Frequent visitor advice

[SpokaneDave]

Hi all,

I need some advice on how to slow down my ride planning. I have to been to Disney World many times over the years. Always before, it was a couple years between trips and I would plan, plan, plan. I have now moved fairly close to the parks and my next day trip to the MK will be my third this year. Today, I started my usual planning session. Rides, food, timing, etc. Prioritizing rides over everything else.

For you frequent visitors, what do your days look like? Do you wander Main Street for an hour? Sit in a central location to people watch or out of the way hidey-hole to take in the atmosphere? A nice little snack/lunch place?

I still love the parks and will hit most of my favorite rides, but as a solo day trip, I’m sure I will have a lot of down time.

I thought this would be a fun discussion but know that (for possible negative responses) I am capable of planning my own day. ;-)

Thanks all.

 

[loves to dive]

I go solo often usually at least once a year then again that year with my adult son. I always stay in an Epcot resort, lately usually Dolphin. I don't plan anything. I make my park reservations, have hoppers and just go from there. We have never been ride centric, even the first time we went when my son was just a toddler. What I do really just depends on my mood, the crowds and how long I'm staying for that particular trip.

Last time I was there it was a 5 park day trip. My second MK reservation day I did EE just because I was up anyway. I rope dropped EE and went to the Jeoffrys stand in TomorrowLand, got a Latte and muffin and just sat on a bench and watched the park come alive. By the time the park opened I was done with my breakfast so I went and did CoP, then People mover. I wandered over to Liberty Square and decided to do Hall of Presidents, then Country Bears, then the Liberty Bell. I had already ridden everything I wanted to on previous days that trip so I just walked around, stopping and sitting and watching. Went back to my resort for some lunch, hot tub adult beverage time. Walked over to Epcot and snacked at some booths just walking around and enjoying the park, sitting and eating my food, going into the countries and really looking at things.

Because I always either have an AP or PH, I never spend all day in any one park, always go back to the resort mid-day. Because I hop to a different park at night, I usually ride a ride or two at night. If I want to ride a ride and it shows a hour wait, I'll stand in line, it's not like I'm in any hurry.

 

[holden]

I've been to WDW more than 50 times over the past 40+ years.

If I were traveling solo, I don't think I would plan anything at all. I'd soak up the atmosphere and do whatever I felt like. I'd probably get Genie+ at MK so I could reserve LL if I wanted to.

I wouldn't plan any meal reservations. I'd just grab snacks every now and then.

When we travel as a family, I always have a plan (meal reservations, purchase Genie+, etc.), but our plans are always flexible. We often abandon the plan and just do whatever. I don't care what attractions I ride. I usually leave that up to the kids.

I have found that since Genie+ we eat fewer table service meals because LL often interfere.

Enjoy your day!

 

[fla4fun]

I live close enough that if I don’t ride something today, I can catch it next time. So my days are very laid back. I do have a couple favorite rides in each park, and try to work those in if I can.

So, for example, say I am going to Epcot. I might get to the park between 10-11, ride SSE on the way in, check out the new merchandise in Creations, find a light lunch, head for WS, ride rides if lines are 30 minutes or less, grab a snack and a cold drink and people watch for a while, maybe catch a live performance or show, grab another drink and people watch some more, finish walking around WS, if there are any rides at the front of the park with shorter lines (since it’s late afternoon/early evening by now) then I ride, otherwise I might go back to Creations and make any purchases and leave. Sometimes I spend time sitting in each of the countries, enjoying the immersive details. Nothing like listening to my French lessons on my phone while looking at the Eiffel Tower!

I try to never be at a park at open or close unless there is a special event going on (like an attraction preview) that I am scheduled for. I don’t buy Genie at all, or ILL, and I don’t make ADRs when going alone unless there is something specific I am looking for. Even then, I am more likely to just look same day and see what’s available instead of planning ahead. I do more planning if visiting with friends and family who have not been there for a while.

Ultimately, you have to do what you enjoy. If you like the planning, and enjoy knowing you will get to experience everything you want to, that’s all that matters.

