Doing Disney Different - RELAX!

[vcgirl925]

How's that for a title?

We have been to Disney every year since my son was born and sometimes multiple times a year. We know what rides we like and which we don't like. We know which shows to hit and which one's bores us to tears (flights of wonder). We don't need maps anymore, because we know where most everything is. We ALWAYS go to Disney and go like crazy through the park. We try to cram everything in and we are always there from open until closing.

NOT THIS TIME!

I want to go to Disney and relax. Is that at all possible?

We are making a loose plan. We have scheduled which parks we are doing on which days. We have all our meals planned out and reserved. And we even have one day with NOTHING scheduled. We just want to stay around the pool and the hotel (AKL) and maybe go shopping at night at the marketplace. We plan to take a midday break most days. When we get to each park we'll grab a schedule for that day to pick a parade or to see what characters we want to meet.

That's as far as i'm going with a plan. I'm going to let my kids set the pace. I think that would be the best for them. If they want to play at ariels grotto for a half hour than i'm just going to let them do it. I think i'm always so busy running around to the next thing that i don't get to stop and smell the roses and take in the true experience of disney.

Does anyone else ever do a leisurely tour of disneyworld? Is it at all possible? We are also going at a pretty slow time of year Nov. 15th - 22nd and we are FP pros.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I was a Disney kid (twice yearly, every year, for a decade). My parents ALWAYS did a play-it-by-ear thing, unless we were traveling with uber-planners. We all remember those trips as some of the worst vacations we've ever had (Disney or otherwise). To me, your "loose" plans seem really tight - any day with an ADR means you've got to be someplace specific at a set time. But I know for those who need to schedule, you are grossly under-planned, lol.

So, yes, it's possible to do Disney at a relaxed pace. You just have to decide if it's worth not 'seeing everything'. I think, because of the high cost of vacationing at Disney, that very few people go at a leisurely pace.

 

[vcgirl925]

To me, your "loose" plans seem really tight - any day with an ADR means you've got to be someplace specific at a set time. But I know for those who need to schedule, you are grossly under-planned, lol.

LOL

Yes, my loose plan may seem tight for some but very loose for the uber planners out there and it's actually very loose to me. We usually go commando around the park. I guess i'm over the "i have to see everything" thing since i've practically seen everything already. My kids will have no clue if they've seen everything or not.

But yes we are still getting their before opening, we have the dining plan so we will be eating on a schedule, leaving midday, and then going back to the parks at night, probably until closing. But i guess there isn't really a plan because in our minds we do things a certain way already.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I want to go to Disney and relax. Is that at all possible?

I think the biggest question is do you have it in you to go at a relaxed pace? Once you are so accustomed to a park touring style (in this case, going commando), will you be able to relax and change your style or will you revert to your old ways?

I'm fighting this battle myself. My last trip we only had 3 days in the park and we crammed in everything we could. This time we have 8 days and I was thinking I could slow down and relax a little. But I find myself scheduling our time just like our 3 day trip. I've been trying to go back and change the schedule to allow us more down time, but I still feel the urge to pack more stuff in.

 

[DisneyWalle]

I am the ultimate planner. I have lists and schedules for the entire time we are in the parks and resort. Sometimes, I think I would love to go loose but I really feel like I would be a complete wreck.

My family accepts me as this. In fact, usually we get to do enjoy more things because of this - the drawback to this is we are usually completely exhausted at the end of the "restful" vacation.

I envy those of you that can plan loosely - I hope it all goes well and is enjoyable. HAVE FUN!

 

[TarzansKat]

I have done DisneyWorld all sorts of ways. My absolute favorite type of touring is winging it.

We're going during free dining, and we've planned our ADRs. Other than that, it's wide open. I know in my head some things I'd like to see/do, but truthfully, what we do, we do, and what we don't will be there next year.

It is totally possible.

As Walt Disney himself said, "Happiness is a state of mind...it just depends on how you look at things."

