Getting Discouraged

[BarleyJack]

We've been so excited about our upcoming vacation 3rd week of Jan 2008, but having done some research I'm not sure what to think...... I've been reading the "Unofficial Guide" and it mandates this strict schedule...be at this by 9 am or forget it, be at this by 11, better be at soarin within 10 minutes of opening, etc etc etc.............. This will be our dream vacation, does it really have to be that structured? Thanks for listening.........

 

[livndisney]

No it doesn't have to be that structured. Those guides should be just guides/suggestions. You NEED to be a little flexable. You will have a MUCH better time "going with the flow" a little. Choose what YOU want to see and plan your trip around that.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

No not all, use it as a guide line. The books help you save time, but in my 15 trips to WDW I have never gone in with a minute by minute plan. It would make me too stressed to think that if I wasn't on a ride by 9:10am my whole day is shot, there is too much spontaneous things happening at the World. My biggest tip is don't try to do it all, you can't and you will just make yourself miserable trying. Make a list in order of importance what you want to see at each park, follow the guidelines in the books as to which ones to head for first.

 

[blue_eyes5212]

I can't imagine my trip being so structured!! I make sure we hit the must do's and then wing the rest!! To me, vacation is no time to be so stressed about "gotta be here, gotta be there". I do that the other 51 weeks of the year!!

However, I do schedule my ADR's! That is as much structure as I want! And those meal breaks are welcome after so much walking!!

 

[TheZenMaster]

Yea, seriously, don't sweat it.

I never go on anything very structured. Reading these books will essentially give you a very good idea of what to do and when. You don't have to follow any of those guides perfectly, just avoid any time-blowing mistakes and you'll be plenty fine!

Essentially I read up and then we just go and have a blast. Doing your homework will absolutely pay off but if you're getting discouraged with the planning, then you're probably overplanning. The most important thing to me, IMO, is to know what parks to go to on what days. Other than that, the only real planning that really helped me was doing my research on the restaurants to dine at since we had the free dining plan (which was phenomenal, IMO).

 

[wahoostampingirl]

Good News for you! You're going the 3rd week of Jan. which should be a great time crowd wise. We'll be there too. I love UOG and TGM, but when I went for the first time last Jan. we were a group of 8 with 4 small children and the touring plans just didn't quite work for us. We did things on our own schedule and still saw most of what we wanted too. I agree that UOG can sometimes seem like you have to synchronize your watches and never deviate from the plan, but take their advice and modify it to suit your needs.

 

[flick]

My hubby and I went this past Jan (same time frame as you) and it was wonderful. A bit cold, well freezing, but the parks were empty. We have never followed the books, we just wing it. I know, I know don't beat me, but I just don't stress out about the parks at that time of the year. I make sure we are at the park of the day before it opens and just go from there. I hope that helps a little.

Kim

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

If you are going the third week in january you have nothing to worry about...it will be dead.

 

[BarleyJack]

Thanks for all the info, it really helps put my mind at ease........

 

[Paul in CT]

On our very first trip in the summer of 1989 with our 10 yr old DS and 7 year old DD we followed the unofficial guide because I thought that it would be our only trip. Was I wrong, but that's another story.

Anyway, with Fast Pass now the strict schedule is not so important IMHO. Soarin' is a must see, but just get the fast pass when you arrive at EPCOT. Likewise for other attractions that you really want to do at the other parks.

Also, when you go in January it should be a slow time.

 

[kathie859]

I really believe the value of having a guide (any of them) is for you to have a plan when you hit a park. I think so many people fail to make any sort of plan at all and when they walk into the park they are overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude. These are the people who leave the park feeling like they spent a lot of time spinning their wheels because they didn't have the foresight to decide what was their "must do's". These are the people who don't pick up the entertainment guides, don't ask CM's any questions and are stressed beyond belief.

Just go and have fun--but go with an idea of what you want to see and do. That makes for a much more enjoyable vacation.

 

[KPeveler]

i have never used a schedule, time table, or itinerary - i always just wing it, and have a great time!

 

[acjsmom]

We are going the same time as you. We have never been as a family, and I was starting to stress a lot after reading UOG. I then realized that these are written for when the parks are at their heaviest. From what I understand, that time in Jan. is not that bad. What I have planned for us is to spend the first day in MK doing character meals, etc. that are on a schedule and then spend another day at MK catching up what we missed because we were doing the structured things. We will follow some type of guide for the most part, but I have decided not to sweat it. If I do that this early on, then come Jan. I will be a basketcase.

 

[Camicar]

The only thing I think is really important is to get to the parks as early as possible and proceed directly to the ride most likely to get loooooong lines later on. (Such as Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, Test Track, Mission Space, Soarin', Space Mountain, etc.) We were there in early February this year and got onto TOT in ten minutes. Later in the day the wait was 90 minutes. Same thing for EE. I am soooo not a morning person, but I do get up early when we are at WDW because it's worth it to me.

And keep in mind that if you've never been before, you don't know what rides you will like. For example, I was very glad I didn't wait forever for Soarin', because for the life of me, I can't see what the big deal is about that ride.

 

[mking624]

The only "structure" DH and I go by is our ADRs and any possible evening EMHs (we love those). Otherwise everything is up in the air. We have NEVER doe a park opening...we're usually at a park by 11am or so. Since you're going in January 2008, I wouldn't stress about crowds or lines that much. Usually when I see these types of itineraries that stress getting there EARLY, it's for time periods that expect high crowds levels (i.e. summer). But even during summer, DH & I always sleep in. Just remember, you don't have to do what the book tells you to do. Vacation in the manner that's YOUR style and you'll have fun.

 

[rwdavis]

We ONLY go in January and I'm on my 3rd copy of Unofficial Guide and haven't used a touring plan yet. The longest wait we've ever had was Test track (~45min due to breakdowns). Everythings else is usually less than 10-15 minutes.
Bob

 

[Eeyore2003]

Third week of January, relax and have a great time!!!

 

[estherhead]

I agree with what everyone says with one exception: If this is your first trip try to be at a park at rope drop (and ready to go) one of the first 2 days you are there. Then the entire family will be able to decide from that point on if it was worth it. I know my sister (& fam) forgot their tickets one morning & had to go back and were therefore late (they were there in early December) and then the next day were there 20 minutes before rope drop. The family saw a HUGE difference in that hour & a half, even tho they were there when there were no crowds. The rope drop day they had Tommorowland, Toontown (including a few character meetings) AND Fantasyland DONE by noon. So from that point on the entire family was sold on the idea of getting there early.

This way you aren't cattle prodding your family onto anything. They are going willingly. I refuse to harrass my family in WDW. What's the fun in that?

But definately don't do a minute by minute itinerary. I have my itinerary posted in my pre-trip report & you can see how casual it is. Only in AK am I planning on following a UG plan as we'll only be there one day & I have things I really want us to all see.

You'll have a great time. Even if you didn't ride a thing, WDW is beautiful & in January you'll ride plenty no matter what time you get there.

 

[LilGMom]

3rd week of Jan 2008

You are going at a pretty good and slow time so no it does not have to be that structured. Because of the popularity of the DDP I would suggest making ADR well in advance if you want particular sit down meals or special character meals. The only thing we have ever planned in advance (and only on our last trip) has been meals and even then prior to May '07 we didn't even do that. Have fun!

 

[abcboys]

We are planning our first family trip in May. I have the unofficial guide and noticed about 90% of the rides it says to ride before 10am or just before closing??? How in the heck are you suppossed to do everything in 1 hour. I noticed only a few things says its good to go anytime. I guess just pick the things that you really want to do and do those first. Heck, I don't know...I'm in the same boat as you.