 

[BeachMouse1]

over the past few years we have been going several times a year since we purchased DVC. Our whole style has changed the way we do Disney. We get up when we get up, sit on the balcony and have coffee and take our time going to a park or wherever we are going. If to a park we take our time and if a ride has a long line we say we can do it next time. We take the time enjoying all of the details of the parks we miss when rushing. We do more attractions Like carousel of progress, philharmagic, etc. Since owning DVC we will actually sit on a bench and eat a snack, take photos. Then we usually go back for some pool time, weather permitting, shower and dinner and it usually ends up with a stroll thru Epcot. Depending on the length of our trip we always do one non park day which includes Disney Springs and visiting other resorts. Lately we have been trying to do something we haven’t done before. we rented a pontoon boat, did a Victoria & Alberts dinner, try a new restaurant every trip. Last trip we did a “to go” from Ale & Compass and sat out at a pool table eating with a great Boardwalk and Epcot view then a walk into Epcot and into France for a nice dessert.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I've never done a solo trip, we've done the 4 of us in our family or me, (mom), and girls only for girls trips. I wouldn't say we're frequent like weekly/monthly visitors but we go multiple times per year. Our planning is dictated by number of days in the parks, resort location, EEH and what we want to accomplish. As my kids have gotten older, it's less about rides/characters and more about food/experiences/shopping. We still love doing a lot of rides and attractions but it's not as much go go go and definitely not as much early park hours/rope dropping like when they were younger. We do enjoy meandering around the resorts, especially when we stay around Crescent Lake. We like to ride the friendship boats and just people watch. And we definitely do stay up later on vacation than irl.

Most visits we have our favorite snacks/restaurants we like to hit, favorite pics we like to take and must do rides. We have favorite quiet/rest spots around the parks and resorts that we like.

Our trips are usually around 3-5 days so we never really have planned rest days, so we usually just do Disney Springs on our arrival day. We did do 6 days the summer of covid when the parks reopened. Outside of wearing masks all day and pictures of us wearing them, that was one of our best trips. So many ride walk ons and nobody in your personal space. We will also tack on other things to see/do when we travel down to FL. We have family in S FL so we visit and we'll try to hit a new beach when we can or do a few days at our favorite resort on the way home.

For me, I love so much of what we do on our trips but I also get a ton of enjoyment planning. There is a lot of satisfaction in that whole part of the process for me.

 

[gatorlisa]

I don't live close unfortunately, but have gone a couple times a year or more for the last few years. I took my first solo trip, a long weekend, back around Labor Day. Short of park reservations, I don't really plan. I know what rides I like and what I can take or leave and just kind of go with the flow based on wait times (and G+ return times if I am using that). And I decide what I want to eat as I go (I don't do sit down ever...just counter service). I do go a little slower by myself vs when partner and I go together. I do enjoy taking in the atmosphere, watching little side shows, and wandering through shops more than he does and my solo trip allowed for more of that.

 

[SpokaneDave]

I go solo often usually at least once a year then again that year with my adult son. I always stay in an Epcot resort, lately usually Dolphin. I don't plan anything. I make my park reservations, have hoppers and just go from there. We have never been ride centric, even the first time we went when my son was just a toddler. What I do really just depends on my mood, the crowds and how long I'm staying for that particular trip.

Last time I was there it was a 5 park day trip. My second MK reservation day I did EE just because I was up anyway. I rope dropped EE and went to the Jeoffrys stand in TomorrowLand, got a Latte and muffin and just sat on a bench and watched the park come alive. By the time the park opened I was done with my breakfast so I went and did CoP, then People mover. I wandered over to Liberty Square and decided to do Hall of Presidents, then Country Bears, then the Liberty Bell. I had already ridden everything I wanted to on previous days that trip so I just walked around, stopping and sitting and watching. Went back to my resort for some lunch, hot tub adult beverage time. Walked over to Epcot and snacked at some booths just walking around and enjoying the park, sitting and eating my food, going into the countries and really looking at things.

Because I always either have an AP or PH, I never spend all day in any one park, always go back to the resort mid-day. Because I hop to a different park at night, I usually ride a ride or two at night. If I want to ride a ride and it shows a hour wait, I'll stand in line, it's not like I'm in any hurry.

Sounds wonderful.

 

[SpokaneDave]

Thought I would send out a mini trip report on how my slowed down Magic Kingdom trip went.

I left home at 6:30. Sat in horrible I4 traffic and got to the TTC at 8:45. Only takes 1:15 without traffic. In the park at 9:15. The park was going to be packed! Did a couple of my favs (Haunted Mansion and Pirates). Wandered Main Street. Lunch of a Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich. Calmly rolleyes1) hit rides on my list as the lines dictated. Took a two hour break at dinner time to check into my off-site hotel and get out of the heat and crowds. Was able to do some of the classic rides that were empty (Carrousel of Progress and Tiki Room), People Mover twice with it being my last ride of the evening. Two parades and a great standing spot for the fireworks. I wasn’t able to get a Tron VQ, didn’t do 7DMC, Peter Pan nor the too bumpy for me Space Mountain. But I was successfully able to wander, people-watch, eat, ride most everything I wanted to, chatted with people in lines and just revel in the feeling of being there.

Wonderful mini-trip.

Dave