Go With the Flow??

[swald91]

Does anyone just go with the flow? I have been reading some of these threads and I can't believe some of the details people have planned. The only thing we plan is our dining and I suppose what park/resort around the dining. I don't know, I can't plan hour by hour and ride and park like it seems some do. Maybe I'm just not in the loop??

 

[WriteDisney]

I planned ALOT for our upcoming trip but when we get there I'll probably just relax and go with the flow. It's really fun to plan, but once I arrive I try and just soak in the magic

 

[MagiKitty]

I'm with you, OP. I've planned which park/day and our ADRs. The rest is up to fate and fun. I do have a list of things I'd like to do/eat in each park, but its not regimented. We'll just see where the day takes us.

 

[dburg30]

IMO you need SOME sort of a plan. That being said, on this trip we have VERY little planned. But last year I had days and ADR's and stuff planned out. There are some that will plan down to the ride and time to be there, time between rides to get to the next, average wait time etc etc.. It's one way to make sure you dont miss something, and if you follow certain guides, it probably works VERY well.

 

[holcomb-mania]

We've become pretty efficient in our touring, ie we know what we like and hit only those attractions (for example: Little Mermaid? No thanks).

Knowing what time you're gonna hit something isn't important to me, but knowing how crowds build and traffic patterns around the parks are vital.

 

[swald91]

Yeah-some sort of plan, but some people plan their days almost min. by min.!
I can't imagine planning to the point where I missed something or being late would just throw my day off. I think maybe once your kids get a little older & like certain things you just go with the flow!

 

[Wendybird55]

Usually I decide on the resort and dates - book my room and make my ADRs...and that's about it. I usually have a general plan on what parks I'll go to on what days - based purely on how I feel and ADRS - not EMH or crowd levels or such. Plus I always get park hopper so if I can swtich parks during the day if I want.
I like to go to MK the day I arrive and I do so no matter what other sources might say about crowd levels.

Since I've been to WDW so many times I really don't fell like I'm missing out on anything if I don't do all my favorite rides. I've been on them before and will go on them again. If a line is too long I may use fast pass if it's available to just decide to skip it.

I do like to research what's new and happening during the time I go so I am aware of things I would like to do. But I find the more I go to Disney the less specific planning I do. But I do agree it's fun to research and think about the trip prior to going.

We're taking DS for the first time this year and he will almost be 2 when we go. I find I am planning more this year, but most of it is making sure I have what I need for DS to make it an enjoyable trip for him. My planning is mostly what stroller to take, what to pack in the diaper bag, ordering supplies (diapers, snacks, etc) from a grocery service, planning ADRS to work with his eating schedule and picking restaurants that offer food he will eat and like.

Plus I am staying at a DVC for the first time this year (we rented points from a friend) and since DVC doesn't have cleaning services every day(unless you pay dearly for them) I want to make sure I bring what I need. Plus I will have a full kitchen and a washer and dryer in my room so that adds possibilities.

I like some spontenaity during vacation and the freesdom to do what works best for my traveling group at any given time.

 

[LilGMom]

We of course plan our resort and we plan our dining but just a few years ago (probably about 4 yrs. ago) we didn't even plan dining. Too much structure takes the fun out of it for me. We go often enough that if we don't get to do something it doesn't make or break the trip. At most we'll pick two things during the week that we really want to do and try to do those two things. In May we wanted to be sure to ride SSE since it was still being refurbished last Oct. and we did it, nothing else was a "must do".

 

[ransom]

I guess it depends on when you go and whether it's a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

For us, as repeat visitors, we just want to know which park/which day and that we have at least one good meal planned every day. Other than that, it's all up in the air. And we reserve the right to change our plans at any moment based on conditions on the ground.

But I can see where a once-in-a-lifetime trip would benefit from serious scheduling if the point was to get as many attractions in as possible. I can also see using a touring plan for a trip during very busy times such as holidays. Who wants to spend half a day standing in line?

