Got back from 10 days at WDW...What I learned

[w8ting4pooh]

Our itinerary was carefully planned and fine tuned, PS made- EVERYTHING went right out the window when we got to MK.

We had planned to hit EE every day, take a nap religiously, etc. We went to ONE EE day - Animal Kingdom on Monday. What a disaster! I was SO CRANKY and mad because it was so busy. We avoided ALL the EE days and just went to the parks the day after the EE day and did GREAT! With FPass and getting there before the parks opened, we did everything we wanted - we went on Test Track and the Safari 3x a day using the FastPass after riding them right after the parks opened.

We also went to ERIDE on Tuesday and it was much more crowded than people claim that it usually is. The waits for the mountains were 15-20 minutes minimum all the way up to 2 a.m. It was definitely not worth the extra money to us as we rode all three on the first Saturday that we went to MK without waiting.

 

[Mimi Q]

I was just wondering how your trip turned out as I had read your earlier post about having "planning anxiety". After cancelling 17 times, was it everything you expected?

 

[Tinkbell]

I also found that staying away from the EE park works better for me. I would get cranky on EE morning too because I'd go to the parks with the impression that I'd get to walk on most rides with no waiting. Maybe AK is worse than the others on EE because there are less attractions?

 

[w8ting4pooh]

It was just wonderful. We did absolutely so much more than I ever expected. We met so many characters and had such a blast. We all agreed that it was the best trip that we ever had.

I will do a day by day trip report but the highlights were:
- getting a window table w/a view of the Fireworks on July 4th at OHanas.
- watching my kids have a misting fan fight with stitch (with no other kids in sight)
- hearing my 10 year old (on day 2) say "Mom, it just cannot get any better. This is just the best." when we had yet to actually enter any of the theme parks.
- being the very first ones on Dumbo on our very first day.
- being chosen as the family to open Animal Kingdom yesterday

Those things you just cannot plan. It was pure magic.

 

[Mimi Q]

I am glad your family had a good time and look forward to the trip report. We are taking our 2 year old for her first trip in November and I can hardly wait to get back to WDW.

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

What a wonderful mini-trip report! We found too, that when we dumped our well crafted detailed plans, that we had MUCH more fun!
We discovered that there are just too many great things that pop up unexpectedly to be able to stick with an itinerary.

Your trip sounds like it was a blast...are you planning to write a bigger/longer report for the DIS? Will it help if we BEG???

 

[bobcat]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I leave on Thursday for the world and I have done very little planning for this trip, other than a couple of meal PS and switching resorts. We are going to wing it and see how it goes!

 

[Kallison]

I'm so happy for you!

 

[buzzlady]

Originally posted by Tinkbell
I also found that staying away from the EE park works better for me. I would get cranky on EE morning too because I'd go to the parks with the impression that I'd get to walk on most rides with no waiting. Maybe AK is worse than the others on EE because there are less attractions?

I agree. But MK is just as bad. We went to EE on 7/6 and it was very crowded.

 

[Camping Disney]

So glad to hear you had such a great time! We will be doing our first trip into the parks in a few short days!! We have planned, replanned and now are learning from everyone to just live for the moment!

I look forward to reading your report!

Welcome Home!

Michele

 

[Emy'sMom]

I remember back in early May when I came online *really* early the morning the FTP was being released to the general public . . . you were one of a bunch of us waiting to call to book the package. Hard to believe you've been to WDW and gotten back already!

So glad you had a nice trip!

Debbie

 

[disneyjunkie]

I'm so happy to hear that you had a great trip.

It took a long time for my son and I to make our first visit to the world. I can't recall how many trips I had to cancel before we were able to go in 2001. I'll never forget the ride in the van from the Amtrak station to All Star Sports. The driver asked me how old I was! He said do you always get this excited when you go on vacation.


EE worked great for my son and I. Maybe because it was only two of us and we went in mid August when most southern schools had just started.

How were the resorts? What about meals? Which rides and shows did your family enjoy? When's the next trip?

 

[Sami]

WOW!! It's great that you had such a wonderful trip. I can't wait to heat more about it!

 

[WDWfanatic288]

I'm glad you had such a good time!

I TOTALLY agree about what you said about EE and E-nite. They are just becomnig way to well known to be used like they used to(like how they would actually open the park an hour and half early...instead of an hour...it made a big difference)

 

[laurabelle]

I'm glad you had fun despite the crowds. My kids would have loved that magical moment w/Stitch!

The most important part of planning, is being willing to ditch it if neccessary. I've been doing much more planning for this trip than in the past since I usually go during value season. I do only have one EE morning planned, but it's for MK, spending most of the time eating an 8:00am breakfast with the princesses, doing a couple of rides, then scootin' out for another park. I do plan to try a Friday Enight, I hear it's less crowded than the Tues. one's. I'll let you know when I get back. Can't wait to read the rest of your trip report!

 

[Virgo10]

Originally posted by w8ting4pooh


- hearing my 10 year old (on day 2) say "Mom, it just cannot get any better. This is just the best." when we had yet to actually enter any of the theme parks.

Oh Geez! That brought tears to my eyes. I can't wait to read your trip report!!

Roberta

 

[PaulaJ]

Hey, Roberta, Great pics! I've been keeping the lid somewhat on for our upcoming visit, but your pictures just blew that lid off!

 

[walt's assistant]

Really surprised to read that the EE days were as bad as they were, congestion-wise. This will make me re-think our planning in December.

Glad the rest of your visit was so much fun!


WA

 

[Harambe]

I agree with laurabelle! I am also a planning fool - but have no problem ditching and/or changing our plans once at WDW. I keep an eye on everyone's moods and know what we can pull off and what we will have to dump.

We like EE but we go at off times, so the EE's are wonderful. I guess if you go during a busy time, they would get crowded. Walt's Assistant - if you are going the first three weeks of December, EE will probably work for you! But if it's Christmas week, looks like it could be crowded.