How do I take it easy at Disney?

[kylenne]

I had to scroll way too far to read this. If you value your time and money, then taking it easy isn't really in your vocabulary when it comes to WDW. Obviously that doesn't mean you have to go-go-go 24/7, but everyone has a different threshold of what they can do in the limited time they have there.

The problem with this mentality imo is that it falls into the trap of conflating quantity vs. quality when it comes to park time and this is often how people end up making themselves and their families miserable. "We spent too much money to come here, we can rest at home" is a recipe for kids throwing tantrums and adults screaming at each other, berating CMs when things go wrong, etc.

It's precisely because I value my time and money so much that I make myself take it easy and take breaks, because I don't see the value in squeezing out 3 extra rides at the expense of exhausting myself when I could do 3 less and rest so I'm refreshed for the next round of touring. I may spend less total time at the parks by breaking up the trip with resort days, taking long resort breaks in the middle of park days, etc. but it means that I enjoy the time I am in the parks far more, because I haven't pushed myself to the breaking point to "do it all".

Many times those smaller moments when you're sitting on a bench people watching with a dole whip or something are some of the most memorable anyway. And tbqh as a neurodivergent person pressuring myself like that to "get my money's worth" isn't in my vocabulary. My brain and body will make me pay for it if I don't, like I found out last month and ended up having to get DAS.

 

[scrappinginontario]

The problem with this mentality imo is that it falls into the trap of conflating quantity vs. quality when it comes to park time and this is often how people end up making themselves and their families miserable. "We spent too much money to come here, we can rest at home" is a recipe for kids throwing tantrums and adults screaming at each other, berating CMs when things go wrong, etc.

It's precisely because I value my time and money so much that I make myself take it easy and take breaks, because I don't see the value in squeezing out 3 extra rides at the expense of exhausting myself when I could do 3 less and rest so I'm refreshed for the next round of touring. I may spend less total time at the parks by breaking up the trip with resort days, taking long resort breaks in the middle of park days, etc. but it means that I enjoy the time I am in the parks far more, because I haven't pushed myself to the breaking point to "do it all".

How often do you visit on average? Each person has the right to their opinion.

We visit once a year (and not always that often) so we are in the camp of 'fit in as much as possible' because that works for our family. And we're allowed to tour that way without being told we're going to have tantrums, scream at each other or berate CMs.

There is no way to quantify who 'enjoys themself more' as each person and family is allowed to determine what that is for their family.

Many times those smaller moments when you're sitting on a bench people watching with a dole whip or something are some of the most memorable anyway. And tbqh as a neurodivergent person pressuring myself like that to "get my money's worth" isn't in my vocabulary. My brain and body will make me pay for it if I don't, like I found out last month and ended up having to get DAS.

Your style of touring works for you and I respect that.

Others are allowed to tour differently as that works for them.

 

[Schlek]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I think my biggest issue is the mindset. We are starting to go a couple of times per year now so hopefully that will alleviate the FOMO and thinking we have to get on every ride. My favorite times of the day at Disney is rope drop and at night so the mid afternoon break comes in handy. I like a lot of the other ideas and maybe we just need to try some of them out. I think I like the sleep in and use LL. I also like rope drop and leaving early and enjoying dinner and not going back to the parks. Sometimes it is important to just sit back and enjoy the great atmosphere of Disney World.

 

[Brian Noble]

I think my biggest issue is the mindset.

Yep! It absolutely is. And in my experience there are two ways to crack this nut.

The first is to ask: Why am I coming to WDW? Is it (a) to ride a bunch of rides, or is it (b) to get a break from the real world and (if not going solo) spend some focused time with family and friends? If you are there for reason (a), then ride a bunch of rides! That's great. But, I've found that I go for reason (b), and if that is why I am there, then the parks (and resorts, and restaurants, and yes even the buses) are the stage on which the real action takes palce.