I can also see coming up with a detailed plan for a family that is indecisive or that is prone to arguing over what to do next. Just having a plan -- ANY plan -- will save time in such cases.

 

[paintnolish]

The most planning I do is making ADRs, and that has only been during my last two trips, since it is summer and I am on DDP. Other than that, we wing it!

 

[thumperbelle3]

This is the first time I'm going with some kind of plan. All my previous trips were with family and we just picked a park each day and did all we could do. We ate when we were hungery and we left when the fireworks were over. It was not a bad way to tour at all. Very relaxing. Except for the times we had to run across a park to catch a show. This year I have ADR's to stick to. I do like the go with the flow approach best.

 

[nhl66pens]

I agree with most people that its fun to plan but there is only so much you can control and probably worth controlling. I definitely wanted to plan the ADR's because I specifically stayed at Boardwalk to access the restaurants at EpCot. I planned out, generally, which parks I would visit on which days. I joined UG to get an idea of the plan of attack for each park but don't intend to follow it to the letter. It was good for telling you which FP's you should get and to make you think about hitting all the rides you want to hit in a specific area while you are in the area so you don't spend a lot of time traversing back and forth but other than that, I don't want to get so stressed out that I take the fun out of the trip. I'm sure I'll keep printing maps out and making mental notes right up to the day I go to each park, but once there, you gotta let things evolve or you won't have any fun.

 

[solfan68]

While I, personally, could do the commando route I know it would stress out DW to the point of making her sick. That's not a vacation. We plan our ADR's and that dictates part of the day. We also go into the week with some ideas of things we'd like to see for the first time, or return to.

Other than that... yeah. We go with the flow. Sometimes we'll close down a park and then scoot to EMH elsewhere. Sometimes we just plan on being in the PM EMH park from dinner onward. We're also not 'rope drop' material, so whenever we get up and going is when the day begins.

 

[Tinkerbell21]

I did quite a bit of planning, I think it adds to the fun of the holiday but I am that way with everything in life. A laid back person would possibly have more fun on a holiday without all the planning and someone like myself will enjoy themselves more when there is a schedule.

 

[mikehn]

You must understand, the forum is loaded with disney freaks, so its to be expected. But a plan is just that. Nothing ever goes according to plan anyways.

 

[Stitchfans]

I'm with you, OP. I've planned which park/day and our ADRs. The rest is up to fate and fun. I do have a list of things I'd like to do/eat in each park, but its not regimented. We'll just see where the day takes us.

Same here.

 

[ntsammy5]

Same here.

Ditto.

I guess it depends how often you go. We've had 3 trips a year for a long time so now, it's more about taking it easy and going with the flow -------

 

[mikoiv]

We plan ADR's and try to line parks up with them. December trip always requires plan for MVMCP, CP and Osborne. Pretty much other than that is just as it happens based on how we feel each day. I love to plan and try to insert new things and use to really try and force following it. Now-a-days it is just my wife and I most of the trips so eating gets some planning. When we travel with grandchildren a little more planning.
Golf and fishing also need a little planning.
I get to stop by 20-30 times a year so unless it is a vacation not much planning until I actually turn off 4 into the property.

 

[Doc CW]

Does anyone just go with the flow? I have been reading some of these threads and I can't believe some of the details people have planned. The only thing we plan is our dining and I suppose what park/resort around the dining. I don't know, I can't plan hour by hour and ride and park like it seems some do. Maybe I'm just not in the loop??

Same here I couldnt do all of that hour by hour thing it would drive me insane

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I'm a go with the flow planner, I make ADR's but thats about the extent of my planning, and with park hoppers even that won't hold me to going to a certain park on a certain day, I'll change because of an unforseen event that comes up at a park such as a large convention or group going to a park or Disney announcing some special event or even the weather, some parks are better to do in the rain and others (AK) I'll avoid on the hottest day.