Frequent Visitors: What is ok for you to skip now?

[DisneyFive]

We do a yearly family trip at WDW. Sometimes it's only for 3 nights and 1 park day or a full week. Before going I ask my kids and DH what are their MUST DO (FP+, ADR, etc.). I make sure we do those things and consider everything else bonus. We never leave WDW feeling meh even if we haven't done everything there is to be done at WDW. Sometimes one of my girl will tell me to make sure next year we do this or that because we missed it this year but that's it. We like change and I'm not afraid at change. So yes an attraction can close before we go back but new things can also open so we try not to be worried about those things. Disney is supposed to be fun, not stressful and I try to make it so for my family as much as possible.

Along those same lines, some of the best advice we got from fantastic friends of ours before our first ever visit in 2010 was to pick our top 3 attractions at each park and just make sure to do those. That worked so awesome! It set our expectations at a reasonable level, and when we were actually able to do much more than that it felt like we got SO MUCH DONE. (and we did!)

Dan

 

[Satchmo128]

We can easily skip the nighttime shows (Fantasmic, Illuminations, fireworks), parades, character M&Gs, and character meals. We are middle-of-the-day park people. We did rope drop on our Disneymoon and that was the first and last time, lol. We do make our 3 FP+s for each day and a few ADRs throughout the trip, but it is really a go-with-the-flow touring style for us. It also helps that we don't have kids .

We skip newly opened rides until the crowds have died down and we can get FP+ for them (still haven't been on FEA, maybe our next trip?).

 

[Satchmo128]

That being said, we each have a one or two must-do's each trip:
- Expedition Everest and Big Thunder Mountain (me)
- Toy Story Midway Mania (DH)

 

[adisneyaunt]

Frequent visitors. We often skip many rides... too many to list. We no longer park ho, tho AP holders again. We often skip some parks entirely. Trips can be 3-4 days or longer as fits our schedule.
No more having to start at rope drop and end at closing. It's all choices now.
Makes for a much more relaxing visit for All of us.
It's still my favorite place to be, home away from home, not so much for the dh ...who always supports my need to return.
Yup, a keeper for sure!

 

[scoobygrl79]

Our kids are now older (youngest is 17), so no more "must dos". We sleep in, have a swim and get to the parks when we wish. We eat wherever we want, often outside of WDW. If a ride is down or closed, we hit it next trip. If a line is too long and we don't have a FP, we move along to something else.

I have toured WDW in every way that there is to do it, and loved each style as it fit our life at the time. Don't be afraid to try a new way to tour WDW.

This sounds lovely.....sleeping in at WDW??!

 

[scoobygrl79]

I love this thread. We are planning our first trip to WDW next summer, and I was just pouring over the map of Epcot trying to figure out how to see it all in one day. But this thread reminded me that it's ok if we don't see and do everything. I don't want to be stuck in the "go go go" mode either. If we just slow down, enjoy the atmosphere, take time to look around, we'll find plenty of joy in the trip.

This is great that you are already adapting this kind of positive attitude now in the event that, like most of us, you become attached to WDW and return. I never did and unfortunately that is why I am where I am now...feeling like failure if I do not get everything in. Even if I know I am coming back!

 

[SureAsLiz]

I'm past the point of 'frequent', but I can skip pretty much everything except for live entertainment.
I do make sure to go on omnimovers (Haunted Mansion, Mermaid, People Mover) periodically
100% skips are anything that spins or involves water

Everything else I just have to be in the mood for or with friends who really want to do them

 

[Planogirl]

We skip quite a bit now because we've done them so often. Our must-dos include Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan, It's a Small World, MK train, people mover and Buzz at MK. I try to get to Jungle Cruise and DS likes Space Mountain and Pirates. I love the only parade and DS likes the projections. We do way less at the other parks and even skip DHS and Epcot sometimes. If anything changes we try to see whatever it is but that hasn't happened much for a while.

We mostly just relax and explore nowadays. That's fine with me because I'm done with commando touring.

 

[scoobygrl79]

I feel like the majority (maybe I'm wrong) of these people are the "once/twice in a lifetime" WDW goers so they have to go go go for the sake of the wallet. I think that there is probably a very small percentage of those one-timers that can go and just be chill and enjoy. I know it took me about 10 trips to get there. Also, the last time we went, my wife was 6 months pregnant, so I learned that lots of things didn't have to happen. It was the first time I ever skipped Space Mountain and I didn't even feel bad about it! I just didn't want to do it by myself. This next trip will be with a 13 month old and the skip-train will still be in effect. Heck, we may actually meet a character or two which I NEVER DO! It does feel better to be able to know "hey, we'll be back someday" and just keeping it chill.

