling you to hurry and take a picture of a building because you have to go NOW. Luckily I've managed to avoid such tours.

 

[Mimarian]

I am sure we will have fun. We leave in 10 days after 6 months of planning. I just hope that the build up of planning and thinking about what we are doing lives up to what our expectations of our past experiences have been.

 

[Vylette Rose]

I am completely with you!! I don't like knowing what park I'll be in tomorrow, let alone 2 months from now. Oh well, I guess I better get used to it.

 

[MightyGitis]

I think it's a difference between the planners and the non planners. Even before FP+ or FP- (not to date myself but I've been to disney many times BEFORE fast pass existed) we always chose our parks well in advance. My father would make a calendar and print it out for all of us so we would know. He would base it on hours each park was open and where we were eating.

Wait maybe I was trained to do it this way.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I like to plan but planning these FP+ rides are tough.

I have a feeling I'll be attempting to move them around if at all possible once we get there.

I'm doing my best to have this be a go with the flow trip but honestly it's hard.

 

[queenofhartz]

OMG...I haven't been to Disney in five years and just read that now you book FPs 60 days out?!?! Yeah, totally agree with this thread.

Also agree with the post that said sometimes you find yourself tearing yourself or your children away from something that you are enjoying...that's the real Disney magic. But, I think it goes poof when we try so hard to adhere to the schedule.

 

[Rosanne]

Yes. Totally miss the spontaneity. I realize it may be possible to change things later but only if I deal with my phone (which I usually ignore at WDW) or kiosks and then there may not be availability. We're likely going to go in August but we wouldn't be yet if there weren't so many scheduling conflicts in the year beyond.

 

[schwartzie827]

I totally agree! I hate having to plan ADRs 5 months from now. How do i know where i'll want to eat every night?!? I can understand specific character meals but every dinner? Then i'm worried about the 24 hour cancellation requirement... So much for being spontaneous....

 

[mrsp1030]

Agree 100% with this thread. All of our previous trips just seemed so carefree and not over planned and now I feel like I am doing more planning than I did before our wedding!

 

[fabulousfive]

Love having it all set so I can be carefree while there!

 

[Delirium]

I absolutely hate ADRs, so much so that I've convinced my wife that we only do quick service unless we get free dining. Eating just does not make it to the top of things that are important to me on a Disney vacation, especially with children involved. Sit down meals with the kids are in no way relaxing, so we don't even bother.

I don't particularly care for FP+ either, but will utilize it to our advantage. I like not having to run around for fastpasses, but don't care for the fact that you have to schedule them so far in advance to get decent time slots for the best attractions.

 

[flyinglizard]

We were there today and we really felt that fp+ got in the way of just relaxing and just enjoying the park and the day. We live locally so usually, a trip is just something we decide to do, not something we plan ahead a few months earlier. This new system just is not comfortable for us, and I am amazed to say, after maybe 30 years of annual passes, it just is not fun anymore, and I won't be renewing AP this year.