*Has Anyone Visited The World With NO PLANS?

[michsig]

We don't really plan. Sometimes we'll plan an ADR or two, but usually we just make them the day before we want to go to whichever restaurant we want to go to, and they are usually taking reservations still. I have never really been a huge planner when it comes to WDW, but we'll be experiencing FP+ for the first time in September. I don't know how I feel about scheduling a ride months in advance, but we'll see.

 

[RabFlmom]

We have never really planned a whole lot except for---let's go to MK etc. a couple days before we go. Advantage of being loccasl . We don't go that often though-maybe 5 times a year, maybe less. We have even been heading for 1 park and change our minds on the way. I would never ever plan a day around reservations or fast passes chosen 6 months earlier. That is just me.

As for planning sit down meals.....we go to a park, check which restaurant has openings at guest relations and book one there. Always a surprise and an adventure to not know till we get there.

 

[disneyfan55]

We never really planned anything. With the onset of the Dining Plan we did plan the reservations for that when on the free plan. Before that it really was not difficult to make dining reservations the day of or a few days prior. I kind of miss the carefree days of visiting WDW.

 

[lustergirl]

The very first time we went I researched our trip like crazy. I made flash cards of what to ride and what order in each park. Once I got there and experienced the late September those plans went out the window We make a few ADR'S and that is it. I was never a fan of fast pass and have rarely used them on our numerous trips. Now with this new fast pass system in place I thought maybe I will reserve 3 in a day maybe not. We have experienced all the rides before and this will not kill us if we don't get to ride it again on our next trip. I am not one to be running from one end of the park to the other just to make my fast pass time. I like to take my Disney trips now at a leisurely pace instead of being so hectic.

 

[Dis703]

The majority of our trips were pre kids and staying offsite and we never planned a thing aside from hotel and rental car. We also rarely used FP (we thought you paid extra for it for a long time) and amazingly we always had a great time!

 

[NavyDad]

Our very first trip we did almost zero planning other than a few ADR's.

Each trip after that we have planned a little more and our experience has gotten better and better. We still remain flexible so if weather changes or life happens we still make the best of it.

I would say planning is best but if you are pretty experienced with Disney and your DH wants to plan the trip (or not plan) just go with it. Two things can happen:

1. It works out great...
2. It works out not so great and then maybe he appreciates your planning a little bit more

 

[DisneyDude71]

dining reservations and park hopper, all we ever had to do! Now with fastpass+ not sure how we will work it!

 

[DisneyFive]

Nope, we always have a plan, and a backup plan, and a backup, backup plan.

I love thinking about our upcoming trips to WDW, so planning is part of the fun for me.

It's not a down to the minute plan though. It's (in order of importance)...

1) Which park we'll be in which day. This is based on how many days we're at WDW, how many times we want to visit each park, and the crowd level from touringplans.com
2) Our ADR time, location and reservation # for each of those days
3) FP+ reservations and time
4) What our top few attractions will be.
5) Perhaps a few comments thrown in like, "sleep in today if needed", or "pool day, leave park early if we want..."

Dan

 

[fla4fun]

Sorry - I meant that it was most likely a free dining period. We haven't decided yet if we will take advantage of the offer (we have Tables In Wonderland, so that might be as good, when figured with a room-only deal.)

I think I am wondering if anyone has been disappointed by showing up without plans, or if it was surprisingly pleasant...

I visit in September every year, and the only plan I make is the room reservation. That being said, if I decide I want a TS meal, I look for an ADR same day or the night before. This year will be my first September with FP+, so while I doubt that I will make a lot of ride choices in advance, I may do the same day thing there as well. I like to keep plans to a minimum so I can be flexible in regards to heat, rain, and the possibility of hurricanes. I always have a great vacation.

 

[skylizard]

We never used to plan anything, and we always had a great time! Advice? Relax and enjoy yourselves!

Ditto. We plan very little of our vacation when we go to Disney. And we've always managed to enjoy ourselves and be able to ride most of the headliners.

 

[minniemous]

My family has never been planners growing up. As an adult I am not big on plans. My husband and I (then boyfriend) went on a vacation for the millennium and had no dining reservations for New Year's Eve! Thankfully our concierge service got us into narcoosies. I must say we have always had so much fun.

That being said we planned our last trip with dining reservations and fast passes. I did more research and it was really a great trip. The plans really occurred because we now have a daughter. I went from having zero plans to planning what building and room we would want at POrt orleans. It was the best trip ever.

I do not mind one bit changing plans and we did all the time on our last trip. But having some must have dining reservations at the castle etc was awesome. Up to this last trip I planned so little that I was not even 100% sure you could have a meal in the castle.

I also really enjoy planning a disney trip. But you can certainly have so much fun without plans and I did. Although I never knew any better I think if I went now with no plan I would be upset if I knew we could have done something if I had just taken a few minutes to make a reservation. For example we stayed an extra day so we could see the Osborne lights. In the past I never even knew about them at disney

 

[jiminyfan]

One year on a whim I asked the wife if we can go to WDW the following week. She said if I can get a room at a certain rate and (I guess this a plan) I could get her in a Wine Vertical tasting.

I did both and we headed south for an extra long 5 day weekend with no other plans than to have fun and experience WDW as it came to us.

The vacation felt like two weeks long, no hurrying to make an ADR or anything. Whichever bus showed up when we were at the stop we got on. Everything was done spur of the moment. WE park hopped, ate when we wanted to and where we could get in and overall had a wonderful time.

It ended up being the least stressful Disney vacation I ever had.

We love doing WDW with no plans except maybe ADRs as we love to eat!!!!

But with the new FP+ system we make tentative plans for them, but I know we will be changing them as we go to meet our ever changing winging it attitudes.