But I still hate leaving the parks early ... or at all.

There could be truth to this. I'm trying to figure out why I go against the grain and act like a "once in a lifetimer" and try to conquer it all when I'm actually a frequent flyer and should feel okay to relax.

 

[scoobygrl79]

We do a yearly family trip at WDW. Sometimes it's only for 3 nights and 1 park day or a full week. Before going I ask my kids and DH what are their MUST DO (FP+, ADR, etc.). I make sure we do those things and consider everything else bonus. We never leave WDW feeling meh even if we haven't done everything there is to be done at WDW. Sometimes one of my girl will tell me to make sure next year we do this or that because we missed it this year but that's it. We like change and I'm not afraid at change. So yes an attraction can close before we go back but new things can also open so we try not to be worried about those things. Disney is supposed to be fun, not stressful and I try to make it so for my family as much as possible.

Isabellea you mentioned one of the main things I fret about that I wish I could stop....attractions permanently closing down on us before I have a chance to return. I think its because we actually have been burnt by this a couple of times. Even though they weren't particularly family faves, just knowing that it's gone forever and no more nostalgia to tie into it.

 

[scoobygrl79]

Despite a 9 Day visit in 2014, We skipped:

MK:
Dumbo
Teacups
Carrousel
Astro Orbiter
Laugh Floor
Stitch
Flying Carpets
Swiss Family Treehouse
WDW RR was down for refurbishment
Most of the M&Gs
Peter Pan
Winnie the Pooh

DH is not a fan of MK

EP:

Most of the movies in the countries
Maelstrom closed for redo
Mexico ride
Journey into your Imagination
All the M&Gs

DHS:

TSMM
All Shows
All M&Gs

AK:

Primevil Whirl
Flights of Wonder
All M&Gs

Our Next trip we will ride new things, a few old favorites and spend more time with resort touring, dining, relaxing etc.
There are a few M&Gs I will insist on this time in exchange for not making DH ride Small World or watch Enchanted Tales again.
If we get bored and there is no wait, we may jump on a few rides not currently planned.

Wow, that was quite a big lineup you opted out of. I'm sure it made for a less time consuming visit.

 

[agavegirl1]

Wow, that was quite a big lineup you opted out of. I'm sure it made for a less time consuming visit.

We had a lot of fun though. Eating Mickey Bars on a rocking chair, a nice long dinner at BOG, F&W, taking pictures of the countries at night. There is so much to do. We used the pool, did laundry twice while enjoying Mimosa's, tried new restaurants and learned to adjust our Commando expectations as we did our best to use FP+ for the very first time during an unusually crowded October.

 

[manicstreet]

This is a tough question. Probably rock n roller coaster & tower of terror. Only cause my wife and I have children and the fast passes go to what they want. This is probably gonna be the first year we skip space mountain. Not sure how I feel about that. May still squeeze it in.

Basically my answer is, I'm not skipping the rides, I'm letting my kids choose what to do. That makes me feel much better.

 

[scoobygrl79]

This is a tough question. Probably rock n roller coaster & tower of terror. Only cause my wife and I have children and the fast passes go to what they want. This is probably gonna be the first year we skip space mountain. Not sure how I feel about that. May still squeeze it in.

Basically my answer is, I'm not skipping the rides, I'm letting my kids choose what to do. That makes me feel much better.

Haha...I'm very familiar with this touring strategy you speak of!

 

[bryanb]

If you ever want to mix it up - grab a bloody mary or mimosa at Dawa Bar and sit on the benches to see one of the first sets by the Harambe Drummers. It's an AWESOME way to start a day - it's still cool in the morning, so the sun feels nice!

I love that being a frequent visitor allows you to truly feel the immersion as it was intended.

Love this idea! I can't believe I've never thought of showing up early and grabbing a Bloody Mary! The street entertainment at Animal Kingdom is fantastic. Really at all the parks, but I love how immersive the theming is with the musicians there. That's definitely going to be in the plans next time!

Bryanb are your trips more adult oriented? Sounds very relaxing and really enjoyable, although I think it will be a while before I'll get to tour like that.