The second is to realize that this vacation will cost $X, and X is not a small number. But, you are going to spend $X no matter what, and so the only question is how much fun is the trip, and how happy are you while you are on it. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that for me, it is much easier to do "too much" (and be tired, cranky, and just slogging from thing to thing) than it is to do "too little." Every time I end up leaving a park a little earlier, or skip an attraction becuase time is tight, or linger longer than planned over a meal, it ends up leaving me in a better mood. Getting in more rides, or more hours in a theme park, or whatever makes each of those rides/hours less expensvie, but if they are not fun because everyone is tired, what's the point?

 

[Brian Noble]

The other thing I have found helpful: Make a short list of things that you really want to make sure you do. That could be an attraction, or a restaurant, or a tour or "magical extra", or whatever. Try to keep that list to no more than about three things per full vacation day, not counting arrival and departure. Then, make sure you do those things, at which point everything else is a bonus.

 

[fbarker]

We've finally started taking midday breaks to either go back to the room out at the pool. The first time we did it, we intended to go to the pool but naps seemed to be more appealing once we got back to the room.

On my last trip (which was a solo trip) I ended up taking nap breaks on my two heavy park days. They provided me with enough boost to get through the rest of the day once I went back to the parks.

So I am just wondering that when you take a solo trip do you enjoy go on the rides as a single?

 

[hardcorestitch]

Yep! It absolutely is. And in my experience there are two ways to crack this nut.

The first is to ask: Why am I coming to WDW? Is it (a) to ride a bunch of rides, or is it (b) to get a break from the real world and (if not going solo) spend some focused time with family and friends? If you are there for reason (a), then ride a bunch of rides! That's great. But, I've found that I go for reason (b), and if that is why I am there, then the parks (and resorts, and restaurants, and yes even the buses) are the stage on which the real action takes palce.

The second is to realize that this vacation will cost $X, and X is not a small number. But, you are going to spend $X no matter what, and so the only question is how much fun is the trip, and how happy are you while you are on it. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know that for me, it is much easier to do "too much" (and be tired, cranky, and just slogging from thing to thing) than it is to do "too little." Every time I end up leaving a park a little earlier, or skip an attraction becuase time is tight, or linger longer than planned over a meal, it ends up leaving me in a better mood. Getting in more rides, or more hours in a theme park, or whatever makes each of those rides/hours less expensvie, but if they are not fun because everyone is tired, what's the point?

I lean towards reason A at this point… I pick up to 3 “spotlight attractions” that I go on first regardless of wait time (no need for Lightning Lane at this point). All the other attractions are a bonus if time permits.

 

[DisneyFive]

The other thing I have found helpful: Make a short list of things that you really want to make sure you do. That could be an attraction, or a restaurant, or a tour or "magical extra", or whatever. Try to keep that list to no more than about three things per full vacation day, not counting arrival and departure. Then, make sure you do those things, at which point everything else is a bonus.

This.

We did this on our very first trip back in 2010 and it was so helpful. I think it was a suggestion of our friend of ours who had been to the parks before. Wise advice. It gave a sense of accomplishment every day knowing that you got your big three things done each day. I’d say in almost all cases that is attainable and everything on top of that was gravy . It made every day feel successful.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Most of my visits the past decade have been child free, and I'm traveling with my sister.
We do not set an alarm clock UNLESS we would absolutely have to. Ex: An ADR for breakfast at another resort/ or park.
We make a plan which helps! We usually each choose ONE Adr each and will plan the day accordingly.
We almost never park hop. After all our visits, I don't feel a "need" for it and it's too much time spent leaving and re-entering when I could just as well be seated anywhere and relaxing the feet.
Enjoy the pool and surroundings. Hopefully there's a hot tub too!
Go to a few Deluxe resorts to "shop" or just sit in their lobbies with a beverage. At the Polynesian buy a Dolewhip and see the MK fireworks in the evening.
Go to a movie in DS, get lunch or dinner, try a Gideon's cookie, get a Coke product on the Coke rooftop.
Find the schedule for Yeehaa Bob at PO Riverside. He is FUN! The atmosphere is FUN! You could also do a horse/carriage here.

