FP+ or DisneyLand

[TygerHawks]

We went to WDW last year and have been itching to go back to Disney since. So the family is planning a trip for next June. This time, however, the MIL is coming. We just dida 3 day trip to San Antonio (Zoo, Six Flags, Riverwalk) and while she got around OK, the heat and walking took their toll. The other thing to consider is planning. I am the planner of the family, and spent many months on this board and doing research prior to our 2013 trip. With the introduction of FP+, it seems that planning has dramatically increased. I would be fine with just the family, but the MIL is picky on rides and it can be difficult to know what she is able to do until actually at the park.

I am trying to determine if the additional headaches and planning is worth another WDW trip, or should I plan to head out West where things require less planning and attractions are closer together. The wife would be OK with Land, but would really prefer WDW if I thought we could have a smooth vacation.

 

[Itinkso]

We went to WDW last year and have been itching to go back to Disney since. So the family is planning a trip for next June. This time, however, the MIL is coming. We just dida 3 day trip to San Antonio (Zoo, Six Flags, Riverwalk) and while she got around OK, the heat and walking took their toll. The other thing to consider is planning. I am the planner of the family, and spent many months on this board and doing research prior to our 2013 trip. With the introduction of FP+, it seems that planning has dramatically increased. I would be fine with just the family, but the MIL is picky on rides and it can be difficult to know what she is able to do until actually at the park. I am trying to determine if the additional headaches and planning is worth another WDW trip, or should I plan to head out West where things require less planning and attractions are closer together. The wife would be OK with Land, but would really prefer WDW if I thought we could have a smooth vacation.

If you really need to wait until "day of" to see how your MIL is feeling, DLR is the better choice. There are many places where she can sit and people watch if she doesn't feel like doing much. The lobby of the Grand Californian is adjacent to DCA and she can people watch, relax, and enjoy the pianist.

If you've never been to DLR before, you'll see how smooth it is to tour and hop between both parks and DTD. Instead of visiting four parks to ride headliners, you can do everything in two parks where the weather should be much better, at least not humid.

 

[Planogirl]

We're thinking about going to Disneyland next year. We tried Disneyland before the second park was redone and had a great time so I think that this will be a good substitute. The weather is definitely much nicer and there isn't as much walking involved.

 

[MAD on Disney]

To be clear, I have yet to actually go to WDW with FP+, so my opinion is not completely informed. However, we will be at WDW very soon, and with all the anxiety I have been having about how it will go (what if FP+ are lost and unrecoverable, possibility for last minute changes by Disney such as SB+ that I can't plan for, etc.) I am wishing we were instead going to Disneyland. Just one person's opinion, and others may tell you different.

 

[dismsn]

September will be my first visit to WDW with FP+ but I can tell you that I haven't enjoyed figuring out what park we're going to be in each day, staying up to make the FP+ reservations (although we're on the West Coast so it's not as late as on the East Coast), and figuring out where we're going to eat but we just have QS free dining so I only had to make one TS reservation. Now I just keep worrying that I'll lose my FP+ and/or dining reservations or our magicbands won't work the first day we hit the parks.

I've been to both WDW and DL and I much prefer DL as far as ease of getting around. DL pretty much has the same types of rides but they are condensed into two parks instead of four. If your MIL gets tired, she can easily get back to the hotel (even if staying off site) for a rest and there are plenty of places in the parks that she can rest--restaurants, onsite hotels, DTD.

 

[TygerHawks]

Thanks That is what I was expecting. So, after compiling all the information, I present the DL trip to the MIL. Of course...she wants to go to DW. So all my time planning around her despite where we wanted to go, turns out to be pointless. *shakes head* Gotta love family.

 

[Planogirl]

Thanks That is what I was expecting. So, after compiling all the information, I present the DL trip to the MIL. Of course...she wants to go to DW. So all my time planning around her despite where we wanted to go, turns out to be pointless. *shakes head* Gotta love family.

Did she say why?

You'll just have to do more planning and more walking but it'll still be a blast.