Yes, good point, and that allows a lot of spontaneity. Not everyone can take my advice. I'm still in my 20s, and recent trips have been with others my age and sometimes teens. I've even enjoyed solo trips (can't be in Orlando for work and not visit the parks, right?). I guess the day could come when I settle down and have kids, and then we'll have more "must-dos."

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

We tend to book trips at different times of the year, which keeps us from falling into the same touring plan and routine. For example, our last trip was during Flower and Garden and we had an AP Pandora preview and were there for the opening, so we spent a lot of time in Epcot and AK. Our next trip will be over Halloween (first fall visit!!!), so we will be spending a lot of time in MK and Epcot for F&W.

I think the more trips we've gotten under our belts, the more we've started tailoring our trips to focus on something. Now we go in with the mindset of "we're here for xyz event" rather than trying to do everything in every park. We still go to every park (though we are thinking about skipping HS next time), but if the line for a ride is more than 30 mins we just say we'll get catch it next time

 

[Tinkerbell8956]

INFIDEL OF THE EPCOT RELIGION!

Haha. I've seen parts of it, but it's been that long since I actually made sure I had a space and watched the whole thing.

 

[pookybean]

I love this thread...

We go to disney every year and we have definitely become go with the flow people. In the middle of our first trip I knew this was not a "once in a lifetime" thing and we would be back. I was in love! That first trip I had laminated itinerary cards and was actually crossing things off the map as we went by or did it, it was exhausting! Each trip I got a little less consumed and at this point I am like, eh...ok. we do make our dining reservations (although we had one trip that was just qs and we had a great time finding all the places to NOT have a cheeseburger/chicken nuggets) and make our FP+ selections at our 60 days. Everything above that is is just extra. We have also discovered within the last two trips that we like to sleep in, swim and then hit the parks in the evening and close it down (main st at 1am...yes please!). This is mostly because my 9 y/o is NOT a morning person...lol she is a lot better at midnight. Prior to this we discovered mid day breaks, and i guess evolved from there. it is so nice to know we will be back and we dont need to stress over anything.

That being said, we would like to go on everything! lol

We do not do:

Any of the movies in epcot (i dont like the 360 screens or not being able to sit)
Illuminations
Can take or leave the circle of life and turtle talk with crush

In MK we skip the treehouse and the island. we also have never been on the liberty belle.

In HS we dont do indiana jones and havent been to fantasmic in years.

In Ak we dont do the trails or the birdshow

We also dont do any parades except for whatever is going on in the MK at night. even at that point we dont stake out a spot, we stop where we are when it goes by and watch for as long as it holds our interest.

There are a lot of other things that I usually sit out on because my youngest is a ride chicken but we cant ride swap anymore. I dont mind, i will eventually get on them again. Sometimes my oldest dd will go on alone (ToT) and sometimes we will do single rider (Everest).
Our schedule is fluid, I dont feel like i am missing out on anything. we are making memories

 

[Simba's Mom]

We can skip the MK entirely. Rarely do we do DHS. We've gone over 30 times over the last 30 years, are DVC members and empty nesters. Like a PP, our trips are more about relaxation and just being there. There are maybe a handful of rides that are must dos, probably more places that are "must eats"!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We go once or twice a year.
With the grandchildren: I skip all the 40 inch or taller rides (I am the designated babysitter and I don't mind) and we don't much care for the water rides. (Hate walking around wet)
DHS: We skip Frozen sing along, (girls aren't impressed), usually Indiana Jones, and that's pretty much it
MK: Stitch, Motor Cars, Astro Orbiter, Hall of Presidents, Jungle Cruise, I can't do Tea Cups Splash
Epcot: We haven't done Imagination since it kept breaking down on us and we spent close to an hour inside, pretty much by ourselves (EMH), Mission Space, Living with the Land (although I will take the little one on it wile they do Soarin or TT.
AK: Tough to be a Bug, Primeval Whirl, Kali.
Without the grandkids: MK: We skip just about everything but the parades, fireworks, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, People Mover, Buzz Lightyear, Hall of Presidents and Pirates. I don't care for 7DMT.
AK: We skip M&Gs, Bugs Life, Primeval Whirl, Nemo, Kali
HS: M&Gs, Frozen, Little Mermaid, Disney Jr.
Epcot: M&Gs, Mission, Living with the Land

Like the previous poster, we just like being there and not so much about attractions any more. We had a very relaxing trip last September sans kids, taking breaks, swimming, etc.