My last trip, NOV 2024, we didn't even buy park tickets. Still had a great time!

 

[liamthompson]

I've realized this past year that I love disney for all the wrong reasons and the main one is that I view disney as a resort that happens to have some theme park rides rather than a theme park with some hotels attached.

 

[PetePanMan]

Our perspective changed significantly once we became DVC members in that we knew we would be back a fair amount in the future. Our pace has slowed and we no longer feel we must do everything. In fact, resort only trips or those with just a few days at park (after hours, Mickey’s Christmas etc.) tend to be our favs now. Although we still love the mornings at the parks, we now tend to get a much slower start. Although I despise the extra cost of lightning lanes, they can also really help get some favourites in at a more relaxed pace.

 

[hes122]

So I am just wondering that when you take a solo trip do you enjoy go on the rides as a single?

It doesn't bother me to ride solo. Depending on the ride, I'll either sit by myself or get paired up just as if I had utilized the single rider line.

 

[japanese maple]

We go every few years, sometime every 2, sometimes every 4!

At this point, we slowed way down. Not physically , but mentally - as in, hey, let's stop and smell the roses.

We book longer stays - usually 9-10 nights. We utilize being able to purchases passes (whichever we want for the trip) and purchase single rides if we want them - loosely plan out park days based on that. Plan a couple of sit downs. And that's it. We don't stress about rides that we didn't book/purchase. We don't stress if we can only go on a ride once. We wait in a line if we want.
It costs money, but we love parties - Halloween, After Hours or even the deluxe extra hours. We find we get on most rides that way too.
I mean, we love Haunted Mansion, but we've been on soooooo much. If we only go on it once on a 9 day trip, we're okay with that.

Rest of trip we almost play by ear. We never reserve rides too early so we aren't waiting with the masses for transportation. But we usually are at park before 11 am. And if we want to rope drop we will. We go to the parks, do what we want, leave early if we want, go to pool if we want. Maybe we go to a hotel bar in the afternoon for a cocktail. There's just two of us, so we often can find a lot of same day availability for a sit down dinner if we are in the mood. Then go back to whatever park we want at night. For night parks, we don't worry about ride availability. We take in all the sights, watch a show or two, shop, have some wine, just relax.

Enjoy your trip however you attack it!

 

[japanese maple]

I've realized this past year that I love disney for all the wrong reasons and the main one is that I view disney as a resort that happens to have some theme park rides rather than a theme park with some hotels attached.

Same. But I'm like that everywhere we go. Hotel is most important, whatever else we do is secondary.

 

[Brian Noble]

It doesn't bother me to ride solo. Depending on the ride, I'll either sit by myself or get paired up just as if I had utilized the single rider line.

I enjoy meeting people this way!

Not a Disney experience but: I was solo at Cedar Point to get on Siren's Curse, their New Hotness a few weeks ago. I ended up grouped next to maybe a 9-10 year old. His dad and younger brother were in the row in front of us. He looked at me, with all the earnestness that only a kid that age can, and said: "My dad says I can swear, but only on a roller coaster."

Dear Reader, swear he did. Profusely, and with gusto.

It was the funniest darn thing I had experienced in a very long time. As we were sitting on the brake run, I tapped dad on the shoulder and thanked him, because that kid totally made an already good ride hilariously great.

 

[Dug720]

So I am just wondering that when you take a solo trip do you enjoy go on the rides as a single?

Not the person you asked, but absolutely. I have just as much of a right to ride the rides as other people - my ticket cost the same. If people have an issue with me being solo, that is their issue, not mine.

Why would you think solos wouldn't enjoy the rides?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Not the person you asked, but absolutely. I have just as much of a right to ride the rides as other people - my ticket cost the same. If people have an issue with me being solo, that is their issue, not mine.

Why would you think solos wouldn't enjoy the rides?

Part of the joy for some people is sharing the experience with family and friends - seeing them enjoy the ride and discussing it later. Both solo riders and groups can enjoy for their own reasons.