 

[Safari Queen]

Years ago we were commandos, running from place to place, screaming out of one park to make the evening show at another,go, go, go every day from morning until the last park closed. Since we bought DVC and started going more frequently, we do very little planning. In fact, we do very little, period! When we arrive, we make a list of what we really want to do -- attractions, parades, restaurants, boating, fishing, whatever -- then we break it down into what makes the most sense to do together in one day. One day included sleeping in, EPCOT for lunch (fish & chips), then watching all the country movies (Canada, France, China, Norway). Then we went back to the hotel and kicked back until evening, when we went to MK, grabbed great seats in the RR station, people-watched and talked to neighbors, then enjoyed SpectroMagic. Another day, after a CM breakfast, we took a boat out of the CR marina and toured the waters near MK, CR, WL, and FW. Then we rode Buzz four times in a row (I beat DH!) at MK and returned back to the resort for a relaxing afternoon by the pool. That evening we hit a movie at 9 pm, then strolled DTD. We love our days and actually come home rested!

 

[TarzansKat]

Years ago we were commandos, running from place to place, screaming out of one park to make the evening show at another,go, go, go every day from morning until the last park closed. After we bought DVC and started going more frequently, we do very little planning. In fact, we do very little! When we arrive, we make a list of what we really want to do -- attractions, parades, restaurants, boating, fishing, whatever -- then we break it down into what makes the most sense to do together. One trip included sleeping in, EPCOT for lunch (fish & chips), then watching all the country movies (Canada, France, China, Norway). Then we went back to the hotel and kicked back until evening, when we went to MK, grabbed great seats in the RR station, can people watched and talked to neighbors, then watched SpectroMagic. After a CM breakfast, we took a boat out of the CR marina and toured the waters near MK, CR, WL, and FW. Then we rode Buzz four times in a row (I beat DH!) at MK and returned back to the resort for a relaxing afternoon by the pool. That evening we hit a movie at 9 pm, then strolled DTD. We love our days and actually come home rested!

Alright, what you just described is what I aspire to!

My favorite day on vacation last year was the one we woke up when wanted to, spent the morning at the Hippy Dippy Pool, ate lunch at Pop, moseyed on over to Epcot, went to the Character Connection...maybe rode a ride or two...and had a nice dinner.

 

[Dopey Rocks!]

My husband and I went in 2003-before kids-and flew by the seat of our pants! We had a ball. The first bus that showed up at the resort was the park we went to for most of the day. We were there for 8 days and saw pretty much everything we wanted to see. But, as I said, that was before we had our son and we had a great, relaxing time.

We will be going this year with our 3 1/2 year old all boy and then some. So, I question the relaxing part! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Erin13178]

We are going in Sept. and I am so not a planner. I tend to like to wing things, go where we want to go, do what we want to do, and if we don't see everything fine. I let my little girl lead the way, well for the most part. We are going with my Mom and Step-Dad and they are more planners. They have planned out which park we are going to which day, where our meals are, what times they are, etc. So the combo of the two will be interesting.

One thing I'm planning to do is since we are early risers, go to the parks early, then when my little girl gets tired go back to nap, get up and go back to whatever park we are eating at that night, and spend the right of the night just playing it by ear. I want us to have a good time while we are there and relax.

 

[nuzmom]

I plan out which parks and meals per day, but I have learned to RELAX. To me, it's not quite the "no planning" - that would actually stress me out!!!!!! (A LOT!!!!!)

However, it's an attitude while touring. We do what we want and skip what we don't. We literally stop and smell the roses, and watch the shows, and people watch, and sit and eat a dole whip - ok, you get the idea.

Also, if we decide to skip out on an ADR or change parks/plans for the day - that's perfectly fine. That's where the RELAXED attitude comes in. We absolutely loved our spur of the moment, ping pong match at the community hall (we're DVCers, too) we did one trip. Still brings on giggles thinking about it. We also like to just borrow movies and hang out at the room "when we need to".

IMHO, if you're a "planner", no planning can be stresfull. Go ahead and plan, just RELAX and be flexible when you're there. So I vote - YES, it is possible to go to Disney and relax. You go for it - we'll be cheering you on!!!!

 

[vcgirl925]

Thanks everyone! I think that playing it by ear and being flexible is the best advice. We are planning loosely but nothing is set in stone. I just want to let the kids have their time and i want to enjoy my kids enjoying themselves.

