Does anyone just "wing it"

[Pigletpal40]

Pre FP+ we would wing it with a family of four in August. Lunches and dinners were always a challenge, but we would find somewhere to eat off the beaten path. This year in October we added 3 days onto the beginning of our trip and winged it. We ate at Raglan one night and Rainforest another, had lunch at BOG and Dinner at Cosmic Rays as well as Pizza in the room at AKV Jambo. Got to the parks at rope drop and usually left right after lunch to go swimming and relax. It is possible. We picked up whatever fast passes we could by going online before we left after we knew we were heading there a few days early so it wasn't completely winging it.

 

[MammerJammer]

Just don't go so crazy as a coworker of mine who has a spreadsheet with a schedule down to the minute.

I've made a spreadsheet but not down to the minute Just showing what park we'll be at, what our ADRs are, any particular events we're going to, if there is a BBB appt etc. I like that I can look at it and quickly see where I am. I also have the app.

This is my first time planning a WDW vacation and I have to say I think all the pre-planning is helping me. I think if I "winged it" than I would probably spend a lot more time in line, walking from one end of the park to the other, and I may not get into the restaurants I want.

 

[michsig]

I've had trips where I've just "winged it," but that was during slower times of the year. Even in those cases, I still booked some FPs and restaurants.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I've made a spreadsheet but not down to the minute Just showing what park we'll be at, what our ADRs are, any particular events we're going to, if there is a BBB appt etc. I like that I can look at it and quickly see where I am. I also have the app.

This is my first time planning a WDW vacation and I have to say I think all the pre-planning is helping me. I think if I "winged it" than I would probably spend a lot more time in line, walking from one end of the park to the other, and I may not get into the restaurants I want.

I have one too only though for the FP+ amd my plane and car rental reservation information. Other than that it is clear. As this is your first time especially, I think it's a good idea. Once you become a vet, you may still have one for the reservations but you will hae a lot more in your head at that point.

 

[disneyseniors]

I have no fear of heights so I loved it but no one else in my family would go on it. The operators spaced out everyone all around the parameter of the balloon to balance it. No one was allowed to stand with or even close by another person. I don't know if this is the norm or if it was because it was windy. The balloon is open to the wind, there is a railing and netting to keep you in but the balloon was rolling (I thought it was fun) but I could see how it would scare some. It was night and the far off lights of the parks were beautiful. I will go again sometime. If it is the norm that you would not even be allowed to stand next to or even close to your husband, you should just have him go on it by himself. If you are afraid of heights, you probably should not go on it, it goes up pretty high and like it said, it was really rolling over in the wind. You are not strapped in or anything.

Thanks, Jeannie: That answers it for me. Not being able to hold onto my husband, and "rolling", EWW, not for me. I will send him alone next time

 

[tinkfan160]

Absolutely! When we have traveled with friends they liked a bit more scheduled and it felt like we were constantly running from one end of the park to the other to use FP...not fun in my opinion. We have been enough times that nothing is really a priority. We did a day trip to MK in December and I made FP+ reservations, but we didn't use any of them and still did the things we wanted. For our trip this July we have two ADRs but that's it...the only priority for us is the mine train because we did not do it in December because my grandma was with us.

 

[Mikie]

To me, "wing it" means not having anything set in advance. Not knowing which park which day, no dining or ride appointments. . . So NO, I definitely don't do that! My first trip as an adult I suppose we did. It was definitely before FP+ of course, and I think before even FP-. We had a toddler and 2 senior citizens so we definitely had no expectations and went slowly. I think that trip, though, I had still at least picked park days ahead of time.

Ever since, I've used increasing amounts of park picking, ADRs, FP.

Next trip I look forward to backing off the structure of ADRs, but FP+ will still mean picking parks and some "appointments"