 

[jellybeans0607]

its the only way we do disney. we get up when we feel like it, have some breakfats and then go toa park. no touring plans, no expectations. we start in one place and see where we end up. ive never left thinking "boy i wish we had time for X"
we even have time to have a good laugh at all the people with their touring plans in hand and arguing because a que was longer than they expected so now what?
oh and i have 3 kids, and we still get it all done.

 

[floridaminnie]

My disney plan is always relax. If a line is too busy, oh well next time. But then I'm only an hour away and have had annual passes for the last 15 years.

 

[Keara'sMom]

We do a similar trip each time we visit (now), and it's worked wonders for us. When my dd11 was 5 1/2 and we took our first wdw trip, we tried to cram too much in and see and do everything. The trip was okay, but our dd got fried by the pace, and we were all pretty stressed by the end! The next times we went (when she was 8, 9, and 11), it was so helpful to be able to guage the day by how we were feeling and go back to the hotel for a swim or a rest if that was what was needed, or ride a ride multiple times in a row if we wanted. I hope your trip is what your hoping--RELAXING!

 

[pfp258]

If we go with just our family we tend to have a more relaxing trip. When we invite other families to join us (We're DVC members too) is when the the whirlwind up early, out late, long days at the parks happen. We were at WDW over Thanksgiving with three other families and it was nonstop for 8 days. Just my DH and 2DD went back for 11 days over spring break and we had a relaxing time. DH and I would get up and have coffee at the pool, read the paper, enjoy the sunshine. (We're from the midwest, so it is great to enjoy some warm weather!) Usually about noon or so we would head to a park, have lunch. We are lucky that we have been to Disney at least once, usually twice each year for the past 13 years and so we have seen it all and don't have to worry about missing out on things. I think that is when you see crabby parents and unhappy children- when people try to do too much and the kids are tired out.

 

[LisaInNc]

We have APs ad make regular trips and most of the trips are like that. I call it the Stop and Smell The Roses Touring. We have a loose plan with which park on which day. Where we want to dine but the rest we kind of decide as we go. We dont rush and it doesn't matter to use how many attractions we do as long as we have a good time.

 

[jodifla]

If you only go a few times in a lifetime, a plan is better.

If you go as often as we do, and have DVC, then loose is THE way to do it.

How's that for a title?

We have been to Disney every year since my son was born and sometimes multiple times a year. We know what rides we like and which we don't like. We know which shows to hit and which one's bores us to tears (flights of wonder). We don't need maps anymore, because we know where most everything is. We ALWAYS go to Disney and go like crazy through the park. We try to cram everything in and we are always there from open until closing.

NOT THIS TIME!

I want to go to Disney and relax. Is that at all possible?

We are making a loose plan. We have scheduled which parks we are doing on which days. We have all our meals planned out and reserved. And we even have one day with NOTHING scheduled. We just want to stay around the pool and the hotel (AKL) and maybe go shopping at night at the marketplace. We plan to take a midday break most days. When we get to each park we'll grab a schedule for that day to pick a parade or to see what characters we want to meet.

That's as far as i'm going with a plan. I'm going to let my kids set the pace. I think that would be the best for them. If they want to play at ariels grotto for a half hour than i'm just going to let them do it. I think i'm always so busy running around to the next thing that i don't get to stop and smell the roses and take in the true experience of disney.

Does anyone else ever do a leisurely tour of disneyworld? Is it at all possible? We are also going at a pretty slow time of year Nov. 15th - 22nd and we are FP pros.

 

[vcgirl925]

We go at least once a year. We are in NJ so we can't go as often as we'd like. But we have gone every year for the past 5 years.

 

[mickeyfan1226]

We are going for 13 days do we need to do the park hopper or can it be done without it. I noticed it is more pricey with the park hopper and am wanting to cut costs somewhere if possible. We are going to do a few special meals and I was planning on doing the park for the day where the meal was. So that means that we will spend more than one day at each park anyway. Someone suggested maybe getting an annual pass but I am not sure how those work and how many of those do we need. does everyone need the annual pass or only one per room?? I am also a AAA member and have a disney rewards card. Any suggetions are welcome. Our first trip was planned and paid for by our father and his wife. I am kind of the planner for this one and everyone is expecting me to find the best prices. My sister and I plan on a disney vacation everyother year if not every year together. We plan on doing a cruise or two instead of the parks. enough babble.
TIA,
Michelle